In the end, Chen Yanfei still felt incredibly uncomfortable because Gu Tinglin seemed to despise that her mother had been married before and that she had been raised by other men. 

He didn’t genuinely accept her and her mother; rather, he just wanted to keep them around because his high position made him indifferent to trivial matters like food and drink. He only wanted to keep them close to exact revenge for being abandoned years ago. 

As a high-ranking official, Gu Tinglin had no shortage of women around him. If he had needs, he could just snap his fingers and countless young and beautiful women would line up. Her mother was merely an older woman who had come back to him after her husband had died. 

If Chen Yanfei were Gu Tinglin, she would be far more upset. 

What made Chen Yanfei even more dissatisfied was that since entering the military base, her mother had been entirely focused on Gu Tinglin, with no consideration for her own future. 

Gu Tinglin asked her to join the army, and her mother supported him, even though she knew she couldn’t handle the hardship. 

She asked for a good job, but Gu Tinglin refused to ask for favors. Her mother also argued that he was in a high position and had to lead by example. 

In the end, no matter how close a daughter is, she is still not as important as a man. 

Ironically, her mother was deeply entangled and couldn’t escape, while Gu Tinglin didn’t care at all. 

He didn’t even come back for her birthday, which was an outright humiliation. 

Song Yaling didn’t know her daughter’s thoughts. When she heard that it was Jiang Ning who ruined the blind date, she couldn’t help rubbing her temples, “It’s her again. Does she never stop?” 

Jiang Ning was born to be her enemy. If she had known this day would come, she should have taken the risk of abortion and not given birth to this troublemaker who always went against her. 

She sighed deeply, “Yanfei, this man today was introduced by Mrs. Guo, the wife of Major General. The man is already a deputy battalion commander at a young age, and his work ability is impeccable. If he can get your father’s approval and help him, his future is limitless. You must seize this opportunity.” 

Chen Yanfei also wanted to seize the opportunity, but the suitor left halfway through their conversation. Was she supposed to keep pestering him like a vixen? 

“Soldiers are honest and dull, and they are brainwashed by their superiors every day to sacrifice themselves to defend the country. They tend to retreat when faced with emotional problems. What’s wrong with you taking the initiative?” 

Song Yaling is an experienced person, and she couldn’t help but persuade her daughter, “It’s easy for a girl to chase a boy. Since he is willing to come for a blind date, he either likes you or Old Gu’s power. You have to actively seize the opportunity.” 

Chen Yanfei pretended to be reserved, “But he didn’t leave his contact information.” 

“It’s easy. I’ll ask Mrs. Guo to arrange another date for you two to meet alone.” 

Song Yaling patted her daughter’s hand gently, “Yanfei, you are already 27 years old. Don’t be shy when you need to take the initiative. It’s true that soldiers are dull, but they will definitely take responsibility. 

If he dares to be irresponsible, the base organization will give you an answer. Are you afraid he won’t marry you?” 

Chen Yanfei understood her mother’s hint and started to scheme, “Why not arrange the meeting at Mrs. Gu’s house? That way, there will be witnesses.” 

Seeing her daughter come to her senses, Song Yaling was satisfied, “Well, if you are smart, I will help you.” 

The mother and daughter didn’t mention Jiang Ning again, and they were ready to deny it even if the truth came out, but they both knew that as long as Jiang Ning was in the base, no one would have a good life. 

Facing the candles and cake, Song Yaling was lost in thought, her mind filled with memories of meeting Gu Tinglin thirty years ago, but it was a pity that she could never go back to the innocence and beauty of the past. 

The natural disaster left them both unrecognizable, with only a tattered shell left. 

Chen Yanfei went back to her room, tossing and turning in bed, unable to sleep, with Jiang Ning’s face lingering in her mind. 

Bitch! 

Beating and scolding her in the villa area, forcing her to eat filth, making her lose face, and now entering the base, humiliating her in public, and even trying to snatch her identity. 

She couldn’t live without the identity of Gu Tinglin’s daughter, let alone find a good man to marry and secure a worry-free future. Even if she denied it till death, Jiang Ning was a ticking time bomb, and Gu Tinglin wasn’t easily fooled. 

Jiang Ning can’t stay; she must die. This matter can’t be delayed! 

The more she thinks about it, the more hateful Chen Yanfei feels. “Jiang Ning, I’m going to kill you!” 

Jiang Ning was completely unaware of Chen Yanfei’s malicious intent. 

At that moment, she was eating when she suddenly sneezed several times in a row. 

She rubbed her nose, “I wonder who is talking bad about me.” 

After being with her for a long time, Huo Yishen developed a little sense of humor, “It’s probably Chen Yanfei.” 

“It’s definitely her,” Jiang Ning agreed. Who knows what curses she was muttering behind her back? 

But Jiang Ning wasn’t afraid. After all, they were in the base, where even scavengers didn’t dare to act recklessly, let alone the dim-witted Chen Yanfei. 

She wasn’t worried about random trouble; she had encountered far worse over the years. 

However, she was curious about how Chen Yanfei seemed to be doing well. 

After so many years of the apocalypse, if she hadn’t changed her toxic and foolish ways, it meant she had some sort of protection. 

The mall belonged to the military, and military families were given priority in recruiting employees. It would be strange if she didn’t use the back door to get this job that countless people envied.  

Blind dates at work meant that she was not married yet, and she wanted to find a rich husband. 

The potential suitor was a deputy battalion commander, young, handsome, and upright. Jiang Ning couldn’t help but laugh when she thought about how Chen Yanfei was practically glued to him. 

She remembered that when Rong Sanshao was drunk, he had boasted to Qin Chuan about his romantic history. Not to mention the young stars and models, there were many celebrities in the villa area who had a good impression of him. 

“Brother Chuan, I’m not lying to you. There are so many women who want to seduce me. The one who raises alpacas kept coming on to me repeatedly. It’s really annoying. You don’t know that in order to seduce me, her whole family went out to have a pool party in the hottest weather and stripped naked in front of me.” 

“It’s a pity, though. I’ve seen all sorts of women, and women like her are just disgusting.” 

Qin Chuan was also drunk. “I believe it; how can I not believe it? She bought the fresh water and ice cubes for the pool party from me.” 

Jiang Ning, who sold fresh water and ice, thought, “What a pity!” 

With nothing much to do, she chatted with Huo Yishen about gossip, “Who do you think Chen Yanfei’s backer is? She has no ability but lives a comfortable life.” 

If she had a wealthy benefactor, she wouldn’t dare go out for a blind date so openly. 

Huo Yishen didn’t know or care. “I don’t know. Once the test results are out, we’ll use the points to exchange for a submarine.” 

True, Chen Yanfei was just a minor annoyance, and they couldn’t forget the bigger matters at hand. 

The days of waiting were hard, but none of them went out. They stayed at home quietly, eating and sleeping, sleeping and eating, or playing Landlord. 

The tree wants to be still, but the wind won’t stop. Everyone in the scavenging circle knew that the two had found a treasure, and every day someone came to knock on their door. 

There were those looking to profit, those trying to recruit, and all sorts of shady characters. 

Even if they shouted at the gate of the yard, Jiang Ning and Huo Yishen upstairs did not make a sound. 

The dog lay lazily, snoring as if he was dead. 

Two days passed like this. After breakfast, they went to the scavenging weighing station in the trading center…