QTIMP -Chapter 302 Character Persona – Violent (Part 30)

After several days of training, everyone felt they had gained a lot. Si Qiu’s abilities were also recognized, and her network of connections kept expanding.

At the same time, she had already been promoted within the bureau to team leader, her administrative rank increased, and her salary had also gone up.

That day, just as Si Qiu returned, Rongrong ran over.

“Captain Qiu! Captain Qiu! The bureau chief is calling for you.”

Si Qiu took a sip of water and then went to the director’s office.

She knocked on the door, heard a “come in,” and entered. The door wasn’t closed, so she chose a seat near the doorway.

The bureau chief looked at her with a smile. “Out on fieldwork again? Your master is really grooming you as a successor.”

Si Qiu only smiled and didn’t respond.

The bureau chief set the documents in his hand aside, capped his pen, and continued, “Comrade Si Qiu, I’ve looked at your file—you’re 28 this year, right?”

Si Qiu’s brow twitched slightly, but she still maintained a polite smile.

The bureau chief paused for a moment and said, “Si Qiu, work is important, but family is also important. Only when family life is stable can you work without worries.”

“In some respects, family stability is also a political consideration. It’s also the foundation of building our new society. Your professional ability is outstanding, and your family background is solid.”

“I am very optimistic about you. I have some male comrades here with fairly good conditions—you can take a look.”

He ended with a serious tone: “This is not me meddling. This is a political task. You must treat it seriously.”

Si Qiu gave a salute and accepted the stack of documents.

She greeted her colleagues and slowly walked home with her bag. If it were just a leader’s suggestion or persuasion, she could still refuse it. But once it was labeled a “political task,”

she really couldn’t stubbornly resist it.

Just as she reached her doorstep, she saw Ye Shubai sitting on a small stool, picking vegetables. For a moment, Si Qiu felt a headache coming on.

In truth, she could have chosen Ye Shubai. But last month, the director of the research institute personally came to see Si Qiu, holding her hand and earnestly persuading her:

“Comrade Si Qiu, Ye Shubai is a genius—a genius in materials science research. National development urgently needs talent in all fields.”

“You are contributing to the stability of the nation, and he is also contributing to its prosperity. We can’t, because of household matters, keep a genius trapped at home doing laundry and cooking.”

The old man held her hand with tears in his eyes, rambling on and on for nearly two hours.

If not for that, she might have agreed to the arrangement. The key issue was that this person was somewhat love-struck.

His entire world seemed to revolve around her; someone like that would be easy to manage after marriage, and it wouldn’t be a loss.

But she was getting married to live a better life. If she lacked ability or was lazy, she could choose a man like that who wouldn’t stay home—just provide money would be enough.

But she didn’t lack those things. She was at the stage of her life where she needed to push forward. What would she need a husband who is never home for?

Ye Shubai saw her return and quickly put down the vegetables, wiping his hands.

“You’re back early today. No field assignment?”

“Mm.”

The hand reaching out to take her bag paused for a moment, then as if nothing had happened, he hung it aside, poured her a glass of water, and placed it on the table for when she finished washing her hands and face.

By chance, he noticed the stack of documents she had left on the table. He could, at such a young age, in such a turbulent era, achieve such great accomplishments…

He had strong eyesight, intelligence, and analytical ability—he understood the usefulness of the documents at a glance.

After Si Qiu finished washing her face and came out, she saw Ye Shubai with red-rimmed eyes, tears pooling in them. He was clutching the stack of documents so tightly that the pads of his fingers had turned pale.

Si Qiu suddenly felt a wave of guilt, as if she were some kind of heartless woman. After all, this man had gone from delivering meals and pouring tea to doing laundry and cooking for her for an entire year.

Even Chen Changsheng, after visiting a few times, had said that this kid had potential as her future brother-in-law, and had even given up on introducing her to a more promising military officer.

“That leader said my marriage is a political task, so I have to seriously consider it.”

A tear fell from Ye Shubai’s eye.

“Am I not even within your consideration?”

Si Qiu lowered her gaze slightly, then looked straight at him.

“It’s not that I never considered you. It’s just that I think… we might not be suitable.”

Ye Shubai quickly stepped forward two steps.

“How are we not suitable?”

“I want someone without worries or burdens, but I can’t really let you stay at home taking care of me and break your wings.”

“Nonsense. I was never born with wings in the first place—how would they even be broken? How could I possibly be broken? Taking care of you is what I should do. Who could take better care of you than me?”

“I’ve already learned how to knit sweaters.”

“But your talents aren’t in this direction…”

“People with talent are everywhere. Why must everyone be focused on me? Even without me, the country can still find other talents. But without you, I wouldn’t have a home.”

Ye Shubai finished cooking dinner with red eyes, didn’t eat at her place, and went straight back to his small courtyard.

Who knew that four days later, while Si Qiu was at work, the bureau chief arrived with several people.

Just as she was about to stand up and greet them, a middle-aged woman quickly stepped forward and grabbed her hand.

“You must be Si Qiu, right? Oh my, look at you—so delicate and pretty.”

“Sister-in-law, let’s not talk here. Come to my office,” the bureau chief said with a smile.

The middle-aged man accompanying them also gently patted the woman’s shoulder.

“Nianqing, don’t scare the child like that.”

“Comrade Si Qiu, hello. I am Ye Shubai’s father. My name is Ye Zhiyuan. We came today mainly to have a proper talk with you.”

Si Qiu was thus pulled, still confused, into the office.

But once inside, only the police bureau chief, the institute director from her earlier discussions, and the Ye couple plus Si Qiu remained inside, while the others were shut outside.

As soon as the door closed, the beautiful middle-aged woman began crying while holding Si Qiu’s hand.

“Girl, I know you’re a good person. Our Shubai has a stubborn personality. No matter how you treat him, he’ll still want to spoil you.”

“But as a mother, I just hope he can live a smooth and peaceful life.”

At this point, the institute director coughed awkwardly and stepped forward.

“It’s also my fault for being an old fool. Young people should prioritize stability at home before pursuing their careers.”

The old man looked embarrassed, but his meaning was clear—he was taking back what he had said earlier.

The bureau chief also tried to persuade her.

Finally, Ye Shubai’s mother looked at her expectantly.

“Do you still want Shubai?”

What else could Si Qiu say? She nodded heavily.

“Yes. We can register the marriage immediately.”

Seeing the woman’s tear-filled eyes, Si Qiu couldn’t help but think of Ye Shubai’s red-rimmed eyes. Mother and son looked about fifty percent alike—both refined in appearance, both heartbreaking when they cried.

Since they had already put it this way, there would be no way for anyone to blame her afterward.