Chapter 10: So Angry I Want to Shave My Head Off

The shopkeeper held the phone, a suggestive smile on his face.

"The Gao family’s daughter from the second team in Shanghe Village had someone call to ask about you. She wants to meet again; are you going?"

Jiang Baohai didn't immediately register who it was.

He paused, then his heart gave a sudden jolt, a thud that echoed in his brain.

The idlers nearby heard the word "daughter" and all wore expressions of sudden realization.

Someone whispered, "Boss Jiang, a blind date?"

Jiang Baohai ignored them, but he didn't reach for the phone either.

With his hands in his pockets, his long legs spread loosely, he leaned his hips against the counter and tilted his chin slightly.

The shopkeeper smiled, speechless. *Trying so hard to play it cool.*

Still, he played along, lifting the receiver to ask, "Which day? Oh, I see. Got it. Hold on, I’ll pass the message to Boss Jiang."

He covered the mouthpiece and leaned out.

"She asks if you’re free tomorrow. You pick the location."

Forget about the People’s Park café; he didn't have the time for that.

Jiang Baohai pondered for a moment.

"Let's meet at the mine."

Take it or leave it.

The shopkeeper was stunned. "The mine? That doesn't seem appropriate..."

Jiang Baohai had already started walking away.

He looked like he didn't care at all, as if he were only in a good mood today and was begrudgingly sparing a moment to give her a chance.

The shopkeeper had no choice but to quickly relay the message to the person on the other end.

He expected to be scolded on Boss Jiang's behalf.

To his utter surprise, the other side actually agreed.

"Boss Jiang, they said it’s a deal!"

The man, already far away, seemed to hear it, or perhaps he didn't.

Only at a corner where no one could see him did he reach up, take the sunglasses hanging from his shirt collar, and put them on, his stride quickening.

***

"What? The mine?"

When Sister-in-law Zheng brought the news home, Huang Ying suspected she had misheard.

Gao Qingmiao cursed, "That’s a place for a bunch of stinking men—dirty and chaotic. Not even a ghost would go there!"

"What is this Jiang Baohai playing at?" Gao Chongyi’s face darkened.

It was a clear sign of disrespect.

Sister-in-law Zheng felt awkward, but this was what Qinghe herself had asked for—another meeting.

She tried her best to explain, "It’s probably because she stood him up last time; he’s a bit temperamental."

Old Lady Tian said nothing, looking at Gao Qinghe as she emerged from the room.

"The mine it is."

Gao Qinghe was full of fighting spirit.

It wasn't as if she hadn't been to that dilapidated mine in her past life.

Although it was a bit dirty and messy, she would just treat this as making amends for the sins of her previous life.

Gao Qinghe was open-minded.

A great woman knows when to bend and when to stretch!

Once she got the marriage certificate in her hands, she would settle the score with him.

The Gao family, however, couldn't see it that way.

Her parents urged her to think twice. Those coal bosses were just pure, nouveau-riche parvenus—completely unreasonable.

"We have to look at a person's character."

Gao Chongyi pointed at the old lady and his wife, telling his daughter to learn from him.

"Back then, I chose your grandmother and your mother because of their character, which is why we have you three lovely, filial children."

Sister-in-law Zheng had to put in a good word for the other side.

"He’s the first 'ten-thousand-yuan household' in Qing County. I’ve never heard of him doing anything morally corrupt."

Gao Chongyi raised his voice: "If he doesn't respect people, he’s no good!"

Sister-in-law Zheng: "He’s a ten-thousand-yuan household."

Gao Chongyi said at a medium volume: "So what if he has money?"

Sister-in-law Zheng: "He really has money."

Gao Chongyi said in a low voice: "Money is useless."

Sister-in-law Zheng: "He has money!"

Money might not be everything, but without money, you can do nothing.

Sister-in-law Zheng patted Gao Qinghe’s shoulder. "It’s settled then. Tomorrow, do you want your aunt to go with you, or...?"

Gao Qinghe: "I’ll have Miaomiao go with me."

Looking at Gao Qingmiao’s tall, sturdy frame, plus his newly dyed yellow hair, he was certainly intimidating enough.

Sister-in-law Zheng and the rest of the Gao family nodded, agreeing it was a good idea.

After giving Gao Qinghe a few more details, Sister-in-law Zheng declined Huang Ying’s invitation to stay for dinner and left.

With the door closed, only the family remained.

Gao Qinghe couldn't help but laugh at how nervous her family looked.

It wasn't like she was heading into a dragon’s den.

Gao Qinghe beckoned to her younger brother.

Gao Qingmiao immediately trotted over happily. "Sis."

Gao Qinghe looked him up and down. He was an eighteen-year-old man now.

He couldn't just be an unemployed drifter hanging out with a bunch of hoodlums forever.

Going to the mine was a good thing.

It was the perfect opportunity to get her silly brother a job.

"Miaomiao." Gao Qinghe reached out and patted her brother’s shoulder.

Gao Qingmiao suddenly felt the hand on his shoulder carry a heavy weight.

"Once Sis takes down that coal boss, I’ll make sure you’re living the high life!" Gao Qinghe said, full of confidence.

Ignoring Gao Qingmiao’s excitement, she turned to her parents and held out her hand.

"Dad, Mom, give me the household registration book."

With the book in hand, she would get that marriage certificate tomorrow.

Gao Chongyi wanted to tell his daughter: *It’s fine to be confident, but daughter, you’re being a bit too confident.*

Gao Qingmiao didn't care. He swore that from this moment on, he was his eldest sister’s most loyal servant!

"Sis, I know where the registration book is! I’ll go get it for you!"

Gao Qingmiao didn't give Huang Ying or Gao Chongyi a chance to react.

He rushed into their room, rummaging through cabinets and drawers.

He presented the thin booklet to Gao Qinghe with both hands, his smile bright.

Gao Qinghe smiled as she took it, stood on her tiptoes, and ruffled her brother’s yellow hair. "Good boy."

Gao Qinghe returned to her room, satisfied.

Before closing the door, she gave her silly brother a look that said, *May God help you.*

Gao Qingmiao froze.

Before he could process it, the next second, he saw his parents grabbing a bamboo strip and a broom, their faces like demons from hell, charging toward him.

Gao Qingmiao whispered in despair: "I’m dead..."

After a flurry of chaos in the house, peace returned.

At the dinner table that night.

Watching Gao Qingmiao, who had returned from outside without a scratch, Gao Qinghe sipped her exclusive cup of hot milk and said

"Miaomiao, I think you should sign up for the Asian Games. For the event, choose... short-distance sprinting!"

Gao Qingmiao asked in surprise, "Really?"

Could he really participate in the Asian Games?

Huang Ying rapped her chopsticks on her silly son’s head. "Sit down and eat! Always dreaming of impossible things!"

The blow was painless, and Gao Qingmiao chuckled, picking up his bowl to shovel in his food.

Gao Qinghe pushed the remaining half-cup of milk toward him and winked.

Thinking his parents weren't looking, Gao Qingmiao turned his back and downed the half-cup of hot milk in one go.

Rich, creamy, and sweet. It was so good~

Huang Ying and Gao Chongyi exchanged a secret glance and shook their heads in unison. *This silly boy.*

By the time dinner was over, it was pitch black outside.

Suddenly, the gas lamp in the room flickered.

The entire village went dark.

Gao Qinghe, who was by the stove directing her brother to pour hot water for her to wash her hair, let out a soft cry.

The rest of the family reacted with practiced calm.

Gao Chongyi called out from his desk: "The power’s out again."

Huang Ying took out two kerosene lamps and lit them, and the room brightened once more.

She specifically placed one lamp next to Gao Chongyi’s desk and urged him, "Your eyes aren't good; don't prepare lesson plans late at night."

Gao Chongyi waved her off and lowered his head to continue working.

Gao Qinghe patted her chest. She had almost forgotten that in the first few years after the village got electricity, the voltage was unstable and blackouts were frequent.

Old Lady Tian comforted her, "It’s fine, it’ll be back in a while."

The old lady took out a flashlight to provide light for her two grandchildren.

Gao Qinghe suppressed her discomfort. Since returning, this was the first time she had squatted in front of a high stool to wash her hair in a basin.

Her long hair was thick and lustrous; she used five packets of shampoo.

There wasn't enough water, and by the time she finished the first basin, the second batch of hot water wasn't ready yet. It was cold, so she had to sit and wait for a while.

After finally washing it clean and drying it with a towel, she lowered her head to toast it by the stove.

She accidentally singed a lock of hair, and Gao Qinghe was so angry she wanted to shave her whole head off.