“About that…”
Wu Qiuju hesitated. Being asked on the spot, she really didn’t know where to find a temporary position.
Seeing her silence, Miao Miaomiao understood most of it.
“It’s okay, Aunt Wu. If you hear anything, you can let me know…”
After the meal, Miao Miaomiao wrote down the village phone number for her and prepared to leave.
Wu Qiuju smiled brightly as she walked her out and even tried to stuff several homemade sausages into her hands.
The moment Miao Miaomiao saw the gifts she grew nervous — she absolutely couldn’t accept them. If her mother found out, who knew what schemes she might start again.
“No need, Aunt Wu. I’m already very happy that you’ll help keep an eye out for me…”
No matter how much Wu Qiuju insisted, she refused to take them.
Unable to persuade her, Wu Qiuju escorted her to the door.
Right at the entrance, they bumped into Lin Manman, who was carrying some things inside.
“Auntie, look what I brought you!”
The instant Lin Manman saw Miao Miaomiao, her smile vanished.
“Auntie, who is this?”
She pointed at Miao Miaomiao, suddenly full of anger.
“She isn’t some wild fling Chengpeng picked up outside, is she?!”
“What wild fling? Xiao Miao is my friend!”
Wu Qiuju glared at Lin Manman. This future daughter-in-law of hers was fiery, jealous, and quick-tempered — she really didn’t know what her son saw in her.
“Friend?”
Lin Manman crossed her arms, her charming eyes still wary as she sized her up suspiciously.
“Really just a friend, or the mistress he picked up when he went to the countryside?”
“Bah! Don’t talk nonsense.”
Wu Qiuju had no choice but to explain,
“Xiao Miao helped me chase away a thief who robbed me, so I invited her home as a guest. Manman, stop overthinking everything.”
Lin Manman pouted, arms folded, unwilling to speak.
Miao Miaomiao actually found her rather cute — a jealous woman only proved she loved the man deeply.
“Hello, Comrade Manman. My name is Miao Miaomiao.”
She extended her hand first in goodwill.
“Please don’t misunderstand. I only met Aunt Wu today, and I’ve never even seen her son.”
Lin Manman stared at her skeptically.
“Really?”
“Of course it’s true — even Aunt Li next door can testify,” Wu Qiuju dragged in an uninvolved neighbor as proof. Lin Manman had no choice but to believe.
“Alright then. My name is Lin Manman.”
She shook her hand.
Miao Miaomiao smiled softly — at least she hadn’t caused trouble for Aunt Wu.
…
After Miao Miaomiao left, Lin Manman instantly regained her cheerful smile and pulled her future mother-in-law inside.
“Aunt Wu, look — this fabric is leftover from the commune. Just enough for you and Chengpeng to each make a new outfit. Do you like it?”
“I do…”
Wu Qiuju accepted it with a faint smile, thinking how nice it would be if she were always this happy and bright.
But as soon as Lin Manman sat down, she noticed the leftover dishes on the table and frowned again.
“Aunt Wu, so many dishes — you made them?”
While tidying the fabric, Wu Qiuju replied casually,
“Oh no, Comrade Xiao Miao made them.”
She made them?
Lin Manman immediately grew alert. She hurriedly picked up a piece of meat and tasted it.
Heavens — why was it so delicious?!
With cooking skills like this, how could she compete?
A strong sense of crisis surged within Lin Manman.
“Aunt Wu, you must like her a lot, right?”
She turned, her gaze dark.
Wu Qiuju immediately covered her forehead helplessly. Ah, here she goes again.
“Manman, don’t worry.”
She walked over, rested a hand on her shoulder, and sighed.
“I won’t let Chengpeng marry her — she isn’t a maiden, she’s a widow.”
She looked calmly at Lin Manman.
“I won’t let my son marry a widow. Now you can relax.”
“Huh?”
Lin Manman froze. So that woman was a widow — then she definitely couldn’t compare to herself.
After all, she was still an unmarried young lady.
She leaned against Wu Qiuju and acted spoiled.
“Oh Auntie, I wasn’t worried… I just asked a few questions. I didn’t want you to be tricked…”
“Heh.”
Wu Qiuju could only smile helplessly.
…
After lunch, Miao Miaomiao continued her job search.
During the meal, Wu Qiuju had mentioned that the state-owned cotton mill sometimes hired temporary female workers during busy seasons.
Since she was already here today, she might as well try her luck there.
With her mind made up, she headed toward the mill.
On the way, she passed a hospital.
Miao Miaomiao stopped and looked up. Wow — the provincial capital truly was different. Even the scale was far larger than the county hospital.
The white brick building was five or six stories tall; compared to it, the nearby low houses looked tiny.
She stood staring for a while.
Although she was a modern person, living long in this era made such stark contrasts hard not to admire.
After a moment, she scolded herself:
“Hey, Miao Miaomiao — get a grip. Finding a job matters more.”
She turned and left the hospital entrance.
At that very moment, Huo Qichuan was being pushed out of the hospital in a wheelchair by Dong Chengpeng.
Their backs faced each other as they passed.
“Wait…”
Huo Qichuan suddenly stopped, turned his wheelchair, and looked toward the slender figure.