Qiao Wanyue understood.
Li Shan’s status was not low.
“Hello, Uncle Li and Aunt Li. Aunt Wang must have already told you about my situation. This job of mine is a formal position, relatively easy, and suitable for girls. For Aunt Wang’s sake, eight hundred yuan.”
She stated the lowest price directly.
At market value, her position as a technician in the textile workshop had good prospects for internal promotion. Eight hundred yuan was actually underpriced, but Qiao Wanyue valued the Li family’s status.
The Li couple exchanged a glance.
Their daughter couldn’t find a job and was about to be sent to the countryside. Although conditions were no longer as harsh as before, they couldn’t bear to see her suffer there. They had inquired about many jobs—some costing thousands of yuan.
The Li family could afford it.
But most required both money and favors.
It was rare to see someone voluntarily lowering the price.
Li Shan liked dealing with smart people and agreed immediately.
“Wanyue, right?”
Qiao Wanyue nodded.
“I heard from Wang Qi that you’re in a hurry. If you’re not tired, I’ll take you to the textile factory to settle things first. Then we won’t go back for lunch—I’ll have Xiuxiu take you to the state-run restaurant.”
Xiuxiu was his daughter.
His words were essentially an approval for Qiao Wanyue to rely on his influence.
“Alright, thank you, Uncle Li.”
“Rongrong, go get the money.”
Li Shan’s wife returned quickly, carrying a neatly wrapped bundle in a cloth. Qiao Wanyue took it and counted—exactly eight hundred yuan, not a cent more or less, along with coupons for a bicycle and a television.
Qiao Wanyue looked at the couple, puzzled.
What did this mean?
Li Shan’s wife smiled. “Child, I’m not someone who takes advantage. Everyone knows the market value of this job. Consider these things as my supplement to you. Don’t worry—if you ever need your uncle’s help, just say the word.”
She quite liked this girl.
Bold, straightforward, and clear-headed—she knew what she wanted.
Qiao Wanyue didn’t stand on ceremony and accepted everything.
Li Shan then brought her and Li Xiuxiu to the factory. Li Xiuxiu was a delicate-looking girl with two long braids, her hair glossy black. She wore a neat dress, and every movement showed she had been well cared for.
If it were her own child, she wouldn’t bear to send her to the countryside either.
Li Shan took them straight to the deputy factory director’s office. They sat there, and soon someone brought over a stack of documents, carefully explaining the terms and implications.
Finally, Qiao Wanyue signed her name on the transfer agreement.
Li Xiuxiu also signed hers.
Because of Li Shan’s influence, the process was swift—it was completed in just five minutes.
“Xiuxiu, take Wanyue to the state-run restaurant for lunch,” Li Shan instructed.
Li Xiuxiu was already quite familiar with Qiao Wanyue. She linked arms with her. “Don’t worry, Dad. I’ll take her.”
The two of them left.
Only then did Qiao Wanyue learn that Li Shan was the deputy director of the textile factory.
She couldn’t help but twitch her lips—Wang Qi had really found her a powerful connection.
She voiced her confusion. “Why didn’t your father arrange a job for you?”
Li Xiuxiu sighed and glanced around. “There’s been unrest in the textile factory lately. Many people are watching my dad. If he used his connections for me, he might get pulled down.”
That explained it.
That was why Wang Qi had approached Li Shan.
Qiao Wanyue’s job had been earned through her own exam. When she took the test, the factory only recruited two external candidates, and she was one of them. In the end, Li Shan valued the legitimacy of her position.
It allowed his daughter to stay close to him without giving others any leverage against him.
Li Xiuxiu took her to the state-run restaurant. It was Qiao Wanyue’s first time entering one. At lunchtime, it was full of workers in uniform. Li Xiuxiu led her skillfully.
She ordered braised pork, cabbage, and three steamed buns.
The dishes were fixed daily—there was no choosing.
They picked up their food from the counter and sat down, chatting as they ate.
Through their conversation, Qiao Wanyue learned that Li Xiuxiu’s family had already arranged a marriage for her. If she didn’t find a suitable job, she would get married.
Qiao Wanyue asked if she would marry someone she didn’t even know.
Li Xiuxiu replied that it didn’t matter. She wasn’t looking down on farmers, but she knew herself well—she couldn’t handle hard labor. If she went to the countryside, she would only be bullied.
It was better to marry and stay under her parents’ protection. Even if the marriage didn’t work out, she could divorce after having a child, leave with the child, let her mother help care for it, and then go out to work.
Wouldn’t that be even better?
Qiao Wanyue felt that Li Xiuxiu was clear-headed.
In her previous life, she had seen too many women desperately clinging to so-called love, sacrificing their freedom to marry, only to end up in unhappy marriages filled with regret.
She had once thought of escaping too, but circumstances had trapped her.
“Xiuxiu, I envy you.”
Li Xiuxiu smiled, revealing her small fangs. “You envy me for having good parents.”
Qiao Wanyue nodded. “I do.”
After eating, Li Xiuxiu suggested going to the mall. She didn’t have many friends and was often bored staying at home. She enjoyed talking with Qiao Wanyue, and Qiao Wanyue also wanted to buy a few things.
So they went shopping together.
On the way back, Qiao Wanyue escorted Li Xiuxiu to the residential compound, then stopped by Wang Qi’s home to inform her that everything had been settled. She also gave Wang Qi some wedding candies—she was getting married the next day, to share some joy.
Seeing that Qiao Wanyue truly didn’t mind the marriage swap and even seemed to look forward to it, Wang Qi accepted the candies.
After sitting for a while, Qiao Wanyue left.
As she exited the compound, she spotted Zhou Wenwen sneaking around under a large locust tree.
Qiao Wanyue raised an eyebrow and quietly approached.
Zhou Wenwen didn’t notice her. Squatting under the tree, she stared intently in one direction.
Qiao Wanyue followed her gaze.
Wasn’t that her dear sister and her ex-fiancé?
What were they doing?
The scene was too explicit—Qiao Wanyue only glanced once before looking away.
Zhou Wenwen’s eyes turned red with anger.
“Shameless couple.”
“I treated her as my best friend, and she seduced my Huaiyuan!”
“Damn Qiao Shanshan!”
In the alley by the textile factory’s residential building, Qiao Shanshan and Yang Huaiyuan were locked in an embrace, kissing passionately.
Qiao Wanyue recalled that Zhou Wenwen had been waiting there since morning. Even after she had finished her errands and returned, Zhou Wenwen was still there.
Those two had been going at it for quite a while.
Even cattle didn’t take that long.
Qiao Wanyue narrowed her eyes, her mind turning.
An idea formed.
She left.
Zhou Wenwen remained fixated on the couple, unaware that Qiao Wanyue had come and gone.
Five minutes later—
“Officer, it’s them—disrupting public morals…”