Hu Cuihua came to the Lin family house with an apologetic expression. Seeing that Yang Qingqiu was squatting on the ground picking up broken bowls and shattered plates, she walked over.
“Qingqiu… sigh…”
“This whole thing is my fault. I never thought it would turn out like this.
I also didn’t expect that Lu Jinyu, who seemed like such an honest young man, would suddenly end up getting involved with Lin Xue. It’s all my fault—I didn’t see people clearly.
What a mess this is!”
What happened today had also made her extremely angry. It was her first time acting as a matchmaker, and it was for the daughter of her good friend, yet things still ended up like this.
She couldn’t swallow her anger, so she went directly to the man’s family to find out what had happened.
After hearing the explanation, she even scolded them in their home. She hadn’t even eaten lunch before rushing over to check on Yang Qingqiu.
Yang Qingqiu sighed. “Sigh, how is this your fault? It’s the man and that Lin Xue’s fault.
Those two were destined to meet each other.
Our Zijin just wasn’t meant to be with him.”
Hearing her friend say this, and thinking of what she had learned at the Lu family, Hu Cuihua became even more furious.
“What fate? Bullshit.”
“Do you know what I heard at their house?”
“Lu Jinyu happened to bump into Lin Xue at the entrance of the state-run restaurant. She fell over.
She just scraped her arm a little, and he took her to the hospital. On the way, they talked and somehow hit it off.”
“I’m telling you, Qingqiu, you need to watch out for the third daughter of the Lin family.”
She lowered her voice as she spoke.
“We’re both experienced people—we’ve lived decades already. Don’t we know these tricks?
How could it be such a coincidence?
But this is actually a good thing. It proves that Lu Jinyu isn’t a good man.
How is Zijin? Is she alright?
Don’t worry too much. Our Zijin is so pretty—she won’t have trouble finding someone.
I’ll help you look again. This time I’ll investigate properly, even dig up his ancestors for you.
I’ll find someone a hundred times better than that so-called ‘Jinyu’ for our Zijin.”
Yang Qingqiu sighed again. The house was already in chaos, and she hadn’t told her about the morning marriage registration yet.
“We’ll talk about this later. Things at home are probably going to be messy for a while.”
Hu Cuihua understood and knew she was worried, so after a few more comforting words, she left.
Not long after she left, Lin Jiancheng returned from taking leave. With everything that had happened at home, his head was pounding.
He hadn’t expected things to turn out like this—his daughter Lin Xue had actually snatched the blind date arranged for Zijin.
That girl really… if she wanted a partner, she could have just asked Qingqiu to arrange one for her. Why did she have to do this?
Seeing Yang Qingqiu’s ugly expression and swollen eyes, he walked over and took the broom from her.
“I’ll do it.”
Without hesitation, she handed it to him. After all, this was the first time he had taken the initiative.
She sat down on a stool to rest and asked coldly, “So tell me—how are we going to handle this?”
“Lin Xue is clearly the one in the wrong.”
“If she liked the man, she could have just said so. Why make Zijin wait so long at the state-run restaurant?”
“And this morning, she even brought that man home and showed him off in the whole alley. Everyone now knows Lin Xue has a boyfriend—Lu Jinyu.”
“What does that make this? Isn’t she just slapping my face—and Zijin’s face—right in public?”
Lin Jiancheng’s expression darkened. Even he hadn’t expected his usually obedient daughter to do something like this.
It really was excessive.
But after all, she was still his biological daughter.
“Qingqiu, don’t be too angry. When Xiaoxue comes back, I’ll talk to her properly and make her apologize to Zijin.”
Yang Qingqiu let out a cold laugh. On the surface she looked wronged as she choked out her words:
“Jiancheng, although Zijin isn’t your biological daughter, she has still called you ‘dad’ for over ten years.
She’s always been obedient in this house and helps with chores.
I’m not asking you to treat her exactly like your biological daughter, but this time… she’s really been wronged too much.
A perfectly good blind date was stolen by her own sister—if this gets out, how will Zijin ever face people?
I’m telling you, Lin Jiancheng—you must give us mother and daughter an explanation today.”
Lin Jiancheng felt his head buzzing. Everyone in the neighborhood already knew about Lin Xue’s boyfriend situation. If he didn’t give them an explanation, how would they ever face anyone again?
He tried to soothe her.
“Alright, Qingqiu. When Lin Xue comes back, I’ll make her apologize to Zijin.
As for compensation… I’ll buy her a set of clothes. Take her to the department store and get something new.”
Yang Qingqiu let out a light laugh. “A single set of clothes is enough compensation?”
Lin Jiancheng forced a smile. “Then… when Zijin gets married, I’ll give her sixty—no, one hundred yuan as a dowry. How about that?”
Without a word, Yang Qingqiu held out her hand.
“What?”
“You said one hundred yuan. Then give it now.”
“The damage is already done—why wait until marriage to compensate?”
Lin Jiancheng’s face stiffened. One hundred yuan was over two months of his salary. He was unwilling.
But what she said next made him swallow his anger and take out the money.
If word spread around the neighborhood about what Lin Xue had done, their family’s reputation would be ruined, and their children’s future marriages would become difficult.
He handed over the money. Yang Qingqiu counted it—exactly ten large notes.
She tucked it away and then held out her hand again.
“What now?” he asked.
“Didn’t you say you’d buy Zijin new clothes? The money?”
Grinding his teeth, he went inside and took out two more large notes.
“Here! Enough now? Go buy her clothes so no one says we mistreated her!”
Yang Qingqiu said nothing, simply pocketing the money with a calm expression. “Mm.”
Losing 120 yuan in one go, Lin Jiancheng shut himself in his room in anger.
Yang Qingqiu curled her lips slightly without expression and called for Lin Zijin and Lin Ziyou.
The three of them left the house together.