Previously, to find out what kind of person Wang Jie was, Zeng Shuyi had deliberately gone near the tubular apartment where Wang Jie lived and got to know an elderly lady.
“Let me handle this later, you just watch.”
Seeing a few elderly ladies not far off, Zeng Shuyi instructed Bai Duoduo, and the two of them walked over.
Passing by the elderly ladies, she purposely paused for a moment.
“Ah, it’s Ma Nainai! What a coincidence, running into you again.”
“You… you are… oh, I remember now.”
Ma Shufen squinted her eyes.
She once grabbed Zeng Shuyi and talked at length, badmouthing the Wang family.
Excitedly standing up, she followed Zeng Shuyi forward.
“What brings you this way today?”
“To visit my friend.”
Zeng Shuyi glanced at Bai Duoduo, who cheerfully called out, “Ma Nainai!”
Ma Shufen looked at Bai Duoduo behaving so obediently, then glanced back and quietly asked, “Shuyi, last time you said your cousin who was supposed to be introduced to Wang Jie called it off. Has the Wang family introduced another match for him already?”
Before Zeng Shuyi could ask, Ma Shufen grumbled, “Wang Jie may have a decent job, but his character is really terrible. I don’t know what kind of woman would want him.”
“Ah, which poor girl’s eyes are blind this time?”
Zeng Shuyi feigned surprise.
Ma Shufen lived downstairs from the Wang family in the same building.
Wang Jie’s son was very mischievous, always jumping around.
When Ma Shufen went over to complain, the Wang family said the child was just ignorant.
When they argued, it only made the child jump around even more wildly.
She had long-standing grudges against the Wang family.
Now that someone else joined in badmouthing them, she immediately invited Zeng Shuyi and Bai Duoduo home, “Let me pour you some tea, then we’ll talk.”
Bai Duoduo looked between Ma Nainai and Sister Shuyi, and seeing Shuyi’s bright eyes fixed on Ma Nainai, she followed suit and drank tea.
The sugar water was sweetened—very tasty!
“I told you before, Wang Jie’s mother can’t keep anything to herself. She boasts about her son all day long,” Ma Shufen snorted.
“That son of hers, everyone in our building knows he’s no good! Ten days ago, some people suddenly came to the Wang family, causing quite a stir. I made a point to find out—they came to see Wang Jie for matchmaking.”
“What kind of family?” Zeng Shuyi asked.
“The Wang family wouldn’t say—they’re afraid of bad rumors spreading to the girl’s side. Later, I coaxed it out of Wang Jie’s son and found out it was a teacher’s family who had recently returned to Liucheng after being ‘rehabilitated.’ They didn’t know what kind of person Wang Jie was,” Ma Shufen said.
“Do you know their name?” Zeng Shuyi wanted to inquire further.
Ma Shufen shook her head.
“No, but I know the girl’s father used to be an intellectual before being sent down to the Nongchang. Now he teaches math at Yizhong High School. If I knew who they were, I’d definitely go and warn them. It’d be like saving that girl’s life.”
Zeng Shuyi nodded in agreement.
“That’s true.”
Just as they spoke, sounds of jumping and running came from upstairs.
Ma Shufen immediately grabbed a broom and ran into the courtyard.
“No motherly discipline! You’re all a bunch of good-for-nothings!”
After yelling a few curses, she realized no one from the Wang family came out to argue with her today.
Probably the adults weren’t home.
She snorted and went back inside.
“That Wang Jie brat will be even worse when he grows up. So young, and he’s already stealing from our building!”
“Is that so?” Zeng Shuyi said, feeling it was too much.
Ma Shufen replied, “Who says it’s not? Today an egg, tomorrow two vegetables—everyone just lets him get away with it. We can’t call the Jingcha over something so trivial, or we’d be called petty.”
Zeng Shuyi agreed, “But if he steals small things, he definitely can’t resist bigger temptations. It’s better he knows how fierce things can get now. Otherwise, no one will feel safe living here. If it were me, I’d show him what it’s like—send him to a juvenile detention center for a taste of the reality.”
She left it at that, not wanting to say anything more direct.
Having gotten the information she wanted, she said goodbye to Ma Nainai.
It was late already; she planned to stake out Yizhong tomorrow.
At the intersection, Zeng Shuyi said farewell to Bai Duoduo.
“Sister Shuyi, take me with you tomorrow. If you need help, just say the word—I really hate those who love to snitch!” Bai Duoduo said.
“Okay, we’ll meet at the Yizhong gate tomorrow,” Zeng Shuyi replied.
After parting ways with Bai Duoduo, Ma Shufen of the tubular building kept thinking and found herself agreeing with Zeng Shuyi’s words.
She was so annoyed by Wang Jie’s son.
Being old, she couldn’t sleep well, yet this brat was jumping around morning and night, wearing her out completely.
Ma Shufen pondered and decided to go upstairs and knock on the door.
It was getting late.
When Zeng Shuyi returned home, the house was already arranged neatly.
She told her family she was helping Xiao Huang with work, a proper excuse so they wouldn’t fuss about her coming home late or leaving early.
“Shuyi, there’s a new apprentice in our workshop. The kid looks decent. Clear the day after tomorrow; I’ll take you to meet him.”
Zeng Qingliang never bargained—he just issued orders.
“I’m busy the day after tomorrow, Dad. No need to find someone for me. I’ll consider it when my work is stable.”
Zeng Shuyi picked some bean sprouts.
After a full day out, she was starving.
Zeng Qingliang said he already arranged it.
“Whether you like it or not, you have to go. Besides, the kid is only a temp now, but his uncle is the director—he’ll get regularized soon. Don’t look down on people. You should weigh your own abilities.”
Zeng Shuyi wasn’t against matchmaking at all.
But now she knew that only by being outstanding herself could she meet someone truly compatible.
She had self-awareness.
With her current situation, why would a man with money and a good family like her?
Even if he liked her looks, would the in-laws accept a daughter-in-law who was just pretty?
“Dad, I know my abilities, so don’t bother. You can cancel the arrangement. You’ve done this before, right?” Zeng Shuyi insisted.
Zeng Qingliang snapped, “You brat! I’m your father. Are you trying to embarrass me on purpose?”
Zeng Shuyi silently ate her meal, saying nothing.
Lin Jiazhen smoothed things over, “Shuyi, just meet him. If it doesn’t work out, then you don’t have to continue.”
Wang Juan sneered with a nasty tone, “Mom, stop worrying. Shuyi’s standards are high. If she wants a good-looking man, he has to have a decent job and character too. Don’t worry, Shuyi will definitely bring home a perfect husband.”
“That’s right,” someone agreed.
Zeng Shuyi smiled slyly and looked over.
“My standards are high because I won’t settle for the toads you pick for me. Dad, Mom, you don’t even know what Wang Jie looks like—fat, ugly, with acne all over his face, a nose bigger than a garlic bulb, and those squinty, creepy eyes staring at people. It’s disgusting. Sister-in-law, do you really think your cousin is that great, or could he be…”
Zeng Shuyi stopped herself.
“You… what nonsense are you talking about?” Wang Juan’s face turned red with anger.
“I said nothing. I’m just admitting you’re right. Are you still mad? You’re too petty.” Zeng Shuyi shook her head and sighed.
“They say we’re family and should be polite. Why can’t you understand that?”
Having eaten her fill, she got up and said, “But don’t worry, I’m magnanimous—I won’t argue with you over this.”
Seeing Zeng Shuyi go back to her room, Wang Juan was furious.
“Dad, listen to what Shuyi said!”
“I ask you, is your cousin really that fat and ugly?” Zeng Qingliang asked.
“Dad, didn’t you say looks don’t matter in a man?” Wang Juan added her own explanation.
Zeng Qingliang did believe looks weren’t important, but being fooled by fake photos left him uncomfortable.
“You’re the one who’s irresponsible. Shuyi only told you off for a reason—you deserve it.”
“I… what right do you have?”
Wang Juan just finished speaking when Zeng Xiangping shot a displeased look at her.
“Can’t you behave? Always fighting—how do you expect me to study?”
With Zeng Xiangping stepping in, Wang Juan instantly lost her temper and felt deeply wronged.
She was determined to see what kind of man Zeng Shuyi could find.
This one no good, that one no good—eventually, she’d end up an old maid!
No way would Zeng Shuyi marry.
Would she just stay at home forever?
Better to marry a worthless man and have a miserable married life!
Wang Juan cursed Zeng Shuyi in her heart, but Zeng Shuyi didn’t care about her sister-in-law’s foolishness.
She ran around every day, and after eating, she’d get sleepy, wash up, and fall asleep immediately.
The next morning, after breakfast, Zeng Shuyi took the bus and staked out at Yizhong’s gate for half an hour before she saw a man who looked very much like the girl Wang Jie was matched with yesterday.
After asking around, she found out his surname was Zhang.
She didn’t have time to beat around the bush.
At noon, she staked out again to see Zhang Laoshi leave school.
Upon seeing him, she immediately sent Bai Duoduo over.
“Are you Teacher Zhang? Do you have a daughter who’s being introduced to Wang Jie at the machinery factory?” Bai Duoduo asked.
Zhang Wenjing pushed up his glasses.
“Young lady, do we know each other?”
“We don’t, but my sister was matched with Wang Jie before. I’m here to warn you that Wang Jie’s ex-wife was beaten to death by him. Everyone in their building knows Wang Jie hits women. If you don’t believe me, you can ask around.”
Hearing such a detailed account, Zhang Wenjing frowned. “But…the matchmaker didn’t say that.”
Bai Duoduo said, “Matchmakers take favors from the Wang family. They’ll only say good things. How could they tell the truth? Teacher Zhang, you seem refined—I doubt you’d sell your daughter. I’m just here to warn you: when marrying off your daughter, keep your eyes open. Don’t believe everything others say.”
Zhang Wenjing had been sent down for ten years.
As an intellectual, he never adapted well to farm life and was broken down by ten years of hardship, making him timid by nature.
But his daughter was his lifeblood.
Hearing that the matchmaker had deceived him, he immediately took leave.
When he went to the tubular apartment again, he happened to meet Ma Shufen, who vividly described the constant shouting and beating in the Wang family.
Furious, he rushed off to find the matchmaker.
Zeng Shuyi followed Zhang Wenjing the whole way, overhearing him scold the matchmaker thoroughly.
She knew this marriage wouldn’t happen, giving relief to Zhang Wenjing’s daughter.
Afterward, she wrote a Jubao Xin and had Bai Duoduo deliver it to the machinery factory’s Baoganshi.
Although she had no concrete evidence, she wanted to disgust Wang Jie.
That was her nature: if no one provoked her, she wouldn’t harm anyone.
But if someone dared to mess with her, she wouldn’t let it go.
Having done all this, Zeng Shuyi happily headed home.
Whether it was finding Zhang Wenjing or delivering the Jubao Xin, she never showed her face, so Wang Jie couldn’t trace anything back to her.
If she weren’t running without a permit, she would have reported Wang Jie to the Jingcha for harassment at the cinema entrance that day.
On the way home, Zeng Shuyi bought a pound of braised Zhujiaolou.
After all her hard work, she wanted to treat herself.
But just as she entered the door, she felt the heavy atmosphere inside.
Even her usually talkative younger brother, upon seeing her, quickly hid his head behind the newspaper, cautious as ever.