Chapter 416 This Is Just Fine

Chapter 416 It’s Fine Like This

The next day, when Sun Yulian went out for her arranged date with Jiang Mingrui, she bumped into Jiang Yu. The two made small talk.

Hearing that she was still meeting Jiang Mingrui today, Jiang Yu was surprised.

She’d assumed that after yesterday’s incident with Sun Yuan, however desperate she was, Sun Yulian would take some time to reconsider.

"That Jiang Mingrui... he’s not a responsible man," Jiang Yu warned her gently.

Sun Yulian pursed her lips. "I know. Thank you."

If she had any other choice, she wouldn’t have chosen Jiang Mingrui either.

They walked in silence out of the alley, and Sun Yulian encountered Zhu Juncai.

He looked exhausted, carrying a patched-up travel bag, his face haggard.

The moment he appeared, Jiang Yu couldn’t help staring at him a few more times.

Sun Yulian was both angry and anxious, but in the end, it all turned into bitter resignation.

"What are you doing here? I told you never to see me again!"

She felt beyond embarrassed—letting others know she had once been involved with a man like this was utterly humiliating.

Zhu Juncai wet his cracked lips, gazing at her defiantly.

"I came to find you..."

"You promised me you’d never appear in front of me again! What if someone sees you here now?" Sun Yulian seethed.

The disgust in her eyes stabbed at Zhu Juncai’s heart.

He didn’t understand—was being from the city really that important?

"I have..."

Sun Yulian turned her back, unwilling to look at him, and coldly interrupted, "I don’t want to hear it. Since you’ve forgotten, I’ll say it again. We’re done, which means we have no relationship anymore. I’ll be getting married soon, so please don’t show up and wreck my future."

Zhu Juncai’s lips trembled slightly. He had repeated it to himself countless times on the train.

The moment he saw Sun Yulian, he wanted to tell her—he had a job now.

He would work hard, eventually become a permanent employee, settle in Beicheng, and live with her forever.

But Sun Yulian’s attitude crushed him.

She’d never loved him.

He should have realized it long ago.

"It’s over. I won’t come looking for you again."

Seeing that she was okay was enough for him.

Witnessing all this, Jiang Yu felt conflicted, wondering if she should pity them.

Sun Yulian scowled. "Come to laugh at me?"

"What are you laughing at?" Jiang Yu asked in confusion.

"I used Zhu Juncai's feelings for me to make my time in the countryside easier. Honestly, I never liked him—I just didn’t want to suffer there. I’ve been waiting for a chance to return to the city, and at the slightest hope, I wouldn’t hesitate to break up with him."

She had waited for so long, counting every day, but the chance never came.

So when her mother wrote to her, saying she should come back to go on a blind date with Jiang Mingrui, she agreed immediately.

It was the only lifeline she had in her desperate situation.

Jiang Yu said calmly, "Your choice has nothing to do with me."

Whether Sun Yulian lived well or not in the future was none of her concern.

Sun Yulian smiled bitterly. "Jiang Yu, I really envy you."

Getting to marry He Tingyue.

Jiang Yu left without responding.

On Start of Winter, Jiang Yu heard the news that Sun Yulian and Jiang Mingrui had split up.

According to He Feiyan, it was Jiang Mingrui who had refused, which enraged Jiang Chenghuai so much that he almost beat him to death with a stick.

Because of this, Sun Yulian’s depression was obvious.

Her mother understood her urgency and had a matchmaker introduce several men to her.

But Sun Yulian found them all lacking.

If she’d settle, she wouldn’t have remained unmarried for so long.

Her mother sighed and advised her, "You’re not seventeen anymore—you’re almost twenty-seven. At this age, most women already have kids. If you keep being picky, you won’t find anyone better."

Well-off men could easily choose younger women—why would they choose Sun Yulian?

Sun Yulian’s face darkened. "Even if I have to marry, I want someone decent. Otherwise, how can I spend my whole life with him?"

"You... Fine, I’ll ask around for you again. Wire back and see if your leave can be extended by half a month."

Sun Yulian turned her face away, glancing out the window at Jiang Yu.

"Isn’t she supposed to be working? Why is she always at home?"

Her mother followed her gaze and said indifferently, "Jiang Yu made a mistake and was suspended from work."

Sun Yulian lowered her eyes. If it were her, she would never make such a mistake with such a precious job opportunity.

Indeed, the easier happiness is to obtain, the less it is cherished.

"Mom, if I can’t get married soon, can you buy me a job?"

Her mother froze, silent.

She wasn’t without money, but jobs were too expensive and hard to come by.

Shelling out that much hurt.

Sun Yulian scoffed. "Don’t forget why I was sent to the countryside in the first place."

Mrs. Sun hesitated, "I haven't forgotten, but we're not there yet. What if you succeed in your matchmaking meeting tomorrow?"

Sun Yulian gave a wry smile, she said, "Don't worry, I hope for it more than anyone."

Whether Sun Yulian succeeded in her matchmaking meeting or not, Jiang Yu didn't know, but Zhu Juncai did enter the flour mill.

He was strong and was perfectly suited for hauling sacks.

After just two days, he was called by the canteen manager to do accounting because of his good math skills and sharp mind.

His probation period could be shortened to six months—that was Zhu Juncai's own ability.

Zhu Lilan profusely thanked Jiang Yu, believing she had changed her brother's fate.

"That's when I found out that he went to find Sun Yulian as soon as he got off the train. Thankfully, they didn't reconcile."

She didn’t care why Sun Yulian had dumped Zhu Juncai or what hardships she might have had—that was her business, as long as she stayed away from Zhu Juncai.

"I'll leave her be. She can marry any well-to-do city fellow she wants, whether she lives well or poorly—it doesn’t matter. Just don’t come looking for Juncai, and I’ll be grateful."

Zhu Lilan had initially thought of confronting Sun Yulian.

But later, she thought better of it and realized it wasn’t worth it.

The issues between Sun Yulian and Zhu Juncai were their own doing—it takes two to tango. There was no right or wrong.

She had made her position clear from the start. Zhu Juncai was the one who insisted on pursuing her—who could he blame?

"Yesterday, I asked the matchmaker to introduce a girl to Juncai. They seem to be getting along well."

Zhu Juncai wasn't madly in love, but he did have a good impression of her.

Jiang Yu smiled. "That’s good."

"Yes, that’s good enough."

After chatting with Zhu Lilan for a while, Jiang Yu remembered she still needed to get her winter vegetable stores.

"The co-op store just got a new batch of cabbage. I’m going to buy some."

Hearing she was going to buy winter vegetables, Zhu Lilan volunteered enthusiastically to help.

"Let me tell you, but I’m an expert at pickling cabbage. I’ll teach you the method—it’ll turn out delicious!"

"Really? Then I’ll have to learn properly."

Laughing, the two arrived at the store. As usual, Xie Feifei had put aside fifty kilos for Jiang Yu to pick up at the back door.

Zhu Lilan looked at the huge amount of cabbage. "Good thing I came along. You couldn’t have carried all this alone."

Jiang Yu chuckled. "Of course not. I’m waiting for my husband—he’s got the muscle. As for the pickling method you mentioned earlier, I’ll tell him. He’s the one who cooks at home."

Zhu Lilan joked, "Which way do I face to pray to marry a man like that?"

Jiang Yu: "..."

When He Tingyue arrived, the intimidating load of cabbage was child's play for him.

Zhu Lilan remarked in awe, "Your husband is unbelievably strong."

Jiang Yu nodded with a smile, "Yes, Auntie Zhu, would you like to look around some more?"

Zhu Lilan thought since she was already here, she might as well take about fifty pounds of cabbage back with her.

"Can I borrow your handcart? I'll return it tomorrow."

"Sure."

Jiang Yu accompanied Zhu Lilan and got in line. Not long after, they saw Sun Yulian and her mother.

Sun Yulian greeted them with a smile, "Jiang Yu, are you here to buy vegetables for winter storage too?"

"Yes."

Jiang Yu then glanced at Zhu Lilan, thinking she hadn’t recognized Sun Yulian, given her calm demeanor.

Zhu Lilan laughed softly, "I know her, but she doesn’t know me."

She recognized her, but wouldn’t do anything improper in public.

Soon, she noticed a man approaching Sun Yulian.

"Comrade Sun, let me help you carry the vegetables."

Sun Yulian, slightly bashful, agreed with a smile.

Zhu Lilan could tell at a glance that this was her new suitor.

However, the man seemed surprisingly feeble—despite offering to help Sun Yulian, he couldn’t even lift several dozen pounds of cabbage.

After struggling, not only did he fail to assist, but he also threw out his back, leaving Sun Yulian clearly annoyed.