Chapter 79

Logan continued walking, "If you want me to join you, you'll have to split the profits with me fifty-fifty."

"Of course," Summer said, matching his pace. 

Logan smirked, "Alright, I'll think about it."

Summer noticed his raised eyebrows and slight smile—it seemed he had already made up his mind. If he hadn't wanted to, he would have rejected the idea outright.

Sure enough, after lunch back at the community center, Logan set his chopsticks down and said, "Alright, I'm in."

Summer grinned, "Here's to a successful partnership."

***

With Logan on board, Summer decided to strike while the iron was hot. She pulled him aside to discuss the details of what they needed to do next, including preparations for setting up their stall at the community market.

Before getting started on the practicalities, the most crucial step was to get the approval and support of the village officials.

Logan said, "It won't be easy."

Setting up a noodle stand wasn't as simple as selling vegetables, which just needed to be collected and taken to the market. Setting up a stand required a significant investment in equipment and ingredients: pots, pans, tables, chairs, oil, salt, condiments, flour, vegetables, and meat. If it didn't turn a profit, the village would incur a substantial loss. Would the village committee be willing to take that risk?

Summer knew it wouldn't be easy, but she was determined. "We have time before the summer break. We'll just have to persist. Where there's a will, there's a way!"

Seeing her resolve, Logan softened, "Alright, let's not waste any time. Let's go talk to Mr. Anthony and see where he stands."

Summer agreed, "Okay."

They had just finished their conversation when Henry and his group returned. Summer and Logan cleaned up the kitchen to make room for them.

With the weather getting hotter, especially at midday, the sun felt scorching. So instead of braving the sun, Summer and Logan returned to their dorms to rest.

In the girls' dormitory, Summer lay on her bed, fanning herself with a palm leaf fan. As she fanned herself, she thought about the noodle stand, eventually drifting off to sleep.

She was awakened by the chatter of Lily and the other girls. Drowsy from her nap, she sat up, blinking sleepily.

The girls were changing clothes, preparing to go work in the fields.

They wore newer clothes that would be ruined by fieldwork. Summer didn't listen too closely, shaking off the last remnants of sleep before heading outside.

She went to the well, splashed cool water on her face, and felt fully awake.

Returning to the dormitory, she sat at the table, pulled out a mirror, and tidied her hair. She then took out a jar of cold cream, rubbed some in her hands, and applied it to her face. She finished by rubbing the remainder on the backs of her hands.

The scent of the cold cream filled the dormitory. Lily and the others glanced at Summer but said nothing.

Summer didn't pay them any mind either. After putting the cream and mirror back in her bag, she grabbed her straw hat and headed out.

She stood outside the boys' dormitory and called for Logan.

When he came out, they left together.

As they walked away, Grace couldn't help but comment sourly, "Who puts on cold cream in summer?"

Cecilia sighed softly, "If I had some, I'd use it three times a day, every day. Who doesn't want soft, fragrant skin?"

With their current situation, they might not be able to afford it even in winter.

Grace: "..."

Was she trying to make me feel worse?

Cecilia wasn't trying to be mean; she wasn't one to hide her thoughts. She sighed again, "Compared to Summer, we're living like cattle—working ourselves to the bone and not even getting a decent meal."

It wasn't just about food; it was everything. The comparison was painful.

Lily added, "We can't compare. She's a teacher with ten work points a day and a monthly stipend of five dollars. What do we have?"

Cecilia replied, "We have each other. You used to say Summer would struggle on her own and come crying for help. Now it seems we're the ones struggling."

Lily: "..."

Is she determined to rub salt in our wounds?

Cecilia seemed unable to stop, "You also said Logan would take advantage of her and she'd fall hard. But he's been nothing but good to her, giving her treats we've never even had."

Lily, Grace, and Sophia: "..."

Listening to this was unbearable.

Grace finally snapped, "Why don't you go beg them to let you join them then?"

Cecilia looked at Grace, then at Lily and Sophia, realizing she had upset them. She clamped her mouth shut and said nothing more.

***

Back outside, Summer and Logan walked to the village office to find Mr. Anthony. 

Logan stopped for a moment and turned to Summer, "If you want me to join you, we'll have to split the profits evenly."

"Of course," Summer said, following his lead.

Logan smirked, "Alright, I'll think about it."

Summer noticed his raised eyebrows and slight smile—it seemed he had already made up his mind. If he hadn't wanted to, he would have rejected the idea outright.

Sure enough, after lunch back at the community center, Logan set his chopsticks down and said, "Alright, I'm in."

Summer grinned, "Here's to a successful partnership."

***

With Logan on board, Summer decided to strike while the iron was hot. She pulled him aside to discuss the details of what they needed to do next, including preparations for setting up their stall at the community market.

Before getting started on the practicalities, the most crucial step was to get the approval and support of the village officials.

Logan said, "It won't be easy."

Setting up a noodle stand wasn't as simple as selling vegetables, which just needed to be collected and taken to the market. Setting up a stand required a significant investment in equipment and ingredients: pots, pans, tables, chairs, oil, salt, condiments, flour, vegetables, and meat. If it didn't turn a profit, the village would incur a substantial loss. Would the village committee be willing to take that risk?

Summer knew it wouldn't be easy, but she was determined. "We have time before the summer break. We'll just have to persist. Where there's a will, there's a way!"

Seeing her resolve, Logan softened, "Alright, let's not waste any time. Let's go talk to Mr. Anthony and see where he stands."

Summer agreed, "Okay."

They had just finished their conversation when Henry and his group returned. Summer and Logan cleaned up the kitchen to make room for them.

With the weather getting hotter, especially at midday, the sun felt scorching. So instead of braving the sun, Summer and Logan returned to their dorms to rest.

In the girls' dormitory, Summer lay on her bed, fanning herself with a palm leaf fan. As she fanned herself, she thought about the noodle stand, eventually drifting off to sleep.

She was awakened by the chatter of Lily and the other girls. Drowsy from her nap, she sat up, blinking sleepily.

The girls were changing clothes, preparing to go work in the fields.

They wore newer clothes that would be ruined by fieldwork. Summer didn't listen too closely, shaking off the last remnants of sleep before heading outside.

She went to the well, splashed cool water on her face, and felt fully awake.

Returning to the dormitory, she sat at the table, pulled out a mirror, and tidied her hair. She then took out a jar of cold cream, rubbed some in her hands, and applied it to her face. She finished by rubbing the remainder on the backs of her hands.

The scent of the cold cream filled the dormitory. Lily and the others glanced at Summer but said nothing.

Summer didn't pay them any mind either. After putting the cream and mirror back in her bag, she grabbed her straw hat and headed out.

She stood outside the boys' dormitory and called for Logan.

When he came out, they left together.

As they walked away, Grace couldn't help but comment sourly, "Who puts on cold cream in summer?"

Cecilia sighed softly, "If I had some, I'd use it three times a day, every day. Who doesn't want soft, fragrant skin?"

With their current situation, they might not be able to afford it even in winter.

Grace: "..."

Was she trying to make me feel worse?

Cecilia wasn't trying to be mean; she wasn't one to hide her thoughts. She sighed again, "Compared to Summer, we're living like cattle—working ourselves to the bone and not even getting a decent meal."

It wasn't just about food; it was everything. The comparison was painful.

Lily added, "We can't compare. She's a teacher with ten work points a day and a monthly stipend of five dollars. What do we have?"

Cecilia replied, "We have each other. You used to say Summer would struggle on her own and come crying for help. Now it seems we're the ones struggling."

Lily: "..."

Is she determined to rub salt in our wounds?

Cecilia seemed unable to stop, "You also said Logan would take advantage of her and she'd fall hard. But he's been nothing but good to her, giving her treats we've never even had."

Lily, Grace, and Sophia: "..."

Listening to this was unbearable.

Grace finally snapped

, "Why don't you go beg them to let you join them then?"

Cecilia looked at Grace, then at Lily and Sophia, realizing she had upset them. She clamped her mouth shut and said nothing more.