Chapter 8

Chapter 8

Otherwise, Jiang Sanjie wouldn’t feel at ease if Jiang Yiwei and Jiang Yuexin were really sent off as educated youth.

"Dad, can you really find a temporary job for me?" Jiang Yiwei asked Jiang Sanjie in return.

"I’ll pull every string I can."

At least on this, Jiang Yiwei knew Jiang Sanjie wouldn’t favor Jiang Yuexin alone.

In the original story, the protagonist, Jiang Yuexin, and Jiang Ningning had indeed made a big stink about being sent to the countryside.

According to the storyline, Jiang Ningning spent a long time searching for a job before finally landing a position as a dancer in a troupe. Before she transmigrated into this world, Jiang Ningning had been a dance teacher with solid skills. As luck would have it, the troupe was hiring, and with her performance, she landed the job easily.

Moreover, Jiang Ningning was one of the female protagonists, so naturally, she wouldn’t be sent to the countryside.

As for the protagonist and Jiang Yuexin, although the protagonist was a doomed side character, she was very aware that with the family struggling, counting on Jiang Sanjie alone was hopeless. So, she took the initiative to look for work, keeping at it until the same day the neighborhood office sent notice, when she successfully secured a temporary job at a textile factory.

With a temporary job, the protagonist naturally didn’t have to go to the countryside.

Since both Jiang Ningning and the protagonist had secured jobs, that left only Jiang Yuexin empty-handed.

Originally, Jiang Sanjie had found a temporary job and planned to let Jiang Yuexin take it first. However, Jiang Yuexin balked at how tough the job was. To make matters worse, she kept it from Jiang Sanjie and Zhang Cuifen. Had she informed them, they would have had the protagonist take the job instead. Unfortunately, Jiang Yuexin, as an older sister, was so spiteful she sat on the news until the position was filled before telling the family.

Jiang Sanjie hit the roof, declaring that if another job was found, it would go to the protagonist first.

But after that, no other jobs were found.

Since Jiang Yiwei already knew the plot’s direction, she decided to bide her time until the right moment to go to that textile factory. Although there would be some twists and turns, no one would be able to make her give up the job.

So, during this period, Jiang Yiwei simply watched as Jiang Ningning and Jiang Yuexin ran around like chickens with their heads cut off.

One day, Jiang Yiwei took Jiang Xiaohua to the yard to cool off while helping her practice handwriting.

Suddenly, Jiang Ningning burst into the courtyard, out of breath.

She was panting heavily, her face flushed, but she was practically glowing.

Especially the way she looked at Jiang Yiwei—dripping with condescension and glee.

Jiang Yiwei fought the urge to roll her eyes. Of course, she knew why Jiang Ningning was so excited.

Jiang Xiaohua looked at Jiang Ningning in confusion, even scratching her head with her small hand.

"Ningning, what’s got you so worked up?" Jiang Yiwei asked knowingly.

Jiang Ningning gushed, "Yiwei, I don’t have to go to the countryside as an educated youth anymore! I made it into the dance troupe—I’m going to be a dancer!"

She all but yelled those last words.

"Ningning, is that true?"

Granny Hu had barely stepped outside when she heard the good news. Even Jiang Ningning’s second sister-in-law, Liu Xian, was shocked and pressed her for details.

"Granny, Second Sister-in-law, of course it's true." In fact, Jiang Ningning still couldn't believe she had actually been accepted.

She was very confident in her dancing skills, but when the news came, she herself was stunned—it was undeniable.

"My Ningning is so capable, such a blessed child." Granny Hu couldn’t stop smiling; her granddaughter was doing her proud.

"That's right, that's right."

Liu Xian’s face also lit up.

Truthfully, Liu Xian didn’t particularly like her sister-in-law Jiang Ningning, but since Jiang Ningning had been accepted into the troupe, it made her look good by association.

When word got out, others would surely envy her.

Especially compared to the other branches of the family, their kids stood out the most.

At the thought, Liu Xian glanced subtly at Jiang Yiwei and felt a twinge of disappointment—Jiang Yiwei remained poker-faced, showing no reaction at all.

"Ningning, congratulations." Jiang Yiwei spoke calmly, offering her well-wishes.

Having known this would happen, it was no surprise to her.

Besides, she couldn’t stop Jiang Ningning from joining the troupe anyway.

As for comparisons—wherever there were people, there would always be competition.

Jiang Ningning had the main character aura, while she was just a side character.

Thinking about it, Jiang Yiwei couldn’t help feeling sour. Why was it that even though they were both transmigrators, she didn’t get the main character aura? This was what upset her the most.

As for the rest, Jiang Yiwei believed that with her knowledge of the plot, future trends, modern know-how, and skills, she might not become as famous as Jiang Liling or Jiang Ningning in any field, but she’d still land on her feet.

She also thought of the jewelry, gold, and antiques she had collected from various junkyards recently, and her mood improved slightly.

Who cared about fame? Money talked.

Jiang Ningning made a show of clasping Yiwei’s hand, feigning sympathy. "Yiwei, I’m sure Third Uncle and Third Aunt will find you a job. Don’t give up hope."

"As for me? I just happened to get lucky. The troupe happened to be recruiting, I auditioned, and they liked my dancing enough to take me in."

Her tone was sweet, but Jiang Ningning was actually bragging. She had hoped to see Jiang Yiwei look dejected, but instead, Jiang Yiwei wore that infuriatingly calm 'I saw this coming' look, which disappointed her.

This wasn’t how it was supposed to go. Shouldn’t Jiang Yiwei be envious of her? Why was she so indifferent?

"I know Ningning must have gotten in on luck alone."

Jiang Yiwei deliberately refused to acknowledge Jiang Ningning’s actual skill.

She saw right through Ningning’s act; she knew what game she was playing. She wouldn’t give her the satisfaction. If Jiang Ningning wanted admiration, someone else could provide it.

Not getting the reaction she wanted from Jiang Yiwei, Jiang Ningning could only reply flatly, "Luck was part of it."

Noticing Yiwei’s lack of awe, Granny Hu also felt displeased.

In her mind, Jiang Yiwei was at the bottom, while Jiang Ningning was the best.

"Why let Yiwei’s bad mood ruin it?"

This was supposed to be a happy occasion—no need to dwell on negativity.

Grabbing Jiang Ningning’s hand, she led her to her room. "Ningning, tell Granny how you managed to pass the audition."

At this, Jiang Ningning immediately followed Granny Hu into her room, eager to show off how she got into the troupe.

Jiang Yiwei shrugged and continued squatting down to teach Jiang Xiaohua how to practice her handwriting.

Jiang Xiaohua paused mid-writing to comfort Jiang Yiwei, "Don’t be sad, Auntie."

Jiang Yiwei couldn't help but laugh at her worried little expression. "Do I seem sad to you?"

Jiang Xiaohua froze for a moment, then studied Jiang Yiwei's face seriously, her expression completely adorable.

She frowned, then pouted, then relaxed—cycling through expressions before finally saying with great seriousness,

"Auntie, I can’t really tell, but before, every time Ningning talked to you, you always seemed unhappy."

In Jiang Xiaohua's memory, every time Jiang Ningning spoke with Jiang Yiwei, Jiang Yiwei would become upset and dejected afterward. Though only three years old, she knew that if Jiang Yiwei and Jiang Yuexin couldn't find jobs, they would have to leave home for faraway places, just like Auntie Liling, who could only return home once in a long while.

"Such a little know-it-all," Jiang Yiwei said, stroking Jiang Xiaohua's soft hair.

Jiang Xiaohua replied earnestly, "I’m small, but I’m not dumb."

She was small, but she understood things—she didn’t like being treated like a baby all the time.

"I know."

Jiang Yiwei's voice softened. "Listen, Auntie isn’t sad at all."

"Really?" Jiang Xiaohua widened her eyes, skeptical.

"Really. Why would I be sad about that?" she added. What was there to be sad about?

Jiang Xiaohua’s face fell. "Then, Auntie, are you really going far away? I won’t see you much anymore."

Of her three aunts, Jiang Xiaohua loved spending time with Jiang Yiwei the most because she never yelled at her and always played with her.

"No, your auntie won’t become one of those educated youth," Jiang Yiwei assured her.

"But Auntie Liling promised Kangmin too, but she still left."

Jiang Kangmin was the son of Jiang Liling’s elder brother, Jiang Weien.

Jiang Liling basically raised him herself, so he was closer to her than to his own parents, Jiang Weien and his wife.

The kids played together all the time, and Jiang Kangmin had told Jiang Xiaohua about it. She didn’t want Jiang Yiwei to leave either.

"Auntie’s not lying to you. Don’t worry—I’ll stay in the city."

Jiang Yiwei had no intention of going to the countryside as an educated youth.

"Then let’s pinky swear."

Jiang Xiaohua stuck out her little finger for a pinky swear, and Jiang Yiwei played along with the kid’s promise ritual.

Reassured, Jiang Xiaohua calmly practiced her letters.

With Jiang Ningning’s acceptance into the troupe, everyone—from Granny Hu to Jiang Erjie and Wu Xueying—had been walking taller these days. All the neighbors were singing Jiang Ningning’s praises, and she was eating it up.

The ones who were truly frustrated were Zhang Cuifen and Jiang Sanjie. As the time for the notice about being sent to the countryside drew closer, Jiang Sanjie even took leave from the train station to pull strings and call in favors, trying to secure jobs for both of them. But at this critical moment, it was next to impossible.

Jiang Yuexin even flew into a rage.

She was jealous that Jiang Ningning had managed to join the troupe as a dancer.

Especially seeing Jiang Ningning getting all the attention and praise, Jiang Yuexin grew even more resentful.

How come Jiang Ningning gets to join the troupe?

Noticing that Jiang Yiwei acted like she didn't have a care in the world every day, Jiang Yuexin became even angrier. Why was she the only one anxious and upset?

"Jiang Yiwei, aren't you even a little angry?" she snapped.

Jiang Yiwei replied lazily, "Why should I be angry?"

Why should she be angry?

But the calmer Jiang Yiwei remained, the angrier Jiang Yuexin became.