Having closed a deal meant that her dream had moved a step closer. Cheng Su was so elated that it seemed as if a breeze followed her every step. She purposely went to the agricultural market to buy a slab of roasted pork to take home, as well as a bottle of fine wine, planning to drink a couple of glasses with Qi Taiguo to celebrate.
Upon arriving at her doorstep at the entrance to the Southwest Ladder building, she found many suitcases and other belongings piled up. A stylishly-dressed woman stood there, fanning herself with her hand, a look of impatience across her face.
It looked like some family had moved in!
The occupancy rate at Goodwill Place was already quite high; there were barely any vacant apartments left. In their Southwest Ladder building with four units, three were already occupied, with only one remaining vacant.
The woman also noticed Cheng Su and sized her up, her expression one of surprise. Was there actually someone here who dressed better than she did?
To make a good impression on Mu Yan and because she was negotiating a deal, Cheng Su had worn a new floral dress she bought, applied light makeup, and wore jelly sandals that were also in style.
Cheng Su was tall and fair-skinned; this get-up made it hard to tell that she was a countrywoman.
The woman came up to her with a smile and introduced herself, "Hello sister-in-law, I’m Platoon Leader Chen’s wife from the second company, third platoon. My name is Hualing, and I work as a nurse at the People’s Hospital in the city. I just moved here today. May I ask who you are?"
Cheng Su responded with a faint smile, "I am from Commander Qi’s family. My name is Cheng Su."
Hearing that she was Qi Taiguo’s wife, Hualing’s smile faded a bit as she said, "So you’re from Commander Qi’s family!"
She thought Cheng Su was someone of significance but realized she was from the countryside.
However, wasn’t it said that Commander Qi’s wife was a plain and unsophisticated country girl? Looking at her now, she seemed very modern. Where was the plainness?
It was frustrating to think that someone with a lower background, looks, and job than her, had a husband who was a rank higher than hers.
Hualing pursed her lips in her mind, not wanting to talk more to Cheng Su to avoid feeling demeaned.
Cheng Su noticed her immediate coolness and narrowed her eyes slightly, saying indifferently, "Welcome to the neighborhood. You seem to have a lot of stuff there; you must be busy." Then, she nodded slightly and went upstairs.
Hualing watched her graceful back, scoffed, and thought to herself, what an act of being cultured.
Cheng Su found it somewhat baffling. She hadn’t offended anyone, had she? This woman who had just moved in was so full of herself. What gave her such confidence?
Cheng Su found it rather speechless, but then again, everyone lives their own life. They would just be acquaintances who nodded to each other from now on. She evidently wouldn’t be offering her warm face to someone’s cold backside.
Cheng Su ascended the stairs only to find things were not as simple as she had imagined.
There was bustling activity next door. Before she could even approach, Chunhua excitedly said to her, "Sister-in-law, we have new neighbors. Platoon Leader Chen’s family has moved in."
Cheng Su forced a wry smile.
What kind of fate was this? They would be seeing each other whether they wanted to or not. If you dislike me and I am unhappy with you, it’s likely more troubles will arise.
"Now, the four of us ladies can get together for a game of mahjong," said Cheng Su, laughing at herself.
Chunhua entered the door with her, speaking in a conspiratorial whisper, "Sister-in-law, you don’t know—she’s a university graduate, holds a respectable job. She was working in a major hospital in Guang City, and she would never have agreed to transfer here if it weren’t for Platoon Leader Chen’s insistence. She wouldn’t lower herself to, like you said, play mahjong with us."
Cheng Su raised an eyebrow. A university graduate, no wonder her eyes seemed to be looking down from her forehead.