Chapter 18

Gu Nian heard the dean calling her name, so she stepped forward but did not leave. Instead, she asked,

“Can I ask why?”

“Because you secretly gave a gift, breaking the rules of our teacher recruitment process. Please leave.”

Gu Nian immediately realized that the dean was trying to frame her. But she wasn’t someone who could be manipulated so easily.

“Do you have any proof?”

“The gift was placed at the principal’s office door—I saw it with my own eyes. Do you still want to deny it?”

Gu Nian didn’t want to argue with the dean and walked directly to the principal, saying,

“Principal, isn’t it a bit unfair to accuse someone without a proper investigation?”

“Old Fang, let’s investigate the bribery issue later. For now, let them take the exam. Everyone has the right to apply; we shouldn’t revoke that arbitrarily.”

The principal didn’t think Gu Nian looked like someone who would bribe, so he spoke up for her. He seemed like a fair person.

“Principal, is this okay?”

“Yes.”

Since the principal had spoken, the dean didn’t dare say anything further. The exam began, and Gu Nian focused on answering the questions.

When the exam ended, the principal graded the papers in front of everyone. The results were about to be announced.

Jin Qingyun was full of confidence—Director Fang had already given her the answers in advance. Although she had only memorized a portion of them, she believed it was enough.

“Now, I will announce the exam results.”

“Zheng Rongrong: 70 points.”

“Li Xiuhe: 20 points.”

“Jin Qingyun: 90 points.”

Everyone was shocked. They hadn’t expected Jin Qingyun to do so well. She had never been known for studying hard, yet she scored so high.

Even Jin Qingyun herself was surprised. She had only finished elementary school, yet she outperformed the sister of Commander Chen.

“Principal, thank you! I will teach the children well and won’t disappoint you.”

Jin Qingyun stood up excitedly and promised the principal. However, the principal found her enthusiasm rather odd.

“There’s still one more result to announce—Gu Nian: 100 points.”

“Congratulations, Comrade Gu Nian. You can start working at our school in one week.”

“Alright.”

The result was within Gu Nian’s expectations, so she remained calm. But Jin Qingyun was completely unsettled.

What was going on? Director Fang had clearly promised her this teaching position! She had even paid 50 yuan for it.

Director Fang’s face turned pale—his carefully arranged plan had been completely disrupted by Gu Nian.

Afterward, the principal went to the military district leadership to investigate the bribery allegations. When Jiang Huaijing heard that someone had falsely accused his wife, he immediately requested to take charge of the investigation.

With Jiang Huaijing leading the case, it took less than two days to trace the bribery back to Jin Qingyun.

After all, how could someone with only an elementary school education score so high? Naturally, suspicion fell on her.

The dean was also implicated—he had not only accepted the bribe but had also used it as leverage for extortion.

Upon learning this, the principal immediately fired the dean, forcing him to leave the military district and return to his hometown.

As for Jin Qingyun, she was made to read a self-criticism letter in front of all the military families. Her husband was demoted, and both of them faced the consequences of their actions.

Meanwhile, Gu Nian and Jiang Huaijing decided to hold their wedding two days later at the military district’s dining hall. Commander Chen agreed to be their witness.

On the day of the wedding, Jiang Huaijing and Gu Nian arrived early at the train station to pick up guests. Jiang Dashan brought his wife and daughter to attend their wedding.

After some greetings, they returned to the military family compound. Jiang Susu looked around curiously.

“Sister-in-law, your house is huge! Can I have my own room?”

“Of course. Your room is the one on the left, already tidied up. Our parents’ room is on the right.”

When choosing housing, Jiang Huaijing had picked the biggest one available. Their house was the largest in the entire compound.

Jiang Susu excitedly ran to check out her room, while Jiang Huaijing left to handle some matters. Meanwhile, Gu Nian cooked three dishes in the kitchen: spicy shredded potatoes, braised pork, and scallion oil chicken.

Just as they sat down for dinner, an old woman walked in.

“Oh my, your food smells amazing! I could smell it from far away.”

Gu Nian didn’t recognize her, but seeing the greedy look in her eyes as she scanned the house, she instantly disliked her.

“Who are you?”

“Me? I’m Xu Hua’s mother-in-law. I just arrived today. You must be Commander Jiang’s wife, right? And these must be his parents and sister? Welcome!”

Out of politeness, Jiang Dashan and his family greeted her. The four of them were about to start eating, but Chen Lixia (the old woman) didn’t seem to have any intention of leaving.

Gu Nian had heard about this woman from Xu Hua—she was notorious for being greedy, unreasonable, and always looking to take advantage of others.

So, Gu Nian didn’t invite her to join the meal. Chen Lixia stared at the dishes, drooling, waiting for an invitation.

She waited and waited, but Gu Nian never spoke. Frustrated, she left when she saw the food was almost finished.

Back home, Xu Hua greeted her.

“Mother, come eat.”

Seeing the table had only cornbread and thin porridge, Chen Lixia was instantly displeased.

“You useless hen! Your sister-in-law and I came all this way, and you couldn’t even make us some meat?”

Xu Hua was the head of the women’s association, but her relationship with her mother-in-law had always been poor.

Because she had only given birth to daughters, her mother-in-law constantly mistreated her. But for the sake of her husband, Xu Hua endured it.

“Mother, I’ll buy some meat this afternoon.”

“Buy a lot! Also, your sister-in-law is here to find a husband, so you and Dazhu should help arrange a match for her.”

As she spoke, Xu Hua’s sister-in-law snatched the porridge from Xu Hua’s three daughters.

“You three useless girls eat too much! Sister-in-law, from now on, just give them half a bowl.”

Xu Hua glared at her shameless sister-in-law. She was an adult, yet she had the audacity to steal food from children.

Given how lazy and greedy she was, no decent family would ever want her. Xu Hua sighed and split her own porridge among her daughters.

—-

In the blink of an eye, Jiang Huaijing and Gu Nian’s wedding day arrived.

Held in the dining hall, Gu Nian wore a red blouse and blue trousers, her hair styled with red flowers—she looked radiant.

She was already beautiful, so she only applied light makeup. Meanwhile, Jiang Huaijing wore his green military uniform.

As the wedding began, Commander Chen personally officiated. Watching the couple’s deep affection, Zheng Rongrong bit her lip in jealousy.

Among the guests were Chen Lixia and her daughter, Heimei, who had come solely for the food.

As soon as the meal was served, they devoured it, embarrassing Luo Dazhu and Xu Hua.

After eating, Chen Lixia whispered to Heimei,

“Heimei, stop eating and look around. See if there’s a man you like—your brother and sister-in-law can help arrange a match.”

“Okay, Mother.”

The wedding ended smoothly.

Jiang Dashan’s family planned to leave, but Gu Nian convinced them to stay longer since things weren’t busy in the village.

While Gu Nian prepared for her new job at school, Xu Hua’s household descended into chaos.