“My father-in-law is a workshop supervisor at the factory. He was invited too.”
The young married woman, Zhu Huifang, made it clear that everything she had said was true.
She glanced at Qin Man, opened her mouth as if to say something, then finally sighed.
“To be honest, Sister Qin Man, I’ve dealt with the Zhou family before. I’ve never once heard that Zhou Huaimin had a fiancée.”
Zhu Huifang had a younger sister who was eighteen years old.
After graduating from middle school, she had inherited a job and now worked as an administrative clerk in the labor union at the food factory.
It was considered quite a desirable position.
“Back when Zhou Huaimin was still just a squad leader, Aunt Zhou even asked me about my younger sister. Then, for some reason, the Zhou family never followed up.”
Zhu Huifang curled her lip.
At the time, she’d thought the Zhou family had been blind to pass up such a good match.
Now she understood.
Their ambitions had simply been bigger.
They had climbed onto a much higher branch.
“That bastard!”
After hearing everything, Yang Xiaoyun became so furious that her face and neck turned bright red.
She stood beside her bicycle for quite a while before finally calming down enough to look sympathetically at Qin Man.
Song Qingsong remained much calmer.
After lowering his head to think for a moment, he asked,
“Comrade Qin Man, what are you planning to do?”
Was this a loss she intended to swallow…
Or not?
Now that he understood the history between the Zhou and Qin families, it was obvious the Zhou family was in the wrong.
Still, Song Qingsong didn’t immediately take sides.
He suspected there might be more to the story.
Since Qin Man already knew the plot, she wasn’t surprised in the slightest.
Learning that the Zhou family was holding the engagement banquet at noon, and that not all the guests had arrived yet, she rubbed her hands together.
“Sister Huifang, would it be all right if we warmed ourselves at your place for a while?”
It was freezing outside.
There was no point standing around in the cold wind.
Yang Xiaoyun looked at Qin Man with an expression of utter disbelief.
“The crisis is right in front of you! Why aren’t we going over there to wreck the engagement right now? Are you really going to wait until Zhou Huaimin gets engaged to another woman?”
Zhu Huifang couldn’t understand either.
Although the Zhou family had acted dishonorably, for someone from the countryside like Qin Man, they were still considered an excellent match.
Marrying Zhou Huaimin would immediately make Qin Man a city resident.
“Sister Huifang, Xiaoyun, since the Zhou family has already chosen to betray their promise, then even if I show up now, they’ll only complain that my timing is inconvenient.”
“They’ll never acknowledge the engagement.”
Qin Man was certain Zhou Huaimin would never offend the battalion commander’s family for her sake.
A scumbag like that wasn’t worth keeping anyway.
She also intended to ruin the engagement for the battalion commander’s younger sister’s sake.
In the novel, that woman’s ending wasn’t much better than the original Qin Man’s brief, tragic role.
Using his father-in-law’s family to climb the ranks, Zhou Huaimin secretly despised his plain-looking wife.
The Zhou family constantly pressured her to bear a son.
After suffering multiple miscarriages and an ectopic pregnancy, she eventually died in childbirth along with her baby.
Before the traditional mourning period had even ended, Zhou Huaimin had already brought his mistress home.
Qin Man wasn’t only trying to save the original owner’s fate.
Of course…
If the battalion commander’s sister learned the truth and still chose to marry Zhou Huaimin, then Qin Man sincerely hoped the two of them would stay together forever.
Adjusting his glasses, Song Qingsong asked,
“So your plan is…”
“To wait until noon, when everyone has arrived, and then go make a scene.”
Qin Man smiled faintly.
“After all, the bigger the crowd, the greater the impact.”
“Xiaoman… are you really giving up this marriage?”
Yang Xiaoyun pressed her lips together.
Even in the city, a family like the Zhous wasn’t an easy match to find.
Although she despised them now, she couldn’t help feeling sorry for Qin Man.
If Qin Man didn’t marry Zhou Huaimin, she’d soon have to return to the countryside.
Yang Xiaoyun hated the thought of losing the new friend she’d just made.
At the same time, she admired Qin Man’s decisiveness.
Qin Man twitched an eyebrow.
“Xiaoyun, I’m not in the business of collecting trash.”
Why would she treasure garbage?
A modern independent woman should shine on her own.
Men weren’t reliable.
Especially a family like the Zhous.
Marrying into them would be like jumping into a blazing fire pit.
As they talked, Zhu Huifang led everyone into the Textile Mill residential building.
“Doctor Song, the apartment in the middle on the second floor is ours.”
Zhu Huifang was especially attentive toward Song Qingsong.
Walking behind them, Qin Man quietly looked around.
The apartment building perfectly reflected the style of the 1970s.
A long, narrow corridor connected more than a dozen households.
Most apartments had a simple layout with two bedrooms and one living room.
Including the bathroom, the entire unit was only a little over forty square meters.
The balconies were piled high with miscellaneous belongings.
Since the kitchens were so cramped, most families had built cooking stoves right out in the hallway.
It was still early, and Zhu Huifang’s mother-in-law was home.
Seeing visitors arrive, she immediately brought out sunflower seeds and peanuts, brewed hot tea, and welcomed everyone warmly.
Only after her mother-in-law returned to her room did Zhu Huifang lower her voice.
“My mother-in-law is timid. If she finds out you’re planning to make a scene at the Zhou family’s, she’ll definitely worry about offending them.”
Everyone worked at the textile mill.
They saw one another every day.
Zhu Huifang didn’t want to be misunderstood either.
Qin Man nodded in agreement.
“Sister Huifang, just letting us come in to warm ourselves is already more than enough.”
They weren’t relatives.
It was only natural for someone to have concerns.
Qin Man lowered her head and absentmindedly played with her teacup.
Yang Xiaoyun kept watching her.
After hesitating for a while, she ultimately decided not to ask the question on her mind.
One step at a time.
Who could have imagined the Zhou family would be this shameless?
At that moment, Yang Xiaoyun still had no idea…
They were capable of being even worse.
Meanwhile, at the Zhou residence…
Through the carved wooden window, Liu Amei watched her son, Zhou Huaimin, dressed in his military uniform, pouring hot tea for a young woman wearing a bright red wool coat.
The young woman secretly stole a glance at Zhou Huaimin, her face full of shy happiness.
“Now that’s a perfect match.”
Thinking about the envious looks from the neighbors, Liu Amei couldn’t help smiling proudly.
Her son’s fiancée came from a good family with influential connections.
Not only did they ask for no bride price, but they had even volunteered to provide a generous dowry.
A daughter-in-law like this was harder to find than a needle in a haystack.
“Mom, I just bought some canned fruit from the supply cooperative. I’ll take it over to Sister-in-law right now!”
Zhou Qiaohong pushed open the door, placed the can on a low wooden cabinet, and reached for an enamel serving plate.
Seeing her daughter return, Liu Amei immediately grabbed her and scolded,
“What’s wrong with you? You’re always so careless! Xiaodan hasn’t married into the family yet. If someone hears you calling her that, it’ll leave a bad impression.”
“What’s wrong with that? Today’s the engagement banquet.”
“Once today’s feast is over, Sister Dan will be my sister-in-law.”
Zhou Qiaohong had dark skin and high cheekbones.
She resembled her honest father, Zhou Guojun, in appearance.
But her personality was far less likable.
Taking the bowls and chopsticks from Liu Amei, she poured hot water over them to rinse them clean.
After washing them, she stacked everything together and carelessly tossed them into the cupboard with a loud clatter.
Liu Amei shot her daughter a glare.
“Who are you throwing a tantrum at?”
“Mom, you’re just too cautious.”
Turning around, Zhou Qiaohong spoke casually.
“I’m only trying to get on Sister Dan’s good side so I can secure my job sooner.”
The city’s cannery was currently hiring production workers.
Applicants needed at least a middle school education.
Zhou Qiaohong hated studying and had dropped out after only one year of middle school.
Since she didn’t meet the qualifications, she’d have to rely on connections.
“Sister Dan’s eldest uncle is the deputy director of the cannery.”
“With that kind of connection, getting me a job is practically guaranteed.”
She had already asked her older brother, Zhou Huaimin, for help.
He hadn’t given her a definite answer, only telling her to wait for news.
The uncertainty had left Zhou Qiaohong so anxious that she hadn’t slept well for days.
“Mom, honestly, you’re worrying too much.”
“Are you afraid the Qin family…”
Before Zhou Qiaohong could finish her sentence, Liu Amei’s expression changed dramatically.
She lunged forward and clapped a hand tightly over her daughter’s mouth.