Chapter 18

The old wooden bed was a bit high off the ground. Xia Qingning landed on her bottom and was hurt. She grimaced, rubbing her bottom and muttering:

“It hurts.”

Her movement woke up Lu Jingzhe. He opened his eyes and looked around. The bed was empty.

Just as he was wondering, he suddenly saw a hand reaching out from under the bed. Then he saw Xia Qingning climbing up from under the bed.

It was clear she had fallen off the bed.

Xia Qingning saw Lu Jingzhe looking at her. She felt a little embarrassed. After all, she was a grown woman, and she still fell off the bed while sleeping. It was really embarrassing.

“Sorry, I woke you up.” To hide her embarrassment, Xia Qingning forced a smile, but she could feel that the smile was uglier than crying.

“It’s okay?” Lu Jingzhe looked at her, still supporting her waist, with a smile that looked like she was about to cry. He asked, “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine, I’m fine.” Xia Qingning quickly waved her hand, then looked at the wall clock and said, “You go back to sleep. I’m going to work.”

“Work?” Lu Jingzhe was a little confused. He didn’t know she worked at the state-owned textile factory.

“Yeah, I have to start work at 7:30.” Xia Qingning said.

Lu Jingzhe didn’t ask anything else. Xia Qingning took out her gray work uniform from the cabinet and put it on. It was long-sleeved and long-legged, a very dark color, and she looked a little dull in it.

The clothes were really not very nice, but luckily, Xia Qingning was beautiful. Even wearing such plain clothes, she couldn’t hide her beauty.

After putting on her clothes, she opened the door and walked out, just bumping into He Shanshan, who was carrying a basin.

He Shanshan looked at Xia Qingning, her face long and unhappy.

She was unhappy, so she was unhappy. Xia Qingning didn’t bother to pay attention to her. She was about to go to the kitchen when she saw He Shanshan roll her eyes at her and say:

“You’re making such a racket in the room early in the morning, humming and hawing. Are you trying to make sure everyone knows what you’re doing? You’re so shameless.”

Thinking about the two of them doing intimate things, He Shanshan was angry. How could she get a good job and a good man?

She was just a country bumpkin. Why was she so lucky?

Xia Qingning realized that He Shanshan had probably heard the sound of her falling off the bed and thought she was doing something with Lu Jingzhe.

Seeing her angry face and her sour words, Xia Qingning wanted to laugh. She must be jealous crazy.

Xia Qingning didn’t deny it. Instead, she pretended to be surprised and said:

“Ah, you… you heard that.” Then she said shyly, “Next time we’ll be quieter…”

“You!” He Shanshan didn’t expect Xia Qingning to be so shameless. She was speechless for a moment before she could spit out three words:

“Shameless!”

Then she carried the basin and walked away angrily.

Looking at He Shanshan’s distorted face, Xia Qingning smiled contentedly. She went to the kitchen, took a basin, and returned to her room.

She sat down at the table and took a comb. She parted her hair from the top of her head to both sides. Instead of parting it with a clear line like others, she let it slide down in a Z-shape.

She took two strands of hair from the top of her head on one side, twisted them together, and braided them down, adding more hair as she went, until she reached the bottom, then tied it with a rubber band. She braided the other side in the same way.

Soon, a fluffy, small, round bun was braided. Although there was no hair ornament, it still looked very beautiful.

After finishing her hair, Xia Qingning put her toothbrush and towel in the basin, opened the door, and walked towards the sink.

At this time, everyone had gotten up. There were already several people washing up by the sink. He Shanshan walked over in a pink dress. The color was so eye-catching that everyone’s attention was quickly drawn to her.

“The clothes from our department store are really beautiful.” Zhao Cuilan, who was standing at the front, said, “Look how well it fits He Shanshan. The color is so bright.”

“Oh, Shanshan bought new clothes again. Your mother is really generous with her daughter.” Aunt Wu said from the side.

“It’s not new clothes. I’ve worn them two or three times.” He Shanshan put down the basin and said, “I just like bright colors. Those dull colors look lifeless.”

Mai Miao, who was wearing gray clothes and pants, felt offended and couldn’t help but retort, “Your skin is so dark, and you still like bright colors. You look like a lump of coal when you wear them.”

He Shanshan hated it most when people said she was dark. Hearing Mai Miao’s words, she wasn’t happy. She sarcastically said to her, “Humph! What’s wrong with being a lump of coal? A lump of coal is still prettier than you. Look at your eyes. Don’t smile anymore. You look like you haven’t grown up when you smile.”

“You’re the one who hasn’t grown any eyes.” Mai Miao didn’t back down and retorted immediately, “You’re so dark, if you stand there without moving, people can use you as a piece of coal to burn.”

“Who are you calling dark? Who are you calling coal!”

The two of them argued more and more fiercely, and it seemed like they were about to fight. At this time, a voice suddenly rang out:

“Wow, Lu Er’s wife, your hair looks really beautiful.”

This shout successfully shifted everyone’s attention to Xia Qingning. The two arguing women immediately stopped.

They looked at Xia Qingning, who was walking slowly. Although she was wearing a gray work uniform, her face was really striking, her hairstyle was novel and beautiful, and her coarse cloth clothes couldn’t hide her beauty.

The two half-grown boys who were still washing up had their eyes wide open.

Xia Qingning walked over and stood next to He Shanshan. The two of them were both wearing double braids. Although He Shanshan had tied a red ribbon, her braids looked flat and limp, and they were tightly against her scalp, as stiff as two dying silver carp.

Xia Qingning’s fluffy, high-cranial top, her hair braided into beautiful patterns, perfectly framed her face, beautiful and gentle.

The term “imitating the beauty of Dong Shi” was perfectly embodied by He Shanshan at this moment.

Not only was she not as beautiful as the other person, but her hair wasn’t even done as well.

Looking at Xia Qingning’s beautiful hairstyle and then at her own two braids, He Shanshan’s face immediately fell. Humph! She was deliberately trying to embarrass her.

“How did you braid this? Your hands are so skillful. I’ve never seen you braid it before.”

Several young wives were also interested in Xia Qingning’s braids and couldn’t help but praise her.

“I learned it from someone at the factory a few days ago.” Xia Qingning casually found an excuse and answered with a generous smile.

She was beautiful, and she looked even more beautiful when she smiled. Everyone’s eyes unconsciously focused on her, and they didn’t give He Shanshan any attention.

“What’s the use of it being beautiful? It’s loose and will fall apart after running a few steps.” He Shanshan pouted, deliberately pretending to be very disdainful.

“I think it’s braided quite tightly. It shouldn’t fall apart.” The little wife next to her took a closer look and said.

“Don’t mind her. I think she’s just jealous.” Mai Miao didn’t give He Shanshan any face, and said pointedly, then looked at Xia Qingning, “Didn’t you say you were going to teach me how to braid last time? Did you forget?”

“I didn’t forget. Come find me after I get off work, and I’ll teach you.” Xia Qingning said.

“Then I’ll come tonight.” Mai Miao looked at Xia Qingning’s braid with envy.

“Okay.” Xia Qingning nodded.

“Mai Miao, when you learn, don’t forget to teach us.” The little wives were also interested.

“No problem.” Mai Miao said readily, then glanced at He Shanshan beside her, “Some people looked down on it so much just now. I think you shouldn’t learn it.”

“I never planned to learn it.” He Shanshan rolled her eyes and said insincerely, “Who cares.”

Then she carried the basin, still with a proud look, and turned to leave.

“I’m not going to teach her. I’m going to make her mad.” Mai Miao said proudly behind her, then looked at Xia Qingning, “Don’t be afraid of her. If she dares to bully you again, I’ll help you scold her.”

Xia Qingning smiled and nodded. She thought this girl’s personality was quite cute.

After washing up, Xia Qingning carried the basin back home. She saw that Lu Jingzhe had already gotten up. He was wearing a white shirt and army trousers. A brown leather belt made his waist look even thinner and stronger.

Xia Qingning couldn’t help but admire in her heart: This man is not only handsome, but his figure is also incredibly good. Broad shoulders, narrow waist, long legs, a standard nine-headed body.

Just watching him walk out of the room, raise his hand to roll up his shirt sleeves, and as the fabric went up inch by inch, his strong forearms slowly emerged.

He walked to Xia Qingning’s side, took the basin from her hand, and was about to go out to wash up. As if he had thought of something, he asked, “When are you off work?”

Xia Qingning snapped out of her thoughts and replied, “Sunday.”

“Oh.” Lu Jingzhe responded, “Then go back to your home on Sunday.”

Xia Qingning took a while to understand that he meant to accompany her back to her parents’ home. She was very surprised.

Because everyone in the village of the original body’s parents thought she had married Lu Lidong. Now, her “younger brother-in-law” was accompanying her back. It would undoubtedly be subject to all sorts of speculation.

Was he compromising? Was he ready to accept her as his wife?

Xia Qingning was surprised and nodded, “Okay.”

After Lu Jingzhe went out, Xia Qingning tidied up and prepared to go to work.

She carried a small cloth bag. As soon as she walked out of the room, she bumped into Lu Xiaoxue, who was running out of He Shanshan’s room.

The strong impact almost made her frail body fall. She was about to speak when she saw Lu Xiaoxue looking at her with fear.

From her evasive eyes, Xia Qingning knew she must have been up to no good.

Sure enough, the next second, she saw her quickly hide her hand behind her.

Although she was quick, Xia Qingning still saw that she was holding a wad of money in her hand.

“What are you looking at? Go away.” Lu Xiaoxue pushed her away nervously, then ran away as if she was escaping.

Xia Qingning looked at her back, thought for a moment, and a plan came to mind:

Today, she would make Wang Mingfang and He Shanshan spit out all the money and tickets they had taken from the original body.