Ji Shuyu’s words were reasonable, well-grounded, and delivered with confidence and dignity.
Xiaoxin’s parents quickly stepped in to smooth things over: “Yes, yes, Shuyu is right! Zhao Qiang’s parents discussed this with us long ago. We don’t care about those superficial formalities—what matters is the children’s happiness! Come, come, everyone, let’s eat! Enjoy the food!”
Aunt Wang was fuming but couldn’t find the words to retort.
She had long heard that Ji Shuyu was sharp-tongued and exceptionally skilled in debate.
And now, she saw it was true.
Publicly refuted by Ji Shuyu, Aunt Wang flushed with alternating shades of red and pale, looking utterly discomfited.
She awkwardly fell silent, grabbing a handful of melon seeds from the table and cracking them with fierce intensity.
But her eyes were like daggers, occasionally shooting sharp glances at the sweetly toasting newlyweds and the composed Ji Shuyu.
Just wait, she thought. If she was having a hard time, they wouldn’t have it easy either.
The banquet finally returned to its lively atmosphere, but Aunt Wang’s resentment festered inside her, refusing to dissipate.
Ji Shuyu had assumed that after the day’s events, Aunt Wang would rein in her mischief.
Unexpectedly, however, instead of backing down, Aunt Wang seemed to double down, as if locking horns with Ji Shuyu and the newlyweds.
Claiming the privilege of a distant relative, she began visiting Xiaoxin’s home almost daily.
Xiaoxin and Zhao Qiang, newly married and deeply in love, were busy building their life together.
Yet whenever Aunt Wang arrived, she would plop herself down and dive into gossip, her conversations invariably circling back to Zhao Qiang.
“Xiaoxin, dear, don’t take this the wrong way, but you really need to be more cautious,” Aunt Wang would say, clutching a handful of melon seeds, her words flying with spittle. “Look at Zhao Qiang—always busy with camp duties. How much attention can he really give to family? A man like him, you’ve got to keep him on a short leash!”
Xiaoxin, busy tidying the house, would smile without looking up. “Zhao Qiang is focused on his work. I understand.”
“His work? What work could be more important than his wife and home?” Aunt Wang would sneer, lowering her voice. “I’ve heard people say they’ve seen him laughing and chatting with those pretty performers from the cultural troupe. You’d better be careful! Men change once they gain money and status!”
Xiaoxin would pause briefly, her face paling slightly. “Aunt Wang, don’t talk nonsense. Zhao Qiang isn’t that kind of person.”
“Oh, you foolish girl! You can know a person’s face, but not their heart!” Aunt Wang would lament, as if exasperated by Xiaoxin’s naivety. “And then there’s his family—your in-laws didn’t even show their faces. It seems they don’t value you much. What if they all look down on us?”
Aunt Wang repeated variations of these remarks day after day.
One day, she’d criticize Zhao Qiang’s family for their lack of manners, skipping the wedding banquet and surely looking down on Xiaoxin.
The next, she’d imply that Zhao Qiang, now successful, had higher standards and that Xiaoxin should keep a tight grip on the finances.
Another day, she’d insinuate that Regimental Commander He’s favor toward Zhao Qiang might be due to Ji Shuyu’s influence, hinting at some unspoken exchange…
These venomous words gradually ate away at Xiaoxin.
Though she trusted Zhao Qiang and felt grateful to Ji Shuyu, the constant whispering in her ear inevitably led to doubts and gloomy thoughts.
Her spirits sank, and trivial, inexplicable tensions began to surface between her and Zhao Qiang.
Zhao Qiang, exasperated by the incessant nagging, found it difficult to confront this distant aunt directly and could only avoid her.
But it was as if Aunt Wang had installed surveillance at their doorstep—she always seemed to coincidentally intercept him, spouting ambiguous and unsettling remarks.
The young couple suffered under this relentless psychological strain, their once honeymoon-like life now shadowed by gloom.
One day, feeling unbearably stifled and weighed down by emotions she couldn’t share with anyone, Xiaoxin wandered aimlessly and found herself outside Ji Shuyu’s home.
She happened to meet Ji Shuyu just as she was coming out.
Taking one look at Xiaoxin’s dejected posture and red-rimmed eyes, Ji Shuyu immediately understood most of the situation.
She pulled Xiaoxin inside. “What’s wrong? It’s only been a few days since I last saw you; how did you become so haggard? Did Zhao Qiang bully you?”
Hearing this, Xiaoxin’s tears fell pattering down. Clutching Ji Shuyu’s hand, she poured out all the trouble Aunt Wang had been stirring up lately, like spilling a bag of beans.
“Sister Shuyu, I know I shouldn’t listen to her nonsense… but I can’t help taking it to heart… I feel awful… and Zhao Qiang and I keep bickering over little things now…”
Xiaoxin sobbed between words, “Aunt Wang comes every day, and I can’t just kick her out. Life feels so suffocating.”
After listening, Ji Shuyu’s expression remained calm, but her eyes turned cold.
This Aunt Wang… it seemed the lesson last time wasn’t strong enough. She still dared to make waves and sabotage the young couple’s relationship.
She patted Xiaoxin’s hand. “Don’t cry. Getting angry over someone like her isn’t worth it. Leave this to me.”
“Sister Shuyu, please don’t. She is, after all, an elder, and a relative of my family…” Xiaoxin was worried that a confrontation would cause her parents to lose face.
“Don’t worry.” Ji Shuyu smiled, a hint of coldness flashing in her eyes. “I have a way to deal with people like her. I guarantee she’ll avoid you from now on and never dare bother you again.”
Ji Shuyu had He Yuan make some discreet inquiries and soon learned Aunt Wang’s weak spot.
Her idle, good-for-nothing son, who was desperately relying on connections to find a job.
A couple of days later, calculating that Aunt Wang would be making her daily visit to Xiaoxin’s house like clockwork, Ji Shuyu also chose to pay a visit.
She entered carrying a package of pastries, smiling cheerfully as if she didn’t notice Aunt Wang’s instantly stiff expression.
“Xiaoxin, Zhao Qiang, I came to see you. Oh, Aunt Wang is here too, what a coincidence.”
Ji Shuyu sat down naturally, her presence so commanding it immediately overshadowed Aunt Wang.
Aunt Wang forced a dry laugh, her heart drumming nervously, unsure what move this sharp-tongued Ji Shuyu would make next.
Ji Shuyu wasn’t in a hurry. She chatted with Xiaoxin about everyday matters, asking about their life.
Then, she shifted the topic and sighed. “You know, finding a job these days is really difficult.”
“Especially the good work units—they all have sharp eyes. They don’t just look at ability; they value family reputation and personal character even more.”
“If someone in the family has a poor reputation, enjoys gossiping and stirring up trouble, or sabotaging others’ family harmony, having that noted in the files can really affect one’s prospects.”
Aunt Wang’s ears perked up immediately, and her face changed slightly.
Ji Shuyu acted as if she didn’t notice and continued leisurely, “Our lab has been cooperating with several units recently. When they recruit, they specifically ask for opinions from us partners.”
“They’re afraid of hiring someone whose family elders are troublesome and love causing drama. It would mean more problems later, affecting unit unity.”
Aunt Wang forgot to crack the melon seeds in her hand.
Only then did Ji Shuyu turn her gaze to her, her smile particularly sincere. “Aunt Wang, I heard your son is trying to use connections to find a job, right?”
“You should remind him that work units are strict with vetting now. Every aspect of the family needs attention. Especially close relatives—they absolutely mustn’t have any negative reputation getting out. Otherwise, even with some connections, the unit wouldn’t dare hire him.”
“Who would want to invite trouble into their house? Don’t you think that’s right?”
Aunt Wang’s face turned completely pale.
Ji Shuyu’s words were a soft knife, precisely striking her vital point.
She could disregard other things, but she absolutely could not hinder her precious son’s future prospects!
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