Chapter 69: Clearing Things Up

The phrase “let him speak” was said very calmly, but it was because it was so calm that it made Ji Ze stiffen all over. He dared not look at his uncle’s expression, and Ji Duo’s tall figure also paused there.

But since things had come to this point, Ji Duo was never one to avoid things. He put the peeled shrimp into Lin Qiao’s bowl and looked at her, “Let me explain.”

The truth was already forced out, so it didn’t matter who said it. Lin Qiao nodded to show she didn’t mind.

Ji Duo lowered his eyes and wiped his hands, “There were some rumors back then, saying that you were promised to me by the family, living with us because we were about to get married. You know what kind of person our dad is, a man of his word. He promised your grandfather he would take care of you for life, so he couldn’t go back on his word.”

Lin Qiao believed this. After the incident with Lin Shouyi’s letter, anyone else might not have been willing to fulfill this marriage agreement when she came to them. But Grandpa Ji had no hesitation. Before knowing the truth, he had Ji Duo accompany her back to solve the problem and even wrote an introduction letter.

“With things turning out like this, it was impossible for Xiao Ze to marry you. With those rumors, you would have felt very awkward at home. Mom and Dad didn’t want you to have no place to stay in Yandu, so they had me marry you, and I agreed.”

Ji Duo’s style of speaking was still as concise as ever, just stating the facts without any emotional color.

Lin Qiao could understand why Grandpa Ji made this choice, but…

“Why didn’t you tell me directly back then? Whether it was Xiao Ze’s refusal, the rumors, or the change in the arranged marriage, why didn’t you tell me?”

Marriage was indeed the best choice for Lin Qiao at that time, but if the Ji family had told her directly that they were unwilling, she wouldn’t have insisted on marrying into the family.

But neither Old Mr. Ji, Xu Li, nor Ji Duo, who ultimately decided to marry her, ever said anything. She always thought this marriage was a mutual agreement.

Ji Duo was silent for a moment. He couldn’t say it was because he feared Lin Qiao would feel awkward with his elder brother’s family in the future. After all, he knew Old Mr. Ji had another consideration: to save face for his eldest son’s family.

Ten fingers may not be the same length, but biting any one of them hurts.

As an elder, he always hoped for family harmony and would avoid conflicts if possible. If Lin Qiao knew about this, she would have been at odds with the eldest son’s family from the start, and the family would have been divided, never achieving harmony.

But no matter how much Old Mr. Ji considered, he couldn’t stop Ye Minshu from targeting Lin Qiao, even going too far, forcing him to send his eldest son away.

Finally, he looked at Lin Qiao, “Our family was in the wrong, making you suffer.” He didn’t say whose idea it was to keep it from Lin Qiao.

But Lin Qiao could guess. If it had been his own idea, not involving others, he would have said it was his fault.

After nearly a year together, she understood this man’s character well. He was responsible, kept his promises, and was sentimental. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have continued to care for Old Gu after Gu Shaoping’s death, helping him find people and uncover the truth. But while it was reassuring to be the one he kept his promises to, it was hard not to feel unhappy being the one kept in the dark.

Since she had already asked, she decided to clarify everything in one go: “Was the rumor deliberately spread by someone?”

Ji Ze’s face flushed, but he didn’t choose to avoid it this time, ” My mom spread it. She wanted to ruin the marriage. But it’s not entirely her fault. I had an attitude problem. If I had agreed directly or explained things to you, maybe none of this would have happened.”

The same goes for the business. If he had been as decisive as his uncle, by the time his mother found out, it would have been too late to change anything, and it wouldn’t have dragged on for so long, causing his father to be transferred far away.

He filled his wine glass, raised it, and looked at Lin Qiao, “I’m sorry, our whole family owes you an apology for this.”

“So, is this matter explained now?” Lin Qiao looked at the uncle and then at the nephew and stood up. “You two eat first; I’m going to the canteen.”

“Qiao Qiao.” Ji Duo immediately stood up.

Then there was the flustered Ji Ze, “Aunt, I…”

“You’ve thrown such a big bombshell at me. I need some time to digest it, right?” Lin Qiao interrupted him, first washing her hands at the sink.

After washing, she dried her hands with a towel, took her coat from the rack at the living room door, and went out.

Watching her slender figure disappear into the distance, the uncle and nephew stood by the door for a long time without moving.

“I’m sorry, I think I messed up again.” After a long while, Ji Ze was the first to lower his head, his tone full of regret and frustration.

Ji Duo continued looking toward the courtyard gate, “She’s not angry at you. She’s angry at me for keeping it from her.”

Lin Qiao was indeed angry about that. After all, whether Ji Ze was willing or not, she married Ji Duo, and Ji Duo was her husband.

She could understand Ji Duo’s reasons for doing so. When there is a family scandal, no one wants an outsider, especially a new daughter-in-law who isn’t very familiar with them, to know about it. The elders wanted to smooth things over, and Ji Duo agreed, so it was impossible for him to agree with his parents and then secretly tell her, putting his parents in a bad light.

Understanding doesn’t mean she wouldn’t be angry.

The whole Ji family knew about the arranged marriage switch, but they kept it from her as if they were all in on a scheme to make a fool of her.

Previously, Ji Duo only wanted to be her business partner, which was fine. But if he wanted to cross her comfort zone and still keep it from her, did he really think she was the kind of woman who would feel happy being deceived for a lifetime?

Lin Qiao didn’t inherit the romantic and naive genes from her parents. If she had only been naive and romantic, her mentality would have collapsed during her childhood when she most longed for love.

It was a good thing she wasn’t deeply in love or a hopeless romantic. Otherwise, if she had found out about these things after falling deeply, she would have been more than just angry. Of course, a hopeless romantic might automatically find excuses for the other person.

The early spring evening wind was still a bit chilly. Lin Qiao walked out into the dusk, and soon, she had completely calmed down.

Wasn’t it just a case of mistaken identity?

Wasn’t it just being kept in the dark all along?

She came to the Ji family to fulfill this marriage contract, not to find a partner to her liking. No matter what, the Ji family had helped her, and she owed them this favor. As for the favor, since some things had already been said, it would be better to make things even clearer.

When Lin Qiao returned, Ji Ze had already left. Under the dim kitchen light, only Ji Duo was still sitting there, as if he had been waiting for her.

Noticing her footsteps, the man turned his head, “You’re back.”

Lin Qiao responded with a “Hmm,” walked over, and sat down, noticing that besides money and accounts, there was also a paper contract on the table.

“Xiao Ze drafted that.” Ji Duo glanced at her line of sight, “He has already applied for a business license and officially established the factory.”

Lin Qiao picked it up and looked at it. Probably feeling guilty, Ji Ze gave her a 40% share this time. After deducting the 10% given to the old employees, he was left with only 50%.

“Drink some hot water.” Ji Duo handed her a cup. Seeing that she didn’t take it, he placed it on the table in front of her.

This was actually a signal for reconciliation. He wanted to talk to Lin Qiao about what had just happened.

But Lin Qiao didn’t touch the cup of water and put down the contract in her hand, “This marriage is a burden to you, isn’t it?”

The question was sudden, and Ji Duo was silent momentarily. But soon, under Lin Qiao’s gaze, he raised his eyes, his gaze dark and direct, “Do you want to hear the truth?”

“Of course, the truth.” Lin Qiao looked back without avoiding, “Haven’t I heard enough lies this past year?”

Ji Duo looked at her and said, “It is a bit, but it’s not aimed at you. It’s aimed at the marriage itself. After all, this wasn’t part of my original plan.”

He wasn’t someone with heavy emotional needs, nor did he have an obsession with marriage and family. He preferred to spend more time and energy on work. Pushing the marriage contract onto him was like disrupting his original plan, messing up the rhythm of his life, adding a layer of responsibility and a layer of restraint. But this matter was their family’s fault, not Lin Qiao’s. He couldn’t blame Lin Qiao. And after nearly a year of getting along, he no longer felt that this marriage was a burden.

But Lin Qiao asked him, “Since it’s not in your life plan, do you want to return to your original track?”

This question was like a bucket of cold water, even colder than when Lin Qiao discovered the truth and said, “Let him speak.”

For the first time, Ji Duo asked a pointless question, “What do you mean?”

Lin Qiao’s words were very calm, “I’ve thought it over carefully. Actually, my purpose in fulfilling this marriage contract wasn’t pure, and I have no right to demand anything from you or the Ji family. If you think this marriage is a burden, we can each take a step back. Consider this formula my gift to you.”

If Ji Duo were the male lead in the original book, destined to divorce her in the future, their relationship would just be a mutually beneficial cooperation, nothing more.

But he wasn’t, so Lin Qiao was forced upon him against his will, whether it was Lin Qiao or Old Master Ji who did it.

Since it was a mistake from the beginning, why continue this mistake and make both of them unhappy?

Lin Qiao looked at Ji Duo, waiting for his answer. Unexpectedly, the man stared at her for a long time, then suddenly laughed, angered, “Do you really not understand, or are you pretending not to understand?”

The man glanced coldly at the contract, pressing it against the dining table and glaring at her, “Let’s not talk about the fact that since I agreed to this marriage, I never thought about divorce. If I really thought it was a burden, I could have just kept you at home as a decoration. Why would I care about your feelings?”

“When you hid so many things from me, you didn’t seem to care about my feelings.”

Although Lin Qiao had to look up at him, her momentum was not weak at all, making Ji Duo’s expression freeze and speechless.

“And you said marriage is serious and shouldn’t be mentioned lightly, but this serious marriage started with concealment.” Her tone was calm as she threw out another sentence. This time, Ji Duo’s entire momentum was gone. He looked down at her for a long time, his voice also lowered, “This is all my fault. What do you need to do to calm down?”

This sentence was not even a plea for peace but a coaxing. If his soldiers heard it, they would probably think their commander had been possessed.

Lin Qiao’s face showed no emotion. She raised her eyebrows and asked, “What do you need to do to agree to a divorce?”

“Not divorcing, impossible.”

Lin Qiao had known the man for so long that she had never seen him speak so quickly, and it was two consecutive denials.

It seemed he really didn’t intend to divorce, and he didn’t gamble, didn’t commit domestic violence, didn’t cheat, and had no major faults. As long as he didn’t agree, their military marriage couldn’t be dissolved.

Lin Qiao looked at the man, and the man looked at her. Neither of them blinked or avoided, with no intention of compromising.

“Then let’s leave it at that.” Lin Qiao wasn’t trying to get a result today, “No matter what, I’m grateful that the Ji family was willing to save me.”

After saying that, she got up, took the contract, accounts, and money from the table, and slipped out from under the man’s arm, going straight upstairs.

Once she left, Ji Duo’s kitchen became completely cold and quiet. Even the cup of hot water he had poured for Lin Qiao gradually lost its heat.

Just a few days ago, in the same place, Lin Qiao had jumped up to snatch the camera from him, not letting him take ugly photos of her. Now she was here talking about divorce.

Ji Duo looked at the spot on his chest where the camera had pressed, wanting to smoke a cigarette, but found his pocket empty.

He then remembered that his nephew had earlier taken his last two cigarettes. He sat down at the dining table, picked up the shrimp he had peeled for Lin Qiao, and took a bite with a blank expression.

The cold seafood tasted even fishier, and he frowned immediately, but he still ate everything in Lin Qiao’s bowl, one bite at a time.

After finishing and washing the dishes, he heard footsteps coming from the stairs outside. Lin Qiao came down again.

Ji Duo’s gaze instantly fell on her, but Lin Qiao asked him, “Do you have Xiao Ze’s phone number?”

“What do you need him for?” Ji Duo’s voice turned cold.

Lin Qiao pretended not to hear the coldness, “Isn’t Chen Zhaonan working for him? Ask him to lend Chen Zhaonan to me for a few days. I’ll pay him.”

“Do you need something?” Ji Duo immediately asked, but Lin Qiao responded with a nonchalant “Hmm,” not really wanting to engage with him.

He could only say, “I’ll call for you.” He wiped his hands and dialed Ji Ze’s number.

Having just caused a big mess, Ji Ze agreed wholeheartedly, “No need for Auntie to pay. Auntie, you can use him as you wish.”

“That’s not how it works. Whoever’s money it is, they should do the work.” Lin Qiao insisted.

Ji Ze then asked when she needed him and where to send him. After everything was arranged, the phone returned to Ji Duo’s hand, and he cautiously asked, “Is Auntie satisfied with the contract?”

Satisfied. Very satisfied!

She even wanted to use it as a thank-you gift and divorce him.

Ji Duo hung up the phone with a “snap.”

Lin Qiao needed help mainly because the exhibition was about to open, and she had to set up her part of the venue in advance, but she couldn’t leave.

In less than a year in Yandu, most people she knew had jobs and couldn’t help her. Besides her neighbor Liu Cuiying, only Chen Zhaonan was available. She had already asked Liu Cuiying during the day, who agreed immediately and even informed Captain Liang and Junzi to eat at the canteen for those days. With Chen Zhaonan, the two of them could set up the venue together.

That night, for the first time, Lin Qiao and Ji Duo’s beds had two quilts. Ji Duo used the original large one, and Lin Qiao took a smaller one for herself.

Ji Duo stood by the bed for a long time, just about to speak, but Lin Qiao had already closed her eyes.

The following days were the same. During the day, everything was normal, but at night, they each had their own quilt and slept separately. Lin Qiao’s attitude also reverted to when they first got married or even when they first met—polite, gracious, and measured, never making things difficult for anyone.

He asked her if she needed a car, and she said thank you, but no.

He said he had time on Sunday and asked if she needed his help. She said there were enough people, thank you.

Ji Duo then realized that in the past six months of marriage, not only had he changed, but Lin Qiao had also changed a lot. Especially after they started to open up to each other through the Gu family matters, she gradually became aware of his feelings. Unfortunately, some things are hard to build but too easy to break.

Compared to Ji Duo, Lin Qiao was much busier and had no time to pay attention to his feelings. This exhibition lasted three days. Since it was just starting, it wasn’t very large, mainly organized by provinces.

The recommended units were under the provinces. Taking the school route, Lin Qiao was arranged with various universities in Yandu. In front of her were prestigious schools like Tsinghua and Peking University, but when it came to her, it was just XX Middle School. Although the exhibition area wasn’t large, anyone who walked by couldn’t help but take a few more glances.

Liu Cuiying, who came to help, had never seen such a scene. Usually loud at home, she started speaking softly, “So many people, I hope I don’t mess up.”

The exhibition naturally showcased not only finished products but also their usage and effects. Lin Qiao and Chen Zhaonan were responsible for this, constantly demonstrating the different uses of several products.

Lin Qiao smiled and reassured her, “The jury hasn’t arrived yet. These are just the public who came in for free. No need to be nervous.”

Liu Cuiying thought about it and agreed, “They’re not paying for tickets or judging you. Why should I be nervous?”

Feeling more relaxed, she noticed Chen Zhaonan quietly working beside her, “Your girl is really diligent.”

Chen Zhaonan just smiled. Liu Cuiying couldn’t help but tell Lin Qiao, “Where did you find this Xiao Chen? She’s more capable than I was at her age.”

While they were busy, someone passed by the booth, then came back and asked, “Who invented this oil remover?”

It was a balding man in his thirties or forties.

Liu Cuiying and Chen Zhaonan both looked at Lin Qiao. The man was clearly surprised, “You invented it?”

Not only he, but Liu Cuiying and Chen Zhaonan were also shocked when they first found out. Chen Zhaonan, who worked at the liquid soap factory and knew its scale and daily sales, couldn’t believe the formula came from Lin Qiao.

But while they were just surprised, the man, seeing how young Lin Qiao was, had other ideas. He leaned closer to Lin Qiao, held up three fingers, and lowered his voice, “I’ll pay this price. How about selling me the formula?”

Those three fingers clearly weren’t Ji Ze’s 30% profit. Lin Qiao smiled, “I’m not selling this formula.”

“That’s all I can offer.” He added another five fingers with his other hand, “You make so little as a teacher. This is worth several years of your salary. I’m just looking to invest and take a gamble. It might not even be useful. If you don’t want to sell, I’ll buy someone else’s.”

Clearly, he was trying his luck at the exhibition, looking for potential inventions and hoping the inventors didn’t know their worth.

Lin Qiao wasn’t a big company engineer or a prestigious university student, just a middle school teacher, so it was normal to be targeted. She didn’t want to waste any more words with him and was about to look away when someone suddenly said, “Don’t sell it. Your invention is very useful.”

They looked over, including Liu Cuiying and Chen Zhaonan, who were busy on the other side, and saw a ‘little old man’ in his fifties.

He was called “little old man” at just over fifty because he looked unremarkable and dressed very plainly. At first glance, one might think he was an old farmer from the outskirts of Yandu.

The fat man was obviously displeased at being interrupted, “Where did you come from to say this thing is useful? Do you even understand?”

The little old man ignored him and looked at Lin Qiao, “Do you teach chemistry?”

Lin Qiao nodded, and he looked at the oil removal process being demonstrated nearby, “Your emulsification is very fast and doesn’t destroy the original structure of things. It can be used in many fields. Don’t sell it casually.”

As if worried that Lin Qiao was too young to understand, he added, “If you’re really unsure, I can introduce you to someone reliable later…”

Before he could finish, the fat man interrupted, “I see why you don’t want her to sell it. You want it too, trying to steal business.”

The fat man sneered, “Don’t you know the rules? You dare to interfere when others are negotiating?”

Indeed, the old rule in Yandu was that you shouldn’t interrupt when others are negotiating, let alone deliberately sabotage. But Lin Qiao didn’t think the little old man was there to do business.

She smiled and asked the little old man, “Are you in this line of work?”

This made the little old man look at her again, with a hint of a smile in his eyes.

At that moment, a familiar voice sounded not far away, “Xiao Yan?”

Lin Qiao was stunned for a moment. The little old man had already turned around and greeted the newcomer with a smile, “Teacher Xu, you’re here for the exhibition too?”

It was Xu Li. Lin Qiao hadn’t had a chance to tell her she was participating in the exhibition, so how did she end up here?

Lin Qiao instinctively scanned the crowd and, sure enough, saw a familiar tall figure not far behind her.