They were from the same faculty and the same batch. They had their classes in the same classroom.

  Qiao Nan would often be called upon to answer the questions in class. Yu Xiaoxiao knew that Qiao Nan did very well in class.

  If she wanted to get a scholarship, it would mean that Qiao Nan was her fierce rival.

  Not only must she get the scholarship, but she must also have the highest possible results.

  It was a good thing that Qiao Nan was reading books related to psychology instead of her own major.

  Yu Xiaoxiao relaxed and concentrated on her revision.

  She had to do more revision now. It was her chance to do better than Qiao Nan.

  Qiao Nan wanted to overcome the negative influence that Ding Jiayi had on her. That was why she decided to read up on psychology books and sort out her thoughts. She had no idea that Yu Xiaoxiao would overthink as a result of that.

  There were many things in the world that would not turn out as what one wished.

  “The exams are finally over.”

  “Qiao Nan, all the exams are over. We intend to relax ourselves tonight. Do you want to join us?”

  A few female students greeted Qiao Nan, asking her to have fun with them.

  Qiao Nan gave them a friendly smile. It was not her intention to be a loner, but she turned out to be one. “Thank you, but I have already bought a train ticket to go home tonight. I am sorry. If there is a chance, let’s have fun when school reopens.”

  “Okay. You have agreed to join us after school reopens. You must not reject us then.” The female students were not unhappy that Qiao Nan rejected them. They did not feel that Qiao Nan was looking down on them either. Instead, they agreed to ask her out next time.

  Qiao Nan did not have any cliques in the school. Apart from the students in the club, she seldom made new friends. Moreover, she did not live in the school’s dormitory. Therefore, it was not surprising that she was a loner.

  \r \r \r

  Qiao Nan was well-known in the school, and the new English club was getting more and more popular in Peking University. As a result, more and more people noticed Qiao Nan, the freshman who was the secretary of the new English club.

  Initially, many people felt that Qiao Nan looked down on them as she was indifferent to them.

  But when all the students were revising for their exams, someone noticed that Qiao Nan prepared good revision notes, and when asked to lend the notes, Qiao Nan agreed right away.

  When one had yet to know someone, one would feel that the person was arrogant and aloof. But upon knowing the person, one would realize that it was not as what one had imagined.

  Perhaps it was because Qiao Nan was much more approachable than what they had imagined. After getting to know her, there were fewer rumors that Qiao Nan was cold and indifferent. Some students would also take the initiative to ask Qiao Nan to join them in their activities.

  The semester was ending soon, but at the very least, after Shi Qing transferred to PLA National Defence University, Qiao Nan finally had someone to share the table with during meals.

  “Sure, see you next year when school reopens,” Qiao Nan waved to the female students and said her Lunar New Year greetings to her boss at the Palace Museum before rushing back to the Lin family’s residence. She took her luggage that she had packed beforehand and went to catch the train.

  In the early 2000s, the trains were very crowded during the Spring Festival travel season.

  Thankfully, Lin Yuankang had told his pupil to buy the ticket for Qiao Nan once the train ticket for her intended departure date was up for sale. Otherwise, she might not be able to get a train ticket to go back home on the day her exams ended.

  It was good to have someone help her with the train tickets.

  Qiao Nan not only managed to buy the train ticket, but her seniors also purchased a soft berth ticket for her.

  At least, Qiao Nan would not need to go through too much suffering on her journey back home.

  Qiao Nan had an overnight train ticket. She could sleep through the night and she would reach Ping Cheng the next morning at around ten o’clock.

  “Nan Nan, over here!” Qiao Dongliang spotted his daughter right away among the throngs of crowds.

  “Dad!” Qiao Nan’s eyes lit up. She carried the luggage and rushed toward Qiao Dongliang. “Dad, didn’t I tell you that I would reach at around ten o’clock? How long have you been waiting here? Are you cold?”

  Qiao Nan’s heart ached at the thought of her father waiting for her in the cold.

  He was her biological father.

  “I am not cold. I only waited for a short while. Is the luggage heavy? Give me the luggage. I will carry it.” Qiao Dongliang beamed at Qiao Nan. He used one hand to carry the luggage and he took a paper bag out from the pocket of his cotton coat with another hand. “You must be cold. It’s still hot. Have a bite.”

  Qiao Nan cradled the paper bag in her hands. She was excited at the soft touch. “Is it baked sweet potatoes?”

  “Yes. I bought it for you. Let’s go home.” Qiao Dongliang knew that his daughter loved baked sweet potatoes. He checked that she was about to reach and he squeezed out of the crowd to buy them.

  It was windy and nobody would board the train at the pick-up location. Therefore, although it was a slight hassle, it was easy for Qiao Dongliang to make his way in and out. “It’s good that the train did not arrive late.”

  “Hahaha. Perhaps I am lucky.” Qiao Nan smiled as she ate the sweet potatoes. “It is well-baked. It is very soft and tasty.”

  “I told the boss to pick the good ones for me.” Qiao Dongliang was glad that Qiao Nan loved it. “The bicycle is here.”

  “Dad, is this suitable?”

  “Of course it is.” Qiao Dongliang smiled confidently. “Didn’t you know that back then……”

  Back then, he rode the model ’28’ bicycle with his whole family. Nan Nan sat on the wooden plank in front, while Ding Jiayi and Zijin sat on the seat behind. The family of four rode the bicycle to watch movies.

  However, Qiao Dongliang stopped in mid-sentence. It was inappropriate to bring this up now.

  Back then, Ding Jiayi was already biased toward Qiao Zijin.

  Qiao Nan was younger than Qiao Zijin by two years. The mother sat at the back, cradling the elder daughter, while the younger daughter sat at the front in the wind.

  Qiao Dongliang dismissed those thoughts and patted on the back seat. “Nan Nan, have a seat first.”

  Qiao Nan knew what Qiao Dongliang was about to say. She did not learn of it from her parents. She heard about it from her neighbors in the previous life.

  Back then, she would console herself that at the very least, the entire family went to catch a movie together. It was good enough that her parents did not leave her at home.

  Since Qiao Dongliang stopped in mid-sentence, Qiao Nan stopped her thoughts from wandering. “Dad, you can get on the bicycle first. I know how to jump onto the bicycle later. Don’t worry about me.”

  “Are you sure? How about the bag here?”

  “Dad, I can do it.” Qiao Nan patted her chest with confidence.

  Since Qiao Nan was so confident, Qiao Dongliang decided to give it a try. If it could not work, he would get her to take the seat first.

  1035 Qiao Nan Had No Choice but to Be Shortchanged

  To his surprise, it was a success on the first try. Qiao Nan grabbed the bag and jumped onto the bicycle. “Nan Nan, sit tight. I will speed up.”

  Qiao Nan said ‘okay’, grabbing onto the bag with one hand and onto Qiao Dongliang’s clothes with the other hand.

  Both Qiao Dongliang, who rode the bicycle, and Qiao Nan, who sat at the back, felt cold on their way back.

  They were glad to go home to a warm and comfortable house and their frowns eased to relaxed smiles. “Nan Nan, are you hungry? I will prepare some dishes right now.” Qiao Dongliang had already bought the ingredients.

  “Dad, I will help you.”

  “No, you should sit and rest. You can watch television. I will be done soon.” Qiao Dongliang pushed Qiao Nan out of the kitchen. He had no intention of letting Qiao Nan help with preparing the meals.

  From the end of August onward, Qiao Nan was no longer just an ordinary student. She was a student of Peking University!

  Qiao Dongliang had always wished for his two daughters to have good future prospects and become college students. Qiao Zijin could not get into college, but Qiao Nan could!

  In the Qiao family, particularly in the eyes of Qiao Dongliang, it was a great honor to be a college student.

  Not only was Qiao Nan the provincial top humanities student in the college entrance examination, but she was also a college student in the capital. Because of this, Qiao Dongliang was able to hold his head high wherever he went.

  Those who knew or were on closer terms with Qiao Dongliang would ask him advice on how he educated Qiao Nan and what she learned when she was at home. They wanted Qiao Dongliang to share his experience so that they could use the same method at home.

  Qiao Dongliang was very popular in the factory as his daughter was very good at her studies.

  Because of this, Qiao Dongliang was among the workers who were awarded ‘advanced workers’ honors at the factory this year!

  Nobody would expect that having a daughter who was good in her studies would be such an advantage.

  \r \r \r

  It was true that he owed it to his daughter, but Qiao Dongliang was not upset about it as this proved that he had good genes, and that was why his daughter was so outstanding.

  The father and daughter had their dinner happily. “Nan Nan, since you are home, have you made a call to the Zhai family?”

  “I forgot.” Qiao Nan jumped in shock. She quickly made a call to the Zhai family’s residence. It was the auntie at the Zhai family’s residence who answered the call. She passed the phone to Miao Jing as soon as she knew that it was Qiao Nan on the other end of the phone.

  Old Master Zhai visited the Zhai family in December because of Zhai Hua’s relationship with Wei De. Since it would be the Lunar New Year soon, he did not go back but stayed at the Zhai family’s residence.

  Old Master Zhai might prefer to spend his time in the countryside with his friends, but it was the Chinese tradition to spend the Lunar New Year with one’s family.

  Miao Jing felt pleased as she hung up the phone. She was happy to know that Qiao Nan was back in Ping Cheng.

  Zhai Hua, who had been spending her time at home, rolled her eyes at Miao Jing, who seemed overjoyed. “You look as if you have your knife sharpened and are getting ready to charge at the pigs and goats.” Her mother seemed as if she was getting ready to land her hands on Qiao Nan. “Your smile is too devious.”

  “If you have a child, I will be the maternal grandmother. But if Nan Nan has a child, I will be the paternal grandmother!” Miao Jing had a satisfied smile on her face. “Now that I am about to have a daughter-in-law, I will have my grandchild soon!”

  It was rare that Zhai Hua looked at Miao Jing with a serious look on her face. “Qiao Nan is only twenty-one years old after this Lunar New Year. She is still a freshman. She has three more years to go. Do you really intend for her to have a child as soon as she marries Zhai Sheng?”

  She had no doubts about Zhai Sheng’s body condition.

  As for Qiao Nan, she might have suffered when she lived with her mother, but now that her parents were divorced, Qiao Nan was leading a better life and there was a healthy glow on her cheeks.

  Qiao Nan seemed to be in good health as well.

  If they were to have a normal married life after their marriage without any contraceptive measures, there was a high probability of Qiao Nan being pregnant.

  “What’s there to be afraid of? I heard that one can take one year off in college. Nan Nan started school a year earlier than her peers because of her mom. It would not be a problem to take a year off in college. Besides, you should know Zhai Sheng’s situation. Compared to other military marriages, they are usually apart from each other. I am worried that if they don’t make full use of the time that they are together, by the time they have time for each other, it will be too late.” Miao Jing was helpless as well.

  Compared to her ‘old’ son, Qiao Nan was still very young.

  Qiao Nan, who was younger, had no other choice but to be shortchanged. Miao Jing could do nothing about it.

  Looking at Miao Jing, who seemed to be in a dilemma, Zhai Hua finally understood why Miao Jing objected strongly to Nan Nan back then. “Mom, is this the reason why you were unhappy when I used Qiao Nan as an example?” Given their family’s situation, it was indeed difficult for Qiao Nan.

  “Of course.” Miao Jing was distressed. “The reason why I disapproved in the past is that I feel sorry that the other party is still so young and has to make so many sacrifices. Furthermore, young people nowadays are very delicate. To put it bluntly, the young people have yet to grow up. When I heard that Zhai Sheng’s girlfriend is so young, I was constantly worried that after he married her, I would have to take care of the grandchild as well as the daughter-in-law.”

  The daughter-in-law of the Zhai family had to share the burden of the Zhai family.

  Since the other party was still very young, Miao Jing was worried that she would have two more children to take care of.

  “If not for the fact that Nan Nan has fallen in love with Zhai Sheng, I will not allow her to be with someone of a similar background as the Zhai family.”

  Miao Jing might have her plans, but the reality was different.

  The two people that she cherished ended up being with each other. She had no way of protecting their interests at the same time.

  Zhai Hua sighed. It was no wonder that her mother objected strongly to it. She would have a headache as well.

  Ring!

  The phone in the Zhai family’s residence rang again.

  “Hello.” Although Miao Jing and Zhai Hua sat next to the phone, the auntie still rushed out from the kitchen to answer the call. “It’s you again!” Upon hearing Wei De’s voice, the auntie hung up the phone without another word. She then went back to the kitchen to continue with her chores.

  The phone at the Zhai family’s residence had a caller ID display.

  But whenever it was Wei De on the line, no one in the Zhai family would pick up the phone.

  Wei De was aware of that. Therefore, he used another number to make the call to the Zhai family’s residence.

  Miao Jing picked it up when he called for the first time. She hung up the phone when she found out who was on the line.

  Old Master Zhai answered the phone when he called the second time and he hung up the phone.

  When Wei De called for the third time, no one in the Zhai family wanted to pick up the phone. They would wait for the auntie to answer the phone and find out who the caller was. If it was someone else other than Wei De, they would take the phone from the auntie and answer the call.

  The auntie knew that the Zhai family disliked Wei De and she watched Zhai Hua grow up. Therefore, she hated Wei De who deceived Zhai Hua. She would hang up his call right away.

  “It’s too much to resort to pestering and harassing.” Miao Jing was annoyed. Wei De had driven her up the wall. She felt like going to the extreme by driving Wei De out of Ping Cheng.

  There was a cold glint in Zhai Hua’s eyes. “Mom, don’t worry. You won’t see him anymore after Lunar New Year. He won’t dare to call us ever again.”

  “Hua Hua, we won’t do anything illegal.” Miao Jing was shocked.

  Zhai Hua sneered. “The Zhai family has a good reputation. How can I allow it to be destroyed by Wei De? I won’t do anything to him. He is not worthy of it. My friends heard about what happened and want to teach him a lesson.” She had nothing to do with it.

  Wei De was such a fool. Everything that he had was given to him by Zhai Hua.

  Given this situation, how dare Wei De lie to Zhai Hua. Furthermore, he was so audacious to bring Wei Wei to Ping Cheng and wanted Zhai Hua to take care of him. He was courting death.

  Zhai Hua’s friends wanted to teach Wei De a lesson, but there was no need for them to do it by themselves. They only needed to spread the news about Wei De. Once they did that, there was no way for Wei De to run businesses in Ping Cheng.

  One had to have the capital to start a company.

  The company did not make any money but had to incur losses. The Wei family was not rich. It would not be long before Wei De ended up with debts and was sent out of Ping Cheng!

  “That’s good.” As long as it was not illegal, Miao Jing did not care how they taught Wei De a lesson or how miserable he ended up to be.

  The Zhai family did not care to know how miserable Wei De was. They had cut off all contact with him.

  The problem was, even though Wei De was not able to contact the Zhai family, he was still able to contact other people.

  “Qiao Nan, I know that you are back. Come out right now. You are so wicked. You are already engaged to Zhai Sheng. I did not do you any wrong. How can you be so selfish and go overboard? You may be enjoying life, but you deprive others of the chance to lead a good life.”

  \r \r \r

  The person that Wei De hated the most in this life was Qiao Nan.

  Ever since she knew that he was in love with Zhai Hua, Qiao Nan did not treat him well and she refused all his pleas to help him. She even made trouble for Zhai Hua and him.

  If not for Qiao Nan, Zhai Hua and the Zhai family would never know that Wei Wei was his son. Although he had a wedding banquet in the countryside, his profile stated that he was single.

  Qiao Nan found out about his secret and caused him to be left with nothing. He had to demand an explanation from her.

  Qiao Nan had heard about Wei De’s recent situation.

  His company was solely funded by Zhai Hua and it was with the help of Zhai Hua’s friends that it managed to get the business going. Right now, the company was declared bankrupt.

  Wei De could no longer go back to the army and his company had declared bankruptcy. He had no choice but to set up a smaller company.

  However, it was because of the help of others that he was successful in his previous company.

  Wei De could no longer rely on Zhai Hua’s childhood friends to help him. He had to run the company by himself. The problem was the bosses that used to be amiable and pleasant mocked him and snubbed him.

  Wei De started the new company with the money that he had saved previously. After failing at clinching business deals, he did not have much money left.

  In the end, Wei De was left with no choice but to dismiss all the employees in his company. Now, he was solely in charge of running the company.

  The Zhai family’s residence was like an impregnable fortress. Wei De had no way of getting near the Zhai family.

  Recently, he heard that Qiao Nan was back from the capital for her year-end break. Wei De rushed to her house, thinking of making things difficult for her.

  Qiao Nan kept silent at Wei De’s rude and crude remarks. She picked up the phone at her house and dialed 110. “Hello, yes, I want to make a police report. My house is at…… Police officer, I feel that my life is being threatened.”

  There was no need for Qiao Nan to go into detail. She directed the receiver toward the door. The police officer could hear the harsh remarks that Wei De made clearly.

  The police officer’s demeanor changed when he made out what Wei De was saying. “You must remain calm. Remember, no matter what, you must not open the door to let the person in. We will be there right away.”

  “Okay, I will not open the door.” After confirming that the police officers would be there, Qiao Nan hung up the phone and yawned. She waited for the police officers to bring Wei De away.

  Qiao Nan walked to the door when she heard the sirens of the police car. “What are you doing? Even if you are a police officer, you can’t catch people as you wish. I didn’t break the law. Why do you put these cuffs on me?! Do you know that I used to be a soldier? I am part of the People’s Liberation Army!”

  Qiao Nan could not help but curse. How dared he bring up the People’s Liberation Army! He had shamed them.

  Qiao Nan opened the door after she was certain that the police officer had Wei De under control. “Police officer, thank you very much.”

  “It’s nothing. You have done the right thing. One must report to police when one sees a suspicious person.” Wei De seemed suspicious. The police officer subdued him without another word.

  It was true that Wei De looked unkempt, but the police officers had seen other wanderers who were in a worse state than him.

  However, the police officers were worried. Wei De did not seem to be in the right state of mind. He kept lashing out at Qiao Nan and would kick the door from time to time. The police officers felt that he was aggressive and in an unstable state of mind.

  After determining that Wei De was not related to the person who called the police, the police officers subdued Wei De so that he would not have the chance to launch an attack on other people.

  “Yes, I will.” She would definitely do that.

  “Qiao Nan, it’s you again. You want to do me in. I won’t let you off!” Wei De hated Qiao Nan to the core. She had called the police to arrest him.

  He did not understand why there would be people like Qiao Nan in the world. If she was dead or did not exist in the first place, it would be so much better.

  There were all kinds of people in the world. Why was Qiao Nan bent on targeting him? Why was she bent on meddling in his affairs, causing him to be in such a state? All his plans were thwarted and he made a fool in front of everyone, becoming the joke of the entire Ping Cheng.

  In the past month, apart from sending money to his hometown on time, Wei De refused to speak on the phone with his family in the countryside. He gave the excuse that he was busy at work and his company needed to move to a new location.

  But if this went on, even if Wei De could come up with all sorts of excuses, he would not be able to keep up with the appearances for long.

  1037 Merely a Subsidiary

  Wei De did not dare to tell his parents in the countryside that he had broken up with Zhai Hua. She might be old and single, but she did not want him anymore.

  “Do you know each other?” The police officers looked at Qiao Nan curiously.

  Qiao Nan sighed. “Dirty linen should not be aired in public. In fact, I don’t really know him. I only met him a few times. He is a swindler who cheated people of their feelings. Clearly, back in his countryside…… yet he deceived my relative. We saw through his true colors not long ago. He failed to deceive my relative. Hence, he is here to create trouble for us. He thinks that since I am a young lady, I must be a pushover.”

  Qiao Nan was very vague, but it was enough for the police officers to fill in the blanks and make a guess about Wei De’s situation.

  Wei De was not the only person who held a wedding banquet in the countryside but did not collect the marriage certificate and came to the city to fool around. They had met several irresponsible men previously.

  The police officers did not ask any more questions. There was no need to ask further. The man was a scumbag and he shamed all men!

  Seeing that Wei De did not behave himself and kept struggling, the police officers pinned his upper arms to prevent him from moving around.

  The police officers were certain that Wei De used to serve in the army. Judging from the way he struggled, he seemed physically strong.

  However, this annoyed the police officers further.

  Since he used to be from the People’s Liberation Army, how dare he resort to trickery. He was the scumbag of society!

  “Behave yourself. I will give you a lesson when you are at the police station.” The two police officers put Wei De in the police car and drove off, leaving the small quad.

  While Wei De was screaming at Qiao Nan, the neighbors could not really tell what Wei De was ranting about.

  They did not take a good look at him or listen intently to what he said. In the end, they had the impression that a man was out to create trouble for Qiao Nan, and he was arrested by the police officers.

  \r \r \r

  Qiao Nan was well-known in the quad as the ‘clever child of that family’. She was a role model to all the children.

  As a result, the people in the quad were more willing to believe Qiao Nan whom they knew. Besides, they saw that the police officers arrested Wei De and commended Qiao Nan for reporting to the police. Therefore, Wei De must be in the wrong, and they despised him further. “The man does not seem to be a good person. Did he target Qiao Nan as she is alone at home?”

  “It could be. In the future, we must be careful. We must not let this kind of person into the quad. Perhaps it is our groundless worries, but this man came after Qiao Nan today. He might target our children next time.”

  It was common for people to vent one’s anger out on somebody else, especially those who were weaker than them.

  They had to take preventive measures to make sure that it did not happen again!

  “Thank you, everyone.” Qiao Nan overheard the conversation between the neighbors and gave them a grateful smile. She chatted with a few of them, telling them that the winter break was too short and she had no intention of teaching the students. She then closed the door and went back to rest.

  Qiao Nan thought about it but did not inform the Zhai family about what had happened just now. She did not want to upset them further.

  Wei De must be driven to desperate actions and had no other choice but to look for her. Qiao Nan was certain that Zhai Hua was very firm in her attitude this time.

  That was why even when Wei De despised her, he turned to her for help.

  “Nan Nan, I heard that a madman came to our house today and he was taken away by the police officers. Are you okay?” Qiao Dongliang came back from his work at the factory. He heard the neighbors talking about this and paled in fright.

  As soon as he reached home, Qiao Dongliang pulled Qiao Nan to him to have a closer look, making sure that she was not hurt.

  Qiao Nan allowed Qiao Dongliang to inspect her for injuries before she spoke, “Dad, he is no madman. He is Wei De.”

  “He?” There was a disdainful look on Qiao Dongliang’s face. “What was he doing here? We have nothing to do with him.”

  “What else could it be but for me to help him reconcile with Sister Zhai Hua?” Qiao Nan replied. “He must be out of his mind. Anyone can tell that I will never agree to it.”

  Qiao Dongliang agreed. “He must be driven to desperate actions. He was left with no choice, so he had to try even if it seemed highly impossible.”

  “Dad, do you know about his current situation?”

  “I heard that his previous company has gone bankrupt. He had another small company, but I heard that he is the only person in the entire company. Obviously, he could not keep his small business running. Things have been going on for so long. It is nothing if his business has to fold. The worst is that he owes a huge amount of debts.”

  He did not earn any money, but he had a lot of expenses.

  His parents were ordinary peasants. They did not have many lands.

  If Wei De closed his company in the future—even if he worked his entire life and saved up all his money without spending a single cent—he would not be able to repay such a large amount of debts.

  “Serves him right.” Qiao Nan felt much better after knowing that Wei De was in such dire straits.

  She was a woman. She had to stand on Zhai Hua’s side and spurn Wei De, who cheated Zhai Hua of her feelings. “Now that he is in such a bad situation, I don’t think he can stay in Ping Cheng any longer.”

  “If that’s the case, it is the best outcome. The Zhai family, including Zhai Hua, has no wish of seeing Wei De ever again in this lifetime.” Once Wei De left, the Zhai family would finally be freed of him. “Let’s not talk about Wei De. The Lunar New Year is coming, yet he was taken to the police station. He must be fuming. Nan Nan, what do you want to eat this year?”

  Qiao Dongliang knew that this would be the last Lunar New Year the father and daughter could spend together. Therefore, he wanted to prepare a sumptuous meal for them.

  “I am fine with anything. Dad, I will have whatever you prepare. Anyway, we have the same preferences. You can buy the ingredients according to your preferences. It won’t go wrong.” Qiao Nan was not particular about this.

  Qiao Dongliang thought about it and nodded. “Alright, I will decide for myself.”

  Qiao Dongliang turned with his back to Qiao Nan. His tone changed slightly. “I met your mom a few days ago. She wanted the four of us to……”

  “Spend the Lunar New Year together?!” Qiao Nan’s voice croaked, her tone slightly raised.

  Qiao Dongliang smiled. “I won’t agree. Fortunately, your mom still knows her limits. She did not make this request. What your mom meant was that when it is the first day of the Lunar New Year, you can go back to the Qiao family’s residence to have a meal with them.” Ding Jiayi might have made the request, but he would not agree to it.

  “What about you?” Between her and her father, her mother should prefer to invite her father instead of her. She was just going along with him. Why would she invite her instead of her father? Was she up to something?

  1038 The Elder Son-In-Law’s Visi

  Qiao Dongliang did not express much emotion. “I’m not going.”

  “Did she invite you?”

  “Yes, but it’s not appropriate for me to go.”

  After the divorce, Nan Nan was still Ding Jiayi’s daughter. The problem was that Qiao Dongliang could not accept sitting together with his former wife in a gathering on the first day of Lunar New Year. It was as if they were still relatives.

  He had declined the invitation but he did not do so for Qiao Nan. He brought the news home for Qiao Nan to decide for herself.

  “I’m not going either.” Qiao Dongliang was not even going. It was thus easier for Qiao Nan to express her inner thoughts. “It is impossible for Mom and me to get along in my entire life. I’m afraid I will suffer from indigestion after having that meal. Soon after, I may have to pay it back to her with interests.”

  Her mother was treating her to a meal. There could only be one situation—meal in disguise of some plot.

  “If you don’t wish to go, that’s fine.” After thinking, Qiao Dongliang agreed.

  Previously, Ding Jiayi pestered Qiao Dongliang about giving her Nan Nan’s contact number. In the beginning, Qiao Dongliang felt glad that Ding Jiayi was finally behaving like a mother. She had become more sensible and knew how to show concern for Qiao Nan.

  After a while, he felt that something was not right. As such, he did not give it to her.

  Sigh, since that rejection, Ding Jiayi did not appear again. She also did not request for his younger daughter’s contact number. It was as if that sincere face that day did not belong to her.

  Given such behavior of Ding Jiayi, Qiao Dongliang really could not allow his younger daughter to meet Ding Jiayi. “Last month, soon after you left, your mom came to me and requested for your contact number. I didn’t give it to her. Thereafter, she did not look for me anymore.”

  Recalling the initial happiness that he felt, Qiao Dongliang was afraid that Qiao Nan would be as easily taken in as him. He thus reminded her.

  Qiao Nan raised her brows. Her father did not give her mother her cell phone number. Who was the one who gave it to her mother then?

  \r \r \r

  “Since you told me about this, I am going to let you know about something. The day before I left, Mom came to look for me. She insisted that I become the mediator for Sister Zhai Hua and Wei De and help them reconcile. I didn’t agree.” She was then criticized and hit by her mother.

  “She’s sick!” Qiao Dongliang slammed the cup of water on the table hard with a bang. “Next time, don’t bother about your mom. No matter what excuse she uses to meet you, reject all of them. If it’s hard for you to do so, just blame it all on me. Tell her that you are acting according to my instructions.”

  “Okay.” Qiao Nan had the same thoughts too.

  She could only blame it on the fact that Ding Jiayi was her mother. It was not good for her to argue with her mother. If she were too much, she would attract blame and gossip easily.

  Nevertheless, if her father was the one who agreed to this, it would become a matter of conflict between her parents. It did not have anything to do with her anymore.

  After Qiao Dongliang and Qiao Nan decided on the tactic, the father-daughter pair then diverted their attention to what to have for dinner and also what dishes to prepare for the Lunar New Year.

  Finally, the factory that Qiao Dongliang was working at was closed and the employees could take a break. Qiao Dongliang wanted to wake up early to go marketing for fresh groceries. Early in the morning, he was held up by two people.

  Qiao Dongliang, who opened the door, saw a couple standing at his doorstep. That man was lifting his hand, obviously wanting to knock on the main entrance of their house. His other hand was holding onto a woman. They looked very intimate.

  At the sight of this, Qiao Dongliang’s face turned sullen. “Is there any matter?”

  “Dad, I came to see you. This is Chen Jun, my boyfriend. He has been to our house once. You have met him before.” Qiao Zijin was sporting short hair now. She was smiling brightly.

  Qiao Dongliang knitted his brows in disdain. “Zijin, didn’t you use to like long hair in the past? Your haircut is a tad too short. Don’t tell me you like the guy’s hairstyle now?”

  Qiao Dongliang was exaggerating a little.

  It was true that Qiao Zijin’s hair was not long. It could not even cover her ears. This was the shortest hair that she ever had in history, besides the time when she was born.

  The bright smile of Qiao Zijin nearly crumbled when she heard Qiao Dongliang’s words.

  Qiao Dongliang had touched the soft spot.

  When Qiao Zijin thought about Chen Jun’s reaction when he first saw her after the examination, Qiao Zijin felt pain in her liver.

  At that time, Chen Jun’s thoughts were obvious from his expression: Had your hair been eaten by a dog?

  “Forget it. There’s a saying that a generation gap exists with an age difference of three years. I am already an old man. I really can’t understand the taste of current youngsters like you. It’s fine as long as you are happy.” After provoking Qiao Zijin’s anger, Qiao Dongliang very irresponsibly expressed that he no longer wished to carry on with the topic. “Why are the two of you here?”

  “Uncle, Zijin and I came here to wish you a happy new year,” Chen Jun said politely. Qiao Zijin, who was standing beside him, quickly lifted up the gifts that she was carrying in her hands. She looked very smug.

  These were the things that Chen Jun had prepared.

  There was something that he wanted from the Qiao family. As such, the gifts that he prepared would certainly not be cheap.

  Due to that, Qiao Zijin lifted her chin highly today. In the Qiao family, Qiao Nan was not the only capable one who had found a successful fiancé. She was not worse than Qiao Nan. She also picked one of the best men!

  At the sight of the cigarettes and wine that looked expensive in the bag, Qiao Dongliang waved his hands. “No need. I don’t smoke. I don’t like to drink either. I don’t need all these. Zijin, take them back and give them to your mom.”

  Zijin was now under Ding Jiayi’s custody. Even if the son-in-law really came to visit, these things prepared by Chen Jun should belong to Ding Jiayi. He would not touch any of them.

  “Dad, this is Chen Jun’s way of expressing his filial piety. Mom has them too.” Qiao Zijin was not pleased. She insisted that Qiao Dongliang accept them. “Dad, don’t tell me you’re unhappy because I found a boyfriend before I graduate from diploma studies?”

  Qiao Zijin was directing at someone with her words.

  Regardless of this quad or the former quad that Qiao Nan was staying at, who was not aware that, immediately after the college entrance examination, Qiao Nan not only had a boyfriend but he was also promoted to her fiancé immediately?

  The younger daughter could have a fiancé. Couldn’t the elder daughter get a boyfriend?

  Knowing that Qiao Zijin was indirectly questioning him if he was biased, Qiao Dongliang simply made himself clear. “You are under your mom’s care now. Whether you have a boyfriend or are getting married, that will be up to you and your mom. Send these things to your mom. It’s not appropriate to give them to me. I’m afraid of trouble.”

  If Ding Jiayi were to create a ruckus and said that he had received a huge bargain by taking these items although Qiao Zijin was under her custody, who could he seek justice from then?

  He had a younger son-in-law too. His younger son-in-law was willing to give him anything. There were times whereby he refused to accept them. He really did not care about such meager things from Chen Jun.

  Qiao Dongliang felt most proud of this in his heart.

  Zijin brought a person like Chen Jun to flaunt her prowess. Qiao Dongliang did not buy that. Qiao Zijin had been overthinking if she wanted to make use of this matter to turn the tables.

  1039 Take It as a Compensation for Breaking Up

  “Uncle, don’t say that. Both auntie and you are parents who gave birth to and brought up Zijin. Zijin and I have to be filial to you. We won’t drop any of you.” Despite Qiao Dongliang’s attitude, the smile on Chen Jun’s face did not change or become stiff at all. He was still smiling so naturally and happily. He did not seem any less affectionate than when he saw his own father. Qiao Dongliang felt goose bumps all over immediately.

  If Chen Jun were to flare up, Qiao Dongliang could still chase him away.

  However, Chen Jun did not show any temper at all. He was appeasing him as if he was his own father. Qiao Dongliang really did not have a way with him.

  The more Chen Jun behaved this way, the more revulsion Qiao Dongliang felt toward him.

  He was a straightforward person. He liked to be direct and honest and also could not hide his temper. He disliked someone like Chen Jun who knew how to control his emotions very well.

  “You really don’t need to be so polite. To be honest, Zijin was taught and brought up by her mother. I didn’t do much. If you really want to be good to Zijin or filial to the elders, treat Zijin’s mother well. When we got a divorce a few years ago, we agreed that Zijin will be under her custody and Nan Nan under mine. Zijin’s future matters do not have anything to do with me. I don’t have the right to interfere. You don’t need to feel sorry for me. I already have a son-in-law who is filial to me.”

  In other words, Qiao Zijin could be her daughter, but he might not treat Chen Jun as his son-in-law.

  It was not his turn to accept Chen Jun’s filial piety.

  “Dad!” Tears welled up in Qiao Zijin’s eyes. She did not expect that Qiao Dongliang would not give her any face in front of Chen Jun. He even said such ugly words.

  Qiao Dongliang let out a sigh of exasperation. “Zijin, you have chosen your own path. You have to decide what to do.”

  He was aware that Chen Jun had wooed her younger daughter before becoming her elder daughter’s boyfriend. Qiao Zijin completely did not want to heed his advice and objections. No matter how fatherly and benevolent Qiao Dongliang was, he could not be bothered to put in any more effort in this.

  Qiao Zijin was Ding Jiayi’s biological daughter. They had the same temper. They could make as much fuss as they wanted to.

  A few years ago, at the time of his divorce, he had already given up the rights to intervene in the lives of this mother-daughter pair.

  Qiao Zijin was losing her temper. She looked as if she was going to argue and fall out with Qiao Dongliang. At the sight of this, Chen Jun’s eyes turned sullen and he quietly gave Qiao Zijin a squeeze. “Uncle, you seem busy. Most likely, it is not convenient today. Next time…… If there is a chance next time, we will chat again.”

  \r \r \r

  He knew that Qiao Zijin and Qiao Nan were not on good terms. However, Chen Jun did not expect that Qiao Zijin was also on such bad terms with Qiao Dongliang.

  His objective was very clear—to marry Qiao Zijin and become Zhai Sheng’s brother-in-law.

  Henceforth, the Chen family and the Zhai family would become in-laws. Regardless of whether the Zhai family was willing to, the Chen family would definitely benefit greatly with this layer of connection.

  If the Qiao Dongliang couple could become the mediator between Qiao Zijin and Qiao Nan, this pair of sisters, Chen Jun would stand to gain more then.

  If Qiao Zijin wanted to have a good relationship with Qiao Nan, Qiao Dongliang was the only avenue for this breakthrough.

  As for Ding Jiayi……

  He had widened his horizons after witnessing this future mother-in-law courting trouble time and again. Chen Jun was full of regrets. In the Qiao family of four, Qiao Zijin was quite clever but he could completely manage her.

  After thinking through, Ding Jiayi was the only one who gave him the most headaches. She was the only one that he shunned and was most unwilling to face.

  “Chen Jun, are you angry?” When they were a hundred meters away from the house of the Qiao family, Qiao Zijin saw that Chen Jun was keeping quiet. She then realized that Chen Jun was angry and asked him.

  “What do you think?” When Chen Jun said this, his tone was very indifferent. However, as soon as she heard it, Qiao Zijin was certain that he was angry.

  Qiao Zijin’s expression changed. “I didn’t manage to restrain myself for a moment.”

  “Even if you didn’t, you have to!” This had a lot to do with the Chen family and his future!

  Chen Jun halted his steps. “I have always thought that you are smarter than your mom. I hope that you won’t let my past ‘belief’ become a joke.”

  Qiao Nan was already engaged with Zhai Sheng. She would definitely become the daughter-in-law of the Zhai family in the future.

  Under normal circumstances, wouldn’t any normal people let bygones be bygones and work hard to fix the relationship with Qiao Nan in order to enjoy a free ride?

  Qiao Zijin’s face turned red with anger. “Didn’t you let me be your girlfriend because Qiao Nan is my sister? I am thinking. You should not be the only one in this world who wishes to become the brother-in-law of Zhai Sheng, right?”

  She knew that Chen Jun actually liked Qiao Nan too.

  Previously, Chen Jun wanted to woo Qiao Nan but Qiao Nan completely did not fancy him and had never been nice to Chen Jun.

  Chen Jun then gave up his first choice and became her boyfriend instead. She might not have Chen Jun as the only option!

  Chen Jun laughed. His laugh was so cold. “Do you know what the greatest difference between Qiao Nan and you is? You always pay lip service while Qiao Nan takes action. Do you need a breakup?”

  Chen Jun was never someone who would persist on the same road that would lead to nowhere.

  Otherwise, Chen Jun would be tapping on his relationship with Wang Yang most now.

  In this life, Zhu Baoguo was still alive. He was also promising. However, although Wang Yang could not get everything that Zhu Baoguo had, as long as Chen Jun was by Wang Yang’s side to give Wang Yang ideas, Wang Yang would be able to receive more care from Zhu Chengqi.

  If the Wang family’s status improved, they would also have to repay the Chen family for their help.

  Chen Jun had been targeting Qiao Nan for a few years. He knew the situation of the Qiao family at his fingertips.

  Ding Jiayi’s attitude to Qiao Nan was akin to a stone in a latrine. It was both smelly and tough.

  Whether it was a daughter or son, whoever was successful and could let her lead a good life, have money and face would be a good child. Both of Ding Jiayi’s children were daughters. There was no need to compare.

  Qiao Nan was better in her studies than Qiao Zijin. Her interpersonal relationships were also better than Qiao Zijin’s. She was even engaged with Zhai Sheng.

  It was not just Qiao Zijin. Even Qiu Chenxi, whom Chen Jun had wanted to hit on previously, would have difficulty surpassing Qiao Nan in this life.

  The situation was already as such, but instead of finding ways to mend the mother-daughter relationship with Qiao Nan, Ding Jiayi was still so foolish to keep troubling Qiao Nan for the sake of Qiao Zijin.

  Toward this situation, Chen Jun felt his head aching badly.

  This was because he knew that no matter what he did to gain Qiao Nan’s favor, he was afraid that Ding Jiayi would appear to drag him down.

  One Ding Jiayi was not enough. Now, Qiao Zijin was also joining in the fun.

  It was certainly quite difficult to find a way to climb to the top.

  Chen Jun already knew that this was an extremely difficult path. There was also the existence of people who were a lion at home and a mouse abroad. Chen Jun expressed that he would, at most, return to Wang Yang’s side to help him and give up on Qiao Zijin.

  Chen Jun was definitely not just giving Qiao Zijin empty threats. She was already not someone that he fancied. She had many issues and even had a bad temper. “It’s alright. Keep these things. Take it as compensation from me for breaking up with you.”


  1040 Made a Wrong Judgmen

  “You can work hard. Let’s see who is willing to be Zhai Sheng’s brother-in-law.”

  Brother-in-law?

  She must be thinking too highly of herself.

  No man that Qiao Zijin married would dare to be greeted by Zhai Sheng as his brother-in-law.

  Ignorance was terrible.

  “No!” Chen Jun was about to release his grip on Qiao Zijin. He seemed serious about breaking up with Qiao Zijin. Qiao Zijin grabbed his hand anxiously. “I-I said that in a pique of anger. All couples will quarrel and they will talk about breaking up in a pique of anger. You have taken things too seriously. We have been together for so long. Don’t tell me that you don’t like me at all and it is solely because I am Qiao Nan’s sister?”

  She really liked Chen Jun and wanted to be his wife!

  “Most men don’t like women who have a bad temper.” Chen Jun did not soften his attitude. “If you want me to like you, you have to behave yourself. Ever since we know each other, have you done anything for me to like you?”

  Qiao Zijin was embarrassed. “What do you want me to do then?”

  Chen Jun raised his eyebrows and smiled. He pinched Qiao Zijin’s face. “As I have said, you have some wits about you. Right now, you don’t need to do anything for me to like you. Instead, you must act so that it will benefit us. Do you understand?”

  “I have worked hard!” Otherwise, she would not have asked her mother to hint at Qiao Nan to help Wei De and Zhai Hua reconcile.

  If not for Chen Jun, she would not have known about Wei De.

  Chen Jun sighed. “You are too reckless regarding Wei De’s matter.” Chen Jun was aware that Qiao Zijin had her good intentions.

  It was true that he told Qiao Zijin that if Wei De married Zhai Hua, it would be beneficial to them.

  In the first half of this year, the information that Chen Jun provided to Qiu Chenxi helped him and Qiu Chenxi join forces to deal with Qiao Nan, causing her to barely miss her college entrance examination.

  Initially, Chen Jun did not know that Wei De had been providing information to Qiu Chenxi.

  \r \r \r

  Through his interactions with Qiu Chenxi, he figured out that there was another party involved in this matter.

  Chen Jun spent a lot of effort to find out that Wei De was involved in the incident and that he was in a relationship with Zhai Hua. Both of them even intended to get married. Unfortunately, the Zhai family was against the marriage.

  Since Chen Jun had seized the chinks in Wei De’s armor, once Wei De married Zhai Hua, he was confident that he would be able to make use of him to recover the position that used to belong to his father.

  Chen Jun had his plans thought out. Unfortunately, the people that he thought highly of had let him down.

  Qiao Zijin failed to meet his expectations. Wei De was worse.

  Chen Jun could not help but frown at the foolish deeds that Wei De had done.

  Since Wei De held the wedding banquet with his wife in the countryside and did not collect the marriage certificate, he should make a clean break with his wife as soon as he was with Zhai Hua.

  She was adopted by the Wei family. They could simply give her a sum of money for her to leave the Wei family.

  As long as the woman was not at the Wei family’s residence and Wei De was no longer in contact with her, even if Zhai Hua found out the truth, she had to give in no matter how angry she was as the woman was gone and Wei De had nothing to do with her anymore.

  Wei De was plain foolish to allow the woman to stay in his hometown and to bring their son to meet Zhai Hua. In the end, his secret was discovered by others.

  He was indeed from the countryside. He was so audacious to lie to the daughter of the chief and he dared to tell her to take care of his son.

  Until now, Chen Jun still could not understand what Wei De was thinking. How could he have done such foolish deeds?

  He must be smart to be able to make Zhai Hua fall in love with him.

  But on the other hand, he was downright foolish.

  He had destroyed his chance of striking rich.

  To Chen Jun, who did not have such a golden chance, letting such a good chance go to waste was a sheer pity. Chen Jun had been dreaming of striking rich. It would be wonderful if he had this opportunity.

  “It is indeed true that it will be beneficial to us if Wei De is with Zhai Hua. But you should get the facts right before you do anything. You are a woman as well. If this happens to you, will you want to get back together with Wei De?” Chen Jun was a man. In his opinion, it was impossible.

  Firstly, Zhai Hua had yet to marry Wei De.

  Secondly, Zhai Hua had not been intimate with Wei De.

  Thirdly, Zhai Hua was not pregnant with Wei De’s child.

  Wei De had committed such a serious mistake. To Zhai Hua, breaking up with him was righting the wrong and she did not suffer any losses. She had no reason to make the same mistake of reconciling with him.

  Even if Qiao Nan persuaded Zhai Hua, she might not agree to it.

  “My mom didn’t explain the situation clearly to me.” Qiao Zijin felt that she was wronged. She was serious about helping Chen Jun so that they could lead an easier life in the future.

  Nobody expected that Wei De was a scumbag. He had taken a wife in the countryside, and they had a child. He even wanted Zhai Hua to take care of the child.

  According to Chen Jun’s analysis, Zhai Hua would not get back together with Wei De. From a woman’s point of view, Qiao Zijin also felt that Zhai Hua would not accept Wei De.

  She was a woman. She could totally understand.

  If she had known about the situation, she would have stopped her mother from doing something that was bound to fail.

  “Are you sure that you do not want to break up?” Chen Jun felt more reassured that Qiao Zijin was smarter than Ding Jiayi.

  He knew that Qiao Zijin was beaten up in school.

  Chen Jun also knew the reason why she was beaten.

  Chen Jun knew that Ding Jiayi sought high and low for Qiao Nan’s contact number so as to question her regarding what happened to Qiao Zijin.

  Ding Jiayi had no idea that it was Chen Jun, her ‘son-in-law’, who sent her a text message that day.

  Chen Jun had one thought in mind: Qiao Nan was not a pushover and she had a temper.

  Ding Jiayi had driven Qiao Nan nuts that she could not help but teach Qiao Zijin a lesson. It was a good idea for Ding Jiayi to make the call and to know that Qiao Nan was not a pushover. She could then learn her lesson.

  This was so that Ding Jiayi would not keep committing foolish deeds to get back at Qiao Nan.

  Did she really think that since she gave birth to Qiao Nan, she had the right to control her life?

  Chen Jun let out a long breath. He was all the more happy if things were so simple.

  However, Qiao Nan was no pushover, and neither were her backers!

  The Zhai family, the Zhu family, the Lee family, and even the Lin family were not to be trifled with.

  Ding Jiayi would not be able to deal with any of the four strong backers.

  1041 Finally ‘Enlightened’

  She must be blind to treat something precious as garbage.

  Chen Jun was envious of the fact that Qiao Nan had such important networks. Even if he could not marry her, he would want to be on close terms with her and treat her like a younger sister so that he and the Chen family could be successful.

  Ding Jiayi and Qiao Zijin tried all means and ways to get what they wanted, but what they needed to do was, in fact, to mend the relationship with Qiao Nan. If Qiao Nan was willing to help them, they could get whatever they wanted easily.

  The mother and daughter were too foolish!

  Chen Jun could not help but massage his temples. He was drained of all energy when he recalled the stupid deeds that they were up to.

  Wei De, Ding Jiayi, and Qiao Zijin were fools.

  He could not understand why those helpless fools had such good opportunities, while he, who worked hard all these years, had nothing in the end. It was too unfair.

  “I won’t break up. I will never break up.” Qiao Zijin, who was given a scare by Chen Jun, dared not lose her temper. She grabbed Chen Jun with one arm and acted coquettishly. “Didn’t you say that I am spoiled by my mom? At times, I cannot help but lose my temper. I am serious about being with you. Please don’t shun me. I will change. Please don’t bring up breaking up with me again.”

  Since Qiao Zijin admitted her mistake, Chen Jun no longer took issue with her. “Alright, but there is a limit to my patience. Apart from my feelings for you, I am with you because of the Chen family. If you are serious about being with me, you must understand one simple truth. If the Chen family is doing well, you will have good days ahead. Therefore, you must do things that are beneficial to the Chen family. On the contrary, you must not do anything that is detrimental to the Chen family. You must avoid it at all costs.”

  “I understand.”

  “Really?”

  \r \r \r

  “Yes!” Qiao Zijin nodded and plastered a smile on her face. “You want me to mend the relationship with Qiao Nan. I understand what you mean. From this moment on, I will tell myself that I am on close terms with Qiao Nan, that I love my sister. In the future, even if she shows her displeasure to me, I will maintain a smile no matter what.”

  Unless she was very sure of it, she would never target Qiao Nan again. “I will treat her like a princess and wait on her. One would never be angry at someone who is nice to them. If I don’t scheme against her but suck up to her, even if she is not as close to me, at the very least, she would not treat me like an enemy like what she used to do in the past.”

  She would act shamelessly and suck up to Qiao Nan.

  Back then, Qiao Zijin always felt that she would definitely be more successful than Qiao Nan. When she was younger, she was troubled with how she was going to make sure that Qiao Nan did not take advantage of her like a parasite.

  Now that the day had come, and their situations were reversed, Qiao Zijin was so upset that she felt like vomiting blood. She was too young back then. She had been overthinking……

  “Zijin, I know that I have made the correct judgment.” Chen Jun cradled Qiao Zijin’s face in his hands tenderly. “True enough, you are the woman who is qualified to stand by my side and walk the path with me.”

  Chen Jun was most afraid of Qiao Zijin, having been spoiled rotten by Ding Jiayi, seeing herself as a princess. In that case, she would not be able to understand the hard facts that Qiao Nan had outshone her in all aspects and would insist on being haughty and looking down on Qiao Nan instead.

  If Qiao Zijin was really like Ding Jiayi, Chen Jun would not hesitate to break up with Qiao Zijin.

  Chen Jun mentioned breaking up because he knew that Qiao Zijin would not bear to part with him.

  He knew that Ding Jiayi was the biggest troublemaker in the Qiao family. Whoever wanted to make use of the Qiao family to be close to the Zhai family only needed to do some investigations and they would find out the situation in the Qiao family.

  Because of Ding Jiayi, Qiao Zijin was like a scorching brazier. Not everyone was capable of handling her.

  “Chen Jun, you can rest assured. I will definitely change.” Qiao Zijin clenched her fist, looking totally different from before.

  If the former Qiao Zijin was as proud as the swan, Qiao Zijin was now like an ugly duckling. She had seen her true self in the reflection of the pond and knew that she was just an ordinary girl.

  “My dad forbids me from entering the house. What am I going to do next?” Since she was not allowed entry, how was she going to be close with Qiao Nan?

  “Don’t be anxious.” Chen Jun smiled. “As long as you have sorted out your thoughts and are willing to work hard, your dad is not a problem. Sometimes, other people may not be able to know the real situation. They would only have a superficial understanding of what’s going on.”

  It would be best if Qiao Nan was willing to accept Qiao Zijin.

  However, Chen Jun knew that telling Qiao Nan to accept Qiao Zijin without any misgivings was akin to telling Zhai Hua to reconcile with Wei De. It was impossible.

  If one would not accept the other party or reconcile without any misgivings, then what they could do was to make it seem to others that they were on close terms and were one family. Chen Jun could use this false impression to his advantage.

  “Do you understand what I mean?”

  “Yes.” Qiao Zijin nodded. “When Qiao Nan and other people are around, I will definitely side with her and ‘protect’ her so that Qiao Nan will not be bullied by others. Qiao Nan is reserved and introverted. As her sister, I must protect her from being bullied or misunderstood.”

  In other words, Qiao Zijin only needed to act as if she was being nice to Qiao Nan. There was no need for Qiao Nan to accept her.

  Chen Jun was glad that Zijin understood his words. “Zijin, you are indeed smart. You can tell what I mean right away. Let’s go! We didn’t get to see your dad, but let’s meet my parents. I shall introduce their future daughter-in-law to them.”

  “Really?!” Qiao Zijin was overjoyed. This was the first time that Chen Jun introduced her to her future father-in-law and mother-in-law. “Should I go back to have a change of clothes and buy some gifts for uncle and auntie?”

  “No need.” Chen Jun answered with a smile. “You only need to be present and it will be fine.” Furthermore, no matter what she bought, she was spending the Chen family’s money. Nothing comes for free. Qiao Zijin was smart to make the suggestion.

  “So let’s go now?” Qiao Zijin was thrilled now that there was no need to buy anything. It seemed that Chen Jun was really in love with her. “How about we give them some fruits? At the very least, we are being polite and I will not be embarrassed by arriving empty-handed.”

  “Sure, we will do as you said.” Chen Jun did not object to her suggestion. He accompanied Qiao Zijin to choose a fruit basket. He bought whatever that Qiao Zijin picked.

  1042 Conflicts Arose

  Qiao Nan got up late today. She heard vaguely that someone seemed to have visited them in the morning, but her father did not allow them in.

  By the time she got up and was wide awake, she overheard the conversation between a neighbor and her father and was startled. “Did Chen Jun bring Qiao Zijin to visit his parents?”

  Chen Jun seemed to be in a hurry. Qiao Zijin was still in her school. Could it be that they had been intimate and she was pregnant?

  In the previous life, Qiao Nan was introduced to Chen Jun’s parents not long after they had just started dating. However, Chen Jun’s parents were not very pleased with Qiao Zijin. They waited until they were certain that Qiao Zijin had Chen Jun’s child and it was a boy before they allowed her into their house.

  “That’s right.” Qiao Dongliang was in a terrible mood.

  His elder daughter would do things that he disliked.

  He objected to Zijin’s relationship with the complicated Chen Jun. He forbade Chen Jun from entering the house and returned everything that he brought with him.

  However, the next minute, his elder daughter bought a basket full of fruits and visited the Chen family.

  Qiao Dongliang was in a bad mood after learning this from the neighbor. He was in no mood to prepare for the Lunar New Year. “Your sister is too much……”

  “Dad, my sister is as stubborn as Mom. She would not listen to you. She will date whoever that she likes. Since you already know this, why did you let it affect you? Sister will not care that you are upset. She has Mom with her. Mom will defend her. You must not worry yourself over their affairs.”

  Ding Jiayi had no way to protect Qiao Zijin. They were no match for the Chen family. Qiao Nan kept this thought to herself.

  Qiao Nan could not help it that her father was upset over Qiao Zijin’s affairs. She would not advise him from not doing that. It was useless.

  Qiao Dongliang sighed. He sent them away in the morning and was harsh to them. Now that they had left, he felt anxious and worried. He could not help but feel vexed. Was he sick?

  \r \r \r

  “Yes, with your mom around, nothing will happen to your sister. If anything happens, it is beyond our control as well!” Qiao Dongliang slammed the table in anger.

  It was because of Nan Nan’s relationship with Zhai Sheng that Qiao Zijin was emboldened enough to be with Chen Jun.

  Chen Jun was savvy while the elder daughter was foolish. Qiao Dongliang waved his hand as if he was chasing away the flies. He wanted to stop thinking of Qiao Zijin and Chen Jun. “No one will know whether this is a blessing or a curse. Your sister will have to deal with it in the future.”

  Right now, the elder daughter did not listen to him. In the future, he would not be able to take her in anymore.

  “Alright, Dad. Don’t say such spiteful words. If something happens to my sister, will you be able to leave her alone? I made my stand long ago. You are her dad, so you care for her. But I don’t. I will not stop you from disciplining her, but I will definitely not help her.”

  Qiao Nan knew very well that Chen Jun would play up to those in power. She was merely reminding Qiao Dongliang about it.

  If anything went wrong in the future, Qiao Dongliang might be willing to help Qiao Zijin and Chen Jun at all costs, but she would not help Qiao Dongliang, and neither would she stop Qiao Dongliang from sacrificing himself to help Qiao Zijin.

  In order not to let this get ugly, she had to make herself clear beforehand.

  No one could understand Qiao Nan’s feelings of pain and desperation in the previous life. She was close to forty years old but she was still single. She was busy with work every day. She earned so much money, but she had to eat instant noodles every day and lived in a small rented house. She watched helplessly as Qiao Zijin snatched her boyfriend and took her hard-earned money to buy apartment suites as dowry and lived a glamorous and luxurious life.

  Once bitten, twice shy.

  In the previous life, Qiao Dongliang and Ding Jiayi took extra care of Qiao Zijin. However, it was at the expense of Qiao Nan that they could lavish Qiao Zijin with money and house and for Qiao Zijin to lead a pampered life.

  Qiao Nan was fearful!

  “What makes you say that?” Qiao Dongliang felt upset at the worry and concern in Qiao Nan’s tone. He felt bitter and aggrieved.

  He had already said that he would not do such things.

  It was clear that the elder daughter and Chen Jun wanted to make use of Nan Nan to be close to the Zhai family.

  Nan Nan seemed as if she wanted to be rid of a troublesome relative like Chen Jun. She wanted him to stay out of her way.

  Qiao Dongliang had no idea of the miserable life that Qiao Nan had been through or the hardships and sufferings that she went through before she was given another chance at life. He could not understand her worry and fear. He felt that after being with Zhai Sheng, Qiao Nan seemed to have a change of status and turned cold-hearted.

  They were one family. Since Nan Nan had the ability, why could she not help Zijin if she was in serious trouble?

  Qiao Dongliang and Qiao Nan turned silent. There was an awkward silence between the two of them. Gone was the joy of seeing each other after such a long time. They felt awkward and uncomfortable with each other’s presence.

  Qiao Nan rubbed her face, feeling helpless and disheartened. “Let’s not talk about this. The Lunar New Year is coming. Dad, have you thought of what dishes to prepare?”

  If she knew this would happen, she should have kept those thoughts to herself. If she did not say anything, the atmosphere would not be so stiff.

  Perhaps because she had kept all her grievances to herself in the previous life that she could no longer keep those thoughts to herself and had to tell her father.

  Qiao Nan changed the topic to give each other a way out. Qiao Dongliang chose not to continue with the awkward topic as well. “I have yet to decide. Do you have any dishes that you want to have?”

  “Yes……” With a smile on her face, Qiao Nan said all those dishes that she would like in a cheery tone.

  The father and daughter purposely avoided talking about Qiao Zijin in the days that followed. Luckily, after visiting them on that day, Qiao Zijin and Chen Jun had not been to their house again.

  Even if the atmosphere was no longer as good as before, as long as no one brought up the conflicts that they had, and Qiao Nan and Qiao Dongliang worked hard to maintain a harmonious relationship, they could still get along well with each other.

  They were the only ones who knew what they were thinking of.

  Qiao Nan used to feel that once Qiao Dongliang had a divorce and she was in college, Qiao Dongliang would be lonely staying at home by himself.

  If possible, she hoped that she could delay her marriage with Zhai Sheng so that she could spend more time with Qiao Dongliang.

  After conflicts arose between them, Qiao Nan began to think differently.

  She had the best interests for her father and was worried that he would be lonely. However, she was not the only person that her father was worried about.

  Moreover, her father would shortchange her for another person’s sake. While she was willing to delay her marriage to Zhai Sheng as she cared for her father, he would not do the same for her.

  1043 Capricious Love

  She knew that her father had high self-esteem. Therefore, she seldom received any help from the Zhai family regarding her education at college. She would rather work to earn her living expenses instead of adding another burden to her father’s load. She did not want her father to feel that it was the Zhai family who provided for her.

  As time passed, her father did not seem to be able to appreciate her hard work and efforts.

  Had she committed the same mistake that she made in the previous life? Did she do too much but did not make her feelings and thoughts known to her father?

  It was time for the father and daughter to retire to their own room to rest. Qiao Nan switched off the lights in her room, sitting on the bed. She hugged her knees, lost in her thoughts.

  Her father had reverted to his old ways, and so did she.

  In this family, she seemed to be the only person who was able to keep caring for others. Other people might care for her, but it would not be long before they turned to care for Qiao Zijin.

  Ring! Ring! Ring!

  Qiao Nan’s cell phone rang. She rubbed her eyes and answered the call. “Hello.”

  “Nan Nan, are you unhappy?” Zhai Sheng was excited to speak with Qiao Nan, but he turned gloomy the next instant. “Did your mom create trouble for you again?”

  Qiao Nan took a deep breath. “Brother Zhai, don’t forget that apart from my mom, there is still my dad.”

  “Uncle Qiao? Has Qiao Zijin been to your house recently?” Zhai Sheng understood what had happened immediately.

  Qiao Nan sniffed. “Perhaps everyone feels that now that we are engaged, after this Lunar New Year and come February, we will get married and collect the marriage certificate. From then onward, I am the daughter-in-law of the chief while my husband is the regiment commander, and he will be promoted in the future. A blessed life is waiting for me. I will have endless glory and wealth. Like what is shown on television, I will be the young mistress of the house.”

  Everyone felt that she would have good days ahead of her and that she could enjoy life.

  \r \r \r

  Therefore, in comparison, those who were not as fortunate were more pitiful and deserved their concern.

  She was still in school but her future was paved for her. There was nothing to worry about. Her father could put all his attention on Qiao Zijin.

  Qiao Zijin was disobedient and she refused to listen to him. She was so daring to be dating Chen Jun.

  As compared to her whom Qiao Dongliang had nothing to worry about, Qiao Zijin was worrisome. He was troubled over her that he could not eat well and sleep well.

  “Brother Zhai, I think I have failed as a person.” In the previous life, Qiao Zijin led a good life while she was miserable. However, her father did not care about her or tell her mother off for taking money from her to give to Qiao Zijin.

  Did that mean that it was not because she was doing well, and Qiao Zijin was not and hence her father turned to care for Qiao Zijin? In actual fact, like her mother, her father felt that Qiao Zijin needed their care, love, and concern.

  Qiao Nan’s voice was slightly hoarse and she seemed to be keeping her emotions in check. She felt downcast and depressed. It pained Zhai Sheng to know that Qiao Nan was upset. He was angry at Qiao Dongliang. “Nan Nan, this is not a question of whether you are a failure or not. You can look at it as an affinity between people. Other people may not cherish you, but I cherish you the most. Nan Nan, you have always been able to sort out your thoughts and not to be upset by your situation, or to be affected by them. You must not subject yourself to narrow confines.”

  Zhai Sheng understood why Qiao Nan insisted that they married at a later time.

  At the very least, Qiao Dongliang had divorced Ding Jiayi and Qiao Nan was able to live in peace with him for some time. Furthermore, Qiao Dongliang was his father-in-law. No matter for whatever reasons, Zhai Sheng would try his best to accede to Qiao Nan’s request.

  But right now, Zhai Sheng regretted his decision.

  Other people might not cherish Nan Nan, but he did.

  The three people in the Qiao family, including his muddleheaded father-in-law, were blind to not cherish Qiao Nan.

  They might not like Nan Nan, but the Zhai family and Old Master Zhai loved her.

  If he knew that Qiao Dongliang would turn out to be such a disappointment, he would throw caution to the wind and bring Nan Nan to stay at the Zhai family’s residence. The Zhai family would cherish and love her. How dare Qiao Dongliang changed his attitude toward Nan Nan time and again and hurt her feelings.

  “Brother Zhai, can I ask a favor from you?” Qiao Nan felt much better at Zhai Sheng’s words, but her eyes started to turn teary.

  “What is it?”

  “Can we have one child in the future?”

  “Why?”

  “I-I am afraid of pain……”

  “Okay.” Zhai Sheng felt as if his flesh was cut off from his body. The reason why Nan Nan wanted to have one child was not that she was afraid of pain. It was because she was worried that she would be biased and muddleheaded if she had more than one child. In that case, the other child would be hurt. “Nan Nan, have you forgotten that according to the national family planning policy, we could only have one child.”

  Qiao Nan wiped her tears. “It seems so. Twins do not seem to run in our family.”

  “Me too.” Zhai Sheng understood what Qiao Nan meant. Usually, twins and triplets would run in the family. “Nan Nan, don’t think too much. Have fun this Lunar New Year. Everything will be fine come February next year.”

  Zhai Sheng was very busy with work. Lunar New Year was coming, but he was still at the camp. He could not go back to Ping Cheng.

  Zhai Sheng knew that Qiao Nan must have returned to her home in Ping Cheng. He gave her a call when he finally had some free time.

  To his surprise, amidst the joyous occasion, such things happened in the Qiao family and Qiao Nan was upset because of it.

  If Qiao Dongliang was not his father-in-law, he would feel like bashing him.

  In short, if Qiao Dongliang really felt that Nan Nan would lead a good life once she married him, while Qiao Zijin’s future was full of uncertainties and she needed his concern, Qiao Dongliang could shower Qiao Zijin with more attention and love.

  Even if Qiao Dongliang reconciled with Ding Jiayi, Nan Nan and he would not stop him. At most, they would not be in close touch with him.

  It was better not to have a parent family like the Qiao family!

  Zhai Sheng was really furious this time.

  Qiao Dongliang had been fooled and hurt by Qiao Zijin several times, yet once onshore, one prays no more. He claimed that he would not be bothered with Qiao Zijin anymore, but now, he felt that Qiao Zijin was unfortunate and she was more pitiful than Qiao Nan and she needed someone to take care of her.

  This was too much.

  To people who were resolute and decisive like Zhai Sheng, he could not understand why Qiao Dongliang would be so indecisive and capricious.

  Zhai Sheng could not understand Qiao Dongliang, but he was clear about one thing. He knew why Qiao Dongliang chose to leave the army even when he loved the army and had bright prospects in the army.