CHAPTER 164: CHAPTER 164: CANNOT ACCEPT SHEN QINGQING’S MONEY

Shen Qingqing entered the Jiang Family Courtyard with Jiang Zhixun.

The moment she stepped through the gate, Shen Qingqing adjusted her mood.

With a faint smile on her face, she revealed nothing unusual.

Madam Jiang glanced at her son, "What a coincidence, you two ran into each other outside?"

"Mm." Shen Qingqing nodded.

The first thing she did was take a envelope out from her bag, which contained money.

She placed it on the table, "This is to pay back Brother Zhixun."

How could they accept Shen Qingqing’s money?

Madam Jiang picked up the envelope and stuffed it back into Shen Qingqing’s hand, "There’s no need for family to differentiate so clearly."

Shen Qingqing refused to take it, "Clear boundaries are important. If you don’t accept it, I’ll feel too embarrassed to ask for help in the future if I run into difficulties."

Madam Jiang still felt they shouldn’t take it.

Wouldn’t this be treating her as an outsider?

Not to mention Qingqing had married Zhixun, even if she hadn’t, they still wouldn’t keep accounts with her.

Otherwise, they’d feel guilty in their hearts...

Shen Qingqing and Madam Jiang went back and forth, neither willing to take the money.

Jiang Zhixun extended his long arm, snatched the envelope from his mother’s hand, and tucked it into his coat pocket.

"Thanks."

Madam Jiang: "..."

Shen Qingqing let out a sigh of relief. If Jiang Zhixun hadn’t accepted it, she’d have truly felt uneasy.

With the major issue resolved, Shen Qingqing accompanied the elderly man to play chess.

She planned to stay for an hour before leaving, already having her excuse prepared.

But Madam Jiang said, "Don’t rush off later, stay for lunch. Your dad has something to discuss with you."

"What is it?"

"Something about translations. He didn’t go into detail, so just ask him yourself when he returns."

Shen Qingqing didn’t ask further.

As Jiang Zhixun had said before, Jiang Family members were best at keeping secrets. If it wasn’t meant to be said, no matter how much you asked, you wouldn’t get any answers.

The weather had already turned cold, so the elderly man set up the chessboard in the living room.

Shen Qingqing sat opposite him, while Jiang Zhixun perched on the armrest of her sofa, one long arm resting on the back of the couch, watching her play.

Old ginger is spicier—if the elderly man didn’t go easy on her, Shen Qingqing wasn’t his match.

Jiang Zhixun couldn’t hold back from giving her pointers.

Shen Qingqing cast a sideways glance at him but ultimately decided to save face and didn’t curse him out in front of the elder.

Jiang Zhixun’s chess style was different from Shen Qingqing’s—aggressive and hard-hitting.

The elderly man was beaten into retreat after retreat.

He couldn’t resist cursing at him, "Spectators aren’t supposed to talk! Can’t you shut your damned mouth?"

Jiang Zhixun raised an eyebrow, "Together, Qingqing and I aren’t even as old as you. You’re bullying the young and still won’t let us counterattack?"

The elderly man coldly snorted, "I haven’t even accused you of disrespecting your elders yet!"

"Who respects the old and cherishes the young during a chess match? Are you sure this isn’t just letting me win?"

The elderly man couldn’t win the argument, so he grabbed the cane beside him, ready to teach him a lesson.

Jiang Zhixun shielded Shen Qingqing and turned back with an exaggeratedly aggrieved expression, "See that? The old man can’t lose gracefully. Don’t play chess with him again."

Shen Qingqing quietly reached out, pushed Jiang Zhixun, and subtly distanced herself from him.

As a result, Jiang Zhixun mistakenly positioned himself to get hit by the cane.

It didn’t hurt.

But the man immediately clasped his shoulder with a look of grave injury.

"Shen Qingqing, are you settling a personal score under the guise of fairness?"

Shen Qingqing feigned innocence, blinking, "What are you talking about? I don’t understand."

At first, Jiang Zhixun thought it was just an accident.

But seeing her expression, what more explanation did he need?

Shen Qingqing genuinely wanted him to get hit!

Not only wanted it.

She even worked underhandedly to ensure it happened!

Grinding his teeth, he muttered, "I’ll remember this."

Shen Qingqing let out a light hum. Let him remember—it’s not like he would actually hit her.

With Jiang Zhixun causing a commotion, their chess game became impossible to play. After sitting with the elderly man for a while longer, Shen Qingqing went to help Madam Jiang cook.

Jiang Zhixun wanted to follow her to the kitchen but worried he’d seem clingy and make Shen Qingqing annoyed.

So he stayed in the living room.

The elderly man found him an eyesore and simply went out for a walk.

He saw a stranger carrying large bags visiting the Yang family. Upon inquiry, he learned it was Yang Fen’s match from a blind date.

"Your Zhixun’s heart is all on Qingqing. Yang Fen seems to have come to terms with reality."

The elderly man nodded, "Let’s hope so."

Who people like is Yang Fen’s own business.

The premise is that she can’t do anything bad, nor can she disturb their family’s life.

The elderly man often complained about his grandson but would still be happy if the young couple reconciled.

Marriage isn’t easy. Qingqing going to her husband’s family might get picked on.

If Qingqing is willing, it’s still best for her to stay with their Jiang Family.

The Yang family arranged a match for Yang Fen with a local middle school teacher, two years older than her.

Widowed, but with one child.

His parents worked in a factory office, and their household conditions were quite good.

Yang Fen, however, wasn’t happy.

She wanted a man who was handsome, had a respectable job, and came from a well-off family.

But men who fit all those criteria had long been married.

Men like Jiang Zhixun were rare.

Li Hongyan tried to persuade Yang Fen in their room, "Comrade Liu’s conditions are quite good. If you marry him, you won’t suffer."

Previously, Li Hongyan thought her sister-in-law could win over Jiang Zhixun, so she went all out to support her.

Now that those hopes were dashed, her sister-in-law had become an annoyance.

All she wanted was to quickly marry Yang Fen off.

"Comrade Liu is a teacher. I heard he was even awarded last year. His workplace allocated him housing. He’s handsome, a gentle intellectual, and pairs perfectly with you!"

Yang Fen was on the verge of tears, "But he’s been married before and has a child!"

Li Hongyan internally scoffed—Jiang Zhixun had been married before too, didn’t her sister-in-law treat him like a treasure?

In a low voice, she said, "Compared to Jiang Zhixun, Comrade Liu is more suitable for married life. Though he’s been married before, his previous wife passed away. If you marry him, there won’t be anyone unexpectedly making trouble for you."

Li Hongyan cast a glance toward the Jiang family’s direction, "Just look at the Jiang family—always letting Shen Qingqing come back to the courtyard for free meals. If you married Jiang Zhixun, wouldn’t they drive you mad?"

Yang Fen was even more disheartened.

What’s the point of thinking so much?

The fact was, Jiang Zhixun didn’t want to date her, let alone marry her!

Even though she didn’t mind that Jiang Zhixun had been married before.

She even traveled all the way to the Northwest to endure hardships.

And the outcome?

She gained nothing and became a ridiculous joke!

Yang Fen was the same age as Shen Qingqing. Most of their peers were already married, and she was genuinely anxious.

She couldn’t afford to delay any longer.

Nor could she keep pinning her hopes on Jiang Zhixun.

If she didn’t get married soon, she’d be ridiculed everywhere she went!

But marrying a widowed man left her feeling deeply unwilling...

Yang Fen’s thoughts were written all over her face.

Li Hongyan comforted her, "The conditions of the Liu family are truly excellent. He’s the only son of the family, so all their assets will be yours in the future. Besides, I think Comrade Liu is pretty easygoing. If you tell him to go east, he definitely won’t dare head west. If you marry him, you’ll be the one calling the shots in the Liu family—way better than enduring the Jiang family’s moods. A hundred times better! A thousand times better!"

"But he also has a son..."

"The child is still young, and his birth mother is no longer around. What’s there to worry about? Just feed him, and that’s that!"

If his birth mother were still alive, there’d be concerns about whether the child might grow into an ungrateful troublemaker.

But under the current circumstances, Li Hongyan didn’t think it was an issue.

If they dragged this out further, her sister-in-law would be thirty years old. By then, could she even marry anyone?

Li Hongyan gripped Yang Fen’s hand tightly, "Your sister-in-law wouldn’t steer you wrong. Marry him first. If they dare mistreat you, come back to your family for reinforcements!"