Chapter 17 Meeting but Not Recognizing Each Other
Chapter 17
When Meng Yingying heard this, she let out a soft sigh. These past three days had been truly unbearable.
She sat in a hard seat for seventy-two hours, not daring to eat or drink anything, for fear that when she went to queue for the toilet, her seat and luggage would be gone.
So she barely ate anything. When she was hungry, she would put a piece of candy in her mouth, and when she was thirsty, she would take a small sip from her military water bottle to moisten her throat.
I won't drink it in big gulps, just a little bit at a time, as long as it's not too dry.
Meng Yingying had learned this kind of knowledge. She knew that as long as the human body maintains a certain amount of water and sugar, it can survive, and this was also the fastest way for her to lose weight.
When she arrived in Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, she was to be stationed at a military unit, but not to find Qi Xiaoer to fulfill their marriage agreement. Instead, she went to him to annul the engagement in exchange for a spot in the cultural troupe's assessment.
Meng Yingying came from a performing arts troupe, so she knew the troupe's evaluation criteria.
The first requirement is to be thin.
Secondly, one must be physically flexible.
Thirdly, one must possess strong professional skills.
To make a name for yourself in a performing arts troupe, you need all three of these things.
Therefore, making sure her image is acceptable is the most basic standard, and it is also the standard for whether she can survive well in this era.
After thinking it through, Meng Yingying made a plan; she wasn't in a hurry to go to the station.
As the saying goes, "Clothes make the man," so she made sure to take good care of her appearance before going out.
So Meng Yingying wasn't in a hurry anymore. She waited until all the other passengers had left before slowly getting off the bus with her luggage.
The weather in Harbin was noticeably cooler than in Hunan. The sticky and stuffy feeling on the train was instantly relieved by a cool breeze after getting off.
She just felt completely weak. She hadn't eaten or drunk much water for three days, so it's no wonder she had no energy.
Panting, Meng Yingying asked the train conductor while carrying her suitcase, "Comrade, do you know where the nearest guesthouse for the troops is?"
The train conductor was startled when he saw Meng Yingying's pale, ghost-like face.
Before answering, I couldn't help but ask with concern, "Comrade, are you alright?"
Meng Yingying shook her head, "It's nothing."
After confirming that she was alright, the other person pointed to the bridge piers outside the station.
"There's a guesthouse about 300 meters to the left after you leave the station, but that's the station guesthouse. If you want the garrison guesthouse, it's a bit of a distance. You have to take bus number 7 to the last stop to get to the garrison guesthouse. Ordinary people can't stay there; you need a military dependent certificate."
After hearing this, Meng Yingying made a decision in her mind. She didn't have a military dependent certificate, so she couldn't stay there for the time being.
She thanked the train conductor and was about to leave.
The train attendant looked at her and saw that she was as frail as a willow in the wind, carrying a large bag of luggage, and it seemed like her legs were floating when she walked.
"Comrade, are you sure you're alright? Do you need my help?" the other person asked again.
Meng Yingying turned around, revealing a face as pale as paper, and forced a smile, "It's nothing."
Train conductor, "..."
That's even scarier, okay?
The other person hesitated for a moment, then said, "Would you like me to take you to the guesthouse?"
Meng Yingying, carrying her luggage, suddenly stopped. She was too exhausted to even lift the luggage. "Is this alright?"
"Of course, serving the people is what we should do."
She handed over the luggage, saying, "Comrade, you are such a kind person. Once I've settled down in Harbin, I'll definitely send you a banner of appreciation."
Upon hearing this, the sales clerk immediately perked up, grabbed Meng Yingying's luggage, and hoisted it onto his shoulder, saying, "Come on, I'll make sure you see this through to the end today."
"You're too kind."
Along the way, the salesman kept chattering, "Judging from your accent, you're from out of town. What brings you to Harbin?"
Actually, if it were someone else, Meng Yingying probably wouldn't have said anything, but after observing her, she found that Train Attendant An was very enthusiastic and was wearing a train station staff uniform.
She felt a little more at ease, "I'm coming to stay with my childhood sweetheart who's stationed in the team."
The sales clerk was surprised, "You have a partner stationed at Harbin 101?"
Meng Yingying was somewhat surprised, "You knew?"
“Yes,” said the sales clerk. “I have a nephew who works at 101. He was promoted to officer at a young age.”
Speaking of this, he said with a proud look, "I've heard that those who stay at the 101 team have bright futures. Young comrade, since your childhood sweetheart is also stationed at the 101 team, you can expect to enjoy a life of luxury in the future."
Meng Yingying smiled, not responding to her own comment, but instead complimenting him, "Then your son is very promising, and you will enjoy the good fortune in the future."
The sales clerk said, "Of course, my sister has this youngest son who makes her proud, and it makes our whole Chen family proud."
He was promoted to officer at the age of 23. That's incredibly young.
Who knows, maybe one day the Chen family will produce a great general.
It's a pity he's not surnamed Chen; it would have been better if he were surnamed Chen instead of Qi.
Of course, the salesman couldn't say this to anyone. After dropping Meng Yingying off at the guesthouse, he took his leave.
Meng Yingying thanked him, took her travel certificate, and went to the front desk of the guesthouse to inquire about the check-in requirements.
You will need three documents: proof of travel, a letter of introduction, and a train ticket.
Besides, the accommodation fee of 1.2 yuan per night made Meng Yingying feel a little distressed after hearing it.
When her father passed away, he left her 473.55 yuan. Later, she spent about 120 yuan on medicine for her father, funeral arrangements, and hiring people to help her.
She bought another train ticket, which cost 35 yuan. After covering the expenses on the way, she only had 307 yuan left from the money her father had left.
Before she left, Yue Ru gave her two hundred yuan. She hadn't even opened it yet, and had stuffed it all into her chest. That means she now has a total of five hundred and seven yuan in her possessions.
It sounds like a lot, but she was unemployed, homeless, and needed food and drink. Meng Yingying knew that this money wouldn't last long.
Thinking of this, my original plan to stay for two days turned into one day. "Comrade, I'll stay for one day first."
The other party skillfully took the money, and after confirming that the proof was correct, they booked a room for Meng Yingying: "The first room on the left on the second floor."
Meng Yingying thanked him and then went to her room. She kept the small yellow fish and money close to her body, and even when she went to the bathroom to wash up, she never left them.
After washing up and changing her clothes, she realized something was wrong.
Meng Yingying lifted the oversized dress and held it up to her waist, exclaiming, "Why is this dress so big?"
She murmured.
Her waistline has increased by a size, as have her top and pants.
The original owner of this body was fat and liked to wear loose clothes, believing that loose clothes could hide her fat. Meng Yingying wore almost all of the other person's clothes.
So when she lost weight, it was especially noticeable when she wore her old clothes.
Meng Yingying then realized what was happening and looked in the mirror, only to see that the once plump woman in the mirror had now lost a lot of weight.
She has a small face, big eyes, a pointed chin, and fair, delicate skin.
It's absolutely gorgeous.
It's even slowly starting to resemble the face she had in her previous life.
Meng Yingying touched her face and murmured, "They look so alike."
If you didn't tell her, she would even think that the two of them were the same person.
After touching her face, she touched her waist, which had become much thinner, but her chest was still bulging.
Meng Yingying was both amused and exasperated. "You really know how to lose weight."
It has meat where it should be meaty, and lean where it should be lean.
This is what happens when you go to a performing arts troupe. No matter how strict their evaluation standards are, they can't find fault with you.
She had lost so much weight that her clothes were too big and difficult to wear. She had no choice but to alter them on the spot, tucking the shirt into her pants so that she could barely squeeze into them.
The shirt was tucked into her waist, making her waist look even slimmer and her legs even longer.
She wasn't in a hurry to go to sleep; instead, she wanted to inform Meng Xiaoer in advance, worried that she might arrive at the station with her luggage the next day only to find it empty, which would be troublesome.
Only then did they find the telegraph machine at the guesthouse and learn about the charges for sending telegrams from the telegraph operator.
She then had the telegraph operator send a telegram: "See Meng Yingying at nine o'clock tomorrow morning."
Sending telegrams was charged by the word, seven cents per word. She didn't even dare to use punctuation marks, yet they still charged her sixty-three cents.
After sending the telegram, Meng Yingying thought for a moment and then called the Mengjiatun Brigade Headquarters. Because it was a long-distance call from another province, it would cost an extra 30 cents.
Unfortunately, Zhao Yueru wasn't there when she called, but someone from the brigade headquarters called out to her. About five minutes later, the guesthouse phone rang again.
As soon as Meng Yingying answered the phone, Zhao Yueru's rapid-fire voice came from the other end: "Yingying, have you arrived yet?"
Meng Yingying could almost picture Yue Ru's excited expression. She nodded, "We've arrived, just arrived."
Hearing this, Zhao Yueru breathed a sigh of relief. "That's good, that's good. I haven't been eating or sleeping well these past few days. I was worried that you, a young lady on the train, might get bullied."
Upon hearing this, Meng Yingying's apprehension about being in an unfamiliar place vanished instantly. "Yueru, I'm fine here, no problem."
"What about over there?"
What she really wanted to ask was how Zhao Yueru and Zhou Jingsong were doing.
Mentioning this, Zhao Yueru blushed and felt a little hot. "I've already made a promise with Zhou Jingsong that once the bandages are removed from his eyes, I'll go with him to get our marriage certificate."
Meng Yingying was somewhat surprised, "So fast?"
“We have to hurry,” Zhao Yueru said. “Yingying, my parents are being sent to the countryside this week. Even if I don’t marry Zhou Jingsong, I will still go to the countryside with them.”
“If I went too, we would all be wiped out. If I stay outside, I can still take care of them.”
After this incident, Zhao Yueru has matured quite a bit.
Meng Yingying was happy for her too, "Okay, remember to call me on the day you and Zhou Jingsong get married."
"However, I won't call you through that. Once I'm settled, I'll give you a separate phone number or telegram number."
Zhao Yueru nodded, "Yingying, I definitely need to tell you about such a big event as my wedding."
"Yingying, you must take good care of yourself over there."
"You're worried about the money too? If you don't have enough, just tell me and I'll mail you some more."
"Be kinder to yourself, okay?"
Meng Yingying's eyes were gentle, and her nose felt sore. "I know Yue Ru."
“Zhao Yueru is always behind me, right?”
Zhao Yueru nodded, "That's a must."
"It's like I have Meng Yingying behind me."
After hanging up the phone, Meng Yingying was in a daze for a long time, as if Yue Ru was still by her side.
After spacing out for a while, Meng Yingying's stomach rumbled, and she realized she was quite hungry.
She then ate a bowl of fragrant plain noodles at the guesthouse canteen. After finishing the noodles and drinking the soup, she felt a little more at ease.
Only then did he return to his room to rest.
Having barely slept for three days on the train, Meng Yingying was more worried about dying of exhaustion than starving to death.
Meng Yingying was unaware that her telegram had instantly stirred up a huge wave within the garrison.
When the telegraph machine in the station's telephone room hummed, a blank sheet of paper was ejected.
The telegraph operator, after reading the message, exclaimed in shock, "Company Commander Qi's childhood sweetheart has sent a telegram!"
These words, once spoken, were like the first drop of water splashed into a pot of oil, instantly causing it to boil.
"Let me see what she posted?"
When everyone saw the words written on the white paper above the telegraph machine, they immediately understood.
"Is Company Commander Qi's childhood sweetheart coming to the garrison tomorrow?"
"It even says the time, see?" An operator pointed to the words on the paper, "It says here, nine o'clock."
"The other side will be here to find Company Commander Qi at nine o'clock."
"But Company Commander Qi has already retired from the army, how is she supposed to find someone?"
The call center fell silent instantly.
"Commander Qi said before that he had told him about everything concerning Company Commander Qi."
Tell me what?
Qi Donghan had just finished training, wearing a training uniform that revealed his strong and muscular arms, with a towel hanging around his neck.
He casually wiped away his sweat, and the sheer amount of hormones emanating from his every move was almost overwhelming.
His question instantly silenced the previously noisy call center.
"Commander Qi."
"Company Commander Qi's childhood sweetheart sent a telegram."
Upon hearing this, Qi Donghan paused in wiping his sweat, then strolled over to the telegraph machine. "What did she write in the telegram?"
Wherever he went, the people who were previously crowded together immediately made way for him.
Qi Donghan was not surprised to see this scene. He had a bad reputation in the team, and most people respected and feared him.
But he didn't care.
"They said they'd come to see Company Commander Qi at nine o'clock tomorrow."
Qi Donghan looked up at the telegraph operator, who immediately handed him the paper with the telegram on it. "This is the telegram she sent."
Qi Donghan took the telegram, and after reading the words, he paused for a moment on the name Meng Yingying. "Come to the station at nine o'clock tomorrow morning?"
"Yes, that's what it said in the telegram." Telegraph operator Li, watching Qi Donghan's expression, asked cautiously, "Commander Qi, Qi and Changming have retired from the army. What should we do if his childhood sweetheart comes looking for him tomorrow?"
Qi Donghan put away the telegram. "I'll receive you."
He stood in front of the table, which was only about to his lean left side. His fingers tapped the table unconsciously as he said in a low voice, "If you receive any more calls or telegrams from Qi Changming's childhood betrothed, notify me immediately."
Telegraph operator Li saluted, "Received."
Qi Donghan nodded, picked up the telegram, and left, saying, "Trouble."
Upon hearing this, the radio operator, Li, was immediately flattered and said, "Commander Qi, you're being too kind."
After Qi Donghan left, he held the telegram and looked at it for a moment, then made up his mind. He then asked Commander Chen for leave, saying, "Sir, I need to ask for leave to go see Qi Changming."
"What's wrong?"
Qi Donghan handed him the telegram to read, "Qi Changming's girlfriend, Meng Yingying, is coming to Qi Changming's workplace at nine o'clock tomorrow morning."
Commander Chen's expression immediately turned serious. "What did Qi Changming tell you? How should we deal with Meng Yingying, your childhood betrothed?"
They are stationed here, and they can't do anything to bully ordinary people.
The fear is that Meng Yingying is strong-willed and won't be able to accept the news that Qi Changming would rather retire from the army than break off the engagement.
It would be troublesome if the troops were stationed there and bloodshed occurred.
Qi Donghan said, "I told him before that I should ask him to pay some compensation out of his own pocket."
"But he said he handed over all his salary to his mother, and the team only withheld one month's salary from him."
Qi Donghan curled his lips, revealing a hint of coldness, "This little bit of compensation isn't enough to break off the engagement. You think you can fool the girl?"
Commander Chen knew exactly how much his men were paid. “That’s definitely not enough. You should contact Qi Changming beforehand and ask him how much the compensation is here.”
"We can't expect you to negotiate with that young girl without saying anything."
Qi Donghan grunted in agreement and turned to call Qi Changming. But then he thought that the gossip in the call center would probably spread throughout the entire room as soon as he finished his call.
With that in mind, Qi Donghan packed his things and went to the Qi family during his lunch break.
When he arrived, Chen Xiulan was happily packing Qi Changming's things. "Changming, it's good that you're back. I've already discussed it with your uncle. We'll temporarily transfer you to the Civil Affairs Office. After you work there for a while, your uncle will recruit people for the railway, and then we'll send you to the railway."
"This is a secure and stable job, and it will give me more leverage when it comes to marriage in the future."
As she said this, she glanced at Ye Yingtao beside her, who was actually a little embarrassed.
She brought Qi Changming back, thinking that Chen Xiulan would understand her meaning, but she never expected that Chen Xiulan would discuss Qi Changming's marriage in front of her.
This made Ye Yingtao feel somewhat uncomfortable.
Seeing his mother's materialistic attitude and the harsh words she uttered, he awkwardly called out, "Mom."
Chen Xiulan glanced at Ye Yingtao, knowing full well what was going on, "Mom knows you like Comrade Ye."
One sentence almost made Ye Yingtao and Qi Changming jump up.
Ye Yingtao didn't understand what Chen Xiulan meant. Did she have a crush on her, or did she not?
Qi Changming quickly waved his hand, "Mom, stop talking, don't ruin Comrade Ye's reputation."
Chen Xiulan thought to herself, Ye Yingtao has gone home with her son, what kind of reputation does she have left?
But she naturally wouldn't say it in front of the other person.
She wanted to say a few more words, but there was a knock on the door. Qi Changming ran away as if his life depended on it, saying, "I'll go open the door."
Only Ye Yingtao and Chen Xiulan remained together.
Both of them had their own plans.
No one spoke.
Outside, Qi Changming opened the door. He was somewhat surprised to see Qi Donghan. "Boss, what brings you here?"
Qi Donghan slapped the newly received telegram on his face and went straight to the point, "Meng Yingying will be stationed at the team at nine o'clock tomorrow morning."
Upon hearing this, Qi Changming was immediately startled, "So fast?"
He had just finished his discharge procedures that morning, and Meng Yingying was coming to the garrison to see him the next day. If he was even a fraction of a second late, Meng Yingying would catch him red-handed.
Have you thought about how you plan to compensate me?
Qi Donghan went straight to the point, which caught Qi Changming off guard. He subconsciously said, "I haven't told my mom yet."
"say what?"
Hearing the commotion outside, Chen Xiulan came out and saw the tall, handsome, and spirited Qi Donghan.
His previously indifferent expression instantly changed, and he greeted her warmly, "Commander Qi, what brings you here?"
In Chen Xiulan's view, she has always thought her son was excellent, but compared to Qi Donghan, he was probably still a step behind.
Although they were about the same age, Qi Donghan was already the regimental commander in the garrison.
Even though her son has now retired from the military, Chen Xiulan is reluctant to break ties with Qi Donghan, her powerful ally.
Seeing his shrewd and worldly-wise demeanor, Ye Yingtao secretly clicked her tongue in amazement.
Her future mother-in-law is really hard to deal with.
Faced with Chen Xiulan's enthusiasm, Qi Donghan remained noncommittal. He simply handed over the telegram in a businesslike manner, saying, "Meng Yingying is coming to the garrison to see Qi Changming. I'm here to ask him about the compensation."
At this point, he changed the subject, "I can't just go and bully that young girl when I go to see her tomorrow, can I?"
His voice was calm, but his imposing stature and imposing presence, along with his stance of standing at the door without coming in, were enough to terrify Chen Xiulan.
Chen Xiulan paused, instantly understanding his meaning. She turned to look at Qi Changming, who subconsciously explained, "I just got back and haven't had a chance to tell you yet."
However, before he could finish speaking, Chen Xiulan interrupted him, saying, "Let's go inside and talk."
"Commander Qi, please come in and speak as well."
It's clear that Qi Changming, as Chen Xiulan's son, has no say in the matter.
Qi Donghan knew perfectly well what was going on. He stood at the door with no intention of going in. "Let's talk here. State your compensation terms."
At this point, he looked up directly at Chen Xiulan and said in a calm tone, "If Meng Yingying goes to the station to find someone tomorrow, and my conversation with her is inappropriate, I will take responsibility for the station. Then Meng Yingying will come to your door and negotiate with you personally."
This is a threat.
No, it was also about fighting for Meng Yingying's rights.
As soon as Qi Donghan finished speaking, Chen Xiulan's expression changed drastically; this time, she was afraid.
"Commander Qi, the address we provided was for the garrison. How can we bring Meng Yingying to our home now?"
Qi Donghan smirked, a half-smile playing on his lips, "Is Meng Yingying engaged to the garrison commander?"
"Are you still engaged to your son, Qi Changming?"
Two sentences left Chen Xiulan speechless; she still wanted to argue.
"mom!"
Qi Changming couldn't stand it anymore. He didn't want his mother to lose face in front of her former boss. He roared, "Give us compensation, or do you really want Meng Yingying to cause trouble in our apartment building?"
As Guang Qidong stood at the door, many of the neighbors opened their doors and pricked up their ears to listen.
If you keep listening, everyone will know within half a day that Qi Changming has a childhood betrothal to a butcher.
Chen Xiulan didn't expect her son to speak up. She mumbled, "Don't you still have a month's salary to collect? Just give her that month's salary."
As soon as he said that, the house fell silent.
Everyone was looking at Chen Xiulan.
Even Ye Yingtao, an outsider, felt that Chen Xiulan had gone too far.
Seeing everyone looking at her, Chen Xiulan subconsciously explained, "What would Meng Yingying, a girl from the countryside, need so much money for?"
This is truly disrespectful.
Qi Donghan stared at her for a while, "Are you sure your son is only worth fifty-three yuan a month?"
"If so, then I will negotiate based on this compensation amount. If we can't reach an agreement, then it has nothing to do with the military."
If Qi Changming hadn't left the address as the resident team's address, fearing it would have a negative impact, he wouldn't have needed to get involved at all.
Chen Xiulan immediately panicked, "How can this be allowed?"
She seemed to want to say something more.
But Qi Changming interrupted him, saying, "I'll go get the money."
He went straight into the house, opened the box where his mother used to hide money, and randomly grabbed a roll of money, handing it to Qi Donghan, not knowing how much it contained.
"Boss, this is all the money I can come up with right now. If it's not enough, or if Meng Yingying doesn't agree, just let me know and I'll make up the difference."
Qi Donghan glanced at the large stack of papers; it must have been worth at least three hundred.
But before he could take it, Chen Xiulan rushed over and snatched it away, saying, "Qi Changming, are you crazy?"
"Are you crazy?"
"How could Meng Yingying, the daughter of a pig butcher in the countryside, be worth so much money?"
The money added up to nearly four hundred yuan, which was almost half a year's salary for her and her husband.
Qi Changming didn't let Chen Xiulan grab the money; he directly stuffed it into Qi Donghan's hand, bowed to him, and said, "Boss, I'm counting on you."
Seeing her son like this, Chen Xiulan immediately fell silent.
Qi Donghan didn't take the money, but instead asked, "Are you sure? This money is for Meng Yingying, you won't go back on your word?"
Qi Changming said, "No."
"Boss, don't worry, give this money to Meng Yingying. If she feels it's not enough, I'll think of another way."
Chen Xiulan was about to shout again when Qi Changming roared, "Money, money, money! All you care about is money! Do you really want Meng Yingying to come to my house?"
At this, Chen Xiulan immediately froze.
This was one of the few times she saw her son, Qi Changming, lose his temper.
The last time was when Qi Changming wanted to enlist, and she disagreed, but Qi Changming insisted on going through with the whole family to complete the enlistment procedures.
"May I ask?"
Ye Yingtao couldn't help but interrupt, "Who is Meng Yingying?"
She was asking a question she already knew the answer to!
Now, everyone inside and outside the door couldn't help but look over.
After all this commotion, they also wanted to know who Meng Yingying was. And who could get a shrewd and worldly woman like Chen Xiulan to hand over so much money?
That instant.
Chen Xiulan looked at Ye Yingtao with such hatred that she wished she could devour her alive.
Unfortunately, it was useless.
Ye Yingtao smiled at her and asked, "Auntie, who is Meng Yingying?"
She asked another question.
She switched sides, from previously fawning over Chen Xiulan to now pointing out Chen Xiulan's weaknesses.
During the short two hours that Ye Yingtao accompanied Qi Changming to Chen Xiulan's home, she thoroughly understood Chen Xiulan's character.
She was certain.
Even if she coveted Qi Changming's family background, she could not marry him.
This man is unreliable, and he also has a shrewd and unreasonable mother-in-law.
Ye Yingtao was eyeing Qi Changming as a potential partner because she wanted a better life with him, not to be controlled by her in-laws and tormented by her mother-in-law.
Looking at Ye Yingtao, who was staring at her without any fear, Chen Xiulan took a deep breath, then another, forcibly swallowing her anger. "Yingtao, why are you asking about Meng Yingying?"
"You are the daughter-in-law that my Qi family truly approves of."
Chen Xiulan, who had always looked down on Ye Yingying, was worried that Meng Yingying would make a big fuss after she came to visit. So she obviously wanted to keep Ye Yingying at her house before Meng Yingying came.
The fact that Ye Yingtao was her daughter-in-law was the reason she sat to death.
Just ten minutes earlier, Chen Xiulan had been acting superior, bringing up the topic of marriage with Qi Changming in front of Ye Yingtao.
But Ye Yingtao was not mentioned at all.
They both knew it perfectly well.
Ye Yingtao wouldn't admit it; let whoever wants to jump into the Qi family's fire pit do as they please, she certainly wasn't going to.
"That's not right, Auntie. From what I overheard your conversation, Meng Yingying seems to be your Qi Changming's childhood betrothed."
A deafening clap of thunder shook the heavens.
Chen Xiulan froze.
Qi Changming was dumbfounded.
Ye Yingtao seemed oblivious to everything and continued her tirade, "Since Comrade Qi Changming already has a childhood betrothed, Auntie, it seems inappropriate for me to become your daughter-in-law, doesn't it?"
"After all, to put it mildly, it's ignorance; to put it bluntly, it's ingratitude. He's given away his son to two families, don't you think, Auntie?"
Chen Xiulan was trembling with anger. She never expected that Ye Yingtao, who had previously fawned over her and wanted to marry Qi Changming, would turn her back on her so quickly.
"Ye Yingtao!"
She practically clenched her teeth and shouted it out.
"I'm here."
Ye Yingtao, though seemingly sweet-talking, said, "Auntie, don't call me. I can hear you. I'm following orders from the organization to make sure you don't make any mistakes."
"After all, a good woman doesn't marry twice, and a good man shouldn't marry twice either."
"You agree, Comrade Qi Changming?"
Qi Changming hadn't expected Ye Yingtao to change so quickly, and he didn't know how to answer her.
Ye Yingtao then took her leave.
"Commander Qi, are you going back to your post? Could you give me a ride?" She smiled, showing no trace of the big trouble she had been up to earlier.
Upon hearing this, Chen Xiulan's face turned pale, and Qi Changming was equally astonished.
You know, Ye Yingtao used to be clinging to Qi Changming, so why is she now clinging to Qi Donghan?
How shameless!
Qi Donghan saw through Ye Yingtao's predicament; he neither agreed nor denied it.
Ye Yingtao followed Qi Donghan's lead and came out.
Chen Xiulan and Qi Changming had to hold their noses and come out to see them off.
Even worse, Chen Xiulan is now desperate and has resorted to extreme measures. If word gets out that her son's childhood betrothed is out of the question, it's practically confirmed that her son is thinking of marrying the daughter of a high-ranking official.
And now Ye Yingtao is the best daughter-in-law prospect for her.
He is not only better than Meng Yingying, but he can also block Meng Yingying and give her son a pretext to fulfill the marriage agreement.
After making a clear plan.
Chen Xiulan immediately made up her mind, and she even came out to see him off.
Before leaving, she did so in front of everyone.
No, to be more precise, he held Ye Yingtao's wrist affectionately right in front of Qi Donghan.
"Cherry, I know you've misunderstood. Our Changming's childhood betrothal was arranged before he was even born. That's old-fashioned. We live in a new era now. Even the Chairman has said that we should encourage free love, with new people, new things, and a new society. I know about your relationship with Changming."
She patted Ye Yingtao's hand gently, saying, "Don't worry, Auntie will only recognize you as her daughter-in-law."
Ye Yingtao's face stiffened; for the first time, she was defeated by Chen Xiulan's shamelessness.
"Auntie, I won't get involved anymore, lest Comrade Meng Yingying think you're being unfair, and outsiders will think I'm stealing her away."
These words caused Chen Xiulan's smile to falter, and Ye Yingtao seemed unwilling to argue with her any longer, turning and fleeing as if she were running away.
Watching Ye Yingtao's departing figure, Chen Xiulan sneered, then turned to look at her still clueless son, "Ye Yingtao is trying to climb the social ladder, you idiot."
"I still don't understand."
Qi Changming didn't quite believe it. After all, Ye Yingtao had been showing him concern and care during this time, and no one else had come to see him off when he was discharged from the army.
Ye Yingtao not only saw him off, but also went home with him.
Looking at her son like this.
Chen Xiulan pinched her brow, feeling a headache coming on. Even though she didn't like Ye Yingtao, this cunning daughter-in-law, she didn't have many other options now.
If Qi Donghan hadn't stopped Meng Yingying, and she had actually come looking for her, then Ye Yingtao was her backup plan.
Thinking of this, Chen Xiulan broke it down and told Qi Changming, "You should go to your uncle's house and hide for a few days right now."
“Your uncle lives in the railway bureau’s family compound. Outsiders can’t get into that kind of place. Even if Meng Yingying wanted to find you, she wouldn’t be able to.”
"Secondly, I'll contact Ye Yingtao in the next few days and get your marriage certificate processed as soon as possible."
Qi Changming was still somewhat unwilling.
Chen Xiulan looked up and shouted sternly, "Are you stupid? We're in a crisis, and you're still being picky? The news that you have a childhood betrothal has leaked out. Do you think there are many daughters of leaders living in this courtyard who would be interested in you?"
"Without them, Ye Yingtao is now the best person you can approach."
Qi Changming still seemed somewhat clueless.
Chen Xiulan immediately raised her voice, "If you don't marry Ye Yingtao from the art troupe, do you want to marry Meng Yingying from the countryside?"
Compared to Meng Yingying, Qi Changming clearly prefers Ye Yingtao.
Seeing that he didn't object, Chen Xiulan packed her things and saw Qi Changming off, saying, "You should hurry up and go to your uncle's house. I've already spoken to your uncle, so don't show your face for the next few days."
"And what about my dad?"
Qi Changming couldn't help but ask, "I didn't see my dad show up at all during this whole thing."
Chen Xiulan glanced back at him. "Your dad's been away on a business trip lately. Otherwise, do you think I could have done so much?"
Speaking of which...
Chen Xiulan urged, "You should hurry to your uncle's house and get your marriage with Ye Yingtao done before your father comes back. Then, even if your father wants to find fault, he won't be able to."
Qi Changming remained silent, his mind in turmoil.
It was a mixture of annoyance at Meng Yingying's impending arrival and bewilderment at Ye Yingtao's change.
He didn't understand.
How come cherry blossoms change so quickly?
Outside.
After Ye Yingtao went out with Qi Donghan, Qi Donghan drove the team's jeep over. When they arrived at the car door...
Qi Donghan didn't open the car door, but suddenly said, "I'm not going back to the station."
He was going to the state-run restaurant to buy some food for Meng Yingying, whom he would meet tomorrow.
After three days on the train, everyone must have lost several pounds from hunger.
Ye Yingtao paused for a moment. She was a very smart person. She tentatively asked, "Commander Qi, does this mean you dislike me?"
Because he disliked her, he wouldn't even let her get in the car.
Qi Donghan shook his head, stepped into the car, and said in a calm voice, "I don't dislike it, but I don't like it either."
After saying this, he got into his car and drove away in one smooth motion.
Ye Yingtao was not given a chance to explain at all.
Left standing there, Ye Yingtao sighed deeply, "I didn't scheme against you."
She just focused all her scheming on Qi Changming.
Unfortunately, Qi Changming didn't understand, but Qi Donghan did.
What a sin!
Qi Donghan was not lying; he did not return to the garrison but instead went to the state-run restaurant to buy some good things.
The food for the stationed team was poor.
Meng Yingying has come all this way, she must still be hungry.
Since their behavior was inappropriate, Qi Donghan naturally wanted to be more courteous.
To make amends to the woman, Meng Yingying, who had been bullied and disliked by everyone before they even met.
On the other side.
Meng Yingying slept for eight hours straight at the guesthouse. She was woken up by hunger. She rubbed her stomach and went to find the guesthouse's canteen, but it was already past its closing time.
"Comrade, our guesthouse stops serving meals at 8 p.m. You can try asking at the state-run restaurant. If you're lucky, you might be able to buy some big meat buns."
Meng Yingying hesitated, "Is the state-run restaurant far from here?"
"It's not far. Just turn right and walk about 300 meters from the door. You'll know it's a state-run restaurant as soon as you see the sign."
Meng Yingying thanked the other party and then went to the state-run restaurant. Under the night sky, there were two rows of old-fashioned bicycles parked outside the state-run restaurant.
Only one military jeep stood out.
Therefore, Meng Yingying took a few more glances before going in.
She saw a man in military uniform with his back to her, facing the dishes written on the blackboard, calling out to the people inside, "I'm looking for Chef Liu, ask him to save me a roast chicken."
The other person peeked out and suddenly realized, "Chef Liu wants you to go to the kitchen."
Qi Donghan grunted in response, then skillfully lifted the curtain to the kitchen and followed him inside.
Meng Yingying only caught a glimpse of a back view, and couldn't see it very clearly, but she did hear what the other person said.
I thought to myself, connections are useful in any era.
It's this late, and she can't even buy food, while the other person can still buy a roast chicken that was saved for them. It just goes to show how big the gap is between people.
Meng Yingying couldn't help but swallow; she was also a little tempted by the roast chicken.
She'd been here for a month and a half and hadn't eaten yet. Thinking about how she'd finally lost weight, she decided to treat herself to something special.
"Comrade, do you still have roast chicken here?"
She walked to the window and asked a question.
The chubby waiter glanced at her and shook his head. "This roast chicken is reserved for our chef Liu's own people; it's not for sale to the public."
Meng Yingying was somewhat disappointed. "Is there any food left?"
"There's one steamed bun and one twisted roll left. Do you want them?"
Meng Yingying pursed her lips, "Isn't there anything else?"
"That's all. It's already this late, our state-run restaurant is about to close."
Meng Yingying said listlessly, "Then let's have steamed buns and flower rolls."
The chubby waiter didn't even lift his eyelids, and lazily replied, "A white steamed bun is one cent, and a twisted roll is one cent and one jiao. The two together will cost ____ yuan."
Meng Yingying lowered her head and handed over the money and food coupons that she had been holding in her hand, which were almost warm to the touch.
The chubby waiter took it and tossed over a greasy little bamboo tag with a number written on it. "Wait a moment, I'll go get it for you."
The other party went into the kitchen, which meant it was time to close the shop. They also took the unsold steamed buns and twisted rolls to the kitchen.
Meng Yingying waited on the side. The restaurant smelled too strong, neither fragrant nor foul, a mixture of roast chicken and dishcloth. The former smelled so good that her mouth watered.
The latter made her feel nauseous.
Meng Yingying then hid by the window next to her, where she could get some fresh air and watch the window clerk bring out steamed buns and twisted rolls.
After a short wait, the chubby waiter came out and called out, "Comrade, your steamed buns and twisted rolls."
Meng Yingying said "Yes," quickly walked over to take it, and instead of eating it right away, she put it in her bosom and went out the door.
She really couldn't stand the smell in that state-run restaurant for long.
I came out and breathed in the fresh air. It was nine o'clock and dark outside, and there wasn't much of a person around.
The old-fashioned bicycles that used to be parked there have mostly been moved away, except for a tall jeep that remains.
Meng Yingying knew that this car belonged to the comrade who bought the roast chicken before.
The other person was wearing a green military uniform; with broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and long legs, he was a natural clothes hanger, making it hard to ignore.
The other party doesn't seem to have come out yet.
Meng Yingying then walked confidently to the car. She tilted her head and looked out the window, faintly smelling roast chicken under her nose. She swallowed and asked, "Is the treatment at the garrison so good?"
"We can buy roast chicken to eat!"
"Once I'm assigned to the unit, I'll buy roast chicken every day and throw it away after I eat it!"
After saying this, Meng Yingying realized that she had overthought things. Even if she went to the stationed team and joined the cultural troupe, she couldn't just abandon one team for another.
Thinking of this, Meng Yingying sighed, took out a steamed bun from her bosom, took a fierce bite, and said seriously, "Mmm, the roast chicken flavored steamed bun is really delicious."
When someone gets ruthless, they even deceive themselves.
It's no wonder Meng Yingying is like this; since arriving here, she's hardly tasted meat in her efforts to lose weight. After her father's accident, she lost even more interest in meat.
Now that I've moved to a different place and lost weight, I crave certain foods but can't buy them, so I'm really hungry.
Meng Yingying strolled in and strolled away, chanting, "Steamed buns, steamed buns with roast chicken flavor."
"Life has become more prosperous, and there is hope for the future."
After she left.
Qi Donghan then rolled down the car window. In the darkness, he stared at Meng Yingying's slender back, his mind filled with nothing but steamed buns, steamed buns, steamed buns with the flavor of roast chicken.
He murmured, "Steamed Bun Girl."
-----------------------
Author's note: Someone: My wife is so cute!
P.S.: This column has quite a few completed historical fiction stories; feel free to check them out if you're interested!
P.S. I'll be uploading the clip on the 21st, but to improve my ranking, the update will be delayed a bit.
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The beautiful widow is an eighth-grade fitter.
Copywriting:
Meng Shuiqing is the only female level-eight fitter in China. After receiving the Global Women's Outstanding Award, she put on her uniform.
She transmigrated into the body of a beautiful widow in a tenement courtyard during the Cultural Revolution. She was beautiful and fair-skinned, but timid and cowardly. Her husband had died, and she was raising two children alone. She was coveted by the men in the courtyard, and in order to support her children, she had to navigate among these men.
She married three times in her life. Each husband was attracted to her beauty and indulged in her body, but at the same time, he found her too flashy and too burdensome, and eventually abandoned her.
Meng Shuiqing: Hehe, men, men will only affect her career!
*
After transmigrating, Meng Shuiqing set her sights on the Capital Machinery Factory. When news of the factory's recruitment assessment came, she submitted her application form.
The men in the courtyard who were eyeing her couldn't help but laugh: "Meng Shuiqing, you still want to work in the factory? Can you even tighten a wrench?"
Her elder brother from her maternal family also chimed in, "Shuiqing, it's the right thing for you to remarry obediently. Don't go out and embarrass yourself!"
Meng Shuiqing remained silent, only continuing to climb upwards.
On the assessment field, he faced ridicule from everyone.
Shen Rui easily and calmly resolved the problem of that precision faulty part, which even the factory's most skilled level eight craftsmen couldn't handle.
Everyone, "?"
Is this the frail Meng Shuiqing?
Later, Meng Shuiqing climbed all the way to a high position and once again became the only female level eight fitter.
The children idolized her.
Her family was proud of her.
Those men who once coveted her didn't even have the courage to look her in the eye; they could only lower their heads and respectfully call out, "Engineer Meng."
Even the powerful and influential factory director Yan in the book followed suit, his gaze lingering on Meng, "Where you go in the future, I'll go. I'll be your factory director, okay?"
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