Hello, Comrade. I'm Here to Marry You!

Chapter 37: Chapter 37: Exposed

Su Zhaozhao’s sudden question sent a chill through Zhang Jingshu.

The young woman’s gaze was cold, as if trying to see right through her.

’For someone her age, to have Su Zhaozhao’s stare send a chill down her spine?’

’How strange.’

But Zhang Jingshu feigned a calm expression. "No, not at all. I was just admiring how beautiful you are."

The answer was plausible enough, but Su Zhaozhao knew she was lying.

That strange feeling she’d had ever since she first met Zhang Jingshu, from the moment the older woman greeted her, resurfaced.

One thing was certain, though: she didn’t know Zhang Jingshu.

And the original Su Zhaozhao had no memory of this person either.

After all, Zhang Jingshu was from Beijing, and the original Su Zhaozhao had never once set foot in the capital.

"Auntie Zhang, what’s your child’s name?" Su Zhaozhao asked.

For some reason, her intuition told her that Zhang Jingshu was likely connected to Xie Huaizheng.

’Could she be Xie Huaizheng’s mother?’

’No, that’s not it. She remembered the novel saying that Xie Huaizheng’s mother was named Huang something...’

’This habit of mine, never remembering character names when I read, is a real problem.’

Su Zhaozhao chided herself again.

’If I ever get another chance, I swear I’ll memorize all their names!’

’So she’s asking about this after all.’ Zhang Jingshu’s heart skipped a beat, but she had no intention of hiding the truth.

"Her name is Jiang Manzhi. She’s been in low spirits recently, and I was worried, so I came to find her."

Hearing the name Jiang Manzhi, it all clicked for Su Zhaozhao. "I see."

That explained why Zhang Jingshu had seemed so strange.

Zhang Jingshu confessed, looking a little embarrassed. "To be honest, I’d already heard about you from my daughter. Of course, when I first met you at the guest house, I didn’t realize who you were. It wasn’t until I asked your name that I knew."

"I’m sorry. I should have told you from the start."

"It’s alright. In that case, Auntie, do you feel the same way as Jiang Manzhi? That I’m not good enough for Xie Huaizheng?"

The young woman’s eyes, dark and sparkling, crinkled with her smile, making her look exceptionally bright and lively.

Even after learning who she was, the girl wasn’t angry. Instead, with remarkable poise, she addressed the issue head-on.

Based on that alone, Zhang Jingshu felt that Su Zhaozhao was more than worthy of Xie Huaizheng.

"No, no, not at all! You’re a wonderful girl—pretty, with a good personality. Truly," Zhang Jingshu said hurriedly. "Even though Manzhi is my own daughter, I have to admit there’s a huge gap between you two."

She had to admit it—the girl was just too likable.

Even though she’d started out with a slight bias against her, after spending some time with her, she’d taken an immediate liking to her.

Hearing this, Su Zhaozhao couldn’t help but grin. "I think so, too."

"But, Zhaozhao, you know about Huai Zheng’s family situation," Zhang Jingshu admitted her own fault openly. "My questions were really a way of comparing... it was small-minded of me. I’m so sorry, Zhaozhao. I shouldn’t have tried to sound you out like that."

"It’s okay. That’s just human nature."

’Of course I know about Xie Huaizheng’s family’s situation. They’ve just fallen on hard times, haven’t they?’

’They used to be prominent, much better off than the original Su Zhaozhao’s family.’

But recently, his father’s business went bankrupt and his mother ran into trouble at her work unit, causing their family’s fortunes to plummet.

Otherwise, the original Su Zhaozhao’s family wouldn’t have been so quick to cut all ties with the Xie Family.

And she wouldn’t have had to travel all this way to reconcile with Xie Huaizheng.

’But I didn’t expect Xie Huaizheng to have such a rich childhood friend in Beijing. If that’s the case, why isn’t he with Jiang Manzhi?’

’Wouldn’t that solve the Xie Family’s crisis?’

’The male lead is the male lead, I guess. He certainly doesn’t operate like a normal person.’

"I don’t understand what you two are talking about," Wen Xiaoqi said, scratching her head as she looked from Su Zhaozhao to Zhang Jingshu.

"You don’t need to. Just eat up. You have a long bus ride ahead of you, and it’ll be tiring." Su Zhaozhao moved all the meat from her own bowl into Wen Xiaoqi’s.

She’d been eating meat with every meal lately and wasn’t craving it as much as she had initially.

After eating at the cafeteria so much, it was starting to get a little old.

Now that things were out in the open, Zhang Jingshu felt more relaxed. She asked Wen Xiaoqi, "Qiaoqi, are you heading back this afternoon?"

Wen Xiaoqi nodded.

Zhang Jingshu pulled two yuan from her pocket and offered it to Wen Xiaoqi. "Here, take this. Buy yourself something to eat on the way."

Wen Xiaoqi quickly waved her hands. "Oh, no, I couldn’t."

’That’s two whole yuan! How can she just give it away like that?’

"Please, take it." Zhang Jingshu insisted, pressing the money into Wen Xiaoqi’s hand.

"You poor child, you’ve been through so much," Zhang Jingshu said. "I can’t comfort you the way Zhaozhao can, so at least let me do this. Buy yourself something nice to eat. What’s past is past. Look toward the future. In a few years, you’ll look back and realize that these setbacks you’re facing now are nothing at all."

Zhang Jingshu’s voice was gentle and unhurried, yet her words carried a strength that was deeply comforting.

Wen Xiaoqi accepted the money and smiled at Zhang Jingshu. "Auntie, when we have time, Zhaozhao and I will come visit you in Beijing. I was going to invite you to our home, but... our place is really too humble."

’Someone from the capital, and a rich person at that... how could she possibly get used to a place like ours?’

’We don’t even have a proper road, let alone cars. The only way home is on a villager’s tractor.’

"Of course. When you come to Beijing, you must come and find me."

Jiang Manzhi walked in and immediately spotted Su Zhaozhao, and then her mother.

Her mother was chatting and laughing with Su Zhaozhao and another woman she didn’t recognize.

A surge of anger immediately welled up inside Jiang Manzhi.

She had only wanted her mother to find out about Su Zhaozhao’s family and personal background so she could decide whether to give up or keep pursuing him.

’How could her mother be getting along so well with Su Zhaozhao?’

Her mother was pleasant to everyone, but Jiang Manzhi was not happy to see her laughing and joking with her own love rival.

Her three cronies were whispering beside her.

"Manzhi, isn’t that your mom? Why is she so friendly with that Su Zhaozhao?"

Jiang Manzhi glanced at her mother, took a deep breath to calm herself, and pretended not to see them as she went to get her food.

’I can’t let Su Zhaozhao see how I feel. I wonder if Mom found out anything.’

Su Zhaozhao saw Jiang Manzhi, too. For once, her rival was holding back and didn’t approach.

She said to Zhang Jingshu, "Well, Auntie, Qiaoqi and I are done eating. I need to walk her to the station, so we’ll be leaving first."

Zhang Jingshu nodded. "Alright."

She had seen her daughter, Jiang Manzhi, as well, and there were things she needed to say to her.

’That Su Zhaozhao... she really knows how to give a person an out.’

’A girl like that is terrifyingly clever.’