Chapter 20: Don't Compete With Me Over My Partner
Jiang Yu sat in the returning car with a cold face; the earlier sense of coldness in her heart had now turned into anger.
Even if she were just a pet cat or dog, after being raised for so many years, it shouldn't be so easy to just throw her away.
What's ridiculous is that this daughter was treated worse than a pet.
She took a deep breath, staring at the harsh sunlight outside, biting her lip tightly as tears began to well up in her eyes.
Her chest swelled with grievance and anger, the emotions pressing against each other, almost tearing her apart.
She was often moved by the slightest kindness from others, because she had never experienced favoritism.
Yet, when someone truly showed her preference, she felt apprehensive.
The affection from her great-aunt always left her feeling apologetic, thinking she didn't deserve such kindness.
Returning to the city, Jiang Yu composed herself because life had to go on.
Instead of going home, she headed to the large courtyard house.
Having been there a few times, she was familiar with the place, greeting everyone with a smile.
Xu Lihua, with her keen eyesight, immediately spotted her.
"Jiang Yu, your sister isn't home. I saw her leave."
Jiang Yu replied with a smile, "I know, she went back to her parents' home. I met her at my place."
"Oh, so she's back to her parents' home again?" Xu Lihua said this for Lin Hongxia's benefit.
Jiang Yu noticed Lin Hongxia's expression growing darker, visibly displeased.
She walked over with a smile, "Auntie, my mom asked me to thank you."
Lin Hongxia looked confused, "Thank me for what?"
Jiang Yu tilted her head, feigning innocence.
"Didn't you let my sister bring a piece of meat home? My brother hasn't eaten meat for a long time. My mom was extremely happy."
Lin Hongxia's face turned as dark as a thundercloud.
She hadn't even bought meat for herself, and now it was taken to Jiang Ting's family!
Just after getting married, she already knew how to take from her husband's family to support her birth family.
Well, this was really something!
With her goal achieved, Jiang Yu felt relieved and left.
As she turned around, she met He Tingyue's icy stare.
Jiang Yu's smile froze on her lips, as if every time she did something mischievous, he would catch her.
She bit her lip, feeling a twinge of guilt.
But she was in the right; Jiang Ting had provoked her first.
Jiang Yu averted her gaze, bowed her head slightly, and quickly left the compound.
He Feiyan passed by her and glanced back, impressed by her remarkable beauty.
"Big brother, I just saw a really pretty comrade. Is she visiting our compound? Who is she related to?"
He Tingyue's expression remained calm. "Don't know."
He Feiyan frowned. "Do ask around for me."
"What do you need to know for?" he countered lightly.
He Feiyan stuck out her tongue and didn't dare say more.
"Fine, I won't ask, but I'll find out myself!"
As luck would have it, later that afternoon, she saw Jiang Yu again at the supply cooperative.
Jiang Yu had come to the supply cooperative looking for Xie Feifei.
She first told Xie Feifei about her parents' plan for an arranged marriage, without noticing that He Feiyan was listening in.
Xie Feifei was outraged. "What era is this? How can there still be such parents?!"
Being an only child, Xie Feifei had never experienced favoritism or gender preference, so she couldn't understand the mindset of Wang Meili and Jiang Yonghua.
Jiang Yu held her hand, her face full of worry.
"I'm not hiding it from you. I came to the city to escape my parents and marry someone from the city."
Xie Feifei nodded heavily. "I understand. I'll help you keep an eye out."
Jiang Yu shook her head and lowered her eyelids.
"But I've found it's really difficult to find a suitable man. I can only stay in the city for two months at most, and then I'll have to go back. My parents will inevitably try to sell me off. So I'm asking you to help me look for a job. Any job will do, as long as it lets me stay."
She had discussed this with Yao Xiangling, who said she would help buy a job within her means.
Jiang Yu thought she could write an IOU and repay it monthly.
Xie Feifei, of course, couldn't help directly, but she could ask her parents.
"Jiang Yu, don't worry. I'll ask my parents when I get home and definitely keep an eye out for you."
Jiang Yu held her forehead. "I'm just grasping at straws, hoping something works. Finding a job isn't easy. If nothing works out, I'll consult a matchmaker to see if there's a suitable match."
Xie Feifei nodded. "Try both approaches. If a job doesn't work out, a match will suffice."
After thanking Xie Feifei, Jiang Yu turned her head and saw Zhao Qing.
Without a word, Zhao Qing rushed to Xie Feifei, crying.
Her delicate appearance drew sympathy and curiosity.
Before Xie Feifei could react, Zhao Qing had already grabbed her hand.
"You're Comrade Xie Feifei, right?"
Xie Feifei was stunned for a moment, then nodded, suddenly realizing that the woman looked somewhat familiar.
Zhao Qing, sniffling, pleaded, "I beg you, don't compete with me for my partner, okay?"
Her shocking words caused a hush to fall over the crowd, and everyone turned to look at them.
Wow, two women are fighting over a partner?
Xie Feifei quickly regained her composure and pulled her hand back.
"Are you out of your mind? I don't even know you!"
Zhao Qing quickly replied, "My partner is Sun Zailiang, a machine repair worker at the Second State Cotton Mill. I heard he gave you a red scarf. I truly care for him, please don't compete with me for him, okay? You're so much better than this situation, you'll definitely find someone better!"
Xie Feifei was so angry that her face turned red. Zhao Qing's words made it sound like she was the third party.
"I have nothing to do with Sun Zailiang! He did indeed give me a red scarf, but he never told me he already had a partner. If what you say is true, I'm not that desperate. If he had told me he had a partner, I wouldn't have paid him any attention!"
Zhao Qing, with tears in her eyes, accused, "Then why did you accept his red scarf as a gift? How far have you gone?"
Xie Feifei, both angry and amused, reached out to grab Zhao Qing.
"There's nothing between us. If you don't believe me, let's go to the Second State Cotton Mill and confront Sun Zailiang face-to-face!"
Zhao Qing evaded her hand and ran for the door, having no intention of confronting him.
Jiang Yu, with her quick reflexes, grabbed Zhao Qing.
"You're not running away! This matter hasn't been clarified yet. If you leave like this, who will take responsibility for Xie Feifei's damaged reputation? Everyone now thinks Xie Feifei took your partner. You know how important a woman's reputation is, right? This matter must be cleared up!"
Zhao Qing panicked. She only wanted to teach Xie Feifei a lesson and hadn't thought about confronting Sun Zailiang. If she made him unhappy, he might abandon her right away.
"If she says there's nothing, then there's nothing. I'm in a hurry to go to work, I'll talk about it later."
Jiang Yu sneered and held onto her tightly.
"Since you're heading to the Second State Cotton Mill for work, let's all go together and confront Sun Zailiang! Feifei, let's go!"