Using someone else's name to intimidate others—that's all something Gu An'an taught her. Seeing the woman's unpleasant expression, Wang Xiaojuan immediately straightened her back.

The Queen Mother hadn't expected this rustic-looking girl to be so sharp-tongued, and instinctively softened for a few seconds, saying, "Don't talk nonsense! My ancestors were poor peasants for eight generations, and I will absolutely obey the organization's arrangements."

"Really? Then why did you slander Gu An'an, a good comrade, without even distinguishing right from wrong?"

Wang Xiaojuan was not intimidated at all, and Wang's mother also came to her senses. In her opinion, Gu An'an was just a brat. Let alone going to the countryside, she might not have much of a future even in a big city.

"Just because you say it's an organizational arrangement doesn't mean it is! Anyone can talk big, right? You're just a brat showing off."

She, as his mother, knew all too well how hard her eldest son had suffered over the years. If there were more opportunities in the countryside, her son would have returned long ago, and it wouldn't have been Gu An'an's turn.

Wang Xiaojuan wanted to say something more, but Gu An'an stopped her, saying, "You have to be careful who you argue with. Arguing with someone who's unreasonable is just a waste of time. We don't have that much time to waste here."

Wang Xiaojuan immediately nodded, "Sister An'an is right."

Then Gu An'an took out a letter of introduction from her pocket and placed it in the hand of an old woman, "Grandma Cheng, please see if I've been exaggerating?"

The woman called Grandma Cheng was one of the few people her age who had received an education. She used to be a key technical worker in the factory and was quite authoritative in the courtyard.

"Gu An'an, Sales Manager of Xiaowang Village Economic Cooperative..."

When you're out in the world, you give yourself your identity, but others don't know it. When they heard that Gu An'an went to the countryside and even "became an official," they were all incredibly surprised and kept asking what happened.

Gu An'an certainly wouldn't answer truthfully; a mix of truth and ambiguity would be the best strategy.

After she had completely fooled everyone, Gu An'an then suggested leaving.

"Then I'll be going now. When I went to the countryside, Uncle Li and Aunt Li prepared bedding and food for me. They treated me like their own daughter. If they knew I was coming back and they didn't come to visit me right away, they would definitely blame me."

Who else could be called Uncle Li or Aunt Li by Gu An'an but Factory Director Li?

Most people just felt envious, but Wang Xinghua's mother started causing trouble again, "What are you taking? It's not that, is it?"

Gu An'an looked at him with a leisurely gaze, having already anticipated the possible situation. She simply put down the bag, opened it, and said, "Look for yourself! I got all of this myself on the mountain. Is it considered a gift if my own niece brings some local specialties from the countryside? It seems Aunt Wang's family probably doesn't have any relatives."

Gu An'an shook her head, her expression somewhat indescribable, and then left.

"Xinghua's mom, why do you always pick on that girl An'an?"

"What else could it be? Jealousy, of course. Xinghua used every trick in the book to avoid going to the countryside."

The woman who spoke winked, and everyone immediately exchanged knowing smiles. Only the Queen Mother was the most annoyed. "Who's jealous of her? Why would I be jealous of her?"

Unable to stay any longer, the Queen Mother could only reluctantly take the vegetables home with a dark expression.

Wang Xinghua is currently on a hunger strike, but she's not really starving herself. She just wants to use this method to force her family not to let her go to the countryside. Every day, she sneaks out of the house when no one is home and gets something to eat, and today is no exception.

In the past, Wang's mother would always chat downstairs for half an hour before going upstairs, but today, because of Gu An'an's influence, she couldn't stay for more than ten minutes.

When the door opened, Wang Xiaojuan was rummaging through her parents' boxes in their room. She had no time to hide and was caught red-handed.

"You brat, what are you doing in my room?"

Wang's mother grabbed a broom from behind the door and tried to hit Wang Xinghua with it, but Wang Xinghua was so frightened that she covered her head and dodged wildly, crying, "Mom, Mom, don't hit me, I'm just hungry."

The Queen Mother stepped forward and rummaged through the chest. Half of the sesame candy she had specially saved for the New Year was gone. She immediately knew who had done it.

"I'll beat you to death, you thief! You steal things from your own house! Who do you take after?!"

"You dare to threaten me with a hunger strike? I think you want to die."

Unable to bear the beating any longer, Wang Xinghua knelt down and grabbed her mother's trouser leg tightly with both hands. "Mom, Mom, I just don't want to go to the countryside. I'll do anything as long as you don't make me go."

The Queen Mother hit her several times until she felt tired and then stopped.

“What’s wrong with going to the countryside? Gu An’an has only been in the countryside for a few months, and now she’s not only gained weight but also gotten fairer skin. Not only that, she even got a minor official position. If she can do it, why can’t you?”

Wang Xinghua had no idea what was happening downstairs and thought her mother was having hysteria. "Mom, what nonsense are you talking about? She's still suffering in the countryside. She must be even darker, thinner, and uglier. How could she become fair and plump? Those people from the neighborhood committee must be lying to you on purpose. They just want you to send me to the countryside."

Wang Xinghua felt an intense hatred for those people from the neighborhood committee who frequently came to her door to do ideological work.

"Lies? In your eyes, am I that easily fooled?"

Wang Xinghua quickly shook her head, afraid that if she was too late, her mother would pick up a broom and continue to beat her.

“I just saw it with my own eyes. That brat is back, holding a letter of introduction. She’s now the sales manager for agricultural products in the village she went to.”

"impossible!"

Without hesitation, Wang Xinghua said, "Sales manager? Why? She must have done something shady to get the chance to come back."

It has to be said that they are indeed mother and daughter, their thought processes are exactly the same.

"Why? I want to know why too. Other people's children are so capable, but I gave birth to you, this wretched thing. All you do is stay at home and annoy me all day. I'm warning you, I'm going to register you for this job tomorrow. You have to go to this rural area whether you like it or not. There's no room for discussion."

She ripped Wang Xinghua away, and Wang's mother carefully packed away the things, then locked the boxes and the door. In the end, she was still not satisfied, saying, "The things you stole and ate will be deducted from your rural allowance."

Wang Xinghua was no longer concerned about arguing with her mother; all she could think about was the news of Gu An'an's return. "Mom, where is Gu An'an?"

"Where else could he have gone? To the factory manager to flatter him, of course. He took several bags of stuff. Wang Xinghua, let me tell you, when you get to the countryside, hide away and stock up on some stuff to send back, understand?"

Wang Xinghua certainly didn't hear it, because she had already rushed out of the house. Of course, she didn't dare to go directly to Director Li's house.

"Knock knock knock".

Gu An'an didn't send a telegram before returning, mainly because she didn't want to trouble the couple. So, seeing Gu An'an standing at the door now, her joy was beyond words.

"Old Li, Old Li, come out quickly and see who's here."