CHAPTER 110: CHAPTER 110: BREAKING OFF THE ENGAGEMENT

Fifth Uncle didn’t understand why Lin Xiang said this suddenly, but he cooperatively lifted Zhao Chunshui’s sleeves and pant legs and, sure enough, saw no bruises.

Zhao Chunshui was still shouting in pain continuously, yet Qiqi frowned deeply, lost in thought.

Lin Xiang peeled a White Rabbit creamy candy and held it to her mouth. Qiqi absentmindedly bit into it.

As the sweet, milky taste spread in her mouth, Qiqi heard Lin Xiang say, "First of all, there is no law stating that women must marry. This is to tell you that even if you do lose your reputation and no one wants to marry you, it doesn’t mean your life is ruined. You can totally live freely on your own."

"Secondly, a favor can be repaid in many ways, including but not limited to giving money or a job. There’s no need to offer oneself."

"Lastly, you also usually take the road home with no issues, but on the day you encountered thugs, coincidentally Zhao Chunshui came to your rescue. Look at the state he’s in, just a farmer, beaten by my Fifth Uncle without even having the strength to retaliate, lying on the ground without any real injuries yet wailing nonstop."

"Do you really believe he could single-handedly take on multiple hooligans and restrain them? Think about it, really think about it!"

Lin Xiang told Qiqi everything she could think of, but whether Qiqi believed it or not was beyond her control.

Though Qiqi was a bit naïve and innocent, she had at least graduated high school and was not truly dumb. With Lin Xiang’s analysis, all the things that felt off before started to make sense.

"I’ll go back and have my dad investigate. Maybe we’ll actually find some clues?" Qiqi never liked Zhao Chunshui, and her willingness to date him was only due to her mother’s persuasion.

Now, knowing what Zhao Chunshui really was and that even his act of heroism was staged, she completely abandoned the idea of getting involved with him.

She believed her mother could understand her too.

"But he..."

"Didn’t you see just now? He’s not hurt at all, no need to send him to the hospital!"

Upon hearing this, Qiqi was completely relieved, didn’t care about Zhao Chunshui still curled on the ground, grabbed her bag, and ran off.

Chunya couldn’t help but give Lin Xiang a thumbs-up, "No wonder I found Qiqi and Zhao Chunshui’s dynamic a bit odd before; this was the reason!"

Lin Xiang pulled at the corner of her mouth, "I didn’t expect Zhao Chunshui to be such a scumbag either!"

Even though she didn’t know if Qiqi had brothers, Zhao Chunshui’s behavior wasn’t much different from trying to exploit an orphan!

Qiqi’s mom is an accountant at the cotton spinning factory?

She wondered if she’d ever get a chance to meet her.

Lin Xiang didn’t spare Zhao Chunshui, who was lying on the ground, a glance, only asking Fifth Uncle, "Fifth Uncle, are you still planning to let Chunya marry Zhao Chunshui?"

"My daughter isn’t unable to get married elsewhere; why let Zhao Chunshui bully her like this? No way! Even if I have to throw away my reputation, I will not let my daughter marry him!"

Lin Xiang was certain there was more to Chunya and Zhao Chunshui’s engagement.

But with so many bystanders around, it wasn’t suitable to ask directly, so she could only find out later discreetly.

"Fifth Uncle, since you’ve decided not to go through with the marriage, we should act quickly and firmly to disgrace Zhao Chunshui first. Otherwise, he might turn things around and ruin Chunya’s reputation. What then?"

Fifth Uncle had thought of this too, but he’s just a rough man, handy with labor but not much for planning!

"Girl, do you have any good ideas to keep my Chunya’s reputation intact?"

Actually, reporting Zhao Chunshui’s promiscuous behavior was the easiest and quickest method, but doing so would likely drag Qiqi into it.

While they knew Qiqi was innocent and tricked by the scoundrel Zhao Chunshui, others wouldn’t be aware!

Lin Xiang instinctively didn’t want to involve an innocent girl.

Besides, Qiqi wasn’t someone who would be easily manipulated; her parents had influence. If things got messy, it might not end well for them.

Lin Xiang shared her thought with Chunya and Fifth Uncle: "Give me some time and I’ll think it over carefully on the way back."

The group returned to where they had set up their stall. Aunt Ge noticed them returning and prepared to leave with her cart.

"If we can’t come tomorrow, we’ll just reschedule. A day or two won’t matter." Aunt Ge, not knowing what had happened, considerately took Lin Xiang’s side.

"It’s no big deal. Even if I can’t set up our stall tomorrow, I’ll still bring the fabric to you. I must keep my promise to you."

The market tomorrow was in the neighboring team of their commune, only a half-hour walk and on a good road, which Lin Xiang didn’t mind at all.

She particularly needed kelp very much.

Aunt Ge saw her relaxed expression and didn’t protest.

On the way back, Lin Xiang kept thinking of ways to resolve the issue but hadn’t come up with anything by the time they reached the village entrance.

Chunya’s mood wasn’t particularly high either.

"Chunya, Fifth Uncle, come to my house for dinner today!" Lin Xiang suggested, "I’ll try to console Chunya while we’re at it."

"Girl, there’s a call for you!"

From afar, the team leader spotted their trolley and shouted.

Lin Xiang thought it was a call from Yu Xiumei and told Chunya, "Stop overthinking. Later, just go straight with Fifth Uncle and Fifth Aunt to my house with Dong Sheng, and we’ll come up with a solution together. We’ll definitely ensure you don’t suffer."

When she reached the phone, Lin Xiang found out that the call was actually from Qiqi.

"You said your name is Lin Xiang earlier. I mentioned it to my mom, and she guessed you’re the Chihuahua from the cotton spinning factory, the interest for Li Hua Team, so I decided to try giving you a call."

Lin Xiang awkwardly rubbed the tip of her nose, the Chihuahua from the cotton spinning factory?

Did it have to be this embarrassing?

"What’s the matter?" Lin Xiang cut to the chase, ending the awkward subject.

Qiqi replied, "I told my parents about your analysis, and immediately had them look into it. Those thugs who tried to assault me that day were in cahoots with Zhao Chunshui! Lin Xiang, you were right; Zhao Chunshui approached me with an agenda!"

Lin Xiang’s voice rose, "Are you saying your dad confirmed that Zhao Chunshui was working with those thugs? Do you have evidence?"

Qiqi asked curiously, "Why are you asking this?"

"Chunya! She’s Zhao Chunshui’s former betrothed and wants to call off the engagement now that she knows what he’s like. But news of their marriage has already spread through both teams. If she brings up breaking the engagement now, it won’t be good for her reputation. So I was thinking, if there’s proof against Zhao, Chunya could be free!"

It’s really like someone delivering a pillow just when you’re sleepy!