Zhao Huaian first took a bus back to the Zhao family home. All the necessary documents were kept there, and he needed to retrieve them quickly before going to the transport company’s HR office. After the job was confirmed, he planned to go to the He family at noon to report the good news to his wife.
His excitement hadn’t faded yet when his stomach growled first.
After getting off the bus, he ate a piece of candy that He Qiutang had given him yesterday while walking, at least to replenish some sugar.
Just as he unlocked the door to his home, the door inside suddenly opened. It was his eldest sister-in-law, Zhou Cuicui.
“Third brother, you still know how to come back? You haven’t been home for two nights. Where have you been messing around? Honestly, if you keep living like this, you might as well go down to the countryside early.”
Zhou Cuicui wasn’t concerned about Zhao Huaian. She was eyeing his mother-in-law’s job. Zhao Huaian rolled his eyes internally and ignored her completely. He went straight inside to look for his documents.
Through the original owner’s memories, he knew very well that this sister-in-law was not easy to deal with. His second brother originally didn’t need to go to the countryside. The family had money, and their mother had even planned to give her job to the second brother. But Zhou Cuicui had stirred things up, and under her provocation, the second brother ended up volunteering to go down to the countryside.
After understanding this family situation, Zhao Huaian decided early on to rely on himself to secure a job—whether through his mother handing over her position or using family money to buy one. Otherwise, this sister-in-law would definitely tear the family apart.
He took his things and left without paying attention to Zhou Cuicui’s complaints.
Zhou Cuicui rolled her eyes again, thinking that if she didn’t push all these younger brothers down to the countryside, she and her husband would never get all the family benefits.
Meanwhile, ever since He Qiutang discovered that extra thick book in her storage space, she had already guessed that Zhao Huaian would come looking for her today. So while she was studying, she also paid attention to any movement outside.
As expected, near noon she heard some noise. Through the crack in the door, she saw it was indeed Zhao Huaian, so she quickly opened the door and let him in.
Once the door was closed, he pulled her into his arms.
“Wife, I got the job.”
“Really? That’s great! That’s amazing!”
The two of them hugged warmly for a long time. Young bodies, passionate souls, and a quiet environment with no one around made the moment feel especially intense.
Zhao Huaian briefly explained what had happened, and He Qiutang also took out the book.
“You just focus on stabilizing your job at the transport company. Don’t worry about me. Once I pass the exam for the daily chemicals factory, we’ll be even closer.”
Because of the nature of transport work, the yard was not far from various factories—especially textile and daily chemicals factories, which were even closer than the machinery factory where Zhao Huaian’s parents worked.
“Alright. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself,” he said. He knew his wife was competitive and strong-willed, but he didn’t finish what he really wanted to say.
As long as his job was stable, even if she didn’t pass the exam, once they registered their marriage, she wouldn’t necessarily have to go down to the countryside.
However, he also knew it wasn’t appropriate to stay long at the He family home. After a few more reminders, he quietly left with the book.
Even though he was careful and wasn’t seen when leaving the He household, someone did notice him at the end of the alley. Everyone in this area was familiar with each other, so a stranger naturally drew attention.
Not long after He Qiutang closed the door, there was another knock. She thought it was Zhao Huaian coming back, but through the crack she saw it wasn’t him.
“Sui Sui, why are you here?” It was the original owner’s childhood friend and classmate, Yu Sui Sui.
Yu Sui Sui looked her up and down.
“What, other people can come into your house but I can’t?”
“Huh?” He Qiutang stayed calm on the surface, but inwardly worried that maybe Zhao Huaian had been seen when leaving.
“I saw it,” Yu Sui Sui said. “You don’t want to be with Xu Zikai anymore, right? Who was that man just now?”
She squeezed into the house.
He Qiutang remained expressionless but became more cautious. She suspected Yu Sui Sui was trying to trick her.
“I don’t really want to be with Xu Zikai anymore, but what do you mean you saw someone? Saw who?”
Yu Sui Sui immediately caught the key point.
“You really don’t want to be with Xu Zikai anymore? He’s handsome, gentle, and talented.”
Seeing the light in Yu Sui Sui’s eyes, she completely ignored the earlier question about the man. He Qiutang understood immediately.
“I told my mother and family, but they didn’t agree,” she said lightly.
“You’re just like your brother—always listening to your mother,” Yu Sui Sui rolled her eyes. But inside, she confirmed her thoughts: since He Qiutang didn’t want him anymore, she wouldn’t hold back.
Although they grew up together and were classmates, their relationship wasn’t particularly close—not best friends, nor enemies. Yu Sui Sui had always envied He Qiutang: her looks, her family’s love, and her good life even after losing her father.
Unlike her own family, which favored sons over daughters and didn’t spend money on her, while her appearance was ordinary and inherited from her father. As she grew older, that envy slowly turned into jealousy.
Especially since many girls in class liked Xu Zikai, and just before graduation he privately confessed to He Qiutang. When Yu Sui Sui found out, she was heartbroken for a long time.
Seeing her daughter in a gloomy state at home, her parents asked her what she wanted. If she could marry out, she wouldn’t have to go down to the countryside—but the job would go to her brothers instead.
Yu Sui Sui guessed Xu Zikai would also be sent down, so she planned to arrange things so they could be assigned to the same place. She asked her mother to delay things at the neighborhood office.
Now, she felt her waiting had finally paid off.
With just a few words, He Qiutang successfully diverted Yu Sui Sui’s attention. She no longer cared about who she had seen earlier and instead was pulled back into thoughts about Xu Zikai.
After successfully sending Yu Sui Sui away, He Qiutang felt she had resolved a hidden problem. Otherwise, with Zhao Huaian’s jealous personality, if he found out about Xu Zikai and things weren’t settled, he would definitely start getting jealous again.