Chapter 11: Lin Shuqiao Is Out to Steal a Man

Lin Shuqiao observed the pigs in the farm gradually recovering, and after a brief moment of thought, she turned to Zhao Dahai and said, “I’ve got my eye on a few strong ones. They look pretty good. Help me pick out two of the better breeding pigs. I’ll come pay the deposit in two days, and we’ll settle everything in a week—cash for pigs.”

Zhao Dahai beamed at his benefactor. “Absolutely! I’ll have two healthy, strong breeding pigs ready in a week. If you’re still satisfied with them, we’ll go with the price you mentioned—eighty yuan each, sound good?”

Lin Shuqiao smiled, her dimples showing. “Deal. I’ll be here in a week for the exchange. Thanks in advance.”

“Oh, by the way, I noticed your pigsty’s ventilation isn’t great. Too sealed up—easy for disease to spread in the herd,” Lin Shuqiao added helpfully. Since Zhao Dahai had given her a good price, she figured she’d return the favor by offering a bit of professional advice.

She glanced around and continued, “Try improving the airflow. Ventilation is crucial in animal husbandry.”

Zhao Dahai nodded eagerly. “Yes, ma’am! I’ll add some ventilation according to your advice. You’re right—I never paid much attention to it before. If it weren’t for you, I’d have suffered a huge loss!”

“Follow this prescription I gave you—shots and meds, and they’ll recover quickly,” Lin Shuqiao said, listing out the exact instructions for medication. After all, she didn’t want her two pigs to die before she picked them up.

“I got it all written down—I’ll do exactly as you say!” Zhao Dahai whipped out a notebook and diligently recorded her words.

These were basic standards in modern livestock farming, but to Zhao Dahai, they were eye-opening. The more he thought about it, the more sense it made. He felt incredibly lucky to have met Lin Shuqiao.

He pulled 20 yuan from his bag and handed it to her. “I really owe you one. If it weren’t for you, I’d have lost everything. This is your consultation fee—please accept it.”

Twenty yuan was a decent amount in these times; a pig’s trotter only cost a little over a yuan.

Though she initially wanted to refuse, Lin Shuqiao ultimately accepted it with a smile under Zhao Dahai’s insistence.

She opened her wallet. Funds were tight right now, so this 20 yuan was truly a timely blessing.

Standing nearby, Lu Ziqi quietly observed Lin Shuqiao. She didn’t have a job—where did she get the money to buy pigs? Could she have stolen from Lu Zheng?

The thought made Lu Ziqi frown. He had thought she was turning over a new leaf, but now it seemed old habits died hard.

After finalizing everything about the pigs, Lin Shuqiao dragged a reluctant Lu Ziqi away from the pig farm.

She planned to buy some daily necessities—no more living like a slob.

Meanwhile, Liu Jie and Zhao Juan were sneaking behind her like a pair of gossip-hungry spies. They had seen her enter the farm but couldn’t hear or see anything inside, so they had no idea what had happened.

When they saw her come out empty-handed, they exchanged glances, both thinking they had uncovered the truth.

If she had really bought pigs, why was she empty-handed? Obviously, she hadn’t! So what was she doing there? Could she really be out to steal a man?

Lin Shuqiao went to the market and bought some fresh vegetables and daily essentials. Watching her, Liu Jie and Zhao Juan became even more convinced she hadn’t come to buy pigs.

“She came all this way without money—no way she was buying pigs. She must be looking for Jiang He! Come on, let’s follow her!”

Lin Shuqiao took Lu Ziqi’s hand and led him into a trendy clothing store. The prices weren’t cheap, but manageable. Plus, Lu Ziqi’s clothes were getting too small, and Lu Zheng was always too busy with work to notice. She wanted to take this opportunity to buy the child a few decent outfits.

Zhao Juan and Liu Jie exchanged smug glances behind her. One of them sneered, “Figures she’s a gold-digger. Spends all of Lu Zheng’s salary—where’d she get money for clothes?”

Zhao Juan added sarcastically, “Probably from some other man—like Jiang He, who’s always hanging around her.”

The two snickered as they followed her inside the store.

Just as Lin Shuqiao held up an outfit to size against Lu Ziqi, Liu Jie piped up mockingly, “Don’t embarrass yourself here, Lin Shuqiao. You blow through Lu Zheng’s salary every month—how do you still have money for clothes? Got some secret sponsor, huh? Otherwise, you’d be dead broke by now.”

Lin Shuqiao lifted her gaze coolly. “What I choose to buy is my business. Some people should stop wasting their breath.”

Liu Jie opened her mouth to argue, but suddenly—

“Shuqiao, what are you doing here?” Jiang He’s voice rang out, a bit guilty and hesitant.

Lin Shuqiao turned to see him standing in front of them with a bag of clothes in hand and a faint smile on his face.

“Buying clothes for the kid,” she said flatly.

“Really?” Jiang He smiled at her. “I thought… you came looking for me.”

Lin Shuqiao sneered. “Looking for you? Who the hell has time for that?”

Her gaze drifted over Jiang He, and she thought to herself how terrible her taste had been in her past life. How did she ever fall for this?

Then her eyes caught sight of a few brightly colored dresses in the bag he was holding.

She paused, raised an eyebrow, and said, “Jiang He, since when did you start buying women’s clothes? Don’t tell me you’ve got some… special hobby? It’s okay, I won’t judge.”

Jiang He’s smile nearly collapsed, and he forced a twitchy grin. “What nonsense are you spouting? They’re for… family.”

Lin Shuqiao gave him a once-over with a cold smirk. “They’d better be.”

Jiang He’s face turned stormy. Too humiliating! What kind of crap was she saying?!

He opened his mouth to argue, but Lin Shuqiao cut in sharply. “By the way, Jiang He, I remember you borrowed a lot from me. Time to return it. I’ll waive the interest, but if you don’t pay up, I’ll take it to your superiors.”

Jiang He’s face turned pale. “What are you talking about?! Do you have proof?!”

Lin Shuqiao didn’t back down. “Don’t play dumb with me—pay up. I’ve got everything recorded. How dare you even show your face to me?”

She yanked her sleeve from his grip. “Hands off, comrade.”

Then she calmly took out her ledger from her bag—painstakingly updated that very morning—where she had neatly listed all the things Jiang He owed her.

Of course, these had originally been gifts. But given the way things ended between them, Lin Shuqiao had every intention of collecting them all back.

“It’s all written down clearly. Don’t think you can weasel out of this. You’ve got two days—return everything.”

Jiang He looked completely mortified. He hadn’t expected her to bring this up in front of everyone.

“I mean… you gave those to me…”

Lin Shuqiao raised an eyebrow. “Gave? You think I gave you those? Based on what, exactly? Jiang comrade, we’re nothing now—I owe you nothing, and I’m taking it all back. Don’t make up stories.”

Jiang He turned red with embarrassment. But he couldn’t admit she had gifted him all that stuff—he’d look like the guilty party.

“I-I’ve got stuff to do—I’m leaving!”

With that, he slunk away with his bicycle, looking utterly defeated.

Liu Jie and Zhao Juan were stunned. They hadn’t expected Lin Shuqiao to change so drastically—demanding repayment from Jiang He?!

Refreshed and in high spirits, Lin Shuqiao paid for the clothes and left with Lu Ziqi, leaving the two women grinding their teeth in frustration.

“What’s with her lately? She’s like a different person. Let’s keep following her—see what she’s up to.”

Zhao Juan nodded, and the two got on their bikes to tail her.

“Why are you two following me?” Lin Shuqiao turned back on her bike and stared them down.

Liu Jie sneered, “How heartless can you be, dumping your old lover like that?”

Lin Shuqiao gave her a chilly glance. “Mind your own business. Instead of nosing into mine, worry about yourself—before your mouth rots.”