Chapter 70

“Comrade Ruan, I heard you were injured, so I came to check on you,” Ye Qiu said with a smile, holding some items in her hands. She looked particularly polite, completely different from the way she had acted at Commander Li’s home.

Caught off guard by her friendly demeanor, Ruan Mingfu hesitated.

“It’s nothing serious; I’m almost fully recovered,” she replied.

“I heard about it,” Ye Qiu said, indignant as she slapped her thigh. “That stepmother of yours is truly awful! I’ll help you deal with her if you need it.”

Ruan Mingfu was left speechless.

Ye Qiu clearly looked down on the nanny. Although her own moral standards were low, she considered herself a person of some dignity and wouldn’t stoop to such disgusting behavior.

“Enough about her. It’s a lovely day. It would be bad luck to dwell on it,” Ye Qiu said, glancing around the yard. “Your yard is so tidy! I can tell Comrade Ruan is a hardworking person.”

Ruan Mingfu thought to herself, No one is lazier than me.

“Look at how well these bok choys are growing. They’re so fresh!”

“I’ve been growing vegetables for years and still can’t match your skills, Comrade Ruan. Hehe…”

Ruan Mingfu felt a bit embarrassed. “Oh, it’s nothing special.”

The truth was, the vegetables were all tended to by the men. Tiezhu pulled the weeds, and Gu Yilin watered them. She hadn’t done a thing.

Honestly, the compliments she had received recently were more than she had ever gotten in her entire life.

“Comrade Ruan, I heard your parents are here too?”

“Yes.”

Ye Qiu’s eyes brightened. “Can I meet them? I’d love to see what kind of parents could raise a daughter as beautiful as you.”

It had to be said, when Ye Qiu wasn’t being crazy, she could be quite pleasant to talk to.

“My dad went to work, but my mom is here,” Ruan Mingfu said, feeling buoyed by the compliments. She called out, “Mom!”

Before long, Mrs. Ruan emerged from the house.

Ye Qiu immediately jumped to her feet and rushed over, showering Mrs. Ruan with compliments as if they were free.

“Ah, I knew that a mother who could raise a daughter like Comrade Ruan must be exceptional!”

“Who are you?”

Mrs. Ruan looked Ye Qiu up and down and asked doubtfully.

Ruan Mingfu was about to start the introduction when Ye Qiu spoke first.

“I’m the daughter-in-law of Commander Li. My last name is Ye, and my name is Ye Qiu.”

Mrs. Ruan’s expression changed to one of understanding.

“Please, have a seat.”

“Okay!” Ye Qiu complied, sitting down. “Since I’m a bit older, I’ll just call you ‘sister.’”

Mrs. Ruan nodded, “Then I’ll call you ‘sister’ too.”

“How wonderful! My mom had a lot of sons, but I’ve always wanted a sister,” Ye Qiu sighed. “I truly envy you for having such excellent children. Unlike me…”

Ruan Mingfu listened to their friendly banter from the side, feeling amused. If she didn’t know better, she’d think they were long-lost sisters by the warmth of their conversation.

She rested her chin in her hands, eavesdropping.

“…If my daughter were anything like Comrade Ruan, my dad and I would be burning incense in gratitude.”

“Just take your time with the kids,” Mrs. Ruan said with the air of someone who had been through it all. “The more anxious you are, the more they’ll push back…”

Ruan Mingfu thought, Really? She wondered if Mrs. Ruan remembered how she had once scolded her, and it didn’t seem like the “taking it slow” approach had ever been her style.

As the two continued talking, Ruan Mingfu started to feel bored and gazed at the clouds outside.

“Mom.”

Qi Yangyan walked in from outside.

Today, he was wearing a suit that accentuated his tall figure. He looked handsome, and upon closer inspection, he bore a slight resemblance to Mrs. Ruan.

Ye Qiu had noticed him the moment he entered. When she heard him call Mrs. Ruan “Mom,” her eyes lit up.

“Why are you back so soon?”

“I forgot my notebook. Do you know where it is?”

“Scatterbrained,” Mrs. Ruan said as she stood up. “Wait a moment; I’ll go get it.”

The more Ye Qiu looked at Qi Yangyan, the more she liked him.

“So, you must be Comrade Qi,” she said.

Qi Yangyan nodded.

“You’re quite handsome,” Ye Qiu said, her eyes sparkling. “I wonder where you’re currently working…”

“Here!”

Before she could finish her sentence, Mrs. Ruan returned with the notebook.

Qi Yangyan took it and said, “I’ll be going now.”

In an instant, he was out the door, his tall figure disappearing in the blink of an eye.

Ye Qiu’s eyes followed him until he was out of sight, and then she turned back to Mrs. Ruan.

“Sister, you’re so lucky! Your daughter is great, and your son is even better,” she said, looking at Mrs. Ruan. “I wonder if he’s dating anyone.”

Unfazed by Ye Qiu’s intentions, Mrs. Ruan replied straightforwardly, “No.”

Ye Qiu turned abruptly. “That’s such a… such a pity.”

She initially meant to say “great,” but upon seeing Mrs. Ruan’s expression, she quickly changed her words.

“What’s there to pity? I’m not planning to interfere,” Mrs. Ruan said calmly as she took a sip of water. “They have to live their own lives; their partner should be someone they genuinely want.”

Ye Qiu had never heard such a perspective before and was taken aback for a moment.

“Sister, you’re really open-minded.”

Nowadays, who isn’t pressured to get married when they reach a certain age? In the countryside, girls are often married off by seventeen or eighteen.

“They’re not kids anymore, they don’t need to be managed,” Mrs. Ruan waved her hand. “I’d rather enjoy some peaceful days.”

Ye Qiu pondered for a moment.

But soon, she remembered why she had come.

“Sister, may I ask you a bold question?” Ye Qiu ventured, noticing Mrs. Ruan’s unchanged expression. “You don’t only have Comrade Ruan as a daughter, do you?”

“I’m just curious. If it’s uncomfortable, you can pretend you didn’t hear.”

“There’s nothing to it,” Mrs. Ruan explained directly. “Our families have been connected for generations, and this child has a tragic background, having lost his mother… I felt a connection with him, so I decided to take him as my godson.”

Ye Qiu understood. “So that’s how it is. Sister, you have a truly kind heart…”

They continued chatting about various topics, and it wasn’t long before Ye Qiu prepared to leave.

“Wait,” Mrs. Ruan said, pulling out some jujube cake she had made. “This is homemade, just for you.”

The sweet aroma wafted through the air, and despite her initial intentions to refuse, Ye Qiu found herself unable to say no.

“Then I won’t be polite.”

“If you won’t accept it, then I won’t accept what you brought…”

Ye Qiu’s smile widened. “After today’s chat, I realize there are indeed kindred spirits in this world. Sister, you must come visit my home sometime. I’ll treat you well…”

After sending Ye Qiu off, Mrs. Ruan turned to find Ruan Mingfu with an expression that said it all.

“Mom, how do you manage to chat with anyone so easily?”

“Use your brain,” Mrs. Ruan said, tapping Ruan Mingfu on the head, clearly frustrated. “She brought gifts and didn’t say anything inappropriate. Why act like a chicken with its head cut off? Is this how I taught you?”

Feeling a bit aggrieved, Ruan Mingfu cradled her head.

There was no need to get physical while talking.

“I can’t believe you don’t realize she’s got her eyes on my brother.”

Mrs. Ruan rolled her eyes.

Ruan Mingfu thought Mrs. Ruan was about to strike her again and instinctively leaned back.

“Your brother is old enough, it’s time for him to find a partner and consider marriage. People are chosen, so it’s good for your brother to meet more people, so he won’t be a single dog when he’s young.”

Hanging around under her nose all day long.

Annoying!

“Mom?” Ruan Mingfu looked at Mrs. Ruan in disbelief. “Did you really just sell out my brother?”

Mrs. Ruan was so angry she almost twisted her ear.

“What do you mean ‘sold’? What nonsense are you spouting?”

“You were chatting so happily with her today. What if she brings her daughter over tomorrow? Will my brother accept her or not?”

The last time she met Li Xiuxiu, it felt quite normal, but she couldn’t exactly sort out her feelings regarding Xie Yanzhao. One thing was for sure—she didn’t want Qi Yangyan to have any connection with Li Xiuxiu.

Mrs. Ruan: “…”

She raised her hand, and Ruan Mingfu immediately covered her head in caution.

“Who said that meeting someone means you have to get married? There are plenty of opportunities later. There’s always a way to say no.”

Mrs. Ruan felt like banging her head against a wall, wondering what was going on inside her daughter’s mind.

“Xiao Xie is too indulgent with you, raising you to be this way. Just look at your brain—it’s no different from the village idiot at the corner!” The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. “What did I teach you?”

Ruan Mingfu: “…”

This is a calamity!

Mrs. Ruan twisted her ear, and Ruan Mingfu quickly begged for mercy.

“Mom… I’m sorry, I really am…”

“It’s too late,” Mrs. Ruan easily subdued Ruan Mingfu. “From tomorrow, you’re going to study seriously with me!”

…

Ye Qiu was happily returning home with the gift Mrs. Ruan had given her.

Li Jian happened to be home and, seeing her joyful expression, smiled and asked, “What’s made you so happy today? Did you find money outside?”

“Even better than finding money.”

“Oh?”

“I found a new son-in-law for our daughter.”

“Pfft—”

Li Jian was drinking water when he heard this and nearly choked.

“What?!”

Ye Qiu was provoked by his reaction and shot him an annoyed look.

“Are you deaf?”

“I forgot,” Li Jian said, feeling somewhat exasperated. “The last time you argued with our daughter so fiercely, and now you want to introduce her to someone?”

After their last big fight, Ye Qiu had become quite silent. Li Jian thought she had given up, but here she was stirring up trouble again.

“No way, no way. Don’t you remember our daughter’s temperament?”

“This one is different. I’m sure she’ll agree,” Ye Qiu was full of confidence. “You just need to bring her back. Hurry up!”

“I’m not going.”

Li Jian was feeling a headache coming on.

This mother-daughter pair was in a state of cold war after their argument. Ye Qiu couldn’t bring herself to face it, so she needed Li Jian to intervene.

“If you don’t go, then sleep on the street,” Ye Qiu placed the jujube cake on the table. “If you don’t complete this task, don’t expect me to treat you like my husband.”

Li Jian: “…”

He was about to respond when he suddenly caught a whiff of a special aroma. He sniffed and his gaze fell on the package of jujube cake.

As he peeled off the outer wrapping, the scent grew stronger.

Li Jian couldn’t wait to tear off a piece and pop it in his mouth. His eyes lit up immediately. Just as he reached for another piece, a well-manicured hand swatted him away.

“If you don’t go get our daughter back, don’t eat my things.”

Li Jian swallowed hard.

“Fine, I’ll go, okay?”

Ye Qiu was finally satisfied. “I’m doing this for her good.”

Besides, the other party was so outstanding; she was worried Li Xiuxiu wouldn’t be good enough.

And yet this stubborn girl didn’t appreciate her efforts at all!

She is her own daughter. If it were someone else, she wouldn’t bother to care.