Chapter 26: Resigned to Fate

Xiao Qingru ended her leave and walked to work as usual.

“Comrade Xiao, Jiang Chuan and I are getting married in the auditorium in ten days. Be sure to come to the wedding,” Du Wanqiu called out to her.

Xiao Qingru looked Du Wanqiu up and down with a smile. “You’re in good health.”

Du Wanqiu felt uncomfortable under her gaze, suspecting Xiao Qingru was mocking her. Was she being judged for having had a child or for not having as good a figure?

Her insecurity hit hard, and she averted her eyes, feeling exposed and humiliated. She tugged at her old cotton jacket, its sleeves frayed, contrasting with Xiao Qingru’s military coat.

Ashamed and embarrassed, Du Wanqiu regretted calling out to Xiao Qingru.

Struggling to maintain a smile, she said, “You’re a dancer, after all we ordinary folks can’t compare to you, Comrade Xiao. No need to be little us regular people.”

Xiao Qingru chuckled. “I never said that. Don’t use ‘ordinary people’ as a shield.”

“Comrade Xiao, I understand sarcasm.”

“It seems you don’t understand people very well.”

Du Wanqiu’s chest heaved, recognizing now that Xiao Qingru wasn’t just subtly mocking her she was openly insulting her!

“Comrade Xiao, for someone who’s supposedly educated, you speak very harshly.”

If she didn’t care about her reputation, Xiao Qingru would have dealt with Du Wanqiu more bluntly. “I was complimenting you, actually. Look at you not only skipping postnatal care but even heading to the mountains to risk your life, and still you’re fine. I just meant you’re healthy. Was I wrong?”

Du Wanqiu was speechless. Had Xiao Qingru always been this sharp tongued? Or had she pretended to be gentle just to appeal to Jiang Chuan? Such scheming!

But it didn’t matter. Jiang Chuan didn’t want her anymore.

Almost late for work, Xiao Qingru couldn’t be bothered with her. “You’re awfully proud of picking up what others discard. Seems you’re skilled in scavenging. If you ever fall on hard times, instead of putting on a show in the mountains, consider scrap collecting as a career.”

Du Wanqiu was furious and muttered, “Enjoy your life no man even wants you!”

Just then, she noticed a neighbor watching her with a smirk.

“Oh, Sister Li, heading out?”

“Yes, to catch the show,” Sister Li replied, turning on her heel.

Panic gripped Du Wanqiu had her insults been overheard?

Worry gnawed at her all day. If word got out that she’d insulted Xiao Qingru, and it soured her image in the Jiang family, she’d be devastated.

And as fate would have it, her outburst spread around town.

“I’m not surprised, given her smug attitude. It makes sense she’d badmouth Xiao Qingru behind her back.”

“Honestly, if Xiao Qingru wanted to reconcile with Jiang Chuan, there’d be no room for Du Wanqiu.”

“Who would have thought Xiao Qingru could talk back like that?”

“Push anyone far enough, and they’ll snap. If it were you, you’d probably hit someone.”

“Xiao Qingru’s a catch. Only a fool would think stealing a man means stealing everything.”

“This one’s a troublemaker the Jiang family’s in for a ride.”

“I hear Jiang Chuan’s mother dislikes her. I should pass this along to keep them informed.”

“Who would like a daughter in law like that?”

By the time this story reached Jiang Chuan’s mother, it was exaggerated beyond recognition Du Wanqiu had supposedly insulted Xiao Qingru in public, with witnesses.

Jiang’s mother never liked Du Wanqiu “dislike” didn’t even begin to cover it. But with the marriage report filed and the wedding date set, what could she do? Her son had made his choice.

But she tucked this incident away in her mind, intending to bring it up with Jiang Chuan later.

“So, she’s giving Qingru trouble? I thought you said she was meek and would be easy to handle.”

After a pause, Jiang Chuan replied, “Mom, these are just rumors. Don’t take them seriously.”

“Where there’s smoke, there’s fire. Seems to me this Du Wanqiu is a handful.”

“Mom, she’s not like that.”

“She must have something up her sleeve to have you agreeing to marry her.”

Jiang Chuan shook off troubling thoughts, reminding himself that he was marrying her to take responsibility, not to let her be consumed by rumors. What did it matter if she was a bit strong-willed?

No one was more at fault than the gossips who spread these tales.

Still, as he thought more deeply, a shadow of doubt crept in. Was Du Wanqiu truly causing trouble for Qingru?

Torn, Jiang Chuan realized he’d wronged both women and could not bear the consequences of siding with either. His only choice was to let things lie.

“Son, it’s not too late to change your mind. There’s always a way out you don’t have to marry Du Wanqiu.”

“Mom, are you suggesting I go back on my word?”

“Better that than ruin your happiness. What’s a broken promise compared to a lifetime of regret?”

“This time, I won’t back down.”

He had already failed Qingru once. If he backed out now, he would only seem more contemptible to her.

Jiang Chuan’s mother sighed. “Fine, but don’t come to me if you regret this later.”

She’d said all she could, but her son wouldn’t listen. So she resigned herself to her fate after all, she wouldn’t be living with Du Wanqiu.