Back to 1984: Earning Money, Raising Kids, and Keeping the Household Busy

According to the original plan, Xue Lingxue was supposed to attend Chen Xinyue's engagement party. However, things didn't go as planned. In early autumn, the filming location experienced continuous rain for half a month, which seriously affected the filming schedule. As a result, the crew had to rush to finish filming, and even the wrap-up date was delayed.

As the female lead, she should consider the interests of the entire production team and not drag everyone down in this situation.

Sensing Xue Lingxue's sincerity, Chen Xinyue quickly asked, "When will your show air?"

"There's a movie coming out during the Spring Festival, and I'm the second female lead." Xue Lingxue was particularly looking forward to the movie, and her eyes lit up when she talked about it.

Jiang Miao was quite surprised. "Oh! We absolutely have to support you! I'll definitely bring my family to the cinema to see you during the Spring Festival."

Xue Lingxue smiled with great satisfaction, "It's a pity I have to participate in the movie promotion and can't stay in Anshi. See you in the capital when you get married."

The two agreed to tacitly avoid mentioning these matters again.

The women went upstairs to talk, while the men stayed downstairs to make tea.

Xiao Jinlin, acting as Chen Xinyue's fiancé, entertained Qu Zhiyang, behaving like the host.

Qu Zhiyang smiled calmly and said thoughtfully, "Since Xinyue has chosen you, I respect her choice, but please don't let her down. She has us behind her!"

Xiao Jinlin raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised. "I thought it would be a contest with me."

Qu Zhiyang smiled wryly and said, "I did have that plan, but it would put Xinyue and my brother in a difficult position. So there's no need for it!"

Xiao Jinlin couldn't help but look at Qu Zhiyang with newfound respect.

Thanks to everyone's tacit cooperation, the gathering did not result in any unpleasant incidents.

After seeing Qu Zhiyang and Xue Lingxue off, Xiao Jinlin and Chen Xinyue were strolling along the Nanxi River when An Meihua, with her daughter, blocked their way. "Yaya, you're Yaya, right? I've been waiting for you for a long time. Come with me to see your grandma; she's dying in the hospital."

Chen Xinyue struggled fiercely, "Let go!"

Xiao Jinlin stepped forward to help, saying, "If you don't take me away, we'll call the police."

An Meihua then noticed Xiao Jinlin, but still maintained a self-righteous attitude, "You're Ya Ya's boyfriend, right? Her grandmother is almost dead and she hasn't even gone to see her once. Is that acceptable?"

After breaking free from An Meihua's grasp, Chen Xinyue sneered repeatedly, "Dad's parents are long dead, so don't go around biting people here."

An Meihua flew into a rage, pointing her finger at Chen Xinyue and yelling, "You ingrate! Don't think that just because your mother remarried Chen Wenjun you're Chen Wenjun's daughter! Let me tell you, you have the blood of the Liu family flowing through your veins! Your father's name is Liu Yongming!"

Xiao Jinlin stared intently at An Meihua, and did not question Chen Xinyue because of her words, which made An Meihua particularly angry.

"Didn't you hear what I just said? She's a gold digger who only cares about the poor."

Xiao Jinlin remained expressionless. "I only believe what I see with my own eyes."

Chen Xinyue suppressed her anger, clenching her fists tightly. "Have you said enough? By what right do you speak to me like this? A murderer's mistress? Or a teacher dismissed by the education bureau for lacking professional ethics? Neither of these identities is honorable. What gives you the right to stand in front of me and act so arrogantly?"

An Meihua's eyes turned red with anger, and she roared, "You're a traitor who has recognized a thief as his father, you ingrate!"

“An Meihua! You must take responsibility for your actions! I’ve recorded it, see you at the police station!” Chen Xinyue called the police without hesitation in front of everyone.

An Meihua then realized she was scared, but she still kept calling him an ingrate.

Her daughter, Liu Jiajia, was terrified and grabbed An Meihua's hand, urging, "Mom, let's go. She's already called the police, they'll be here soon."

An Meihua refused to leave. "What are you afraid of! I didn't say anything wrong! You two are half-sisters, look at the kind of life she's living now, and look at the kind of life we're living! Is that fair?" Chen Xinyue laughed in anger. "Fair? Are you sick? If you're sick, go to the hospital, don't come out here and embarrass yourself! If my daughter had a murderer as her father, I would hide it from her for the rest of my life and never let her know. But you, you gave birth to her without any status or recognition, and you keep reminding her who her father is. It's ridiculous!"

Xiao Jinlin quickly assured her, "Xinyue, I won't do anything against the rules, I promise!"

Chen Xinyue patted him on the shoulder, "I'm sorry, I wasn't targeting you."

The police arrived quickly.

An Meihua, however, sat down on the ground and threw a tantrum, acting shamelessly.

Xiao Jinlin's forehead veins bulged and his face turned black as he watched.

This was the first time Chen Xinyue used her identity as the eldest daughter of the Chen family to get the police to take An Meihua away.

Only then did they call Lin Qin and ask them to go to the police station.

After all that commotion, it was already dark.

Chen Xinyue insisted on suing An Meihua, and the police deliberately exaggerated the situation, which frightened An Meihua. Her usual tantrums were no longer effective, so she broke down in tears and begged her teenage daughter for help, "Jiajia, hurry back and find your grandparents and uncles, and ask them to come and save me, please go quickly!"

Liu Jiajia cried helplessly. Upon exiting the detention center and seeing Chen Xinyue, she immediately knelt before her, pleading, "Please spare my mother! I apologize on her behalf! I'll kowtow to you!"

Lin Qin's expression tightened, and she stepped forward, sternly shouting, "Stand up!"

Faced with Lin Qin's imposing presence, Liu Jiajia dared not continue kneeling and could only stand up, meek and submissive, a sight that was unbearable to watch.

Lin Qin looked her over carefully and noticed that her clothes were faded and ill-fitting. She was also wearing sandals in this weather, and the sandals were coming unglued, indicating that she had worn them for a long time.

You can tell from her clothes and appearance that this child is not doing well.

She took a deep breath and asked, "Are you still studying?"

Liu Jiajia nodded.

"How was studying?"

"It's alright." Liu Jiajia's voice wasn't loud, but everyone heard her.

Lin Qin continued, "Who do you usually live with? How do you get your living expenses?"

Liu Jiajia glanced at her furtively, clutching the hem of her clothes nervously with both hands. "We live with Grandma and Auntie. Mom sells vegetables at a stall on the street."

Lin Qin frowned deeply. "So she supports the whole family by herself?"

Liu Jiajia continued to nod.

Lin Qin laughed angrily, "Is she sick? Liu Yongming never registered their marriage while he was alive. They weren't even a proper couple. Now that Liu Yongming is dead, instead of finding a good family to marry into, she's staying to serve Liu Yongming's family?"

She couldn't understand, and she couldn't empathize.

Liu Jiajia's face flushed red, and her voice became even softer. "My maternal grandparents don't acknowledge my mother. They say she's a disgrace to them. They also say I'm a burden. Only my paternal grandmother accepts us. When my mother was little, she took care of me when she went to set up a stall."

Lin Yi couldn't help but mutter, "It's like the sun has risen in the west! That old hag who favors sons over daughters actually raises a granddaughter?" (End of Chapter)