MGASC -Chapter 37 Feeding a Mouthful of “Dog Food”

She clenched the note tightly. “Zhang Qiao, whether it’s true or not, whether your medicine works or not, I want to thank you first.”

Zhang Qiao’s words felt like a ray of hope. Even though it was faint, it made her feel less down. “It’s nothing. Just take care of yourself. Don’t think about that jerk, and don’t care what others say. Forget about beautiful or ugly—just remember one thing: I’m the most beautiful in the world!”

Pfft!

Su Yin burst out laughing at Zhang Qiao’s tone. “Okay, okay, I got it! I’m the most beautiful in the world!”

“That’s right. Remember, you are the most beautiful.”

Zhang Qiao gave her another shot of encouragement, then turned to leave.

Lin Tianyue had been looking for her. When he found her, he hurriedly caught up, carrying bundles of things. “Where are you going? I thought you ran away from home again.”

“Am I a kid? I don’t run away from home just for fun.”

Seeing that he was carrying too much, Zhang Qiao wanted to help him with one of the bags, but Lin Tianyue refused. “You walk ahead. I called Chen Gang; he borrowed a car to pick us up. It should be here.”

Downstairs, sure enough, Chen Gang was waiting with a van.

Relieved not to have to bounce along on a tricycle, Zhang Qiao relaxed.

Although it was called a van, it was a type she had never seen before—more like an ambulance, with more seats than a regular van.

A young girl had come down with Chen Gang to greet them.

“Sister-in-law, Brother Yue, let me introduce you. This is Yingzi… my girlfriend.”

Yingzi greeted Lin Tianyue cheerfully, praised the three kids a lot, and finally gave Zhang Qiao a sidelong glance.

Lin Tianyue looked at Chen Gang in surprise. He knew Yingzi from before—they had run a stall together—but when did these two get together?

Chen Gang grinned proudly and whispered to him, “It just happened these past couple of days. Pretty fast, huh? Wanna know why?”

Lin Tianyue: “Why?”

“I’m just smooth-talking!” Chen Gang boasted, tilting his head.

Lin Tianyue had just been fed a mouthful of “dog food.” As they got into the van, he worriedly glanced at Zhang Qiao.

Previously, when Yingzi ran her stall, Zhang Qiao had bought socks from her. Later, after wearing them for a day and finding them unsatisfactory, she went back to exchange them, leading to a quarrel.

Lin Tianyue had been so embarrassed at the time. Now, running into her again, he just hoped they wouldn’t start fighting in the car.

He tried to get Yingzi to sit in the front passenger seat to separate them, but Yingzi insisted he sit there instead.

The three kids sat in the back row. In the second row, Zhang Qiao sat inside while Yingzi got on last and sat on the outside.

As the van drove off, Lin Tianyue tried desperately to chat with Yingzi up front to avoid awkwardness.

To give him face, Yingzi, although not liking Zhang Qiao, refrained from making sarcastic remarks.

Luckily, it was only about an hour’s ride before they arrived home.

After getting out of the van, Lin Tianyue invited them in for a meal. Chen Gang looked eager, but Yingzi stopped him.

“Never mind. Brother Yue and the kids just got back and need rest. We’ll visit another day.”

She tried to leave with Chen Gang, but Zhang Qiao called her.

Zhang Qiao opened a cloth bag and pulled out a box of cake and a bag of crispy snacks, handing them to Yingzi without hesitation. “Thanks for today, you’ve been busy helping all along. These are from the city—nothing fancy. Take them back with Chen Gang and try them.”

Yingzi was a bit flustered. “No need… we’re friends. You don’t have to be so polite.”

“Friends should be even less formal. Oh…” Zhang Qiao pulled out a hairband she had bought and measured it against Yingzi’s head. “This one’s really pretty. I brought it for you. If you like it, next time we go to the city, we can shop together.”

“Sister-in-law, really, it’s not necessary…”

“Just take it. I bought a few, but this color suits you best. It looks great!”

Zhang Qiao’s enthusiasm felt natural, as if she had known Yingzi for a long time. There was no flattery—just genuine friendliness.

Yingzi couldn’t refuse, especially since she liked the hairband. She happily accepted it and even arranged to visit Zhang Qiao’s home another day.

Back in the van, Yingzi kept looking at the hairband, putting it on her head, and cheerfully asking Chen Gang, “Does it look good?”

“Yeah, looks great! Sis has good taste.”

Yingzi smiled, lowering her head. “I used to think Brother Yue didn’t pick a good wife, but now it seems okay. Remember last time, she was so annoying? Coming to exchange socks—I wanted to just shove them back in her mouth! But now she’s all smiles, and she seems quite nice.”

Chen Gang had no answer. “Well, everyone has off days. Maybe Brother Yue softened her up!”

“You’re right. Brother Yue really is a good person. Fine, for his sake, I won’t hold grudges against her anymore.”

She happily wore the hairband, checking herself in the mirror the whole way home.

Lin Tianyue was surprised by Zhang Qiao’s friendliness toward Yingzi.

When they were moving things inside, neighbors came out to watch.

Seeing the three kids so clean and neat, it blew their minds.

“Did you go to the city or meet a magician? These kids are way too handsome!”

“Clothes make the man, saddle makes the horse. Buying these new outfits must have cost a fortune. Xiao Lin, you’re really making money now?”

“Looks like Xiao Lin really struck it rich, no wonder the Wang family was eyeing him. But well done, Xiao Lin! They should be embarrassed. I heard that family’s planning to move soon.”

“They should’ve moved ages ago! Acting like they’re the best in the world. Xiao Lin’s wife is great—she’s really pleasant to look at.”

Lin Tianyue, naturally blunt and bad with socializing, just forced a smile, wishing he could disappear on the spot.

The three kids had already run off. Zhang Qiao, holding peanuts and sunflower seeds, handed some to everyone she met, smiling warmly and chatting with the neighbors.

“What do you mean making money? Just trying to make ends meet. Aunt Li, try these seeds—they’re delicious.”

“Yes, took the kids shopping for new clothes. September’s coming soon, and Tianyue and I plan to send them to school, so we need to prepare.”

“Aunt Ma, have some. In the future, neighbors should help each other out.”

Lin Tianyue could hardly believe it.

Because of his reputation, after moving here years ago, he had little connection with the neighbors, who tended to avoid him like the plague.

He had this kind of personality: “If you look down on me, I won’t bother with you.”

But Zhang Qiao? In the past, she wouldn’t even let him apply eye drops properly.

He remembered once Zhang Qiao lost a piece of clothing and blamed a neighbor, standing at the gate scolding them all afternoon, offending everyone.

And with Yingzi, it was even worse—buying socks, then wanting to return them, making Lin Tianyue lose face in front of friends.

Not to mention, over a hairclip, she wanted to fight Lin Ran, insisting he broke it, and made a huge scene.

What Lin Tianyue despised most before was that petty, small-minded streak.