After spending the first night cautiously, Zhao Pandi found the village committee office the next day. As a college graduate, finding a job shouldn't be difficult for her.
But when she saw the way the village chief looked at her, Zhao Pandi's heart tightened.
“Brother Pan! It’s not that I don’t want to help you, but as you know, there are only these kinds of jobs in the village, and they all have specific purposes. There’s no job that can keep you working for more than a month!”
The village chief, puffing on his hookah, glanced at Zhao Pandi dismissively.
"Village chief, I can work in the fields to earn work points, but the village can lend me some grain first, and then..."
Zhao Pandi wanted to borrow grain from the village, but the village chief's eyes turned even colder upon hearing that he wanted to borrow grain.
“Brother Pan! You know how tough things have been in the village these past few years. Every household is struggling to make ends meet. Where can we borrow grain from you?”
The village chief glanced at Zhao Pandi with a cold look; she wasn't worth much.
He's just a college student, what good can he be?
Besides, whether she could even finish her studies was another question! Unable to pay the tuition, she would still have to drop out of university and go home.
She's just a girl, why doesn't she find a man to marry and instead wants to borrow grain?
How will she repay this debt?
“I’m practically your father, so take my advice: apologize to your mother and obediently get married! That’s all you are, at least you can have a decent life.”
The village chief glanced at Zhao Pandi; after a few months at university, he had gotten quite fair-skinned.
She used to be a notorious dark-skinned woman in the village, and no man would want her.
It looks much better now.
Finding a man to marry is not a problem.
"If you've thought it through, I can introduce you to some young men! You don't need to worry about your mother anymore, and you can keep the bride price yourself. Ask for a smaller bride price, and I'm sure there will be some young men willing to marry you!"
The village chief's words plunged Zhao Pandi into despair.
If she doesn't behave, she won't even have a chance to survive in the village.
The village chief meant for her to obediently marry someone, with a lower dowry, and to wait for someone else to choose her.
Zhao Pandi walked out of the office with a heavy heart.
On the way back to the dilapidated temple, they encountered many aunties, whose eyes were filled with contempt when they saw Zhao Pandi.
"Pan Di! How can you be so insensible? You're just a girl, in the end you'll still have to find a man to marry, won't you?"
"Exactly, why are you making such a fuss?"
"Besides, you don't even have a family to rely on now, what are you still holding on for? Hurry up and go home and apologize to your mother!"
"Hey Blackie, you're not as dark-skinned as you used to be, but your brain isn't working properly anymore. You actually want to keep studying? Have you gone crazy from studying?"
"What's the point of a girl studying so much? The only useful thing about you is your belly. As long as you marry a man and have a son, your position in the family will be secure!"
"That's right, how can you not understand such a simple principle?"
"Why did you have to separate the family? Now look what's happened, you can't even get food! I wonder how you're going to survive in the village!"
Zhao Pandi listened to their remarks and glanced at them indifferently.
Ignore them and walk past them.
They were brainwashed by the village elders from a young age, who believed that a woman's only value was to carry on the family line.
Zhao Pandi didn't even have the heart to argue with them, because that's how their world is, and their sense of right and wrong is all based on the reasons instilled in them by men.
Having a daughter is useless.
A woman's greatest achievement in life is to find a man to marry and have a son.
Women are expected to be filial to their elders, take care of their children, and manage everything at home so that their husbands can be comfortable.
For them, there is only one path for a woman.
Zhao Pandi's pitying look immediately caused an uproar among the group of wives and aunts.
"What's there to be arrogant about after all this!"
"I'll just watch her starve to death!"
"snort!"
Zhao Pandi returned to the dilapidated temple. She hadn't eaten all day and was starving.
Luckily, I bought two large flatbreads on the way back, and they've been in my bag ever since.
Zhao Pandi carefully broke off a piece; the flatbread was hard and dry, and she choked until her eyes reddened.
She forced back her tears.
She was right. She couldn't admit defeat. Xia Lan said she absolutely couldn't admit defeat.
She must persevere!
With these feelings in mind, Zhao Pandi sat in the corner, hugging her knees and shrinking into herself...
Xia Lan and Qin Yu arrived in the city where Zhao Pandi lived. Wang Xiaoling was carrying Gou Dan, and Qin Yu was carrying the luggage of both families. The group stood at the station entrance.
Wang Xiaoling looked around, searching for her husband.
"Wasn't this person supposed to come pick me up? Where is he?"
Wang Xiaoling said urgently.
"Don't worry, sister-in-law, your brother is definitely on his way."
Xia Lan reassured her.
Just as Xia Lan finished speaking, a military vehicle braked suddenly, the screeching sound of its tires against the ground causing everyone to frown and look over.
The military vehicle came to a steady stop at the station entrance.
A man in military uniform jumped out of the car and looked around anxiously.
"Zhang Zhen!"
Wang Xiaoling saw the man and shouted happily.
"Xiao Ling!!"
Upon seeing his wife, Wang Zhen immediately rushed over, and breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that she was safe and sound.
"Why are you so late!"
Wang Xiaoling glared at him, looking aggrieved.
"I was wrong, I was wrong. I had a last-minute mission, and I rushed over as soon as I finished it! Have you been waiting for me for a long time?"
Zhang Zhen looked at Wang Xiaoling and quickly took his son from her arms.
"Hey, it's me, my Gou Dan! I've grown so big!"
Zhang Zhen said happily.
"Old Zhang, these are Comrade Qin Yu and Comrade Xia Lan. They helped me a lot on the train, especially your son! That brat really gave me a hard time."
Wang Xiaoling quickly tugged at Zhang Zhen, indicating that there were other people beside him.
Hearing his wife's explanation, Zhang Zhen grinned at Xia Lan and Qin Yu.
"Hello, I'm Zhang Zhen. Thank you for taking care of my wife and son!"
Xia Lan looked at Zhang Zhen, whose burly and strong physique could not be hidden even in military uniform.
As Wang Xiaoling said, it must be someone who usually has a stern face, with a deep wrinkle between their brows.
"You're welcome. It's not easy for you to take care of the child alone. I'll help you if I can."
Xia Lan smiled at Zhang Zhen. Looking at him, he really did resemble Qin Yu quite a bit.
When Zhang Zhen looked at Qin Yu, his eyes widened in surprise!
"Instructor!"
Zhang Zhen saluted Qin Yu solemnly, his voice particularly loud.
"Long time no see, Xiao Zhenzi!"
Qin Yu's eyes were slightly red as he looked at Zhang Zhen, his eyes filled with nostalgia.
"You...know each other?"
Xia Lan looked at Qin Yu and asked in surprise.
"This is my drill instructor when I enlisted! He used to train me! If it weren't for his guidance, I wouldn't be where I am today!"
Zhang Zhen excitedly explained to Xia Lan.
Back when he was just a soldier, Qin Yu was in charge of his class. Because of the strict and demanding training, they always secretly called him the "devil instructor".
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