Chapter 12: Messing with Her Own Brother-in-Law Qian Qing stopped when a man and a woman called out to her. The man was ordinary-looking, but the young woman beside him had a familiar face. Tian Xue, acting delicate, wore an oversized hat atop her head and held a lace-trimmed umbrella that clearly wasn't cheap. The young man, evidently well-bred, specifically invited Qian Qing to stand under the shade of a large tree. He looked slightly surprised upon seeing her. Although Qian Qing's forehead was beaded with sweat, two strands of her hair were damp, and she wore no makeup, this very simplicity made her all the more striking—like a flower emerging freshly from clear water. Qian Qing showed only brief surprise at seeing Tian Xue before earnestly beginning her ice cream sales pitch.

"Comrade, which kind of ice cream would you like? We just received a new type today that no one in the factory district has tried yet. They say it's made purely from milk without adding even a drop of water. Would you like to taste some?"

Qian Qing seemed naturally gifted for business, knowing exactly how to tailor her words to different people. Earlier, at the elementary school gate, those young teachers were usually accompanied by students; if she had beaten around the bush trying to sell to them, they might have suspected her of dishonesty. Moreover, since four girls walked together, their desire for ice cream was likely an impulsive, herd-mentality decision. Therefore, quick action was essential: state the price directly, give a brief introduction, and close the sale promptly. However, this couple clearly didn't lack money, especially given their male-female pairing. They would undoubtedly prioritize quality over price. If she now claimed she'd sold out everything except one variety, they might suspect her products were inferior. As expected, Tian Xue immediately showed interest. Ice cream from this era wasn't unfamiliar to her; even viewing it through nostalgic childhood lenses, she'd always found it merely average.

But this product, marketed emphatically as containing "not a single drop of water"

—wasn't that precisely the exorbitantly priced influencer ice cream from future generations?

"How much per stick?"

"One yuan."

The young man hesitated; one yuan represented a threshold. Below that amount, purchasing felt like buying a simple snack; above it, spending on something consumed instantly seemed unjustifiable. Tian Xue, however, felt differently. One yuan—the prices of this era were truly reasonable and appealing. Pure, additive-free ice cream deserved exactly this price; anything cheaper would seem suspicious to her.

"Give me two sticks."

Tian Xue turned with a radiant smile: "My treat."

Qian Qing swiftly retrieved two sticks from her box. Since Tian Xue was paying, Qian Qing naturally handed them directly to her. The young man frowned almost imperceptibly. Tian Xue cheerfully passed one stick to him, then eagerly tore open the wrapper of the other and popped it into her mouth. After taking one thousand yuan from her stepsister and returning home, Tian Xue had felt somewhat apprehensive. The novel hadn't elaborated much on her role as a minor character, but the memories inherited from the original host were undeniably real. Her stepsister, viewed decades later, was the living embodiment of "that perfect child everyone else's parents compare you to"

: she attended university, dated a boyfriend during college, and returned together with him to work at their hometown oilfield. Her boyfriend's father was even a senior executive at the oilfield, while her sister became a technician. In contrast, Tian Xue, unable to pass the university entrance exam and idling at home, felt precisely like Wang Ziling compared to her sister Wang Lüping. Nevertheless, Tian Xue touched her own cheek, feeling immensely satisfied. Given a choice, she wouldn't have selected her stepsister's path either. Her stepsister excelled in every aspect except appearance, where she couldn't compare to Tian Xue herself. Bearing such a pitifully delicate "little white flower"

visage was practically a cheat code for life.

"Brother-in-law, this ice cream is truly delicious. No wonder it sells for one yuan."

Indeed, Tian Ziling (Tian Xue) intended to follow precedent and mess with her own brother-in-law. The young man's brow remained furrowed: "Don't call me 'brother-in-law'."

He worried about damaging Xinran's reputation. He couldn't understand how Chen Xinran, such an independent and strong-willed girl, could have a younger sister behaving so improperly. They walked the entire way, eating continuously.Holding an umbrella and swaying seductively, she spouted nothing but gibberish. Had he not bumped into her halfway, he would never have bothered engaging with someone so utterly foolish. Tian Xue, however, cared not at all. She had already taken one thousand yuan from her stepsister; once the latter realized what happened, she would surely rush home to make a scene. Rather than wait passively to be punished later, Tian Xue decided to strike first by dragging her prospective brother-in-law into the mess. With money entangled with emotions, let's see how her sister would handle it. Tian Xue scoffed at this stepsister she had yet to meet. Having attended university only to return to her hometown for a man—wasn't that the very definition of being love-struck?

Her stepsister belonged to the first cohort of university graduates, exceedingly precious and sought after by numerous prestigious employers. Although the Northern Oilfield offered decent prospects, it was hardly a proper government institution. Abandoning such opportunities for a man—what else could that be but blind infatuation? Tian Xue believed that once she secured her future brother-in-law, her sister would inevitably suffer heartbreak, at which point bringing up the matter of that one thousand yuan would become impossible. Beyond this, Tian Xue harbored additional personal motives. In the novel, the original host appeared in merely two passages, both serving as stepping stones for the female protagonist, Wan Zhenzhen: once by giving Wan Zhenzhen one thousand yuan, and another time when she developed feelings for Zhou Hao, a married man. Zhou Hao's wife, Qian Qing—the unluckiest character in the entire book—caused quite a commotion, ultimately allowing Wan Zhenzhen to reap the benefits and acquire an antique worth five thousand yuan.

Conversely, the novel devoted considerable attention to this "brother-in-law"

of hers. As the son of a senior oil factory executive, he faced declining fortunes after his parents retired, yet with his wife's support, he successfully launched a business and eventually became a renowned entrepreneur. Tian Xue pondered: an entrepreneur wasn't bad at all. Had she transmigrated earlier, she might have tried charming the male protagonist himself. After all, protagonists invariably possess some form of divine favor. Unfortunately, by the time she arrived, Wan Zhenzhen had already married Wang Hua. Female protagonists also enjoy their own blessings; Tian Xue had no intention of challenging that directly. She had already interfered with Wan Zhenzhen's discovery of her first fortune but preferred not to obstruct her subsequent "money-making schemes."

The original novel described in great detail how Wan Zhenzhen obtained her rewards, yet as fiction, it naturally omitted specific times and locations. Therefore, Tian Xue could only hope that Wan Zhenzhen would repeatedly trick Qian Qing just as depicted in the book, enabling her to pinpoint the exact moments to claim those rewards. Under such considerations, marrying into the oilfield compound herself, thereby keeping close watch over both Wan Zhenzhen and Qian Qing, seemed the optimal strategy. By this calculation, "Brother-in-law"

Zhao Nan represented the best choice. He could help stabilize her stepsister—that ticking time bomb—while allowing Tian Xue to conveniently snatch opportunities nearby. Most importantly, Zhao Nan was destined to become a major entrepreneur; this investment clearly promised no losses. Having finished her ice cream, Tian Xue tossed away the stick and pulled a handkerchief from her pocket to wipe her hands. From the corner of her eye, she noticed Zhao Nan had long finished his treat and now sat stiffly, seemingly unaccustomed to the sticky sensation on his fingers. Smiling gently, Tian Xue offered him her handkerchief: "Brother-in-law, please use mine."

"No need,"

Zhao Nan replied, pulling out one yuan from his pocket.

"There's no reason for you to treat me. This one is on me."