Chapter 2: Don't Think I'm Too Blunt Zhou Hao gave a quick reply and headed off, pausing briefly to greet Wan Zhenzhen as he passed. Wan Zhenzhen masked the envy in her eyes and moved to sit beside Qian Qing. Ever since her rebirth, she had deliberately worked to build a good relationship with Qian Qing; now that they were neighbors too, their closeness seemed only natural. Even so, seeing Zhou Hao still stirred imbalance within Wan Zhenzhen's heart. Zhou Hao was handsome; standing beside Qian Qing, they made an exceptionally well-matched couple. At yesterday's group wedding ceremony, all the male comrades wore identical work uniforms, while the brides sported bright red tops paired with light blue trousers. Among the seven or eight newlywed couples who stepped forward, Zhou Hao and Qian Qing stood out so remarkably that everyone else around them seemed reduced to mere background figures. Wan Zhenzhen herself possessed only a delicate prettiness, placing her above average among the crowd.

Under normal circumstances, she wouldn't have appeared particularly disadvantaged, but the man she married, Wang Hua, was truly ordinary. He had a square face, sparse eyebrows, small eyes, and a bulbous nose. Worse still, Wang Hua was short; standing next to Wan Zhenzhen, who measured one meter sixty-five, he barely towered over her. Wan Zhenzhen couldn't help feeling aggrieved, yet upon deeper reflection, what did a man's appearance truly matter?

Later on, hadn't countless female stars eagerly flocked to the sides of those uncultured nouveau riche? Thinking thus, she gradually calmed her mind and leaned in to chat with Qian Qing.

"Look how well Zhou Hao treats you, even accompanying you here to handle your household registration."

Qian Qing smiled gently.

"Indeed. Why don't we see your Wang Hua around?"

Wan Zhenzhen choked slightly on her words. Wang Hua's mother had borne only him and ordinarily guarded him like the apple of her eye. In her mother-in-law's view, no one in the world could possibly compare to her son's talent and excellence. Such a son deserved nothing less than a celestial fairy as his match. But where could one find a real celestial fairy? Therefore, any woman marrying her son was inevitably marrying above her station. Ever since Wan Zhenzhen became involved with Wang Hua, Old Lady Wang had been displeased, finding endless faults with her. However, because Wan Zhenzhen had already become intimate with Wang Hua before their wedding in order to secure him, Old Lady Wang had no choice but to reluctantly accept the situation. Still harboring resentment, she claimed just days before the wedding that she would stay at her older sister's home. This relative also worked in the oilfield, albeit at Oil Extraction Plant No. 3, merely a fifteen-minute journey away.

After moving there, Old Lady Wang began causing trouble, complaining about this discomfort and that ailment, insisting her son come visit her. Even during yesterday's wedding banquet, she sent someone to fetch Wang Hua midway, demanding he escort her home first because the celebration was too noisy for an elderly woman like herself to endure. Wang Hua had no option but to take his mother to Oil Extraction Plant No. 3 first, then rush back hurriedly for the wedding photographs. Today, early in the morning, she again sent someone to summon him, dragging Wang Hua out of bed; he still hadn't been allowed to return. Wan Zhenzhen herself seethed with frustration. Just how exceptional were Wang Hua's conditions really? He was merely an ordinary maintenance worker, and the family had only allocated this small apartment of forty to fifty square meters. Such circumstances were commonplace throughout the oilfield; why did they act as though he were some highly sought-after prize?

Yet she couldn't voice these thoughts. In order to marry near Qian Qing, she had taken the more active role in her relationship with Wang Hua. To outsiders, this appeared as though she had thrown herself at him. Even Wang Hua himself couldn't help feeling somewhat dismissive toward her. At such a critical moment, if she clashed with her mother-in-law, Wang Hua would certainly not take her side. Wan Zhenzhen calculated silently: Her mother-in-law looked down on her simply because her natal family was poor, her dowry modest, and her requested bride price substantial. Then today, she would earn a large sum to take home! As long as misfortune struck Qian Qing today, she would receive money. Once she held cash in hand, flashing even a few dozen or a hundred yuan would surely stop that old woman from putting on airs.

"My Wang Hua is very filial; he's keeping my mother-in-law company and persuading her to move back home soon."

Qian Qing, seemingly oblivious to social cues, transformed into the epitome of tactlessness: "Still, he shouldn't leave you alone at home, especially on your very first day as a married woman."

"Zhenzhen, don't think I'm being too blunt, but your mother-in-law truly doesn't respect you. A new bride enters the household, and she doesn't even show her face. Didn't she leave early during yesterday's banquet? How humiliating for you!"

"Don't think I'm being too blunt."

This phrase was Wan Zhenzhen's catchphrase in her previous life.

"Qian Qing, don't think I'm being too blunt. You've just gotten married; the factory promised three days of leave, yet look, all work assignments are given directly to Zhou Hao. My husband, Wang Hua, hasn't received any notice. Zhou Hao seems like a quiet man; he might be getting bullied at the factory. You should report this to the Women's Director."

"Qian Qing, don't think I'm being too blunt. The brigade leader is clearly targeting your husband, Zhou Hao. Everyone recognizes Zhou Hao's capabilities; even the factory manager has praised him. Why hasn't he been promoted to deputy team leader? It must be because his wife said something unfavorable. I heard from Xiaohong in the compound that Director Li is extremely petty. Last time, her husband was relentlessly criticized by Director Li over a minor mistake. You need to be careful. But try not to worry too much; they're the leaders, what can we do?"

"Qian Qing, don't think I'm being too blunt. That woman named Tian Xue, supposedly an oil well inspector, why do problems always occur during her shifts? She keeps asking Zhou Hao for repairs every other day. My husband told me that whenever it's his turn on duty, Tian Xue never reports any issues. Tsk tsk, you really need to keep a close eye on Zhou Hao. With his appearance, he's quite popular among those young girls who recently joined the factory."

… This barrage of words nearly left Wan Zhenzhen breathless. Yet, the speaker appeared so earnest and concerned that Zhenzhen found it difficult, even daring, to lose her temper. If she did, how could she continue staying close to Qian Qing to manipulate her later?

"Sigh, it's just my bad fate. Not everyone can have a husband like your Zhou Hao. Qian Qing, I truly envy you. You and your husband live alone without interference from a mother-in-law; how free and easy your life must be. Unfortunately, my mother-in-law only has Wang Hua…"

Qian Qing looked at Wan Zhenzhen with newfound respect; this woman was ruthless. Having lost face, she no longer cared about dignity, saying anything for money. Wan Zhenzhen didn't care about such things; her immediate priority was to coax Qian Qing into a good mood. Judging from Qian Qing's earlier tone, wasn't she simply showing off?

Suddenly enlightened, Wan Zhenzhen felt she had discovered the right way to interact with Qian Qing. Since Qian Qing enjoyed hearing compliments, she would flatter her. Gritting her teeth and enduring internally while secretly sneering, Zhenzhen thought, "Let her show off; I'm gaining money anyway, so I'm not losing out. I just wonder if Qian Qing can maintain this haughty attitude forever." Qian Qing observed Wan Zhenzhen, her mind rapidly turning.

Then she spoke again, filled with righteous indignation: "Zhenzhen, tell me honestly, did your mother-in-law give you a hard time?"

Wan Zhenzhen silently cursed Qian Qing as a fool but felt relieved. The experience from her previous life proved useful; appropriately sharing family difficulties indeed helped lower others' defenses.

"You know what kind of person my mother-in-law is. Sigh, she called Wang Hua away early this morning. It's already afternoon, and I still haven't seen him. Qian Qing, tell me, which new bride lives a life like mine? Just entered the household to find cold pots and cold stoves, not even a soul in the house…"

Qian Qing listened solemnly as Wan Zhenzhen spoke. Initially, Zhenzhen genuinely intended to win Qian Qing over, but gradually, real anger crept into her words, making them harsher.

"She always claims raising Wang Hua alone as a widow was incredibly difficult, but I don't see it as particularly hard. Wang Hua's father died in an accident at the oilfield, and she keeps all the monthly compensation money for herself. She's grown fat and well-fed; which widow lives as comfortably as she does? In my opinion, she's nothing but a selfish creature who cares only about herself, yet she claims Wang Hua is the apple of her eye…"

Wan Zhenzhen was still speaking passionately when the door to the Household Registration Office was pushed open. Someone wearing a white shirt tucked into work pants entered and immediately asked, "Is Zhou Hao here?"

"He's running here in a sweat. The factory notice came down urgently. He heard at the apartment block that Zhou Hao had brought his new wife to register their household, so he rushed over."

Before Qian Qing could answer, Wan Zhenzhen waved her arm excitedly: "Over here!"

How could they let this messenger slip away? If they did, Zhou Hao would surely agree the moment he heard the news, and then how could Qian Qing possibly interfere? The young clerk spotted Qian Qing immediately. Yesterday's mass wedding had left such a deep impression with Qian Qing and Zhou Hao that now almost everyone in the Second Factory knew them.

"Sister-in-law, there you are! Where's my Brother Hao?"

Wan Zhenzhen could barely contain herself and cut in at once: "Comrade Zhou has stepped out. Young comrade, what business do you have with him?"

The clerk figured it was fine to tell Qian Qing; after all, as husband and wife, she could pass the message faster than he could.

"Just now, the director received a call saying several pump units at oil wells in H Province seem to be malfunctioning. Their oilfield is still in the initial construction phase, and their maintenance team can't handle it. They've requested our support to send someone over to investigate. The factory has vehicles heading that way; you need to catch the bus departing at six o'clock. They're pressing urgently, fearing production delays." Qian Qing carefully noted everything down and asked a few more questions:

"Roughly how many days will this take? I need to prepare clothes for Zhou Hao."

"It's hard to say for sure about the duration, but if it's urgent and they can't resolve it within half a month, they'll definitely replace us and call for our brigade commander instead."

The clerk seemed to have other matters, glancing frequently at his watch.

"Then, Sister-in-law, please remember to tell Brother Hao. The bus will be waiting at the South Gate. I must be off now!"

As soon as the clerk left, Wan Zhenzhen eagerly hurried closer.

"Qian Qing, are you really going to let Zhou Hao go?"

Qian Qing feigned complete ignorance: "That's the factory's decision. Do I have a choice to refuse?" Wan Zhenzhen pleaded earnestly:

"But surely they can't call someone away on the second day after their wedding? The factory promised three days of leave; doesn't that count anymore?"

Work at the oil extraction plant differed from elsewhere. Since the first batch of workers came from all across the country, those who settled here carried a distinct pride and sense of honor. They had come to extract oil for the nation, bearing the responsibility of energy supply for the entire country. Diligent and uncomplaining, they had manually carried dozens of tons of equipment when no machinery was available, passed water bucket by bucket during drilling when there was no water supply, and even jumped into blowing wells to mix cement during blowouts. This pride of oil workers made them utterly fearless of convoluted schemes or indirect maneuvers. Leaders here were typically men of their word; once something was said, it had to be honored. Otherwise, those older, somewhat stubborn veteran workers wouldn't hesitate to march straight to the leaders' offices and slam their desks. This was precisely why Wan Zhenzhen felt confident urging Qian Qing to cause a scene with the leadership.

"Qian Qing, don't think I…"

Wan Zhenzhen suddenly recalled what had just happened, spoke somewhat unnaturally, and swallowed the remaining words.

"You may not know the details about that oilfield in the neighboring province, but Wang Hua told me. Construction there has just begun, and all the recruited workers are inexperienced newcomers. Just last month, I heard there was a well blowout accident there. Sending Zhou Hao at such a critical time, aren't you worried something might happen? If anything happens to Zhou Hao, what will become of your reputation? You've only been married for two days."

The hidden meaning in Wan Zhenzhen's words was clear: if Zhou Hao met with an accident and died, people at the oilfield would surely label Qian Qing a jinx who brought death upon her husband immediately after entering the household. Seeing Qian Qing remain silent, Wan Zhenzhen pressed on.

"Because we're close, I'm offering this advice just once. Wang Hua has a cousin working there who says the situation is very grim. Eight out of ten wells have problems. Last month's accident alone claimed three maintenance workers…"

It was true that Wang Hua had a cousin transferred to the neighboring province's oilfield, but ever since Wang Hua's father died, he had grown distant from those relatives. All these chaotic details were entirely fabricated by Wan Zhenzhen.Wan Zhenzhen noticed Qian Qing's silence and wondered if she hadn't made her point severe enough. Should she fan the flames further? Little did she know, Qian Qing was already seething with rage.

"You damn well bound yourself to me to make money, and I haven't even come after you yet, but here you are, gleefully cursing my husband? 'Gone' this, 'gone' that—if I don't make sure you end up with nothing today, I'd be doing a disservice to that foul mouth of yours!"

Qian Qing made up her mind, yet showed not a trace of it on her face.

"Going to the leadership? Wouldn't that be inappropriate?"

Seeing that she had swayed Qian Qing, Wan Zhenzhen felt as though she were floating on air.

"True enough. Since we've just arrived, rushing straight to the leaders would certainly be improper. How about we go see the Women's Director instead? We're all women; she'll surely understand your hardships. Besides, she's also a minor leader herself. Having her speak on your behalf would definitely be better than us blindly approaching someone."

Wan Zhenzhen had calculated everything clearly in her mind. What she wanted was for Qian Qing to suffer misfortune; Zhou Hao's downfall was merely a bonus. If they went directly to the maintenance team's leadership, at most they would develop a negative opinion of Zhou Hao. The Women's Director, however, was different. She managed all the workers' wives in the factory. If she formed a bad impression of Qian Qing, there would be plenty of opportunities ahead for Qian Qing to suffer silent losses. Moreover, Wan Zhenzhen had already done her homework: this Women's Director, Li Hongmei, was none other than the wife of Zheng Xian, the head of the maintenance team! Qian Qing narrowed her eyes and took one look at Wan Zhenzhen, who was nearly delirious with joy.

"Alright then, let's go."