Chapter 81: Dream Story

Ji Ze indeed dreamt about Lin Qiao, but the development differed greatly from reality.

In reality, Lin Qiao came to find him the day he visited his grandfather in the hospital. In the dream, Lin Qiao appeared two days later.

In the dream, Lin Qiao didn’t meet his uncle, only his mother. His mother naturally refused to admit Lin Qiao had found the Ji family and drove her away. Lin Qiao, desperate and heartbroken, collapsed at the Ji family’s doorstep. When something happened, Aunt Zhang, who worked as a nanny for the Ji family, couldn’t ignore it, and the grandfather quickly found out. The old man was still in the hospital, and without even changing out of his hospital gown, he returned home. He watched as Lin Qiao was rushed in for emergency treatment and then brought out barely alive. The doctor said she had just had an attack a few days ago, and it was fortunate she was brought in time; otherwise, she might not have survived. The granddaughter of an old comrade who had saved his life, who also had a childhood betrothal with his family, almost died because of his eldest daughter-in-law’s actions. The old man’s anger was understandable. He immediately pointed at his mother and told her to leave, even driving out his father, who had rushed back.

In his twenty-something years of life, it was the first time he had seen his grandfather so strong-willed. This marriage was going to happen whether he wanted it or not. In the dream, he was even more reluctant than in reality, but no uncle could help his mother scheme and evade. Moreover, Lin Qiao was lying in a hospital bed, and any mishandling could result in a real tragedy. So he had no choice but to marry her, but he was unwilling and negotiated with his family. As long as he married Lin Qiao, the family had to fully support his business ventures. Unexpectedly, just as this was decided, Lin Qiao’s hometown had another mess to clean up.

Lin Qiao had run away on the day she was supposed to marry Ma Rongliang. Their introduction letters were ready, just waiting to register that day. Her escape led both families to search for her and report her missing, causing a lot of trouble for his family to resolve. How much could he like a wife brought in this way, even though Lin Qiao was indeed very beautiful?

So on the wedding night, he didn’t even enter the bridal chamber, drinking with his friends until late at night and sleeping on the sofa. The next day, he didn’t take any honeymoon leave and immediately started preparing to set up his electronics factory.

“An electronics factory?” Ji Duo paused, flicking the ash from his cigarette, his dark eyes fixed on Ji Ze’s face. “In the dream, your aunt didn’t make liquid soap?”

Still sore from the earlier scolding, Ji Ze didn’t dare hide anything, “I don’t know. In the dream, we weren’t close and only saw each other a few times a year. I just knew she didn’t work and stayed home all day, coming to ask for living expenses every now and then.”

Whether it was really for money or just an excuse to see him, he didn’t know. In the dream, he was just very annoyed.

In the dream, his business didn’t go as smoothly. Although marrying Lin Qiao meant he wasn’t directly rejected and received full support from his family, including a loan, his uncle blocked the purchase of the production line.

He didn’t know when his uncle contacted his aunt and uncle, bypassing him to order another production line from abroad. Of course, it later proved that his uncle’s decision was correct. But at the time, the news left him stunned, and Yu Jin, hearing about it, openly expressed distrust in him and started getting closer to Chen Weiguo.

During that time, he drifted apart from many of his friends, or rather, they drifted away from him. The factory’s operations were not as smooth as he had imagined.

Procurement, sales, and even the suppliers of raw materials tried to cheat him. He spent a lot of money learning lessons. Unlike in reality, where he initially sold products himself, knowing the ins and outs, the factory’s development, though with some minor setbacks, never suffered major losses.

Due to the difficult start, he spent a lot of effort getting the factory on track, leaving no time to deal with Lin Qiao.

The less he paid attention to her, the more she clung to him. Initially, she only came to ask for money, but later she suspected him of having an affair with the new female accountant at the factory.

He couldn’t understand it, as the Lin Qiao in the dream, apart from her face, was very different from the one he knew.

Ji Duo listened to him describe the dream Lin Qiao, who never worked and relied on him for living expenses. Without saying a word, his eyes grew darker.

Ji Ze, feeling the pain in his butt, quickly added, “This is really what I dreamt, not something I made up. If I were making it up, would I imagine divorcing Aunt and then marrying Song Jing? Someone completely unrelated. That’s why I say I’m sick. If I don’t enjoy each day now, I’ll have one less day.” He touched his slicked-back hair, adjusted his tie, and sighed deeply.

Ji Duo just looked at him, his gaze suggesting he didn’t see him as entirely normal.

After a long pause, Ji Duo took another drag of his cigarette, resting his hand on the open window sill, “You said you two divorced. When?”

“Time-wise, it was just a few months ago. I remember it was after three years, and I gave her a large sum of money,” Ji Ze said.

He gave her enough money to last a lifetime, mainly because he was really fed up, hoping she wouldn’t bother him again. Because Lin Qiao caused so much trouble in the dream, Ji Ze wanted a divorce. His grandparents didn’t say anything, and neither did his parents. Only his uncle looked at him deeply for a long time, “If you didn’t want to live with her, why did you marry her in the first place?”

“Just giving her money is enough? If you didn’t want to live with her, why did you marry her in the first place?”

Unexpectedly, even in a dream, his uncle said the same thing. Ji Ze wanted to defend himself, but he swallowed his words under his uncle’s cold gaze.

It seemed his uncle really wouldn’t marry if he didn’t want to live with someone. In the dream, Ji Ze had two children with Song Jing, while his uncle remained single, though his rank increased year by year.

Speaking of Song Jing, Ji Ze couldn’t understand how they ended up together.

In the dream, Lin Qiao had a heart attack, and the marriage was quickly arranged. His mother didn’t have time to find Song Jing to pretend to be his girlfriend, so they didn’t have much interaction.

However, Song Jing got engaged to Yu Jin, just like in reality, and they even got their marriage certificate. Yu Jin had an incident at the wedding. It was also because of the production line, and Chen Weiguo was involved, but whether Chen Weiguo asked him to pass a message to his uncle, that part didn’t seem to exist in the dream.

Just thinking about Yu Jin and Chen Weiguo, Ji Duo asked, “What happened to the Yu family in your dream?”

“They also fell,” Ji Ze said, “but two years later, this year, because of the Gu family.”

If the Yu family hadn’t fallen, even though Yu Jin was already ruined, it wouldn’t have been so easy for Song Jing to divorce him. Because of this formal marriage, Song Jing didn’t go south as she did in reality, and they eventually ended up together.

Ji Duo listened, his gaze darkening in thought. It seemed that Shaoping’s death was eventually uncovered…

“What about Shaozhen? Did you find her in your dream?”

This time, Ji Ze hesitated, “I don’t remember, and in my dream, Old Gu passed away last year. I even attended the funeral with you.”

Old Gu passed away last year?

But Gu Lao was still doing well now. After finding his granddaughter, he was happy and healthier than in previous years. Ji Duo had visited him after returning, and the old man was in good spirits, leisurely practicing Tai Chi in the courtyard.

However, if Lin Qiao, in the dream, married Xiao Ze, given their relationship, she wouldn’t have known about Shaozhen and Shaoping. Moreover, Ji Duo suspected that the Lin Qiao in Xiao Ze’s dream and the one beside him were not the same person.

Lin Qiao was rational and independent. She never thought of not working and relied entirely on him since the day she married him. It was because she was rational, independent, capable, and intelligent, and even had an inexplicable understanding with him, that he gradually developed other feelings for her. If the Lin Qiao who married him was the one in Xiao Ze’s dream, he would still marry her and protect her for life, but only to ensure her safety. But if it were the Lin Qiao from Xiao Ze’s dream, the marriage contract might not have fallen on his head…

Someone said something, and the old man’s hearty laughter came from the main room. Ji Duo looked over but didn’t speak.

Ji Ze glanced at his face, seeing he wasn’t as angry as before, and tentatively said, “I’ve got this strange illness where I can dream about anything, and the dreams feel real. I might not be able to distinguish between reality and dreams one day and go insane. You’re the most capable in the family, so I can only talk to you.”

The latter part was his real purpose.

“If I really go insane, please find someone reliable to oversee the factory. My fifty percent shares—twenty percent to my parents, ten percent to Xiao Ling, and ten percent to my grandparents, all just taking dividends, not managing. The remaining ten percent to my aunt, so she has fifty percent and can take over management.” He had thought it through thoroughly, probably pondering it during sleepless nights.

But everyone has a survival instinct. After considering the worst-case scenario, he asked, “Do you think I should ask Uncle to see if I can go abroad for treatment?”

His eyes still held a glimmer of hope, “I heard that foreign medical standards are better than ours. Maybe they can cure me…”

Before he could finish, Ji Duo kicked him again.

The man extinguished his cigarette, his eyes full of disdain, “I think a few more beatings will cure you.”

Ji Ze, clearly tormented by the dream, hesitated while dodging, “Really?”

Ji Duo almost laughed in exasperation, “Does it hurt when you get beaten in your dream?”

In the dream, Lin Qiao was his wife, not his uncle’s, so he never got beaten. Of course, Ji Ze didn’t dare say that unless he really wanted to die. But his uncle’s words gave him a hint. In the dream, he and Song Jing are very close, but upon waking, he feels nothing. This showed that dreams and reality could be distinguished. Thinking this, Ji Ze felt a bit better. Although still not quite normal, it was better than dying or going insane…

Seeing his nephew visibly relax, Ji Duo didn’t want to talk to him anymore, “Don’t tell anyone else about this dream.”

He couldn’t help but glance at his nephew’s shoes, “And don’t wear those shoes anymore.”

“Don’t they look good?” Ji Ze instinctively lifted his foot, “This is the trend in Yandu this year.”

Seeing his uncle frown at him, he quickly promised, “I’ll change when I get back. I haven’t told anyone about this dream except you.”

Ji Duo turned and left.

Back in the living room, the old man immediately noticed his grandson’s odd walking posture, “Did your uncle discipline you?”

“How did you know?” Ji Ze asked sheepishly.

The old man snorted, “Your hair is always slicked back like a cow licked it. I knew you were up to no good.”

The description was so vivid that Xu Li, Lin Wei, and even Lin Qiao laughed.

Ji Duo didn’t laugh. When Lin Qiao turned to look, she found him quietly watching her, his eyes seemingly probing.

“What’s wrong?” she asked, raising her phoenix eyes.

Ji Duo’s gaze fell on the small mole at the corner of her eye, “Nothing, you look good.”

This compliment made Xu Li laugh.

The old lady, afraid the young couple might feel embarrassed, didn’t look their way and stood up, “I’ll go check if the food is ready.”

However, Lin Qiao still shot a glance at Ji Duo, who then looked away.

Xiao Ze’s dream seemed like another possibility. It appeared absurd, but upon closer examination, it had its rational aspects. His desire to control everything made him momentarily wonder if Lin Qiao had anything to do with Xiao Ze’s dream. But as soon as the thought emerged, he dismissed it.

A dream is just a dream. No matter how real or rational, it wasn’t his reality. The Lin Qiao he lived with was this one, the one who made him think differently. If he let a dream affect his real life, that would be true madness.

Ji Duo pulled over the newly arrived chestnuts on the coffee table and began peeling them for Lin Qiao. He had noticed earlier that Lin Qiao was eating them but had stopped after a few because her freshly cut nails made peeling difficult.

The man’s long fingers moved steadily, and soon a whole chestnut kernel fell into Lin Qiao’s palm.

Lin Qiao glanced at him and ate it. Just as he was about to peel another, Xu Li came in, saying the food was ready in the dining room.

Everyone stood up to go to the dining room. As Ji Duo was about to wash his hands, he saw his nephew lagging behind, enthusiastically greeting his brother-in-law, “Uncle, let me have a drink with you later to apologize. I was a bit rude that day, mainly because you looked so young and handsome. I thought you were one of Aunt’s suitors.”

“Suitors? Also?” Ji Duo keenly caught two keywords.

His tone was as usual, and his expression was serious as if he hadn’t heard clearly and was casually asking.

Ji Ze repeated, “The day you came, I was delivering plastic bottles to Aunt and met you outside her lab.”

Ji Duo wasn’t asking about that, frowning, “Aunt has other suitors?”

Ji Ze realized, “Yes, quite a few. Why do you think I go to Qing University every day? To keep an eye on them for you.”

He whispered to his uncle, “Isn’t Yan University right next to Qing University? Some people even bring those boomboxes, you know? The ones that are this long and play tapes, singing ‘Childhood’ to Aunt.”

He even mimicked a line, “The girl from the next class hasn’t passed by my window yet~ You know, he sang it quite well.”

“They don’t know your aunt is married?”

“Some people at Qing University know, but how would people at Yan University know? They’re not from the same school. But don’t worry, I’ve been there a few times, and once they knew I was Aunt’s husband’s nephew, they behaved.”

Ji Duo silently looked at him for a long time, “You’ve done well. Don’t go there anymore.”

Lin Qiao didn’t hear what the uncle and nephew were whispering about, but the next day, Ji Duo walked her to the lab door. Previously, he only dropped her off at the school gate, but this time, walking her all the way to the lab drew a lot of attention.

After all, both were very attractive, and the man was in a striking military uniform. At the lab, Ji Duo didn’t leave immediately. He asked her when she would finish at noon and what she wanted to eat. His tall figure stood at the lab door, exuding an aura that made a few late-arriving first and second-year graduate students instinctively pause.

After he left, they entered the lab, glancing at Lin Qiao, “Was that your husband?”

“Yes,” Lin Qiao could already guess what Ji Ze had said that day.

It was probably about the singing. In her previous life, the boys played guitars, but in this era, they carried boomboxes. She had told those who expressed their feelings directly that she was married, but some believed her, and some clearly didn’t. Unexpectedly, this old cadre, Ji Duo, quietly but assertively came to declare his sovereignty.

She found it amusing, “He’s on vacation recently, so he’s quite free.”

“But I’ve never seen anyone else being dropped off at the lab door and picked up.”

A junior who hadn’t seen Ji Duo before sighed, “But your husband is very handsome, and you two make a great couple.”

Even Zhang Changning, who was usually a bit muddled in life, knew, “Your husband is back. Do you need a few days off?”

“No need,” Lin Qiao put on her lab coat as usual, “There’s only one last task left. He has more than half a month’s vacation, so a few days won’t matter.”

At noon, Ji Duo came to pick her up on time and ran into Qi Huaiwen, returning a book. After two years, the boy had grown a lot taller and, due to heavy coursework, was now wearing glasses. The thin lenses covered his peach blossom eyes, making him look even colder. He had probably just come from the lab, wearing a white lab coat. Standing next to Lin Qiao, who was also in a lab coat, they looked like classmates.

Ji Duo’s steps paused, and the boy saw him, politely calling, “Teacher’s wife.”

However, before leaving, he said to Lin Qiao, “Goodbye, senior.”

Ji Duo gave him an extra look. When Lin Qiao came out after changing clothes, he asked casually, “He calls you senior?”

Lin Qiao nodded, walking alongside him, “We’re in the same department. Calling me ‘teacher’ is a bit strange and attracts attention. Besides, I’m not much older than him.”

Ji Duo said nothing more. Back home, he paused briefly in front of the mirror.

That night, while washing up, he habitually reached for the soap simply and quickly. His hand touched the soap dish but then paused.

Next to the soap dish was the face wash Lin Qiao made for herself: a milky white paste in a small plastic bottle.

Ji Duo stared at it for a long time before finally picking it up and squeezing some onto his hand.

The day before the Mid-Autumn Festival, Lin Wei’s business finally concluded. After over three years, he bid farewell to Lin Qiao and embarked on his journey home.

Lin Qiao’s project was finally nearing completion. The next steps involved writing the thesis and preparing the report, which was primarily Zhang Changning’s responsibility.

Meanwhile, Ji Ze’s pump bottles had been successfully adjusted, and the first batch of dishwashing liquid and shampoo had started bottling, ready for official release after the holiday. With some rare free time, Lin Qiao and Ji Duo returned to the old house on the evening of the 14th. After dinner, just as they were about to rest, Ye Minshu arrived.

Both of them heard her but didn’t move. They continued to look through photos from the past two years’ holidays, maintaining a cold demeanor.

Ji Duo noticed Lin Qiao’s shirt, “Isn’t this one a bit small?”

It wasn’t that the shirt was small; Lin Qiao’s figure had changed, making it appear tight.

Lin Qiao glanced at him, wondering if this old cadre would find an old man’s shirt to cover her up in the next second. At that moment, Xu Li came to the door, saying the old man had something to discuss with Ji Duo and asking him to go to the study.

The scene felt familiar, reminding Lin Qiao of Xu Li’s birthday three years ago. Back then, they had just married, and Ji Yan sent her lingerie. Xu Li had also come to find him, and he had gone to the study.

Ji Duo didn’t know how long he had been gone, and when he returned, she was already asleep.

Lin Qiao lowered her eyes and said nothing, but Ji Duo looked at her and directly asked Xu Li, “Is it a family matter?”

Xu Li glanced at Lin Qiao, about to say something, but Ji Duo had already taken Lin Qiao’s hand, “Let’s go.”

His large hand was warm, firm, and strong, “Since it’s a family matter, let Qiao Qiao help with the decision.”