Chapter 8: Partial Parents

Lu Qiaoge was unsure if Qin Hengzhi had people watching from the shadows. After the tabby cat she had sent out to scout returned, she finally confirmed that there was indeed a large quantity of steel billets at the bottom of the lake.

While pondering how the thieves had managed to sink them to the lakebed, she said to Lu Xiaosi, "No more fishing. Let's use the net to scoop up some fish."

Lu Qiaoge wasn't very enthusiastic; if she happened to hook one that could talk, should she eat it or not?

The small shrimp had no inner voice and didn't grow, and the wheat-ear fish here didn't grow either; it seemed only the older ones would be of any size.

The tabby cat had never imagined that one day a human would scoop up fish for it to eat. Its round eyes were bright and sparkling, and it was practically drooling.

Lu Xiaosi was very obedient and handed the net to Lu Qiaoge. Lu Qiaoge focused her mind and listened for a while. She discovered she could sense the location of the schools of wheat-ear fish, and the moment she sensed them, the school would slow down.

In less than half an hour, they had scooped up half a bucket of wheat-ear fish and small shrimp. Two of them could project their inner voices, so Lu Qiaoge threw them back.

One of them was a black catfish that had been chasing the wheat-ear fish. After hitting the water, it even cried out: [You scared the hell out of me!]

Lu Qiaoge:...

Once everything was confirmed, it was time to leave; 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 walk past, ignoring her, but Shen Yun blocked her path.

Her eyes were red and swollen, and she looked haggard and disheveled.

Her voice was filled with resentment: "Lu Qiaoge, I never realized you were so vicious. You ruined my reputation and Brother Aishu's. What good does that do you? Brother Aishu hates you to death now; even if you wanted to win him back, it's impossible."

Lu Qiaoge looked at Shen Yun with mockery: "You deliberately pulled me into the water, and I haven't even settled that score with you yet. Where do you get the nerve to come here and call me vicious?"

"And talking about reputation?"

"If you like Liang Aishu, you should have just told me. After all, we've known each other for so many years; I certainly would have fulfilled your wishes. But what happened? You were flirting and carrying on behind my back. Tell me, are either of you good people? You are both despicable and 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 provoked me, and then pulled me into the water. Now you come to me asking for your reputation? Do you still think I'm the same fool I used to be?"

"Shen Yun, go home and look in the mirror. See if that face of yours is still there!"

As she spoke, she pushed her aside: "Good dogs don't block the road. Get lost!"

Shen Yun didn't expect Lu Qiaoge to be so sharp-tongued. She was stunned for a moment, and only after being pushed did she react. Her face turned ashen, and seeing the strange looks from passersby, she stood there, trembling with shame and indignation.

Her fingers were shaking, and she couldn't utter a single word for a long time.

Lu Qiaoge ignored her and pulled her bewildered younger brother toward home.

Shen Yun watched Lu Qiaoge's leisurely back, her eyes filled with venom. Damn Lu Qiaoge, how did she become so heartless and vicious?

Wanting to get into the neighborhood office and get an iron rice bowl?

As long as she was at the military factory, Lu Qiaoge would never be able to turn things around!

At the same time, Sun Qin arrived at the neighborhood office with a letter of commendation.

She first thanked the cadres in the office one by one, then handed the letter to Director Hu.

She said earnestly, "Director Hu, this letter of commendation is written to the leaders of the neighborhood office and Lu Qiaoge. I sincerely thank Lu Qiaoge for resolving my predicament. Otherwise, besides shamelessly staying at the Zhao family's house, my daughter and I would have had no way out."

Director Hu quickly said, "No matter what you encounter, you must trust the leaders and the organization. You must also believe that there is always a way around the mountain; don't think in such narrow terms."

Sun Qin promised she wouldn't overthink things, but she was very grateful to Lu Qiaoge. She was very satisfied with the handling of yesterday's situation; if she had to give a score, it would definitely be a perfect one.

At this moment, Lu Qiaoge didn't know that Sun Qin had gone to the neighborhood office. She and her younger brother stood at the gate, not moving.

Meng Xia had already returned, but she wasn't the only one in the courtyard. There was also a travel-worn young woman and a gloomy-faced old lady, with several large bundles beside them.

At this moment, the young woman was crying angrily: "Mom, many people are making arrangements to return to the city now, and I've been waiting day and night for you to pick me up."

"I've suffered so much in the countryside, and I even dragged Grandma along with me. Shouldn't that neighborhood office recommendation quota be given to me?"

"You are not only biased but also heartless. You need to get this straight: I went to the countryside in place of my second sister. Why should the recommendation quota be given to her instead of me?"

Lu Xiaosi was a bit nervous, but he still called out weakly: "Grandma, Third Sister."

Lu Qiaoge recalled the situation.

The young woman was the original owner's third younger sister, Lu Qiaoling. It had been two years ago.

The sisters were only one year apart; at the time, one was 16 and the other 17. The educated youth office notified the Lu family that they had to send one daughter to the countryside.

Lu Qiaoge was already engaged at the time, and Lu Qiaoling didn't want to go, and Lu Qiaoge wanted to go even less. Liang Aishu was in college; if she left, the marriage would likely be off.

The Lu parents were in a difficult position, so Lu Qiaoge and Lu Qiaoling played rock-paper-scissors. Yes, it was that childish, but there really was no better way at the time.

In the end, Lu Qiaoge won. Lu Qiaoling cried as she went to the countryside, and Old Lady Lu forced Old Lu to find someone to arrange for her to join a production team in their hometown. Old Lady Lu was worried, so she went along with her.

A while ago, Meng Xia had asked Lu Da to find a way to bring the third daughter back.

Lu Qiaoling wiped away her tears and said bitterly, "I don't care. Anyway, I'd rather jump into the river than go back to the countryside."

Meng Xia was so angry she clutched her chest, sitting under the tree without a word.

Lu Qiaoge pushed open the gate and called out to Grandma.

Lu Qiaoling didn't expect her second sister to be back, so she must have heard what was just said. She wiped her tears, pouted with a guilty conscience, and leaned closer to Grandma.

Lu Qiaoge walked up and said to Lu Qiaoling: "Let's not talk about anything else first. Let's talk about going to the countryside. It wasn't you going in my place. We agreed to decide by one round, but you lost, then you said three rounds, and you lost again. In the end, we did it nine times."

Lu Qiaoling, who had been feeling guilty, saw Lu Qiaoge walk closer and noticed that her second sister's features were as beautiful as a painting, perhaps even prettier than before. She suddenly felt both aggrieved and jealous.

Because she felt that she had become rustic and ugly from staying in the countryside.

"I don't care. Based on age, it should have been you going to the countryside. I've already stayed in the countryside for two years; I won't go back even if I die."

Lu Qiaoling started acting out, stomping her feet and crying.

Lu Qiaoge asked curiously: "Who told you about the recommendation quota?"

She was certain no one in the family had said anything.

Meng Xia also looked up at Old Lady Lu.

Lu Qiaoling said angrily: "If you don't want people to know, don't do it."

Old Lady Lu rubbed her forehead: "The day before yesterday, someone called the brigade office. I don't know who it was. When Qiaoling heard you found a job for Qiaoge, she cried all night. The next day, she threatened me with a bottle of pesticide. What could I do? I could only bring her back."

Then, without looking at Lu Qiaoge, she said to Meng Xia: "It's not that I'm criticizing you, but this quota should have been given to Qiaoling. Qiaoge already has a good marriage; you need to find a way to get Qiaoling back to the city. I've never seen parents as biased as you."