Chapter 301: Handover Procedures – Daily Melon Eating in the Courtyard of the Sickly Young Lady

Chapter 301: Handover Procedures – A Sickly Sister-in-Law’s Daily Gossip in the Compound

Jiang Li had just stepped out of the factory gate when she spotted her mother hiding in a corner, fidgeting with her hands while waiting for her. She froze, and as she tried to slip away, her eagle-eyed mother caught her immediately.

"Lizi ("Lizi" – a diminutive for Jiang Li), are you avoiding me?"

Jiang Li grew even more rigid the moment she was caught. "N-no, I’m not."

"Oh, oh, that’s good, that’s good. I’m your mother—why would you need to hide from me?"

"Mom, what do you need from me?" Jiang Li asked, shrinking in on herself.

"Do I need a reason to see you?"

"No, no, that’s not what I meant."

"But I do have something to talk to you about. Come home with me first!"

Jiang Li hesitated. "Can’t we talk here?"

"Just come home with me. It’s not convenient here." Jiang’s mother was much stronger than Jiang Li.

"Mom, I still have to pick up the kids!" Jiang Li scrambled for an excuse.

"The kids? Isn’t your mother-in-law still at home? Why is a stepmom going out of your way? Wouldn’t it be better to bring that money back to help support me and your dad?" The last two sentences were grumbled quietly, so Jiang Li didn’t catch them clearly.

Seeing how tightly her mother was clutching her hand, Jiang Li knew she had no choice but to go back. Still, the thought that Mother Gu was at home gave her some reassurance.

In the end, Jiang Li still followed her mother back.

Returning to her old home—a cramped one-bedroom in a rundown walk-up—Jiang Li saw that the place hadn’t grown any bigger since she left. Before her marriage, she had shared a bunk bed with her younger sister, squeezed into a corner of the living room.

She glanced around, then adjusted her posture as she faced the people sitting across from her—her father, her mother, Jiang Xiaozhou, and Jiang Xiaotao.

"Alright, what’s the real reason you called me back?"

"Hehe…" *(a sly or awkward laugh)*

...

"Huge news, you guys!"

Lin Qing and Wang Jiaojiao had just sat down when they saw Fu Huihui hurrying over, tray in hand, shouting about some major gossip. Lin Qing said, "What’s got you all excited? What’s this huge news?"

Fu Huihui took a moment to catch her breath. "You’ll never believe this!"

Lin Qing and Wang Jiaojiao shared a look. Just how unbelievable could it be?

They both turned to Fu Huihui, waiting for her to spill the tea.

As expected, Fu Huihui didn’t disappoint. After catching her breath, she began, "Today, someone came to our department to sort out some paperwork."

Lin Qing: "What kind of paperwork?"

"Handover procedures" *(transfer of job rights, common in danwei systems)*, Fu Huihui said mysteriously.

Lin Qing and Wang Jiaojiao immediately understood, whispering, "Did someone sell their position?"

However, Fu Huihui shook her head.

"No, no, no! I can confirm there’s no money involved."

"Family, then?" Wang Jiaojiao said.

Fu Huihui nodded, then shook her head.

Lin Qing chuckled, "So, is it or isn’t it?"

"Not yet, but it probably will be soon."

"Wait, what?" Lin Qing and Wang Jiaojiao were confused.

"Let me explain the relationship between the two people involved in the transfer."

"Go on, tell us!"

"A future sister-in-law and her future sister-in-law."

"Whoa—"

Lin Qing swallowed hard, "Is it what I’m thinking?"

"Pretty much," Fu Huihui nodded.

"So, was the future sister-in-law forced into it?"

Unthinkingly, Fu Huihui shook her head again. "From what I saw, neither seemed unwilling at all."

Lin Qing and Wang Jiaojiao were so shocked their jaws dropped. Zero hesitation? What kind of sucker does that?

"That job is super competitive, and she just gave it up willingly?"

"Really? I was there—saw it myself. During the transfer, the sister-in-law’s mother—the future sister-in-law’s mother-in-law—was standing right there. Seeing her daughter being so 'understanding,' she was grinning ear to ear at me."

"Pfft!" Lin Qing scoffed.

Wang Jiaojiao also looked disdainful.

Fu Huihui added mysteriously, "So? Do you think this gossip is spicy enough?"

Perhaps feeling it wasn’t explosive enough, Fu Huihui dropped another bombshell. "That future sister-in-law is already married. She got the job because of her husband’s pull."

"No way!" Lin Qing and Wang Jiaojiao were stunned once again.

"This… this feels a bit sketchy, doesn’t it?" Lin Qing phrased it carefully.

Though unmarried, Wang Jiaojiao understood basic family dynamics. This sister-in-law was clearly digging her own grave.

"So, does her husband know?" If he did, that’d really blow up, right?

Fu Huihui shook her head, "I’m not sure about that."

Only at the end did Lin Qing and Wang Jiaojiao think to ask about the main character. "Okay, who’s the clueless pushover?"

Unexpectedly, Fu Huihui kept looking her way.

Lin Qing was getting annoyed under the scrutiny, "Why’re you staring at me?"

"You know her."

"I do?" Lin Qing looked utterly confused.

"She’s someone very close to you."

"Wait, really?" Lin Qing racked her brain but couldn’t think of anyone fitting the description.

None of the people she remembered seemed like the type to willingly give up something for a sister-in-law, so who could it be?

"Huihui, spill it already!" Both Lin Qing and Wang Jiaojiao were done guessing.

Seeing their impatience, Fu Huihui dropped the act and leaned in, lowering her voice, "It’s Jiang Li from the Women’s Federation!"

Lin Qing’s eyes widened in shock, and Wang Jiaojiao was equally stunned.

They were speechless.

"You’re not joking, are you?" Jiang Li? How could that be?

Wasn’t she always the type to flaunt herself as the perfect wife and mother in public?

So what reason made her quit her job this time?

Lin Qing still couldn’t believe the news she’d heard at noon even after her shift ended.

She walked back to the housing complex in a daze.

After entering, she made a point of peeking into the room near the entrance in the east wing.

Jiang Li was already back, and they could hear Old Lady Gu ranting from inside the room.

Jiang Li stepped out—the same timid, head-down Jiang Li as always, showing no signs of anything unusual.

Lin Qing gave her a once-over before striding back to her own home. Jiang Li glanced up—did someone just stare at her?

She shook her head slightly. Probably just her imagination.

"Nuan'nuan, you’re back!" Mother Lin came out of the room, lighting up when she saw her daughter.

But she could tell right away something was wrong. "What’s wrong today? Rough day at work?"

Lin Qing shook her head, staring blankly at the ceiling. "It’s nothing. I just heard some shocking gossip and I’m still wrapping my head around it."

Mother Lin immediately perched next to her, intrigued. "What shocking gossip?"

"Mom, have you ever heard of a sister-in-law who’d willingly give up a hard-earned job for her brother’s wife?"

Mother Lin frowned slightly. "Nuan'nuan, you’d be surprised what people do. The one you’re talking about might’ve been guilt-tripped by her family!"

"But she never struck me as the type!" Lin Qing mumbled half to herself.

"What was that?"