Chapter 73

At this point, it was as if Liu Yun suddenly remembered to confirm something. “Oh right, you have a high school diploma, correct?”

If it had been someone else unaware of the situation, being held so affectionately by Liu Yun while she spoke so warmly, they would have felt immensely grateful on the spot. What a wonderful person, what a kind-hearted comrade, they’d have thought.

After finishing her speech, Liu Yun waited for Qiao Xinyi to answer. Seeing that Qiao Xinyi only smiled without responding, she tried again, “Even if you didn’t finish high school, it’s fine. A junior high diploma is usually enough.”

Still, Qiao Xinyi didn’t speak.

Zheng Dajiang burst out laughing, “Don’t tell me you didn’t even finish elementary school, just like me?”

“Comrade Zheng Dajiang, don’t tease others like that—it’s rude. Maybe her family had financial difficulties,” Liu Yun said in a gentle, big-sisterly tone. “An elementary school diploma is usable too. It’s just that compared to junior high or high school, it’s harder to find work. It might take a little more time and effort.”

Zhang Zao started to get anxious seeing Qiao Xinyi remain silent. “Oh come on, what, are you mute now? This morning in the main hall, you sure knew how to talk! Now that Liu Yun is asking about your education, why are you so quiet?”

“Oh, I’ve never been to school. Not a single day,” Qiao Xinyi replied, smiling sincerely at Liu Yun. “Sister, is that okay too? Could you still ask your friends to help me find one of those jobs where you just sit and still get paid a full salary?”

Zheng Dajiang’s laughter rang out so loud it startled the chickens in the neighbor’s yard, sending them into a squawking frenzy.

“Hahaha! So in the end, you’re even worse off than me, and I went to school for three whole years! And you had the nerve to mock me this morning?”

“My god! You’re so shameless! What makes you think Comrade Liu Yun should help you find a job? Is Liu Yun your mom? Your grandma? Or did you go and worship her ancestors?”

Zhang Zao felt immensely satisfied—she’d finally found her chance to return the favor and throw Qiao Xinyi’s words from this morning right back at her.

“Then did Zheng Dahe call Comrade Liu Yun ‘Mom’? Or ‘Grandma’? Or worship her ancestors?” Qiao Xinyi asked Zhang Zao, feigning confusion. Then, suddenly, she put on a look of realization.

“Oh! Comrade Liu Yun must be Zheng Dajiang’s girlfriend, right?” Qiao Xinyi immediately praised, “Zheng Dajiang, you really are lucky! To have someone like Comrade Liu Yun as your partner—she’s a college graduate who doesn’t even mind that you didn’t finish elementary school. She’s even willing to help arrange a job for you and marry you.”

Her words instantly wiped the smiles off both Zhang Zao and Zheng Dajiang’s faces. They turned panicked and looked nervously at Liu Yun, afraid she’d be angry.

The mother and son weren’t completely unaware of their place—they both knew Liu Yun looked down on Zheng Dajiang.

While Zheng Dajiang and Zhang Zao had been mocking Qiao Xinyi, Liu Yun hadn’t shown much reaction. But now, hearing Qiao Xinyi lump her together with Zheng Dajiang—she wasn’t just angry, she was completely disgusted. What kind of eyes would mistake her for being interested in a loafer like Zheng Dajiang?

Liu Yun just kept staring at Qiao Xinyi, a hint of doubt creeping into her expression. She was suspicious, trying to gauge whether Qiao Xinyi was telling the truth or not. She even started wondering if Qiao Xinyi had said it on purpose—Could she know who I really am?

Because Liu Yun found it hard to believe that someone like Fu Qingshan, with his background and qualities, would ever fall for a complete illiterate who had never attended school.

If Qiao Xinyi were some stunning beauty, that might be a different story—but she was just skinny, and even her complexion wasn’t as fair as Liu Yun’s.

Even though Liu Yun had to admit that Qiao Xinyi’s facial features were quite decent, no matter how she looked at her, Qiao Xinyi still came across as just an ordinary girl—skinny, with yellowish skin. If it weren’t for Qiao Xinyi’s personal capabilities and the possibility that she could help Fu Qingshan in his political career someday, then why on earth would someone like him be interested in a girl with such an average background, average looks, and overall poor conditions?

Because she couldn’t make sense of it, Liu Yun began to suspect that Qiao Xinyi was simply making things up.

Of course, Qiao Xinyi had no idea that Liu Yun was mentally picking apart her looks. Liu Yun hadn’t seen what she looked like when she’d just come out of Gazi Village—back then, she really was just a shriveled, dark-skinned girl. She was much fairer now, wasn’t she? Let her spend more time taking care of herself, and with those facial features that were nearly identical to her twenty-first-century self, she’d definitely become a great beauty one day.

“Comrade Qiao Xinyi is just joking with you,” Liu Yun continued to probe. “Are you upset because you think I’m being too nosy? I’m sorry—maybe it’s just my personality. I like looking out for people. Don’t take it the wrong way.”

But Qiao Xinyi shook her head. “I’m not joking. I really haven’t gone to school for even a single day. So, Sister, can you still help me get a permanent job?”

“I’m just like Zheng Dajiang—I can’t handle hardship or dirty, exhausting work. How about this: after I marry Fu Qingshan, I’ll move to Tong’an County too. You can give me the job you arranged for Zheng Dajiang first, and then find something else for him. I can definitely handle the warehouse position.”

Liu Yun was stunned. A wave of anger welled up in her chest, stuck halfway—it couldn’t go up or down. How thick-skinned do you have to be to say something like that?

Trying to steal her man, and then asking her to help arrange a job for you too?

Zhang Zao could tell Liu Yun was getting angry and quickly pulled Qiao Xinyi aside, barking an order, “It’s about time—go make lunch! Everyone will be back soon, and they’ll all be waiting to eat. We have a guest in the house—you need to cook and invite them to stay for lunch!”

She glanced at Liu Yun and added, “I heard from people in town that Fu Qingshan bought a bunch of meat and sent it to the Feng family next door? That guy’s always been bad at keeping things separate, ever since he was little. Go next door and bring back two pounds of meat. We have our own guest to entertain. What kind of sense does it make to give away all the meat we bought?”

Zhang Zao figured Qiao Xinyi, wanting to marry Fu Qingshan, would try to impress his family. Even though she had no intention of agreeing to the marriage, that didn’t stop her from bossing Qiao Xinyi around—or even sending her to retrieve the gifts Fu Qingshan had given away.

“Why don’t you go if you’ve got so many ideas?” Qiao Xinyi shrugged. “Liu Yun’s the guest, but I’m not? And you want me to cook for you all? Dream on—still haven’t woken up from your nap?”

“Let me tell you, not only have I not married Fu Qingshan yet, which means I’m not yours to order around, even after I marry him, you still won’t be bossing me around. Back home, I didn’t even get the chance to wash my own underwear!”

Seeing the two children peeking curiously around the door, Qiao Xinyi turned and headed out, calling as she went, “Auntie Feng invited us to lunch, so we’re going. Let Comrade Liu Yun do your cooking—she’s going to be Zheng Dajiang’s wife, right? Shouldn’t you start putting her in her place before she officially joins the family?”

“Zheng Dajiang is your son, so of course you can control his wife. But I’m Fu Qingshan’s partner. I’m someone you’ll never have any power over in your life.”

With that, Qiao Xinyi strutted right out, grabbed the two kids, and prepared to leave.

“Stop right there!” Zhang Zao rushed out and blocked her path. “We’re done beating around the bush with you. Let me be clear: Liu Yun is the daughter-in-law that Fu Qingshan’s father and I have chosen. Our family will never agree to your marriage with Fu Qingshan!”

“If you know what’s good for you, break up with him and get back to the provincial capital. Don’t think Fu Qingshan will always side with you. You know how much he adores his two nephews—he treats them like his own flesh and blood.”

“Fu Qingshan’s father and I have already made up our minds: if he doesn’t marry Comrade Liu Yun, we won’t release the kids’ household registrations, and we won’t let him take them away.”

“Fu Qingshan will have to choose between you and the children. You don’t even know how close he is to his brother and sister-in-law, do you? So don’t go thinking he’s going to choose you, an outsider.”