Zhou Xinyan felt miserable upon seeing the results; she came in third place. Even without Huanhuan, she wouldn't have been accepted.
Her nose tingled, and tears nearly flowed.
Xu Qinghuan squeezed her palm lightly and whispered, "You might consider my proposal. If interested, act on it right away. Do you see my cousin over there? I'm just staying at her place temporarily. She registered but didn't take the exam, do you understand?"
Zhou Xinyan's eyes widened in disbelief, "What about you?"
"Don't worry about me. Even if I don't go to the countryside, I won't stay in Shen City."
Xu Qinghuan hadn't mentioned she had already registered herself. After all, they'd only known each other for two days, and although she could trust that Zhou Xinyan wouldn't harm her, she couldn't ensure Zhou Xinyan's people wouldn't.
They could easily wait for her to leave and organize another recruitment exam.
Zhou Xinyan gave Xu Qinghuan a deep look, said nothing, and ran towards the factory.
She rushed straight to the chairman of the union's office, anxiously saying, "Second uncle, I didn't pass!"
Zhou Zhiguo rubbed his temples, "What can we do? Would you like to start as a temporary worker at the factory?"
The Zhou family's three brothers had this one daughter, and she was somewhat spoiled.
The first place score was simply too outstanding, not a single flaw could be found by the people at the Foreign Translation Bureau. How could he openly push his niece upwards?
The second-place score was also quite good, although far behind the first, still much better than his niece.
"Second uncle, I know Xu Qinghuan. I spoke to her about letting me have the spot; we can just give her some money and a ticket," Zhou Xinyan said.
She didn't mention being good friends with Xu Qinghuan, fearing her uncle might use this to bargain with Huanhuan. She wasn't foolish, knowing Huanhuan might have already registered to go to the countryside, participating in the exam just to make some money.
Her family was well-off, having prepared a thousand yuan for buying a position, trusting in Huanhuan, and she couldn't afford to betray her.
"She agreed?" Zhou Zhiguo was incredulous, "How could she agree?"
"If she doesn't sell, she can't keep the job either. Her family will make her give it up for her sister, so I've discussed it with her; she'll sell it to me," Zhou Xinyan said with justified certainty.
In front of the list of names, Qian Xingguo approached Xu Qinghuan, saying, "Xu Qinghuan, how about selling this job to me for twelve hundred yuan?"
Xu Qinghuan didn't have time to respond before Jiang Chengxu pulled Xu Manman over, "No deal!"
He spoke to Xu Qinghuan, "Qinghuan, let's set the wedding date soon, and you can give the job to Manman. This way, you both can stay in the city and not worry about going to the countryside."
Xu Qinghuan squinted at Xu Manman, "You object to going to the countryside?"
Xu Manman chuckled, "Who wants to go to the countryside? Who doesn't want to stay in the city; does sister want to go to the countryside?"
Xu Qinghuan nonchalantly replied, "If I can't stay in the city to build our nation, I will actively go to the countryside. You're unwilling to go to the countryside, only wanting to stay in the city; you're simply a hedonist!
Your mindset is clearly problematic; you should be reformed! Belittling farmers, you're a class enemy!"
Xu Manman's face turned pale; she had unwittingly fallen into Xu Qinghuan's trap, tears streaming down, "Sister, that's not what I meant, I... I'm not in good health. I'm afraid going to the countryside will burden the citizens."
Jiang Chengxu was already quite impatient, "Qinghuan, Manman is still young; there are things you can teach her but don't harm her!"
"So, I should hand over the job I earned with difficulty to her?" Xu Qinghuan calmly looked at Jiang Chengxu,
"You need to understand, she's my cousin, not your sister, and you're nominally my fiancé. If you're so selfless, you should give your job to her; I think that's more appropriate.
Instead of being generous at someone else's expense, how can that express your care and admiration for her?"
Jiang Chengxu's face was grim, "Qinghuan, I didn't expect you to be like this! I'm not asking you to give the job to Manman; I just hope for a solution where neither of you has to go to the countryside.
Once we marry, you won't need to go; I'll make money to support you. With the job, Manman won't go to the countryside either, and she'll share part of her earnings with you."
Xu Manman quickly promised, "Sister, I don't want to go to the countryside; I'm not well. Going there would only trouble others. Once I start the job, I'll give you half of my monthly salary, is that okay?"
She was almost begging.
Those taking the exam were mostly junior and senior high school graduates facing relocation to the countryside. Everyone wanted to stay in a familiar environment rather than move to an unfamiliar, backward rural area.
Jiang Chengxu's proposal seemed like the best of both worlds.
But Xu Qinghuan couldn't accept it; not only did she never have a habit of handing over her possessions, but who would continuously give half their salary to someone else? Even if Xu Manman agreed to share, could she continuously take it without attracting gossip?
People always see only what's in front of them and are adept at forgetting the past.
One month, two months, half a year, a year later, who would remember that Xu Manman's job was originally hers?
Xu Qinghuan didn't get angry; she rarely did because anger means harming oneself with others' mistakes. She calmly said, "The job is mine; why don't you marry Xu Manman instead? That would truly be the best solution."
Xu Manman felt ecstatic, her smile slowly spreading, but seeing Jiang Chengxu's darkened face, she quickly calmed down, stomped her foot, coquettishly saying, "Sis, how can you say that? Chengxu likes you!"
Jiang Chengxu was also shaking with anger, "Xu Qinghuan, do you know what you're saying?"
The drama of two women and a man is what everyone likes to watch.
The job exam results were out, and with everything settled, attention shifted to this scene.
A lot of people gathered around.
Xu Qinghuan paid no heed to Jiang Chengxu's attitude, "I can't bear to give up the job, but I can give you to her; marry Xu Manman, she wouldn't need to go to the countryside either."
Jiang Chengxu realized she wasn't joking, and his heart sank to the bottom, "How many times have I told you, there's nothing between me and Manman, I'm only good to her because of you; I care for her like a sister."
Xu Qinghuan wasn't in the mood to reason with them. Right then, someone emerged from the factory, calling her over.
Xu Qinghuan thought it was about handling employment procedures, didn't give much thought, and quickly jogged into the factory.
Xu Manman was worried, tugging at Jiang Chengxu's sleeve, "Brother Chengxu, what should we do? Sister keeps misunderstanding us; it's all my fault. I want to explain to her, but never find the chance."
She wasn't worried about the job going wrong because she couldn't imagine Xu Qinghuan choosing to go to the countryside. As long as the job was in Xu Qinghuan's hands, it would undoubtedly end up being hers.