Chapter 19: The Evidence

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I wonder if Madam Jiang would die of fury if she heard Fang Xinrou calling her that, Xu Qinghuan thought despite herself.

“She is the marriage arranged for Chengxu by the main branch of the family. Whether she has a job or not is none of my Jiang family’s concern. Once she marries into the household, it is enough that we do not begrudge her another pair of chopsticks.

“Your sister was already unhappy about this engagement. If I meddle any further, I will only make him even angrier.”

Fang Xinrou smiled sweetly. “Brother Youliang is so good to Sister. I’m getting jealous!”

Jiang Youliang was completely enchanted. Seeing that no one was around, he quickly lowered his head and brushed a kiss over the tip of the woman’s nose. She immediately wrapped both arms around his waist and let out a soft, breathless sigh.

“I’ll wait for you tonight.”

Her voice was soft and tingling. Xu Qinghuan’s entire body broke out in gooseflesh.

Jiang Youliang was hurrying to work and headed toward the end of the lane. Xu Qinghuan quickly turned away. When she reached a secluded spot, she pulled the photograph from the instant camera. It showed Jiang Youliang bending down to kiss Fang Xinrou in profile.

Both their profiles were exceptionally clear, and the infatuation and tenderness in their expressions were deeply moving.

On Fang Xinrou’s wrist, resting against Jiang Youliang’s waist, was a brand-new Longines watch. A glimmer flashed from its face—the dazzling brilliance of diamonds.

What a bargain for the two of them. And this was even a color photograph.

Xu Qinghuan knew that tomorrow was Wednesday, Madam Jiang’s day off. She decided to go directly to the Jiang residence. After all, no one carried their son’s engagement contract around with them.

By the time she returned from Yuzhong Road, dusk had already fallen. Xu Qinghuan went upstairs. The Xu family was just about to eat, and everyone looked toward the door when they heard her arrive.

“You finally decided to come back. You only return at mealtime—do you know the way home only when there’s food?” Xu Hongtu, the Xu family’s third son, sneered.

Xu Manman smiled. “Oh, Third Brother, don’t say that about Sister. She’s been looking for work, after all. It must be exhausting, running around every day! Oh, right, Sister, did you know the lighting factory is hiring?”

Xu Qinghuan lifted her eyes and gave her a glance.

Xu Manman did not wait for her answer. She exclaimed in surprise, “Oh my goodness, could it be that Brother Chengxu didn’t tell you?”

Wang Mingxia hurriedly said, “Chengxu didn’t tell your sister, and you couldn’t even mention it to her? You know she’s frantic with worry, looking for work every day. You knew where they were hiring and still said nothing. Do you even regard your sister as your sister?”

Xu Manman immediately looked remorseful. “Brother Chengxu only took me there to register today. How was I supposed to know that, after all those years of love between you and Brother Chengxu, he would be so ruthless? Sister, you really shouldn’t have broken off the engagement. Brother Chengxu must be furious.”

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Xu Qinghuan was about to enter her room when she stopped. Turning her head, she said, “If I hadn’t broken off the engagement, how could I have made room for you? Do you want people outside to say that two sisters fought over a scumbag until both of them were battered and bloody?

“You have no shame, but I still do!”

The entire family fell silent as though someone had struck their acupoints. Even Wang Mingxia flushed scarlet with embarrassment.

Xu Manman’s eyes filled with aggrieved tears. Sobbing, she said, “Sister, what do you mean? When did I ever seduce Brother Chengxu? When did I ever try to steal him from you? There has always been nothing improper between us. You are the one who has constantly slandered us!

“What does it have to do with me that Brother Chengxu didn’t tell you about the job? It was clearly because you offended him. That’s why he refused to tell you they were hiring!”

Xu Liqun slammed his palm on the table. “Qinghuan, apologize to Manman at once!”

Wang Mingxia said, “That’s right. You’re sisters. Why use such ugly words? If people outside heard you, we would all be disgraced!”

There were many things one could do—but never say aloud.

Xu Qinghuan paused. “Uncle Second, does Manman not want to marry Jiang Chengxu? If she doesn’t, then I will. I’m unemployed anyway. Tomorrow I’ll go tell him that I’ve changed my mind and no longer want to break off the engagement. We can set the wedding date as soon as possible.”

She paused, then added, “Last time, Chengxu even told me that we could marry first and wait until we were old enough to register the marriage. I thought that was a good idea too.”

“How could that work?” Xu Manman shrieked.

Xu Qinghuan gave her a meaningful look. Xu Manman stiffened, finally realizing how shameless she sounded. “I mean, who would throw herself at a man and beg to marry him?”

Xu Qinghuan could not be bothered to answer her. Just as she was about to enter her room, Wang Mingxia called after her again.

“Your mother said you should call her back as soon as possible.”

Jiang Chengxu must have complained about her to Song Wanlin.

Xu Qinghuan made no response and walked straight into her room. There was no chance she would call back. She had nothing to say to that woman.

“Aren’t you going to eat?” Wang Mingxia asked hastily.

“No, I’m not,” Xu Qinghuan replied.

Xu Hongwei said unhappily, “Who are you putting on that face for? You couldn’t even hold on to your own fiancé’s heart, and now you blame everyone else? Fine, don’t eat. If you’re capable, then never eat again!”

For some reason, seeing the tightly closed bedroom door made Xu Hongwei feel stifled.

Xu Qinghuan had never been like this before. Whenever she came home, she would sweetly and obediently greet each of her brothers. She would even act spoiled with him. Now, however, the look she gave them was cold and distant, as though she were looking at familiar strangers.

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Wang Mingxia felt uncomfortable as well, but when she glanced at her daughter, she could only force that helplessness down into the depths of her heart.

She could not possibly wrong her own daughter for the sake of a niece who was not related to her by blood.

Early the next morning, Xu Qinghuan rose earlier than usual. She was determined to eat breakfast at the state-run restaurant first. The examination began at nine, and the results were usually announced that very day.

As luck would have it, the state-run restaurant had fried dough sticks and soybean milk that morning. Xu Qinghuan joined the queue and ordered five fried dough sticks, two bowls of sweet soybean milk, and three sweet flatbreads.

The fried dough sticks of this era contained no additives, no recycled cooking oil, and none of the dubious shortcuts used in later years. They were authentic in flavor—crispy, fragrant, and tender, with a wonderful texture.

The soybean milk was richly fragrant as well, smooth and velvety on the tongue, delicate and full-bodied.

Xu Qinghuan ate one fried dough stick, one sweet flatbread, and a bowl of soybean milk. She packed up the rest to take with her, then left the state-run restaurant with one hand resting on her round, full stomach.

When she arrived at the gates of the lighting factory, she was surprised to find that Jiang Chengxu and Xu Manman had arrived even earlier.

Jiang Chengxu was riding a heavy-duty bicycle, while Xu Manman sat on the back, eating fried dough sticks wrapped in oiled paper. They had clearly been packed up in advance.

There was no need to guess. Jiang Chengxu had gone to pick up Xu Manman early that morning and brought her breakfast.

Fortunately, half the engagement had already been broken off.

Now Xu Qinghuan only wanted to settle the matter of the job as quickly as possible and destroy the engagement contract at the earliest opportunity.

“Qinghuan, over here!” called Zhou Xinyan, the round-faced girl.

Jiang Chengxu and Xu Manman, who had been talking with their heads lowered, abruptly looked up. Both were utterly incredulous.

“Brother Chengxu, so you secretly told Sister that this place was hiring!” Xu Manman said, her smile more painful than tears.

Jiang Chengxu, however, did not notice her expression. He hurriedly pushed his bicycle over and asked Xu Qinghuan, “What are you doing here? Who told you they were hiring?”

He had gone to great lengths to find out that the lighting factory was hiring these next two days.

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