Chapter 2

Lu Qiao stared sharply, her voice icy: "Liang Aishu, from this moment on, our engagement is annulled. From here on out, we have no relationship whatsoever."

She was in a hurry 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, Lu Da and Meng Xia: "Dad, Mom, I have to go to the neighborhood office first. You two 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 Qiao glanced at the tabby cat that was arching its back as if glaring at her, but she didn't look at Liang Aishu again, and she walked quickly toward the stairs.

Following Lu Qiao's departure, the hospital room fell into sudden silence.

Auntie Zhao had a very good impression of Liang Aishu; although he was entangled with Shen Yun, Liang Aishu had been popular with girls since he was little.

She kindly comforted him: "Qiao is just acting in a fit of pique. If you explain it well, maybe her anger will subside."

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

Old Zhao saw that Mother Lu was truly angry.

She tactfully shut her mouth.

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

This was something she had brought upon herself.

At this moment, Lu Qiao was already walking briskly along the perimeter wall toward the Xiang Yang Neighborhood Office.

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

Lu Qiao stopped in her tracks abruptly.

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

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

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

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

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

【Before I flew back, I heard Old Hu say he'd only wait fifteen minutes; if Lu Qiao 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 and a good sister of her mother's; this job opportunity was something she had racked her brains to secure.

Lu Qiao took off running.

She swept past the tree-lined path like the wind.

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

After stopping to catch her breath, Old Huang happened to walk out. Seeing Lu Qiao at a glance, she asked about her situation, and upon learning she was fine, she immediately breathed a sigh of relief and pulled her inside.

"You finally made it. The recruitment method has changed this time; the higher-ups have brought out the backlogged disputes as exam questions. Although yours is what others picked over, it's not hard to handle. Qiao, 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 later."

"This is your temporary work permit, valid for three days. Qiao, you are just one of the recommended candidates; who gets to stay in the end depends on your ability to handle disputes and the feedback this time."

"Hurry up and look at the dispute content. By the way, thank Director Hu."

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

Afterward, Lu Qiao took the work permit and a piece of paper and stood obediently to the side to read.

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

The Xiang Yang Neighborhood Office was bustling with people coming and going, and every day there were so many major and minor matters, trivial and messy, that it was simply overwhelming.

Lu Qiao quickly scanned the content of the dispute.

Zhao Qing from Workshop Four remarried shortly after his divorce; the procedures were 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, went to the neighborhood office, hoping the neighborhood would step in and persuade the person to leave.

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

The result of this dispute was that as long as Sun Qin took the child and moved out, it would be fine.

Lu Qiao went to find Old Huang again, humbly seeking advice: "Aunt Huang, I heard that Zhao Qing married his sister-in-law. Is that true?"

Old Huang choked, glared at Lu Qiao, and lowered her voice: "It's true, but you just act like you don't know. Hurry up and feel out the situation, talk to Sun Qin properly, and absolutely do not provoke her. If the situation doesn't look right, you leave immediately."

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

Lu Qiao blinked her eyes, also feeling it was very difficult.

Sun Qin and her daughter were both registered as rural residents. Although she worked in logistics, she was only a temporary worker. If she weren't a military factory family member, leaving the Zhao family would mean she could only go back to her hometown to farm.

The neighborhood office was also sympathetic, promising to find her a place to live and keep her job for the time being, not forcing them back to the countryside.

But Sun Qin still wouldn't agree.

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

Director Hu's expression finally improved a little.

He softened his voice and said: "If you have difficulties, come back and tell us. Your attitude must be good, do you hear me?"

Lu Qiao obediently agreed.

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

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

Lu Qiao checked the time; there was still enough time to go to the Zhao family and feel out the situation.

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

The 516 Military Factory family quarters were huge, like a small city.

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

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

It was Old Lady Zhao who opened the door, and she frowned when she saw Lu Qiao.

Lu Qiao immediately introduced herself with a smile: "Grandma Zhao, I am a clerk temporarily hired by the Xiang Yang Neighborhood Office, entrusted by Director Hu to ask Comrade Sun about something."

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

Her eyes were sharp, and she looked difficult to get along with at first glance.

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

The eldest son, Zhao, had an accident last year and passed away, and his wife, Duan Xiaoxiang, was 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 threatened to kill herself, and the final result was that Zhao Qing divorced his wife, Sun Qin.

On the day of the divorce, he got a marriage certificate with his sister-in-law, Duan Xiaoxiang.

Did no one criticize it?

There were far too many people criticizing it.

But Sun Qin agreed, and even the leaders couldn't say much. However, who could have imagined that Sun Qin would agree to the divorce but refuse to leave the house?

Lu Qiao scanned the Zhao family home.

Zhao Qing was the chief technician of Workshop Four, and the apartment he was allocated wasn't small, about fifty-plus square meters.

Zhao Qing was not at home at the moment.

Someone was busy in the kitchen, two figures, one big and one small.

The fragrance of stir-fried vegetables wafted out from inside.

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

Lu Qiao asked directly: "Is Comrade Sun Qin at home?"

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

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