Chapter 114

Chapter 114

Jiang Yiwei stood at the counter, reviewing the account books she hadn’t checked in quite some time.

Meanwhile, Zhou Hongmin kept chattering in her ear.

“When do you think the TV series will air?”

“Probably in a year or so!” Jiang Yiwei recalled overhearing Teacher Yu and others mention during filming that the show would likely be broadcast about a year later.

“A whole year?” Zhou Hongmin’s eyes lit up.

“I’m planning to buy a TV for my family by then and tell my mom she has to watch it.”

“I want her to see how capable her daughter is now.”

Zhou Hongmin intended to buy a TV for her family so her mother could watch *Zhou Yuanqing* when it aired.

She wanted her mother to realize how successful she was now, how capable—way better than her brothers.

Her designs would be on television!

“A TV costs several hundred yuan. Are you really willing to spend that much on your family?”

Jiang Yiwei was somewhat aware of Zhou Hongmin’s resentment toward her parents.

Now, just to show them her work for the production team, she wanted to buy a TV—was she really willing to do that? A TV cost several hundred yuan, and her parents still lived with her two older brothers.

Technically, it’d be a gift for her parents, but in reality, her whole family would use it.

Zhou Hongmin puckered her lips. The thought of the TV eventually ending up in her brothers’ hands made her reluctant.

“You’re right. I won’t buy it.”

Spending several hundred on a TV would just be letting her brothers benefit. Zhou Hongmin decided against it.

“Has your mom not called you recently?”

The fact that she was considering buying a TV meant her parents probably hadn’t called lately.

Because in the past, whenever Zhou Hongmin’s parents called, it was either about money, pushing her to marry, or trying to arrange a match for her.

The most recent time, Zhou’s mother had gone on about how wonderful the guy was—he even worked in Beijing—and urged Zhou Hongmin to meet him, saying she was sure to like him.

With no way to refuse, Zhou Hongmin agreed, curious to see just how great this man was.

The next day, she came back furious.

She immediately complained to Jiang Yiwei about the match her mother had arranged.

Zhou’s mother had described him as handsome, but in reality, he wasn’t even average-looking—more like rat-faced.

She’d said he was a supervisor at a cannery, but he was actually nothing more than a junior accountant.

Not that being an accountant was bad, but why exaggerate and call him a supervisor? Zhou Hongmin couldn’t understand it.

On top of that, Zhou’s mom praised the man for having a good personality and character.

But who knew what was going through his head? Zhou Hongmin never agreed to date him, yet he acted as if she had.

Then he had the nerve to tell Zhou Hongmin that she should hand over her monthly salary to him, and he’d give her money daily for groceries. He also said she should do all the housework and show filial respect to his parents.

Zhou Hongmin’s face grew colder with every word.

When he saw her icy look, the man criticized her for giving him attitude.

Then he had the gall to say she was too old.

Zhou Hongmin nearly laughed out loud—he was criticizing her for being old?

She was only 23, while he was 24. Who was he to judge her?

So she tore into him.

But the guy doubled down, shamelessly claiming that it didn’t matter if a man was older, but a woman her age who wasn’t married was already a spinster. He even said that if it weren’t for his mother forcing him to meet Zhou Hongmin, he wouldn’t have bothered with an old spinster like her.

He even boasted he could land some 17-year-old.

He had the audacity to tell her she should be grateful he was willing to marry her—otherwise, she’d never find a husband.

Zhou Hongmin saw red. She’d never met anyone so shameless and couldn’t hold back from cursing him outright.

Later, she called her mom to complain about the man she’d been set up with.

But instead of backing her up, Zhou’s mother turned it around on Zhou Hongmin, calling her too old and too fussy, belittling her in every way possible. That set Zhou Hongmin off.

"Can you believe her? I’m her own daughter, yet she insists on putting me down. Does she really think so little of me?"

Just thinking about it made her blood boil.

Why did her mother have to demean her so much? Like her mom thought any warm body would do.

"You’re not lacking. You’re incredible."

Zhou Hongmin wasn’t lacking at all—in fact, she was outstanding.

"It’s just the times we’re stuck in. The fact that I’m still unmarried at my age makes me seem out of place."

"To everyone else, we’re freaks."

Neither she nor Zhou Hongmin had done anything wrong—it was simply the times they lived in, which weren’t yet forgiving toward women.

These days, if you’re past twenty and single, you’re already a lost cause in everyone’s eyes.

It seemed that no matter the era, women who didn’t marry were never truly accepted.

"If we stay single, the whole neighborhood talks, and our parents bear the brunt of it."

If they remained unmarried, their parents would endure endless whispers and feel humiliated. Unable to tolerate such talk, they’d pressure their children to marry quickly, hoping to escape the judgment.

And once we’re married? Their reputations are saved.

Here's the improved translation incorporating the expert suggestions:

Zhou Hongmin pouted, "So what if I'm not married? I'm doing perfectly fine as I am."

"If I'd actually listened to my mom and gotten together with that guy, my good days would be over. I'd rather stay single."

Those busybodies—she's happy with her life now. If she'd ended up with that match her mom introduced, Zhou Hongmin felt her good days would be over.

She tilted her head to look at Jiang Yiwei, "You already have a boyfriend—do people still talk about you behind your back?"

It's expected for people to talk about someone like her who's single, but Jiang Yiwei already has a partner. Why are people still spreading rumors about her?

Jiang Yiwei gave Zhou Hongmin a tight-lipped smile.

"You bet."

As long as Jiang Yiwei and Fu Xunian weren't married yet, people loved to make comments and judge.

Sometimes Jiang Yiwei couldn't resist firing back—what business was it of theirs whether they got married or not?

"God, these people need to mind their own business," Zhou Hongmin muttered about those busybodies.

Suddenly, she leaned closer to Jiang Yiwei, "So when's the wedding?"

"I'm ready for that wedding toast."

Zhou Hongmin had thought Jiang Yiwei would marry Fu Xunian right after college, but they still hadn't gotten married. She was really curious—why hadn't they married yet?

She was still waiting to celebrate their wedding.

Then Zhou Hongmin got a sudden idea.

"Was Fu Xunian seeing someone else, and you found out, so you refused to marry him?"

"Don't be ridiculous," Jiang Yiwei rolled her eyes.

"Then maybe you realized you aren't as into Fu Xunian as you thought."

Otherwise, Jiang Yiwei must have realized she didn't love Fu Xunian enough, which was why she kept delaying.

"Quit making up crazy scenarios," Jiang Yiwei said. "Our relationship is just fine."

What was she even thinking with all these wild ideas?

Zhou Hongmin sulked, "If it's none of those reasons, then why haven't you two gotten married yet?"

"Ugh!" Jiang Yiwei sighed.

"We've both been swamped, that's why it's been delayed."

Actually, both Fu Xunian and she had just started their careers, and she'd recently been working on a project with Teacher Yu's film crew. Who has time to think about wedding plans?

"But now that you're not as busy, are wedding bells ringing soon?"

Zhou Hongmin scrutinized Jiang Yiwei's face—it didn't look like wedding bells were ringing soon.

"If you want to come to our wedding, I'll ask Xu Nian about it later. My mom's been on our case about it too."

Here’s the edited translation incorporating the expert suggestions:

Ever since Jiang Ningning and Qu Zhenxin got married, people have been low-key nudging Jiang Yiwei and Fu Xunian to get married as well.

"Don’t worry, I’m not pressuring you. I don’t even have a boyfriend myself. Whenever you decide to get married, I’ll support you."

Zhou Hongmin really wasn’t trying to pressure Jiang Yiwei about marriage—she was just asking casually.

Hell, she didn’t even have a boyfriend herself.

She had no right to push Jiang Yiwei into marriage.

"Want me to ask my parents to set you up?"

Jiang Yiwei thought Zhou Hongmin might be in a hurry to get married.

"No, I believe I can find my own guy. If you force me into blind dates, you’re not letting me choose for myself."

Zhou Hongmin wanted to find her own guy. She wasn’t bad-looking and had a good job—why couldn’t she be allowed to find her own partner?

"Alright, alright. If you want to find someone yourself, it’s your call."

"I just want you to be happy."

Whether Zhou Hongmin met someone through introductions or on her own, Jiang Yiwei’s only wish was for her to find happiness.

Suddenly, Zhou Hongmin hugged Jiang Yiwei tightly. "You actually care about my happiness, but my parents just want me to get married so they can look good."

Zhou Hongmin mused. Jiang Yiwei truly wanted her to be happy, while her parents only cared about her marrying quickly to avoid gossip and keep up appearances.

"Don’t mind them. What matters most is your own happiness."

Maybe it’s selfish, but Jiang Yiwei didn’t want Zhou Hongmin to marry just because of parental pressure.

That wouldn’t be fair to Zhou Hongmin.

She hoped Zhou Hongmin would find someone she really clicks with—someone worthy of her.

"Don’t worry! They’re far away now. The most my parents can do is bug me on calls—they can’t actually force me to do anything."

Her parents could only give her grief over the phone.

As for calling her a bad daughter, Zhou Hongmin let them talk. She sent cash and care packages home every month—aside from not marrying as they wished, she hadn’t done anything wrong. The shop door chimed as a few customers entered for tailoring. Jiang Yiwei and Zhou Hongmin hurried over to help.