Political Commissar Chen Gang was taken aback, immediately dropping the documents he was about to take, so angry he wanted to curse.
“That stubborn brat, with his leg injured and immobile, he can endure without eating or drinking, but who’s going to take care of two five-year-old children? The military doctor said it’ll take at least three months to recover.”
“Alright, issue a notice to recruit a new nanny as soon as possible. Increase the monthly nanny fee to fifty yuan, no advance withdrawals. After three months, the regiment will settle the payment in one lump sum and give an additional fifty-yuan bonus.”
Upon hearing this, the guard scratched his head in frustration.
“Commissar, taking care of three people, including an injured one, is no small workload. Fifty yuan won’t be easy to find someone for.”
Chen Gang glared.
“The regiment’s funds are tight. Figure it out yourself. She must start tomorrow.”
Su Qingyi, who had been worrying about having no way out, felt a stir in her heart upon hearing this and came up with an idea.
In her past life, although she had lived in this Family Compound for a while, her reputation was so poor that she hardly socialized and didn’t really know the people here. She hadn’t heard of this Pei Tuan either.
But she immediately raised her hand.
“Looking for a nanny? I can do it.”
No matter how hard or exhausting the work, it was better than staying here as an unpaid nanny.
As soon as she spoke, Wang Cuiping slapped her.
“You’re supposed to marry and become a Company Commander’s Wife. How can you have time to be a nanny? Isn’t this embarrassing the He Family?”
“I’m not marrying!”
Feeling more confident, Su Qingyi’s tone grew firmer. “Mom, I know you’re in a hurry to marry me off because of my younger brother’s wedding. But now the central government advocates freedom of marriage. How can you drag the Political Commissar and the He Family into making such a mistake?”
After saying this, she bowed to Chen Gang again.
“Commissar, my mother was just confused because she’s short on money. Please give me this job. I’ll work hard, I promise. Don’t worry, I’ll stay far away from Company Commander He whenever I see him.”
Then, she looked at He Annian.
“Company Commander He, this is our first meeting. You can’t possibly have fallen in love with me at first sight, so please don’t bother me.”
The man’s face turned livid with anger, hardly able to believe it.
His family background was good, he had excelled in studies since childhood, and his military promotions came quickly. He had always been the pride of everyone, the one who looked down on others—never had he been rejected like this!
If it weren’t for that incident… he wouldn’t have chosen a country girl as his wife.
He originally thought she’d be easy to handle. How could she have such a temper?
But he quickly understood—this woman was probably greedy and trying to drive up the price.
Fuming, he snorted coldly. “You just said it yourself—trafficking people is illegal. The three hundred yuan is our family’s betrothal gift. If you don’t want it, then leave!”
With that, he saluted the Political Commissar and turned to leave.
Wang Cuiping grew even more frantic and rushed to stop him.
But Su Qingyi grabbed her.
“Mom, hurry up and return the three hundred yuan to the He Family. Arranged marriages are feudalistic bad habits. If this goes wrong, you might have to attend ideological reeducation classes.”
“This…”
Wang Cuiping didn’t understand these things and felt both anxious and panicked.
Su Qingyi didn’t give her time to recover, swiftly taking the money from her bag and handing it to He Wenzhou.
“Uncle He, have a safe trip.”
With just a few words, she sent them away.
Seeing how decisively she spoke and acted, Chen Gang couldn’t help but show a hint of admiration.
But looking again, the girl before him had a graceful figure, one could even say… well-developed, with delicate features. Was she really cut out to be a nanny?
Su Qingyi immediately made a promise: “Political Commissar, the great leader said that labor knows no hierarchy, and women can hold up half the sky. I am willing to share the organization’s burdens. You, Political Commissar, are reasonable and will surely give me this opportunity.”
She spoke with righteous conviction, piling on another lofty compliment.
This took Chen Gang even more by surprise.
He seemed to ponder something.
In the end, he had no choice but to nod.
“Alright then. But I must inform Pei Zhao first. Wait here, and once it’s settled, I’ll have a guard take you over. However, let me be clear upfront: if you don’t work for at least three months, you won’t receive any wages.”
Su Qingyi nodded promptly.
“As you can see, I’ve just arrived and need this job to survive. I’d be more than happy to work as long as possible.”
Seeing that she had actually settled the matter with the Political Commissar, Wang Cuiping tried several times to speak up but was firmly held back by Su Qingyi.
Su Qingyi’s words reassured Chen Gang even more, and he soon left with the guard.
As soon as the door closed, Su Qingyi’s ear was viciously twisted by Wang Cuiping.
“You wretched girl, that’s a whole three hundred yuan!”
Looking at her harsh, angry face, Su Qingyi truly wanted to slap her.
But her household registration was still back in her hometown, and now was not the time to break ties.
Moreover, she needed to quickly find a way to send her back.
As long as she could establish herself here and earn enough money to secure her livelihood, she wouldn’t have to fear anything in the future.
Immediately, she skillfully broke free from her grip, her eyes darting as she said:
“Mom, you really lack long-term vision. What is the He Family? He Annian is just a Company Commander, and the He Family has no significant background. Who knows if he’ll ever get promoted?”
“Now, as a nanny, I can earn two hundred yuan in just three months. That should be almost enough for my younger brother’s wedding. Besides, I’ll be serving a Regimental Commander. Didn’t you notice how the Political Commissar treated him? Even finding a nanny is taken so seriously.”
These words were tailor-made for someone like Wang Cuiping.
As soon as she said this,
Wang Cuiping’s eyes indeed revealed a greedy glint.
She slapped Su Qingyi’s plump, perky buttocks.
“Girl, are you thinking of becoming the Regimental Commander’s wife?”
Seeing that she had taken the bait, Su Qingyi secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
“Didn’t the Political Commissar say his legs are injured and he can’t move? I’ll have plenty of opportunities. If I can curry favor with the Regimental Commander, won’t there be money in the future?”
Wang Cuiping was overjoyed, her eyes gleaming.
“You really have ideas. Your figure makes men from miles around drool. Use some tricks, act early to make it a done deal, then call the Political Commissar to catch you in the act—he’ll have to marry you! For a Regimental Commander’s wedding, the bride price should be at least six hundred and sixty yuan, right?”
She started counting on her fingers, growing happier with each calculation.
Su Qingyi couldn’t be bothered to listen further.
Six hundred and sixty? Just wait.
“I need to use the restroom.”
Seeing that Wang Cuiping had taken the bait, she announced and pulled open the door to leave. Unexpectedly, as soon as she looked up, she collided with a pair of cold, sharp, knife-like dark eyes.
When had a man arrived at the door!
The man was dressed in a military uniform, sitting in a wheelchair with a gray blanket draped over his legs.
His features were deep-set, his brows broad and well-defined.
His straight shoulders were outlined by the light and shadow, forming a rigid, unyielding silhouette.
Even disabled, he still resembled a spear that would never bend.
Inside the room, Wang Cuiping continued to chatter incessantly, advising her that when working as a nanny at the Regimental Commander’s house, she should wear less to bed at night.
She flushed with embarrassment, wishing she could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.
She had no idea how much of the earlier conversation this man had overheard.
If word got out and reached that Regimental Commander Pei Zhao, she would likely lose her job as a nanny.
She quickly bent slightly at the waist, awkwardly explaining.
“Comrade, my mother was just joking, please don’t take it seriously.”
Indeed, she was well-developed, and though the gesture was ordinary when she made it, it carried a subtly alluring charm.
The girl’s natural fragrance unexpectedly drifted into the man’s nostrils.
Pei Zhao’s heart tightened, his throat suddenly dry, while the vulgar words he had unintentionally overheard earlier resurfaced in his mind.