Chapter 68: I’m Here to Urge You to Work Hard and Aim Higher

Grandma Qiu looked suspiciously at her second daughter-in-law. “Why did I hear that the educated youth girl looks down on our Jinzi? Tell me the truth—what’s really going on?”

Cheng Hongying quickly waved her hands. “That’s not true! Why would I lie to you two elders? Besides, there’s nothing lacking about our Jinzi. If anyone’s turning their nose up at someone, it should be that brat ignoring her.”

Even as she spoke, she felt a bit guilty, but the two old folks from the Qiu family nodded in full agreement.

“That’s right. Our Jinzi has the looks, and he’s one of the few high school graduates in the village. Those educated youth might be from the city, but if you really compare, they can’t match up to Jinzi. If she doesn’t like him, then fine. But you, daughter-in-law, better keep your eyes open when picking a wife for him. Any girl who looks plain or has a bad temper is not coming into this family.”

In the eyes of the elders, Qiu Qianjin was a treasure—more than good enough to marry a fairy.

Before leaving, Grandpa Qiu even grumbled at Cheng Hongying, “You, as his mother, shouldn’t have been doing other people’s work. Now look, you’ve dragged Jinzi into trouble for no reason.”

“Yes, yes, it’s all my fault,” she said quickly. “I’ll be more careful from now on.”

After sending the old couple off, Cheng Hongying sulked her way through her chores, stewing in frustration until her son and daughter returned home.

“Mom, I’m going to return the bike to the Village Head,” Qiu Qianjin said.

Cheng Hongying was already irritated just looking at him. She snapped coldly, “Then go! What are you standing there for—waiting for me to return it for you?”

Startled by her harsh tone, Qiu Qianjin had no idea what he had done to upset his mother again. He quickly pushed the bike away and left.

Once he was gone, Cheng Hongying turned stiffly to her daughter. “How was your first day at work?”

“It was fine,” Qiu Yinuo replied. “Oh right, I suggested to the factory director that Jinzi become my apprentice. From now on, he’ll follow me around and learn. He’ll only go to the factory on the days I do, so he can still help with the farm work at home. There’s no pay, but they’ll provide two meals a day.”

Cheng Hongying, who had been brimming with anger, was stunned by her daughter’s words.

“Are you serious?”

“Of course. This way, he won’t be idle and start daydreaming again.” Yinuo guessed her mother’s anger probably had something to do with the rumors between Jinzi and Qian Zhiqing.

“Did the director say anything about Jinzi getting an official position at the tractor factory once he finishes learning?”

Qiu Yinuo shook her head. “No.”

“Figures. It’s only your first day—you shouldn’t be making that kind of request.”

“When he finishes learning, I plan to give the job to him anyway,” she said calmly.

Qiu Yinuo never intended to keep a long-term job. After experiencing the easy life of a rice weevil, all she wanted was to be lazy. In the short term, the only person who could afford to support her was her foolish little brother.

In a few years, once Dabao was grown up, she could rely on her son to support her.

Cheng Hongying looked at her daughter with a complicated expression. “You don’t have to go to all this trouble for Jinzi. He has his own path to follow. Besides, you’ve got two children to raise.”

“If Jinzi doesn’t earn money, how will he support the three of us?”

There it was—exactly what Cheng Hongying had suspected. This girl was up to something.

“You, come with me. I need to ask you something.” She led her daughter inside the house and finally asked, “Why did you stand up for that Qian Zhiqing yesterday?”

To outsiders, it looked like there was definitely something going on between Jinzi and the educated youth girl.

Qiu Yinuo looked steadily at her. “There are a hundred ways we can stop them from being together. There’s no need to ruin a woman’s reputation.”

Her eyes were too bright, too clear, clearly reflecting the other woman’s image.

Cheng Hongying’s heart trembled. A wave of shame washed over her, leaving her with nowhere to hide.

“You’re right. I lost my judgment because I care too much. I just want to look out for your brother a little more,” Cheng Hongying avoided Qiu Yinuo’s gaze, trying to cover up the baseness in her heart. With a hint of panic, she said, “It was wrong of me to think that way. Keep an eye on your brother. Don’t let him get close to that Qian Zhiqing. I don’t want her to become my daughter-in-law.”

“Why?”

At that moment, the heavy curtain at the doorway was suddenly pulled aside, revealing Qiu Qianjin’s face, full of disappointment.

“Mom, why don’t you like Qian Zhiqing? She’s kind and pretty. I’m the one who’s not good enough for her. I’m the one who keeps bothering her.”

Perhaps to every mother, even the most ordinary child seems extraordinary. Even though Cheng Hongying often scolded him, he was still the child she had carried for months. Hearing him demean himself like that made her so angry she began to shake.

“What’s wrong with you? What did I give birth to that was so lacking? Do you really have to belittle yourself like this? Jinzi, listen to me. That Qian Zhiqing looks down on us rural folks from the bottom of her heart. If you marry her in the future, you’ll suffer for it.”

“Then I’ll take the suffering! I like her! If you won’t support me, fine, but don’t try to stop me.” With that, he slammed the door and stormed off.

Cheng Hongying’s eyes turned red, and tears as big as beans fell one after another.

“What kind of sin did I commit in my past life to give birth to such a foolish brat?”

An angsty teenager with a lovesick brain—sometimes even worse than a biological weapon.

When people are young, they always seem to fall for the one their parents disapprove of the most. It’s as if they’re doing it just to be rebellious—fighting until they’re exhausted, until their parents give in, only to later find the relationship in shambles.

She had never openly expressed that she disliked Qian Zhiqing.

Qiu Yinuo took a handkerchief from her pocket and handed it to Cheng Hongying. “Enough crying. I’ll go check on him. Jinzi’s in a rebellious phase right now. The more you stop him, the more he’ll go against you. Don’t end up losing more than you gain.”

“So what, should I tell him I support him being with Qian Zhiqing now? As if she’d even give him a second look.” The more she thought about it, the more upset she got. Angry and heartbroken all at once—her precious baby boy was worth nothing in someone else’s eyes.

Qiu Yinuo sighed and turned to leave the house.

She walked east a hundred meters from the house and, sure enough, found Jinzi on a small hillside, secretly wiping away tears.

Such a little brat, not even emotionally mature yet, and here he was crying over something like this.

She walked over and sat down beside him. “Did you see the difference between you and her?”

“???”

“Even if Mom loves you and thinks you’re the best son in the world, she still has a sense of reality.”

Qiu Qianjin was nearly moved to tears again by his sister’s bluntness. “Am I even your brother? How could you hit me with that?”

“Mom’s thinking from your perspective. Of course, she’s biased toward you. No matter how good Qian Zhiqing is, she’ll never be more important than you. Mom just hopes you’ll find a girl who’ll live a stable life with you.”

“So, you’re here to talk me into giving up too?”

Qiu Yinuo shook her head. “I’m here to tell you to work harder and aim higher.”