Study System: I'm a 38-Year-Old Student-Chapter 124 - 96: Chance Encounter with My Sister-In-Law
"Hmm."
Shen Qiushan nodded slightly, "There’s only a month until the college entrance exam, go talk to her."
"I saw on the news that you’re aiming for our Sanjiang University, is that true?"
The middle-aged woman asked curiously.
"Of course it’s true."
Shen Qiushan took out a cigarette and lit it, jokingly saying, "When I get accepted, will Sister Zhen give me a discount when I come back for a meal?"
"Forget the discount, you can eat for free!" 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢
Zhao Yuzhen replied with a bright smile.
"Well, I’ll have to work hard for this free lunch!"
Shen Qiushan exhaled a puff of smoke, his gaze drifting towards the alley outside the shop.
The commercial street outside was developed later, and this alleyway connecting to it has been around for roughly the same time as Sanjiang University.
Compared to eighteen or nineteen years ago, the alley hasn’t changed much, except the dirt road turned into asphalt, and the shops have changed over the years.
But a few stores have been around for over twenty years, like "Ah Zhen’s Fried Rice" where Shen Qiushan was sitting, one of those long-standing shops.
Due to its affordable prices and delicious food, it was popular among students.
Back then, Shen Qiushan and Lin Chuxue often came here to eat, and at that time, the owner Zhao Yuzhen was still a charming young woman, now she’s almost an "old lady."
Shen Qiushan remembered that Zhao Yuzhen was in her thirties back then, and she should be almost fifty now, her once slim figure gradually changed with time.
If there’s anything fair in this world, it’s probably the knife of time!
No matter how wealthy you are or how well you maintain yourself, time always leaves traces on you.
It’s just a matter of whether it’s obvious or not.
"Xiaoshen, how come you look younger as you age."
"I almost didn’t recognize you when I watched a video online."
Zhao Yuzhen brought over the steaming chicken cutlet rice.
The chicken cutlet was made from chicken breast she fried, neatly laid on the rice, accompanied by a few greens and mushrooms, drizzled with a secret sauce, incredibly delicious.
The familiar aroma wafted through, Shen Qiushan immediately dropped his cigarette butt, then laughed and replied, "Aunt Zhen, you look young too!"
"No difference from back then, still the Queen of Fried Rice!"
Zhao Yuzhen knew Shen Qiushan was being polite, but she still laughed heartily, "Chuxue was fooled by your sweet-talking!"
"You eat first, I’ll go cook."
With that, Zhao Yuzhen went back to the kitchen.
This shop initially started as a couple’s business, run by Zhao Yuzhen and her husband, until her husband got involved with Widow Li, who sold stinky tofu on the same street.
Those two must’ve truly been in love, as they eloped together.
After that, Zhao Yuzhen was left to manage the shop alone, with her mom helping out for a few years until she passed away, leaving Zhao Yuzhen on her own again.
She hired students doing part-time work for school during busy lunch and dinner times.
Shen Qiushan carefully savored the crispy and delicious chicken cutlet, the taste had remained almost unchanged for twenty years, which was commendable.
"Aunt Zhen, one chicken cutlet rice!"
"And pack one to go!"
As Shen Qiushan ate and reminisced, a soft, adorable voice suddenly rang in his ears.
The voice was sweet and childish, a typical nasally pitch.
Of course, that wasn’t the main point.
The main point was, the voice sounded very familiar!
Shen Qiushan quickly looked up.
Sure enough, standing at the shop’s entrance was none other than Lin Jiayu, the little sister-in-law he hadn’t seen in a while.
Her outfit today was casual, an oversized white T-shirt on top, with denim shorts below, the large shirt almost fully covered the shorts,
creating an "invisible pants" effect.
Her smooth, white legs were exposed in the air, making it hard to look away.
"Huh!"
"Brother-in-law??"
The moment Shen Qiushan recognized Lin Jiayu, she saw him too, and exclaimed in surprise.
Maybe she was too surprised to see Shen Qiushan here, she even jumped a bit, her high ponytail swaying gently behind her, reminiscent of willow branches swaying in the spring breeze, every movement seemed to write the rhythm of youth, exuding vitality and energy with every strand!
"Brother-in-law, what are you doing here?"
Lin Jiayu sat directly across from Shen Qiushan, resting her chubby cheeks on her small hands, asking curiously.
"I’m planning to visit your big sister, she likes the food here."
Shen Qiushan replied truthfully.
"Ah?"
"Really!"
Lin Jiayu blinked her big eyes, as if she had discovered a remarkable secret: "So my eldest sister also likes the fried rice at this shop!"
Shen Qiushan nodded slightly: "Yeah, we used to come here a lot to eat."
"By the way, why didn’t you go home?"
"During the May Day holiday, you should be going home, right?"
Shen Qiushan knew that his father-in-law, Lin Moxuan, was very strict with his two daughters, especially his younger sister-in-law, Lin Jiayu, who was still in college, afraid she might repeat past mistakes and be tricked by some "Huang Mao" again.
So, logically, Lin Jiayu should be at home at this time.
"Second sister is coming to pick me up soon."
When speaking of this topic, the light in Lin Jiayu’s beautiful eyes dimmed a bit. She really didn’t want to go home, and she could stay three extra days at school this time thanks to her professor.
Isn’t she learning medicine? A couple of days ago, the professor took on a very representative "patient" and had some students stay to observe the case.
This gave Lin Jiayu an excuse to delay going home for a few days.
"Brother-in-law, you just said you were going to visit my big sister?"
"Take me with you, I also want to see my big sister!"
Lin Jiayu’s beautiful eyes suddenly lit up, her long eyelashes gently fluttered like a little fan, filled with expectation.
Shen Qiushan glanced at this sister-in-law, knowing she was just finding herself another reason to delay going home.
After all, when Lin Chuxue passed away, she was too young to remember, so naturally, her feelings weren’t very deep.
But since Lin Jiayu suggested it, Shen Qiushan didn’t refuse, he nodded lightly: "Alright."
"Okay, I’ll let my second sister know!"
Seeing Shen Qiushan agree, Lin Jiayu’s eyes, which seemed to be hiding countless stars, immediately turned into crescent moons, and she sent a WeChat message to her second sister, Lin Xiamo.
At this moment, after busying herself for a while, Zhao Yuzhen came out from the kitchen. She had been cooking earlier and only vaguely heard someone call her but didn’t catch it clearly.
Seeing Lin Jiayu sitting opposite Shen Qiushan at once, she smiled and asked: "Xiaolin, what are you eating?"
"Two chicken cutlets with fried rice, one to go!"
The takeaway was for Lin Jiayu’s roommate, Fang Xiaoya, who was still lazing in bed in the dormitory.
"Alright."
Zhao Yuzhen nodded, then curiously asked: "Do you two know each other?"
Her shop had eight tables, and at this moment, Shen Qiushan was the only customer, but Lin Jiayu sat right across from him, which was quite unusual.
"Aunt Zhen, he’s my brother-in-law."
Lin Jiayu replied with a smile.
"Brother-in-law?"
"So you’re Chuxue’s sister?"
Zhao Yuzhen was surprised, then subconsciously examined Lin Jiayu more closely, adding: "No wonder you look familiar every time I see you!"
"So you’re Chuxue’s sister!"
"Aunt Zhen, you know my big sister too?"
Lin Jiayu was also quite surprised. She never expected that the little shop she loved was also favored by the sister she vaguely remembered.
"Back in the day, your big sister and brother-in-law used to come often. Even in years after, your brother-in-law would visit a few times a year, but it’s a pity you didn’t run into each other before!"
"Alright, you guys chat, I’ll prepare the meals!"
Zhao Yuzhen remarked once and then returned to the kitchen to busy herself again.
After she left, Lin Jiayu immediately asked curiously: "Brother-in-law, did you really often come here with my big sister back then?"
"Can you tell me the stories of you two?"
At home, brother-in-law Shen Qiushan’s name wasn’t exactly taboo, but every time it’s mentioned, her father had nothing nice to say, so eventually, Lin Jiayu learned not to bring it up.
Today, unexpectedly encountering brother-in-law Shen Qiushan here, she became curious about the stories of those days.
"There’s nothing particularly special between your big sister and me."
"Just like those cliched plots in online novels, where a rich beautiful lady gets bullied by a hooligan, and another hooligan steps up to save her..."
Shen Qiushan gave a bitter smile.
Father-in-law Lin Moxuan called him "Huang Mao," to which Shen Qiushan had no retort. Back then, he worked as an internet cafe manager nearby, with his hair dyed the then-trendy golden yellow.
During the era when "Shamate" was prevalent, half-long hair dyed yellow made Shen Qiushan a soldier in the "Shamate" army.
Back then, Shen Qiushan really thought he was freakin’ handsome!
Even Xie Tingfeng would have to take a back seat!!
