Chapter 379: Speak of Cao Cao, and Cao Cao Arrives

Lu Cheng’s day off was over. The next morning, when Shen Nian woke up, Lu Cheng had already left for work. And just like before, he’d left her a note so she wouldn’t worry.

After Shen Nian got ready and tidied up the house, she began to wonder what she should do for the day.

The three days she had given Liu Fanglan to use the company-assigned vegetable plot weren’t up yet. She couldn’t very well take it back early, so all she could do was wait.

After thinking for a moment, Shen Nian remembered that the last time Lin Jingyun had come over, she’d mentioned liking her curtains. They had even made plans for Lin Jingyun to go with her to buy fabric for new ones. So, Shen Nian decided to find Lin Jingyun and take a trip into the city together.

It was perfect, as she also wanted to buy some fabric to make a few more outfits for herself and Lu Cheng.

When they went to the Chu Family’s home yesterday, her and Lu Cheng’s matching outfits had looked great. Shen Nian planned to make several more.

She would be starting school soon, and then she might not have as much free time for sewing.

To her surprise, when Shen Nian went to find Lin Jingyun, Lin Jingyun was just about to look for her!

"What a coincidence! We were on the same wavelength. I was just about to look for you! By the way, Xiao Nian, another one of the wives will be joining us. You don’t mind, do you?"

"Of course not! I was actually hoping you could introduce me to some of the other wives, Sister Jingyun."

Shen Nian wasn’t planning on being here for just a few days, so of course she wanted to get to know more of the locals. Although she truly couldn’t stand Liu Fanglan, Shen Nian knew that people like her were the exception. Most of the other families in the compound were probably perfectly nice.

"Don’t you worry, the person I’m introducing you to is one of the good ones. Her last name is Zhang, and she’s married to Zhong Mingshan, the group leader for Group Four."

"Group Four? Doesn’t that mean...?"

Shen Nian had an excellent memory. Though Liu Fanglan had only mentioned it once, Shen Nian recalled that her husband, Luo Bin, was the deputy group leader of Group Four. ’So this group leader,’ she thought, ’must be Luo Bin’s direct superior!’

"Yep, you guessed it. And because of that, Liu Fanglan has had it in for Sister Zhang ever since she arrived."

"..."

’Alright, so it’s true,’ Shen Nian thought. ’Liu Fanglan really does have a history of this sort of thing! If she could dislike me, the wife of another group’s leader, so intensely, I can’t even imagine how she treats the wife of her own husband’s boss.’

’That poor Sister Zhang, getting on the bad side of someone like Liu Fanglan. What terrible luck! I wonder what her personality is like. It’ll be fine if she’s a bit assertive, but if she’s too gentle, I’m afraid she’ll have a hard time standing up to Liu Fanglan!’

"Well, speak of the devil."

Lin Jingyun said with a smile, looking just ahead of them.

Shen Nian followed Lin Jingyun’s gaze and saw a woman with a remarkably gentle appearance and demeanor walking toward them.

And from the slight swell of her belly, it was clear she was pregnant!

"You must be Mr. Lu’s wife, right? Hello, I’m Zhang Ying. I’m married to Zhong Mingshan from Group Four."

Zhang Ying walked up to Shen Nian and Lin Jingyun. After giving Lin Jingyun a smiling nod, she turned her attention to Shen Nian.

At first, Shen Nian thought Zhang Ying looked like an especially gentle person. She worried that with such a personality, she probably wouldn’t fare well against Liu Fanglan.

However, Shen Nian’s impression changed considerably after hearing Zhang Ying speak. Although she looked gentle, her personality was actually quite direct. ’Her disposition probably isn’t weak at all,’ Shen Nian concluded.

’That made sense,’ she thought. ’If Zhang Ying were really a total pushover, someone with Lin Jingyun’s personality would have found it intolerable and probably stepped in long ago.’

"Hello, I’m Shen Nian. Just call me Xiao Nian."

"Alright, Xiao Nian, I won’t stand on ceremony then! I’m a few years older than you, so you can call me Sister Yingzi from now on! I’d heard you were coming. To think I’d be gone for just a few days, and when I get back, you’re the talk of the entire compound!"