As Liang Qiurun’s words fell, the room immediately fell silent.
Almost everyone in the ward instinctively turned to look at him.
This was the first time they had heard someone speak about changing hospital rooms so casually.
Someone in the ward immediately expressed disbelief, “Comrade, are you joking?”
“Yeah, this is the People’s Hospital, not your home. You can’t just change rooms as you please.”
“Previously, Master Jiang and his family approached the nurses multiple times, but they were never granted permission.”
“Do you really think the nurses will agree just because you said so?”
“Probably not.”
“This isn’t a place for boasting. If you’re exposed later, you’ll be embarrassed.”
Facing the mixed reactions from everyone, Liang Qiurun seemed completely unfazed.
In contrast, Jiang Meishu looked at him nervously, her lively, expressive eyes seeming to ask, “Is this really possible?”
Liang Qiurun nodded at Jiang Meishu, giving her a reassuring look.
Jiang Meilan observed this interaction.
She raised an eyebrow, thinking to herself, had her sister and Liang Qiurun’s relationship progressed this quickly?
Of course, if anyone else had said this, she might have been skeptical, but since it was Liang Qiurun speaking, she was inclined to believe him.
Because she knew all too well Liang Qiurun’s capabilities.
Being the factory director of the Capital Meatpacking Plant was not something an ordinary person could achieve. Moreover, the term “meatpacking factory” represented the most profitable unit of the time, bar none.
While others were still doubting, Secretary Chen had only been gone for a short while before the head nurse followed him back. Unlike her previous stern demeanor, she now wore a warm, friendly smile.
“Comrade Jiang Chenliang wishes to change rooms, is that right?”
“Family members, please pack your belongings and follow me to the fifth floor.”
No one had expected this to actually happen.
Jiang Chenliang was really going to be moved to the High-ranking Cadre Ward.
Everyone in the room was astonished.
“Comrade Jiang, are you really changing rooms?”
Not daring to question Liang Qiurun directly, they instead focused their attention on Jiang Chenliang, who was still somewhat dazed. “I don’t know anything about this,” he said.
He instinctively looked at Liang Qiurun and Secretary Chen, feeling somewhat embarrassed and ready to decline. “No, no, there’s no need to go to such trouble.”
“It’s no trouble at all,” Liang Qiurun said bluntly. “It’s just a matter of changing rooms.”
He glanced at Secretary Chen, who immediately understood and stepped forward to help pack their belongings, preparing to assist Jiang Chenliang upstairs.
Jiang Chenliang remained bewildered.
In truth, the others were too. Wang Limei was no exception, unable to comprehend why Factory Director Liang was helping their family after their previous falling out.
But before she could process this, their belongings were nearly all packed. Jiang Meilan and Shen Zhanlie had also joined in to help.
Jiang Chenliang didn’t have many belongings to begin with—most were just items for hospital stays—so everything was packed and ready within three minutes.
As the family was about to leave, Grandma Lu grew anxious and called out to Jiang Meishu, “How can you leave just like that? Child, I haven’t had the chance to ask you how your blind date with our Zhiyuan went?”
The moment this question was asked, Jiang Meishu’s delicate face tightened slightly. “Grandma Lu, I didn’t know it was a blind date with Lu Zhiyuan. If I had known, I definitely wouldn’t have gone.”
With just this one sentence, Grandma Lu understood – the matchmaking had failed.
Yet Grandma Lu couldn’t quite give up. She truly didn’t want to miss out on such a kind girl like Jiang Meishu. Their family was full of difficult people who really needed someone like Jiang Meishu to help mediate.
Unable to resist, Grandma Lu asked another question, “But is it that you don’t like our Zhiyuan?”
At this, everyone couldn’t help but look over.
Including Liang Qiurun.
With so many pairs of eyes fixed on her, Jiang Meishu’s face grew inexplicably warm, and she felt somewhat agitated, though mostly embarrassed and awkward. She wasn’t good at handling situations with so many people.
Jiang Meishu lowered her head, not daring to meet everyone’s gaze.
She said softly, “Lu Zhiyuan is only part of it. First, I didn’t go on a blind date with him. Second, Lu Zhiyuan’s father prefers female comrades who are strong and sturdy, capable of bearing sons.”
Some things didn’t need to be said completely for everyone to understand most of it.
As these words fell, Grandma Lu’s face turned pale. She knew her worst fears had come true.
Meanwhile, Wang Limei instinctively responded, “What does Lu Zhiyuan’s father mean by that?”
“Looking down on my daughter?”
“Grandma Lu, you didn’t mention before the blind date that your son was so unreasonable?”
This left Grandma Lu speechless. Although she hadn’t been present, she could pretty much guess what had happened.
She could only apologize to Wang Limei, “Perhaps there’s still some misunderstanding.”
Wang Limei didn’t say whether she believed it or not, merely glancing at Grandma Lu before saying, “Forget it, we’re not the same kind of people.”
“From now on, please don’t try to match my daughter with your grandson anymore.”
“Let’s just pretend this never happened.”
This—
Grandma Lu sighed, still wanting to persuade them to stay, but unfortunately, the entire Jiang Family had already left in a grand procession.
The area around her hospital bed suddenly felt empty, making her pound the bed in frustration, “What kind of mess is this?”
Originally, matchmaking was meant to be a good deed, but in the end, not only did the match fail, it nearly turned them into enemies.
It was at this moment that Lu Zhiyuan arrived, hanging his head dejectedly.
When he entered and saw the empty space beside Grandma Lu’s bed, he was taken aback, “Grandma, where is the Jiang Family?”
“They’re gone.”
Grandma Lu was actually somewhat disappointed in her grandson. “Tell me exactly what happened.”
This—
Lu Zhiyuan refused to speak.
“Do you really want your sick old grandmother to drag herself to the Jiang Family girl?”
Cornered, Lu Zhiyuan had no choice but to recount everything from beginning to end.
After listening, Grandma Lu couldn’t help but slam the table. “Foolish!”
“Lu Zhiyuan, are you an idiot? When your father was making a scene, instead of protecting the Jiang Family girl, you protected your father? Are you out of your mind? No wonder the Jiang Family girl doesn’t want to acknowledge you. If I were her, I wouldn’t want to acknowledge you either.”
“Lu Zhiyuan, oh Lu Zhiyuan, you’ve wasted all that education. When it comes to crucial moments, you just can’t see what’s important. You just can’t see clearly.”
With a gambling addict for a father, when would her Zhiyuan ever be able to find a wife?
Lu Zhiyuan remained silent, letting Grandma Lu scold him. Only after she finished did he say quietly, “Comrade Jiang is Factory Director Liang’s matchmaking partner.”
“Nonsense.”
“Only you would believe that.”
Grandma Lu genuinely felt her eldest grandson was somewhat foolish. “Can’t you really see? At the very least, when the Jiang Family’s daughter was meeting you, you were her matchmaking partner. Otherwise, do you think the Jiang Family would have agreed to let her meet with you?”
“Lu Zhiyuan, you don’t understand. When a family has a desirable daughter, a hundred suitors will come. Even if Comrade Jiang previously met with Factory Director Liang, she also met with you. Do you understand?”
“The latecomer should surpass the former. But you? The latecomer dug a hole and buried himself, becoming a stepping stone for Factory Director Liang.”
“How can you be so foolish?”
Grandma Lu could hardly bear to watch.
While Lu Zhiyuan was being scolded downstairs, Jiang Meishu remained unaware, though she no longer cared.
When she needed Lu Zhiyuan to speak up for her, he hadn’t.
For Jiang Meishu, he was no longer within her circle of friends.
In those days, hospitals had no elevators. One had to climb five floors relying solely on their own energy. The entire fifth floor had three High-ranking Cadre Wards, all separate rooms, and completely empty.
The Jiang Family was the first to move in.
After all their belongings were moved in, the Jiang Family members were somewhat stunned. “This isn’t a hospital room—it’s better than our home.”
The space was over twenty square meters, arranged in a one-bedroom-one-living-room layout. Inside was the sleeping area, outside was a living room with a small kitchen where one could even cook.
Jiang Chenliang instinctively said, “Factory Director Liang, this is too much trouble for you. Perhaps I should move back downstairs.”
It wasn’t that he was being overly cautious, but Jiang Chenliang had never lived in such a nice place in his entire life, let alone a hospital room.
Liang Qiurun shook his head. “Master Jiang, please feel free to stay here without worry. If there are any problems, you can always come find Secretary Chen.”
Secretary Chen immediately nodded. “Yes, the leader is very busy and often goes out for meetings, but if you need me, I’ll come even in the middle of the night.”
That was his responsibility as a secretary.
Hearing this, the Jiang Family members exchanged glances, thinking to themselves that Factory Director Liang and Secretary Chen were being exceptionally kind.
It wasn’t until Liang Qiurun and Secretary Chen left that the Jiang Family instinctively turned their gaze to Jiang Meishu.
Jiang Meishu covered her face. “Don’t look at me. I don’t know either. This was Old Liang’s own decision.”
She hadn’t gone to find Old Liang.
As her mother, Wang Limei knew her daughter well. She immediately grew suspicious. “Come outside with me.”
Jiang Meishu knew she couldn’t hide it from her and followed her to the corridor. The view from the fifth floor was excellent, allowing them to see everything downstairs clearly.
“What exactly happened?”
“Tell me everything from the beginning.”
Jiang Meishu spilled everything like pouring beans from a bag.
Wang Limei immediately grew angry. “I really shouldn’t have moved up here so easily from downstairs. And that Grandma Lu—knowing full well what her son is like, she still tried to match you with him. Wasn’t she pushing you into a pit of fire?”
She felt that leaving so easily had let Grandma Lu off too lightly.
Jiang Meishu shook her head. “Mom, let’s just let this matter go.”
She said softly, “Grandma Lu isn’t a bad person, she’s just an ordinary person. Similarly, Lu Zhiyuan isn’t a bad person either—it’s just his personality.”
“He and I aren’t compatible. Let’s not mention him again.”
“Oh, you.” Seeing her daughter like this, Wang Limei raised her hand and pointed at her forehead. “You’re always so mild-tempered, letting people take advantage of you every day.”
Jiang Meishu pursed her lips and smiled. “I haven’t really been taken advantage of. Didn’t Factory Director Liang show up at that time?”
She truly felt grateful toward him.
“Mom, so I’ve agreed to the blind date with Factory Director Liang after all.”
First, because he showed sincerity.
Second, she genuinely couldn’t find a more suitable blind date candidate than Factory Director Liang.
At this, Wang Limei stopped arguing. She remained silent for a long time before saying, “I don’t know if this is good or bad. How did we end up circling back to him after all?”
Their family had originally thought that with Lu Zhiyuan, they could finally give up on Factory Director Liang.
Who would have thought that Lu Zhiyuan would turn out to be worse than Factory Director Liang?
Jiang Meishu thought for a moment. “Maybe it’s fate?”
She also felt it was fate.
Seeing she wasn’t resistant, Wang Limei didn’t press further.
“Have you decided where the blind date will be? When is it?”
“Tomorrow at the State-Owned Restaurant.”
Wang Limei said, “Tomorrow is Monday. You need to return the school uniform to Xiao Juan. Wear the outfit your sister wore for her blind date back then.”
Jiang Meishu hummed in agreement and followed her mother inside.
Jiang Meilan came to check on her, and Jiang Meishu nodded toward her.
“Let’s eat.”
“I noticed we can heat meals here, so I warmed up all the food. Everyone should eat while it’s hot.”
Jiang Meilan always kept busy no matter the situation.
Jiang Meishu responded, “I’ve already eaten. Let Mom and Dad eat first.”
“Have you made up your mind? Still going on the blind date with Factory Director Liang?”
Jiang Meilan asked her.
Jiang Meishu hummed in confirmation. “It’s him.”
Jiang Meilan sighed. Her mother had already said all there was to say, and she had voiced her thoughts earlier too. Besides, Liang Qiurun had arranged such a good hospital room for their father.
To be honest, when you accept favors, it’s hard to refuse requests.
Perhaps because Jiang Meilan herself had married Shen Zhanlie, she wasn’t as resistant to Liang Qiurun anymore.
Seeing her younger sister willing, she stopped objecting.
By evening, Eldest Brother Jiang had swapped shifts and came to take care of Jiang Chenliang. Jiang Meilan then left with Shen Zhanlie.
As they were leaving the hospital room,
Shen Zhanlie held Jiang Meilan’s hand. He glanced back at that particular room—the one he had repeatedly asked the nurses for but never got approval.
A wave of bitterness and sorrow welled up inside him. He gripped Jiang Meilan’s hand tightly. “Wife.”
Jiang Meilan responded, “Hmm?”
“I won’t be worse than him.”
They both knew exactly who “he” referred to.
“I know,” Jiang Meilan said.
She looked up at him, her gaze soft. “You’re not worse than him.”
In Jiang Meilan’s eyes, Shen Zhanlie had never been inferior to Liang Qiurun.
Hearing this warmed Shen Zhanlie’s heart immensely. When everyone else said he wasn’t good enough, only his wife believed in him.
Said he wasn’t worse than Factory Director Liang.
For this alone, he couldn’t let her down.
Concerned about her daughter’s blind date the next day, Wang Limei left the hospital matters to her eldest son.
She returned home with her younger daughter.
Jiang Meishu first went to return Xiao Juan’s school uniform. Once returned, she had nothing suitable to wear for the next day’s blind date.
Wang Limei had originally intended to ask Jiang Meilan to return the clothes she wore on her marriage registration day for Jiang Meishu to use during her blind date first.
But Jiang Meishu said, “No need. Since elder sister is married now, those clothes belong to her. It wouldn’t be appropriate to have her return them.”
Married women always have more considerations.
It’s like never having eaten pork but having seen pigs run.
“If we don’t ask your sister to return the clothes, what will you wear for tomorrow’s blind date? You can’t possibly wear your old worn-out clothes.”
Those clothes were originally picked up from what sister-in-law Lin Qiaoling’s school had distributed.
They had been altered again and again.
Jiang Meishu said, “I’ll just wear my old clothes then.”
“Factory Director Liang already knows our family’s circumstances anyway. There’s no point in pretending.”
Why bother borrowing clothes?
She didn’t really want to borrow them anymore.
“So you’ve thought this through?”
Wang Limei couldn’t help asking.
“It’s not that I’ve thought it through.”
Jiang Meishu said, “I just feel like Factory Director Liang doesn’t seem to care much about these details.”
And indeed, if Liang Qiurun cared about conditions during blind dates, he wouldn’t have agreed to meet with their family in the first place.
It was like Lu Zhiyuan’s father before – what he typically wanted in a daughter-in-law was someone sturdy who could bear sons, or at least someone from a well-off family.
To be honest, after meeting several people,
Jiang Meishu could even begin to see Liang Qiurun’s good qualities among them.
Liang Family.
Liang Rui had actually wanted to follow Jiang Meishu and Lu Zhiyuan, but they were riding bicycles and he simply couldn’t keep up.
By the time he reached the cafeteria later, they had already dispersed.
Liang Rui could only return home first. When he got back, he was surprised to find lights on in the house for the first time.
This surprised Liang Rui. “Dad, why are you home?”
You should know that Liang Qiurun had never returned from work before 8 pm.
Basically, every time he came back from work, it was already 11 pm or even midnight.
You could say that for a long time, Liang Rui felt that he and his father were more like roommates.
No, worse than roommates – at least roommates could see each other, but with his father, their schedules were so different that it was difficult to even meet.
Liang Qiurun looked up. “I have something important tomorrow, so I came back early today.”
“How’s the injury on your back? Should I apply medicine for you?”
It was fine until mentioned.
Once brought up, Liang Rui grimaced in pain. “It seems to have stuck to my clothes.” When he was running around outside during the day, he didn’t feel much pain, but now that he was home, it started to hurt.
Liang Qiurun stood up, cleaned the wound on his back and applied medicine. Just as he was about to finish,
Liang Rui suddenly said, “I wanted to follow Jiang Meilan and Lu Zhiyuan, but I lost them.”
As soon as these words fell,
Liang Qiurun put away the medicine bottle and discarded the cotton swab. “Why were you following them?”
“They went on a blind date.” Liang Rui said through gritted teeth from the pain. “I wanted to see if they would hit it off.”
“Dad.”
He suddenly called out, “I think Jiang Meilan has really poor taste. Lu Zhiyuan is much worse than you. Why would she go on a blind date with Lu Zhiyuan?”
Couldn’t understand it, really couldn’t understand.
Liang Qiurun finished putting away the medical supplies and washed his hands. “Director Lu has very obvious advantages over me.”
“What?”
Liang Rui asked instinctively.
“His family situation is simple, he’s never been married before, has no children. She wouldn’t have to be a stepmother if she married him.”
As these words fell,
Liang Rui immediately fell silent.
“So, Liang Rui,” Liang Qiurun said, “no matter what choice Jiang Meilan makes, it’s her personal matter. We shouldn’t interfere or judge her.”
“Because we have no right to.”
Hearing this, Liang Rui immediately fell silent. “But… but we can’t just watch Jiang Meilan succeed in her blind date with Lu Zhiyuan, can we?”
“Lu Zhiyuan is decent enough, but he has a gambling addict for a father.” He had only learned this later. “We can’t just watch Jiang Meilan jump into a fire pit.”
“Their blind date wasn’t successful.”
Liang Qiurun suddenly interjected.
At these words, Liang Rui looked up in pleasant surprise. “Jiang Meilan didn’t take a liking to Lu Zhiyuan?”
Before Liang Qiurun could answer, Liang Rui muttered to himself, “Well, her judgment isn’t bad then, knowing Lu Zhiyuan has a good-for-nothing gambling father.”
“I was planning to go to the hospital tomorrow to tell her.”
Seems he didn’t need to say it after all.
Liang Qiurun neither confirmed nor denied.
“Tomorrow, I will be having a blind date with Jiang Meilan.”
At this, Liang Rui abruptly rolled over. “What? Dad, you’re having a blind date with Jiang Meilan tomorrow?”
Liang Qiurun gave an affirmative hum. “What? Do you object?”
“Not exactly.”
No sooner had the words left his mouth than Liang Rui wished he could slap himself. He quickly corrected, “I don’t object, but I don’t support it either.”
“Mm, I’m just informing you.”
This time, Liang Qiurun’s attitude was uncharacteristically firm.
However, Liang Rui wasn’t as vehement as before. He mumbled, “Well, try to make it work then. I don’t want to get another stepmother.”
It could be said he had already played out countless scenarios in his mind.
He had already begun thinking of Jiang Meilan as his future stepmother.
“Good, you’ve made progress.”
“Tomorrow, go to school. After classes end at noon and in the evening, go directly to the hospital.”
Liang Rui wanted to say he wished to accompany his father to the blind date.
As if reading his mind, Liang Qiurun glanced at him. “I’ll go alone.”
The implication was clear:
Don’t hold me back.
Liang Rui, “…”
Why did he get the feeling his father was somewhat enthusiastic about this blind date?
Could it be that he left work early today just to prepare for tomorrow’s meeting?
Jiang Meishu was dragged out of bed early in the morning by her mother.
She was still somewhat dazed. “Mom, why are you waking me up so early?”
“Didn’t you say you have a blind date today?”
“If you don’t start preparing early, you’ll be overwhelmed later.”
Remembering the discomfort of arriving early last time, Jiang Meishu was unwilling. “Let me sleep a bit more.” She rolled over and buried herself back under the covers.
Wang Limei had no choice but to change the subject. “Your sister is married now. With an extra bed in your small room, your sister-in-law wants Dale to move in. What do you think?”
Hearing this, Jiang Meishu’s drowsiness vanished instantly, and she became fully alert.
“Mom, my sister got married; it’s not like she’s never coming home.”
“Wait—is my sister-in-law waiting for me to get married too?”
“So this room can be freed up for Dale and the others?”
Wang Limei immediately fell silent.
Clutching the blanket, Jiang Meishu murmured, her face pale, “I’m not even married yet.”
“Are they in such a hurry to move in?”
It was at this moment that she truly understood the advantage of being an only child.
Only as an only child would she receive her parents’ undivided love.
However, with more children, maternal and paternal love inevitably has to be divided—this is an unavoidable reality.
Take Wang Limei, for example. Jiang Meishu did not deny that her mother loved her, but at the same time, Wang Limei also possessed the stubbornness typical of traditional parents.
She believed her eldest daughter-in-law Lin Qiaoling’s approach was correct.
In fact, one could even say that it was only with Wang Limei’s tacit approval that her sister-in-law dared to act in such a manner.
Seeing her younger daughter’s pale face, Wang Limei reached out to stroke her hair, but Jiang Meishu avoided her touch.
Wang Limei paused. “Girl, don’t blame your sister-in-law. Isn’t every family like this?”
“When a daughter marries, she vacates her room so the younger children can have it.”
“Don’t blame your sister-in-law. If you must blame anyone, blame our family’s poverty.”
The eldest son had married and had three children. Five people crowded into a room less than five square meters.
As the children grew older, the house would inevitably become too small.
Jiang Meishu pressed her lips together. “I understand.”
For some reason, she felt an inexplicable anger burning inside her like fire. She knew this was the most appropriate solution.
But she still felt sad.
Because Jiang Meishu had once received her parents’ unique love. She knew what it felt like when parents loved her completely.
As their only daughter, after she graduated from university, her parents had used their lifelong savings to buy her a one-bedroom apartment near her workplace. It wasn’t large – just over twenty square meters.
But it was her sanctuary.
Moreover, there would always be a room for her in her parents’ home.
She knew with certainty that even if she married in the future, her parents would still keep a room for her.
That was the place she had lived in since childhood.
But she also knew that Wang Limei wouldn’t do the same.
Because Wang Limei had more than one child. She needed to divide her love among her other children.
Knowing this didn’t stop Jiang Meishu from feeling somewhat sad.
Sad that the maternal love she received seemed to exist, but only to this extent.
Her silence was a wordless protest.
Wang Limei said, “Girl, I know you’re suffering inside, but who among us hasn’t gone through this? I have, your sister-in-law has, even every mother, daughter-in-law, and daughter in the Dazayuan has.”
Jiang Meishu replied, “I know.”
“But—” she suddenly said, “if I marry and have children someday, if I have a daughter, I won’t let her walk this path.”
Her home would always be her daughter’s home.
She wouldn’t let her daughter lose her room after marriage.
Wang Limei fell silent abruptly.
Jiang Meishu silently finished brushing her teeth and washing her face. She put on her old clothes – a polyester-cotton jacket with several patches on the chest and elbows.
Once dressed, she went out.
When she left, she didn’t speak to Wang Limei. Lin Qiaoling looked from one to the other and asked quietly, “Mom, did she agree?”
Agree to what?
Of course, agree to vacate her room.
Wang Limei heaved a heavy sigh but didn’t answer her daughter-in-law Lin Qiaoling.
Instead, she chose to catch up with Jiang Meishu and stuffed two yuan into her pocket.
“In case you need it, so you won’t be without.”
Looking at the money, Jiang Meishu wanted to refuse, but Wang Limei didn’t give her the chance and left directly.
Watching the people coming and going in the Dazayuan, she clutched the money somewhat bewildered. Did her mother Wang Limei love her?
Undoubtedly, she did.
But this love had to be shared, making it considerably less compared to the love from her parents.
She thought of how her sister had to vacate her small bed right after marrying.
She thought of how the other party couldn’t wait to move in even before her blind date had succeeded.
Jiang Meishu pressed her lips together and clenched her hands.
She knew.
She had no way back.
She could only succeed in her blind date with Factory Director Liang.
In this era, in the eyes of her family, only a married daughter would have a home.
When she stepped out.
Jiang Meilan happened to be worried about her and rushed home early in the morning from the neighboring hutong.
She ran right into Jiang Meishu.
No one knew why.
The moment Jiang Meishu saw Jiang Meilan, she wanted to cry, “Sis!”
“What’s wrong?”
Jiang Meilan’s expression changed immediately, a flicker of panic crossing her face. She hurried over and took her hand, “Who bullied you?”
“Tell me.”
Jiang Meishu didn’t know how to explain. After a long silence, she slowly said, “This morning, Mom said to clear out your bed and let Dale move in.”
Just from those words, Jiang Meilan understood why her sister was crying.
“Alright, it’s not a big deal. Don’t cry.” She reached out to wipe her tears. “We’re married now—it’s normal for them to take our rooms.”
Jiang Meishu pressed her lips together, tears falling one by one. “I know it’s normal, but Sis, we have no home anymore.”
A home that didn’t even have a room for them—could that still be called a home?
Seeing her like this, Jiang Meilan felt sad too. She didn’t say anything, just gently stepped forward and hugged Jiang Meishu. “We do have a home.”
“Just wait for me. Once I earn enough money, I’ll buy a house.”
“Then you’ll have one, and I’ll have one.”
“We’ll have our own homes—ones where no one can drive us out.”
She wasn’t talking about her maiden home.
Nor her marital home.
And certainly not her husband’s home.
But a house that belonged solely to them.
A home that was truly their own.
Jiang Meishu wiped her tears and smiled. “Sis, don’t tease me. Buying a house is so hard nowadays.”
Housing wasn’t readily available on the market. There were only two ways to get a house: either through work-unit allocation or by owning land and obtaining construction approval from the housing department.
But both options were incredibly difficult, if not impossible.
Jiang Meilan patted her cheek reassuringly. “I’m not saying we’ll buy one right away.”
“I mean in the future.”
She looked down at her, her expression gentle yet determined. “Meishu, we will both have our own houses. Believe me.”
When that time came, whether it was their mother, father, or eldest brother—
Or their husbands, mothers-in-law, or children—
No one would be able to drive them away.
Not a single one.
Seeing her sister’s unwavering confidence, Jiang Meishu felt a spark of hope.
“Sis, I won’t hold you back.”
Jiang Meilan reached out and ruffled her hair. “It’s not holding me back. It’s my—” she thought for a moment, “blessing and redemption.”
“Meishu, I’m not exactly a kind or good person.”
“You understand me, just as I understand you.”
“If I ever start to lose my way, I hope you’ll be there to remind me.”
“To say, ‘Sis, think back to how we started.'”
Jiang Meishu nodded firmly. “I understand.”
“Mm.”
Jiang Meilan handed her the steamed bun she was holding. “Eat this before your blind date. We’ll figure out the next step after you get back.”
It was a plump, snow-white meat bun.
Jiang Meishu’s mouth watered. “Where did you get this?”
The Shen family wasn’t well-off enough for such luxuries.
“Shen Zhanlie went to move pigs this morning and bought two.”
“I ate one and brought the other for you.”
Jiang Meishu stopped eating immediately upon hearing this. She shoved the meat bun into Jiang Meilan’s arms, “You have it. I’m meeting Liang Qiurun at the State-Owned Restaurant for the blind date—I certainly won’t go hungry.”
“Wait for my good news.”
With that, she dashed off and disappeared in an instant.
Jiang Meilan watched her retreating figure, the gentle smile on her face fading only after Jiang Meishu had completely vanished.
She wasn’t as calm as she had pretended to be while comforting her sister.
Having lived through this once before, she had experienced it one more time than her younger sister.
In her previous life, she had gone through the same thing—after marrying Liang Qiurun, her narrow 1.2-meter bed at her parents’ home was immediately taken away.
Perhaps only those who have experienced it can truly understand.
This was her home, a place she had struggled to remain in, yet in the end, she couldn’t even hold on to a 1.2-meter bed.
As Jiang Meilan turned to go home, a chill settled over her expression.
“Meilan, why are you back?”
It was Lin Qiaoling who greeted her first, as she was preparing to leave for work.
“Eldest Sister-in-law, wait a moment.”
Jiang Meilan got straight to the point, “I heard you’re planning to let Dale move into my bed?”
This—
The ever-sociable Lin Qiaoling’s smile instantly faltered, “How did you know about this?”
It had only been discussed last night and brought up this morning.
“Did Meishu go and tattle to you?”
Jiang Meilan retorted, “Don’t drag Meishu into this. Even without her saying anything, I could have guessed.”
“Eldest Sister-in-law.”
“I know the house is small, and I also know Dale is my niece.”
“But there’s a difference between me willingly giving up the bed and you actively demanding it.”
Lin Qiaoling clapped her hands together, “Isn’t it the same either way? In the end, Dale will still move in.”
At this, she began to cry, “Your Eldest Brother is useless—he can’t get a house from the factory, so our family of five is still crammed into one small room. Dale is almost a grown woman now; how is she supposed to change her clothes?”
She was playing the emotional card.
Jiang Meilan remained expressionless, “When discussing interests, don’t bring emotions into it.”
“Otherwise, you’ll hurt both the interests and the feelings.”
She wasn’t like the gullible Meishu, who could be easily swayed by a few sweet words.
As soon as these words were spoken, Lin Qiaoling’s expression stiffened.
Wang Limei appeared, “Meilan, don’t blame your Eldest Sister-in-law. I agreed to let her do this.”
“The house really is small. Since you and Meishu are married now, there’s no reason to keep the room empty.”
Jiang Meilan replied, “Yes, I know.”
“Then, Mom, will Meishu and I still be able to come back to our parents’ home in the future?”
The question was sharp.
Wang Limei stammered, “Of course, you can come back.”
Jiang Meilan also understood her mother’s predicament—her mother did love them.
It was just that her mother had too many concerns weighing on her mind.
Seeing her mother’s troubled expression, Jiang Meilan closed her eyes briefly, “I can give up the room, but I have conditions.”
“Go on.”
“First, the room must be kept exactly as it is. Second, no matter when Meishu and I come home, we must be able to stay in our own room.”
“Mom, Eldest Sister-in-law, I’m not discussing this with you—I’m informing you. If you can’t even agree to this, then Meishu and I might as well consider ourselves without a parents’ home.”
There were some things her younger sister couldn’t do.
But she could.
There were some people her younger sister couldn’t afford to offend.
But she could.
Jiang Meilan had lived two lifetimes, and what she cared least about was face.
To pursue her interests, she could be shameless.
She could even choose to threaten her own family.
Indeed.
As soon as Jiang Meilan’s words fell, the room instantly fell silent.
“Meilan, why must it come to this?” Wang Limei’s eyes reddened. “We are family.”
Jiang Meilan said, “No.”
She looked up at her mother. “A home without even a bed—is that still a home for Meishu and me?”
That wasn’t a home.
Even a guesthouse would have beds, but this home didn’t.
Once everything was laid bare on the table, those fragile family bonds began to tremble precariously.
Wang Limei remained silent for a long time. “I promise you.”
“This home will always have a place for you and Meishu.”
Hearing this, Jiang Meilan felt no joy—only sorrow.
Such was the fate of a daughter.
A daughter in a family with multiple children.
Even something as basic as a bed, she had to fight for.
Because without fighting, they wouldn’t even have that one bed.
State-Owned Restaurant.
Liang Qiurun arrived very early. It was the first time since joining the Meatpacking Factory that he hadn’t gone to work on time.
Instead, at half past seven, he directly brought all the urgent documents from his office to the State-Owned Restaurant.
Liang Qiurun handled the paperwork while he waited.
It wasn’t until half past eight.
That Jiang Meishu finally arrived, unhurried. She glanced at the sign reading “State-Owned Restaurant” outside before entering.
It was still morning, and the State-Owned Restaurant was quite crowded.
But Jiang Meishu spotted Liang Qiurun immediately among the crowd.
He wore a white shirt under a navy blue overcoat, head bowed as he worked on the documents, his features clean and gentle.
“Factory Director Liang.”