Courtyard House: Drunk and tipsy, the whole courtyard exposed at the start.

But Mu Wanqing felt that this matter was not so easy to get over, and she was still lamenting to herself, saying, "When I was little, my family said I was a jinx. My biological mother passed away right after I was born..."

"So my biological father didn't like me, and before liberation, he sold me to... there..."

"Later, my adoptive mother took me in. She was originally from that area too. After liberation, she was reformed, and it was difficult for her to remarry since she had me with her..."

"Now that you're in college, and because of me, you—you've been dragged into this again..."

"I seem to always bring bad luck to the people around me..."

She couldn't continue.

Zhang Dabiao remained silent for a few seconds.

Then he reached out and flicked her forehead.

"pain--"

"It's good that you know pain." Zhang Dabiao looked at her. "I'm asking you, did you send them to beat me up today?"

"Of course not!"

"That settles it then." He shrugged. "So, did I provoke them?"

"No, not at all..."

"So it's none of your business, and none of my business?"

Mu Wanqing was stunned.

"Their jealousy is their own fault for being petty. Their violence is their own fault for being stupid. What does it have to do with you and me?" Zhang Dabiao lit a cigarette. "You call this a femme fatale? You're saying—being good-looking is a crime?"

Mu Wanqing opened her mouth, but didn't know what to say.

Zhang Dabiao exhaled a smoke ring: "Besides, why do you think I come to pick you up every day?"

"Why, why?"

"To show off," he said matter-of-factly. "My girlfriend, Zhang Dabiao's, is the prettiest in the whole school. Would I be stupid not to show off?"

Mu Wanqing was stunned for a few seconds, then burst out laughing. As she laughed, tears started to fall.

Zhang Dabiao handed her a handkerchief.

"Alright, stop crying. You'll look ugly if you keep crying."

Mu Wanqing took the handkerchief, wiped her face, and whispered, "But, what they said..."

"Who?"

"The girls in my class," Mu Wanqing bit her lip, "They said... they said I had a bad family background, that I didn't deserve to go to university, that I was... was..."

She couldn't bring herself to say it.

Zhang Dabiao squinted.

"What did they say?"

Mu Wanqing remained silent.

Zhang Dabiao stubbed out his cigarette: "Wanqing, if you don't tell me, I'll ask you myself tomorrow."

Mu Wanqing was startled: "Don't—"

"Then tell me."

Mu Wanqing remained silent for a long time before whispering, "They said... my adoptive mother used to work in the Eight Great Hutongs, that I was sold there, that I'm unclean, that I don't deserve to be their classmate..."

Zhang Dabiao's eyes turned cold.

But he didn't get angry; he simply asked, "What do you think?"

"I……"

Do you think you're worthy?

Mu Wanqing raised her head, the moonlight shining on her face, her tear stains still wet, but her eyes gradually became firm.

"I...I passed the exam. I passed it on my own merit."

"That's enough."

Zhang Dabiao patted her on the shoulder.

What they say is their business. Who you are is your business.

"We got in through our own merit, so what do you care what they say?"

"They're just jealous of you."

"As long as we live comfortably, we won't stop living just because others say a few words. Impossible!"

"They can say whatever they want, we'll live our lives, whatever, we're not breaking the law, are we?"

Looking at him, Mu Wanqing suddenly felt that the weight that had been pressing on her heart had lightened a little.

"Let's go," Zhang Dabiao said, hopping on his bicycle. "I'll take you home. I'll pick you up again tomorrow."

"Again?" Mu Wanqing was stunned. "But..."

"But what?" Zhang Dabiao turned around. "You're my girlfriend. If I don't pick you up, who will I pick up?"

"We'll deal with whatever comes our way. We haven't killed anyone or set any fires, so what are we afraid of?"

Mu Wanqing pursed her lips and sat in the back seat.

This time, she held on a little tighter.

Zhang Dabiao knew that gossip could be a powerful force in this day and age.

The backgrounds of Mu Wanqing and her adoptive mother, Aunt Mu, are realities that cannot be changed.

You can't just say that because of this past, someone should just die, right?

Of course, Zhang Dabiao shouldn't rush over and beat people just because they say a few words. This is a real problem of this era, and it can't be solved by an individual's strength.

So it all comes down to one's mindset.

Zhang Dabiao's thinking was simple: going to university was Mu Wanqing's dream, so he would let her go; he had to support her. If she couldn't endure it after graduating, she could go to Hong Kong.

I own two newspapers (magazines), and I have plenty of copyrights. I can make a movie or TV series, or produce some popular songs or something.

Becoming a star is easy.

On the mainland, it's just about getting a degree; that's Mu Wanqing's dream, and it must be realized.

That's how it was back then. If you were rich, beautiful, or lucky, there would always be people gossiping.

Because they don't have any, right?

Zhang Dabiao was used to it all. He would worry a little when the wind picked up, but now?

This is no big deal!

------------

After Mu Wanqing returned to the tenement, Aunt Mu noticed that something was wrong with her and asked her about it.

She did not hide it.

After hearing this, Aunt Mu also let out a long sigh.

Before liberation, a girl who was too beautiful, had no background, and came from a poor family was considered a plaything that could be bought and sold; she had no control over her own destiny.

Liberation has been achieved, and the people have become masters of their own destiny, but a new issue of class background has emerged.

If no one takes care of her, Mu Wanqing will be the kind of person who is discriminated against and disliked. Any slight disturbance will make her a prime example for criticism and education.

Aunt Mu has gotten used to it, but what about Mu Wanqing?

What did she do wrong?

Her mistake was being sold to that kind of place by her own father.

Does she have a choice?

She was only 7 years old at that time.

Thankfully, I only stayed in that place for six months. If I had grown up there...

Is there any way for her to survive these days?

Aunt Mu dared not think about it.

On one side was her adopted daughter, Mu Wanqing, and on the other side was their benefactor, Zhang Dabiao.

Aunt Mu didn't want Mu Wanqing's situation to affect Zhang Dabiao, but she also hoped that Mu Wanqing could complete her studies, which was her ideal.

However, there are relevant regulations in the school rules, which are uniform throughout the country.

She was worried that it might jeopardize Zhang Dabiao's future.

But after thinking about it for a moment, I realized they have over 40 yuan in savings...

He has a nominal position in the ministry, and he has three subordinate cadres as his assistants.

Are you worried about his future?

Forget it, why bother with this?

Finally, Aunt Mu made a decision and went to the courtyard late at night to find Zhang Dabiao.

"got engaged?"

Zhang Dabiao immediately realized that this was the same idea he had previously had.

Since Aunt Mu thinks the same way, what are we waiting for?

I'll get it done tomorrow afternoon!

Keep it quick and simple!

"Silly Zhu!"

After Aunt Mu left, Zhang Dabiao went to find Sha Zhu.

"Zhang Dabiao, what's up?"

"Why aren't you sleeping in the middle of the night? What are you doing making a fuss?"

Sha Zhu scratched his messy hair and opened the door.

"I'm getting engaged tomorrow, and we'll have a banquet tonight. Can you prepare three tables of food for me?"

"I'll give you three yuan per table. Write me a list of what dishes you want and I'll prepare them for tomorrow."

Zhang Dabiao stated his purpose directly: everyone knew about his relationship with Mu Wanqing, and no one had any objections.

They're not Zhang Dabiao's elders, so who he dates is none of their business.

So Sha Zhu naturally agreed.

But when the rain heard the news, it was stunned.

Finally, she buried her head under the pillow, looking sullen; it's unclear whether she was crying.

Qin Jingru sighed to the side, her brows furrowing impatiently. She seemed to recall Da Biao saying something that now seemed quite fitting.

What kind of person is just being pretentious?