Chapter 37 : Did she pass the exam?

When Duan Yuzhen received the news, she was overjoyed.

She immediately slipped Li Ling two yuan as a thank-you for her help.

Li Ling smiled broadly, “Honestly, even without me, this job would have been yours.”

She firmly believed that the chief editor would definitely help Duan Yuzhen get the position.

Duan Yuzhen waved her hand, feeling happy no matter what.

The process didn’t matter.

She had just learned that Jiang Yu was actually Jiang Ting’s older sister, the new bride who had recently moved into the courtyard.

Duan Yuzhen smirked, thinking it was ridiculous to compete with her.

What skills could a rural person have to rival her?

Upon returning to the courtyard, she immediately sought out He Tingyue.

“Feiyan, is your brother home?”

He Feiyan ignored her, engrossed in her book, not even looking up.

“Not home, stop calling.”

Duan Yuzhen’s smile faltered a bit. “When your brother gets back, let me know.”

He Feiyan closed her book and turned to her.

“Duan Yuzhen, my brother isn’t interested in you. With a man unmarried and a woman unmarried, let’s keep some distance.”

He Feiyan said this not out of personal bias, she could tell He Tingyue genuinely didn’t want to interact with Duan Yuzhen.

But she didn’t particularly like Duan Yuzhen either.

Duan Yuzhen bit her lip and boastfully announced, “I passed the recruitment exam for the North City Evening News. I’m going to work at the newspaper!”

He Feiyan didn’t seem to care and replied casually, “Congratulations.”

After Duan Yuzhen left, He Feiyan suddenly remembered.

Jiang Yu had also taken that exam, did that mean she didn’t pass?

Duan Yuzhen quickly started chatting with others in the courtyard “Aunt Xu, I passed the North City Evening News recruitment exam and will start working at the newspaper next week.”

Xu Lihua felt a pang of jealousy but still complimented her “Oh my, is the Duan family on a lucky streak? How come so many capable kids are being born into your family!”

Sun Mu came out to chat too “Is it confirmed? Yuzhen, you’re really something! Have you told your parents? Go spread the news!”

But Duan Yuzhen wasn’t in a hurry. She stood proudly in the courtyard, basking in everyone’s envious looks.

“There were many people who took the exam, one of them you might even know.”

Xu Lihua stepped closer, asking, “Who?”

Just then, Jiang Ting walked out, and Duan Yuzhen shot her a glance.

“Jiang’s sister, the one named Jiang Yu, I believe? She also took the recruitment exam.”

Jiang Ting’s expression stiffened. She hadn’t heard the previous conversation and felt anxious, fearing Jiang Yu might actually get the job.

“She has a rural household registration, how could she qualify for this exam?”

Duan Yuzhen shrugged, “How would I know? Maybe she has connections.”

Jiang Ting quickly asked, “Did she pass?”

“Yuzhen passed, so Jiang Yu definitely didn’t.” Sun Mu relished the moment, she still held a grudge from earlier.

Now that Zhao Qing was pregnant, the family had started preparing for the wedding.

Who would have thought Zhao Qing’s family would ask for a hundred yuan in betrothal gifts? She refused, leading to a deadlock between the two families.

Sun Mu figured, so what if there was a stalemate? After all, Zhao Qing was pregnant. Who else could she marry if not Sun Zailiang?

Upon hearing Sun Mu’s words, Jiang Ting felt not only relieved but also pleased, showering praise on Duan Yuzhen.

“Of course, a rural girl like Jiang Yu can’t compete with Yuzhen. It’s no surprise she didn’t pass.”

Duan Yuzhen intended to show off but found Jiang Ting’s words deflated her excitement, like a punch hitting cotton.

After all, Jiang Ting and Jiang Yu’s relationship was already strained.

Feeling somewhat dejected, she turned to go home.

The Duan family lived in the east wing of a shared courtyard. Originally, there were three large rooms, but after several renovations, they had been squeezed into four rooms, plus a tiny living room where the family couldn’t even eat together at the table.

This was a necessity, the small space housed four generations of the Duan family.

From Grandpa Duan down to Duan Yuzhen’s nephew, Huzi.

Duan Yuzhen also had a younger brother who was two years her junior, and after getting a job, he moved into a single dorm.

Her older brother and sister-in-law hoped she would marry soon to free up some space for the family.

Yet Duan Yuzhen was picky and at 22 still had no partner.

Upon hearing about her new job, her sister-in-law Lin Donghua immediately asked, “Does this mean you can apply for a dorm and move out?”

She would rather not have Duan Yuzhen’s salary and just wanted her to leave.

Duan Yuzhen snapped, “Sister-in-law, this is my home. You’re the one who married in from outside! I’ve lived here longer than you have, why should I leave?”

Lin Donghua smiled awkwardly and began to complain “Sister-in-law doesn’t want to kick you out, it’s just that I’m worried you won’t be comfortable in such a small room. Moving to a single dorm might be better.”

Duan Yuzhen huffed, “Don’t worry, the newspaper dorms are scarce. If you’re not a full-time employee, you won’t get a room, not even a single dorm.”

Lin Donghua’s expression fell, leaving her to hope Duan Yuzhen would marry soon.

Wen Yan chimed in from the side, “Since you’ve gotten this job opportunity, work hard. Don’t slack off and embarrass your uncle.”

Duan Yuzhen felt irritated, “Mom, what does my uncle have to do with this? I got this job through my own efforts; he didn’t help me at all.”

If her uncle really had helped her, she wouldn’t feel so anxious.

Wen Yan slapped her, angrily scolding, “You ungrateful wretch! How could he not help you? Wasn’t that registration form from him? He even introduced you to three suitors, but you didn’t like any of them!”

Duan Yuzhen pouted, unable to refute.

She just liked He Tingyue, what could she do?

While the Duan family was bustling, Jiang Ting was in a state of turmoil.

On one hand, she felt relieved that Jiang Yu didn’t get the job.

On the other hand, she worried, thinking that in the city, even the opportunity to apply for a job was extremely rare.

Jiang Yu getting one chance indicated she had connections, she might get a second one.

What if the next time, she really succeeded?

Jiang Ting gritted her teeth, she had to find a way to get Jiang Yu back to the countryside.

Taking advantage of the fading daylight, she made a trip to Yao Xiangling’s house.

When Jiang Yu opened the door and saw her, she didn’t let her in, opting to speak at the doorstep.

“What do you want?”

Jiang Ting asked, “I heard you participated in the newspaper’s recruitment exam?”

Thinking it must have been Duan Yuzhen who told her, Jiang Yu nodded.

“What does that have to do with you?”

Jiang Ting sneered, mocking her “You, a country girl, think you can compete with city folks for a job? What a delusion! Have you looked in the mirror? Do you have the ability? Jiang Yu, I advise you to think about your worth and go home to prepare for marriage!”

“Go see a doctor if you’re sick, don’t act strangely,” Jiang Yu said, wanting to end the conversation and close the door.

Jiang Ting quickly blocked the door, “Grandma fell and hurt her leg. If you have any conscience, go home and check on her!”

Jiang Yu smiled coldly, staring at her.

“Have you forgotten? Last time you tricked me into going home like this!”

Jiang Ting huffed, “I only deliver messages. Whether you believe it or not is up to you, if you don’t, go find out for yourself.”

With that, she left.