Zhang Qian walked out of the department store arm-in-arm with a man, carrying shopping bags. Spotting Si Nian and her group standing empty-handed by the entrance, she immediately assumed a haughty and smug expression.
She had finally caught Si Nian. Earlier on the bus, everyone had surrounded Si Nian to talk, ignoring her.
It was as if she herself was some sort of disreputable person.
Zhang Qian had been stewing in anger the whole trip.
Now, as if fate had brought rivals together, she unexpectedly ran into Si Nian again here.
And seeing her standing at the department store entrance with several children, seemingly afraid to go in, Zhang Qian instantly felt that Si Nian, this city girl, wasn't as impressive as everyone in the village made her out to be, was she?
Maybe those big and small bags she took home before were just empty sacks, deliberately shown off for show.
Zhou Yueshen, who just runs a pig farm, no matter how successful, is still just a country bumpkin. Where would he get the means for such lavish spending?
Looking at it now, it was probably all an act.
Well, originally a city girl, after moving to the countryside, she was probably afraid of being laughed at, hence all that elaborate effort.
How utterly hypocritical.
Si Nian turned her head and looked over, seeing Zhang Qian walking over with a man even shorter than her, hips swaying.
She was holding several bags, which looked like they contained clothes.
The expression on her face as she looked at Si Nian was filled with pride.
As if that was something truly worth showing off.
"Mom, it's that auntie again, the one in her twenties who still can't get married."
Second Child saw her and was also surprised, his mouth agape in astonishment: "Wasn't she going on a date? Why is she with a grandpa?"
Zhang Qian stumbled on her feet.
Si Nian almost burst out laughing, patting Second Child's head as she said, "Maybe she's taking her grandpa shopping. Nothing strange about that."
Zhang Qian's face had already darkened upon hearing Second Child's words. Now, with Si Nian adding fuel to the fire, she was nearly furious enough to faint.
The man beside her also instantly looked sullen.
He angrily snapped, "Qianqian, who are these people? Don't they know how to talk!"
Zhang Qian looked at the man beside her. He didn't take good care of himself; perhaps due to too much pressure, his hair was thinning badly, making him look particularly old.
He was barely a few years older than Zhou Yueshen, yet he looked over forty.
If Zhou Tingting hadn't told her he was only in his thirties, she would have thought she'd been deceived.
But even though this man looked old and wasn't handsome, at least he was willing to spend money on her.
This one trip out, he had already bought her quite a few clothes.
Zhang Qian had been happily pleased, but now, after what Si Nian and Second Child said, she suddenly felt this man was really old too.
But no matter how old, he certainly wasn't grandpa-level! She was so angry!
"Brother Cheng, don't be angry. She's just jealous of me, that's why she says such things. You don't know, but this woman is really pitiful. She married down from the city to a pig farmer in our village, and she's raising three kids for free for him. Seeing me with you now, she's probably green with envy!"
Zhang Qian attributed all of Si Nian's behavior to jealousy.
Well, even though Brother Cheng was a bit older, at least he didn't have children.
And he owned a house in the city.
What use was Zhou Yueshen's good looks? Those three burdens would be enough to scare anyone to death!
When they grow up, who knows how they'll treat her.
The man called Brother Cheng, upon hearing this, looked at Si Nian with shock.
Earlier, seeing this woman who looked so young and beautiful, he had been staring dumbfounded for quite a while. To think she was so young yet so foolish, becoming a stepmother for someone else?
And a stepmother for a country bumpkin at that? Was she crazy?
He glanced again at the children beside her, who were almost as tall as her. Brother Cheng's rather unattractive face revealed an expression of cherishing the delicate and precious.
He was a gentleman by nature. Considering how pitiful she was, he decided not to hold a grudge over her calling him old just now.
His gaze involunt swept over Si Nian. Her face was, needless to say, heavenly beautiful.
Her figure, with its full curves, was absolutely stunning.
She looked like she'd be good at bearing children.
His ex-wife stubbornly couldn't bear a son. Seeing that he was almost forty with no heir, Brother Cheng watched anxiously, worried in his heart.
This was also why he didn't mind Zhang Qian being an illiterate country girl.
Although he always told others he was in his thirties, he wasn't exactly lying. Thirty-nine is still in the thirties, isn't it?
At this age, it wasn't easy to find someone. City women these days were too shrewd. They wanted both money and good looks. How could such a perfect thing exist in this world?
But this woman in front of him was excellent in every aspect, yet her taste was so poor, choosing a country bumpkin. Wouldn't she be better off coming to him?
She looked even younger than Zhang Qian, with such a great figure. Even if he just married her as a trophy wife, it would be excellent.
Brother Cheng confidently believed that since Si Nian could even fancy a farmhand, someone like him would surely be someone she'd long for.
He immediately distanced himself from Zhang Qian, lifted his chin, and said to Si Nian, "In that case, this comrade is indeed quite pitiful. What a shame. Since you know Qianqian, I can help you. By the way, I'm a team leader at the textile mill. If you want to come, I can get you a job at our factory. Thirty yuan a month, and I can look after you."
Zhang Qian, who had been smugly pleased beside him, was dumbfounded upon hearing this.
Seeing Brother Cheng's lecherous stare fixed on Si Nian, her face instantly darkened.
She understood perfectly now. Brother Cheng, seeing how beautiful Si Nian was, had taken a fancy to her and wanted to ditch her, right?
This vixen! She knew Si Nian coming out wasn't just to buy things; she must be here to seduce city men!
After all, she heard Si Nian was forced into this marriage.
Furious, Zhang Qian glared fiercely at Si Nian, her expression conveying that if Si Nian dared to agree, they would become sworn enemies.
Si Nian felt disgusted. Looking at the self-important man, she made a gagging expression: "Sorry, you can give that opportunity to someone else. I have ugliness aversion. Seeing ugly people makes me want to vomit. Of course, I'm not saying you're very ugly..."
Brother Cheng's smile, which he thought was charming and suave, instantly froze on his face.
"What?"
Zhang Qian's face also turned green. "Si Nian, don't get too cocky. Brother Cheng offering to help is giving you face. How dare you call him ugly? Don't go too far."
She was currently dating Brother Cheng. Si Nian's words not only insulted Brother Cheng but also made her feel humiliated by association.
As if what she had found wasn't a city man, but a toad.
Si Nian put on a shocked expression: "You think he's handsome? So you have such... unique taste."
Zhang Qian was so angry smoke seemed to rise from her head. But before she could speak, she heard Si Nian add, "But then again, it makes sense, since you two are quite well-matched."
Zhang Qian: "?"
Their faces turned a kaleidoscope of colors, a truly spectacular sight.
People around them also curiously cast glances. Even in this era, it wasn't unheard of for an older man to marry a young wife.
Normally, people might just take an extra look and not think much of it.
But now, with Si Nian saying this, it was as if they were some bizarre combination. Both of their faces couldn't hide the embarrassment.
Brother Cheng felt utterly humiliated. Being called old one moment and ugly the next, his good mood was completely ruined.
If so many people weren't watching, he would have definitely taught this wretched woman a lesson about how to speak properly!
So pretty to look at, yet she just had to open her mouth.
It really infuriated him!
He said through gritted teeth, "Forget it, I don't want to argue with a woman. I gave you such a great opportunity and you didn't know how to take it. Don't regret it later. Not just anyone can earn thirty yuan a month!"
Thinking that Si Nian had married a country bumpkin and was probably dirt poor—likely unable to scrape together ten yuan a month, let alone thirty—he felt she was simply being ungrateful for his generosity.
Si Nian laughed. "You're right, I can't afford that."
"See, I told—"
Brother Cheng didn't get to finish his sentence before a car horn sounded from behind him.
He instinctively turned his head, and his eyes nearly popped out of his skull.
A brand new black Santana was driving up from behind.
Although there were plenty of wealthy people in the city and Santanas weren't rare, he had never seen one this new, clearly custom-modified in a midnight black finish.
In these times, owning a Santana or a Beijing Jeep was one of the hallmarks of being a local tycoon.
He wondered which big shot was out cruising in their luxury car, stirring up envy. For a moment, Brother Cheng almost forgot he was in the middle of mocking Si Nian.
Noticing Si Nian and the children also looking over with surprised expressions, Brother Cheng immediately sneered.
"Country bumpkins, never seen such a nice car before, have you?"
"You only see cars like this in the city. Ah, never mind, you wouldn't understand anyway. People from remote villages like yours probably couldn't afford one in a lifetime."
Si Nian snapped out of it and looked at him. "Can you afford it?"
Brother Cheng choked, then recovered with a cold laugh. "I can't afford it now, but I'll surely be able to one day."
Si Nian nodded in agreement. "Well, you can wait patiently for that day then. I have to go now."
Brother Cheng thought Si Nian was leaving out of shame and felt instantly smug.
His mood, soured by her earlier insults, brightened considerably.
However, his triumphant smile had just formed when he saw Si Nian lead the children around him and wave at the approaching car.
Brother Cheng: "?"
Beside him, Zhang Qian's bag fell to the ground with a thud.
Brother Cheng's heart sank. He looked over.
Sure enough, the black Santana actually stopped right in front of the woman and children. Before Brother Cheng could process it, the child Si Nian was holding started jumping up and down excitedly and called out in a loud, cheerful voice, "Daddy!"
