The package Summer Scarlett sent to the capital hadn’t even left the business capital when Whitaker Rosalie received a telegram from home at the Washington Normal University.
They asked if she was returning home for the winter break.
Whitaker Rosalie chuckled at the telegram. Larkspur Village was poor, and Greenfield was poor. Even if the capital of Duskhaven Province was the business capital, how could it compare to the capital? After finally escaping the poverty of the countryside, Whitaker Rosalie had no nostalgia for her hometown; she firmly believed she should stay in the big city.
The dormitory at the Normal University wasn’t particularly good, with several people crammed into bunk beds.
But this kind of dormitory was far better than the Whitaker family in Larkspur Village. Even though she was favored in her family and had her own room, the dim environment, the eternally dusty mud floor… Even walking in the yard required careful steps to avoid stepping in chicken droppings. What was the point of going back to such a poor countryside?
But she really had to go back once.
In a semester, aside from the money she brought to school at the beginning, her family had only sent her money once in between.
Whitaker Rosalie didn’t spend the money on herself; Walter Janson’s family was in tough conditions on the farm, so she sent all the money to them, hoping Walter Janson’s parents could live a bit more comfortably. According to Walter Janson, his parents were very satisfied with her, which made Whitaker Rosalie a bit proud.
No matter how impressive a person is, they can be won over by small acts of kindness in times of need.
She spent over a thousand dollars on Walter Janson’s family, and the effect was definitely worth more than that.
Walter Janson didn’t have much money either; he wanted to visit the farm during the winter break and hinted at taking Whitaker Rosalie along. This was equivalent to meeting the parents, and how could Whitaker Rosalie not take it seriously? It wouldn’t be right to show up empty-handed, and besides, the two of them would need money for expenses to travel from the capital.
Maria’s snack shop could earn several hundred a month, which should continuously cover her expenses during university. However, as soon as she left Greenfield, her parents’ attitude seemed to have changed a bit.
Whitaker Rosalie tossed the telegram aside. She thought she was excellent enough to completely change her parents’ mindset.
It seemed that people ultimately have their selfishness; with a younger brother around, her parents would always want to save some money for him. The money earned from Maria’s snack shop couldn’t all be used for her. Whitaker Rosalie thought she wasn’t entirely foolish; in the future, if she had a profitable business, she would definitely keep some for herself.
Whitaker Rosalie wasn’t too worried about making a living. As the reform and opening up continued, she would have plenty of ways to earn money in the future.
Her thoughts were mostly occupied by Walter Janson, with the rest focused on her studies and socializing on campus. University wasn’t easy; it wasn’t like high school where she had to burn the midnight oil, but if she wanted to achieve excellent results in her finals, Whitaker Rosalie would still need to invest a lot of energy… She wanted to balance her studies, love life, and social relationships. Jumping from a small place in Greenfield to the capital, Whitaker Rosalie realized how many smart people there were.
She managed to get into an undergraduate program, ranking among the top in Greenfield County East High School.
But in her current class, she didn’t dare to slack off in her studies; her grades were only average.
Is there really a difference in intelligence between people?
Whitaker Rosalie didn’t want to admit this; she felt it was just that she hadn’t spent enough time studying. But there was no way around it; she had to spend time maintaining her relationships around her. She was among the first group of freshmen to join the student council, and the name “Whitaker Rosalie” was not only popular among the freshmen but also recognized by the teachers.
As Whitaker Rosalie walked back, she occasionally greeted familiar classmates.
She returned to her dormitory, mixing the dirty clothes she had taken from Walter Janson with her own. Washing clothes in the freezing winter was too cold, and Whitaker Rosalie developed a frostbite on her little finger. It was numb during the day, but at night it hurt and itched.
“Isn’t Rosalie too good to her boyfriend?”
“Too virtuous…”
“Doesn’t she care about herself? She’s got frostbite on her hand and is still washing his clothes!”
This was the discussion among her roommates, who felt it was unfair for Whitaker Rosalie.
Whitaker Rosalie didn’t argue; only she knew whether it was worth it. They say that only those who endure hardship can rise above others. Was washing clothes in cold water in the winter really that hard? If she hadn’t gotten into university, she might still be stuck in Larkspur Village, and perhaps she would still be washing the dirty clothes of the whole family in cold water.
