Father Lin glanced at the disengagement statement, set it aside, and dialed a number in front of Xu Qinghuan, "Hello, is this Old Wu? I'm definitely calling you now because it's urgent, you can do it, otherwise why would I call you?
What for? Just a small matter, I have a junior who wants to get something published in the newspaper, can you help with that? Make sure it gets printed by tomorrow morning. Alright, I'll bring it over now!"
As he spoke, Father Lin stood up and gently ruffled Xu Qinghuan's hair, just like she was his own daughter, "Don't worry, Uncle will send it over now. By tomorrow morning, it will definitely be in the newspaper, there's no escaping this!"
Xu Qinghuan nodded vigorously, her voice choked, "Thank you, Uncle!"
"No need to thank me, it's nothing major!"
Father Lin is a retired soldier, a comrade of Xu Qinghuan's father, and the director of a machinery factory, one of the major factories in Shen City, a man of integrity and strict principles. His own daughter-in-law doesn't have a job, but he never mentioned helping with backdoor connections or engaging in any kind of quid pro quo.
If it were otherwise, in the story, after the wife of Big Brother Lin committed suicide, why would her family be so infuriated, accusing the Lin family of abusing the daughter-in-law? Isn't it because they resented Father Lin for not helping her find a job?
Xu Qinghuan accompanied him out, and when they passed by the newspaper office, Father Lin went in, submitted the statement for typesetting, and then brought it back out to return to Xu Qinghuan, taking her back to the housing estate.
"Remember the phone number at home?"
Before leaving, Father Lin asked.
"Yes, I do!" Xu Qinghuan lowered her head, holding back tears in her eyes, "If I have any difficulties, I'll call you and Auntie, don't worry, I'll take good care of myself."
"Take good care of yourself!" Before Father Lin left, he ruffled Xu Qinghuan's hair, "Go upstairs now!"
"Okay!" Xu Qinghuan replied, then turned and ran to the building.
The Xu family had already finished dinner, Xu Manman was humming a tune, in an exceptionally good mood, her mother was making a Lenin coat, judging by the color and size, it was probably for Xu Manman, and her father was sitting on the sofa reading the old newspaper he brought back from work.
Hearing a noise at the door, the family looked over.
"Huanhuan is back? I heard you found work at the lighting factory today?" Wang Mingxia stopped making the clothes and came over, "Have you eaten yet? We've saved you some food at home."
"No, I'm not hungry!" Xu Qinghuan naturally knew the reason for their sudden warmth.
Xu Liqun was about to speak when Wang Mingxia gave him a look and warmly said, "Are you tired? If you're tired, just wash up early, and I'll make you some noodles?"
Xu Qinghuan indeed ate a lot tonight, so she declined, "No need, Second Aunt, I'm really not hungry."
She didn't want to mention she had eaten at the Lin's because she didn't want them to link tomorrow's newspaper announcement to the Lin family, to prevent Song Wanlin from venting her anger on them.
Father Lin probably wasn't afraid of Song Wanlin, but he would avoid causing trouble for the Lin family if possible.
"What, are you afraid we're being too nice to you, making you feel guilty for not giving the job to Manman?" Xu Hongtu sneered, "Too late for that!"
Xu Hongtu said loudly, "You've been with us since you were three, and all these years, have we not treated you well? When it mattered, you were so selfish and only thought of yourself?"
Xu Qinghuan was stunned for a moment, rubbing her fingers, she glanced around at everyone in the room, "Do you all think I should give the job to Manman?"
If they knew she had already sold two jobs, what would they do?
Xu Liqun cleared his throat, "It's not a matter of should or shouldn't, but Chengxu was right, it's the best of both worlds. Your third brother is a man, I'm not worried if he goes to the countryside, but you and Manman are both girls, we'd worry about either of you going."
"I understand!" Xu Qinghuan gave them a profound look, then turned and went into her room.
"What does she mean?" Xu Hongwei said discontentedly, "Does she think we're forcing her?"
Xu Manman's eyes reddened, she cried, "Dad, Mom, Bro, I don't want Sis to give up her job for me, if it comes to it, I'll go to the countryside, ever since I came back, Sis hasn't been happy, she must feel like I've stolen your love for her."
Xu Hongye angrily said, "All these years, have we not been good enough to her? You got lost as a child and suffered so much out there, it's never too much to treat you well."
Xu Hongtu said, "Exactly, stop overthinking, just go to sleep. Since she said she knows, she should give the job to you, as long as the job is in her hands, it won't get away."
"Alright, but it's best if she voluntarily gives it up." Xu Hongwei said.
Xu Qinghuan's bus leaves at nine in the morning.
At seven, the Xu family had already finished breakfast, those who needed to go to work left for work, Manman saw Xu Qinghuan was still lying in bed, "Sis, aren't you going to work today?" she asked.
"No." Xu Qingyhuan got up from bed and started to pack her things.
She used a cloth to bundle two old quilts, and what clothes she had left, shoes and socks, as well as toiletries, packing everything up.
While eating breakfast in the living room, Manman saw her come out carrying a large bundle, and was stunned, her mouth agape for a long time. Seeing Xu Qinghuan heading out, she quickly ran over to stop her, "What are you doing?"
Xu Qinghuan looked at her calmly, "Xu Manman, I won't give you my job, but I can give you the man! Jiang Chengxu and I have ended the engagement. Also, tell your parents, the eighteen hundred yuan compensation my father exchanged for his life is enough to support me. Over the years, your parents and Song Wanlin's dealings are their business, if anyone causes trouble in front of me, don't blame me for being unkind!"
Xu Manman had never seen such a cold Xu Qinghuan, she was at a loss for words, "Where are you going?"
"Why do you care where I go?" Xu Qinghuan curled her lips in a mocking smile, "You should show more concern for your brother Chengxu. Do you really think he would marry you without me?"
In the story, after Xu Qinghuan and Jiang Chengxu's divorce, Jiang Chengxu married Lu Nianying.
Lu Nianying is the illegitimate daughter of Song Wanlin's current husband Lu Ranglian's sister, raised under Song Wanlin's care as her own daughter. Lu Ranglian and his ex-wife have another daughter named Lu Mingqiu, and under Song Wanlin's deliberate scheming, the two cousins were at each other's throats.
After Xu Qinghuan left, it took a while for Manman to recover. She rushed into the room, seeing Xu Qinghuan only took her own things, she sighed in relief, not knowing where she went or who to notify.
Luckily, Xu Hongtu came back at that moment, and she hurriedly told him, "Third Bro, Xu Qinghuan moved out!"
"Moved out? Where could she have moved to?" Xu Hongtu didn't take it seriously, "Even if the monk runs away, the temple won't move. Now that she has a job, she thinks she's grown wings; she's daydreaming. She's not afraid of us making a scene at her workplace, letting everyone know she's an ungrateful person!"
Xu Manman was tearful, "Third Bro, it's my fault. Is Sis afraid we're forcing her to give up her job to me? We don't have to, let's talk to her and bring her back, I'm afraid people will blame me for driving her away."
Xu Hongtu, also angry at Xu Qinghuan for being so heartless, wanted to find her and seek justice, "Let's go and see!"