What she was unwilling to admit was that in less than a month, both she and Chen Ping had changed.
She was no longer blindly trusting of Chen Ping, and Brother Chen Ping was also drifting further away from her.
But even now, Qi Sui still believed that they would eventually marry, become an ordinary couple.
The days that followed were peaceful.
Qi Sui no longer tried to find Chen Ping, nor did she dream of making big money. Of course, she also completely gave up the idea of going home.
Not because of anything else, but because after living in the county for so long, she found it convenient and bustling compared to the countryside. You could buy all sorts of good things, even single candies. Sometimes after work, if she wanted something sweet, she could buy a single piece of toffee from the small shop nearby.
She was a bit naive, after all.
Deep down, she still hoped to marry Brother Chen Ping. She still remembered Zhang Meixia's words. She still wanted to make something of herself in the county and show her.
Thinking of this, she finally remembered what she had forgotten.
She had forgotten to tell Brother Chen Ping that Zhang Meixia was getting married!
What a silly head!
Qi Sui sat on a stool and slapped her head for no reason. The thought of having to take the rickety, stuffy minibus under the scorching sun after work to squat at the entrance of Wanzi Qianhong made her miserable.
Her whole spirit visibly deflated. Seeing her like this, Sister Liang couldn't help but laugh at her.
This little girl Xiao Sui was quick with her hands, honest, and cute. It's just that she already had a boyfriend. Otherwise, Sister Liang would definitely set her up with someone reliable.
Just as she was thinking this, a customer came into the restaurant.
Sister Liang put on a warm smile and went to greet them. The newcomer had a fair face, with a bit of sweat on his forehead, and looked somewhat anxious.
"Is Qi Sui working here?"
Sister Liang paused, then called out to the girl in the back kitchen:
"Xiao Sui! Someone's looking for you!"
Hearing this, Qi Sui lifted the kitchen curtain and came out. Chen Ping was standing at the restaurant entrance, frowning, as if scrutinizing every part of the eatery. His eyes finally landed on her. His face was pale, and he began to scold her without waiting for her to speak:
"Sui Sui, why haven't you come to find me? I've been waiting every day, and you make things so difficult for me!"
What a question.
Before Qi Sui could say anything, he launched into a tirade as if she had committed some heinous crime.
Qi Sui hurried over and pulled him out of the restaurant, displeased:
"Brother Chen Ping, is there something you need?"
Chen Ping held a small oil-paper package and handed it to her. His tone seemed to regain its former intimacy, and he even gently patted her head:
"This is a glutinous rice chicken I brought for you. You've probably never had this before, right? I thought of you as soon as I saw it. You'll definitely like it, Sui Sui."
Qi Sui lowered her head, glanced at the bulging package, took it, and said softly:
"Thank you, Brother."
"It's nothing," Chen Ping waved his hand and got down to business:
"Do you remember I told you before that I'd find you a proper job?"
Qi Sui remembered. She picked at the oil-paper package, feeling the cooled glutinous rice inside, and mumbled:
"Yes, I remember."
"But I already have a proper job now?"
"Who told you that?" Chen Ping looked up, staring at the restaurant environment. "It's dirty and messy. They must make you do a lot of work, right?"
"I found you a job. You won't have to work so hard. Just stand there and smile."
He added with assurance: "You'll be right by my side. I won't let you suffer any grievances!"
Qi Sui felt uncomfortable. She shook her head and said,
"Brother, forget it. I think this place suits me well, and I don't want to go to your place. It feels too chaotic."
How could that do?
Chen Ping had already promised Boss Huang that he would make Young Master Lin satisfied. Maybe he could even help him with his azoospermia. He couldn't allow Qi Sui to refuse.
Chen Ping carefully scrutinized his country girlfriend.
To be honest, calling her his girlfriend was an overstatement. At best, she was a childhood playmate. Besides, he didn't even like her.
But even so, Chen Ping couldn't deny that Qi Sui was a pretty woman. In the village, everyone said she looked like she would be "good at bearing children," sure to produce a big, healthy baby boy.
If the Chen family hadn't arranged the marriage with the Qi family early on, the Qis' door would have been worn out by matchmakers.
Yet, in the county, a girl like her was neither outstanding nor remarkable. Ordinary and plain. If not for the opportunity Chen Ping was giving her, she might spend her whole life toiling away for others.
At this thought, the faint sympathy and guilt in Chen Ping's heart vanished completely. The good life he was arranging for Qi Sui should make her deeply grateful.
Besides, who was it?
It was Lin Shanghuai!
Being able to latch onto him, to bear his child—wasn't that an immense blessing?
Chen Ping had it all planned out.
As long as Qi Sui behaved, he would still be willing to marry her, even if she were a worn-out shoe.
He pulled Qi Sui closer and instructed her carefully:
"Sui Sui, remember this: your family has a secret recipe for bearing children, passed down from your mother. But it's been a long time since the recipe was used, and you're not sure if it still works. No matter who asks, say that. Then I'll make sure you have more money than you can spend!"
Chen Ping slapped his head. "You said you wanted to buy a small western-style house, right? Then we'll buy ten or eight of them!"
Qi Sui's wrist was hurting from his grip. She tried to break free but couldn't. She asked timidly,
"Brother, why do I have to say that? What secret recipe? I don't know anything about it."
Brother Chen Ping was too frightening like this. She was scared.
Chen Ping looked at her round, cute face, his expression almost ecstatic:
"Sui Sui, Brother is going to bring you fortune!!"
He had inadvertently revealed to Huang Zhentian that his girlfriend's family had a secret recipe. Boss Huang had indeed asked him to bring his sister to get close to Lin Shanghuai.
When Chen Ping hesitated about whether to go through with it, Huang Zhentian's heart was even blacker. He said directly:
"Who cares if it's real or if she can actually bear children? If it's real, then I, Huang Zhentian, become the Lin family's great benefactor. If it's not, then we'll just take that Lin Shanghuai down a peg. Either way, I come out ahead."
And so, the decision was made.
And Qi Sui became the most innocent and yet the biggest sacrifice in this matter.
How innocent and ignorant she was. She didn't know that the brother she had grown up with was a wolf in sheep's clothing, nor that she was about to step into a terrifying trap. She simply held onto a sliver of hope—
Could those beautiful visions Brother Chen Ping painted ever come true one day?
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Author's note: Don't worry, no angst, pure sweetness. Xiao Lin will be a total pushover. Our Sui Sui is taking the brave bull charging forward script. Since these people dare to make her do this, they'd better be prepared for her to completely mess things up.