Both of them had been outside for a while, and Sun Chan couldn't help but ask Gu Junming, "Why did you arrange such a good job for her?"

Gu Junming replied, "It's not good at all; it's a clerk job in the poverty relief office, specializing in rural investigations. It seems like a good city job, but it's actually rooted in rural neighborhoods year-round, facing those opportunistic troublemakers who aren't easy to deal with — they're willing to fight over just a dollar. Sun Lijuan should enjoy the fun of work."

Before coming, he had already decided to use resolving Sun Lijuan's job situation as a condition to help Sun Chan out of her predicament, so he had already arranged her path ahead of time.

After listening to Gu Junming's words, Sun Chan couldn't help but laugh. Let's see how much she enjoys being bullied when the time comes.

Gu Junming continued, "As for the dowry, don't take it too seriously. Asking for dowry when marrying off a daughter is completely natural, and I can't help you argue against that. Besides, three years from now, who knows what will happen? Don't worry, I'm not very clever, but I'm never at a disadvantage, so you can be sure of that."

Sun Chan nodded, "I believe you."

Gu Junming said, "Don't let these people affect your mood; thinking about your future is what's most important. Also, don't feel guilty. Since we're seeing each other, I should help solve your problems; otherwise, what would you need me for?"

Sun Chan replied with a smile, "Okay."

Because Zhao Xiuxia had been causing drama, they finished these matters by evening and didn't have time to go to Xiangyang Village, so they had to stay overnight temporarily.

But Sun Chan absolutely wouldn't go to Zhao Xiuxia's house, so she decided to stay at the village head's place for a night.

However, halfway there, Liu Yunlan came up to them, smiling, "Sun Chan, my Dandan just got back! She heard you returned to the village, so why not come to our house? You too, comrade, okay? Wang Dan's dad is working in the city and isn't home, so it won't be inconvenient."

Sun Chan was delighted, since she hadn't seen Wang Dan in a long time.

Gu Junming declined; he had once been a suitor for Wang Dan, and since he and Sun Chan were only dating and not married, it wouldn't be appropriate to stay together, so they parted ways.

He went to the village head's place, while Sun Chan and Liu Yunlan went to Wang Dan's.

Throughout the journey, Liu Yunlan was much more enthusiastic toward Sun Chan than she was in the village, because Sun Chan's partner wasn't an ordinary person, and building good relations had benefits. Sun Chan was well aware of this and wasn't annoyed; it was just natural for one's daughter's sake, not to mention Wang Dan had helped her. Seeing Wang Dan being so clever, it seemed she inherited it from her mother.

Wang Dan was sitting in the yard stringing chili peppers, threading them into long strings to hang at the door to dry, ready for winter consumption. The ground was covered in red chilies, which looked quite nice. When she saw Sun Chan coming in, she quickly got up to greet her.

Sun Chan giggled as she held Wang Dan's hand, and Wang Dan looked her up and down, "Sun Chan, you've become prettier!"

"You're the one," Sun Chan laughed, as Wang Dan wore a red jacket, white trousers, and had her hair permed, with not a trace of a villager's image.

The two of them strung peppers while chatting, and though Wang Dan had gotten married, her personality was as straightforward as before. She told Sun Chan that she and her husband were now doing some knitwear wholesale business.

"We just sell sweaters, pants, plus cotton hats, gloves, socks, and such; the business is quite good."

Sun Chan nodded with a smile, "I see you have the look of a small business owner."

"Of course," Wang Dan giggled, "Everything else is illusory; having money is what's real."

Her mother-in-law used to think her daughter-in-law was a bit domineering, but now seeing her idle son being led by his wife on the right path and making money, she is quite pleased.

"Didn't your partner come?" Sun Chan asked.

"His great-uncle is sick today, so he went to keep him company, and I came home to check on things. Unexpectedly, I ran into you coming back! I know you're fighting with Zhao Xiuxia and wanted to come out to see, but my mom won't let me, saying she knows my temper, worried that as a new daughter-in-law I'd go out to quarrel, afraid my mother-in-law would be unhappy. What's the big deal anyway!"

Sun Chan was struck dumb for a moment, "His great-uncle is sick, don't you need to care?"

Wang Dan chuckled, "Why should I care? Apart from his parents, whom I must visit if they're sick, the rest I won't bother with; I haven't eaten a bite of their food, not even seen them. His relatives are his own business; my relatives, I'll take care myself. I'm married to him, not sold to him, right?"

Sun Chan was dumbfounded; in the village, taking care of elders is the woman's responsibility, ignoring them would be highly disrespectful. But Wang Dan viewed it so lightly, her perspective was indeed quite trendy.

Wang Dan held on to Sun Chan, chuckling quietly, "I've always sensed you and that Gu Junming would hit it off, though you never admitted it. Now you two are truly together, right?"

Sun Chan's face turned completely red as she shyly nudged Wang Dan's arm.

Wang Dan said, "Since you've chosen such a person, you should be mentally prepared; his family's burdens are heavy — a divorced sister, parents with poor health, you'll definitely be very busy in the future."

Sun Chan smiled, "It's okay; I can handle it. I'm not afraid of hardship. As long as we're doing well, that's all that matters."

"That's good, I know you're virtuous, and Gu Junming is a good man, so you two will surely have a good future together." Wang Dan patted Sun Chan's shoulder.

Liu Yunlan cherished her daughter, so dinner was particularly sumptuous with baked pancakes, a big pot of stewed potatoes and beef, plus scrambled eggs with leeks, black fungus with cabbage — a table full of delicious food.

During dinner, Liu Yunlan kept giving her daughter food, "Eat more, I'm telling you, it's been a month since you and your husband got married, right? Any sign yet?"

Wang Dan blushed, "Mom! It's only been a few days; you're even more anxious than my mother-in-law."

"What do you understand? Early birth is better than late, now when you have a baby, I can help you look after them. Later, with this old body of mine, how could I manage? So, have one soon!"

Wang Dan pouted, not taking it seriously.

Liu Yunlan first reprimanded her daughter for being ignorant, then worried about her going out underdressed and cold, fearing she'd catch a cold.

Sun Chan watched the mother-daughter relationship and felt quite envious.

That night, the two laid in bed together, talking about their experiences in the city. Wang Dan told Sun Chan that doing business now is typically profitable.

"Though those in the city with formal jobs look down on us vendors, we earn real money! Sun Chan, if you have some capital, you should consider it. You definitely won't regret it!"

Sun Chan nodded and shared her plans, "Actually, I've thought about it. I want to do something with food. This has a relatively low cost; I can afford it, and even if it doesn't work out, the loss won't be much."

"In X City?"

Sun Chan pursed her lips and smiled, tacitly agreeing.