As the chewing gum slid down her throat, Jiang Xiaoyu’s expression turned utterly panicked.
She hurriedly tried to gag herself, desperate to spit the gum out.
Tears came, but nothing happened.
Fang Shuqin really disliked Jiang Xiaoyu, but thinking that swallowing the gum could tear her intestines, she spoke up, “Don’t panic. I’ll get you some oil.”
She turned to fetch some peanut oil from the kitchen, but Jiang Xiaoyu refused to take it.
“Beizhen, I need to go to the hospital. Take me there right now.”
“Didn’t you just say drinking oil would work?” Fang Shuqin noticed something was off. “Why now do you insist on going to the hospital?”
Lu Beizhen’s sharp gaze landed on Jiang Xiaoyu.
Cold sweat broke out along her back.
“Engineer Jiang, you’re not lying, are you? Drinking oil doesn’t actually help?” Fang Shuqin asked coldly.
What is this? Deliberate murder?
If Xiao Tiancai had really swallowed the gum, and she didn’t go to the hospital but just drank oil, wouldn’t that…
Jiang Xiaoyu panicked and hurriedly explained, “It works! I’m not lying.”
“Then why won’t you drink it?” Fang Shuqin pressed.
Because—
Jiang Xiaoyu stammered, unable to explain.
Fang Shuqin’s patience had run out. She said directly, “Forget it, Beizhen. I’m not wasting words with her. I’ll call the guards and report her for deliberate harm. Let them take her in for proper questioning!”
In the 1970s, being taken in for questioning meant a report to the authorities. It left a stain on one’s record, could result in demerits, or even immediate dismissal.
Seeing Fang Shuqin heading to the living room, Jiang Xiaoyu panicked and hurriedly told the truth.
“I’m not lying! Drinking oil really works, but it’ll give you diarrhea for several days—so bad you can’t hold it in. I have to work tomorrow, so that’s why I didn’t drink it.”
Fang Shuqin’s anger flared instantly.
“What do you mean? You have to work, but my Xiao Tiancai doesn’t? I get it—you did this on purpose from the start, to embarrass her!”
“No, Aunt Fang! I was just worried the hospital was too far and something might happen on the way!” Jiang Xiaoyu shook her head like a rattle, tears threatening to spill.
Fang Shuqin felt disgusted.
She truly hated girls like this—clearly the one causing trouble, yet playing the victim to get sympathy from everyone.
Others might fall for that act, but not her!
Especially since Jiang Xiaoyu’s target for mischief was Xiao Tiancai.
Absolutely unacceptable.
Fang Shuqin returned to the dining table, grabbed Jiang Xiaoyu’s chin, and forced the peanut oil down her throat!
Jiang Xiaoyu struggled in fright but ended up gulping down several more mouthfuls.
Her stomach churned violently from the oil.
“Drink it quickly! What hospital? What if your intestines get stuck together on the way?”
Fang Shuqin forced the entire half-bottle of peanut oil down, then finally let go.
She glared at Jiang Xiaoyu with disgust. “I won’t let you eat now—hurry home. Make sure your mother returns my oil!”
Jiang Xiaoyu’s clothes were smeared with oil, her hair stuck to her neck and face. She looked utterly miserable.
She didn’t dare look at Lu Beizhen and slunk out.
Just as she stepped into the yard, she heard Fang Shuqin shout:
“You little brat! People aren’t so different from chewing gum. Sometimes they look like something good, but after a few chews, the taste is gone. And if you swallow them, they could ruin your life! Better be careful!”
Jiang Xiaoyu froze, hatred welling in her eyes.
Had her image been ruined in Lu Beizhen’s mind?
It was all Fang Shuqin’s fault.
No—actually, it was Song Tian’s fault!
If Song Tian hadn’t swallowed that gum, none of this would have happened.
It was all her doing.
She glimpsed the neatly arranged pile of junk in the yard and kicked it hard in frustration.
This little incident actually put Fang Shuqin in a great mood.
She was sure the brat could see by now that Jiang Xiaoyu wasn’t a good person.
Next, he would realize the person he likes is Xiao Tiancai, and after their wedding, they’d start a fiery romance!
Once Fang Shuqin got excited, she couldn’t stop talking.
“Beizhen, did you know Xiao Tiancai found a job in the machinery…”
Lu Beizhen cut her off, “I know.”
“When did you find out? Did Xiao Tiancai tell you?”
Song Tian immediately said, “I went with her to deliver goods to the army today, and I ran into him there.”
She didn’t mention the mangosteen incident.
Since Jiang Xiaoyu left earlier, Lu Beizhen’s gaze kept occasionally lingering on her, his expression unreadable.
Following the principle of “less is more,” Song Tian decided to keep quiet whenever possible.
Fang Shuqin’s eyes lit up at this.
Heavens! What a coincidence!
On her first day at work, delivering goods, she went to the army and ran into Lu Beizhen—it was as if fate itself was pushing them together!
“How’s that? Xiao Tiancai is impressive, right? She’s officially employed! I didn’t even know—she got the job herself.” Fang Shuqin straightened up proudly.
A flicker of surprise crossed Lu Beizhen’s eyes.
Official employment—he hadn’t expected that.
“Say something—Xiao Tiancai really impressive, right?” Fang Shuqin pressed.
Song Tian quickly clarified, “I just happened to get lucky. The machinery factory was hiring, and I fit the position, so…”
“Very impressive.”
Lu Beizhen’s three short words left Song Tian stunned.
Did she hear that right? He was actually praising her?
But didn’t he dislike her? Didn’t he want nothing to do with her, always showing that cold face?
As she pondered, Lu Beizhen continued, “Being taken as an official employee proves you have outstanding abilities.”
Song Tian felt a shiver run down her spine.
Not only praise, but such words.
Had Lu Beizhen been influenced by someone?
She couldn’t understand, and when she looked up, she found his gaze fixed heavily on her. Suddenly, the room felt stifling.
Her palms were sweating.
“I’m full. You guys eat slowly,” Song Tian said, stepping into the yard.
She wanted to fix the bicycle before dark.
The tungsten lamp gave off a dim yellow light, not very bright, which strained the eyes while repairing.
After preparing and replacing all the necessary parts, Song Tian began reassembling the bike.
But no matter what she did, it refused to go back together.
The front of the bike was missing a crucial part—without it, she couldn’t steer.
Song Tian searched the yard repeatedly but couldn’t find it.
She was frustrated.
If she’d known, she wouldn’t have disassembled it.
The bike could barely ride before, squeaking and creaking, but now it was completely unusable.
Strangely, she remembered the part clearly—so why couldn’t she find it?
Determined, she squatted and started a thorough search again.
Less than two minutes later, a loud crash came from outside!