Chapter 33: So Incredible

Chapter 33: Chapter 33: So Incredible

"What? The marriage proposal was fake?" This was the first Zhang Yun had heard of it, and her eyes widened in shock.

Master Ji gave Su Wan a reassuring smile. "Comrade Su Wan, the military has already investigated the matter you brought up. It was indeed a fabrication by the Zheng family."

"The Zheng family had originally requested that high bride price from a prospective match in the city. To save face, they deliberately hinted to people that it was Xiao Lu who had proposed to their family. In reality, it was a complete fabrication."

"Comrade Su Wan, the military will also require the Zheng family to clarify this matter. You can rest assured." Master Ji considered this a minor issue. Besides, the investigation had already determined the Zheng family was at fault, so it was only natural to resolve everything at once.

"Thank you, sir," Su Wan said, expressing her gratitude.

Now that this was taken care of, she said no more.

As they left the commander’s office, Zhang Yun couldn’t help but sneak glances at her, and Su Wan caught her red-handed.

"What are you looking at?"

"Sister-in-law, you... when did you find out the Zheng Family was dealing on the black market?" Zhang Yun was extremely curious. She had originally thought that she and Zheng Zhizhi had done a good job of keeping Su Wan in the dark.

But now, seeing Su Wan’s actions, she suddenly wasn’t so sure. It was as if Su Wan had been aware of her and Zheng Zhizhi’s every move.

She suddenly felt that Su Wan had become somewhat unfathomable.

"You’re so close with Zheng Zhizhi, yet you didn’t know about any of this?" Su Wan didn’t answer, turning the question back on her instead.

Zhang Yun’s face flushed red at the question, and she mumbled, "I didn’t know. Zheng Zhizhi never told me."

"No wonder you were fooled," Su Wan concluded.

Zhang Yun’s face grew red with shame as she offered a sincere apology. "Sister-in-law, it’s all my fault. I’ve really changed. From now on, I’ll listen to you."

"Listen to me?" Su Wan raised an eyebrow, not believing a word of it.

With a flushed face, Zhang Yun said bluntly, "Because my cousin told me to listen to you, Sister-in-law. So I definitely will."

Hearing this, Su Wan no longer had any doubts.

Because of her hero-worship for her cousin, she had previously been dissatisfied with Su Wan, thinking she had the airs of a pampered young lady and couldn’t take good care of him.

Now that she had discovered Su Wan was even more capable than she had imagined and could even help her cousin, Zhang Yun’s attitude toward her changed in an instant.

"Sister-in-law, where are we going now?"

"Back to fire the pottery bowls," Su Wan said, dismissing her to go about her own business.

Although she didn’t comment on Zhang Yun’s affairs, she wouldn’t forgive her so easily either.

’Who knows if she’ll just do something stupid again later.’

"Sister-in-law, I’ll go with you," Zhang Yun said, nervously eyeing Su Wan’s pregnant belly.

Su Wan couldn’t be bothered with her and went straight to Zhao Qing’s house.

She was carrying eight bowls she had fired yesterday.

"Sister-in-law, are you home?" Su Wan asked, knocking on the door.

Zhao Qing answered the door holding a pair of scissors. Seeing it was Su Wan, a warm smile spread across her face, but her expression changed subtly when she saw Zhang Yun behind her.

"Oh, it’s Wanwan! Come in, have a seat."

"And this is Comrade Zhang Yun?" Zhao Qing looked at Zhang Yun, unable to stop herself from recalling her first impression of Su Wan at the train station.

She had even mistaken Su Wan for Zhang Yun back then. Now, looking at Zhang Yun in her white shirt, blue work pants, and braided pigtails—a fashionable outfit—the difference in their auras when standing next to Su Wan was just too obvious.

Coupled with Zhang Yun’s reputation, the things she had done, and how she had even helped outsiders against her own sister-in-law, Zhao Qing decided she would not be introducing her younger brother to her.

She even felt a little thankful that she had met Su Wan first. If it had really been Zhang Yun, how would she have ever known the girl was so ’naively foolish’?

"Sister-in-law Zhao," Zhang Yun said obediently, following Su Wan’s lead.

Zhao Qing nodded. "Come on in."

She picked up the teapot and poured them both some tea.

Placing the scissors on the coffee table, she explained to Su Wan with a smile, "I bought some fabric. I was planning to make a tablecloth like you did, Wanwan. They look so pretty on a desk or dining table."

"They do look very pretty, Sister-in-law," Su Wan praised. "Waterproof fabric is the most convenient."

The two of them chatted about it for a while, and Zhao Qing grew more and more excited as she spoke.

Su Wan waited for her to finish before getting down to business. "I came to ask if you, Sister-in-law, would be willing to come to my place and help make pottery bowls. I’ll pay you. Twenty cents per bowl."

This was not a low wage. After all, she was only charging Aunt Liu fifty cents for each finished bowl, and she still had to pay for the paint.

As expected, Zhao Qing was taken aback. "Why are you asking me for such a great opportunity?"

And what a great opportunity it was! Unlike women like Wang Mei, she didn’t have a job on the base. Even though it was just a salesclerk position, it came with a fixed monthly salary of twenty to thirty yuan, which was considered quite successful among the military families.

That salary was enough to support a family. With the husband’s allowance used for other things, life could be quite comfortable.

With the work Su Wan was offering, she could earn at least ten-some yuan after just a few busy days. It was indeed a fantastic opportunity.

She glanced at Zhang Yun, not understanding why Su Wan was asking her instead of Zhang Yun. Usually, people saved such good opportunities for their own relatives.

"Sister-in-law, not to mention you helped me as soon as we met, you also had my back when Zheng Zhizhi came looking for trouble." Su Wan took her hand. "I’m incredibly grateful, so of course I’d ask you."

Zhao Qing was pleased. Finding an excuse, she looked at Zhang Yun. "Xiao Yun, I’m going to take your sister-in-law to the kitchen to get some pickles. Why don’t you wait here for a moment."

"Okay, Sister-in-law Zhao."

Zhang Yun nodded obediently and sat waiting in the living room.

After sending her away, Zhao Qing pulled Su Wan into the kitchen and asked in a low voice, "Wanwan, Zhang Yun is your cousin-in-law, after all. If you don’t let her help you, and Battalion Commander Lu finds out, won’t he think you still hold a grudge against her? It could affect your marriage, couldn’t it?"

"Sister-in-law, of course not!" Su Wan knew she meant well, so she offered an explanation. "Lu Zhengchuan is my husband. If he sided with a relative over me, then I wouldn’t want him as a husband anyway."

"What? You’d leave him, just like that?" Zhao Qing was stunned by Su Wan’s decisiveness and frankness.

’But inwardly, she couldn’t help but feel a little admiration.’

"Don’t worry, Sister-in-law. I promise this won’t cause a crisis in my marriage," Su Wan assured her, patting her hand.

Hearing this, Zhao Qing agreed to work with her.

Lu Zhengchuan came home at noon.

Zhao Qing hadn’t left yet. She was in the bathroom washing her hands.

Lu Zhengchuan asked, "Is Zhang Yun back?"

"She’s back. She’s in the kitchen cooking." Su Wan had no intention of letting Zhang Yun freeload. If she was going to stay, she had to work.

"Mm. That’s all minor stuff. I’d only discipline her if she didn’t work." Lu Zhengchuan was reasonably satisfied with Zhang Yun’s diligence.

"I asked Sister-in-law Zhao to help me make pottery bowls. I’m paying her," Su Wan brought up the matter proactively.

In the bathroom, Zhao Qing was just about to step out when she heard this and instinctively stopped in her tracks.