Xu Qingqing, propelled by her hurried thoughts and reckless stride, collided with Secretary Yang, who was standing still, wiping sweat from his brow. A wave of anger surged through her, and she opened her mouth to unleash a torrent of expletives. But her words caught in her throat as she looked up. Before her stood a man in impeccably tailored clothes, adorned with glasses – an aura of urban sophistication clinging to him. Her anger evaporated instantly, replaced by a flicker of doubt and curiosity. “You’re not from our village, are you? Did you come to find someone? Who are you looking for? I’m from Xujia Village; I can help you.”
Secretary Yang, observing Xu Qingqing’s resemblance to the Xu family, surmised she was a relative. He graciously overlooked her initial outburst. With a polite smile and a calm demeanor, he replied, “No need, I’ve already spoken with Captain Xu. I apologize for bumping into you just now. I have another matter to attend to, so I’ll be leaving.” Before Xu Qingqing could fully process his words, Secretary Yang had already reached his car and driven away.
As the car disappeared into the distance, a sudden realization dawned on Xu Qingqing: the man she’d just encountered was the textile factory director’s secretary! But weren’t secretaries supposed to be older, distinguished men? This man looked to be in his early twenties, roughly her own age. The memory of his face, gentle and refined, brought a blush to her cheeks, and a look of infatuation bloomed on her face. He possessed the same polite, scholarly aura as Dong Wenzhong, yet he was far more appealing.
The most crucial detail, of course, was his position: the factory director’s secretary. His monthly salary must be substantial. And his politeness! She had practically cursed at him, yet he had remained so courteous. Could he possibly be interested in her? The thought sent a jolt of heat through Xu Qingqing. If she were with the factory director’s secretary, imagine the social standing she would achieve! Xu Qingqing began to daydream, picturing herself as a sophisticated city dweller, indulging in meat every day and shopping for clothes at leisure.
“Xu Qingqing, are you ill? Why are you laughing so hysterically?” Xu Jingjing’s sharp voice cut through Xu Qingqing’s reverie. Xu Jingjing harbored no patience for her cousin, who, despite her lack of talent, possessed an inflated sense of ego and an unending stream of unrealistic ambitions. From childhood, their interactions had been marked by incessant bickering.
“I want you to mind your own business!” Xu Qingqing retorted, then quickly pivoted to deliver a veiled jab. “By the way, Cousin, Dong Wenzhong and I are getting married after the Chinese New Year! You and Yingying absolutely must come then! Although Yingying was quite fond of Wenzhong and did some rather foolish things, it’s alright; I don’t mind. Oh, Cousin, you won’t be angry that I’m getting married earlier than you, will you? Sorry!” Xu Qingqing feigned apology, covering her mouth with her hand, but her eyes glittered with naked ridicule. Even if Xu Ying was wildly popular now, so what? Everyone in the village knew she had been head-over-heels for Dong Wenzhong, yet he had chosen Xu Qingqing instead. This proved, in Xu Qingqing’s mind, that she was superior to Xu Ying. While subtly putting down Xu Ying, Xu Qingqing didn’t forget to jab at her cousin, Xu Jingjing, who had been on countless unsuccessful blind dates since last year and still lacked a boyfriend. If she waited a few more years, she’d become an “old maid,” unable to marry!
Xu Jingjing, stung by the direct hit, trembled with rage. “You’re the only one who likes to pick up scraps!” she spat back. “Dong Wenzhong is something my sister discarded, and I never expected you to pick him up instead! You don’t mind admitting it, do you? Dong Wenzhong is an educated youth sent to the countryside, and who knows when he’ll ever return to the city? He can’t even lift a shoulder or pick up a hand. From now on, you’ll be burdened with a pauper! Our Yingying is going to marry a city man and live a wonderful life!”
“You—Xu Jingjing, you’re an old maid who can’t get married!” Xu Qingqing shrieked, hitting a raw nerve. Xu Jingjing, infuriated by the insult, let out a scream and lunged at Xu Qingqing. “Ah, you lunatic! You’re an old maid! You can’t get married!”
“You’re just an old maid, no one wants you! Otherwise, why haven’t you gotten married after so many blind dates?” Xu Qingqing taunted, specializing in hurtful words.
Xu Jingjing could take no more. Taller and stronger than Xu Qingqing, she swiftly pinned her down, her fingers raking across Xu Qingqing’s face. “I’ll make you shut your filthy mouth! Spit out that garbage!”
“Cousin, let us help you!” Xu Bai rushed over, his voice loud, followed closely by Xu Xue. One grabbed Xu Qingqing’s legs, the other her arm, effectively immobilizing her. Xu Jingjing then slapped Xu Qingqing across the face. “Who’s the old maid and who can’t get married now?”
Xu Qingqing was battered, her nose bruised, her face swollen, whimpering in pain.
Secretary Yang, who had decided to return to Xujiacun, remembering there was a phone there, and wanting another glimpse of the girl, drove back just in time to witness this brutal scene. The sight made his legs weak with fright.
“It’s me, it’s me, I was wrong, Cousin, please let me go, wuwuwu~” Xu Qingqing wailed, her pleas punctuated by sobs. Had she known Xu Jingjing was capable of such ferocity, she would never have provoked her.
Xu Jingjing, thoroughly satisfied, clapped her hands and stood up from Xu Qingqing. Looking up, she spotted Secretary Yang standing nearby. A flicker of guilt, for no apparent reason, crossed her face, but she quickly adopted a righteous demeanor. “Look at her! This is my family’s sister; she’s ignorant, so I’m just educating her.”
Secretary Yang nodded mutely.
Xu Qingqing, seeing the man from earlier, immediately believed he was her savior. She scrambled up from the ground, whimpering and stumbling weakly towards Secretary Yang. “Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuu, it wasn’t her who said that! I completely ignored her, and she brought her sister to beat me together, woo woo woo~”
Xu Qingqing expected sympathy, but she was unaware that Secretary Yang’s heart had already been captured by Xu Jingjing. Beauty, indeed, was in the eye of the beholder, and because he admired Xu Jingjing, he instinctively believed Xu Jingjing must have had a justifiable reason for the beating. He felt no sympathy for Xu Qingqing. Instead, he summoned his courage, his face flushed, and walked directly towards Xu Jingjing. “Hello, my name is Yang Jun. I work in a textile factory. Can we get to know each other?”
Xu Qingqing stared, utterly dumbfounded, a wave of raw jealousy contorting her features.
Xu Jingjing, too, was momentarily stunned, but quickly regained her composure. A hint of nervousness surfaced. It couldn’t be what she thought, could it? This person liked her after seeing her just once? “Bah, bah, bah, Xu Jingjing, why are you so narcissistic?” she chastised herself mentally, shaking her head to clear her thoughts. Seeing the man’s politeness, a faint smile graced her lips. “My name is Xu Jingjing. Didn’t you just find my uncle? What are you doing here now?”
Secretary Yang, remembering his actual purpose, quickly explained, “I wanted to ask you for the phone number of your Xujiacun workshop. If anything happens at the factory, I can call you directly.” There was only one phone in Xujia Village, and its installation had been a sensation. Everyone knew its number by heart.
Xu Jingjing promptly recited the phone number.
Secretary Yang lingered for a long moment, then, timidly, asked, “Do you… do you have any partner ?”
Xu Jingjing shook her head. Seeing this, Secretary Yang’s face lit up with excited joy. He turned and drove away, like a happy man.