Qin Xiang answered whatever Huang Ru asked. Her answers were skillfully worded; she didn't directly say Jiang Yue was a capitalist's daughter, but the implication was clear. Qin Xiang appeared to be siding with Jiang Yue, but in reality, she made Huang Ru believe that Jiang Yue was a habitual liar who even framed her classmates...

"I'll go ask the performing arts troupe for you tomorrow. I heard they're still recruiting."

Qin Xiang looked up excitedly, her eyes filled with disbelief.

"Auntie, are they really still hiring?"

“Of course, my niece is in the performing arts troupe too,” Huang Ru said with a hint of pride. She glanced at Qin Xiang and asked, “What are your skills?”

Qin Xiang answered somewhat guiltily after hearing Huang Ru's words.

"I can dance and sing a little."

Upon hearing Qin Xiang's words, Huang Ru glanced at Qin Xiang a few more times. Just as Qin Xiang was starting to lose her composure, Huang Ru spoke up.

"Sing a few lines or dance a short piece for me."

Qin Xiang immediately stood up, sang a song about returning from target practice, and then danced.

The song and dance that Qin Xiang learned were both taught to her by Jiang Yue.

Huang Ru looked at Qin Xiang. The singing was alright, but the dancing was so weak and feeble, as if she had no foundation at all.

"I learned all of this by watching others dance. I will definitely work hard whenever I have the chance..."

Huang Ru nodded.

After lunch, Jiang Yue took a nap. When she woke up, she planned to hang up all the salted pork and beef with iron hooks.

Jiang Yue went to find some wire, as it's quite difficult to find these days.

What are you doing?

Qin An saw Jiang Yue put the things on the old table and use pliers to bend the wires into hooks.

"Skewer the meat and hang it to dry."

Qin An looked at Jiang Yue, and when she saw Jiang Yue staring at her, she immediately understood what Jiang Yue meant.

She pursed her lips and walked in with a cold expression.

Jiang Yue picked up a piece of meat and hung it on the bamboo pole used for drying clothes.

Jiang Yue continued working, and Qin An hung all the skewered meat that Jiang Yue had prepared on the bamboo pole.

Just as she was finishing up, Qin Xiang came in.

"Jiang Yue."

Jiang Yue raised her head and looked at Qin Xiang.

Qin Xiang glanced at Qin An and asked with some displeasure.

"who is she?"

Qin Xiang sized up Qin An, noticing his trendy sweater and jeans from the department store, and felt a surge of jealousy. Could it be that in the two weeks she'd been away, Jiang Yue had made a new friend? Or had Jiang Yue been deceived by this woman, hence her coldness towards her?

Could it be that this woman stole my job in the performing arts troupe?

"Jiang Yue, I'm your best friend. Don't believe what others say; they're all after your money. Only I am truly sincere towards you..."

Before Qin Xiang could finish speaking, Qin An burst out laughing.

Qin Xiang looked at Qin An, and seeing the mocking look on his face, her expression turned red and then white. This woman in front of her seemed like someone not to be trifled with. It seemed this woman had been targeting her all day.

“We called your family when you went missing. Now that you’re alright, go call them back,” Jiang Yue reminded her.

Qin Xiang's expression changed drastically when she heard Jiang Yue mention her home.

What did you say to them?

How could Jiang Yue be so cruel? She actually called her family! If her family and the neighbors found out she was missing, her reputation would be ruined...