"People from my hometown." Cai Hechuan spotted the two of them but didn’t want to greet them. However, he was currently with Guan Jiexia, and if he behaved evasively, she would definitely suspect something, and he would have to spend effort appeasing her. If he greeted them proactively and was mocked, he could find an excuse to brush it off.
After weighing the pros and cons, he stepped forward and said calmly, "What are you doing here? Yu Xiu, aren’t you teaching anymore?" He had recently received a letter from his mother, which mentioned that Yu Xiu had lodged a plaint against her, blaming her for Yu Xiu’s inability to find a partner.
In the end, she was ordered to apologize to Yu Xiu in public, and the matter was dropped.
He now didn’t know whether to believe his mother’s words or not.
After a pause, he added, "This is my partner, Guan Jiexia." He then introduced Li Qiao and Yu Xiu to Guan Jiexia, emphasizing that Li Qiao had entered Beijing University as the Top Scholar.
Guan Jiexia scrutinized Li Qiao, "A few days ago, I read an article in the newspaper about a Li Qiao from Beijing University who joined the criminal investigation team to investigate three murder cases that recently occurred. In just one day, he cracked the case and helped the team catch the criminal. Later, the newspaper was changed to say a student from Beijing University, but the content was roughly the same. Was that student you?"
At that moment, Yu Xiu also realized why Li Qiao had bee famous.
She had originally thought that Li Qiao had gained fame through his studies, unexpectedly it was through participating in a murder investigation.
Impressive.
Cai Hechuan was also taken aback.
He had read related newspapers, but they did not specifically mention Li Qiao. It was a surprise that an earlier edition had. "Why are the two newspapers different?"
Guan Jiexia was curious as well.
Li Qiao observed Guan Jiexia covertly. Her appearance was ordinary, and although she was a bit overweight, her face was not fleshy. Her cheekbones protruded slightly, resembling Yu Feng in facial features. She looked fierce. "It was me, because I didn’t want to bee famous. My partner got someone to change the newspaper content." She deliberately bragged about Qin Jin’s ability.
"Gaining such a reputation is a good thing. It can be beneficial for future job assignments," Cai Hechuan implied that Qin Jin did not know how to use fame to his advantage. If it were him, he would definitely utilize it to build momentum for his future.
At that moment, Yu Xiu said, "With Li Qiao’s capabilities, securing a good job would be a piece of cake. Not like some people who only chase immediate benefits." She inwardly cursed Cai Hechuan for being short-sighted.
As if he hadn’t heard anything, Cai Hechuan said, "The movie is about to start, we’ll be heading off first."
A smile played on Guan Jiexia’s lips, but her eyes were not smiling, "Goodbye then."
Li Qiao waved to them in response.
After they had left, Yu Xiu said, "I almost couldn’t hold back from scolding that Cai person."
"It’s good that you didn’t," Li Qiao replied.
Yu Xiu, puzzled, "Hm?"
Li Qiao explained, "Based on my understanding of Cai Hechuan, if we had attacked him after he greeted us, he would likely slander us in front of that girl later, perhaps saying we are bitter because of unrequited love or something."
Yu Xiu, breathing rapidly in anger, "How can there be such a person? Would that girl actually believe it?"
Li Qiao said, "With a mother like that, it’s hard for him to be any different. I’m not speaking ill of that girl, but I get the feeling she’s not someone to mess with either." Glancing sideways at people, like Xue Sufen, looking down on others.
"That can’t be."
"I hope I’m wrong," Li Qiao remarked.
.......
After returning home from the cinema, it was already evening.
The neighbor from next door was there, and Li Qiao asked, "Auntie, did you e to borrow a book?"
"No, I talked to my daughter-in-law about taking the qualification exam, but she says her job as a saleswoman is going well, and she doesn’t want the hassle. Sorry to bother you." The neighbor felt somewhat embarrassed. She had remended the exam to her daughter-in-law because it seemed like a good opportunity seeing others attending university, but to her surprise, her daughter-in-law didn’t appreciate it.
And to think she was being nosy.
Li Qiao wanted to say that the prospects for a salesperson weren’t good at all, especially with private restaurants now in business.
Being a salesperson required no special skills; even people without education could do the job.
It was easily replaceable.
It would be better to take advantage of the favorable circumstances and some educational background to advance, and secure a better job later on.
"Are they still looking for people at Qin Jin’s place where they make clothes? I want to introduce a relative of mine from my mother’s side, a niece who just finished junior high and turned seventeen, honest and hardworking. She doesn’t need a salary while learning, and you can pay her whatever you see fit after she’s learned," the neighbor said.
Old Mrs. Qin: "You can bring someone to try it out tomorrow, and if they get the hang of it, we’ll start paying them right away."
"That’s wonderful," the neighbor lady said with a beaming smile.
......
After the lady left, Li Qiao sorted through the dried goods Yu Xiu had brought, preparing to take them on the autumn outing the next day.
She hadn’t realized until she picked them up how heavy the figs were.
Each pack must have weighed at least eight or nine catties.
Grandma’s teeth weren’t good, so she wouldn’t eat them.
Qin Jin wasn’t much for sweets, and she couldn’t finish them all by herself, so she suggested that Yu Xiu take some back. Yu Xiu playfully plained, "I went through so much trouble to get these, and now you’re asking me to take them back? These dried fruits were specially shipped from afar by a teacher, you have to finish them."
Li Qiao: "I just don’t want to waste anything by not finishing it, that’s why I thought of asking you to take half back."
"I’m not taking it, you deal with it."
Li Qiao quietly decided to give half to Nan Chuyi and divide some almonds and persimmon cakes to share with Maimiao and the others.
After separating the portions, she placed them in the cupboard, planning to give them to Yu Xiu and the rest after they left.
Once she finished arranging the snacks for the outing, she chatted with Yu Xiu. When Qin Jin returned in the evening, Yu Xiu went into Grandma’s room.
As Li Qiao was sorting out the tent, she said with worry, "How are we going to carry something so big?"
"Tie it to the back seat of the bike," Qin Jin suggested.
"Ride a bike? Where will I sit?"
"You can sit on the front crossbar, in my arms," Qin Jin teased.
Li Qiao: "... With so many people, that would be so embarrassing, and if you carry me, what about Sister Yu Xiu?"
Qin Jin: "Today on my way home from work, I ran into Xue, and he said he’s joining us tomorrow. Let him take your sister."
Li Qiao had originally thought about introducing them, but Yu Xiu had been avoiding any appearance of impropriety. Would Yu Xiu think she was being nosy if she arranged for Xue to take her? "Maybe I can ride with Xue, and you can take Sister Yu Xiu."
Qin Jin’s expression darkened. "Are you joking?" Let another man take his girlfriend while he took another woman?
He must be sick in the head.
No way would he go for that.
Li Qiao had no other options: "Otherwise, let’s both catch a ride instead."
"Carry the tent and you want to kill me with exhaustion?"
Li Qiao: "....." This won’t work, that won’t work. "Fine then, I’ll do as you say. But there’s something I need to tell you."
Qin Jin thought it might be about the reporter; Liu Er had been free recently and he had him tail Ji Dongming. That jerk was still thinking of suing him for vandalizing the publishing house, raiding his home, anguishing his sick mother, but without evidence, no one would entertain it, and he was hitting a wall trying to find a job.
Earlier today, Liu Er came to him and said that Ji Dongming had been arrested.
Upon inquiring, he found out the school had called the police.
The reason was for intimidating students. Had she been threatened as well?
But all he heard was Li Qiao saying, "I ran into Cai Hechuan today, he’s dating a plump girl."
"What, you want to sabotage it?"
Li Qiao: "I’m not that bored, just gossiping with you." She recounted what had happened.
Qin Jin listened quietly, lacking any desire to ment on Cai Hechuan.
.....
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