Shen Qingqing first went to the post office to make a phone call to her boss to coordinate work matters.
Translation work can be done anywhere as long as she regularly sends the manuscripts back.
But she couldn't return to Beijing in the near future, so urgent tasks had to be assigned to others.
Shen Qingqing is highly capable, fluent in three foreign languages, and her boss appreciates her a lot.
If her parents had not passed away early, causing an interruption in her language training, she might have been even more outstanding.
Knowing that Shen Qingqing was going to the Northwest this time to handle family affairs, she needed time, so her boss granted her leave without a second thought.
The boss didn't inquire about Shen Qingqing's family issues, just gave her a piece of advice.
"Handle your matters well before returning, otherwise you'll be preoccupied, and your work efficiency won't be high."
The boss's words relieved Shen Qingqing a lot.
After discussing work matters, they exchanged a few pleasantries before ending the call.
From the compound to the county town, it took more than two hours; if she hurried, Shen Qingqing could return to the compound that day.
But she didn't want to tire herself out that much.
After all, she would be alone in her room if she went back.
Better to treat herself better, and if she misses the bus, she can just stay at the county guesthouse.
Let everything go with the flow.
She planned to go to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy some things first.
Besides her own necessary daily items, she needed to buy two supplements to send to the Lin Family.
The small county's supply couldn't compare to Beijing, and Shen Qingqing didn't know what the supply and marketing cooperative sold.
She could only go and see first, then decide what would be appropriate to send to the Lin Family.
Shen Qingqing wasn't familiar with the routes, so she spent some time asking for directions.
When she arrived at the supply and marketing cooperative, from a distance, she saw Jiang Zhixun and Lin Fengmian.
They stood side by side in front of the counter.
Lin Fengmian looked up at Jiang Zhixun, smiling brightly, not knowing what they were talking about.
Jiang Zhixun still had that indifferent look, occasionally nodding to show he was listening.
It was like a stone thrown into a calm heart lake.
By the time she reacted, Shen Qingqing had already turned and left the supply and marketing cooperative.
She didn't want to ask why Jiang Zhixun was there, nor did she want to know why Lin Fengmian was with him.
That day in the cafeteria, Lin Fengmian's behavior had already explained everything.
Shen Qingqing laughed at herself; she was just making herself obnoxious by going into the supply and marketing cooperative at that moment.
Lin Fengmian was hostile to her.
Jiang Zhixun wanted to stay away from her.
It was better to have some self-awareness and not disturb them.
As if there were a flood or beast behind her, Shen Qingqing walked faster and faster, disappearing in the blink of an eye.
Jiang Zhixun sensed something and turned back to look.
"Brother Jiang, how do you think this fabric looks? I want to make clothes for Xiao Bao to wear during the New Year,"
Lin Fengmian didn't notice Jiang Zhixun's oddness, eagerly holding a piece of cotton fabric up to him.
Originally, she wanted to stay far away from Brother Jiang, but after searching around, she couldn't find Shen Qingqing.
Seeing Brother Jiang come to buy things at the supply and marketing cooperative, she followed him in.
Unknowingly, she started talking again.
Now Lin Fengmian didn't want to be coy anymore; she hadn't done anything out of line, so why feel guilty?
If Shen Qingqing had problems, that was her own narrow-mindedness!
There were pedestrians passing by the entrance of the supply and marketing cooperative, but none of them were Shen Qingqing.
Jiang Zhixun retracted his gaze.
If she's not in the supply and marketing cooperative, maybe she's gone to the bookshop or post office?
Based on Jiang Zhixun's understanding of Shen Qingqing, he couldn't think of anywhere else besides these few places.
He quickly bought two cans and intended to bring them when he went to the Lin Family for dinner.
Seeing Jiang Zhixun about to leave, Lin Fengmian bit her lip.
She put down the fabric she was holding.
"Brother Jiang, are you going to find Miss Shen? I'll go with you,"
Fearing Jiang Zhixun's refusal, she added, "The more the merrier."
Jiang Zhixun glanced at his watch.
If he delayed any longer, he would miss the bus back to the compound.
If he let Shen Qingqing wander outside alone and the old man at home found out, he'd really get a scolding.
He hesitated for a moment and agreed to Lin Fengmian's suggestion.
But he still reminded her, "Qingqing is soft-hearted, loves to cry, and is sensitive, so don't speak harshly when you meet her."
Lin Fengmian's expression froze.
Although she hadn't studied for many years, she understood what's good advice.
Her lips twitched, and she squeezed her palm tightly to suppress the overwhelming bitterness.
"Brother Jiang, are you blaming me? That day in the cafeteria, I thought Miss Shen was entangling with you, so I..."
Jiang Zhixun's tone was indifferent, "I don't blame you; it's my fault for not explaining clearly in advance."
Lin Fengmian was always articulate, never sparing others.
But with Jiang Zhixun, it's different.
She's afraid Jiang Zhixun would think she's rude and not like her.
That day at the cafeteria, seeing Shen Qingqing, Jiang Zhixun's attitude was peculiar, which worried her and led to her actions.
Being criticized by her brother was nothing to her.
But when Jiang Zhixun said those things, she suddenly felt very wronged.
That day in the cafeteria, it was clearly Brother Jiang who first gave Shen Qingqing a hard time.
She stood by his side, what was wrong with that?
Her nose tingled, suddenly feeling an urge to cry.
Lin Fengmian took a breath, "Brother Jiang, whether you believe it or not, if I had known earlier that Miss Shen was your loved one, I wouldn't have said those words."
Jiang Zhixun didn't say he believed or didn't believe.
"It's getting late; you might want to head back first to not worry your brother and sister-in-law."
With that, he took his things and left first.
Lin Fengmian felt awkward both leaving and staying.
Feeling even more wronged inside.
He said she'd help find someone, yet suddenly changed his mind?
Could it be that he was afraid Shen Qingqing would be angry if she saw them together?
Or was he afraid she'd say something harsh and scare Shen Qingqing?
Thinking of Shen Qingqing's delicate demeanor, Lin Fengmian's grievance turned to disgust.
Such women must be good at playing the victim!
Just shed a few tears to make men feel sorry for her.
Maybe she even complained to Brother Jiang privately, otherwise why would he suddenly say such things.
She wanted to see, when they found Shen Qingqing, what Brother Jiang would do!
With that, she jogged to catch up.
The county town didn't have much entertainment, Shen Qingqing didn't know where to go.
She didn't want to see Jiang Zhixun and Lin Fengmian.
At the compound, she would go along with the mother-in-law's wishes, playing the part of a normal couple with Jiang Zhixun.
To repay the Jiang Family for their care over the years.
But outside, she didn't want to trouble herself.
They were going to divorce anyway, there was no need for too much entanglement.
Passing by a cinema, she simply went in to buy a ticket.
By the time she finished watching the movie, they would have surely left the county.
But in doing so, she'd miss the bus back to the compound, having to stay in the county overnight.
Before leaving the compound, Shen Qingqing told Xiao Li at the guesthouse that if she didn't make it back, she'd be staying in the county and not to look for her.
Now being worry-free, Shen Qingqing took her ticket and entered the theater.
She didn't know that Jiang Zhixun had searched everywhere he could, including the park and the state-run restaurant.
Even almost reported to the police.
Seeing how worried Jiang Zhixun was about Shen Qingqing, Lin Fengmian felt very unpleasant inside.
Sarcastically she said, "She came early; maybe she went back to the compound after buying things. Brother Jiang, don't worry, go back to the compound and see."
Jiang Zhixun's expression was stern and cold.
When he didn't find Shen Qingqing at the compound, the atmosphere around him became extremely frigid.
Xiao Li was puzzled, "Miss Shen said she would stay in the county for a night. Captain Jiang, didn't she tell you?"
Jiang Zhixun walked out without a word.
Borrowing a car, he headed for the county again.
Growing angrier as he thought about it, the man furiously slapped the steering wheel, "Shen Qingqing, you've really grown wings!"