“This is what your brother wrote down, the wedding schedule. He’s not very literate, and he’s always afraid people will laugh at his bad handwriting, so he never tries to memorize things. He’s carrying this with him because he’s afraid of forgetting it.”

"How long did you keep this up?"

“The night you came back from Shanghai, he didn’t sleep well all night. I saw him rummaging through drawers and cabinets to find this notebook and start writing.”

"I understand, sister-in-law." Qin Xiaoyu returned the notebook to her fourth sister-in-law.

"You suddenly saying you won't let him do it is a bit......" Sister-in-law Xiao Si still wanted to argue for Qi Si.

"Sister-in-law, I'm so happy, my brother married you." Qin Xiaoyu reached out and hugged her.

Qi Si is no longer someone who needs sympathy; he has everything.

The next day, Qin Xiaoyu spent half the day working at the garment factory, and went to Qi Si's shop for lunch.

Qi Si owned too many shops, and he was always on the move. It wasn't until he reached the sixth shop that he saw his Cherokee parked outside. Ever since he saw A Lei driving a Cherokee, he had gotten one for himself. When A Lei wasn't around, he was the most imposing guy in the city.

"Brother, I'm hungry." Qin Xiaoyu shamelessly approached him, tilting her head and grinning. Qi Si initially kept a straight face, but after staring at her for a while, his eyes reddened.

“Go eat if you’re hungry. When has your brother ever let you go hungry?” he said irritably.

"Brother, eat with me." Qin Xiaoyu grabbed his arm and dragged him into a private room.

"You don't need to tell me. Your brother is sensible now. I won't make a fuss. Let Wang Lei discuss it. Do whatever needs to be done. Just live your life well." Qi Si sighed.

"Brother, I know you want to marry your sister off in a grand and glorious way. Probably no one is looking forward to this day more than you. It's your sister who has let you down."

Looking at Qi Si in front of her, Qin Xiaoyu thought of that night on the first day of the Lunar New Year in 1984, when Qi Si cried like a child in front of her, talking for the first and last time about his sister who had frozen to death in the snow.

"You don't need to say anything, it's alright."

"Brother, something's wrong. Just remember one thing: no matter where I marry from or who I marry, I'll always be your sister."

Qin Xiaoyu knew that Qi Si's inner conflict hadn't been resolved. It wasn't until that evening, when A Lei and Qi Si returned home drunk, arm in arm, that she finally felt at ease.

"My brother-in-law is top-notch! His drinking capacity is amazing!" Qi Si gave a thumbs up.

"Where did you all go drinking? I can't control you anymore. The old folks are drinking, the young ones are drinking, you guys can drink!" Zhou Xing's mother lost her temper.

Startled, Sister-in-law Si grabbed Qi Si and started to run away, while Qin Xiaoyu pulled A Lei along to retreat as well.

"Oh my god, I'm so angry! I can't even say it! You're all protecting her!" Zhou Xing's mother slammed her hand on the table in anger.

"Mom, I'll take him upstairs to sober up," Qin Xiaoyu said with a grin, already at the door.

"Old woman, don't worry about them, just take care of me. I'll listen to you." Commander Zhou's words sent chills down everyone's spines. What kind of logic was this?

"Don't embarrass yourself here," Zhou Xing's mother said coquettishly, her face already red.

The Second Light Industry Bureau notified us that provincial leaders were coming to inspect the area. Qin Xiaoyu had already made arrangements; the rectified Riyue Clothing was now fully professional and ready for inspection at any time.

She just didn't expect that this leader was an old acquaintance; Lu Di's promotion was a bit too fast.

"I'm here today mainly to talk to you about something." Lu Di was still a workaholic. After walking around the factory, he didn't even have time to drink a sip of water before getting to the point.

"Encouraging private leasing and contracting companies?" Qin Xiaoyu glanced at the document and understood immediately; this signaled the official start of enterprise reform.

“I think your model is very good and can be promoted. Let’s set up a presence throughout the province first. Many companies need investment, reform, and new impetus. You can do this; I believe you have the ability. If you have any difficulties, come to me. I will definitely help if I can.”

Lu Di was planning to travel around the entire province, and he earnestly invited Qin Xiaoyu to accompany him, even if it was just to visit one city. Qin Xiaoyu, of course, understood what traveling around with him meant.

He only targets businesses on the verge of bankruptcy that need support. Qin Xiaoyu just casts a wide net, taking in whatever she can, and with policy support, it saves her a lot of trouble. She's starting to have an idea, but she doesn't know if she can convince A Lei.

The wedding is in just over ten days, and it will take her at least three or four days to make this trip.

“Go ahead, I support you.” A Lei’s reaction was not as strong as she had expected.

"Don't you love me anymore?" Qin Xiaoyu suddenly felt wronged.

"What do you mean?" A Lei was completely baffled.

Why aren't you jealous?

"..."

"Shouldn't you be furious, throwing a tantrum and demanding that I take you with me?"

"Okay, you don't need to go!"

"No, you have to support my work!"

"Women are such a hassle." After saying that, A Lei noticed that Qin Xiaoyu's eyes were not right, so he quickly silenced her with a kiss.

A dozen minutes later, Qin Xiaoyu found herself sitting in A Lei's lap, the two of them entwined and incredibly intimate.

"Do you know hypnosis? Did you brainwash me?" Qin Xiaoyu sensed something was wrong and pushed A Lei away.

"If I knew how to brainwash people, would I need to go through all this trouble?" A Lei said, feeling a little aggrieved.

"Don't you think our way of getting along is a bit strange? One moment we're arguing, the next moment we're..." Qin Xiaoyu suddenly remembered Zhou Yue's heartfelt teachings on how to fight in bed and make up at the foot of the bed, and instantly understood.

"Why are you blushing after you finish speaking?" A Lei noticed something was wrong.

"No!" Qin Xiaoyu covered her face with her hands; it was burning hot.

A Lei wasn't about to let her off the hook; he pounced on her and rolled onto the sofa.

"Stop, stop now!" Qin Xiaoyu finally managed to escape, but when she ran out the door, she noticed that everyone was looking at her strangely.

"Girl, you should be more restrained." Zhou Yue, like a big cow nursing her baby, gave her a disdainful look.

"What did I do wrong!" Qin Xiaoyu said, feeling wronged.

"Look at yourself!" Zhou Yue rolled her eyes, and the nanny quickly handed over another chubby boy.

Qin Xiaoyu then saw her reflection in the glass window: her hair was disheveled, her face was flushed with shyness, her eyes were like pools of spring water, and her lips were like cinnabar. It looked as if she had just done something indescribable, which was quite embarrassing.

"Don't bully Xiaoyu, we didn't do anything," A Lei said, trying to smooth things over.

Qin Xiaoyu groaned inwardly, "Oh God, just get married already! Why is she dragging this out?"

Lu Di traveled light, on a private visit, and did not receive any guests from local government agencies. He only brought a driver, a secretary, and Qin Xiaoyu, making a group of four.

The driver, Xiao Lu, was young and a bit mischievous. He was said to be the son of a cadre and not very hardworking. He had a lot of opinions about Lu Di.