Fang Yi was not just frowning. He was close to losing his temper, voice cold as ice. “Ji You is not returning to Binjiang City, and we will not divorce. Anyone who mentions divorce again will have to deal with me.”
Ji You wanted to shatter their illusions directly. “Our radio station can fill positions…”
Zhang Yulan, obsessed with gaining benefits from relatives, heard this and saw hope. She smiled and said, “I told you it’s possible. Go ahead.”
Ji You spoke slowly. “Only direct relatives can fill positions, and only if the previous generation made significant contributions to the station. Not just any employee can pass on their work. Yu Zimin’s fiancée is not my daughter. Why should she take my job? You really need to wake up from this dream. Besides, do you even know what kind of voice quality she has?”
In her previous life, Yu Zimin had sued for a share of Fang Yi’s inheritance. He was just a distant cousin with no right to it. This was greed and poor character.
No one could expect to take advantage of her.
Zhang Guilan poured two cups of water. Hearing about filling positions, her face darkened. “Ji You does her job well. Why should someone else take it? Most people couldn’t handle it. Stop dreaming.”
She pushed the cups to the back of the table.
Zhang Yulan looked humiliated, losing face completely. She had hoped to arrange a marriage and hold a grandchild. Ji You’s refusal to abort and return to Binjiang City shattered her dream, showing no respect for elders and scolding her harshly.
She still hoped to gain the position. “The station isn’t short of announcers. Ji You, if you could give up your spot, we could try. We might get in.”
Ji You looked at her with disdain. “Then go try. Don’t keep staring at my position. Use all your skills if you have them. I am the backbone of the station. I won’t give my position to anyone for free.”
Fang Yi, displeased, turned to Ji You gently. “You’re not upset, are you? Mom, make her some milk with malt to calm her.”
Ji You shook her head. “No need to get upset with them. They were hoping for my job, so they should abandon that thought.”
He stood tall beside her, showing them out, voice cold. “You heard clearly. Ji You does her job well. No one can take it. Don’t come to my house thinking about her work. I am kicking you out.”
Fang Yi’s stance humiliated Zhang Yulan further. She quickly tried to defend herself. “Ji You wants to return to Binjiang City. We didn’t force her. Why not give the job to us? Isn’t that reasonable?”
Yu Zimin was distressed. It seemed their plan to get a position from Ji You had failed.
Zhang Guilan soon brought over Ji You’s tea. Bending slightly, she asked, “You’re not angry, right? The malt is still warm. I’ll hold it until it cools.”
Ji You calmly shook her head. “I don’t get angry at people who aren’t worth it.”
Zhang Guilan turned to her son and Yu Zimin. “Don’t come to our house with these things anymore. It’s infuriating.”
The guests were embarrassed, especially Zhang Yulan, who fumbled for words to save face.
Ji You spoke again. “Mom, don’t rush them out. Ask the Third Aunt if she’s still thinking about Fang Yi’s job.”
Some people are just thick-skinned, always hoping to benefit from relatives.
They were here, so she would shatter their illusions completely.
Zhang Yulan saw a glimmer of hope. Their desire for the job made her forget earlier embarrassment. She spoke with slight surprise, “Oh, right, Ji You mentioned it. Fang Yi finds the pay at the farm machinery station low. If he wants to work elsewhere, isn’t it a waste to leave this job? Then let his second cousin take it.”
The second cousin was Yu Zimin’s brother.
They hoped to get Ji You and Fang Yi’s positions. Fang Yi had not yet decided to leave, yet they were spreading word that he would.
Ji You bluntly shattered their fantasy. “Fang Yi’s job has nothing to do with your family. Don’t hope for it. You can’t fill positions. You just want our family members to be unemployed so yours can take over. Stop dreaming. No way.”
Zhang Guilan immediately scolded her daughter, “Yulan, why are you calculating against our family? Can’t stand to see us do well? No one can take the job. Stop scheming.”
She handed the tea to Ji You. “It’s not hot now. Drink it while it’s warm. Sweet enough? Add more malt if not.”
Ji You sipped lightly. “Sweet. It tastes good.”
Zhang Yulan looked as if doused in cold water. She had arrived cheerful, now deflated. She could not believe it. Didn’t the mother-in-law’s relationship seem bad? Zhang Guilan often said she had married a goddess, yet now she was carefully serving her.
She said, “The couple doesn’t want the job. It shouldn’t go to outsiders. Isn’t it better for our family?”
The couple’s work was excellent, secure jobs. They couldn’t get a single one, which frustrated her greatly.
Zhang Guilan stepped forward. “Go. We won’t take your job. Stop hoping. Otherwise, even relatives won’t work out.”
Zhang Yulan reluctantly stood up, having gained nothing and being kicked out. “We are a respectable family. We didn’t want to take advantage. Look at what you say.”
Zhang Guilan was blunt. “Respectable? Where does your respect come from? Always scheming against relatives. I feel ashamed for you. If you scheme against us again, don’t come back.”
Ji You watched them. Their expressions were brilliant: first confident with hope, now disappointed and frustrated.
Seeing their desires shattered, Ji You relaxed. She had said what needed to be said and did not want to engage further. Fang Yi said, “Let’s go downstairs for a walk.”
Fang Yi took the tea from her, glanced at the mother and son, then turned to Ji You, “Let’s go.”
Downstairs, where no one else was around, Ji You finally spoke. “Even if you don’t want to work at the farm machinery station, we can only take a leave without pay. No one can fill positions. I don’t want them taking advantage.”
Fang Yi helped Ji You sit by the flower bed, offering the tea. “I haven’t decided yet. No one will fill positions. Besides, even father-son succession at our unit is limited. It’s hard for your cousin to take a position. Their hope is wishful thinking.”
It was good that his wife made requests, better than if she said nothing.
Ji You drank a large sip of sweet milk. “Good. Apart from jobs, they can’t take advantage in any other way either.”
Fang Yi nodded. “I hate others scheming against me the most.”
Ji You asked, “Do you think I’m heartless and unfair to your relatives? I’m just like this.”
Based on her previous life, she could judge relatives simply by their actions regarding inheritance and property.
Fang Yi quickly denied it. “I would never think that. You saw their intention to take advantage and protected us. You are right. I will always stand by you.”
Ji You glanced at him. “You’re just saying that.”
Fang Yi tried to convince her. “I really am not.”
Ji You thought he behaved well. “Alright then.”
“Not angry, right?” Fang Yi glanced at her belly.
Ji You laughed. “Worried our son will be upset?”
Fang Yi said quickly. “Worried about your mood.”
He was in a good mood himself. From today, it seemed Ji You truly wanted to live a happy life with him.
Ji You snorted. “I don’t get angry at irrelevant people.”
She crossed her hands, gently touching her lower belly to show its curve. “Kick me.”
Fang Yi looked eagerly, but the curve did not move.
“Why isn’t he moving?” Fang Yi asked.
Ji You pursed her lips. “Alright, the little one isn’t cooperating. Maybe still too small.”
Zhang Guilan had kicked the couple out. Later, when they returned from a walk, she asked, “Ji You, weren’t you angry? I told them not to come again.”
Zhang Guilan usually got along well with her two sisters. She did not expect this time to align with Ji You. She must have been pushed too far by her sister.
“I’m not angry,” Ji You said.
Hearing her calm and even slightly happy voice, Zhang Guilan finally relaxed.
In the evening, after returning from a walk and dinner, a guest arrived. He parked his small car downstairs, carrying things into the building, unfamiliar with the layout, and asked while walking, “Fang Technician lives on the second floor, right?”