Educated Youth in the Countryside: She is the Village's Embroidery Queen!-Chapter 346: Ruthless

After walking a distance, Zhang Xiaoqin suddenly seemed to crumble, her shoulders drooping and letting out a big sigh.

Yi Chichi laughed, "What’s up, can’t let go?"

"Of course not."

She responded quickly, but her face showed some regret, "To be honest, I was quite satisfied with him before."

Otherwise, she wouldn’t have agreed to his invite to the zoo.

"Why aren’t you satisfied now?"

Yi Chichi spoke with some teasing, and Zhang Xiaoqin rolled her eyes, "I’m not stupid. When he started talking about getting involved in my work and wanting two kids in three years, especially when he said his mom was not easy and hoped I’d be good to him, all my good impressions of him tanked."

This mindset is right, not in vain the education she received in Kao Shan Village from Aunt Yaozi.

"Did you initiate it?"

"He chased me."

As she spoke, she detailed their story; they were colleagues, but in different departments.

Zhang Xiaoqin worked in the publicity department sitting in the office, while Lv Xinghua was an apprentice in the mechanical repair group, having just become permanent half a month ago.

They’d seen each other a few times in the cafeteria before but never spoke.

Until Lv Xinghua became permanent, he greeted Zhang Xiaoqin again, and began an intense, sincere pursuit.

He was quite romantic, creating little surprises for her, like a wildflower today, some candies tomorrow, and a hair tie the day after.

None of it was expensive, but the thoughtfulness made Zhang Xiaoqin very pleased.

So, she decided to give it a try.

The result was discovering that Lv Xinghua was far from her ideal partner.

Being good to his mom was something she could actually accept, but what she couldn’t stand was him eyeing her job.

"It’s okay if he’s not good to me but wanting to mess with my job is absolutely not allowed."

She gritted her teeth, "He took me for a fool, exposed his intentions too quickly."

If he’d been slower and pretended for a bit longer until marriage, he might have actually achieved his wishes.

But now...

"I’m going to complain to my dad when I go back today."

Yi Chichi was silent; her worries were misplaced; a girl who complains to her parents can’t be provoked.

"You should complain."

Moreover, "Better not to act alone when going to and from work during this time, and the same goes inside the factory."

Zhang Xiaoqin looked horrified, "What’s with you, Chichi? I feel like your words imply that Lv Xinghua might do something bad to me?"

Yi Chichi recalled Lv Xinghua’s gaze and clenched fists, asking her, "Do you trust me?"

"I do!"

Her godmother said she was capable, marveling that if she learned even two or three-tenths of Yi Chichi’s skills, she’d never worry in life.

However, Yi Chichi’s skills aren’t something most people can learn.

She was among those who couldn’t.

But that’s okay, she can listen.

Yi Chichi didn’t know her thoughts but was satisfied with her answer.

"Being cautious doesn’t hurt."

If her judgment wasn’t wrong, Lv Xinghua had been targeting Zhang Xiaoqin for a while, and had figured out her family situation; otherwise, he wouldn’t know she had a brother and sister-in-law.

But his thinking was too shallow, and he was too impatient, exposing himself too quickly.

Such people have a flaw: too impulsive and easily take extreme actions without achieving big things.

"I’ll heed your advice and won’t be alone."

"Do your coworkers at the factory know about your relationship?"

"...Not sure, I didn’t mention it actively."

"Gossip has to be watched out for too."

Rumors can kill; those unaffected by them have firm minds, are very clear about their self-identity and goals.

Zhang Xiaoqin hadn’t reached that level, so she needed to be given a preventive measure early.

"You should guard against him using rumors to force you to compromise."

Zhang Xiaoqin imagined such a scenario and shivered.

"He- he wouldn’t be that bad, would he?!"

She wasn’t entirely sure.

Yi Chichi chuckled, "Who knows? After all, you can read faces but not hearts."

That made sense too.

Zhang Xiaoqin sighed deeply, "Looks like I’ll have to ask Old Qiao again."

"Qiao Jun?"

"Yeah."

"What are you asking him for?"

"To give me a ride to and from work, you said not to act alone, and I’m worried he might do something impulsive that I’d regret."

Yi Chichi nodded; girls who listen are good girls.

But, "Is Qiao Jun in the same factory as you?"

"No, he’s in No. 2 Machine Factory next door."

"Is he seeing anyone?"

"He is!"

At this, Zhang Xiaoqin was furious, "That guy is unreasonable; he got my cousin."

"Are you close with your cousin?"

If not, asking for Qiao Jun could hurt their already fragile sisterhood.

Turning against each other isn’t impossible.

"We’re close; we grew up sharing everything, even causing mischief together."

Yi Chichi acknowledged, still reminding, "Tell your cousin first about Qiao Jun giving you a ride."

Adults should avoid misunderstandings, and boundaries can easily be crossed with a little carelessness.

Zhang Xiaoqin was stunned for a moment, then quickly understood her meaning and nodded eagerly, "Don’t worry, I’ll tell my cousin when I get back."

Everything that needed addressing had been addressed. Seeing that Zhang Xiaoqin had a grasp on the situation, Yi Chichi started chatting with her.

During the chat, Zhang Xiaoqin unsatisfiedly questioned, "You’ve been here so long, why haven’t you come to hang out with me and Old Qiao?"

"Busy!"

Yi Chichi looked up at the sky, then looked around, saw no one was nearby, and whispered, "I have to spend time with my guy; we rarely meet, so I have to cherish it."

This remark left Zhang Xiaoqin speechless, and after a while, she squeezed out a sentence—

"You’re prioritizing romance over friendship."

"Exactly!"

She nodded openly, "I’m spending my life with my man, not you and Old Qiao, you guys naturally have to take a backseat."

That makes so much sense.

Compared to a partner for life, these two friends like her and Old Qiao aren’t worth mentioning.

Yet it’s still frustrating, "I thought we were good friends."

"We are, otherwise, I wouldn’t have stepped up."

Zhang Xiaoqin immediately understood her meaning, incredulously saying, "You almost pretended not to see me?"

"Any issue?"

"No."

What could be wrong, she couldn’t control Yi Chichi.

Sighing, she decided to switch to a happier topic, "Let’s find Old Qiao and ask him to treat us to a meal."

"Is it far from the Friendship Store?"

If it’s far, she wouldn’t go; running around is too much hassle.

"Not far, we’ll stroll a bit, then take the tram to catch him after work."

Worried Yi Chichi might refuse, she added, "I tell you, you’re leaving soon, so it’s unreasonable not to hang out with us."

"Also, Old Qiao and I prepared some stuff for your godmother and them, planned to mail it, but since you’re here, you can help take it back."

"You short on postage?"

Yi Chichi asked displeasedly, Zhang Xiaoqin grabbed her arm and grinned, "Not short, but saving a bit here and there helps, right? When Old Qiao and my cousin marry, I have to prepare gifts, and for their kids too, I’m too broke!"