I became the Counterpart of the Winner in a Period Novel

Chapter 414 - 353: Manager Zhuang Has an Ex

"It’s said that Manager Zhuang was very fond of someone, they had pledged eternal love, but later... the girl’s father had an accident, and her family moved overnight. Manager Zhuang searched everywhere, but after three years, he still didn’t find his beloved. Heartbroken, he accepted his family’s arrangement, and only then met his current wife, Fu Xia."

"Do you think Manager Zhuang and his wife look very harmonious and happy together?"

Jiang Mingyue looked at Gu Xiaoxiao helplessly: How is she supposed to respond? But fortunately, this person didn’t expect her to answer.

"Exactly! Everyone sees them and thinks they have a good relationship, but actually, it’s not like that. Manager Zhuang still misses his ex. You saw that young man just now, right? He’s better looking than a girl, said to have inherited seven or eight-tenths of his mother’s good looks. You can imagine how beautiful she must have been. No wonder Manager Zhuang has thought about her all these years. If it were me, I’d miss her too."

Jiang Mingyue was somewhat speechless and gave her a look that said, "I never expected you to be like this, Gu Xiaoxiao."

Gu Xiaoxiao laughed so hard she swayed: "Yueyue, didn’t you see I was talking about others while looking at you?"

Jiang Mingyue was even more lost for words, "Isn’t it polite to look at the person you’re talking to while you’re speaking?" as a sign of respect.

"That’s true! But what’s our relationship? Do we need to care about that? Let’s put it this way, Yueyue, you’re prettier than the camellias in my hometown. You’re the prettiest. What beauties don’t compare to you?"

Jiang Mingyue was utterly speechless, "You’ve changed! You’ve become quite the flirt, and luckily you’re not a guy. No, let me think... Lately, you’ve been hanging around Shen Tingsong, hasn’t she influenced you?"

Gu Xiaoxiao quickly shifted the blame: "It’s her, Tingsong is the real flirt. Let me tell you, she collects money at the window every day and takes the chance to check people out. When she sees a handsome man, she’ll give him extra food, and the soup she serves is always rich."

Jiang Mingyue immediately lost her temper, only blaming herself for not knowing people better. Only now did she realize her friend’s nature.

"Tell her to be careful, or someone might report her for ’harassment’."

"It’s not that serious, just joking! By the way, Yueyue, do you need to buy anything else?"

"I want you to ask if there are any cotton-padded clothes." She just walked through the place but didn’t see the thick cotton jacket she needed at the clothing counter. Even though winters here aren’t very cold, a cold front from the south could affect a few days. Without a cotton-padded coat, it’ll be hard for both young and old.

Even though Mrs. Jiang had regained some health over the past year, the tough life in previous years had worn her body down, and it hadn’t fully recovered. This winter might be tough, and as a daughter, especially a wealthy daughter like her, she should worry about getting a thick coat.

Regarding this issue, Gu Xiaoxiao was powerless to help, "You don’t even know, my cousin’s recent large order of cotton clothes was all bought by a mysterious customer. Someone even reported that customer for hoarding when they couldn’t buy cotton clothes, but it turned out that person is a Hong Kong businessman.

With permission from higher-ups, he bought the stock. What’s more, it was his donation to his ancestral hometown. It’s said that place suffered disasters for three consecutive years, with many starving and freezing to death. After he knew about it, he bought supplies to donate to his hometown."

Jiang Mingyue felt something was off. If there was support from higher-ups, and it was such a good deed for helping out, why did he have to purchase himself and avoid the officials?

Indeed, when Jiang Mingyue heard the businessman was intentionally avoiding inquiries from higher-ups, it made her ponder.

"Does my cousin know about this?"

"Huh?" Gu Xiaoxiao was stunned and quickly understood, her face turning pale.

"He doesn’t know. My cousin was in Yongxiang discussing button and thread matters then." She then remembered something and added, "But it’s said Manager Zhuang personally hosted and handled this matter."

Since Manager Zhuang arranged a job for Bai Yue’s son, Jiang Mingyue had to wonder if there was something fishy going on. Besides, she and Manager Zhuang weren’t very familiar with each other. They got to know each other when she saved him. Thinking that someone would share their heart entirely because one saved them is unrealistic.

But Jiang Mingyue’s trust in Manager Zhuang was because her spiritual power couldn’t attack him, and according to the space’s rules, he was a good person.

However, as later TV shows have shown, good people can also betray, and bad people can turn over a new leaf. After a long time, people can change, and the mistake she made was to stay in the state of initially knowing him, never using spiritual power to test after that.

Thinking back, it was quite a big loophole.

"Yueyue... Yueyue... What’s wrong with you?"

"Ah! Nothing, I was wondering where I could get cotton-padded clothes or even just cotton, as I have leftover fabric myself."

Gu Xiaoxiao, shoulders slumped, thought through her social circle but found no options.

"Come on, smile a bit, don’t keep that pout. You’ll scare the guests away. I have a way."

"Really?"

"Of course, I was trained by my brother."

Gu Xiaoxiao didn’t doubt her. After all, Yueyue was quite capable and had such a formidable cousin.

"Alright, there’s someone at my counter now; I have to go back."

"Go on, go on!"

"Oh, I’ve marinated some pickles for you. I won’t be going back for lunch, so you can get them from my brother."

Jiang Mingyue didn’t stand on ceremony, "Alright! I’ll take them back for Miss Shen; she loves them!"

Returning home, Jiang Mingyue set the things on the eight-immortal table and went out to find Ms. Ren.

It was lunchtime, so she wasn’t sure if Ms. Ren would be back for lunch.

"Knock, knock, knock!"

"Who’s there?"

The familiar voice made Jiang Mingyue smile. She was lucky today.

"Ms. Ren, it’s me."

Hearing it was the voice of the girl next door, Ms. Ren quickly opened the door with a smile.

"Yueyue, come in quickly. I’m making lunch; it’ll be ready soon. Stay and try my cooking."

At this moment, Yang Fan, who was tending the fire, also came running out, tugging on Jiang Mingyue’s clothes and calling her, "Hello, Sister!"

"Hello!" Jiang Mingyue pinched two pieces of buckwheat noodles into his hand. She was always generous to sweet-talking, kind-hearted kids.

But the child, while holding it, sought Ms. Ren’s approval. Seeing Ms. Ren nod at him, the child then smiled and thanked, "Thank you, Sister!"

"You’re spoiling him. What did we have to eat back then? Life was tougher than now, yet we still grew up."

"Ms. Ren, let’s not go off-topic. It’s just two pieces of buckwheat noodles, not worth much," Jiang Mingyue quickly shifted the topic, "I came to ask if Ms. Ren has new cotton-padded clothes for sale. If not, even cotton would do. I want to make a set for my mom."

"Oh! I heard your brother mentioned that you prepared a military overcoat for your mom. That thing is really warm, probably doesn’t need a cotton-padded coat, right?" Ms. Ren was trying to say that even if we have money, we should spend it wisely, not foolishly pouring it all into the maiden family.