The neighbor who had asked Ding Jiayi for a favor the previous time had a daughter who had graduated with decent results and had even won a few scholarships in school. However, even her daughter had not managed to be shortlisted for the interview. How had Qiao Zijin been able to do so? And that was why the northern courtyard went into a frenzy.

  This neighbor, who had once asked Ding Jiayi for a favor, was the first to show up at the Qiao family’s door, clearly displeased. “Didn’t I say that Qiao Nan married well? She’s so amazing. How could it be possible that she doesn’t have any abilities at all? But as neighbors, it’s just a favor. One or two more won’t make a difference. Don’t you think so, Sister Ding?”

  Qiao Zijin’s intelligence was no match for her daughter. So, why was it that Qiao Zijin managed to get to the interview while her daughter had not been able to do so? It was simply because she had not given birth to a sister like Qiao Nan, who had married into a good family.

  Upon hearing that Qiao Zijin had managed to get through the written examinations and was shortlisted for the interview, she was willing to bet her life that the Qiao family must have pulled some strings.

  They were old neighbors and old friends, after all. Qiao Nan must have gotten the Zhai family’s help to give Qiao Zijin the opportunity to be interviewed. She could let that go, but only on the condition that her daughter could do so as well.

  They could use the excuse that there had been computational errors or that the percentile cut-off for the interview had been shifted. Anything was fine, really. She did not care what methods Qiao Nan or the Zhai family used for her daughter to be accepted for the interview and the job. Then, she would promise never to leak a word about Qiao Zijin’s matter.

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  If……

  If the Qiao family did not treat them as neighbors and refused to help them out with this favor, letting her capable daughter be treated so unfairly, she would definitely fight back on her daughter’s behalf. She would make those people who bullied her daughter suffer as well!

  The Zhai family was powerful. There was no way she could do anything to them. But if this was to be exposed, a simple investigation of Qiao Zijin’s paper would immediately result in her name being removed from the interview shortlist.

  Perhaps, if Qiao Zijin’s name were to be removed, her daughter’s name might even be added to fill that space!

  “We’ve been neighbors for such a long time. Shouldn’t we help each other out in these situations? Only by helping each other out will we be able to improve our relationship. Isn’t there a saying that a close neighbor is much better than a distant brother? Sister Ding, you watched my daughter grow up. You have to help me out. Zijin may have been shortlisted for the interview, but my daughter wasn’t. I really didn’t know that Zijin was so knowledgeable. Shall we let our children get together some time? My daughter has quite a few problems that Zijin might be able to help her out with.”

  In short, there was no way Qiao Zijin was going for the interview if her daughter was not.

  This old neighbor had already made her intention clear with such a threat. As long as Qiao Zijin wanted to go for her interview, her daughter had to go too. Otherwise, she would find a way to disqualify Qiao Zijin from the interview.

  “.……” Ding Jiayi’s expression was terrible. This neighbor was not very capable herself and she was trying to get her daughter a job in the civil service? She was threatening her with such an average family background? Did she forget that Ding Jiayi’s daughter was the wife of a chief?

  No matter what, it was that wretched girl, Qiao Nan’s, fault. If Qiao Nan had gotten married from the Qiao family’s home, the entire courtyard would know that Qiao Nan was the Qiao family’s daughter. Anyone who looked down on the Qiao family or tried to harm the Qiao family would be going against Qiao Nan and the entire Zhai family.

  If Qiao Nan had hardened her attitude, there was no way these people would dare to threaten her for a favor in this manner! Did they want to become civil servants with her help? Fine!

  The problem was that there were no free lunches in this world. Before getting anything, one first had to give up something. Did they really think that simply saying that they were old neighbors would suffice? They were all adults. Could they be more rational and mature?

  She had not even received all those benefits she had envisioned, nor had she been flattered, before she had been threatened. As such, it was only natural for Ding Jiayi to be in as bad a mood as Qiao Zijin had been earlier.

  Ding Jiayi hesitated for a moment. Should she help the neighbor’s daughter, or should she simply tell her neighbor off? Her daughter might be the chief’s wife, but no matter how far her connections reached, that was the Qiao family’s matters. If they wanted to take advantage of the Qiao family, they had better act more humbly and courteously.

  Ding Jiayi deliberated between her two options for a while before sneering. “Alright, it seems as though you don’t need my help. You seem more capable than me. I believe that with a mother like you, your daughter can become the head of state if she wants, much less a mere civil servant. I’m nowhere as capable as you are. Your daughter will have to work hard to become a civil servant by her own efforts. All the best. I’ll be cheering for you.”

  The neighbor’s expression paled. “Sister Ding, we’ve been old neighbors for such a long time. Do you really want to bring things so far? It’ll be awkward for all of us in the future. We should be generous to others at times. Problems can be solved by compromises. Of course, we won’t expect you to help us for free. You are free to make any demands and requests.”

  Before coming, the neighbor’s daughter had told her that it was impolite to show up empty-handed if they wanted a favor. No matter how underhanded their methods were, that was still the Qiao family’s own matters. What if they needed even more help from the Qiao family in the future?

  There was no need to worry about spending money in this society. One only needed to worry about not having anywhere to spend their money. It was obvious that Qiao Nan’s marriage to Zhai Sheng and her becoming the chief’s wife had caused the Qiao family to become all high and mighty. Given their family’s history with the Qiao family, they could count on having the Qiao family’s help if they needed it in the future.

  The young lady was rather good-natured about the situation. She had probably already expected this situation and thus spoke gently. On the other hand, her mother was enraged.

  Her daughter was clearly a hundred times better than Qiao Zijin in every way. Qiao Zijin had bought her way through university while her daughter had won scholarships. Qiao Zijin had graduated more than two decades ago and had never so much as touched a book after graduating!