Chapter 2: Breaking Off the Engagement

Lu Qiaoge’s gaze was sharp, her voice cold: "Liang Aishu, from this moment on, our engagement is annulled. We have no relationship from here on out."

She was anxious to get to the neighborhood office to see if there was still any hope for the exam.

After all, it was 1975, and having a job was still very important.

She said to her parents, "Mom, Dad, I have to go to the neighborhood office first. Please hurry up and handle the annulment of the engagement; we can talk about everything else when I get back at noon."

After saying this, Lu Qiaoge glanced at the tabby cat that was arching its back as if glaring at her, but she didn't look at Liang Aishu again. She walked quickly toward the stairs.

With Lu Qiaoge’s departure, the hospital room fell into a dead silence.

Auntie Zhao had a good impression of Liang Aishu. Although he was entangled with Shen Yun, Liang Aishu had been popular with girls since he was a child.

She kindly comforted him: "Qiaoge is just acting on a moment of anger. If you explain it well, maybe her anger will subside."

Mother Lu, who had returned after failing to catch up with her daughter, interrupted sternly: "What moment of anger? Old Zhao, stop meddling. Liang Aishu, the truth is you’ve always looked down on my daughter, but because this engagement was set by your grandfather, you had to comply. I tolerated it before, but after what happened today, the engagement must be annulled."

Seeing that Mother Lu was truly angry, Old Zhao wisely shut her mouth.

Liang Aishu’s face was gloomy, his heart full of shame and annoyance. Since Lu Qiaoge hadn't given him any face, there was no need for him to maintain this any longer.

She had brought this on herself.

By this time, Lu Qiaoge was already walking briskly along the wall toward the Xiangyang Neighborhood Office.

【*Chirp, chirp*, the old ladies at the neighborhood office are arguing.】

Lu Qiaoge stopped in her tracks abruptly.

She followed the sound and looked toward the large poplar tree by the roadside.

She saw a few sparrows perched on the tree, chatting away.

【When do they not argue? Even if they didn't, the residents would come to argue with them anyway.】

【Today is different from other days. Old Hu is furious, saying Old Huang has no principles and is letting emotions dictate her work.】

【Didn't Old Huang explain that Lu Qiaoge fell into the water and was sent to the hospital, which is why she was late for the exam?】

【Before I flew back, I heard Old Hu say she would only wait fifteen minutes. If Lu Qiaoge doesn't show up, the recommendation quota will be voided.】

Old Hu was the director of the neighborhood office, and Old Huang was the deputy director—also a good friend of her mother’s. This job opportunity was one she had gone to great lengths to secure.

Lu Qiaoge took off running.

She swept past the tree-lined path like a gust of wind.

In less than ten minutes, Lu Qiaoge arrived in front of the neighborhood office gate.

After stopping to catch her breath, Old Huang happened to walk out. Seeing Lu Qiaoge, she asked about her condition, and upon learning she was fine, she let out a sigh of relief and pulled her into the building.

"You finally made it. The recruitment method has changed this time; the higher-ups have taken the backlog of recent disputes and turned them into exam questions. Yours is one that others picked over, but it shouldn't be too hard to handle. Qiaoge, you have to put in the effort. Even if you get cut, don't make it look too bad; who knows, there might be other opportunities in the future."

"This is your temporary work permit, valid for three days. Qiaoge, you are just one of the recommended candidates. Who gets to stay in the end depends on how you handle these disputes and the feedback you receive."

"Hurry up and look over the details of the dispute. Oh, and thank Director Hu."

Old Huang’s string of words was fast and urgent, but Lu Qiaoge immediately thanked the stern-faced Director Hu.

Afterward, Lu Qiaoge took the work permit and a sheet of paper, standing to the side to read it obediently.

The 516 Military Factory had over ten thousand workers and tens of thousands of family members, currently served by two neighborhood offices.

The Xiangyang Neighborhood Office was bustling with people, and there were simply too many trivial matters and petty squabbles every day.

Lu Qiaoge quickly scanned the details of the dispute.

Zhao Qing, from the Fourth Workshop, had remarried shortly after his divorce. The paperwork was normal and fine; 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, had come to the neighborhood office, hoping they would step in and persuade the woman to leave.

She was Zhao Qing’s wife now, but because the ex-wife wouldn't leave, Zhao Qing hadn't dared to go home.

The desired outcome for this dispute was simply for Sun Qin to move out with the children.

Lu Qiaoge went back to find Old Huang, asking humbly: "Auntie Huang, I heard that Zhao Qing married his sister-in-law. Is that true?"

Old Huang choked, glared at Lu Qiaoge, and lowered her voice: "It’s true, but just act like you don't know. Go quickly and get a feel for the situation, talk to Sun Qin properly, and whatever you do, don't provoke her. If things look wrong, leave immediately."

She sighed afterward: "Actually, this is the hardest one to complete. Forget it, just do your best."

Lu Qiaoge blinked, also feeling it would be difficult.

Sun Qin and her daughter were registered as rural residents. Although she worked in logistics, she was only a temporary worker. If she weren't a military factory dependent, she would have to return to her hometown to farm once she left the Zhao family.

The neighborhood office was also sympathetic; they had promised to find her a place to live and keep her job for the time being, so they wouldn't force them back to the countryside.

Yet, Sun Qin still refused.

Lu Qiaoge said earnestly: "Thank you all for the opportunity. I will work hard to complete this."

Director Hu’s expression softened slightly.

She said in a gentler tone: "If you run into trouble, come back and tell us. Your attitude must be good, do you hear me?"

Lu Qiaoge obediently agreed.

The neighborhood office was expanding, and the higher-ups had given them two spots.

But there were 30 recommended candidates, meaning 28 had to be cut.

Lu Qiaoge checked the time; there was still enough time to go to the Zhao house to get a feel for the situation.

In a short while, she arrived at the home of Zhao Qing, a technician in the Fourth Workshop.

The 516 Military Factory residential area was huge, like a small city.

There were both tube-style apartment buildings and single-story houses.

Zhao Qing lived on the first floor of Building 45 in the Third District.

It was Old Lady Zhao who opened the door, and she frowned upon seeing Lu Qiaoge.

Lu Qiaoge immediately introduced herself with a smile: "Grandma Zhao, I am a clerk temporarily hired by the Xiangyang Neighborhood Office. I’ve been entrusted by Director Hu to ask Comrade Sun about something."

Old Lady Zhao had bound feet, and even though it was early summer, she was wearing a black jacket with a side-fastening collar.

Her eyes were sharp and mean; she looked difficult to deal with.

The file showed that Old Lady Zhao had two sons, and Zhao Qing was the second.

The eldest son had died in an accident last year, and his wife, Duan Xiaoxiang, had been preparing to remarry and take her two sons with her.

Old Lady Zhao treated those two grandsons as the apples of her eye; how could she possibly agree?

It was said that Old Lady Zhao had threatened to kill herself, and the final result was that Zhao Qing divorced his wife, Sun Qin.

On the very day of the divorce, he had registered his marriage with his sister-in-law, Duan Xiaoxiang.

Did no one criticize them?

There were plenty of people who criticized them.

But Sun Qin had agreed, so even the leaders couldn't say much. However, who would have thought that while Sun Qin agreed to the divorce, she wouldn't leave the house?

Lu Qiaoge scanned the Zhao home.

Zhao Qing was the chief technician of the Fourth Workshop, and the apartment he was allocated wasn't small—nearly fifty square meters.

Zhao Qing was not at home at the moment.

There were people busy in the kitchen, one large figure and one small.

The aroma of stir-fried food wafted out.

Duan Xiaoxiang, who had just returned from work, was sitting on the sofa, crossing her legs and filing her nails.

Lu Qiaoge asked directly: "Is Comrade Sun Qin home?"

A woman with a haggard but neat and tidy appearance walked out of the kitchen.

Sun Qin looked up at Lu Qiaoge, and before Lu Qiaoge could even ask a question, she said softly: "I will not move out."