“At least Xiao Tingshen and Chen Meili are innocent and have nothing to do with each other now. It’s different for Zhao Jingyu and Luo Yao. They are childhood sweethearts and grew up together.” Tang Wenya understood what the system meant. Only by gaining the upper hand in her game with Xu Qingning could she regain the protagonist’s luck.

System: "Master, keep this pace, keep roasting her until she can't speak, and you'll win."

"So what if we were childhood sweethearts? You and Xiao Tingshen weren't childhood sweethearts either, but you still got married." Xu Qingning put her toothbrush cup on the cement table, took out a towel to wash her face, and said lightly, "Before Xiao Tingshen's birthday, Zhao Jingyu and I were completely innocent. If it weren't for you, he and I would never be together. So nothing is absolute. Sister, I'm just kindly reminding you, don't let a wolf into your house without realizing it."

System: "Host, she's trying to sow discord between you and Chen Meili. Don't follow her lead."

"Thank you for the reminder, sister. Just mind your own business; you don't need to worry about mine." Tang Wenya, of course, didn't believe Xu Qingning's words and said coldly, "Don't think you can sow discord between me and Chen Meili with just a few words. Xu Qingning, can you please change your habit of sowing discord?"

"Sister, I should be the one saying that to you. Aren't you trying to sow discord between me and Luo Yao?" Xu Qingning's tone was even colder. "We both know who is sowing discord between us. As long as you don't cause any trouble, I think we can get along on the surface."

If she were the female lead in this book, she wouldn't be so aggressive as to plot against the female supporting character.

This is a historical fiction, not a palace intrigue or family feud. There's no need for a life-or-death struggle. Wouldn't it be better if everyone could reach the finale peacefully?

Just as Tang Wenya was about to say something, she saw Xiao Tingshen walk over with a washbasin in his hand: "Wenya, why have you been washing your face for so long?"

As I got closer, I realized that Xu Qingning was also there. Just as I was about to greet her, Xu Qingning had already taken the washbasin and led the two boys away.

"I'm almost done." Tang Wenya smiled at him. "Take your time washing, I'm going back to my room."

The system wailed, "Host, we haven't been able to turn this round around!"

"There's plenty of time, what's the rush?" Tang Wenya carried the washbasin into the house. "No matter what Xu Qingning does, she can't get close to Chen Meili, but I can get close to Luo Yao. Didn't you say Luo Yao is staying at the Wujiaohua Guesthouse? Tomorrow I'll have Chen Meili move there for a couple of days. Chen Meili will have more than enough time to win over Luo Yao."

"That's good." The system finally had confidence in its host.

To confirm her suspicions, after returning home, Xu Qingning went to her room and said to the air, "Brother-in-law, come to my house at seven o'clock tomorrow morning. I'll tell you a secret. Don't be late."

If the system can find her, it will definitely tell Tang Wenya.

Tang Wenya would absolutely not remain indifferent.

As it turned out, the system did not detect her activity.

Two days have passed, and Tang Wenya has not come to cause trouble, nor has she mentioned the matter when she met her.

Xu Qingning finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Finally, we got rid of Tang Wenya's lousy system. Otherwise, it would have been just as annoying as having a surveillance camera installed in her bedroom.

Liu Yuzhen's cheongsam was for summer, and Xu Qingning had rushed to design and create the pattern for her. After Liu Yuzhen had it made at the tailor shop, she had already worn it for several days.

Fang Meiyuan and Du Juan wore these two cheongsams for National Day. Xu Qingning didn't slack off either. After finishing Liu Yuzhen's, she started designing theirs. She spent a month making patterns and templates for them.

The two were very satisfied.

They even consulted Xu Qingning about what fabric to buy. Xu Qingning suggested that the two of them buy solid-color velvet fabric to make cheongsams, and even found a fashion magazine for them to look at: "Although this velvet fabric is a bit expensive, it is soft to the touch, thick, wrinkle-resistant, and slightly elastic, making it perfect for cheongsams."

Fang Meiyuan and Du Juan come from well-off families and can afford velvet fabric.

Xu Qingning wouldn't have given this advice to anyone else.

“Okay, then let’s go to the department store to buy this kind of fabric.” Fang Meiyuan has a dress made of velvet, and she thinks the quality is quite good.

“Yes, I like this fabric too.” Du Juan had even thought about the color. “I remember the department store had a dark red velvet fabric that I really liked.”

“Dark red is a dark color, which suits Teacher Du very well.” Xu Qingning agreed. Considering practicality, she designed long sleeves for both of them and added a shawl. Walking on the street, they would definitely turn heads.

Fang Meiyuan doesn't like dark colors; she prefers bright colors. But she still asked Xu Qingning, "What do you think of me wearing green?"

“Sure.” Xu Qingning guessed Fang Meiyuan’s preferences. “Everyone has their own taste when it comes to clothes and hats. Just do what you like.”

The two sat for a while before heading to the department store to buy fabric, saying they would come back to show Xu Qingning the finished garments.

Xu Qingning got up to see them off, but Du Juan stopped her as soon as she stood up. Du Juan looked at Xu Qingning's belly in surprise and said, "Oh my, we haven't seen you for only a month and you're already showing. You should rest and don't need to see us off."

"Yes, isn't she more than five months pregnant?" Fang Meiyuan then noticed that Xu Qingning's belly was already slightly protruding, and she looked exactly like a pregnant woman.

"It's okay, I go for walks regularly." Xu Qingning felt a little embarrassed by the two people staring at her. She had noticed that the baby was growing particularly fast, especially this month.

For this reason, she even made several pairs of maternity pants for herself, and even prepared clothes for her postpartum period.

Xu Qingning still escorted the two to the gate. Yang Yuelan chased after them and shared some of the beef jerky that Wu Yong had brought last time with them.

The two were very happy and said they would come to see them whenever they had time, and told Xu Qingning to take good care of herself during her pregnancy and to let them know if she needed anything.

Xu Qingning actually made a request to them: "If there are any job openings, please let me know. I have a niece who is unemployed at home, and I would like to find her a job nearby."

Wu Yong said last time that he was going to the south, but he hasn't set off yet. Wang Yaqiang said that he was waiting for a friend to go with him.

They also said that Luo Yao paints at the guesthouse every day, that she doesn't want to go back to the Northwest for the time being, and that she wants to find a job in Jiaodong City.

If Xu Qingning had any ulterior motives in finding Luo Yao a job, the answer is that she wanted to expand on the hidden storyline.

Especially for characters like Luo Yao, who are only briefly mentioned, there are many surprises hidden in the plot.

You might as well use the favors you receive.

Friendships are about give and take; I ask you for help, and you ask me for help. Only relationships that involve interaction are truly useful.

It's well worth doing a favor to get a surprise in the hidden storyline!

"Don't worry, I'll let you know when there are more openings." Fang Meiyuan agreed first. She looked at Du Juan and said, "There are few female positions in our ocean shipping company. We have to wait for opportunities. Currently, only the canteen, the bookstore, and the guesthouse need women. A few days ago, Director Gao arranged for Tang Wenya and a female educated youth to work as librarians in the bookstore."

“I know about this. My husband only gave them two spots because of Xiao Tingshen.” Du Juan then asked Xu Qingning, “What is your niece’s educational background? If she has completed high school, she can come to our school to teach. I can help introduce her, but it’s summer vacation now, so she has to wait until September when school starts.”

"Okay, I'll ask her when I have time." Xu Qingning really didn't know what Luo Yao's educational background was, or whether she would be willing to teach at a school.

As expected, Chen Meili moved into the Wujiaohua Guesthouse and met Luo Yao the very next day.

Luo Yao is very naive and has a good impression of the energetic Chen Meili, especially interested in her life in the countryside.

Chen Meili never mentioned Tang Wenya or Xu Qingning. Every day after get off work, she would go to talk to Luo Yao. When she had free time, she would take her shopping, to department stores, and to the staff bookstore to read books.

The two became acquainted in less than a week.

Thank you YANchUN for the monthly pass.

?

First update.