Chapter 16: Running Into Acquaintances at the Market

Luo Yaqing felt a bit embarrassed from the praise.

She kicked down the bicycle stand. “Auntie, let’s go.”

Zhang Guiqin nodded repeatedly. “Let’s go, let’s go. I’ll carry the photos for you.”

The street was crowded, making it hard to ride. Luo Yaqing pushed her bike while Zhang Guiqin followed alongside.

The two chatted and laughed happily as they made their way to the street entrance.

Just as Luo Yaqing was about to get on the bike, Zhang Guiqin pulled her back. “Isn’t that Ma Xiaolian?”

Following her gaze, Luo Yaqing looked and indeed—it was Ma Xiaolian.

The person walking next to her was Ye Hongping.

Ye Hongping looked quite pretty today, wearing a lotus-pink floral cotton jacket.

At that moment, Ma Xiaolian also spotted them and walked over.

“Aunt Guiqin,” Ma Xiaolian greeted enthusiastically, and even Ye Hongping chimed in with a polite “Auntie.”

Only Luo Yaqing was ignored.

Zhang Guiqin smiled and nodded. “Xiaolian, Nurse Ye, how come you two are together?”

“Why shouldn’t we be together?” Ma Xiaolian shot back with a question of her own.

Zhang Guiqin was caught off guard by the response.

Ma Xiaolian linked arms with Ye Hongping and said, “This girl’s off work today.”

Ye Hongping gently added, “Auntie, it’s my rest day at the health station.”

Upon hearing this, Zhang Guiqin smiled. “I thought it was odd that Nurse Ye had time to come to the market.”

Ye Hongping gave a sweet smile.

Ma Xiaolian followed up, “Aunt Guiqin, what did you buy at the market?”

Earlier that morning, she’d seen Zhang Guiqin pushing a bicycle out of the residential compound and had been curious—why so early?

And when did Zhang Guiqin learn to ride a bike?

Now going to the market would be easier—no more walking miles on foot. She could even catch a ride now and then.

But just now she realized—the bike was actually for Luo Yaqing.

They’d come to the market together?

Zhang Guiqin smiled. “Bought some yarn and a pig’s trotter.”

“That’s it?” Ma Xiaolian’s gaze drifted to the fully loaded bike. “I thought all that stuff was yours, Auntie.”

Zhang Guiqin shook her head. “That’s Yaqing’s.”

Luo Yaqing gave Zhang Guiqin face and smiled faintly at Ma Xiaolian.

Ma Xiaolian said nothing further, just lifted a hand to straighten her green headscarf.

Ye Hongping, however, gave Luo Yaqing and the loaded bike a couple of side glances, her heart full of resentment.

Why does she get to live like this?

Life really isn’t fair!

“Oh, Aunt Guiqin, what’s that in your hand?” Ma Xiaolian asked in surprise, staring at the paper bag.

She’d been too caught up chatting to notice earlier.

“Photos,” Zhang Guiqin replied.

“When did you get your photo taken, Auntie?” Ma Xiaolian grinned flatteringly. “I wanted to get one last year, but when I asked the price, I couldn’t bring myself to spend the money. Can I see yours?”

Ye Hongping was also curious and leaned in.

Zhang Guiqin hesitated. “They’re not mine. They’re Yaqing’s.”

She turned to Luo Yaqing. “Want to show them?”

Luo Yaqing originally didn’t want to, but after thinking about it, she changed her mind and nodded with a fake smile.

When they heard the photos belonged to Luo Yaqing, both women instinctively didn’t want to look.

But they couldn’t resist the temptation.

Neither said a word as they stared at the paper bag.

Zhang Guiqin pulled out a seven-inch photo—very well made, framed in glass, perfect for hanging on the wall.

Ma Xiaolian gasped in admiration.

A two-inch photo costs 80 cents; a seven-inch framed one must have cost a fortune.

Ye Hongping saw it clearly.

In the photo, Luo Yaqing was smiling brightly, snuggled up against Han Zhixu’s shoulder. They looked so loving and close.

The image stabbed at her heart like a knife.

And Zhang Guiqin wouldn’t stop praising them. “Look how perfect they are—Captain Han and Yaqing! Talented man, beautiful woman. A match made in heaven… soulmates, destined by fate…”

She used every cliché she’d ever heard in opera.

Luo Yaqing couldn’t help but admire her.
Auntie, if you’re this good with words, keep going.

“With a couple that good-looking, their kids are bound to be beautiful too.” Zhang Guiqin kept going, then turned to ask Ye Hongping, “Don’t you think so, Nurse Ye?”

Ye Hongping was miserable, but managed to squeeze out a smile. “Yes… yes…”

Luo Yaqing’s gaze drifted coolly over Ye Hongping.

Good. Be miserable.

All day long, trying to wreck someone else’s marriage.

After a few more words with Ma Xiaolian, Zhang Guiqin was ready to leave.

“Xiaolian, Nurse Ye, you two keep shopping. Yaqing and I are heading back—”

“Ding-ling-ling—”

Suddenly, a sharp, urgent bicycle bell rang out, and someone sped toward the group.

“Oh my—!”

Everyone jumped. Ma Xiaolian reacted quickly, pulling Ye Hongping back.

Zhang Guiqin also instinctively stepped back.

But Luo Yaqing, holding the bike, couldn’t move in time. She watched as the large 28-inch bicycle barreled toward her.

Unexpectedly, the rider executed a dramatic brake, stopping just in front of them.

He didn’t hit Luo Yaqing—just bumped his front wheel into her back wheel.

Zhang Guiqin grabbed the bike and turned around, yelling, “Are your eyes in your butt? Don’t you look where you’re going?!”

The rider stayed on the bike with one foot on the ground, unfazed by the scolding.

“Ping, I thought that was you from far away—it really is! Haven’t seen you in a few days, and you’re even prettier,” he said cheerfully.

Ye Hongping’s expression changed instantly. On her rare day off, just out to unwind—of all people, she had to run into Liu Chunlei?

Unbelievable bad luck!

“Nurse Ye, do you know him?” Zhang Guiqin asked curiously.

“I’m Ping’s—”

“He’s my friend!” Ye Hongping cut him off quickly.

She turned to the group. “He’s a fellow educated youth from the countryside.”

Zhang Guiqin gave Liu Chunlei a once-over. “Is that so…”

Luo Yaqing also felt that this guy didn’t look or act like an educated youth.

Most male educated youths were soft-skinned, polite, and well-behaved.

But this man? Sleazy-looking, eyes darting at every woman.

Also, his voice sounded oddly familiar to Luo Yaqing.

Seeing everyone’s attention on Liu Chunlei, Ye Hongping started to panic. “Comrade Liu Chunlei, you’re disgracing us educated youths—riding recklessly like that on the street. You almost hit a military family member!”

Liu Chunlei blinked. “They’re from the compound?”

“Yes! Now apologize!” Ye Hongping shot him a look.

Liu Chunlei quickly got off the bike and bowed deeply with a smile, teeth yellow and crooked. “Sorry, sorry!”

Then he walked over to Luo Yaqing, smiling so wide his teeth jutted out. “Sister-in-law, sorry about that.”

Luo Yaqing remained expressionless. “It’s fine. Just be more careful next time.”

Liu Chunlei nodded eagerly. “I’ll listen to you, sister-in-law. I’ll be more careful next time!”

Seeing his attitude wasn’t too bad, Luo Yaqing asked, “You’re an educated youth?”