Han Xinrui slowly folded the IOU and tucked it into another pocket.

She raised her head and looked at Mother Huo. “Mom, yesterday when I went back to the family compound, Uncle Zhang told me that my parents’ house had been rented out. Who did you rent it to? Is it a distant relative? He said you even helped them move in—must be family, right? How much are you charging them per month?”

The smile on Mother Huo’s face stiffened.

She replied nervously, “That house… it was rented out. Uncle Zhang told you? Didn’t you say to let us handle the house for you?”

Han Xinrui continued calmly, “If you rented it to a distant relative, I don’t have any objections. We’re all family, after all, it’s lively living together. But Uncle Zhang said they seemed to be relatives of Bai Qingqing’s family…”

She paused, then asked again, “Mom, I know you care about me. You wouldn’t lie to me along with Hongtao, right? He’s already helped Bai Qingqing enough. There’s no way you’d use my house to help her family too.”

Mother Huo started to feel uneasy and stood up. “Of course not! You and Hongtao just got married. I’m on your side.”

Han Xinrui smiled and nodded. “That’s what I thought. After all, your job came from replacing my mom, and Hongtao’s job came from taking over my dad’s. There’s no way you’d give away my house on top of that.”

Mother Huo met her gaze and got up. “Xinrui, I need to go home and cook. We already got your money back. I’ll head out now.”

With that, she turned and walked off.

Han Xinrui watched her leave, and her suspicions grew stronger. She was now almost certain that Mother Huo and Father Huo knew about someone else taking her university placement.

Bringing it up just now had been deliberate. It served two purposes: first, to stop Mother Huo from trying to take back the gold bars and money by guilt-tripping or coercing her. Second, to test whether the Huo family had been involved in giving her university spot to Bai Qingqing.

She even had deeper suspicions now.

There was no rush. Before she left, she would uncover everything.

…

After reclaiming some of her gold bars and money, Han Xinrui immediately hid them.

She feared Huo Hongtao would try to steal them again for Bai Qingqing. She sewed each of the three gold bars into different pieces of clothing.

She did the same with the one thousand yuan—dividing it up and sewing it into various garments.

By the time she finished, Huo Hongtao stormed back home.

He kicked the door open. “Han Xinrui, how long are you going to keep this up? You think just because we’re married, I can’t do anything about it?”

Han Xinrui ignored his rage. She stood up and pulled out the IOU he had written earlier in front of the public security officers.

“This is the debt you acknowledged earlier. Tell Bai Qingqing that I’ll come for the rest in a few days. She’d better get it ready.”

She didn’t even respond to his anger.

Huo Hongtao froze, then exploded with rage. “Do you know how much you upset my sister-in-law? She’s been crying ever since because of your pressure. She—”

Han Xinrui didn’t want to hear it and cut him off. “Then go be with her. It’s not easy raising a child alone. If she’s crying that hard, why are you here fighting with me instead of comforting her?”

She shoved him toward the door. “Go on, spend more time with that poor single mother.”

Huo Hongtao hadn’t expected her to react this way. He stood there, stunned.

“You… what are you planning now?” he asked, staring at her suspiciously.

Han Xinrui remained expressionless. “Nothing. I just thought it over and realized you’re right. She’s struggling and needs more care.”

With that, she pushed him out and closed the door in his face, not sparing him even a glance.

Huo Hongtao stood outside, momentarily lost.

Han Xinrui had been acting so strange these past two days.

Wasn’t she supposed to cry and beg him not to divorce her? Why had she suddenly changed?

After a while, he figured it out: Bai Qingqing had been right all along. All he needed to do was be cold to her, and she’d give in.

She must have gotten scared when he brought up divorce, that’s why her attitude changed so suddenly.

Feeling smug, he said toward the closed door, “Xinrui, as long as you stop making trouble, I’ll consider staying together. Otherwise, we’re done.”

Then he turned and left.

Inside the room, Han Xinrui didn’t react at all. She simply lay down to sleep.

Tomorrow, she planned to sell her job. She also needed to find out exactly how Huo Hongtao had given away her university placement to Bai Qingqing.

Before she left, she would take back everything the Huo family had gained from her.

The next morning, Han Xinrui left the house.

She went straight to the textile factory where she worked.

When she arrived, everyone was surprised to see her so soon.

“Xinrui, you just got married, and you’re already back at work?”

She smiled and greeted everyone but didn’t explain much.

She headed straight for the supervisor’s office.

The supervisor, Director Yan, was also surprised. “Xinrui, didn’t you take five days off? Why are you here so early?”

Han Xinrui smiled. “Director Yan, I came to discuss something with you. My husband doesn’t want me to keep working. He wants me to sell my job. Can you help me find someone who might want to buy it?”

Director Yan looked at her in surprise. “Sell it? That’s your husband’s idea?”

Han Xinrui nodded, putting on a happy front. “He said he’ll take care of me. He doesn’t want me to work so hard.”

Director Yan lived nearby and had heard about some of the issues between Han Xinrui and Huo Hongtao. She guessed Han Xinrui didn’t trust him and wanted to stay home to keep an eye on him.

“Alright, I’ll ask around for you,” she agreed. “How much are you hoping to get for it?”

At the time, the movement to send educated youth to the countryside was in full swing. Many intellectuals without jobs were being relocated to rural areas, so families with money were willing to pay for urban jobs.

Han Xinrui didn’t go into details. After asking Director Yan for help, she said goodbye and left.

As she was leaving, Director Yan couldn’t help but call out, “Xinrui, you can’t keep a man under watch.”

Han Xinrui turned back and gave her a grateful smile. “I know, Director Yan.”

Director Yan shook her head slightly, thinking Han Xinrui was still being naïve.

Just as Han Xinrui stepped out of the textile factory, a familiar voice called out from behind.

“Xinrui, you’re already back at work?”

She turned around and saw Bai Qingqing pushing a bicycle toward her.

Bai Qingqing wore a lovely white dress and shiny black leather shoes, her hips swaying as she walked.

“Xinrui, wait—I want to explain my relationship with Brother Huo.”

Just then, Director Yan came jogging after her.

“Xinrui, someone’s interested in buying your job!”