Meanwhile, Xie Qingshu, who had gone out with Xie Jingheng, naturally followed them over as well.

Hearing Lin Zhixia’s words, a flash of anger appeared in Xie Qingshu’s eyes. She knew it—she was never truly willing to go down to the countryside with them!

She was about to rush out in anger, but Xie Jingheng stopped her.

Xie Qingshu widened her eyes. Her brother had heard everything—was he still going to protect Lin Zhixia?

Just as she was about to lose her temper, Lin Zhixia’s words sharply slapped her face.

“Xiaoyu, don’t worry. No one is forcing me. I’m going to the countryside with Xie Jingheng of my own free will. Don’t go begging your father for me and suffer your stepmother’s cold treatment.”

“Have you made up your mind?” Xiaoyu asked worriedly.

Lin Zhixia didn’t hesitate and nodded firmly. “Yes.”

Xiaoyu said nothing more. She took out a bundle of scattered cash and ration coupons from the inner pocket of her coat and placed them into Lin Zhixia’s hands.

“Take these.”

“When you get to the countryside, buy whatever food you want. Don’t treat yourself too harshly. You… you’re still pregnant,” Xiaoyu said, her voice trembling as she sniffled. “Take good care of yourself.”

Lin Zhixia froze for a moment, then immediately tried to push the money and coupons back.

“Xiaoyu, I can’t take this. Take it back quickly.”

Although Xiaoyu had a formal job at the supply and marketing cooperative, she lived with her grandmother. The elderly woman was in poor health, and monthly medicine costs alone were already a heavy burden. Whenever her condition worsened and she had to go to the hospital, life became even tighter.

This money was likely saved through years of careful frugality.

Lin Zhixia already had plenty of money and ration coupons—there was no way she would accept hers.

“Take it. If you don’t, you’re looking down on me and don’t treat me as a friend!” Xiaoyu said firmly.

“Xiaoyu…” Lin Zhixia felt helpless, but no matter what, she couldn’t accept it.

After a moment of thought, she pressed the money back into Xiaoyu’s hands. When Xiaoyu immediately tried to push it back again, Lin Zhixia held her hand tightly.

“Xiaoyu, don’t rush. Listen to me first.”

“I won’t take your money, but you can help me with something. If it works out, I might be able to earn quite a lot of money and ration coupons.”

“What help?” Xiaoyu asked curiously, her resistance weakening slightly.

“Didn’t I buy a lot of clothes from the department store before? Those dresses, coats, high heels… I won’t be able to wear them after going to the countryside.”

“I plan to sell them at a low price to He Xiaohong and Li Caixia.”

Xiaoyu still looked confused. “What do you need me to do?”

Lin Zhixia smiled. “Help me contact both of them. Chat a little first and let them know I’m going to the countryside. Then casually mention that I’m selling my clothes cheaply.”

“Also, tell He Xiaohong that the wool coat she likes is being bought by Li Caixia. And tell Li Caixia that the flared skirt she likes is being bought by He Xiaohong.”

“Alright.” Xiaoyu agreed immediately.

People naturally become competitive when they think someone else is trying to take what they want—especially two so-called “plastic friends” like them.

After dinner, the Xie family phone rang. The first call came from the impatient Li Caixia. As soon as Lin Zhixia answered, she quickly asked, “Zhixia, I heard from Xiaoyu that you’re selling clothes at a low price—is that true?”

Before Lin Zhixia could respond, she continued:

“The dark gray wool coat, light purple braided sweater, black corduroy flared pants, and checked dacron shirt… are they still available?”

A faint smile appeared on Lin Zhixia’s face as she replied calmly, “The gray coat and flared pants are still here… but the purple sweater and checked shirt Xiaohong might already want them.”

“Did she pay yet? If she hasn’t paid, then give them all to me. I’ll come to your door tonight to pick them up!”

“That doesn’t seem very appropriate,” Lin Zhixia said hesitantly, though inwardly she was delighted.

The list Li Caixia mentioned already accounted for nearly half of the clothes she planned to sell.

“What’s inappropriate about it? Buying things is first come, first served. If she hasn’t paid, it doesn’t count as buying anyway. Give them all to me—I can match them with the flared pants I chose.”

“Otherwise, I don’t even have pants to match.”

“And you know how indecisive Xiaohong is. She might change her mind later anyway.”

“…Alright then, I’ll give them to you,” Lin Zhixia finally agreed as if reluctantly.

Li Caixia happily said, “Zhixia, since I’m buying so many and we’re such good friends, you should give me a discount.”

“Alright.” Lin Zhixia agreed immediately, offering half price for newer items and 20% for older ones.

Of course, she didn’t state the final prices directly. Instead, she quoted higher prices first and went through several rounds of bargaining before finally “reluctantly” agreeing, making Li Caixia feel like she had gotten a great deal.

She happily agreed to come over soon with money and coupons.

After hanging up, the second call from He Xiaohong came in immediately.

Upon hearing that Li Caixia had already bought more than half the clothes and would be picking them up soon, she quickly demanded the remaining items.

Of course, Lin Zhixia had tricked her as well—after all, business without deception is no business at all.

The result was the same: she also gained around 600 yuan along with some common medicines such as cold medicine, fever reducers, and painkillers.

After hanging up, Lin Zhixia turned happily and said, “Jingheng, help me bring the clothes downstairs. They’ll be coming to pick them up soon.”

“Do you know how much I sold them for? A full 1,200 yuan!”

But she noticed that everyone from the Xie family was looking at her in silence, their expressions filled with emotion and heartache.

Even Mother Xie was quietly wiping away tears.

“Mom, what’s wrong?”

“Zhixia… it’s our fault. We’ve dragged you down so you have to go to the countryside and suffer… and now you even have to sell your clothes…” Mother Xie said, choking up.

Xie Qingshu also had red eyes. Earlier, she had been angry when she heard Lin Zhixia speaking to Xiaoyu, but now she only felt guilt.

“Sister-in-law, I… I also have some clothes from the department store. You can sell them for money and useful coupons too.”

Lin Zhixia felt a headache coming on.

Being too kind-hearted wasn’t always a good thing—because no matter what she did, the Xie family always interpreted it as her sacrificing herself for them, leaving them touched and guilty.

What surprised her the most, however, was Xie Jingheng’s reaction…