Chapter 5: You’re in Big Trouble

Pei Qingyuan didn’t take Sheng Chunxiang to the police station. Instead, they went to the neighborhood office.

According to him, this was a feint to the east while striking to the west, but in reality, he had other plans.

Sheng Chunxiang didn’t mind; after all, she didn’t even know where the police station was.

At the neighborhood office, Director Zhao saw Pei Qingyuan and quickly asked, “Qingyuan? What brings you here?”

Every time this little troublemaker came, it was never for anything good.

Either he was reporting one thing or another, always making a fuss over the smallest things.

Even the mice that passed by the office would scurry away when they saw him.

Pei Qingyuan said, “Aunt Zhao, you’re in big trouble. No, I’m here to bring you some results!”

“Big trouble?”

When Zhao Haitang heard this, she trembled in fear and immediately sat down.

But when she heard the rest, she couldn’t help but roll her eyes.

Pei Qingyuan sat down, pulling Sheng Chunxiang with him, and casually poured her a cup of tea. “Xiangxiang, here’s some tea for you.”

Sheng Chunxiang really was thirsty, so she took the cup and drank it all in one go.

Zhao Haitang then noticed that Pei Qingyuan had brought a young girl with him.

“Qingyuan, is this the little girl Zhao Guihua introduced to you as your betrothed?”

Could it be?

She was dressed in ragged clothes, with bangs so long they could be used as curtains, making it hard to even see her face.

Did Zhao Guihua really have the guts to introduce someone like this to Pei Qingyuan?

Pei Qingyuan replied, “Director Zhao, let me formally introduce her. This is my girlfriend, Sheng Chunxiang from our courtyard.”

“We specifically came here to talk about that arranged marriage. I’m here to report Zhao Guihua. She’s been involved in feudal arranged marriages, forging a fake marriage certificate and a fake betrothal to deceive me!”

In his previous life, he didn’t know the truth until the end, tricked by his stepmother all his life.

This time, he was taking the initiative to expose her true nature.

Zhao Haitang was utterly shocked, with a face full of confusion.

His girlfriend?

The Sheng Chunxiang from the courtyard?

Wasn’t she just the little maid from the old Li family, and from the countryside, no less?

Report Zhao Guihua?!

There was too much information to process, so she quickly took a few big gulps of cold water.

After calming down, Zhao Haitang’s heart rejoiced.

She didn’t care about reporting others, but reporting Zhao Guihua? That was a matter she had to handle!

“Qingyuan, this matter could be big or small. You need to have proof. You can’t just go around causing trouble like before,” Zhao Haitang said on purpose.

As soon as she finished speaking, Sheng Chunxiang walked over.

Standing up straight, she said very seriously, “Director, my boyfriend doesn’t cause trouble. Please be more careful with your words.”

Pei Qingyuan immediately turned into a little fanboy, his eyes sparkling with admiration.

So cool.

I love it!

Zhao Haitang’s heart skipped a beat. What was going on?

Hadn’t they just started dating? Why was she already defending him so fiercely?

Is this what they call love at first sight?!

“Cough cough… Comrade Chunxiang, do you have any evidence?”

Zhao Haitang had never witnessed Sheng Chunxiang’s combat prowess, so his tone softened considerably, as if to offer an escape route for himself.

Sheng Chunxiang took out the marriage certificate: “Director Zhao, look here and here…”

Fuguihua wasn’t working for nothing; she knew a lot of insider information about various industries.

She could recognize a forged check, let alone a simple marriage certificate.

Pei Qingyuan and Zhao Haitang listened attentively, and both were shocked.

The marriage certificate originally had no names; those were added later, and even the date had been altered.

Sheng Chunxiang was filled with righteous indignation: “Director, Zhao Guihua is just an ordinary housewife, how could she possess such skills? I suspect she’s an enemy agent hidden among the people!”

Pei Qingyuan continued: “Normally, Zhao Guihua pretends to be as close as my own mother, but I put up with it for my dad’s happiness. However, I never expected her to be so malicious. She and Lv Bichi planned everything together. Once I agreed to marry, Zhao Guihua was going to send me down to the countryside, so I’d never be able to rise again.”

He had been tricked and ruined in his past life, while Zhao Guihua gained a good stepmother reputation.

Sheng Chunxiang sat down and crossed her legs: “In our hometown, Xiba Village, there’s a similar case. A malicious stepmother arranged a fake engagement, intending to sell her granddaughter. She was taken away by the police and shot on the same day.”

“Zhao Guihua’s actions are even worse. Even if she’s not an enemy agent, she has ties to them. If the police find out, she’ll definitely get what’s coming to her!”

There was indeed such a case in the original protagonist’s hometown, but that happened before the Liberation.

Pei Qingyuan was delighted: “Director, I caused you trouble before, but now there’s a chance for you to earn merit. I’ll leave this opportunity for you.”

He hadn’t expected Sheng Chunxiang to be so clever. If she could label Zhao Guihua as an enemy agent, Zhao Guihua would never be able to recover!

The two of them played along, and Zhao Haitang was thoroughly convinced: “Good, Zhao Guihua! You can rest assured, I will investigate immediately!”

Sheng Chunxiang and Pei Qingyuan exchanged a look, both thanking Zhao Haitang, and left first.

Once outside the street office, Sheng Chunxiang glanced at Pei Qingyuan and raised an eyebrow slightly: “Pei Qingyuan, you just had me help you, and now you’re lying to me?”

The street office director wasn’t someone to be fooled. The people in the compound had been thoroughly checked by the organization.

But just now, they managed to sway Zhao Haitang with a single marriage certificate and a few words.

Either Zhao Haitang was a fool, or Pei Qingyuan took Sheng Chunxiang for one.

Pei Qingyuan quickly explained: “Xiangxiang, listen to me…”

He told her all the grudges and entanglements between Zhao Guihua and Zhao Haitang.

Sheng Chunxiang, who had no memory of this, realized that the original protagonist had only been in the compound for three years, constantly revolving around the Li family, so she didn’t know much about the past.

Now she understood, no wonder Pei Qingyuan insisted on going to the street office first. He was really a top student, his mind sharp.

Zhao Guihua and Zhao Haitang had never gotten along in their youth, always competing in studies, work, and men.

But Zhao Guihua was unlucky in marriage, as her husband died early.

On the other hand, Zhao Haitang had been lucky in love, her husband was now the deputy director of the police.

Widows had many scandals, and Zhao Guihua and Pei Guokang had been secretly involved for some time.

Pei Qingyuan’s mother passed away unexpectedly. Less than a hundred days later, Pei Guokang married Zhao Guihua.

Zhao Guihua was in a hurry because her two children had graduated and needed jobs, which relied on Pei Guokang.

But entering the family at this time would definitely lead to gossip.

She didn’t care about her own reputation, but she couldn’t let her children’s names be ruined.

After much thought, Zhao Guihua used Zhao Haitang as a scapegoat.

Before long, rumors spread: Zhao Haitang’s daughter had seduced a married man.

The rumors were fabricated, but with Zhao Guihua’s manipulation, they spread like wildfire.

Everyone was busy gossiping and didn’t pay attention to Zhao Guihua, so she easily entered the Pei family.

It’s easy to start a rumor, but hard to clarify it.

Zhao Haitang had worked tirelessly to clear her daughter’s name back then.

For years, she had never had the chance to vent her anger.

But now, an opportunity had presented itself!

Sheng Chunxiang couldn’t help but sigh; widows in this era had truly become shrewd, using public opinion to advance their own interests.

Pei Qingyuan saw that she hadn’t spoken and thought she was really angry.

“Xiangxiang, don’t be mad. I didn’t mean to hide it from you, but the time was tight, and I didn’t have a chance to explain.”

Where had things gone wrong for her to notice?

His wife was too smart!

He liked it so much!

But he would have to be more careful in the future.

Sheng Chunxiang gave him a glance: “I haven’t eaten all day. I’ll treat, but you pay. Let’s go to the state-run restaurant.”

She hadn’t had a decent meal since the beginning of the day, and she had been dragged around acting in all kinds of scenes.

She played her part in the compound and then came to the street office to perform; she was more dedicated than any actor.

Even though she had money, and quite a bit, that was her money.

He had asked her to play a role, so shouldn’t he pay for the meal?

Besides, she was playing his girlfriend, and they hadn’t finished the scene. Wasn’t it his job to treat her to dinner?

She didn’t want to find fault, and besides, their relationship wasn’t really a couple’s to begin with.

Pei Qingyuan immediately said, “Let’s go, let’s go to the state-run restaurant. You order, and I’ll eat whatever you want. Money and tickets are no problem!”

She’d treat, and he’d pay!

This was the exact same tactic she had used before. It seemed like they were truly meant for each other

.He was his grandmother’s lifeline. When she hadn’t gone to Hong Kong Island, he was used to a life where everything came to him effortlessly—food and clothing were handed to him without lifting a finger.

The old lady feared that if she left home, her precious grandson might be bullied. So, she secretly prepared money and tickets for him, enough to last him for ten or even twenty years.

She also told him exactly where Pei Guokang hid the money and tickets.

From time to time, Pei Qingyuan would quietly take some money and tickets, and even if his scumbag father discovered it, he could only suffer in silence.

For instance, today, when he was treating Sheng Chunxiang to a meal, he used his father’s money and tickets.

Sheng Chunxiang quickly glanced at the menu, and with a swift motion, ordered six dishes and one soup.

Braised pork ribs, sweet and sour tenderloin, boiled pork slices, stir-fried kidneys, stir-fried vegetables, sauerkraut fish, and meatball soup.

She ordered five bowls of rice at once to avoid the trouble of having to go up later to get more rice.

The entire process took less than a minute. Sheng Chunxiang turned to Pei Qingyuan and asked, “Anything else you want to add?”

Altogether, these dishes would cost about five yuan and ten meal tickets.

Wasn’t he just saying that money and tickets were no problem?

Was he lying?

Pei Qingyuan was completely stunned. The portions at the state-run restaurant in this era were large and filling. She ordered so much in one go?

He felt an inexplicable wave of sadness. After over three years, she must not have had a proper meal, and now, after being reborn, she ordered so much at once.

His wife should be taken care of by him. Why would he need to ask someone else to take care of her?

“I’ll also get a scrambled egg with chives and three more bowls of rice. For now, this is enough. If it’s not enough, we can order more.”

He went to find the waiter.

The waiter, Su Junhe, looked at him strangely. “Pei Qingyuan, don’t tell me you saved someone who came from the famine. This is enough food for you for a whole month.”

They were childhood friends, and their lives had been quite similar.

His parents divorced and remarried, leaving him to fend for himself. He had lived by picking up scraps.

Pei Qingyuan had good luck, with a grandmother still around.

Pei Qingyuan hurriedly covered his mouth. “Junhe, don’t talk nonsense. That’s my fiancée, the woman you haven’t married yet. Of course, it’s my duty to spend money on her!”

Su Junhe was completely dumbfounded.

He glanced back and forth between Sheng Chunxiang and Pei Qingyuan and came to a conclusion: His childhood friend was handsome, had lots of money and tickets, but unfortunately, his eyes were blind.

Sheng Chunxiang leaned back in her chair, closing her eyes to rest.

Suddenly, she felt dizzy, and before her appeared a giant light screen, displaying: [Wanjie Mall.]

The interface resembled a mobile shopping app, filled with all sorts of items: rice, flour, cooking oil, daily necessities, clothes, tools, and even washing marrow pills!

No wonder it was called the Wanjie Mall—truly, there was nothing you couldn’t find.

However, the mall wasn’t free to access because her [Wallet] was empty.

She opened her wallet, checked the rules, and couldn’t help but curse the greedy merchants.

1: A 1000-to-1 exchange rate!

What a scam.

This meant her 3000 yuan was only worth 3 yuan in the mall.

What could she buy with 3 yuan?

She could buy hardship!

Or get scammed!

However, there were other rules, such as being able to trade items, with fluctuating exchange rates depending on the situation.

She was about to try that when Pei Qingyuan’s voice interrupted: “Xiangxiang, let’s eat. It’ll be cold if we wait too long.”

Once the food was ready, Pei Qingyuan quickly went to bring the dishes. Now the table was fully set.

Sheng Chunxiang closed the light screen and decided to try it when they got home.

Looking at the seven dishes and one soup on the table, she couldn’t help but swallow.

The food in this era was rich in color, aroma, and flavor, without any shortcuts!

Although the original owner had great strength, she had been lacking in nutrition.

After all, for three years, she had worked like an ox but never had a decent meal.

“Do you want to try it first?” Sheng Chunxiang asked with a fake smile.

Pei Qingyuan replied, “No need to be polite, just dig in.”

What’s there to try? It’s not poisonous.

He had eaten these dishes many times, but he had never eaten them all together like this.

Sheng Chunxiang smiled. “Alright, then I won’t be polite.”

In the next half hour, Sheng Chunxiang truly wasn’t polite—she focused on eating.

One bowl of rice, half a plate of sweet and sour fish, and a third of the sweet and sour tenderloin went down without much feeling.

More to come.

By the time she finished her third bowl of rice, nearly half the dishes were gone, and she felt like she was alive again.

She continued!

The fourth and fifth bowls…

Pei Qingyuan was completely stunned. She was so small and delicate, yet her appetite was huge?!

That was five bowls of rice, seven dishes, and a soup—almost all gone.

To be honest, he was still hungry after being reborn.

Had he known she had such an appetite, he wouldn’t have been so generous earlier.

If they didn’t eat more, it would all be gone.

Pei Qingyuan began scraping through the rice, picking up Sheng Chunxiang’s leftover dishes to eat a few bites.

But even so, by the time they reached the last bowl of rice, there were hardly any dishes left. To ease the awkwardness, he could only soak the rice in the meatball soup.

At least that was filling, so he didn’t feel too embarrassed.

Sheng Chunxiang was eating with full focus, completely ignoring Pei Qingyuan. It wasn’t until she was stuffed, and the seven dishes were nearly gone, that she put down her chopsticks and leaned back in her chair, burping.

“Good thing I ate so much earlier, or else there would’ve been leftovers.”

Pei Qingyuan, still not full: “I really need to thank you.”

Not far away, Su Junhe watched his childhood friend’s bitter face and looked at the stuffed Sheng Chunxiang. He finally couldn’t hold it in and burst out laughing.

Hahahaha…

The brat had finally met his match.

The two laughed for a while, then Su Junhe walked over: “Qingyuan, this is…?”

Pei Qingyuan smiled: “Let me formally introduce her. This is my fiancée, Sheng Chunxiang.”