Chapter 74: Make Them Look Up to You
As fate would have it, the very next day Su He received a letter from Luo Xiaoling.
The very first line of the letter was a sharp question: “Did you ever really consider me a friend?!”
“If we’re friends, why would you lie to me?”
“You’re clearly doing well for yourself, so why pretend to be poor?”
Then came the salt in the wound — she went on and on about how sweet and loving Shen Ruyi and Qi Yuansheng were together, how they were flying high side by side.
She added that Shen Ruyi and Qi Yuansheng had already secured recommendation spots for Imperial Capital University, and that she herself had received one for Beijing University.
Finally, with a passive-aggressive tone, she said Su He’s struggles were pointless — that she was bound to fall flat on her face sooner or later.
At the end, she tried to reel it back, saying she was magnanimous enough not to hold a grudge, but from now on Su He must tell her everything and listen to whatever she says.
Inside the envelope was also ten yuan in Huaxia currency and ten jin of ration coupons.
Su He curled her lips in disdain and began her reply:
*
“Xiaoling,
I’ve received your letter. Every word you wrote felt like a blade to my heart.
How could I not see you as a friend?
In this world, only you have truly and sincerely wanted to be my friend — only you have been a ray of light in my darkest days.
I never meant to hide anything from you. It wasn’t intentional.
You’re about to become one of the nation’s elites, while I’ve been busy just trying to fill my stomach. I felt ashamed — how could I trouble you with such trivial struggles?
I never imagined you’d misunderstand me because of this. It really hurts.
If you think back carefully, haven’t I always told you about the major events in my life?
Xiaoling, please don’t ever talk about breaking off our friendship again. Otherwise… I truly wouldn’t have the will to go on!
From now on, whatever you say goes. I’ll listen to you.
Oh, and please stop sending me money or ration coupons. Even if I run into difficulties in the future, I won’t bring them up to you. I don’t want you to question my motives for being your friend.”
*
After signing the letter, Su He couldn’t help but smirk. The letter was absolutely dripping with green tea girl energy — sweet on the surface, manipulative underneath.
But to deal with a green tea girl like Luo Xiaoling, she had to fight fire with fire.
She deliberately told her not to send money or coupons — knowing Luo Xiaoling would continue doing so just to maintain control. In that way, Su He could keep her hooked.
And she made sure not to mention Shen Ruyi and Qi Yuansheng even once. That would make Luo Xiaoling and Shen Ruyi assume they’d hit a nerve and keep bringing them up — giving Su He a steady stream of information.
As for those university recommendation spots?
Su He honestly didn’t care.
After the college entrance exam (gaokao) was reinstated, those who passed the exams were far more respected than students who were just recommended in.
It was just a couple more years — she could wait. In the meantime, she could make money and reel in some fish.
She put the letter in her shoulder bag, ready to head to the post office.
Just as she stepped outside, someone called out, “Excuse me, is this Comrade Su He’s home?”
Su He opened the door and saw a woman around thirty years old standing at the gate.
The woman’s eyes lit up when she saw her. “Girl, it really is you! I finally found you! Last time when my boy choked on a jujube pit, it was thanks to you that nothing serious happened.
I rushed to the hospital that day and then had to travel for work — I just found out your address yesterday…”
Su He recognized her — it was the mother of the boy she had saved using the Heimlich maneuver.
She opened the gate and smiled. “Sister, you’re too polite! Anyone would’ve helped in that situation — I just happened to be there. Please, come inside!”
The woman said a few polite words and followed Su He in.
She placed two mesh bags on the table. “Comrade Su He, this is a little something from our family. You must accept it.”
One bag contained canned treats and pastries, the other held a piece of fabric.
After some back and forth, Su He finally accepted the gifts.
As they chatted, Su He subtly gathered quite a bit of information about her guest.
The woman’s name was Qin Yan, and she worked at the county’s Agricultural Supply Office, specializing in soybean breeding. Her recent trip had been to conduct sowing and record data at a rural test field.
Su He’s thoughts stirred. Before she’d been thrown into this novel, she had read a report about how Huaxia had a stable grain supply but a significant soybean shortage.
Leaving aside genetically modified soybeans, the yield of traditional varieties lagged far behind foreign ones — mainly because of outdated breeding techniques.
If the seeds are poor, yields are low. If yields are low, farmers don’t profit and will switch to other crops.
Even around 2020, traditional soybeans only produced around 150 kg per mu on average. Only high-yield test plots could reach 300 kg or so.
She asked casually, “Sister Qin, what’s the highest yield per mu for your office’s test fields?”
Qin Yan beamed with pride. “Our Agricultural Office’s ‘Jinfeng No. 1’ is one of the best varieties in the North. It can yield up to 667 kg per mu!”
Su He: “……”
Well, back in the early 1980s, average yields were only around 80 kg per mu. Hitting 667 kg now wasn’t bad at all.
Unfortunately, this year’s sowing was already done. Even if she wanted to get involved, it was too late.
She’d just have to wait for next year.
After a while, Qin Yan stood to leave. “Xiao He, come by my place when you have time — or just drop by the Agricultural Office.”
Su He agreed with a smile.
After sending her off, she finally headed to the post office and mailed her letter to Luo Xiaoling.
Later that afternoon, around 4 p.m., Su He visited Mr. Yuan’s place before heading to the county broadcast station to find Tian Xiaotao.
“Xiaotao, I’m treating you to dinner and a movie tonight!”
Tian Xiaotao was cheerful and straightforward — she got along well with Su He.
But as soon as she saw her, she pulled her aside urgently. “Xiao He, you really shouldn’t come to the broadcast station unless you have to.”
Su He blinked. “Why not?”
Xiaotao lowered her voice. “You don’t know this, but the reporters here have been getting chewed out by the station head lately. And every time he scolds them, he uses you as an example!
He says your writing — aside from a few typos — is better in logic and style than any of theirs!
A couple times is fine, but after a while they started holding a grudge. I’ve heard them gossip about you behind your back.”
Su He: “……”
So she was being targeted for doing too well?
Xiaotao added, “Just lay low for a bit. Once the station head stops mentioning you, those reporters will probably stop being bitter.”
Su He chuckled. “Xiaotao, hiding isn’t really my style. Do you know the best way to kill jealousy?”
Xiaotao shook her head. “What?”
“It’s to reach a height they can’t even dream of — and make them look up to you!”
“Since I’ve got free time now, I’ll submit a few articles.
Once I get published in national-level outlets like Huaxia Daily or Seeking Truth, they won’t be jealous anymore. They’ll be too busy sucking up.”
Xiaotao: “…Xiao He, it’s not even dark yet!”
You’re already dreaming in broad daylight?
Even their station head didn’t dare to imagine such a thing!
