Madam Jiang was a bit stunned, "What do you an by not coming back?"
Shen Qingqing had already adjusted her expression, "He has better opportunities for growth over there."
"Huh?"
Madam Jiang was even more bewildered, "But wasn’t he sent by the hospital for an exchange program? How could he not co back?"
Deep down, she thought, choosing a better future is normal, but doing this is just unacceptable...
Shen Qingqing obviously didn’t want to talk much about this.
Madam Jiang didn’t press on matters related to work but asked the most pressing question instead.
"Are you and Doctor Zhou still planning to get married?"
With a long-distance relationship, it would already be tough to make it work, let alone being in two different countries.
In the past, trying to reach Qingqing was difficult enough.
If they truly got married, it would probably fall apart sooner or later!
A hint of gloating surfaced in Madam Jiang’s heart, though she couldn’t let it show, so she tightly pursed her lips, resulting in a slightly peculiar expression.
Shen Qingqing was lost in her own thoughts and didn’t notice Madam Jiang’s odd behavior.
Just as Madam Jiang thought she wouldn’t answer, she heard Shen Qingqing say, "For now, there’s no such plan."
"Then you..."
Madam Jiang tried to ask further, wanting to know if she and Zhou Hansheng had broken up.
But Shen Qingqing changed the topic, "Auntie, how should we cook the fish? Let prepare it."
Madam Jiang quickly interjected, "This fish slls too strong, and cleaning it requires using a knife—it’d be bad if you hurt your hand. Let Zhixun take care of it when he gets back; we’ll just steam it then—it’s quick. You don’t need to trouble yourself."
Shen Qingqing said, "Then I’ll get the scallions, ginger, and garlic ready."
"Alright."
Madam Jiang wisely fell silent. If she kept asking, Shen Qingqing might get upset.
If she got upset, she might just leave without even eating.
As long as they weren’t married, Zhixun... might still have a chance, right?
Shen Qingqing knew Madam Jiang was observing her and allowed it generously, making no attempts to hide.
As for matters of the heart, she didn’t want to discuss the details with others.
So things were better kept to oneself.
Over the past few years abroad, Shen Qingqing had undergone so changes in the way she dealt with people and situations.
She had never liked discussing her private life with others before.
Now she was even more convinced: the more you say, the more mistakes you make. Sotis, it might even give others a reason to hurt you.
The elder had been idling about and had started tending to so flowers, plants, and easy-to-grow vegetables in the yard.
Shen Qingqing went to the yard to pull scallions and was spotted by Yang Fen and Li Hongyan as they passed by.
The forr paused for a mont.
The latter grabbed Yang Fen by the arm and strode into the Jiang Family’s yard.
"Oh, I thought it was so great beauty—turns out it’s Qingqing," Li Hongyan said with a smile, as if all previous unpleasantness had never happened.
Her attitude was extrely warm.
"Qingqing, when did you co back? We hadn’t heard anything; otherwise, we’d have gone to the airport to pick you up."
She nudged her younger sister-in-law with her shoulder, signaling her to say hello to Shen Qingqing.
Yang Fen lowered her head and didn’t speak.
The last ti they t in the compound, things had turned sour. Shen Qingqing’s words had been so cutting that Yang Fen could still recall them clearly.
Over the years, she hadn’t been able to marry Jiang Zhixun and had dragged herself into becoming an "old maid." Shen Qingqing surely looked down on her inside.
The more Yang Fen thought about it, the lower her head dropped.
Her cheeks burned; she felt utterly humiliated.
Li Hongyan thought to herself: Her younger sister-in-law went to the Northwest and stirred up all sorts of dramatic events, yet how co she lost her confidence the mont she faced Shen Qingqing?
"Look at Qingqing—she’s completely transford after going abroad. Her fashion sense is so modern. You really need to learn from her; stop dressing so pure and simple. The elders might like it, but for the nfolk? Well, they definitely prefer soone like Qingqing, who dresses boldly."
Li Hongyan’s gaze discreetly swept over Shen Qingqing’s stockings.
This year, it was obvious that people were dressing more fashionable, but not as daringly as Shen Qingqing... sensually.
A faint trace of disdain flickered in her eyes.
She’d heard plenty about how liberal foreigners were. Shen Qingqing had spent four years abroad, and besides her bold fashion choices, surely other aspects of her life had beco more, well... uninhibited.
She couldn’t help but wonder: Would Jiang Zhixun even want to remarry soone like Shen Qingqing?
For marriage and family life, a simple, down-to-earth woman was always better.
A woman like Shen Qingqing was either bad with money or unstable—definitely not marriage material.
As Li Hongyan mulled things over, Yang Fen was also secretly observing Shen Qingqing.
She really had changed.
She had always been recognized as the beauty of the compound, even prettier than movie stars.
Now she had an extra charm and poise—anywhere she went, she would surely be the center of attention.
In terms of looks, Yang Fen couldn’t compete with Shen Qingqing.
And that was the real reason for her lack of confidence.
Otherwise, she could have held her head high and stood before Shen Qingqing, competing with her for Jiang Zhixun...
The way the two sisters-in-law stared made Shen Qingqing very uncomfortable.
"Do you need sothing from ?"
Her tone was indifferent, and her attitude was distant.
Perhaps it was her ti abroad; the polished aura she carried made her seem harder to approach.
Li Hongyan reacted quickly and didn’t show any hesitation, "What kind of question is that? We’re old acquaintances—seeing you back in the compound, we just ca to chat. Don’t tell we can’t co talk to you unless we have a specific reason?"
Shen Qingqing’s smile didn’t quite reach her eyes. "I thought you might be here to warn not to co back to the compound."
The elder had always been suspicious that Yang Fen had said sothing to Qingqing, causing her to look so upset on that day.
Upon hearing this, he imdiately exploded, "How dare you bully her? Qingqing belongs to the Jiang Family, not the Yang Family. She isn’t here to freeload. And yet you co here spewing nonsense, trying to push her around? Don’t you worry about biting your tongue!"
The elder spoke with overwhelming conviction.
Li Hongyan and Yang Fen were mortified—it never crossed their minds that Shen Qingqing would bring it up so openly...
Yang Fen hung her head low and stepped back behind Li Hongyan.
Over these years, neither Jiang Zhixun nor the Jiang Family had shown her any kindness.
Madam Jiang even made cutting remarks, accusing her of being dishonest and only knowing how to sche against her own people.
She hadn’t wanted to co into the Jiang Family’s house, but her sister-in-law had dragged her in.
Thus, the current situation should also be dealt with by Li Hongyan.
The elder was imposing, and Li Hongyan was rattled. She forced a smile, "That’s not true. Qingqing was just joking."
"Right, Qingqing?"
Li Hongyan looked at Shen Qingqing, her face full of obsequiousness, hoping she would say sothing to smooth over the situation.
Shen Qingqing shook her head, "I wasn’t joking."
The smile froze on Li Hongyan’s face.
Before she could co up with a way to defend herself, Shen Qingqing shifted toward the elder and started to complain.
"You know, I used to keep a diary back then. Everything they said—I could recite it word for word now."
She turned to Yang Fen, "By the way, didn’t you say you liked Brother Zhixun and told not to cling to him? Your sister-in-law even said you were getting married to him. Four years have passed—surely the date is set, right? Let know when, so I can co back to celebrate and give you a big wedding gift!"
Her words hit right where it hurt. Yang Fen’s face turned red as a beet, and she desperately wished she could disappear into thin air.
She hated Shen Qingqing to the core.
Why did she co back after leaving the country? And if she was back, why stir up trouble?
Talking behind her back to the elders—did Shen Qingqing have no sha?
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