Chapter 8: Favoritist Parents
Lu Qiaoge wasn’t sure if Qin Hengzhi’s people were watching from the shadows. After the calico cat that had run out to inquire about news returned, Lu Qiaoge finally confirmed that there were indeed a large number of steel billets at the lake bottom.
She pondered how the thief had sunk them into the lake bottom while telling Lu Xiaosi: “No more fishing, let’s use the net bag to scoop up fish.”
Lu Qiaoge wasn’t very enthusiastic. What if she fished up one that could talk? Should she eat it or not?
Small shrimp had no inner voice and wouldn’t grow big, and the rice fish here also wouldn’t grow big. It seemed they needed more years for that.
The calico cat had never imagined that one day humans would scoop fish for it to eat. Its round eyes sparkled, and drool was about to flow down.
Lu Xiaosi was very obedient and gave the net bag to Lu Qiaoge. Lu Qiaoge focused and listened for a while. She discovered she could sense the position of the rice fish school. Once she sensed them, that school of rice fish swam more slowly.
In less than half an hour, they scooped up half a bucket of rice fish and small shrimp. Two that could emit inner voices were thrown back by Lu Qiaoge.
One of them was a black catfish chasing the rice fish. After falling into the water, it even cried: 【You scared the hell out of me!】
Lu Qiaoge: ……
Once confirmed, it was time to go. After all, this location was a bit sensitive.
Unexpectedly, she ran into Shen Yun on the way.
Lu Qiaoge didn’t want to deal with her and prepared to ignore her and walk past, but Shen Yun blocked her way.
Her eyes were red and swollen, looking somewhat haggard and disheveled.
Her voice carried malice: “Lu Qiaoge, I never realized you were so vicious. You ruined my reputation and Brother Aishu’s. What good does it do you? Brother Aishu hates you to death now. You want to salvage it? Impossible.”
Lu Qiaoge taunted Shen Yun with a glance: “You deliberately pulled me into the water. I haven’t settled that score with you yet, and you have the nerve to come accuse me of being vicious?”
“Reputation?”
“You like Liang Aishu? Just tell me directly. After all, we’ve known each other for so many years. I’d definitely make it happen for you two. But what did you do? You went behind my back, flirting and hooking up with him. Tell me, which of you two is any good? Both despicably shameless to the extreme.”
“Yesterday you deliberately kept me from taking the exam, deliberately let me see Liang Aishu holding you and wiping your tears, deliberately stimulated me then pulled me into the water. Now you come to me for reputation? Do you think I’m still the fool I was?”
“Shen Yun, go home and look in the mirror. See if that face of yours is still there.”
With that, she shoved her aside: “Good dogs don’t block the way. Get lost!”
Shen Yun hadn’t expected Lu Qiaoge to be so sharp-tongued. She was momentarily stunned. After being pushed by Lu Qiaoge, she reacted, her face turning ashen. Seeing the passersby’s odd glances, she swayed in shame and fury.
Her fingers trembled, unable to utter a word for a long time.
Lu Qiaoge indifferently pulled her dazed little brother and headed home.
Shen Yun watched Lu Qiaoge’s leisurely back, her eyes full of malice. Damn Lu Qiaoge, how did she become so ruthless and vicious?
Want to enter the neighborhood committee, want an iron rice bowl?
As long as she was at the military factory for one day, Lu Qiaoge would never turn her life around!
At the same time, Sun Qin brought the praise letter to the neighborhood committee.
She first thanked each of the street cadres in the office one by one, then gave the letter to Director Hu.
She earnestly said: “Director Hu, this praise letter is for the various leaders of the neighborhood committee and Lu Qiaoge. I truly thank Lu Qiaoge for resolving my dilemma. Otherwise, besides shamelessly staying at the Zhao family, my daughter and I had only the path of death.”
Director Hu hurriedly said: “No matter what you encounter, you must believe in the leaders, believe in the organization, and believe that there’s always a way forward when you reach the mountain. Don’t think narrowly.”
Sun Qin said she certainly wouldn’t overthink, but she was very grateful to Lu Qiaoge. She was very satisfied with yesterday’s handling result. If scored, it would definitely be full marks.
At this time, Lu Qiaoge still didn’t know Sun Qin had gone to the neighborhood committee. She and her little brother stood at the doorway without moving.
Meng Xia had returned, but she wasn’t alone in the courtyard. There was also a travel-worn young woman and a sullen old woman, with several large bundles beside them.
At that moment, the young woman was angrily complaining: “Mom, now many people are arranging to return to the city. I’m also waiting day and night for you to pick me up.
I’ve suffered so much in the countryside, and even dragged Grandma to suffer with me. Shouldn’t that recommendation quota from the neighborhood committee go to me?
You’re not only biased but heartless. Get this straight: I went to the countryside in place of my second sister. Why does the recommendation quota go to her instead of me?”
Lu Xiaosi was a bit tense but still weakly shouted: “Grandma, Third Sister.”
Lu Qiaoge recalled.
That young woman was the original owner’s third sister, Lu Qiaoling. It was from two years ago.
The two sisters were only a year apart. Back then, one was 16 and the other Then the Educated Youth Office notified the Lu family that they must send a daughter to the countryside.
Lu Qiaoge was already engaged then, and Lu Qiaoling didn’t want to go. Lu Qiaoge was even more unwilling. Liang Aishu was in university; if she went, the marriage would likely fall through.
The Lu family parents were also in a dilemma. Then Lu Qiaoge played rock paper scissors with Lu Qiaoling. Yes, it was that childish, but there really was no better method at the time.
In the end, Lu Qiaoge won. Lu Qiaoling cried and went to the countryside. Old Mrs. Lu forced Old Lu to find people to arrange for her to join the team in the hometown. Old Mrs. Lu was worried and went along too.
Not long ago, Meng Xia had even asked Lu Da to find a way to bring the third daughter back.
Lu Qiaoling wiped her tears and hatefully said: “I don’t care. I’d rather jump into the river than go back to the rural area.”
Meng Xia angrily clutched her chest and sat silently under the tree.
Lu Qiaoge pushed open the main door and called out “Grandma.”
Lu Qiaoling hadn’t expected her second sister to return. Those words just now must have been heard. She wiped her tears, somewhat guiltily pursed her lips, and leaned closer to Grandma.
Lu Qiaoge walked forward and said to Lu Qiaoling: “Let’s not talk about other things first. About going to the countryside, it wasn’t you substituting for me. We agreed one round decides win or lose, but you lost and said three rounds. You lost again. In the end, we did nine times.”
Lu Qiaoling, who had been somewhat guilty, saw Lu Qiaoge approach and noticed her second sister’s beautiful features, even prettier than before. Suddenly she felt both aggrieved and jealous.
Because she felt she’d become so rustic and ugly from the countryside.
“I don’t care. By age, it should have been you going to the countryside. I’ve already stayed in the countryside for two years. I’ll die before I go back.”
Lu Qiaoling started acting shamelessly, stomping her feet and crying.
But Lu Qiaoge puzzledly asked: “Who told you about the recommendation quota?”
She was certain no one at home had said.
Meng Xia also looked up at Old Mrs. Lu.
Lu Qiaoling huffed angrily: “If you don’t want people to know, then don’t do it.”
Old Mrs. Lu rubbed her forehead: “Two days ago, someone called the brigade office. I don’t know who. Qiaoling heard you’d found a job for Qiaoge and cried all night. The next day she took a pesticide bottle and threatened me. What could I do? I had to bring her back.”
Then, without looking at Lu Qiaoge, she only said to Meng Xia: “I’m telling you, this quota should have gone to Qiaoling. Qiaoge already has a good marriage prospect. You need to figure out a way to get Qiaoling back to the city. I’ve never seen such biased parents.”
