Almost everyone in the residential area nearby heard that Xu Qinghuan wanted to cancel her engagement with Jiang Chengxu, which was exactly Xu Qinghuan's intention.
She wanted everyone to know they were breaking off the engagement.
It wasn't that she was overly cautious, but in her previous life, she had been used to being cautious.
"Just because I asked you to give your job to Xu Manman? You're breaking the engagement over something as trivial as this?" Jiang Chengxu was thoroughly disappointed with Xu Qinghuan at this moment. "As long as we get married, you won't need to go to the countryside, what's the point of having a job?"
Xu Qinghuan found it amusing in a frustrating way; at this moment, she was fed up with her original self's mother, not only for abandoning her after giving birth but for finding her such a man.
However, the moment of realization made her feel that the original self's feelings were also hers.
Her emotions towards Song Wanlin became incredibly complicated.
"Jiang Chengxu, I am calling off the engagement with you. As for the reason, it's simple: I don't fancy you. You can choose to marry Xu Manman and let her stay in the city, but you have no right to ask me to give up my job for her." Xu Qinghuan felt a wave of disgust.
Jiang Chengxu also saw the impatience in her eyes, a sharp pain tingling in his heart. Did this girl really no longer like him?
Once, there was a glimmer in her eyes when she looked at him, but now, it was replaced only with unconcealed annoyance and impatience, along with a sense of liberation as if casting away old shoes.
Did he really make a mistake?
"Would you really rather push me away than give up your job? Are the years of our relationship worth less than a job?" Jiang Chengxu clenched his fists, overwhelmed with emotion, yet still restrained by the necessity to keep calm.
Xu Qinghuan nodded, "That's right, a man is just like a piece of clothing, but a job is the backbone. Do you think clothes are more important than your backbone?"
Without a job, the backbone is broken, and you cannot stand up.
Perhaps in some families, women don't need to work outside, adhering to the traditional mindset of men taking charge outside while women manage the home. If the man understands the woman's struggle to manage the household and doesn't see himself as solely supporting her, that's fine.
But Jiang Chengxu is far from being such a man.
Xu Qinghuan walked past him, feeling a sense of relief.
Holding the breakup declaration signed by Jiang's mother, she headed to the Lin Family. It was dinner time, and seeing Xu Qinghuan arrive, the whole family was enthusiastic; Lin's mother and Lin's sister-in-law eagerly invited her to stay for dinner.
"If you dare not eat here, don't come back in the future!" Lin Xiaolan pouted and said.
Xu Qinghuan, feeling reluctant as she was set to leave early the next morning, replied, "Alright, don't be mad, can't I just stay for dinner?"
She grabbed a handful of White Rabbit candies from her pocket and stuffed them into Lin Xiaolan's nephew's hand. The little boy smiled, showing two small dimples and eyes as big as black grapes, sparkling brightly. "Thank you, Auntie Huanhuan."
Xu Qinghuan pinched the little boy's cheeks, "Was Bean Sprout good today?"
In the book, after Lin's sister-in-law committed suicide, Lin's brother's leg was broken by his wife's brothers, and no one took care of Bean Sprout. At sixteen, in a fight, he got killed, mumbling "Mom" before he died.
The little one's mouth was small; a big candy couldn't fit in, so the sugary juice spilled out. Smiling, he showed his small baby teeth, incredibly cute, "Very good!"
Xu Qinghuan was delighted, took out another handful of candies, and stuffed it into his little pocket, "Good behavior is rewarded. Once Auntie goes to the countryside, I'll send you nuts; eat nuts and you'll become very smart!"
"Yes!" The little boy nodded fiercely, not knowing what nuts were, but understanding it's something edible.
Lin's mother asked with concern, "Huanhuan, why do you have to go to the countryside?"
Xu Qinghuan nodded, noticing Lin's sister-in-law's guilty look, she couldn't help but smile, "Aunt Lin, let me tell you a secret."
"What secret? Can you really tell me a secret? Won't you tell Lanlan?" Lin's mother glared at her jokingly, accusing her of teasing.
Xu Qinghuan laughed, "I sold a job today."
"What did you say?" Lin's mother was shocked, "What job?"
Xu Qinghuan replied, "The light fixture factory was hiring recently, mainly testing foreign languages. I got in, but since I'm heading to the countryside, I sold the job. Now I have money in my hand."
Since getting close to Lin Xiaolan, Xu Qinghuan often ate at their place; Lin's father and mother were very considerate of her, sharing any job information despite having an unemployed daughter-in-law themselves.
After hearing this, Lin's sister-in-law was finally relieved and watched Xu Qinghuan with gratitude.
"You child, a job at the light fixture factory is very good, why not stay here and work properly? Must you go to the countryside?" Lin's mother couldn't help but pat Xu Qinghuan softly, but there were tears in her eyes.
Lin's father also said, "The light fixture factory hired for a technical position, and after becoming permanent, the salary won't be low, and the future prospects aren't bad either. Why not stay?"
Before Xu Qinghuan could speak, Lin Xiaolan spoke indignantly, "Stay here for what? To marry Jiang Chengxu, that scoundrel? Staying here would mean being trapped by her mother, it's better to go to the countryside. The countryside is vast and there's no authority nearby, what's not good about it!"
Xu Qinghuan hugged Lin Xiaolan, "My dear Lanlan knows me best!"
The room fell silent; the atmosphere was heavy, Bean Sprout, sensing the tension, puckered his lips, on the verge of tears.
Xu Qinghuan embraced Bean Sprout, "Hey, what's wrong with our little Bean Sprout? Is the candy tasty?"
Bean Sprout buried his head in Xu Qinghuan's arms, as she laughed and asked, "You little rascal, trying to wipe the candy juice on Auntie? I'll give your little bottom a smack."
Saying so, she playfully pinched Bean Sprout's little bottom.
The room's atmosphere relaxed, Lin's mother promptly said, "Let's eat, let's eat, whatever is said, let's say it after eating!"
Lin's mother added a dish, took out the preserved meat she had saved for a long time, and cooked it, continually filling Xu Qinghuan's bowl, "Eat more, once you leave, we don't know when you'll come back. Be sure to write often. If you face any difficulties, let Lanlan know. Lanlan will tell me and your uncle, if we can help, we'll help. If not, we can find someone to help, never keep silent."
"Auntie, I know." Xu Qinghuan tightly grasped the chopsticks, her heart filled with warmth, her nose tingling, almost bringing her to tears.
"Auntie, take this!" Bean Sprout clumsily spooned a piece of meat from his bowl into Xu Qinghuan's bowl, "Eat!"
Xu Qinghuan smiled, gave a larger piece of meat to Bean Sprout, "Bean Sprout should eat too, eat more to grow taller!"
After dinner, Lin's mother asked, "When are you leaving?"
Actually, they had already guessed the answer in their hearts, but when Xu Qinghuan mentioned leaving the next day, Lin's mother couldn't help but tear up, getting up to go to her room.
Xu Qinghuan said to Lin's father, "Uncle, I came today because I wanted to ask for your help with something."
Lin's father replied, "Just say it, no matter what it is, Uncle will do his best."
Xu Qinghuan took out the breakup declaration, two copies, both signed. Originally, one should be given to the Jiang Family, but Xu Qinghuan deemed it unnecessary. She handed one copy to Lin's father, "I'd like to ask you to help and have this statement published in tomorrow's or the day after's newspaper, as soon as possible."
She could do it herself, but it wasn't possible now; the newspaper office had already closed for the day.