Chapter Twenty-Two: Lin Xiuzhi Arrives

"A misunderstanding?" Qin Yanzhou raised an eyebrow. "I don't think she's under any misunderstanding. I'm your neighbor, and the relationship between you and your wife doesn't seem very good."

Qian Zhiyi's mouth hung open, and he eventually slumped his shoulders in frustration. "Commander Qin, do you think so too?"

Qin Yanzhou had no intention of interfering in other people's private affairs, but since Qiao Luo wanted to seek justice, he had to comply.

"Since you've taken a wife, you should live your life properly," Qin Yanzhou said with a serious tone. "Your wife is the person who will spend the rest of her life with you."

Seeing Qian Zhiyi nod silently, Qin Yanzhou waved for him to leave.

Over the next two days, Qiao Luo noticed that Zhou Mengni’s mood had clearly improved, and she knew Qin Yanzhou must have spoken to Qian Zhiyi. Feeling pleased, she rewarded Qin Yanzhou handsomely that night before drifting off into a sweet sleep.

Qin Yanzhou, however, was left lying in bed, feeling quite restless and unable to settle down. He had to force himself to clear his mind, and it took a long time before he finally fell asleep.

After two days of waiting, Liu Chengpeng finally brought over the job referral letter.

"Little sister-in-law," Liu Chengpeng said, looking a bit embarrassed. "I’ve been busy these past few days, so I left it to my subordinates to handle. I didn't expect them to misunderstand my intentions; the signature on this letter isn't mine, and it isn't even from our unit..."

In truth, he had been concerned about Qin Yanzhou's status and feared that signing the referral himself would put pressure on Qiao Luo or reflect poorly on Qin Yanzhou. He had only mentioned it in passing to his subordinates, but the situation had spiraled, resulting in a recommendation from a different unit signed only by a deputy battalion commander.

When Regiment Commander Liu first saw the referral letter, his heart sank. However, job quotas were not easy to come by, and starting over would require significant effort and social favors. He decided to show it to Qiao Luo first, promising to find another way if she wasn't satisfied.

To his surprise, after Qiao Luo took the letter and flipped through it, her face lit up with delight. "Brother Liu, so with this, I can start working at the hospital?"

Liu Chengpeng was stunned. "But what I just said..."

"Oh, that? It doesn't matter!" Qiao Luo beamed. "Brother Liu managed to find me a job, how could I possibly be picky!"

If Liu Chengpeng had felt favorably toward Qiao Luo before because she had saved his father, his appreciation for her had now reached a new level.

"Then work hard at the hospital," Liu Chengpeng said, full of encouragement. "Once you pass the assessment, you can become a full-time doctor!"

"Then I’ll take your kind words for it, Brother Liu!"

Liu Chengpeng was indeed very busy, so he left shortly after handing over the letter.

Less than a minute after he left, while Qiao Luo was still happily looking over her referral, she suddenly heard a familiar voice.

"Oh my! It really is Qiao Luo!"

Qiao Luo looked up abruptly to see Lin Xiuzhi and Chen Zhi'an walking toward her, weighed down by large bags and bundles.

She immediately folded the referral letter and tucked it into her pocket, though she could not help but frown.

These two... Lin Xiuzhi and Chen Zhi'an? How did they end up here?

On second thought, since Chen Liao had returned to their hometown, the two of them had likely come along with him.

They were surely here because that idiot Chen Liao must have told them something, making them think there was something to be gained.

Thinking of this, Qiao Luo’s dislike for Chen Liao deepened.

Seeing Qiao Luo, Lin Xiuzhi immediately adopted an arrogant tone. "Qiao Luo! Why are you just standing there when you see us? Why don't you hurry up and help us carry these things inside!"

Qiao Luo stood with her arms crossed, looking at them expressionlessly. "Lin Xiuzhi, are you sick in the head?"

Lin Xiuzhi and Chen Zhi'an had reached the courtyard gate. Hearing Qiao Luo’s response, both were stunned.

Lin Xiuzhi was so angry she nearly stomped her feet. "Qiao Luo! How dare you address me by my first name! Have you no upbringing at all?"

"Don't you know whether I have any upbringing or not?" Qiao Luo replied with a cold face. "What are you doing here?"

"We're here to see you, of course!" Lin Xiuzhi said with extreme self-righteousness. "Hurry up and let us in."

Although Chen Zhi'an hadn't spoken, she was curiously looking around, her eyes filled with envy and jealousy at the sight of the large courtyard and the neat, clean brick house.

How could this damn Qiao Luo have such good luck! How could she latch onto a high-ranking official even after moving to the military base!

She looked at Qiao Luo again and noticed her rosy complexion and vibrant appearance, dressed in delicate and fashionable clothes. Compared to her, Chen Zhi'an felt like a country bumpkin, and her heart was instantly filled with even more envy.

"No!" Qiao Luo had no intention of letting them in. "Lin Xiuzhi, you really are shameless!"

Qiao Luo had become quite a well-known figure in the military residential compound; after all, as the fiancée of the "Cold-Faced Yama" Qin Yanzhou, everyone was incredibly curious about her.

Hearing the commotion outside Qin Yanzhou’s courtyard, many people came out to watch.

Seeing the two women standing at the gate, everyone began to whisper.

"Who are they?"

"Could it be Commander Qin's fiancée from his hometown? Is he a 'Qin Shimei'?"

"What nonsense are you spouting! How could Commander Qin be that kind of person!"

"Could they be Comrade Qiao Luo's family?"

"I don't think so! Look, Comrade Qiao Luo isn't even letting them through the door..."

Lin Xiuzhi heard the surrounding gossip and immediately dropped the bags she was holding, beginning to wail. "Qiao Luo, you ungrateful wretch! I am your mother! I brought your sister all this way to see you, and you won't even let us in!"

She even began to wipe away tears. "I heard you were getting married, so I traveled thousands of miles to see you, and this is how you treat us!"

Once Lin Xiuzhi said this, the onlookers were in an uproar.

"What! That's Comrade Qiao Luo's mother?"

"Then Comrade Qiao Luo is being too unfilial! How could she block her own mother outside?"

"Should we go notify Commander Qin?"

Zhou Mengni also heard the noise and ran out. Hearing the gossip, she immediately stood up for Qiao Luo: "Luo Luo is not that kind of person!"

Some people couldn't help but curl their lips.

After all, even though Qin Yanzhou was disabled, many had previously held hopes of playing matchmaker for him, desperate to shove their hometown sisters, cousins, nieces, or daughters onto him.

He held a high position and great power, after all! What did being disabled matter? Even if one had to serve a cripple for life, it would still be a gain!

Who knew a Qiao Luo would drop from the sky, ruining all their plans.

Qiao Luo couldn't help but laugh at Lin Xiuzhi’s words.

Her smile was so radiant that those who had been gossiping gradually fell silent.