Shen Qingqing went to the post office first and called her leader to coordinate work matters.
Translation work could be done anywhere; she only needed to mail the manuscripts back on a regular basis.
But she couldn’t return to the capital anytime soon, so urgent tasks could only be assigned to others.
Shen Qingqing was highly capable at work and fluent in three foreign languages, which made her leader appreciate her greatly.
If her parents hadn’t passed away early, cutting short her language training, she might have been even more outstanding.
Knowing that Shen Qingqing’s trip to the northwest was to resolve family matters and that she needed time, her leader granted her leave without hesitation.
He didn’t pry into her family affairs, only offering a word of advice.
“Come back once everything is settled. Otherwise, with things weighing on your mind, your work efficiency won’t be high anyway.”
With her leader’s reassurance, Shen Qingqing felt considerably lighter.
After finishing work-related matters, they exchanged a few pleasantries before hanging up.
The trip from the compound to the county town took over two hours. If she hurried, Shen Qingqing could make it back to the compound the same day.
But she didn’t want to exhaust herself.
Besides, going back meant sitting alone in her room anyway.
She might as well treat herself well—if she missed the bus, she’d stay at the county guesthouse.
Whatever happened, happened.
She planned to stop by the supply and marketing cooperative first.
Besides daily necessities for herself, she needed to buy two types of nourishing gifts to bring to the Lin family later.
The small county town’s selection couldn’t compare to the capital’s, and Shen Qingqing had no idea what the cooperative carried.
She’d have to look first, then decide what would be most appropriate to bring to the Lin family.
Shen Qingqing wasn’t familiar with the routes, so asking for directions took some time.
By the time she reached the cooperative, she spotted Jiang Zhixun and Lin Fengmian from a distance.
They stood side by side at the counter.
Lin Fengmian looked up at Jiang Zhixun, smiling brightly, saying something Shen Qingqing couldn’t hear.
Jiang Zhixun wore his usual indifferent expression, occasionally nodding to show he was listening.
It was like a stone thrown into a calm lake.
By the time she realized what she was doing, Shen Qingqing had already turned and walked away from the cooperative.
She didn’t want to ask why Jiang Zhixun was there, nor did she want to know why Lin Fengmian was by his side.
That day in the cafeteria, Lin Fengmian’s behavior had said it all.
Shen Qingqing laughed bitterly at herself. If she walked into the cooperative now, she’d only be unwelcome.
Lin Fengmian was hostile toward her.
Jiang Zhixun wanted to keep his distance.
She might as well have some self-awareness and not disturb them.
As if fleeing from a flood or wild beasts, Shen Qingqing walked faster and faster until she vanished in the blink of an eye.
Jiang Zhixun felt a tug in his heart and turned to look.
“Brother Jiang, what do you think of this fabric? I want to make Xiaobao some clothes to wear for New Year’s.”
Lin Fengmian hadn’t noticed anything unusual about Jiang Zhixun. She held up a piece of cotton cloth enthusiastically, raising it before the man’s eyes.
She’d originally wanted to stay far away from Brother Jiang, but after searching around and not finding Shen Qingqing, she’d followed him into the cooperative when she saw him buying things.
Before she knew it, they were talking again.
At this point, Lin Fengmian didn’t want to be coy anymore. She hadn’t done anything out of line, so why should she feel guilty?
If Shen Qingqing had a problem with it, that was her being petty!
Pedestrians passed by the cooperative entrance, but none of them were Shen Qingqing.
Jiang Zhixun withdrew his gaze.
She wasn’t at the cooperative—could she have gone to the bookstore or the post office?
Based on Jiang Zhixun’s understanding of Shen Qingqing, he couldn’t think of anywhere else she might go.
He quickly bought two cans of food to bring to the Lin family dinner later.
Seeing that Jiang Zhixun was about to leave, Lin Fengmian bit her lip.
She put down the fabric.
“Brother Jiang, are you going to look for Comrade Shen? I’ll come with you.”
Afraid he might refuse, she added, “Many hands make light work.”
Jiang Zhixun raised his hand to check his watch.
If he delayed any longer, he’d miss the bus back to the compound.
If he let Shen Qingqing wander around outside on her own, the old man at home would give him a thorough scolding.
After a moment’s hesitation, he agreed to Lin Fengmian’s suggestion.
But he still reminded her, “Qingqing has a gentle temperament, cries easily, and is sensitive. Don’t say anything harsh to her when you see her.”
Lin Fengmian’s expression froze.
Though she hadn’t had many years of schooling, she could tell good from bad.
Her lips twitched, and she dug her nails into her palm to suppress the bitter surge rising within her.
“Brother Jiang, are you blaming me? That day in the cafeteria, I thought Comrade Shen was bothering you, so I…”
Jiang Zhixun said flatly, “I’m not blaming you. I just didn’t explain things clearly beforehand.”
Lin Fengmian had a sharp tongue and never backed down from anyone.
But she made an exception for Jiang Zhixun.
She was afraid he’d think she was crude and dislike her.
That day in the cafeteria, when she saw Shen Qingqing and noticed Jiang Zhixun’s strange attitude, she’d panicked and done what she did.
Being criticized by her own brother didn’t bother Lin Fengmian.
But hearing Jiang Zhixun say such things to her suddenly made her feel deeply wronged.
That day in the cafeteria, Brother Jiang had been the one to make things difficult for Shen Qingqing first.
She’d taken his side—what was wrong with that?
Her nose tingled, and she felt an inexplicable urge to cry.
Lin Fengmian took a deep breath. “Brother Jiang, believe it or not, if I’d known earlier that Comrade Shen was your wife, I wouldn’t have said those things.”
Jiang Zhixun neither said he believed her nor that he didn’t.
“It’s getting late. You should head back first, so your brother and sister-in-law don’t worry.”
Carrying the items, she left first.
Lin Fengmian didn’t know whether to leave or stay.
She felt even more wronged inside.
Hadn’t they agreed that she would help find someone? Why the sudden change of heart?
Could it be that he was afraid Shen Qingqing would get upset if she saw them together?
Or was he worried that she might say something harsh and frighten Shen Qingqing?
Thinking of Shen Qingqing’s delicate, coquettish demeanor, Lin Fengmian’s grievance turned into disgust.
That kind of woman definitely knew how to play the victim!
A few tears shed, and she’d have men eating out of her palm.
She probably even complained to Brother Jiang behind her back—why else would he suddenly say something like that?
She’d just wait and see what Brother Jiang did once Shen Qingqing was found!
With that, she trotted after him.
There wasn’t much to do in the county town, and Shen Qingqing didn’t know where to go.
She didn’t want to run into Jiang Zhixun or Lin Fengmian.
At the compound, she would play the part of an ordinary couple with Jiang Zhixun, as her mother-in-law wished.
It was her way of repaying the Jiang family for raising her these past few years.
But out here, she didn’t want to put herself through that.
They were getting divorced anyway—there was no need for unnecessary entanglements.
Passing by the cinema, she decided to go in and buy a ticket.
By the time the movie ended, they’d surely have left the county town.
Of course, that meant she’d miss the last ride back to the compound and would have to stay in town for the night.
Before leaving the compound, Shen Qingqing had told Xiao Li at the guesthouse that if she didn’t make it back, it meant she was staying in the county town, and there was no need to look for her.
With nothing weighing on her mind, Shen Qingqing took her ticket and entered the screening hall.
What she didn’t know was that Jiang Zhixun had searched everywhere he could think of—including the park and the state-run restaurant.
He’d even nearly gone to report it to the police.
Seeing how frantic Jiang Zhixun was over Shen Qingqing, Lin Fengmian felt a sour pang in her heart.
She said snidely, “She came early—maybe she bought her things and went straight back to the compound. Brother Jiang, don’t worry just yet. Go back and check first.”
Jiang Zhixun’s expression was cold and stern.
When he returned to the compound and found Shen Qingqing wasn’t there, the chill radiating from him was bone-deep.
Xiao Li was puzzled. “Comrade Shen said she was staying in the county town for the night. Captain Jiang, didn’t she tell you?”
Without a word, Jiang Zhixun strode out.
He borrowed a car and headed back to the county town.
The more he thought about it, the angrier he got. The man slammed his palm hard against the steering wheel. “Shen Qingqing, you’ve really grown some wings!”