Today, Jiang Mother went to the Neighborhood Committee early in the morning for two reasons: first, to arrange the broadcasting matter for Su Jincheng and Cai Xiaolan, and second, because the Youth Office had again asked them to help with ideological work, persuading unemployed youths to go to the countryside.
In previous years, during the “Up to the Mountains and Down to the Countryside” movement, people had rushed to sign up enthusiastically.
But the harsh rural life had worn away their passion and hope, so in recent years, no one wanted to go to the countryside anymore.
However, the excessive number of unemployed youths in the city had created significant survival pressure.
The Youth Office was overwhelmed and delegated the task to the street offices, which in turn assigned the job to the Neighborhood Committees in each district.
When Jiang Mother looked at the list of names, she unexpectedly saw Ruan Tang’s name.
A surge of inexplicable anger rose in her heart.
The young woman had just called off her engagement yesterday, and today she was being urged to go to the countryside.
It was truly adding insult to injury.
Though she was angry, she knew this was part of her job.
After some thought, she decided to make a personal visit.
So when Ruan Tang opened the door and saw Jiang Mother, she was quite surprised.
“Auntie, what brings you here?”
Could it be that Jiang Ye had sent her to discuss marriage?
She quickly said, “Auntie, please come inside. It’s hot outside.”
Jiang Mother waved her hand. “No, no.”
How could she possibly sit inside while handling such a matter!
Looking at the young woman before her, even the usually eloquent Jiang Mother found herself at a loss for words.
She hadn’t looked closely yesterday, but now she noticed how pretty the girl was—a petite face the size of a palm, large eyes, a small and rounded nose, and skin as fair and glowing as a peeled hard-boiled egg.
Unlike her own daughters, who were all as dark as peeled tea eggs.
As for Jiang Ye, he was fairer, but he was a man—what use was that? He couldn’t even find a wife, truly wasting her good genes.
After a moment’s thought, Jiang Mother decided it was better to be direct. “Well, dear, I’m here to notify you about signing up to go to the countryside. The Youth Office is pushing for it again.”
Jiang Mother paused here, then decided to give her a warning.
“Let me tell you, if possible, it’s best not to go to the countryside. Discuss it with your family and see if there’s a way for you to stay in the city.”
Being so pretty made her a living target—those men…
“Sigh, let me be honest with you. Back then, my fourth daughter quietly signed up to go to the countryside. If she hadn’t met a soldier, she would have been violated. Do you know? She was nearly scared to death.”
“With your striking looks, I’m afraid you might attract the attention of some local ruffians.”
Having worked at the Neighborhood Committee for so many years, she had heard too many stories like this.
Sending a pretty girl to the countryside was really not a good choice.
Ruan Tang hadn’t expected Jiang Mother to say these things to her and, for a moment, didn’t know how to respond.
Judging by Jiang Mother’s reaction, it seemed Jiang Ye hadn’t yet told his family about their marriage.
If she brought it up rashly, would it scare Jiang Mother away?
Ruan Tang’s brows furrowed in genuine distress.
Just then, Cai’s mother emerged from inside the house.
“Well, what brings our Neighborhood Committee Director here?”
This annoying old woman had deliberately punished Xiaolan and intentionally disrespected her family.
So when Cai’s mother saw them chatting through the crack in the door, she came out specifically to cause trouble.
She also knew why Jiang Mother had come – Ruan Tang’s name had appeared in the Youth Office precisely because Cai Xiaolan had reported her.
“Director Yang, Ruan Tang has no job and now her engagement is broken. Must she go to the countryside?”
Seeing the schadenfreude in Cai’s mother’s eyes, Jiang Mother frowned with displeasure. “You should focus on your own child. A young girl who doesn’t know propriety or shame, seducing someone else’s fiancé – how dare you mock others?”
Cai’s mother avoided eye contact but stubbornly retorted, “Then she should look at her own flaws. A man who can be stolen was never truly hers to begin with.”
“You!”
“What twisted logic! That’s pure nonsense!”
Faced with such an unreasonable and shameless shrew, Jiang Mother was at a loss for words.
Just as Ruan Tang’s expression darkened and she prepared to counter, Jiang Ye strode in beaming.
“This auntie may be ugly, but what she says does make some sense.”
Jiang Mother’s face fell upon hearing this – whose side was this boy on?
Ignoring the “ugly” remark, Cai’s mother smiled obsequiously. “You’re a perceptive young man. I think—”
Jiang Ye cut her off.
“Don’t rush me, I haven’t finished!”
“If a man can be stolen, she shouldn’t want him anyway. As the saying goes, flies swarm around cracked rotten eggs.”
“Tell me, if the egg’s already rotten, why would anyone want it? Unless… to attract more flies?”
“Pfft— hahahaha…”
“Sorry, I couldn’t help it.” Ruan Tang quickly covered her mouth, blinking innocently at them.
Unbeknownst to her, her adorable expression captivated both Jiang Mother and Jiang Ye.
Good heavens, this girl is utterly delightful.
Damn, my future wife is so beautiful – I want to sneak her home right now.
Meanwhile, Cai’s mother finally grasped Jiang Ye’s sarcasm. Her face turned green with rage as she pointed at him and shrieked, “Oh, you’re so impressive! If everyone else is rotten eggs, you must be the fragrant one! Then why can’t you find a wife? Why won’t anyone marry you, you worthless loafer?”
Instantly, both Jiang Mother and Jiang Ye’s faces turned icy.
Jiang Ye’s clenched fists cracked audibly.
Seeing the situation escalate, Ruan Tang didn’t hesitate. She immediately stepped in front of Jiang Ye, looked up at him and asked, “I’m willing to marry you. Will you have me?”
She was taking a stance while also responding to the question on that note.
In that moment, all coldness vanished from Jiang Ye’s demeanor.
He smiled.
It was a lazy, unruly smile that seemed innate, like a demonic flower blooming in dark abyss – breathtakingly beautiful.
Ruan Tang stared, mesmerized.
“Your smile is truly beautiful.”
Jiang Ye’s upturned lips simply wouldn’t settle.
He looked down at Ruan Tang and answered her question.
“Where my heart leads, I’m willing to marry you.”
Both Jiang Mother and Cai’s mother stood dumbfounded.
One was stunned with joy, the other with horror.
After her initial shock, Jiang Mother suddenly wondered – was the girl just helping her good-for-nothing son save face?
The more she thought about it, the more plausible it seemed. Why else would such a lovely girl be interested in her worthless son?
Her excitement plummeted into despair.
She pulled Ruan Tang aside and whispered, “You’re a good child. I know you’re helping him out. Regardless, I must thank you.”
Ruan Tang smiled softly and whispered back, “I meant every word. I wasn’t lying.”
Now Jiang Mother grew agitated. She asked sternly, “Tell me the truth – did Jiang Ye threaten you?”
Ruan Tang hastily waved her hands in denial.
She thought it over and decided to tell the truth, because Jiang Mother clearly wasn’t someone easily fooled.
“Auntie, the reason I married Jiang Ye is actually because I didn’t want to go to the countryside.”
After saying this, she braced herself for Jiang Mother’s furious outburst.
She thought any mother would resent their child being used by someone.
To her surprise, Jiang Mother grabbed her hand, so excited she could barely speak coherently.
“It doesn’t matter, it doesn’t matter.”
“The reason isn’t important, only the outcome matters. That good-for-nothing finally found someone willing to take him.”
“I’m heading to the Youth Office right now to cross your name off the list. Oh, and I need to find a matchmaker, pick a date—ah, I’d better go now, there’s so much to do.”
With that, Jiang Mother dashed off in a flash, as if afraid Ruan Tang might change her mind if she lingered.
Just before stepping out the gate, she called back, “You’re such a sincere child—I like that.”
Ruan Tang was stunned.
Jiang Ye stared at Ruan Tang with a silly grin.
Cai’s mother, having processed the situation, sneered disdainfully, “So what if you’re not going to the countryside? You’ve still married a loafer. What’s there to be proud of?”
She left as soon as she finished speaking.
Jiang Ye wasn’t about to let that slide.
“I’m happy with it—what’s it to you?”
“I heard those two scumbags caught fooling around in the temple got fired from the cotton mill.”
“Ah, what a shame, don’t you think? Now they’re jobless drifters too.”