Chapter 2: Breaking Off The Engagement
Lu Qiaoge’s glance was sharp, her voice ice-cold: “Liang Aishu, from now on, our engagement is canceled, and from this point forward we have no relationship.”
She was in a hurry to go to the Xiangyang Neighborhood Committee to see if the exam still held any hope.
After all, it was now 1975, and a job was still very important.
She said to her parents Old Lu and his wife: “Parents, I need to go to the Xiangyang Neighborhood Committee first. You all hurry up and handle the engagement cancellation. We’ll talk about the rest when I get back at noon.”
After speaking, Lu Qiaoge glanced at the calico cat that had arched its back as if glaring at her, but didn’t look at Liang Aishu again. She quickly walked downstairs.
With Lu Qiaoge’s departure, the hospital ward immediately fell silent.
Granny Zhao had a good impression of Liang Aishu. Although he was entangled with Shen Yun, who could blame him—Liang Aishu had always been popular with girls since he was young.
She kindly comforted him: “Qiao Ge is just angry for the moment. If you explain well, maybe she’ll calm down.”
Mother Lu, who had gone to chase after her daughter but failed to catch up and returned, sternly interrupted: “What do you mean just for the moment? Old Zhao, don’t meddle. Liang Aishu, actually you’ve always looked down on my daughter, but because of this engagement set by your grandpa, you had no choice but to go along with it. I endured it before, but after today’s incident, the engagement must be canceled.”
Old Zhao saw that Mother Lu was truly angry.
He wisely shut his mouth.
Liang Aishu’s face darkened, his heart full of shame and anger. Lu Qiaoge hadn’t given him any face at all, so he had no need to keep up appearances either.
This was her own doing.
At this moment, Lu Qiaoge was already hurrying along the wall toward the Xiangyang Neighborhood Committee.
【Chirp chirp, the old ladies at the neighborhood committee are arguing.】
Lu Qiaoge suddenly stopped in her tracks.
She followed the sound and looked toward the big poplar tree by the roadside.
She saw several sparrows perched on the tree, chatting.
【They argue every day. If they don’t argue, the residents will come find them to argue.】
【Today is different from usual. Old Hu got angry and said Old Huang has no principles and is letting emotions cloud his judgment.】
【Didn’t Old Huang also explain that Lu Qiaoge fell into water and was sent to the hospital, which is why she missed the exam?】
【Before I flew back, I heard Old Hu say he’d only wait fifteen minutes. If Lu Qiaoge doesn’t come, the recommendation quota will be void.】
Old Hu was the director of the neighborhood committee, Old Huang was the deputy director and also her mother’s good sister. This recruitment opportunity was one she had fought hard to secure.
Lu Qiaoge broke into a run.
She sped along this tree-lined path like the wind.
In less than ten minutes, Lu Qiaoge arrived at the gate of the Xiangyang Neighborhood Committee.
After stopping, she caught her breath. Just then, Aunt Huang came out and spotted Lu Qiaoge at once. She asked about her situation and, knowing she was fine, immediately breathed a sigh of relief. She pulled her into the room.
“You finally made it. This time the recruitment method has changed. The authorities took some recently backlog disputes and turned them into exam questions. Yours is one that others picked over, but it’s not too hard to handle. Qiao Ge, you have to give it your all. Even if you get eliminated, don’t make it too embarrassing—there might be other opportunities later.”
“This is your temporary work permit, valid for three days. Qiao Ge, you’re just one of the recommendation quotas. Who stays in the end will depend on your ability to handle the dispute and the feedback this time.”
“Hurry and look over the dispute details. Oh, and thank Director Hu.”
Aunt Huang spoke in a rapid, urgent string, but Lu Qiaoge immediately thanked the stern-faced Director Hu.
Then Lu Qiaoge took the work permit and a sheet of paper and obediently stood aside to read it.
The 516 Military Factory had over ten thousand workers and several tens of thousands of staff family members, currently covered by two neighborhood committees.
The Xiangyang Neighborhood Committee was bustling with people coming and going, handling all sorts of major and minor matters, trifles great and small—there were simply too many.
Lu Qiaoge quickly scanned the dispute details.
After divorcing Zhao Qing in Workshop Four, he remarried soon after. The procedures were normal with no issues. The problem was that his ex-wife was still living in his house and refused to move out.
Zhao Qing’s current wife, Duan Xiaoxiang, came to the neighborhood committee hoping they would step in and persuade her to leave.
She was now Zhao Qing’s wife, but with Zhao Qing’s ex-wife not leaving, Zhao Qing didn’t dare go home.
The resolution for this dispute was simply for Sun Qin to take her child and move out.
Lu Qiaoge went to find Aunt Huang again and humbly asked for advice: “Aunt Huang, I heard that Zhao Qing married his sister-in-law. Is that true?”
Aunt Huang choked for a moment, glared at Lu Qiaoge, and lowered her voice: “It’s true, but pretend you don’t know. Go quickly to check the situation, talk nicely with Sun Qin, don’t stimulate her. If things look off, get out of there fast.”
Then she sighed: “Actually, this is the hardest one to complete. Never mind, do your best.”
Lu Qiaoge blinked her eyes and also felt it was very difficult.
Sun Qin and her daughter both had rural household registrations. Although she worked in logistics, she was only a temporary worker. If not for being military factory family, once she left the Zhao Family, she’d have to go back to her hometown to farm.
The neighborhood committee also valued personal connections. They promised to find her a place to live and keep her job for now, without forcing them back to the countryside.
But Sun Qin still refused.
Lu Qiaoge spoke earnestly: “Thank you leaders for this opportunity. I will make every effort to complete it.”
Director Hu’s expression softened a bit.
He moderated his tone: “If you run into difficulties, come back and tell us. Your attitude must be good. Got it?”
Lu Qiaoge obediently agreed.
The neighborhood committee was expanding recruitment, and the authorities had given two slots.
But there were now 30 recommendation quotas, and 28 had to be cut.
Lu Qiaoge checked the time—it was still enough to go to the Zhao Family and check the situation.
In no time at all, she arrived at the home of technician Zhao Qing from Workshop Four.
The 516 Military Factory Family Courtyard was huge, like a small city.
There were apartment buildings and bungalows.
Zhao Qing lived in Unit 45, District Three, on the first floor.
Old Mrs. Zhao opened the door and frowned upon seeing Lu Qiaoge.
Lu Qiaoge immediately smiled brightly and introduced herself: “Grandma Zhao, I’m a clerk temporarily hired by the Xiangyang Neighborhood Committee. Director Hu sent me to ask Comrade Sun a few things.”
Old Mrs. Zhao had bound feet. Though it was early summer, she was still wearing a black jacket with side fastenings.
Her glance was harsh; she clearly wasn’t easy to get along with.
The information showed Old Mrs. Zhao had two sons, with Zhao Qing being the second brother.
Zhao Qing’s older brother had died in an accident last year, and his wife Duan Xiaoxiang was preparing to remarry with their two sons.
Old Mrs. Zhao treasured those two grandsons like the apple of her eye—how could she agree?
It was said Old Mrs. Zhao threatened to die, and the end result was Zhao Qing divorcing his wife Sun Qin.
On the very day of the divorce, he got the marriage certificate with his sister-in-law Duan Xiaoxiang.
Was there no one to criticize?
There were plenty who criticized.
But since Sun Qin agreed, even the leaders couldn’t say much. However, who would have thought Sun Qin would agree to the divorce but refuse to leave the home.
Lu Qiaoge glanced around the Zhao Family home.
Zhao Qing was the chief technician in Workshop Four, and the house allocated to him wasn’t small—about fifty square meters or so.
At this time, Zhao Qing wasn’t home.
Someone was busy in the kitchen—it was two figures, one large and one small.
The aroma of stir-frying vegetables wafted out from inside.
Duan Xiaoxiang, who had just gotten off work, was sitting on the sofa with her legs crossed, filing her nails.
Lu Qiaoge directly asked: “Is Comrade Sun Qin home?”
A woman with a haggard but neat and tidy appearance walked out from the kitchen.
Sun Qin looked up at Lu Qiaoge. Before Lu Qiaoge could even speak, she said softly: “I’m not moving out.”
