Chapter 22: The Reputation of a Fierce and Ruthless Man

Fang Yanling left after some casual chat, saying she was busy with blind dates and would come to see her again next time.

Jiang Ning was almost certain that her former best friend was trying to steal her husband.

This was so different from the Fang Yanling she knew. Wasn’t she the one who secretly harbored feelings for Meng Zhiqing?

Suddenly breaking up with her partner and quitting her job, she returned from another county with eager eyes, only to covet her best friend’s husband?

Regardless of whether this series of actions was normal, let’s talk about Lu Dingquan. Back in the countryside, his reputation wasn’t very good, which is why the original owner was reluctant to marry him.

Lu Dingquan was already twenty-six when he retired from the army. When he first returned to the countryside after demobilization, there were matchmakers who wanted to introduce him to potential partners.

However, on his first blind date, he scared the young lady away.

Later, when others tried to set him up, he refused. Somehow, a dispute broke out, and rumors spread about his fierce and ruthless nature, and how he had even attacked women.

At that time, he hadn’t become the factory director yet, and his demobilization procedures hadn’t been finalized. He spent his days doing farm work and digging fish ponds in the countryside.

People in the village whispered about him behind his back. Some said that Lu Dingquan had been injured while serving in the army, affecting his manhood, which is why he was reluctant to find a partner.

Others said that he had served in the army for so many years, only to return to the village to farm, because he had once hooked up with a widow in the army and committed a crime, which led to his expulsion.

Oh, at that time, the original owner, played by Jiang Ning, was also among the crowd, munching on melon seeds and gossiping.

But who would have thought that she would marry him?

…

In short, Fang Yanling couldn’t possibly be interested in Lu Dingquan. She clearly liked the same type as the original owner, the kind who was fair, clean, and elegant, like Meng Yuanbin.

Could it be that she heard that Lu Dingquan had become the factory director and was now interested in him?

That didn’t seem right either…

Jiang Ning thought about it for a long time, but she wasn’t in a hurry. She would continue to probe Fang Yanling later and deal with the situation as it arose.

However, this incident had wasted her afternoon.

She had originally planned to go to Su Chanzi’s place to inquire about the delivery situation and buy some things.

It was too late to go now, and she was afraid that there would be no car back if she returned late, so Jiang Ning decided to rest early and go tomorrow.

In the evening, someone knocked on the door.

Jiang Ning thought it was Lu Dingquan returning, so she opened the door, only to find the lady from next door standing outside.

The lady was holding a plate of steaming dumplings and smiled warmly at Jiang Ning: “Xiao Jiang, we made some nettle dumplings today. Would you like to try some?”

Jiang Ning smelled the delicious aroma of the dumplings and suddenly felt hungry.

The lady’s name was He Fangying. Although they lived next door to each other, they didn’t interact much. Why was she suddenly so kind to send dumplings over?

Jiang Ning remembered the shy greeting from the little girl in the morning and had a faint guess in her heart. She smiled and invited her in:

“Sister Ying, I could smell the fragrance from your house. Did you make these dumplings yourself? They smell so good.”

Sister Ying had previously thought that Xiao Jiang from next door had a rather bad temper. She was indifferent to people, and every now and then, she would argue with people if she didn’t like something. She was also afraid that her sudden visit would be met with a cold shoulder. She felt a little apprehensive.

If it weren’t for her daughter, she wouldn’t have wanted to take on this task.

But unexpectedly, the other party’s tone was quite good, and Sister Ying felt slightly relieved. The smile on her face became more sincere and warm.

She helped Jiang Ning place the plate of dumplings on the table and walked in, saying: “Of course I did. My Shuangtao loves dumplings, especially nettle and pork dumplings. She said she saw you, Xiao Jiang, this morning, so we made dumplings tonight. She said you must be at home, so she insisted on me bringing some over for you to try.”

Jiang Ning heard the underlying meaning in her words. Since the other party had come to ask for help, she didn’t hesitate. She poured some vinegar and started eating the steaming dumplings.

“Hmm, they are delicious! You make such delicious dumplings, Sister Ying!”

Jiang Ning was practically eating one after another. The dumpling wrappers were thin and the fillings were bouncy. The nettle had a unique fragrance, making them especially delicious.

Sister Ying didn’t leave. She watched her eat and sat down beside her, saying enthusiastically: “If you like them, eat more. There are still some in the pot!”

She silently observed Jiang Ning’s clear and outstanding face, making small talk, circling around the topic until she finally got to the point.

“Xiao Jiang, you know, my eyesight isn’t what it used to be. I even mistook you for your sister the other day!” Sister Ying said apologetically.

Jiang Ning had been under her gaze for a long time, and she was almost full. She smiled and poured a glass of water for her: “Sister, just tell me what’s on your mind. We’re neighbors. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask.”

Her words were straightforward and refreshing, making He Fangying feel very comfortable. She thought that Xiao Jiang had really changed.

She had never interacted with her directly before. All she knew was from the gossip spread by the neighbors. It turned out that she was actually so quick-witted and straightforward.

Of course, Jiang Ning was also polite because the other party had sent dumplings first and her attitude was sincere. People respect me, I respect them. It was all mutual.

He Fangying then spoke up: “Xiao Jiang, to be honest, my Shuangtao has loved dancing since she was little. This month, she’s going to audition for the art troupe in our county.”

“I may be biased because she’s my daughter, but she’s been practicing diligently. She really dances well.”

“But recently, she went to the teacher’s house with the other dancers for a preliminary audition. The teacher said that her appearance wasn’t good enough, that she wasn’t suitable for the art troupe, and that the makeup she applied wasn’t presentable. My Shuangtao was quite discouraged after that.”

He Fangying sighed: “I thought that my daughter was going to take the exam, and she couldn’t be worse off than others, so I spent money to buy her powder and lipstick. But she kept messing around at home, and she couldn’t get it right. It looked like a mess. The teacher even mentioned it to her several times, both directly and indirectly.”

Jiang Ning understood when she heard this.

She asked: “Why don’t you let the dance teacher help her with her makeup? It’s only right for the teacher to help their students with these things. She must also want her students to pass the exam.”

He Fangying chuckled: “That teacher doesn’t teach dancing. She’s a member of the art troupe. She has a small class outside, providing targeted guidance to those little girls who are auditioning. Taking her class doesn’t guarantee you’ll pass, but if you don’t take it, it’s almost impossible to pass.”

“She mentioned to my Shuangtao privately that she could help her with stage makeup and even choose a better dance costume for her, but it would require an additional fee, which is quite expensive. My Shuangtao is a stubborn girl. She couldn’t help but retort to the teacher at the time. When she came back and told me, I said, forget it, let’s just pay. Who would have thought that the teacher wouldn’t respond. I guess she held a grudge.”

“My husband and I thought maybe we should go to the teacher’s house and give her some gifts and say some nice things. But the exam is coming up soon, and Shuangtao is being stubborn. She said she wouldn’t take the exam if we went to see the teacher!”

He Fangying lowered her head slightly, her face filled with the helplessness of a mother.

She also knew that her daughter loved her parents and didn’t want them to come to her house and beg for help, but in the current situation, what did asking for help mean in the face of her future?

Jiang Ning was silent.

She asked: “Sister Ying, is there anything I can help with?”

He Fangying finally looked at her again with embarrassment: “Xiao Jiang, you’re a straightforward person, so I won’t beat around the bush.”

“Actually, I’ve noticed lately that your face has changed so much. That’s why I mistook you for your sister the other day. But Sister isn’t saying that. I mean, you’re already very pretty. You look like the beautiful people on the calendar. But with a little makeup, you look even more vibrant and radiant!”

“Sister just wanted to ask you, did someone help you with your makeup, or are you just skillful at doing it yourself? It’s really eye-catching and beautiful! If you’re willing to introduce that person, I’ll thank you on behalf of my daughter. I’ll definitely pay you for your time and effort. Sister won’t hesitate, plus in the future… in the future, I’ll make sure you have enough dumplings!”

Her request was within Jiang Ning’s expectations.

But initially, she thought the other party would just want to borrow her lipstick or something. Later, she learned that the little girl was also a strong-willed person and didn’t want her parents to suffer the humiliation of begging someone.

Helping the little girl with her stage makeup was a piece of cake. She agreed: “Okay, Sister Ying, when is Shuangtao’s exam? I need to try her makeup beforehand.”

“It’s tomorrow, tomorrow afternoon. It’s at the county cultural theater.”

He Fangying was very touched. She didn’t expect Jiang Ning to agree so readily without any conditions.

Jiang Ning said: “There’s still time. Let’s do it tomorrow morning. The lighting is good in the morning. Sister, tell Shuangtao to come over tomorrow morning. I’ll try her makeup and we’ll see how it looks.”

She was quite skilled at makeup, being a talented actress.

After settling this matter, He Fangying was clearly relieved. Her gaze towards Jiang Ning had changed, as if she were a very powerful person.

Jiang Ning sent her out and casually asked: “What’s the name of the art troupe that Shuangtao is auditioning for?”

He Fangying: “The Jinfan Art Troupe. They didn’t recruit externally before. They started recruiting from schools last year. If you pass, you’ll be considered an internal trainee, and you won’t have to worry about your future! They only recruited five people last year. I don’t know what the situation will be this year.”

Jiang Ning paused for a moment, her eyes widening slightly, then a subtle expression gradually appeared on her face.