Chapter 93

Chapter 93

At this table, some ate with joy while others did not.

Until the meal was over, Jiang Sanjie had not spoken a word; he sat in his chair reading the newspaper, and Jiang Yiwēi watched him.

She took the empty seat in front of Zhang Cuifen and Jiang Haolin, facing them.

"Yiwēi, tell your mother about your job assignment," Zhang Cuifen said with a radiant smile.

"Father, Mother, I plan to decline the job at the Ministry of Textiles."

Zhang Cuifen's smile immediately froze, and even Huang Manjun and Jiang Haolin looked at Jiang Yiwēi with surprise. In contrast, when Jiang Yuxin heard that Jiang Yiwēi intended to turn down the job at the Ministry of Textiles, her face lit up with undisguised delight.

"Yiwēi, do you know what you're saying?"

Zhang Cuifen, regaining her composure, quickly interjected.

Does she really know what she's saying, to actually want to reject a job at the Ministry of Textiles? Has she gone mad?

Such a good job, and she wants to turn it down. What is she thinking?

"I know exactly what I'm saying. I will decline the job at the Ministry of Textiles."

Jiang Yiwēi was clear about her words.

She also knew that declining the job at the Ministry of Textiles would not be seen as a wise decision by anyone.

Zhang Cuifen looked at her in disbelief, unable to fathom why Jiang Yiwēi would want to turn down such an opportunity.

"Jiang Yiwei, why are you turning down the job at the Ministry of Textiles?"

Jiang Sanjie put down the newspaper in his hand.

His tone was calm—neither happy nor disappointed, just as usual.

"I want to open my own shop, designing and tailoring clothes for people."

Jiang Yiwei explained her idea.

Opening a shop to design and tailor garments had always been Jiang Yiwei’s dream.

"Yiwei, before, when you made clothes for others, your dad and I didn’t mind."

"But now you’ve been offered a position at the Ministry of Textiles. It’d be way easier than making clothes for people, and if you’re lucky, you might even get company housing in the future."

Working at the Ministry of Textiles might not pay as well as making clothes for others, but in Zhang Cuifen’s mind, it was a better job—steady, low-pressure, and with the potential for housing benefits.

With Yiwei’s qualifications, finding a good husband in the future would be quite easy.

"You’re a young woman—you’ll marry eventually. Once you’re married and have children, you’ll realize what a good deal the Ministry job is."

She hasn’t married yet, so she doesn’t understand how good the Ministry job really is.

Once she’s settled down with kids, she’ll see how much better it is than sewing for other people.

So, Zhang Cuifen wanted to persuade Yiwei to accept the Ministry job.

"I know working at the Ministry of Textiles would give me a stable job with good benefits—maybe even qualify me for subsidized housing. In the future, when I get married and have children, I could take good care of my family and kids."

That's probably what most people would settle for.

But not Jiang Yiwei.

"But I don’t want that. What I want is to design and sew clothes for people—that’s what I truly want to do."

Many people have dreams, but they buckle under reality’s weight.

Yet she has the chance to seize the opportunity and pursue her dream. Jiang Yiwei doesn’t want to give up.

She doesn’t want to just become a mother and a wife. That life isn’t for her.

Zhang Cuifen knows Jiang Yiwei is very strong-willed and won’t be able to persuade her.

"Sanjie, you need to talk Yiwei out of this rash decision. Don’t let her throw away her job at the Ministry of Textiles."

Now Zhang Cuifen can only put her faith in Jiang Sanjie, hoping he’ll convince Jiang Yiwei to accept the position at the Ministry of Textiles and not give it up so easily.

Jiang Sanjie studied Jiang Yiwei's face for a long time before asking, "Yiwei, are you really sure about giving up your job at the Ministry to start your own business?"

"Yes, I’m giving up my job at the Ministry of Textiles. I want to start my own business."

Jiang Yiwei wants to leave the Ministry of Textiles and open her own shop.

"You need to understand—if you give up this job, there’s no going back. You won’t get another chance like this."

If she gives up the job at the Ministry of Textiles and regrets it later, she’ll never be able to work there again. She might even lose her eligibility for government job placements altogether.

"Dad, I’ve thought this through very clearly." Jiang Yiwei holds her ground.

"Since you’ve thought it through, then don’t regret this choice in the future."

Jiang Sanjie won’t stand in the way of Jiang Yiwei’s decision.

He just hopes she won’t regret the choice she’s making today.

Jiang Yiwei’s eyes grew wide—because Jiang Sanjie actually agreed.

He actually agreed to let her give up her job at the Ministry of Textiles and chase her real passion. She thought she’d have to plead her case for hours to convince him.

"Dad… you really agree with me giving up my job at the Ministry?" Is this for real? Jiang Yiwei almost wonders if she’s hearing things.

Jiang Sanjie breaks into a smile. "I agree with you giving up your job at the Ministry."

"Sanjie, how could you agree to this?"

Zhang Cuifen wanted Jiang Sanjie to help talk Yiwei out of quitting the Ministry of Textiles and taking the secure job instead.

But instead, he turns around and agrees with her!

It’s always like this. Last time with the matchmaking, Jiang Sanjie just let Jiang Yiwei get her way too.

"Cuifen, Yiwei is a grown woman now. She knows what she’s doing, and she can take responsibility for herself."

Jiang Sanjie does think it’s a waste for Jiang Yiwei to give up her job at the Ministry of Textiles. But she’s a grown woman now. Whatever consequences come from her decision, she’ll be better prepared to face them than anyone else.

"I think she’s completely clueless about the real world, and you, as her father, are just enabling her foolishness!"

Zhang Cuifen saw Jiang Yiwei as just a kid—otherwise how could she make such a boneheaded move?

The Ministry of Textiles was such a good job, such a great opportunity. And she’s ready to walk away from it—isn’t that foolish?

Not only did Jiang Sanjie not try to talk sense into Yiwei, he egged her on and even supported her decision to start her own business.

“Lingxin, Haolin, can’t you talk some sense into Yiwei?”

Zhang Cuifen now put all her chips on Jiang Lingxin and Jiang Haolin, banking on them to talk Yiwei out of this.

“Mom, Yiwei told me about this long ago. I—I’m her sister, but I can’t call the shots for her.”

In fact, Yiwei had already talked about giving up her assigned job with Lingxin before. At the time, Lingxin had given it her best shot, but Yiwei was dead set on opening a shop.

Jiang Lingxin understood both her father Jiang Sanjie and her mother Zhang Cuifen’s concerns, but neither of them could decide Yiwei’s life for her.

“And like Dad said, Yiwei has grown up and can make her own decisions.”

Jiang Lingxin had always had a soft spot for Yiwei, so in the end, she naturally supported whatever choice Yiwei made.

“You’ve known this whole time? And you didn’t tell me?”

So Lingxin had known all along—and kept it from her?

“No wonder you didn’t say anything at the dinner table.”

That really ticked her off.

Lingxin was a lost cause.

“Haolin, what about you?”

Now there was only Jiang Haolin left.

No way he’d go along with Lingxin and Dad’s nonsense.

“Mom, let’s just let Yiwei have her way.”

If even their father agreed, what was Haolin supposed to say?

Besides, Yiwei had already made up her mind, and he knew how hardheaded she could be. Once she decided something, she wouldn’t change her mind just because of a few words of persuasion.

So instead, Jiang Haolin tried to tell his mom to lighten up a bit.

“How can you enable this craziness too?”

They all agreed to let Yiwei throw it all away—do they even have any idea what they’re saying?

Not only did they not help persuade her, but they played along with this nonsense and backed Yiwei’s decision to leave the Ministry of Textiles and start her own business.

“Mom, Dad and the others didn’t try to stop her because they knew she’d already made up her mind. It wouldn’t have done any good anyway, so they may as well back her.”

Dad and the others didn’t try to dissuade her because they knew she wanted to leave and that nothing they said would change her mind.

“If you don’t take the job at the Ministry of Textiles, don’t you dare call me Mom again.”

Others might not care enough to persuade her, but Zhang Cuifen couldn’t stomach the idea of Yiwei throwing it all away over a rash decision.

“Mom, I know you’re worried about me, but I promise—I’ll make something of myself.”

Zhang Cuifen opposed her quitting the job at the Ministry of Textiles all because she worried about her future. However, Jiang Yiwei could assure Zhang Cuifen that things would only get better for her—and make Zhang Cuifen proud.

"Mom, you've seen Yiwei's abilities, and she's already got a bit of a reputation. She’s got a steady stream of customers coming to her. A job at the Ministry would just waste her skills."

Jiang Lingxin sidled up to Zhang Cuifen, laying out why making clothes was good for Jiang Yiwei and how much she loved doing it.

But Zhang Cuifen’s face stayed hard, clearly not agreeing with what Jiang Lingxin said.

"Elder Sis has a point," chimed in Jiang Haolin. "Yiwei earns quite a bit from making clothes for others. If she worked at the Ministry, she’d probably earn less."

"Mom, look at it this way—it’s a win-win."

Jiang Haolin jumped in to back Jiang Yiwei up.

He wasn’t wrong.

They all knew that Jiang Yiwei earned several yuan for each piece of clothing she made, and she raised her prices every year. Huang Manjun had even crunched the numbers with Jiang Haolin—Jiang Yiwei was already earning more than him, maybe even outearning their dad.

So if Jiang Yiwei opened a shop dedicated to making clothes, she might earn even more, possibly even becoming a ten-thousand-yuan earner.

"She doesn’t necessarily have to open a shop," Zhang Cuifen replied.

"She could keep the Ministry job and take orders too!"

Zhang Cuifen, of course, knew that Jiang Yiwei earned a good amount from making clothes for others.

But Zhang Cuifen still thought the Ministry job was safer.

Jiang Yiwei could easily balance both—keeping the Ministry job while taking side orders. She didn’t have to give it up.

Like back at the factory or in school—she could handle both.

But the girl was dead set on opening a shop.

Did she really have to open one?

"Mom, that’s my dream. Why else would I buy a place and fix it up as a shop?"

"Cui Fen, if Yiwei has the ability, let her do what she wants."

Jiang Sanjie saw that Zhang Cuifen was a ticking time bomb, deaf to their arguments.

If Jiang Yiwei weren’t capable, Jiang Sanjie might have joined Zhang Cuifen in persuading her not to give up the Ministry job. But he could see that Jiang Yiwei had the ability—she’d make it happen.

If she said she wanted to open a shop, she could make it work.

"I only want what’s best for Yiwei," Zhang Cuifen muttered under her breath. "But nobody backs me up."

Everything she did was for Jiang Yiwei’s sake, yet no one was on her side.

Thinking about this, Zhang Cuifen felt particularly wronged—no one understood her. Her eyes welled up.

Seeing Zhang Cuifen’s teary eyes, Jiang Yiwei quickly hugged her. "Mom, I know you mean well, but I promise you, life will only get better for me. You don’t need to fret over me."

Jiang Yiwei understood Zhang Cuifen’s motherly love—she just wanted her to live a good life. And Jiang Yiwei assured her that her future would only improve, so there was no need to worry.

"Fine, do what you want. Nobody hears me anyway."

Zhang Cuifen dabbed at her tears.

Jiang Yiwei shot a pleading glance toward Jiang Sanjie.

"Your mom’s come around. She’s just angry now, but she’ll cool off in a few days."

Zhang Cuifen had indeed agreed, though grudgingly.

She was still upset, but her temper was quick to rise and quick to pass.

After some time, she would calm down.

Jiang Yiwei threw her arms around Zhang Cuifen. "Mom, thank you."

Zhang Cuifen turned her head away, refusing to look at Jiang Yiwei, who just gave a helpless smile.

Gao Lingxin, seeing how Zhang Cuifen was feeling, called her favorite grandsons over.

"Wenhai, Wen’an, Minghua, Xiaohua, come cheer Grandma up."

Gao Wenhai and the other three obediently gathered around Zhang Cuifen, cracking jokes to make her laugh—and sure enough, she smiled.

"What’s so funny? I’m still ticked at you and your dad!"

She was still angry with Jiang Sanjie and Jiang Yiwei.

Jiang Yiwei pulled a pitiful face.

"Come with me. Grandma’s taking you for candy."

To avoid the drama, Zhang Cuifen took them off for sweets.

Except for Gao Wenhai, who stayed cool, Gao Wen’an and the other two children skipped after Zhang Cuifen for candy.

"Don’t worry. Like Dad told you, Mom’ll get over it soon," Jiang Lingxin reassured Jiang Yiwei.

As Jiang Sanjie had said, Zhang Cuifen was upset with them now, but her anger would fade soon.

"That’s right, Yiwei. Listen to your eldest sister," Jiang Sanjie added, knowing his wife’s ways after all these years.

"I know."

Jiang Yiwei could only wait a few days until Zhang Cuifen’s anger subsided, then she’d get her favorite treats to smooth things over.

While others might not be in high spirits, Jiang Yuexin was quietly thrilled.

Jiang Yiwei was such a fool, passing up the chance to work at the Ministry of Textiles—all those years of school wasted.

If only that job could have been hers instead.

But she’d heard that positions couldn’t be transferred. Otherwise, Jiang Yuexin would’ve moved heaven and earth to get it.

What a shame that such a great opportunity was wasted on that fool Jiang Yiwei.

"Third Sister, since you’re starting a shop, let me know if you need help. I’ll make sure it runs smoothly."

Jiang Weilin didn’t dare say a word earlier. It wasn’t that he refused to help Jiang Yiwei, but Jiang Weilin knew Zhang Cuifen and Jiang Sanjie would definitely disagree. Zhang Cuifen’s refusal was expected, but Jiang Sanjie agreeing caught him off guard.

Fortunately, in the end, Zhang Cuifen agreed.

To make up for staying quiet earlier, Jiang Weilin decided to step up and oversee things himself.

“Wei Lin is right. Finding a shop and fixing it up is a huge job. I’ll go with you.”

Jiang Sanjie, afraid Jiang Yiwei might have trouble, wanted to help her out.

Even Gao Zean and Jiang Haolin jumped in to help.

“No need for that. I’ve already got the shop all set. Right now, I just need to pick a lucky day to open.”

Everything about the shop was ready—just needed to pick a lucky opening day.

“You’ve already found and gotten the shop ready?”

Jiang Lingxin’s eyes widened slightly. She’d been ready to help Jiang Yiwei, only to find out everything was already done.

“Yes, I’ve taken care of everything,” Jiang Yiwei nodded. Indeed, she had handled it all.

“Why didn’t you ask me to help?”

She didn’t even ask for her help. Earlier, Jiang Lingxin had known about Jiang Yiwei’s plan to open a shop and had told her in advance to reach out if she needed help finding or setting up the place. Yet Jiang Yiwei had quietly managed everything on her own.

“No wonder I noticed you were always going out whenever you had time off recently, and even took fewer jobs. So that’s what you were up to.”

Jiang Weilin recalled how Jiang Yiwei had been very busy for a while, rarely sitting by the sewing machine working on clothes. Turns out she’d been busy getting the shop ready.

Jiang Sanjie slightly furrowed his brows. "Yiyi, something this important you should’ve told us. We’re family—you should’ve told us."

Jiang Sanjie knew Jiang Yiyi didn’t want to burden them.

But she shouldn’t forget—he was her father, and the people here were her brothers and sisters.

He especially didn’t want her to handle everything by herself. They were siblings who could help her, not weigh her down.

"Dad, I know."

Jiang Yiyi knew exactly what Jiang Sanjie and Lingxin meant.

"No matter what, you can always come to us in the future."

Jiang Sanjie added one last thing.

Jiang Yiyi nodded with a smile.

Having gotten her family's blessing,

the next day, Jiang Yiyi returned to school and went straight to the office to find her advisor.

"Teacher, I want to quit the Ministry of Textiles job."

"What did you say? You want to quit the Ministry of Textiles job?" His eyes went wide, as if unable to believe what he had just heard.

Jiang Yiyi wanted to quit the Ministry of Textiles job.

"Do you even know what you're saying?"

She knew precisely what she meant.

"Teacher, I know exactly what I’m saying—and you heard right. I’m turning down the job at the Ministry of Textiles."

Jiang Yiwei repeated firmly.

She knew everyone would find her decision unbelievable.

"Yiwei, do you even realize what the Ministry of Textiles is? It’s a government agency!"

The teacher still refused to believe that Jiang Yiwei would reject a position at the Ministry—a role under direct state authority.

A job at the Ministry was a once-in-a-lifetime chance.

"I know what I’m doing, and I mean every word."

Jiang Yiwei didn’t waver.

*"Have you lost your mind?"*

*"Are you crazy? You’re actually turning this down?"*

Fang Wenyu was there to finalize her job assignment when she overheard Jiang Yiwei refusing the Ministry post.

Like Jiang Yiwei, she had also been placed at the Ministry. She’d even schemed to outwork her once they were in the same department—determined to outshine her.

Now, she was floored.

Seeing Fang Wenyu, Jiang Yiwei raised an eyebrow. "Fang Wenyu."

Her look said it all: *What are you doing here listening in?*

"Yiwei, why are you rejecting the Ministry? Do you have any idea how many people would kill for this job?"

Was Yiwei even thinking straight?

Turning it down—was she clueless? Of the entire school, only the two of them had been assigned there, and now Yiwei just casually said no.

Jiang Yiwei blinked at Fang Wenyu’s outburst.

Still, Fang Wenyu wasn’t wrong—half the school would’ve killed for that job.

When Yiwei first learned of her placement, she was surprised. She never expected to be selected.

It was a shame to walk away.

But Jiang Yiwei had her sights set elsewhere—things she was already preparing for—so she had no choice but to let go.

"I’ve made up my mind. I’m turning down the Ministry job."

"This is insane—why throw it away?"

Jiang Yiwei knew what she was saying, yet she was walking away from the Ministry. Fang Wenyu barely recognized her.

"I’m going after something different, so I have to decline."

"Different? Nothing beats the Ministry—what’s better?"

Whatever Yiwei wanted, nothing could compare. At that moment, Fang Wenyu was convinced Yiwei had completely lost it.

"Wait, I get that you care, but I know exactly what I'm doing."

"I won't regret it either."

Jiang Yiwei had already made her decision. She wouldn’t change it, and she’d never regret it.

"Ugh! You're being ridiculous."

Fang Wenyu totally forgot why she'd come to see the homeroom teacher in the first place.

After scolding Jiang Yiwei, she got even angrier—she couldn’t even stand to look at her—and marched out of the office in a huff.

"Wenyu! Hey, Wenyu—!"

The homeroom teacher called out Fang Wenyu's name, but she was too furious to respond to anyone.

"This girl came here to talk to me, and now she’s fighting with you instead."

The teacher sighed and massaged her temples.

"Wenyu was thrilled when she heard she’d be assigned to the Ministry of Textiles with you. I could tell she was really looking forward to it. But now that you’re backing out, no wonder she’s upset."

She recalled how Fang Wenyu’s face had lit up when she learned she would be working at the Ministry of Textiles alongside Jiang Yiwei—she even said she couldn’t wait.