Chapter 23 Confrontation You All Look Down on Me
"Who do you think you are? Just because you married into our family's Shixin, does that mean your aunt has to help you?"
"Are you here to get married or to become a rich lady?"
"You have no sense of propriety. Your aunt will laugh at us."
…
Qi's mother said several words. She was very dissatisfied with He Jingxian's performance today, which made He Jingxian seem very ignorant.
He Jingxian stood nearby, feeling aggrieved. She simply wanted to move to a better workplace. Water flows to the lowest places, and people strive for higher positions. Isn't that the norm? He Jingxian didn't think there was anything wrong with her.
"Aren't they all relatives?" He Jingxian muttered softly.
"I didn't say they weren't relatives," Qi's mother said. "They're relatives, so you should know your limits and not speak carelessly. Family ties will eventually wear out. You're already married, so it's time for you to learn some sense. We all know why you married Shixin, and we've all helped you."
"Mom..." He Jingxian felt a little aggrieved. She didn't think she was much worse than Jiang Moli. She and Jiang Moli were classmates and she was older than Jiang Moli, so she felt that she should go to a better unit.
Others have so-called seniors to suppress her, but can't she say that she is someone else's senior?
Yes, He Jingxian cannot be considered Jiang Moli’s senior, but she still wants to go further.
"You just joined your current company and haven't made any achievements yet. How can you compare yourself to others?" Qi's mother said, "Your second aunt gave you some respect and didn't say much about you. If you ask me, you're just daydreaming. After all, I've been working at my current company for a few years. I'm from South City, unlike you."
"Mom, I'll take Jingxian home." Qi Shixin looked at He Jingxian and signaled her not to continue.
Qi Shixin originally wanted He Jingxian to stay here today, but given the current situation, it's better not to let He Jingxian stay here. Qi Shixin was afraid that his own mother would keep talking and that He Jingxian would get angry.
"Go, go, go." Qi's mother said, "I'm not stopping you from going."
After leaving the Qi family, He Jingxian blew some wind and her cheeks felt less hot. She was thinking about what had just happened. Could it really be her fault?
"Second Aunt has already married and has a son and a daughter." Qi Shixin said, "You can ask her to help with small things, but there are some things she really can't help with, so don't make it difficult for Second Aunt."
"I just said that casually." He Jingxian said, "I thought we were family, so there was no need to be so cautious."
"Even family members have to know their limits," Qi Shixin said. "Don't be sad. I'm afraid you don't understand, so I'm telling you this. I treat you as family. Second Aunt is different. When she comes home, she's a guest."
"I..." He Jingxian opened her mouth, not knowing what to say.
"Don't worry, Mom will calm down soon." Qi Shixin said, "I said those things in front of Second Aunt because I didn't want her to say anything bad about you. Second Aunt has helped us enough, and if we push our luck any further, she'll be unhappy. Second Aunt is just a small leader now, not a big one. If Second Aunt is unhappy, she'll say it directly. You'll have to rely on Second Aunt in the future at work."
"Yeah." He Jingxian nodded.
"At work, pay attention and perform well first, don't embarrass Second Aunt." Qi Shixin said, "Don't make things difficult for Second Aunt."
Today, Second Aunt Qi's words clearly meant that He Jingxian had offended a senior, and that senior had also found ways to embarrass Second Aunt Qi. However, Second Aunt Qi didn't directly accuse her of embarrassment. Instead, she urged He Jingxian to keep her feet on the ground. If Second Aunt Qi really had that much ability, she would have directly asked He Jingxian to replace Liang Tong, rather than forcing her to settle for second best.
"Second aunt is right. Someone in your unit is going to be transferred and a role is vacant. This is your chance." Qi Shixin said.
"It's my chance, and it's also everyone else's," He Jingxian said. "There are so many people in the company, and they... who knows if they have connections behind the scenes. They all dislike me. When I eat in the cafeteria, they don't even want to sit with me."
"Don't you still have a graduation performance?" Qi Shixin asked, "Didn't you say before that you wanted to do a good job in it? Then do it well. Once your transfer order comes, you can join this unit directly. We'll get married again, and your household registration can be transferred to South City. Many things will be easy to handle. Later, you can think about whether you can join the Provincial Xiaobaihua. Don't think about it now."
Qi Shixin didn't want to offend his second aunt, but even if he did, they wouldn't be able to get things done.
"It's the only way." He Jingxian felt sad. Jiang Moli was born into a good family. She was a native of Nancheng from the beginning, so Jiang Moli could climb up quickly, while it was so difficult for her to join the Nancheng Drama Troupe.
He Jingxian and Jiang Moli received transfer orders at the same time. Jiang Moli was going to the provincial Xiaobaihua, and the role played by Jiang Moli became vacant. Not only He Jingxian wanted to compete for it, but many people also wanted to compete for it.
Jiang Moli was still scheduled to perform in the several performances she had originally scheduled, and the character previews had already been sent out. If she were to change, they were afraid others would be dissatisfied. Also, the Nancheng Theater Troupe wanted Jiang Moli to sing in those performances before she left for the provincial Xiaobaihua. Jiang Moli performed well and many people liked her. If someone else were to suddenly change, they might not be able to fill in immediately.
At noon, when Zhou Yiran and Jiang Moli were eating in the cafeteria, they were talking about the characters.
"Do you have any ideas?" Jiang Moli asked, "Want to fight for my role?"
"Strive for it? Is that something I can achieve? He Jingxian is eyeing me covetously." Zhou Yiran said, "My ability is a little inferior to hers, so I don't think I can win against her."
"Just give it a try." Jiang Moli said.
"I'm not as capable as her. If I fight for it and get the role, she'll probably say I relied on connections," Zhou Yiran said. "But she got in through connections herself. Many people don't like her, and many don't want her to get a good role right away. If she fights, she may not win over others. Ability is one thing, and connections are another."
"Doesn't this mean you have a great chance?" Jiang Moli felt that Zhou Yiran could give it a try.
"I won't fight for it. I'll just watch them fight," Zhou Yiran said. "You know I just have a job to make a living. I know my limitations, but I don't want others to think I'm relying on my mom to get an important role. If I really fight for it and don't win, it's my own fault. If I win, my mom's reputation will be ruined."
Zhou Yiran thought about it and decided to forget it.
"Are you still considered a person with connections?" Jiang Moli asked.
"Am I a relative of someone like that?" Zhou Yiran asked.
"You passed the exam on your own, so you don't count as someone with connections. However, others think you are someone with connections, but you don't get any benefits from being a person with connections," Jiang Moli sighed.
"It's not that I haven't gained anything, but at least others don't dare to say too much about me." Zhou Yiran said, "They also think that I'm not competitive and think I'm okay."
"..." Jiang Moli thought about it carefully, and it was true. It was precisely because Zhou Yiran was so self-aware that she only did the right things. She would fight for what she could, but she wouldn't fight for what she felt was not right. She also didn't put pressure on others, so naturally, others thought Zhou Yiran was good. "I still remember when I first met you. At that time, we were still very young, and people told me, 'Look, she's Teacher Zhou's daughter.'"
Jiang Moli still remembers what others said at the time. She was young, and hearing those words still frightened her a little. Jiang Moli started learning opera at a young age, and she knew the importance of having a teacher and a family background. She wondered if she was going to be outdone by Zhou Yiran, even if she had the ability. Fortunately, Jiang Moli was young and fearless at the time, so she dared to think boldly about many things.
Fortunately, Zhou Yiran did not snatch the quota from others, nor did she crush others just because she had a powerful mother.
Jiang Moli won first place in that small competition, which made her very happy.
"Yeah, so many people say that." Zhou Yiran shrugged helplessly. "It would be great if I were a genius, but unfortunately I'm not. I'm just average. Not the best, not the worst. I can't surpass my teacher, so I can only be mediocre. Not starving to death, not as good as the best, but better than the worst. That's enough."
Zhou Yiran was easily satisfied and not dissatisfied with her current life. "How are you and Sheng Jiahao?"
"Just date." Jiang Moli said, "I'm not old enough to get married yet, so let's just date. If it's not suitable, we can still break up later."
"Break up? You are so bold. Aren't you afraid that others will make things difficult for you because of him? He is Teacher Lu's son." Zhou Yiran joked.
"Teacher Lu is not that kind of person." Jiang Moli said.
"Why don't you talk about your girlfriend, but Teacher Lu?" Zhou Yiran raised her eyebrows.
"Sheng Jiahao is Teacher Lu's son. He'll more or less listen to what Teacher Lu says," Jiang Moli said. "After breaking up, as long as I don't pester him and don't do anything bad, there shouldn't be any problems. Teacher Lu's son isn't a bad person."
"You are just naive." Zhou Yiran said, "But Teacher Lu is indeed capable. If it were someone else, it might not be the same."
Jiang Moli was about to be transferred, the transfer order had already been issued, and when the time came, Jiang Moli would go. Zhou Yiran wasn't vying for Jiang Moli's current role, but He Jingxian was. Second Aunt Qi told He Jingxian not to compete with Liang Tong, but to let her compete for Jiang Moli's current role. Many people in the troupe were vying for this role, and everyone wanted to get closer.
Some people joined the troupe earlier than He Jingxian, and they practiced the role played by Jiang Moli. Since "Five Daughters Paying Homage to Their Father" was a new play released this year, some people's understanding of it was not much different.
Liang Tong saw He Jingxian vying for another role and not focusing on her. Liang Tong was still unhappy. She and He Jingxian worked in the same unit, and He Jingxian was younger than her. Who knew that one day He Jingxian would compete with her again? And when that happened, she wasn't sure she could out-compete He Jingxian. Liang Tong still wanted to trip up He Jingxian, so she told another competitor that she had more faith in that person.
No matter how these people compete, it has nothing to do with Jiang Moli. Jiang Moli is not a referee, she cannot decide who will play this role.
The troupe decided to hold a competition, bringing together several aspiring performers. They decided to schedule the competition the week after He Jingxian and the others graduated, presumably in late June. Jiang Moli was due to enroll at the provincial Little Hundred Flowers Festival in July, so the timing would be perfect. After the graduation performance, He Jingxian and the others would feel less pressured.
This time was decided by Aunt Qi and other leaders. One leader suggested an earlier date, but Aunt Qi said that He Jingxian had not yet graduated from the school, and those students still had to prepare for the graduation drama. This would affect He Jingxian's performance and would be unfair to other students who were still in school. After Aunt Qi said that, the other leaders of the hospital agreed.
Zhou Yiran did not sign up to participate in the competition, which was something He Jingxian had not expected.
"Second aunt, isn't Zhou Yiran participating?" After seeing the list, He Jingxian asked Second Aunt Qi.
The two people were talking in a corner of the unit. He Jingxian didn't know the people in the unit very well.
"She didn't participate. She's always been quite down-to-earth," said Aunt Qi. "Even though her abilities aren't top-notch, they're not too bad either. She could have gone if she wanted to. She didn't go, and she didn't ask her mother for help. Everyone in the hospital says they did a great job and didn't take anyone else's spot."
Second Aunt Qi deliberately claimed that He Jingxian had been recruited by the South City Theatre Troupe, which meant that there would be one fewer spot. The quotas were fixed, and if someone else joined, there would be fewer spots available. He Jingxian hadn't taken the exam, having been transferred in directly through Second Aunt Qi's connections.
"Did Jiang Moli take someone else's spot?" He Jingxian sometimes wondered if it was Teacher Lu who was helping Jiang Moli.
"No," Aunt Qi Er said, "She took the exam. Before she took the exam, the people from the Provincial Little Hundred Flowers had already taken a fancy to her. She didn't know that and still took the exam. She did very well and ranked first, so the Provincial Little Hundred Flowers wanted to transfer her there sooner. If it weren't for the recent popularity of 'Five Women Paying Homage to Their Birthday', the troupe would have needed Jiang Moli to fill in for a while, and Jiang Moli would have left by now."
The leaders of the Provincial Xiaobaihua School and the Nancheng Drama Troupe have already discussed that Jiang Moli will wait until she graduates and then report to the Provincial Xiaobaihua School in early July. Before that, Jiang Moli can still participate in performances in the Nancheng Drama Troupe.
"Don't talk nonsense, don't let people laugh at you." Aunt Qi said, "The people here are all very smart. They can see through who is good and who is bad at once. In their eyes, your skills and tricks are not worth mentioning."
Second Aunt Qi didn't want others to say that she let a fool into the drama troupe, so He Jingxian showed her ambitions. To put it nicely, it was progress, but to put it bluntly, He Jingxian had just arrived and wanted to compete with others before she had a firm foothold.
In the evening, Sheng Jiahao came to the company to pick up Jiang Moli. After the two had dinner, Sheng Jiahao sent Jiang Moli to school.
"When will the rehearsal end tonight?" Sheng Jiahao asked.
"It's probably around nine o'clock." Jiang Moli said, "My dad will come to pick me up."
"Well, I'll come pick you up." Sheng Jiahao said, "It's dark out, and it's not easy for your uncle to ride a bicycle to pick you up."
"Aren't you just in the dark?" Jiang Moli said with a smile.
"The car has lights on." Sheng Jiahao said, "I'll go to my uncle's place and tell them. When I'm free, I can pick you up. That's great. I'm young and I run my own business. It's not tiring, and I can arrange my schedule easily."
Sheng Jiahao wanted to see Jiang Moli more often. They were a couple and couldn't see each other every few days. Sheng Jiahao came to see Jiang Moli almost every day when he was free, but he still felt it was not enough. They just met and talked, but it was still not close enough.
"Okay, go tell my dad. I don't have time to talk." Jiang Moli said, "If Dad doesn't get to talk, not only will he be unhappy, but my mom will be unhappy too."
"Don't worry, I'll arrange it." Sheng Jiahao said.
Jiang Moli went to participate in the rehearsal of the graduation drama, and Zhou Yiran was also there.
He Jingxian was in a different group; they were all classmates, training in adjacent classrooms. Some would chat in their spare time, but since He Jingxian had gone to the South City Drama Troupe for more practice, she hadn't been so focused on the graduation play.
Before, He Jingxian was always bossy and talkative. She'd even add more scenes for herself when she thought others weren't good enough, saying she was doing it for the sake of the group, not because she had to sing so much. Now, He Jingxian was competing for a role in the South City Drama Troupe, and she needed more practice time. She was afraid of being outdone, so she naturally spent more time on her role in the South City Drama Troupe than on the school's graduation play.
When He Jingxian arrived late, she got into an argument with someone in her group. That person had been scolded by He Jingxian a lot before, so of course she had to say something when she caught He Jingxian late.
"It's not okay for me to be late, but is it okay for you to be late?"
"You cut out my lyrics and sang more of your own, so you should take it seriously."
"If you keep doing this, I think you'll be the bad apple that spoils the whole barrel."
…
The man spoke loudly so that people around him could hear him.
Zhou Yaran even went out of the classroom to listen in. She waved to the others, and the group listened, one by one, and gathered at the door to listen in.
Jiang Moli didn't seriously say why everyone didn't practice well, but followed behind everyone and came to listen too.
"You're incompetent. Even if I'm late, I'm capable and can still sing better than you."
"Who is being perfunctory? I'm not the only one who has other units. Doesn't Jiang Moli have other units too?"
"Graduation is almost here, so if you're anxious, just be anxious. Why are you scolding me?"
…
Jiang Moli hadn't expected He Jingxian to mention her. She already had a work unit. She had one when she was studying at Nancheng Art College. Drama is different from other industries. This one requires very young people. Some people started singing at a very young age, so they might have joined a work unit very early.
For the past two years, He Jingxian had been more than a little pretentious, but this year, she's been less so, especially since her transfer order. Her attitude towards the other students has subtly changed. She used to say she was doing this for their own good, offering guidance, but now she's more dismissive. He Jingxian got married, had a South City hukou, and was transferred to work there. She's acting a bit superior, making everyone else seem insignificant.
He Jingxian's attitude made people dislike her. Not to mention those who were in the same group with her, even those who were not in the same group with her didn't like He Jingxian very much. He Jingxian didn't care whether her classmates liked her or not, she had already achieved her goal.
"She's calling on you." Zhou Yiran poked Jiang Moli's arm.
"She has to say something about me." Jiang Moli said.
"Go over there?" Zhou Yiran asked.
Before Jiang Moli and Zhou Yiran could go over, their team leader rushed to the next room. The team leader was a very loyal person and everyone liked her very much.
"He Jingxian, why are you talking about our team members?" The team leader rolled his eyes, holding a wooden stick in his hand, and said fiercely, "Moli has fewer scenes, so she didn't miss rehearsals. If she didn't come, she would ask for leave and make it up later. We all have our shifts scheduled, and we all count."
The team leader couldn't stand it, and Jiang Moli sometimes felt embarrassed and bought some fruit and other things for everyone to eat. Jiang Moli always knew her limits and worked hard to cooperate with everyone. At first, the team members thought Jiang Moli had more stable grades and was more capable, so they wanted her to play a more important role, but Jiang Moli refused.
Jiang Moli believed that this graduation play belonged to everyone, not just her. Jiang Moli's participation in the unit's performance would inevitably affect rehearsals here, so she didn't have to compete for the main role. She should give everyone a chance. If someone performed well in the graduation play, they might have the opportunity to be transferred to South City in the future. Many relevant units would come to watch their graduation play, which was open to the public free of charge.
After hearing Jiang Moli's explanation, the team members did not think Jiang Moli was bad, but felt that Jiang Moli was giving them an opportunity. No one did not want to perform better, and Jiang Moli could have continued to play the main role, but she did not. The team members knew in their hearts that Jiang Moli was indeed giving them a break. Jiang Moli was not like He Jingxian, who would directly say that others performed poorly. Jiang Moli would encourage others and ask them to practice together, and everyone would correct their mistakes and improve together.
Compared to the vicious competition in the next group, the atmosphere in Jiang Moli's group is very good.
"That's right, that's right. You just keep talking nonsense. Are you in our team?" A team member followed the team leader.
"He Jingxian, I know you have something against me, can't you keep it to yourself? You have to say it out loud, do you want to see if I'm a Ninja Turtle and whether I can endure it forever?" Jiang Moli walked over. She couldn't let other classmates support her. She had to go over herself. "If I'm a little timid, can you step on my head?"
He Jingxian didn't expect that people from the next group would come over, and she didn't expect Jiang Moli to come over as well.
"You just didn't rehearse seriously and were eavesdropping on me on purpose, right?" He Jingxian was displeased.
"You guys were talking so loudly with the door open, aren't you just expecting us to hear?" The team leader asked Jiang Moli to step back. She glared at He Jingxian. Facing someone like He Jingxian, she couldn't afford to lose. "Are you guys teaming up and saying that on purpose? I think you want to start a quarrel among our team!"
Regardless of whether this matter is true or not, just say it. Anyway, He Jingxian and her people just say it without caring about the truth of the matter.
The team leader believes that one should not be too honest when facing people like He Jingxian.
"Nonsense." He Jingxian was very angry. She didn't mean that at all. She was just saying it.
"Whether you're talking nonsense or not, you know it in your hearts," the team leader said. "You guys are acting badly, so you're trying to stir up trouble for others. You're deliberately speaking so loudly. As long as there's a conflict within our group or the performance isn't good, you'll have a chance. What a dirty mind."
"What a dirty heart, bah." A team member echoed.
He Jingxian wanted to rush to the team leader, but after two steps, she found that her teammate did not move, so she had to stop. He Jingxian was furious. She suspected that the people in her team and the people in the next team were teaming up to bully her, but she had no evidence.
In fact, if He Jingxian didn't say anything about Jiang Moli, there would be no problem. He Jingxian was so mean and had to say something about Jiang Moli, then there was nothing that could be done. People who are mean deserve to be criticized. It wasn't others who targeted He Jingxian, it was He Jingxian who targeted others, that's why it became like this. If He Jingxian had been more sensible, it wouldn't have happened like this.
"What a dirty heart, bah." Zhou Yiran also said.
"You..." He Jingxian pointed at the people in front of her with trembling hands.
"Speak? Keep talking!" the team leader said, "If you have the guts, keep talking."
Just then, a teacher came over and asked, "What are you doing?"
"I heard them say bad things about our team members." said the team leader.
"We are not gangsters. We don't intend to fight with them for no reason." Zhou Yiran said.
"That's right." Jiang Moli added, "They scolded me, I couldn't just stand there stupidly without saying anything back. I didn't hit anyone, so this wasn't a fight."
Jiang Moli looked at the team leader and the others. After what they said, she had to say a few words too. She couldn't always stay behind others.
"Go back and practice first." said the teacher.
The teacher didn't want to get involved in so many things and just wanted them to disperse and not gather together. People who didn't know might think they were going to fight, which would have a bad influence.
"Teacher, so many of them bullied me..." He Jingxian was unwilling to accept this, she wanted the teacher to make the decision for her.
"Ask the people in your group, are you bullying me, or are we bullying you?" Jiang Moli glanced at He Jingxian.
He Jingxian's team members didn't want to get involved in this mess. Originally, this matter had nothing to do with them. It was He Jingxian herself who was talking about Jiang Moli. One of He Jingxian's team members stood up. He Jingxian thought that person was going to speak for her, but she didn't expect that person was not speaking for her.
"It was He Jingxian who mentioned Jiang Moli first," the man said. "She was late for rehearsal, so she mentioned Jiang Moli. Jiang Moli isn't in our group, so we don't know if she was late or not."
"Moli is not late, and she is not like some people who only know how to fight for roles." Jiang Moli's team leader said.
"It's all over, it's all over." The teacher didn't intend to help He Jingxian.
Many teachers at the school knew that He Jingxian had stayed in Nancheng through her in-laws' family and had gotten into the Nancheng Theater through connections. As a result, someone who could have gotten in was unable to, and a spot was taken. The teachers didn't care whether these people relied on connections, but that didn't stop them from disliking them. It would be fine if such people were more obedient after entering the company, but the teachers didn't like people like He Jingxian, who were so noisy.
"Teacher, they..."
"You were the one who opened your mouth first, so don't blame anyone else," the teacher said. "The graduation play is almost here, and we need to schedule a date for it. Why don't you hurry up and rehearse? What are you all standing here for? Hurry up, go rehearse. He Jingxian, stop talking. If you have the energy, go rehearse."
He Jingxian felt that the teacher was criticizing her and that the teacher was on Jiang Moli's side. If the teacher knew what He Jingxian was thinking, she would be speechless. He Jingxian was the one who was most likely to cause trouble.
In recent times, He Jingxian has had all kinds of things to do. No one else has as many things to do as He Jingxian.
Teachers want students to be quieter and have fewer things to do. When students have fewer things to do, teachers can be more at ease and not have to worry about how to solve students' problems.
"Let's go back first." Jiang Moli's team leader called everyone to go back, and everyone listened to the team leader and went back.
The teacher was in a good mood when she saw how cooperative Jiang Moli and the others were. After Jiang Moli and the others returned to the classroom, the group members comforted Jiang Moli.
"Jasmine, don't bother with those people. This isn't your fault."
"It's not like you didn't come to rehearsal. You did."
"How many lines do you sing, and how many lines does He Jingxian sing?"
"Really? We didn't say anything. She said nothing."
"You spend quite a lot of time rehearsing. Sometimes you rehearse at work and then have to come to school for rehearsal. It's so tiring. But you're almost never late and are always on time."
…
Those people felt sorry for Jiang Moli, "He Jingxian is just jealous of you."
"It's okay, it's okay." Jiang Moli said, "I didn't take what she said to heart. I know what everyone thinks. Everyone is very nice to me."
"We're a group, so we should be united," the team leader said. "Okay, let's continue rehearsing."
Sheng Jiahao went to Jiang's house and told his father that he was going to pick up Jiang Moli. When his father heard what Sheng Jiahao said, he didn't say that he had to go himself. If Sheng Jiahao was willing to go, he would let him go. When Sheng Jiahao came to Jiang's house, he also brought some fruits and cakes.
After Sheng Jiahao left, Jiang's mother looked at the things on the table and said, "He is really polite."
"Let him be polite." Jiang's father said.
"Jasmine said the same thing. She said we need to see his attitude at this point," Jiang's mother said. "If a man treats a woman badly before marriage, you can't expect him to treat her well after marriage."
"Moli is right," said Jiang's father.
"You've been saying recently that Jasmine is right," said Jiang's mother.
Jiang's father didn't say the same thing to Jiang Moli before. He used to ask Jiang's mother to teach Jiang Moli more and ask Jiang Moli to be a little nicer to her sister. Sisters should have a better relationship. If there are any problems in the future, they will still have to rely on their sisters. But now, Jiang's father doesn't think so. Jiang Yuqin is not his biological daughter.
As expected, if they are not biological children, they are not biological children. Jiang's father thought it was no wonder that Jiang Moli didn't like Jiang Yuqin, because there was no blood bond between Jiang Moli and Jiang Yuqin.
"She's old enough, but she still has a good perspective on things," said Jiang's father.
Jiang's mother looked at Jiang's father a few more times, and her husband was greatly stimulated. His attitude changed drastically.
In the evening, Sheng Jiahao successfully picked up Jiang Moli. Jiang Moli had fewer scenes, but she still waited until everyone finished rehearsing before leaving. She didn't leave because she didn't have any scenes to do. The team leader said Jiang Moli could leave first, but Jiang Moli decided to stay for a while.
Jiang Moli was happy to stay a little longer. They were a whole, and Jiang Moli couldn't just leave thinking that she had no role to play. When someone asked Jiang Moli questions, she answered them very patiently.
On the way back, Jiang Moli told Sheng Jiahao about the quarrel that happened that night.
"Didn't a fight break out?" Sheng Jiahao asked.
"No." Jiang Moli said, "There's no way we can start a fight. There are teachers nearby. We can't possibly fight with them. If we do, it will affect the graduation show. He's just one person, it's not worth our effort. Just talking will be enough."
"You will have to work together in the future, which won't be easy," said Sheng Jiahao.
"We won't have to work together for long," Jiang Moli said. "Don't you know yet? After graduation, in early July, I will report to the Provincial Xiaobaihua Academy. And He Jingxian will join my current unit, not the Provincial Xiaobaihua Academy. We won't be in the same drama troupe at that time, so there won't be much competition. Of course, if she has the ability, she can also go to the Provincial Xiaobaihua Academy."
"She did it on purpose," Sheng Jiahao said, "to embarrass you."
"Maybe it's because I stopped her from saying something in front of the teacher, your mother," Jiang Moli said. "She wanted Teacher Lu to help her, and didn't she want to ask you to help her later? She felt even worse because you were with me instead of her."
"There is no romantic relationship between her and me. We have met a few times and we can only be considered strangers." Sheng Jiahao didn't think He Jingxian had any relationship with him.
"I know. If you two were really dating and then broke up, I probably wouldn't date you." Jiang Moli said.
"Why? Do you think it's second-hand?" Sheng Jiahao was puzzled. "Or are you afraid of trouble? Afraid that He Jingxian would cause you trouble?"
"It's not that I think it's second-hand goods. Men and women are free to fall in love." Jiang Moli said, "If it was He Jingxian's ex-boyfriend, of course I would feel disgusted. She and I didn't get along to begin with, and she accused me of picking up something she didn't want. I don't want to be accused of that. Men are not a necessity, and there is not only one man in the world. Why bother? If this one doesn't work, just try another one."
"Good idea." Sheng Jiahao really liked Jiang Moli's mental state. If he liked it, he liked it. If he didn't like it, he didn't like it. "You have to trust my judgment."
It was impossible for Sheng Jiahao to fall for someone like He Jingxian. He could tell at first sight that He Jingxian was not a worry-free person. He Jingxian was not someone that made Sheng Jiahao's heart flutter. If Sheng Jiahao really liked someone, he would indeed be very tolerant of that person. Sheng Jiahao thought Jiang Moli was good in every way and did not need his tolerance.
"I believe in your judgment." Jiang Moli nodded. "You have a good judgment."
"Thank you, you have given me a better vision." Sheng Jiahao said with a smile.
As it was late, Jiang Moli did not let Sheng Jiahao into the house for tea, but waved goodbye to Sheng Jiahao. When Jiang Moli was about to go back home, she saw Miao Guifeng in the yard.
Miao Guifeng was cleaning the stove. She had sold roasted sweet potatoes today, at noon and in the evening. Business wasn't particularly bad, but it wasn't great either. At least she was making some money, so she was quite satisfied.
Jiang Moli glanced at Miao Guifeng, who had actually gone to sell roasted sweet potatoes. Jiang Moli didn't say she wanted to buy a roasted sweet potato. There was food at home, so it was better not to eat the roasted sweet potato at this late hour.
When Miao Guifeng heard Jiang Moli open the door, she looked up at Jiang Moli and didn't ask her to eat a roasted sweet potato. When Miao Guifeng first came to Nancheng, she was thinking about whether to make some food to send to the neighbors. Yang's mother said no, it would be troublesome to send just a little bit of food.
When Miao Guifeng picked a few scallions from others, they would talk about it for a long time. Miao Guifeng then realized that city people are different from country people. Some things cannot be picked casually. In the eyes of city people, those things must be paid for.
If it were in the countryside, when Miao Guifeng had some leftover roasted sweet potatoes, she would ask Jiang Moli if she wanted some, and they would be given to her for free, no money required.
Now, Miao Guifeng didn't ask Jiang Moli. She gave Jiang Moli a roasted sweet potato for free. If others knew about it, would they have any objections? Also, Jiang Moli should give Miao Guifeng something else next time to make up for the roasted sweet potato Miao Guifeng gave her. If Jiang Moli didn't give anything, others would say she was eating other people's food for free.
At this time, there were not many people outside, but there were more people at the train station. But it was too late, and Miao Guifeng didn't dare stay outside for too long. Her child was still young, and she was also afraid that something might happen to the child in the dark.
Miao Guifeng loves her son very much. Even when she carries her son on her back, she still has to check on him from time to time to make sure he is there, for fear that he has been swapped with someone else.
After a while, Miao Guifeng's husband came out of the house. Yang Bingrong helped put the stove aside, and he put the remaining two roasted sweet potatoes into the bowl.
Miao Guifeng asked Yang Bingrong to take care of the child while she went to take a shower and wash clothes. After everything was done, Miao Guifeng went back to see the baby. Miao Guifeng's child cried, and Miao Guifeng hurried to make milk powder for the child.
"Before, the child didn't eat well and didn't have much milk," Miao Guifeng said. "We could only let the child drink more milk powder. Your mother must have been thinking of selling our child a long time ago. She would scold me if I ate even a little more porridge."
After the family split up, Miao Guifeng tightly controlled Yang Bingrong's salary. Yang Bingrong had previously received an advance, but now received less. Miao Guifeng refused to let Yang Bingrong give the money to Yang's mother. Since they didn't eat with her, they didn't need to hand over the money.
Whenever she had the chance, Miao Guifeng would say a few more words to let Yang Bingrong know how bad Yang's mother was.
"If I marry you, I will have to cook for the whole family. If Lu Dongxiang marries your brother, she won't have to get up early to cook. Your mother can cook." Miao Guifeng said.
"Mom also talked about her." Yang Bingrong said.
"I don't dare say anything more after a few words. I still have to go cook," Miao Guifeng said. "Your mom has to sweep the floor and wash the dishes too. If your mom says a few more words, Lu Dongxiang will be even more talkative."
"You...you didn't say it at the beginning." Yang Bingrong said.
"I was stupid back then," Miao Guifeng scoffed. "I'm from the countryside, and you all look down on me. So I just have to think about performing well, don't I?"
Miao Guifeng once held herself in low regard, believing it was her own fault, not considering whether it was Yang Bingrong's fault or the Yang family's. Now, Miao Guifeng has come to her senses and decided she couldn't let them bully her. Even when Yang's mother wanted to borrow seasoning, Miao Guifeng refused. If she found herself running low on her own seasoning, she would use the one Yang's mother prepared.
This also made Yang's mother dislike Miao Guifeng even more, and she often gave Miao Guifeng a cold look. Miao Guifeng didn't care how bad Yang's mother's face was, she just knew that she didn't have to do those tedious things now, and she could relax a lot.
Miao Guifeng didn't get paid for doing all those chores, and was even looked down upon. How terrible it was! If Miao Guifeng went out to sell some roasted sweet potatoes, she could still earn a little money, so she wouldn't get nothing and still be criticized.
"No, I didn't..."
"You don't have any?" Miao Guifeng asked, "Really?"
Miao Guifeng couldn't believe it, but Yang Bingrong looked at those educated people differently. Miao Guifeng knew that Yang Bingrong preferred those educated people to country bumpkins like herself.
After her rebirth, Miao Guifeng initially considered divorcing Yang Bingrong, but after Yang Bingrong agreed to split up the family property, Miao Guifeng stopped thinking about divorce. After her rebirth, Miao Guifeng realized how bad the men out there were. Many seemingly honest men were still cheating on their partners, even though they weren't truly honest.
Yang Bingrong has many shortcomings. Miao Guifeng herself is not a great beauty and comes from a poor family. Miao Guifeng has a relatively clear understanding of herself. Rebirth cannot change IQ. It is not that Miao Guifeng will become rich overnight after rebirth, and she will become successful after divorcing Yang Bingrong.
No, Miao Guifeng understood that her life might not be any easier now that she and Yang Bingrong were divorced. She couldn't just rely on her rebirth to act recklessly, as that would only make her life worse. She wanted to live a good life, not live in a world of empty talk.
"I've already married you." Yang Bingrong said. He didn't want to say anything contemptuous or disrespectful.
Some of Yang Bingrong's friends felt bad for him, believing he could have found a better wife. Regardless of their opinions, Miao Guifeng was still his legal wife. Yang Bingrong himself wasn't a highly educated man, and if he were truly capable, he wouldn't have ended up marrying a country woman he didn't particularly like.
Miao Guifeng could tell Yang Bingrong's voice was a little muffled; Yang Bingrong must have had other thoughts on his mind. In a couple's life, some things shouldn't be delved into, so Miao Guifeng didn't continue.
"Do you have any milk powder left? If not, I'll bring back two cans tomorrow," said Yang Bingrong.
"I'm going to buy it." Miao Guifeng said, "Remember, don't lend money to your brother. Your brother is not asking you to borrow money, he is asking you for money, and he won't pay it back. You have a son, who is closer to you, or your brother? You have to know this. Don't think about your brother all the time, otherwise you will only think about your brother."
"No, no." Yang Bingrong said, "The money is all in your hands."
Yang Bingrong had never thought of divorcing Miao Guifeng. After Miao Guifeng asked for money after the family split, Yang Bingrong gave it to her without hesitation. Although Yang Bingrong did not love Miao Guifeng that deeply, he did not want to marry another wife.
Marrying a wife costs money, and marrying other women may not be as good as Miao Guifeng. Anyway, Yang Bingrong and Miao Guifeng already have a child, so they will continue to live like this. If Miao Guifeng had not given birth to a child, perhaps Yang Bingrong would have divorced Miao Guifeng directly when she asked for a divorce.
Miao Guifeng grasped Yang Bingrong's psychology. She dared to directly ask for divorce because she gave birth to a son for Yang Bingrong. If Miao Guifeng gave birth to a daughter, Yang Bingrong might not value her as much.
"Is the money in my hands? In the end, all the money will be spent on my family, not just me." Miao Guifeng said, "I heard that the Jiang family's daughter-in-law is also from the countryside. They will be returning to the city soon. I wonder what they are like and whether it is easy to get along with them."
"Zhao Guodong is not his biological son. He was brought up by his mother. This house belongs to his stepfather, so he has no share in it." Yang Bingrong said.
"As long as he provides for his stepfather in his old age, maybe his stepfather will be willing to give him the house," Miao Guifeng said. "Besides, Jiang Yuqin isn't the Jiang family's biological daughter. If Jiang Yuqin hadn't come to make trouble, wouldn't Zhao Guodong and his family be able to live at home longer?"
In his previous life, Zhao Guodong and his wife had been staying at the Jiang family home for a few days when Jiang Yuqin came to make a scene. To avoid embarrassing Jiang's mother, Zhao Guodong moved out with his wife and children. Miao Guifeng preferred Zhao Guodong's wife; both were from the countryside, and they chatted frequently. Even Niu Cuihua and her husband rented a separate house, and even though they lived nearby, they rarely visited the Jiang family. Miao Guifeng mostly spoke to Niu Cuihua outside.
"Zhao Guodong is Jiang Moli's biological brother. If Jiang Moli really has problems in the future, won't she still have to rely on her brother?" Miao Guifeng said, "Maybe her father is willing to let her brother live at home for her sake?"
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