Chapter 52: Fang Qing Believes the Rumors

He urged him to send the money back immediately so they could repay it.

“Otherwise, everyone is spreading the word that we borrowed money from the girl’s dowry, and our family’s reputation will be ruined. How will you find a wife in the future?”

Lu Jiangting felt a wave of melancholy. “I’ve received two months’ salary, but it’s still not enough to repay the three hundred yuan. We agreed on three months, and it hasn’t been that long yet.”

“Oh, you really think three months is enough? My husband and I can’t even hold our heads up in the village. We’re old bones; people can say whatever they want, and we can ignore it. But what about you? If your reputation is ruined, how will you marry a wife?”

“I…” He still wanted to win Yuyao back.

But he didn’t dare say it.

To appease his parents, he made an excuse.

“You don’t need to worry about my marriage. I’ll find someone in the city, and I’ll bring a city wife back to you.”

“Ah? Will someone like you?”

Lu Jiangting: “…”

In the past, he was his parents’ pride. They never said he wasn’t good enough for anyone, and they never worried about him finding a wife.

Perhaps the villagers’ words were too harsh, making them afraid.

Lu Jiangting thought for a moment and said, “People in the city don’t care about the gossip of village women. They are from intellectual families, college-educated, cultured, and reasonable. Once I get married in the city, I’ll buy a house there and bring you and Dad to enjoy life. Let the villagers say what they want; you just don’t listen.”

Hearing this, Wang Cuilan thought he had already found a city girl.

When she heard the gossip again, she retorted, “My son has found a city girl. She comes from an intellectual family, is a college graduate, cultured, and a refined young lady.”

She added, “My son said that once he gets married, he will buy a house in the city and bring me and his father there to enjoy our lives.”

Ye Lian spat out a sunflower seed husk, stretched out her hand, and laughed, “So amazing! He can marry a city young lady and buy a house.  As for the money you owe us… Hey, don’t run away!”

The crowd burst into laughter.

Someone said, “I think she’s just bragging. They can’t even repay the three hundred yuan, and they’re talking about marrying a city girl?  I don’t believe it!”

Whether the villagers believed it or not, the news reached Fang Qing’s ears.

A sense of crisis immediately arose.

If it were true, if Lu Jiangting really found a wife in the city, bought a house, and brought his parents there, what would happen to her?

What would happen to her and her son?

No matter what the feelings, frequent contact is necessary to maintain them.

However, after three or five years without contact, Wang Jianjun’s kindness towards Lu Jiangting will gradually fade.

What would happen to her then?

No, she couldn’t let that happen.

…

“Xiaolin, check if these numbers are correct.”

Lin Yuyao smiled as she checked the accounts. After a moment, she smiled, “They’re correct, and there are three extra copies.”

“These are spares, in case there are defective items, these three can be used as replacements. If there are more than three defective items, write them down, and tell me later, and I’ll report them to the factory.”

“Okay.”

Lin Yuyao turned around and handed another small notebook to the delivery man, “This is our next batch of orders.”

“Okay, I’ll bring them over another day.”

The delivery man drove away. Lin Yuyao called Zhou Jie and Liu Jie to help.

Zhou Jing gave Liu Yihuan a few instructions and ran to the back of the bookstore to help Lin Yuyao move books.

“Xiaolin, you seem to be in a good mood lately, you’re smiling more.”

Lin Yuyao smiled, thinking, of course.

Her troubles were solved; could she not be happy?

Zhou Jing lowered her voice and asked, “Did you solve your troubles?”

Lin Yuyao nodded and whispered, “I solved them on Monday.”

“I thought so. When you first came, you were frowning all day; I thought you were naturally not a smiley person. But then again, if I had something upsetting, I wouldn’t be able to smile either.”

Thinking back to that time, she was under a lot of pressure.

She had been tricked by Lu Jiangting and really thought they had gotten their marriage certificate.

She knew that military marriages were difficult to dissolve.

Lu Jiangting was so stubborn; it was impossible for him to agree to a divorce.

She couldn’t wait until he retired.

If she really couldn’t get a divorce, she didn’t know what she would do.

During that time, she had to endure Lu Jiangting’s harassment.

Fu Huayi also said that marital rape, was difficult to obtain evidence for.

Under immense pressure, she couldn’t tell anyone; it was no wonder she couldn’t smile.

Now it was all good, she felt that the future was full of hope.

The air was truly free.

Lin Yuyao chatted with Zhou Jing while moving the books inside.

This wasn’t over yet; they still had to put this batch of books on the shelves.

They had new books twice a week, and the remaining three days, the three of them took turns resting. They didn’t have new books on weekends, nor did they have holidays.

Unless there was something important, they had to apply to the boss in advance.

The bookstore work wasn’t that busy.

Especially now, in the middle of summer, few people came to the bookstore under the scorching sun; it was only a little busy in the cool mornings and evenings.

There weren’t many people during the day.

Although not busy, the store did pretty well, and with only three of them—organizing shelves, stocking, registering, etc.—there was still a lot to do.

After they finished stocking the books, they were drenched in sweat.

The two quickly went to stand under the fan to cool off.

Liu Yihuan was still helping a customer find a book, climbing a high ladder.

The book was rather obscure, tucked away on the highest shelf.

Finally, she found it; the book was covered in a thick layer of dust.

“Just a moment, let me wipe it for you.”

“Okay, thank you, young lady. You had to climb so high to find it.”

Liu Yihuan smiled, “You’re welcome; it’s our job.”

The old man laughed, “I love coming here to buy books; the service is excellent. If I go to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy something and ask them for help, their faces are longer than a donkey’s; I’m afraid she’ll jump out from behind the counter and hit me.”

“Haha, you’re really funny, old man.”

He wasn’t joking; the supply and marketing cooperative clerks had job security and were very arrogant.

Physical altercations were rare, but being scolded was very possible.

The old man, in a good mood, bought several books, two expensive notebooks, two pens, and a bottle of ink.

They didn’t just sell books; they also sold stationery.

Liu Yihuan said, “I wonder what that old man does; he’s quite wealthy and often comes to buy books.”

Lin Yuyao curiously asked, “What kind of books does he usually buy?”

“History books, mostly obscure and strange ones.”

The sun was setting, and their west-facing shop was unbearably hot.

As it neared closing time, a tall figure blocked the sunlight at the entrance.

Zhou Jing quickly got up and smiled, “Xiao Fu is here to exchange books again.”