Su Xiaotian emerged from the classroom intending to return to the small pavilion where she had been studying "Mountain Dwelling Offerings."
While the book had seemed dull at first, the deeper she delved into it, the more interesting it became.
Primarily, it not only recorded recipes but also detailed the characteristics and growth of many ingredients.
Strictly speaking, this book could be classified as an agricultural text.
However, not long after Su Xiaotian stepped out of the classroom, perhaps only ten meters away, she heard a commotion from the direction of the classroom.
Subconsciously, Su Xiaotian looked back.
She saw the female invigilator accompanying someone.
Who else could it be but Xiao Rui?
Xiao Rui was clutching her stomach, crying out in pain, and moving surprisingly fast.
A smile flickered across Su Xiaotian's lips.
It seemed her stomach was hurting.
They had eaten at the same restaurant that day.
Su Xiaotian then remembered that besides eating, this classmate had also eaten an extra ice cream.
Could it be because of the ice cream?
Without paying Xiao Rui any further mind, she leisurely walked to the small pavilion and sat down comfortably to read.
When Su Xiaotian read, she was completely absorbed, forgetting everything around her.
She might have forgotten, but Xiao Rui did not.
Xiao Rui had felt abdominal pain as soon as Su Xiaotian left the classroom.
For the next two hours, Su Xiaotian was engrossed in her reading, while Xiao Rui, every time she saw Su Xiaotian relaxing in the pavilion and herself constantly running to the restroom, gnashed her teeth in anger.
At this moment, Xiao Rui completely forgot that she had chosen to eat the ice cream herself, and it had nothing to do with Su Xiaotian.
In two hours, Su Xiaotian had managed to read one-third of the content.
Returning the book to the system library, Su Xiaotian closed her eyes to rest and reviewed what she had read that day.
Su Xiaotian possessed two skills, "Review and Learn" and "Generalize from Specifics," and their power was fully evident at this moment.
After a simple review, many parts that had not been entirely clear during her initial reading now made perfect sense.
Feeling that she had grasped the content she had read, Su Xiaotian opened her eyes and stood up.
Just then, Su Xiaotian heard the ringing of the bell.
It was time for the exam to end.
To avoid encountering that crazy girl again, Su Xiaotian immediately got up and hurried to the school gate.
Although the exam-ending bell had rung, many people had not yet left the examination rooms.
As soon as Su Xiaotian stood at the school gate, the old man at the gate opened it.
As he opened the door, the old man spoke to Su Xiaotian enthusiastically.
"Little girl, why did you come out so early?"
"Hello, Grandpa. I came out after finishing my answers, to avoid squeezing with everyone else."
The old man was clearly surprised by Su Xiaotian's answer.
"You should still check your work. Seventh Middle School is not an easy exam!" the old man said earnestly.
However, after saying this, as if remembering something, he murmured, "Why am I saying this? The exam is already over, nothing I say now matters!"
With that, the old man shook his head slightly, his regret evident in his tone.
Needless to say, the old man thought Su Xiaotian was too impatient.
At a time like this, every minute counted.
After thanking him, Su Xiaotian quickly left.
At noon, as arranged, Shen Zizhen was waiting at their usual spot.
Su Xiaotian had intended to go directly to Shen Zizhen, but then she changed her mind and walked in another direction.
She was almost certain that Xiao Rui's stomach discomfort was due to eating ice cream.
Even though the exam was over, one couldn't suffer for the sake of a craving.
She decided to go and check out the ice cream shop.
Her uncle had promised to buy them ice cream at noon, but given Xiao Rui's stomach issues, Su Xiaotian felt that the quality of the ice cream from the shop might not be guaranteed.
She decided to redeem some ice cream from the system mall.
The system mall only offered top-quality products!
Su Xiaotian was very confident about this.
Su Xiaotian soon arrived at the entrance of the ice cream shop.
Even though the sun was setting, it was still uncomfortably hot for the season.
There were a few customers in the ice cream shop, scattered here and there.
Observing their attire, Su Xiaotian could tell they were either wealthy or of noble birth.
After all, in this era, snacks like ice cream were quite a luxury, not something ordinary families could afford.
She stood at the entrance of the ice cream shop, observing for a while, and then looked at the ice cream in the system mall, finally selecting a type.
The ice cream from the system mall looked almost identical to the most expensive one sold in the shop.
However, the ice cream from the system mall appeared slightly more refined.
But if one didn't compare them closely, they likely wouldn't notice.
Having decided on the type she could purchase, Su Xiaotian turned and left, hiding in a nearby alley.
After looking around to ensure no one was paying attention, she pulled up the redemption interface of the system mall again.
Then, she placed an order for seven of the ice cream she had selected from the system mall in one go.
Su Xiaotian didn't think too much about how to carry seven ice creams.
Upon successful redemption, a white wooden box, similar to the ones used by vendors selling popsicles on the streets but slightly smaller, suddenly appeared in Su Xiaotian's hands.
This was a simple refrigerator of that era; covering popsicles with a small quilt could keep them from melting for more than half a day.
Su Xiaotian smiled with satisfaction. The system mall's service was as impeccable as ever.
It deserved praise!
Anna, perhaps hearing Su Xiaotian's voice, said cheerfully, "It is Anna's greatest wish for the host to be satisfied with the system's service!"
Su Xiaotian was speechless. Anna could talk now!
"Alright, you rest well. I'm going to find my brothers!"
"Allow Anna to remind the host to communicate more with Anna!"
Su Xiaotian blinked. Why should she communicate more?
Subconsciously, she voiced this thought.
Anna shyly replied, "Because Anna is very lonely!"
Su Xiaotian finally couldn't help but roll her eyes.
She had expected Anna to say something sensible, but it turned out to be such a nonsensical statement.
"Then continue to be lonely. I'm busy!"
Su Xiaotian said dismissively, hugging the small white simple refrigerator, and ran towards the school gate.
Su Xiaotian wanted to deliver the delicious ice cream to her brothers and uncle as soon as possible.
Su Xiaotian quickly rushed to the school gate.
Indeed, human fate is truly strange.
As soon as Su Xiaotian reached the school gate, she saw Xiao Rui.
At that moment, Xiao Rui was squatting on the ground, clutching her stomach and sighing.
Xiao Rui's father stood beside her, looking at his daughter's pale face with great concern.
Due to the surrounding noise, Su Xiaotian couldn't hear what the father and daughter were saying.
But she guessed that Xiao Rui was likely talking about feeling unwell.
Xiao Rui, already feeling miserable from being sick, then saw Su Xiaotian.
In an instant, her already not-so-good complexion worsened, even showing a hint of anger.
However, when she saw the white box Su Xiaotian was holding, she couldn't help but smile.
With a pale face, she said contemptuously, "See? I knew it. Poor and stingy, only fit to eat popsicles!"
Su Xiaotian ignored her and walked towards the big tree.
She secretly thought, you can afford ice cream, but you still ended up with a stomachache!
Just looking at her, it was clear she was suffering greatly right now.
When Su Xiaotian reached the big tree, the others had already gathered.
Seeing Su Xiaotian, Su Liuxiao hurried forward and said, "Little sister, where did you go? We've been waiting for you for a while!"
Su Xiaotian held up the box in her hand to show him.
"Did you go buy popsicles?" Su Jiuxiao said with a smile, "I'm almost dying of heat, hurry, hurry, give me a popsicle!"
Su Xiaotian said with a smile, "Ninth Brother, you're too uninspired. Can't you think of something better?"
Better?
Su Jiuxiao clearly didn't know what "better" could be.
Wasn't this the common box used in the market to carry popsicles? What else could be carried in such a box besides popsicles?
Shen Zizhen looked at Su Xiaotian approaching with the popsicle box and said, "Xiaotian, didn't we agree that I would take you all to buy ice cream later?"
Shen Zizhen thought that these children probably hadn't eaten ice cream before.
He had intended to buy them ice cream at this time to let them try something new.
Who knew that Xiaotian would actually buy popsicles.
Was she afraid he would spend money? What a good child!
Xiao Rui stood not far behind them and said through gritted teeth, "What big talk! Look at your own shabby appearance, are you even fit to eat ice cream? Do you know how much ice cream costs!"
Xiao Rui was good-looking, but her cruel words made everyone around feel uncomfortable.
Several elderly people even frowned, their gazes towards Xiao Rui becoming somewhat disapproving.
Xiao Rui, however, remained oblivious. She only knew that ice cream was expensive.
She had only bought the cheapest one that noon, which cost one yuan and eighty cents.
For a family with six or seven children, even the cheapest ones would cost over ten yuan each.
He wasn't their biological father, just an uncle, how could he bear to spend that money?
Chi Yiyuan glanced at Xiao Rui, who was congratulating herself, his look of disdain completely undisguised.
These two were like maggots, making people uncomfortable!
However, Xiao Rui, still basking in her self-satisfaction, failed to notice the look of disgust in the eyes of the boy she fancied.
At this moment, Su Xiaotian flashed a provocative smile at Xiao Rui.
Xiao Rui, who was feeling smug, was caught off guard by Su Xiaotian's provocation. Her face instantly turned ashen, whether due to her stomachache or anger, it was unclear.
What did this damned girl mean?
But in just a moment, Xiao Rui understood Su Xiaotian's intention.
She watched as Su Xiaotian slowly opened the box she was holding and took out a large ice cream, which was four-colored.
White, green, pink, and purple were mixed together, beautiful and exquisite, far superior to the ice cream she had eaten at noon.
She had seen this ice cream at noon; it cost five yuan each, the most expensive in the shop.
Unexpectedly, this poor girl could afford to buy such expensive ice cream.
She had wanted to buy this ice cream too, but her father had only given her two yuan, which was only enough for the cheapest one.
Thinking of this, she suddenly felt that her stomachache that afternoon was because she had eaten cheap ice cream.
"Dad, it's all your fault. If you had bought me the best ice cream, I wouldn't have missed the exam!"
Shen Zizhen was clearly taken aback by Xiao Rui's sudden outburst and was momentarily stunned.
"Uncle, this ice cream is for you. I heard it's very delicious!"
Su Xiaotian handed the ice cream in her hand to Shen Zizhen.
Shen Zizhen was also surprised that Su Xiaotian had brought out ice cream.
He had previously thought that Su Xiaotian had gone to buy popsicles because of the hot weather.
Why did this child buy such expensive ice cream, and even for him?
How much did it cost!
Shen Zizhen wanted to refuse, but Su Xiaotian wouldn't let him.
"Uncle, eat it quickly, it'll melt if you don't!" Su Xiaotian said, then took another one from the box and gave it to Chi Yiyuan.
Then came Su Liuxiao, Su Liuxiao, Su Liuxiao, Su Jiuxiao.
After everyone else had received their ice cream, Su Xiaotian raised her bright smile and raised her eyebrows at Xiao Rui.
The implication was obvious.
When had Xiao Rui ever endured such humiliation?
Being provoked by a poor girl, she felt utterly mortified.
But at this moment, she couldn't just rush up and settle the score, could she?
After all, she hadn't said anything.
"Xiaotian, are there no more?" Su Jiuxiao was about to start eating his ice cream when he saw Su Xiaotian stop taking ice cream from the box and instead look up to the side, assuming Su Xiaotian had not bought enough ice cream.
Although he really wanted to eat this fragrant, refreshing, and cool ice cream, Su Jiuxiao eventually handed the ice cream back to Su Xiaotian.
Su Xiaotian chuckled, but she was quite pleased that her Ninth Brother was looking out for her.
"I have more, Ninth Brother, you can eat it yourself!" Su Xiaotian said with a smile, extending her fair hand to take out an ice cream from the box, no different from the six she had taken out earlier.
Xiao Rui was consumed by jealousy, unable to believe that this damned girl could buy so many ice creams at once.
Five yuan each, seven of them, that was thirty-five yuan.
That was more than half a month's salary for an ordinary worker. How could she bear it?
"Prodigal!" Xiao Rui cursed through gritted teeth.
Su Jiuxiao couldn't stand it and yelled at Xiao Rui, "Are you sick? It's none of your business if we spend our own money to eat ice cream!"
Being scolded, Xiao Rui's eyes welled up with tears, and she looked at Chi Yiyuan aggrievedly.
Chi Yiyuan saw it, but chose to turn away.
He didn't want to deal with unimportant people!
Especially this girl who couldn't grasp the situation and had a problem with her brain, he didn't even want to glance at her.
[Author's Note]
Today is Valentine's Day. I had planned to add an extra chapter. Something came up, so I'll update with an extra chapter tomorrow. Babies, Happy Valentine's Day! Thank you for your support, I love you, muah!