Chapter 4 She is a waste

Huang Jinxiu kept nodding eagerly: “Yes, yes, I’m sure. I plan to send her to the far northwest for the countryside program, the sooner the better.”

As soon as she said this, the entire youth office fell silent, everyone staring at Huang Jinxiu in shock. Although sending youths to the countryside was policy, who would willingly let their own children go to rural areas? If the child was incapable, that was one thing, but for those with any ability, parents usually bought them a good job or gave them their own position. Even if there was no choice, they would at least try to send their children somewhere good, close to home. Nobody was in such a hurry to send a child to the far northwest like Huang Jinxiu.

“There hasn’t been a batch going to the far northwest recently; the earliest would be in two months. The day after tomorrow, there’s one going to Shun City in Liaoning Province.”

“That works too. Let’s go with the place you mentioned.”

The staff disapproved of Huang Jinxiu’s approach, but seeing An Ruoyan’s indifferent attitude, they didn’t interfere.

“Really, never seen parents like this,” one staff member muttered, but still added An Ruoyan’s name. Then they took out the subsidy for Liaoning Province: “The subsidy for Liaoning is 100 yuan.”

Huang Jinxiu reached out to take it, but An Ruoyan snatched it first. Huang Jinxiu, who had just been excited, was now angry—she had wanted to use the money to buy more meat to please Shi Qiang. Seeing An Ruoyan take the money and leave, she quickly gathered the materials and chased after her: “Ruoyan, don’t lose this money. Let Mom hold onto it for you.”

An Ruoyan ignored her—money was already in her own pocket; reaching for it again would be foolish. Seeing her walking steadily, Huang Jinxiu asked, “Where are you going?”

“Me? To break up with that scumbag! Isn’t it my turn?”

Seeing An Ruoyan obey so easily, Huang Jinxiu was extremely proud—she really knew how to teach her daughter. As for the countryside subsidy, she could sort it out later. Feeling good, she started talking more: “Go, go, why aren’t you going? You’re so obedient, I’m really relieved. Don’t worry, once you’re on the train, I’ll send your packages—big quilts, snacks, money, everything. Every month, I’ll send you twenty yuan. I’ll even find you a good man, and when the time comes, call you back to marry, so you don’t have to stay in the countryside.”

An Ruoyan listened to the endless chatter behind her, feeling disgusted. Finding her a husband? Basically, Huang Jinxiu just wanted to sell her off again! Clever, but she wasn’t the original owner—she wouldn’t cooperate: “We’ll talk about that later. My luggage doesn’t need to be mailed after I leave. We’ll buy it now and I’ll take it with me when I go.”

Huang Jinxiu hurriedly said, “No, Mom means taking so many things on the train will be tiring, and they might get stolen. Wait until you leave and I’ll mail them; you can pick them up at the post office.”

“Then give me the money directly. I’ll buy it there myself and save the postage.”

“What? Uncle Shi won’t pay until three days later. We don’t have money to buy things now! But don’t worry, once Uncle Shi pays, I’ll buy and mail them to you immediately.”

After that, An Ruoyan didn’t say a word, listening silently as Huang Jinxiu painted a big picture for her. The trip passed without incident, and they soon arrived at their destination.

An Ruoyan, always good at managing her time, arrived at the textile factory’s residential compound just as it was noon break. Zhou’s father was the deputy director of the textile factory, and Zhou’s mother was the workshop director. Both were usually busy, but to cook for Zhou Shuchen, they skipped the canteen and came home for lunch.

Just as she entered the compound, someone called out: “Yanyan, you came to see Xiaocheng?”

An Ruoyan looked toward the voice and saw Zhou Shuchen’s mother. Adjusting her expression to appear delicate and helpless, she said, “Aunt Sun, you’re back from work!”

In the original owner’s memory, Zhou Shuchen’s parents were easygoing and honest for the time period. They genuinely liked the original owner, though she didn’t understand why Zhou Shuchen behaved the way he did. While she considered them good people, An Ruoyan wouldn’t go easy on Zhou Shuchen. She knew if she didn’t escalate things carefully, Shi Meijiao would pin all kinds of blame on her later.

Zhou’s mother walked over: “Yanyan, what happened to your head? Did someone bully you? Come home with me, I’ll have Shuchen make things right for you.”

An Ruoyan pinched her thigh secretly, then, acting weak and helpless, said, “Aunt Sun, this injury… I hurt myself out of a momentary lapse.”

Zhou’s mother disapproved: “Child, you can’t just hit walls yourself. No matter what happens, things will pass.” She pulled An Ruoyan a little farther: “Did your mother, being careless, upset you again?”

An Ruoyan looked around, hesitating, seemingly unsure what to say. Zhou’s mother noticed her hesitation: “If you have something to say, just say it. Don’t worry, I’ll help you.”

An Ruoyan seemed to finally make up her mind: “Aunt Sun, I’m actually Zhou Shuchen’s girlfriend. You, Uncle, and everyone in the compound know this. But my mother and sister claim I’m the third party. My sister even said she’s going to get engaged to Zhou Shuchen next week.”

Zhou’s mother was furious, swearing: “That’s nonsense! You’re the daughter-in-law I have in mind. Who does she think she is?”

Huang Jinxiu standing nearby didn’t hold back: “Sun, how can you say that? My Jiajiao is the deputy director’s daughter—perfect match with your family. That brat has a dead father and is of no use to your family.”

Zhou’s mother finally looked at Huang Jinxiu with disdain: “Comrade An Jianguo sacrificed himself to protect the factory; he’s a martyr. Yanyan is his daughter. As her mother, you should love and protect her, not help a stepdaughter bully her…”

Huang Jinxiu impatiently interrupted: “Stop, stop! Who wants to hear your long speech? What use is An Ruoyan? She’s useless and can’t keep a man. Jiajiao truly loves your son.”

More and more people in the compound gathered, hearing the commotion, and stopped going home for lunch.

An Ruoyan decided it was enough and said: “If my sister and Zhou Shuchen love each other, they could just tell me. I would support them. But they can’t hold me in the dark and embrace each other secretly.”

At this, the residents realized they had just witnessed a major scandal in the deputy director’s household. Groups of people whispered excitedly.

Zhou’s mother lost her composure: “Huang Jinxiu, you actually taught that sly fox to seduce my son! I’ll fight you!” She charged forward and began to wrestle with Huang Jinxiu.

Hiding at the gate of the compound, Shi Meijiao trembled with anger.