QTIMP -Chapter 38 Character Persona – Greedy (Part 38)

Qin Bei could naturally sense it too, but saying anything now was meaningless. The only thing he could do was plan as best as he could for himself.

“Third Brother, I have something I’d like your help with. I picked up some agricultural side products while I was out driving before. Does your purchasing station take those?”

“Of course we do. If it’s just a small amount, that’s no big deal. But if it’s a lot, you’ll need a certificate issued by the production brigade.”

The topic successfully shifted. He slung an arm around Qin Bei’s shoulders. “Heh, but with your big brother here, there’s no need to go through all that trouble. And if I can complete more purchasing quotas, I’ll be able to become a full employee sooner.”

At that point, he understood that his younger brother was trying to help him. Otherwise, with such in-demand goods, Qin Bei could easily get a better price anywhere else than at the purchasing station.

He lightly punched Qin Bei’s shoulder. “Alright, I’ll remember this favor. You hand over your wages every month—if you’re short on money, just tell me.”

Qin Bei shrugged off his arm. “With your monthly wage of seventeen yuan and five mao? Forget it. If I need money, my girlfriend will lend it to me. I don’t need yours.”

“Hey, you brat, don’t look down on my salary! Once I become permanent staff, not only will my wages go up, but when the purchasing station goes to the countryside to buy goods, there are extra earnings too. Wait—what? Girlfriend? Since when did you get a girlfriend? Where’s she from? What does she do?”

Qin Bei ignored him and kept walking. His brother quickly lunged after him. “Talk! You little punk, spit it out! Your big brother here doesn’t even have a girlfriend yet, and you’re already dating?”

After quite a struggle, Qin Bei finally pried Qin Nan off himself and briefly explained things about Si Qiu. The envy in Qin Nan’s eyes was impossible to hide.

They lived in the same area—how could he not know Si Qiu? To be honest, he had once entertained thoughts about her too, but always felt he wasn’t worthy.

Who would have thought that this “queen bee” would be picked by his own younger brother?

But then he remembered Si Qiu’s fiery temper and her knife-sharp tongue, and he couldn’t help casting a slightly sympathetic look at Qin Bei.

Qin Bei had been brothers with him for nineteen years—how could he not know what he was thinking? He rolled his eyes. “When I’m away on assignments, you’ll need to look out for her a bit. But don’t bother her for no reason. If she comes to you for help, do what you can.”

“Get lost! You’ve got eight hundred tricks, and you use them all on your own brother!” he said, reaching over to ruffle Qin Bei’s hair. Qin Bei dodged, and the two brothers walked off ahead, laughing and roughhousing.

Both of them were working hard for their own futures, as if the previous quarrels at home had been forgotten.

Although the Qin family had many members and weren’t united, everyone more or less minded their own business, and Qin Bei could handle it.

But the Feng family, despite being in a similar situation, was different.

Feng Yu had long known that examinations would be suspended and had started arranging to find a job in advance. But jobs weren’t so easy to come by. The family had already spent quite a bit of money securing a job for the second son.

As for her—a daughter who was gradually falling out of favor—no one was willing to go to great lengths for her. After all, they felt she was still young and could wait another couple of years.

But Feng Yu herself couldn’t afford to wait. Forced relocation to the countryside was imminent.

That evening at dinner, she held her chopsticks, lost in thought.

Her mother tapped the edge of her bowl with her chopsticks. “You’re eating—what are you spacing out for?”

Feng Yu snapped back to reality and set her chopsticks down. “Mom, how’s the job inquiry I asked you about going?”

The couple’s hands paused slightly before they continued eating, speaking in an indifferent tone. “Jobs aren’t that easy to find. Every position is already filled.”

Feng Yu’s face was full of anxiety and irritation. “But I heard from my classmate that forced relocation to the countryside is about to start, mainly targeting fresh graduates like us.”

“What? How could that be? Is this information accurate?”

They had both lived in the countryside before and knew exactly how harsh life there was. No matter how disappointed they might be in this daughter, she was still raised by them. How could they willingly let her go to the countryside?

“Why would I tell you if it wasn’t accurate? Her mother works at the subdistrict office handling this.”

That part was a lie—but it was indeed the direction things were heading.

“The subdistrict office? Second son, go ask Si Qiu tomorrow whether this is true. If it is, we’ll have to think of something. Even if we can’t buy a job, we can quickly find a family and arrange a marriage. No matter what, we can’t let your sister go to the countryside. It’s not somewhere easy to endure. Her health is poor. If she goes, whether she’ll even be able to come back is another matter.”

This time, Mother Feng was truly anxious.

Father Feng nodded as well. “Second son, go ask. She works at the subdistrict office handling this—she should have clearer information.”

Feng Rong nodded, finally taking the matter seriously. “I’ll also ask around through my friends and see if there are any job opportunities.”

“Alright, go ahead. If you need money, have your mother give it to you,” Father Feng said before continuing his meal.

In truth, Feng Yu still wanted to take her elder brother’s route—have Xing Huai’en marry her.

But her elder brother had written back saying that the man was in a special unit. No one even knew where he was stationed, and asking about it would violate military discipline.

When the Feng parents heard this, they strictly forbade further inquiries. So even if she had ideas, she didn’t dare voice them.

Still, seeing how seriously everyone was taking her situation reassured her.

As for asking Si Qiu—if Si Qiu confirmed it, the family would attach importance to it. If she denied it and things truly reached that point in the future, Feng Yu would use it as an excuse to snatch Si Qiu’s job.

With thoughts of a bright future in mind, she finally had the appetite to eat.

The next day at noon, Feng Rong rode his bicycle over during his lunch break. Si Qiu was called out. Knowing he wasn’t particularly welcome, he didn’t make small talk and went straight to the point.

Si Qiu frowned.

Although forced relocation to the countryside was an inevitable trend, there hadn’t been any official rumors yet. So how did Feng Yu know?

Don’t tell her Feng Yu was being forward-thinking.

Please.

If she’d had even a little foresight, she wouldn’t have ended up in her current situation. So for those words to come from her mouth—it was truly suspicious.