Chapter 13: The Rift Between Best Friends

Xie Mingjin recalled her past life: Chen Wanru had returned to the city to celebrate New Year's Eve with her family.

Given the time needed to handle various formalities, the village party secretary currently held the quota for returning to the city.

Xie Jinyu couldn’t understand how Chen Wanru still had the audacity to come looking for her after they had already torn each other apart in the school dormitory.

“Chen Wanru, I won’t take up the city return quota...”

Chen Wanru’s delicate face turned pale with anger at Xie Jinyu’s words. “Xie Jinyu, are you crazy to refuse it if there’s a quota? Don’t give it to me!”

Chen Wanru thought back to how she had carefully arranged everything that day.

As long as Lu Qianjin and Xie Jinyu were caught in a compromising situation, the village party secretary would definitely give her the quota to keep her silent.

But, ironically, the usually clumsy Xie Jinyu had shown a rare moment of cleverness, leaving Chen Wanru trapped in this dilemma.

“Chen Wanru, if you want the city return quota, then fight for it yourself. Don’t drag me into this!”

Chen Wanru suspected that Xie Jinyu might know she had drugged her that day, but as long as she didn’t admit it, what could Xie Jinyu do?

Over the years, it had been effortless for Chen Wanru to manipulate the neglected Xie Jinyu.

All it took was a little kindness, and Xie Jinyu would cling to her like a loyal dog.

“I even specially brought you some hometown delicacies.”

Chen Wanru threw a package wrapped in newspaper onto the pile of cotton in front of Xie Jinyu.

“You really don’t appreciate kindness.”

Holding scissors, Xie Jinyu’s face was cold as she took deliberate steps toward Chen Wanru.

Chen Wanru shivered at the intense hatred burning in Xie Jinyu’s eyes.

She had only drugged Xie Jinyu—and even that hadn’t succeeded. Xie Jinyu hadn’t lost anything.

Why did she hate her so much?

“If you don’t give me the quota, fine. Is it really necessary to be like this?”

Chen Wanru forced a calm tone and tossed out the words before stumbling out into the yard.

The cold wind blew.

She clearly realized that Xie Jinyu had changed.

She was no longer the easily manipulated fool she used to be.

But what could she do?

She wanted to return to the city.

She had no desire to stay in this wretched place!

At that thought, Chen Wanru clenched her fists and punched her own abdomen hard.

---

It was all because of that little brat ruining her plans.

Xie Jinyu watched Chen Wanru’s retreating figure and thought about their shared past, a cold smile curling her lips.

Chen Wanru wasn’t going to get that city return quota—Xie Jinyu would never allow it.

Yan Hongying, considering that Xie Jinyu had just married Ye Changzheng, had asked her to make a bright red flowered cotton-padded jacket that looked festive at a glance.

Xie Jinyu obediently made herself the red flowered jacket and a floral cotton jacket for Yan Hongying.

To keep warm, the designs differed from the current popular styles.

The cuffs were lined with elastic bands to prevent wind from sneaking in.

The collar had a hood attached.

The buttons were made in a slightly more intricate pattern.

“Grandma, try it on.”

Yan Hongying tried on the jacket immediately. The new cotton padding made it very warm, and combined with Xie Jinyu’s integration of some fashionable elements from her past life—

“Grandma, tell me if there’s anything that needs improvement.”

Yan Hongying was very satisfied and was about to take it off when a villager came to ask her to diagnose someone.

“Wait a moment, I’ll be right there after changing.”

Xie Jinyu held Yan Hongying’s hand, stopping her from removing the jacket.

“Grandma, just wear this one.”

“Alright.”

Yan Hongying agreed without hesitation.

She was also eager to show off to others how good her taste was and how filial her granddaughter-in-law was.

Yan Hongying went out carrying a simple medicine box.

Xie Jinyu continued making jackets.

Without Yan Hongying’s help, Xie Jinyu was so focused on her work that she didn’t even notice when the fire went out.

Yan Hongying went for a walk, and other villagers noticed how unique Xie Jinyu’s jacket design was.

Many women who were preparing new clothes for their families gathered in groups to seek advice from Xie Jinyu.

Later, not only villagers but also the female educated youths from the nearby outpost came to learn how to make cotton jackets from Xie Jinyu.

The once quiet cattle shed became lively and bustling.

Xie Jinyu shared her knowledge generously without holding back.

“I saw Chen Wanru and Lu Qianjin moving furniture into the cattle shed today?”

“I heard the village party secretary made his two sons split the household. They’re siding with the elder son!”

“Chen Wanru and Lu Qianjin don’t seem like they live well together. I heard Chen Wanru has always wanted to return to the city. I bet once she goes back, she’ll kick Lu Qianjin to the curb.”

Xie Jinyu deliberately had Yan Hongying wear the new jacket to the village, waiting for the villagers to come chat with her.

“Chen Wanru said that once the city return list is finalized, she’ll take Lu Qianjin back with her...”

Xie Jinyu and Chen Wanru had been inseparable in the village, like conjoined twins, but when Xie Jinyu suddenly said this, a female educated youth immediately asked, “Is there really a city return quota?”

A villager said, “Even if there is one, it’s definitely for Chen Wanru.”

“To me, no matter who it goes to, it must not be Chen Wanru. She says she’ll take Lu Qianjin back, but what if she secretly aborts the child after settling back in the city?”

The female educated youths lost interest in asking Xie Jinyu about the jackets and hurried back to the outpost.

Within half a day, news of the village party secretary holding the city return quota spread throughout Yuejin Village.

Chen Wanru, angry and furious at the educated youths demanding the quota from the party secretary, stormed into the cattle shed.

“Xie Jinyu, why did you tell the other educated youths about the city return quota?”

After yelling this, she realized many villagers were gathered around Xie Jinyu making jackets.

Her earlier angry demeanor was witnessed by them all.

In her past life, after Chen Wanru returned to the city, she had written to Xie Jinyu.

Only then did Xie Jinyu know that Chen Wanru had used the quota to return to the city, though she hadn’t known at the time that Chen Wanru had schemed to wrest the quota from the party secretary.

She was even happy for Chen Wanru.

But now... she would make Chen Wanru watch helplessly as the quota slipped away.

“Chen Wanru, didn’t you say the village party secretary wanted to give me the city return quota, and that I should give it to you?” Xie Jinyu smiled sweetly, gazing at Chen Wanru’s twisted, fierce face. “I thought the party secretary was such an upright person, he wouldn’t show favoritism, so I let the educated youths compete for the quota themselves...”

Hearing Xie Jinyu praise the party secretary like that, Chen Wanru was so furious that blood choked her throat.

Xie Jinyu was doing this on purpose.

She deliberately didn’t want Chen Wanru to return to the city.

“Xie Jinyu, you’re ruining me!”

Chen Wanru’s eyes blazed red with anger.

With so many villagers as witnesses, Xie Jinyu would not miss this perfect chance to tear her apart.

She took slow steps toward Chen Wanru, deliberately questioning, “Did I force you and Lu Qianjin into premarital pregnancy? Did I force you to marry Lu Qianjin? Why are you so upset that other educated youths know about the city return quota? Could it be that your reason for wanting to marry Lu Qianjin is just for the quota?”