Seeing Xiao Zhou’s reaction, Li Cuihua was inwardly delighted and quickly added more fuel to the fire.
“Exactly! She’s basking in glory now, so proud she practically floats when she walks. Relying on her connection with Director Wang, she looks down on everyone else.”
“We just can’t stand the sight of that smug, upstart face of hers. We specifically came to discuss with you how to take her down a peg.”
Lin Feifei feigned a sigh beside her.
“Ah, Comrade Zhou, you have no idea how cunning she is. We… we’ve also suffered because of her. That’s why we thought of joining forces with you. The enemy of my enemy is my friend, right?”
Xiao Zhou was indeed provoked into a rage, old and new grudges surging in her heart.
Her family’s supplier qualification had been snatched away by Ji Shuyu. It was like digging up her family’s roots.
She had held onto this humiliation all along.
“Join forces? How?” Xiao Zhou snorted coldly, her eyes full of venom. “That bitch has backing now and is utterly pleased with herself.”
“She won’t be proud for long,” Li Cuihua rushed to say, a vicious smile on her face. “We’ve made some inquiries. She’s recently been helping with the accounts at the supply and marketing cooperative. We can start there…”
The three women immediately put their heads together, whispering and scheming. The more they talked, the more excited they became, as if they could already see the scene of Ji Shuyu’s ruin.
When He Yuan returned home that evening, he saw Ji Shuyu making something.
She held a sewing basket, the nearby kerosene lamp illuminating the small space.
He Yuan softened his footsteps, afraid of disturbing the figure concentrating under the lamp.
He took off his coat and hung it on the hook by the door, but his gaze remained fixed on Ji Shuyu.
He watched as her fingers deftly moved between the fabric and the needle and thread.
She was embroidering a blooming plum blossom. The petals were exquisitely detailed and lifelike, as if they might float off the cloth at any moment.
Ji Shuyu had just used her points to exchange for a skill called “Dexterous Hands” today.
She was currently testing out this skill.
It was truly a system product; this thing was incredibly easy to use.
Ji Shuyu didn’t know how to do needlework at all, but now, the things she embroidered were quite good.
As good as those sold outside.
He Yuan asked what she was doing. Ji Shuyu said she was mending his previously damaged clothes.
Only then did he notice that what Ji Shuyu held in her hands was his own garment.
The original hole had been transformed by her into a plum blossom. It wasn’t abrupt at all, but rather complemented the fabric perfectly.
“I heard Mom went to see Li Cuihua today.”
At He Yuan’s question, Ji Shuyu looked up, but her hands didn’t stop, deftly embroidering another petal.
“Mm, Mom took Fourth Brother and Fifth Brother with her.”
Her tone was light, as if it weren’t a big deal.
“Li Cuihua came to pick a fight with me today. I shut her down. Mom heard about it, couldn’t swallow her anger, and went to stand up for me.”
Before, when Li Cuihua was He Jiang’s wife, everyone tolerated her a lot.
Now she wasn’t the He family’s daughter-in-law anymore. Who was willing to put up with her nonsense?
Of course, everyone turned against her together.
He Yuan frowned slightly and walked over to sit beside her.
The soft glow of the kerosene lamp fell on her profile, making her look especially gentle.
“Did she lay hands on you?” He Yuan’s voice lowered, filled with concern.
He knew all about his former sister-in-law’s ferocity.
“She wanted to,” Ji Shuyu pouted, lifting her chin. “But she didn’t succeed. Instead, I slapped her first. Don’t worry, I didn’t suffer any loss.”
He Yuan looked at her little expression, feeling both amused and a bit heartache.
He reached out and gently touched the place she was embroidering. The rough fabric felt uniquely different under her skillful hands.
“It’s good that Mom went and made a scene. It lets her know no one in the He family will indulge her anymore. Maybe she’ll bother you less in the future.”
He paused, watching Ji Shuyu’s focused profile. Under the lamplight, her eyelashes were long and thick, like two small fans.
Ji Shuyu finally stopped her needlework and turned to look at him, her eyes smiling. “You’re not calling me fierce?”
After all, she had slapped Li Cuihua right in public.
“Why would I call you fierce? It’s good that you can defend yourself.”
He Yuan said this with a smile. As for the rest, he would handle it.
He needed to make the Li family sweat a little, let them turn on each other first.
Otherwise, Li Cuihua would only keep targeting Shuyu.
She shook the clothes in her hand, showing off the lifelike plum blossom as if seeking praise.
“Look, I mended your clothes. Isn’t it nice? I guarantee it looks even better than before!”
He Yuan looked at the plum blossom that seemed to carry a faint fragrance, then at the bright-eyed woman before him.
A warm current flowed through his heart.
The corners of his mouth lifted slightly as he said in a low voice, “Mm, it’s beautiful. Your hands are very clever.”
He had never seen anyone mend clothes with such exquisite embroidery.
His wife always seemed to surprise him.
Pleased by his praise, Ji Shuyu lowered her head again, finishing the thread as she said, “Alright, done! Try it on and see if it fits!”
She wasn’t the least bit concerned about the potential schemes Li Cuihua and Lin Feifei might be brewing.
After all, she had the system on her side, she wasn’t someone to be trifled with, and the He family was reasonable and willing to protect her.
If those people dared to provoke her again, then bring it on!
Let’s see who ends up worse off!
Originally, Ji Shuyu had considered making the first move, but she didn’t have the energy right now to juggle the supply and marketing cooperative and them.
Moreover, striking first would make her seem unjustified. In this day and age, anything you did could be endlessly magnified.
This island was so small; if you really did something, news spread fast.
It was better to wait for them to make the first move, then she could counter it.
He Yuan tried on the mended clothes. They fit perfectly.
The plum blossom was the finishing touch, making his old garment look like a trendy new style.
Looking at Ji Shuyu’s clever, smiling face under the lamp, his heart softened immensely.
But thinking about Li Cuihua’s repeated harassment, a cold glint passed deep in his eyes.
His mother’s warning probably wasn’t enough. Some people wouldn’t learn their lesson until they tasted real consequences.
He brought it up as if casually: “That eldest brother of the Li family, Li Tiezhu, seems to be in charge of maintaining and repairing the fishing boat engines in the island’s fishing production team?”
Ji Shuyu was just putting away her sewing basket. Hearing this, she looked up, somewhat puzzled. “I think so? I heard he knows a bit about machinery. Why?”
She keenly sensed that He Yuan wouldn’t ask this without a reason.
He Yuan’s expression was calm, but his tone was cold.
“Nothing much. Just feel like his job might not last long.”
Ji Shuyu blinked, instantly understanding.
He Yuan was about to take action.
And his first move aimed directly at the Li family’s foundation.
On the island, having a technical job in the fishing team was a very respectable and lucrative position.
Li Tiezhu had boasted quite a bit because of it.
If he lost this job, it would be like half the sky collapsing for the Li family.
She let out a silent wow in her heart, but on the surface, she just nodded and said very naturally,
“Oh, really? Maintaining engines carries great responsibility and requires high skill. It’s hard to avoid mistakes.”
He Yuan was even more satisfied seeing she understood immediately, without any unnecessary soft-heartedness.
“Mm, it’s hard to avoid,” He Yuan responded lightly, as if merely discussing the wind and waves on the sea. “It’s getting late. Get some rest early.”
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