1970s: My childhood sweetheart ran away, and I turned around and married the wildest chief.

Lu Mingzhou was a little confused. "A teacher's college? Most graduates from that school go back to their hometowns, right? What do you mean she doesn't want to stay in Beijing? There's no way she could stay in Beijing."

Everyone: "..."

Miao Cuiying paused for a moment, then asked with some confusion, "They're the first graduating class of university students. Aren't they all supposed to be very talented? Can't she stay in Beijing?"

Lu Mingzhou explained, "The country is indeed short of talent right now, but it depends on the school. Our Mingyue is from Tsinghua University, a top-tier university, and Mingyu is from Renmin University, which is also a prestigious university. Graduates from these two schools will definitely be assigned to good organizations. Even if Mingyu isn't in Beijing, he'll most likely be in a top organization in our hometown or the provincial capital. If he wants to stay in Beijing, there are plenty of organizations willing to hire him."

"But she probably won't stay in Beijing because of her teacher's college. It's not easy for her hometown to produce a college student, so they definitely want her to go home. Otherwise, if a student from her hometown stays in another place, how can the local area develop? Unless it's a top-tier university, most college graduates are given priority to return to their original place of residence. Those with higher qualifications are assigned to the city, and those with even higher qualifications are assigned to the provincial capital. They are assigned to different units. Many students from less prestigious schools are assigned to county towns or townships."

Miao Cuiying: "..."

And this is still the first batch of college graduates benefiting! If it's a few more graduating classes, all the positions in various units will be filled, and the competition will only get fiercer. Many highly educated people will be assigned back to their hometowns.

Qiao Wanqing knew these things, and Lu Mingzhou could guess them too. What made Qiao Wanqing curious was whether Lu Mingyu knew nothing about them.

No way?

Qiao Wanqing looked at Lu Mingyu beside her. He sat there with his head down, his eyes lowered, revealing no emotion.

Qiao Wanqing always felt that he was a bit strange, and that he didn't seem to have much affection for Li Yuqing, and didn't seem like he would give up his promising future for her.

When young people are rebellious or emotionally charged, they are usually passionate and impulsive, willing to do anything for the other person. Their brains seem to be filled with water, and nothing they say matters.

But Lu Mingyu was completely different. Qiao Wanqing had been here several times and had seen him with Li Yuqing and Miao Cuiying. She felt that Lu Mingyu was too calm, so calm that it seemed like he was indifferent to everything.

At this moment, he might be impulsive and single-mindedly pursuing his love, or he might be rational and guilty, feeling sorry for his parents, struggling with his future but still reluctant to part with Li Yuqing. Both are understandable. In short, no matter which one, his emotions would definitely be intense.

But he didn't!

He was so calm that it was impossible to tell how much they loved each other; Qiao Wanqing, at least, didn't sense it.

Miao Cuiying finally realized, "So, after all this time, that girl couldn't possibly stay in the capital?"

These words were directed at Lu Mingyu, who remained seated and silent.

That's considered an implicit agreement.

Enraged, Miao Cuiying slapped her across the face. "Are you trying to drive me crazy? You were so righteous at first, saying you wanted to go back to your hometown to take care of your family. I thought you were giving up your promising future in Beijing because your family was in trouble. Turns out, you were just assigned back to your hometown because you weren't capable of staying in Beijing?"

Lu Mingyu lowered his eyes and spoke calmly, "Mom, I've been with her for over a year. Yuqing is a very outstanding girl, and I really can't bear to part with her. Her family is struggling financially, so it's only right that I take care of her. If she wants to go home, then let her go home. I'll stay with her."

"You..." Miao Cuiying was so angry that she was about to hit him again.

Lu Mingzhou grabbed his mother's arm. "Mom, I'll tell him, hitting him won't help."

He looked at his younger brother and said seriously, "Xiaoyu, your future is no joke; it concerns your entire life. You have this opportunity now. My second brother and I are all in Beijing. If you stay here, we can take care of each other in the future. Besides, it's not far from our hometown, and it's relatively convenient to go home by train. But if you go to Yunnan Province, you... it's basically like cutting yourself off from your family. Are you really willing to do that? Aren't you afraid you'll regret it in the future?"

Lu Mingyu looked up at Lu Mingzhou, then at Miao Cuiying beside him, and replied, "I've made my choice, and I won't regret it. I really can't let her go, and I'm willing to give up anything for her."

"You..." Miao Cuiying jumped up excitedly and reached out to hit him, but Lu Mingzhou pulled his mother back again. "Mom, don't get excited. There are still six months left. I will talk to him properly."

Miao Cuiying was furious, but looking at her youngest son's calm face, she couldn't do anything about it. At this moment, Lu Mingyu's calmness, in Miao Cuiying's eyes, was a kind of resolute decision after careful consideration. She thought that her son had made up his mind and there was no way to change it.

At that moment, she felt both angry and panicked.

The conversation stalled there. Lu Mingzhou didn't continue, only asking, "Have you all seen that girl?"

Miao Cuiying nodded. "I've met him, your second brother and sister-in-law, Wanwan. We've met them all. He's been bringing that girl over a lot lately, and... that girl has even come by herself before. Your father met her once when he was here."

Lu Mingzhou nodded and said to Lu Mingyu, "I'm on vacation these few days, and my work won't be as busy as before. I'll have more time to come back. If you have the chance, please let me meet that girl."

Lu Mingyu didn't object and nodded, "Mm!"

At this point, Lu Mingzhou stopped asking questions and began to chat with his mother about the shop's operation.

Qiao Wanqing played with the child, who was full of energy and ran all over the yard, his laughter echoing throughout the yard. Second Sister-in-law went to buy groceries and went to the kitchen to cook when she returned. Miao Cuiying finished chatting and went to the kitchen as well.

Qiao Wanqing took the child inside to rest and ate an ice pop to cool off. Lu Mingzhou came over, sat down next to her, and reached out to hold her hand. Qiao Wanqing chewed on her ice pop and turned to look at him. "What? My palms are all sweaty!"

Lu Mingzhou smiled and wiped it for her. "I don't mind!"

Qiao Wanqing: "..."

She rolled her eyes at him and withdrew her hand.

Lu Mingzhou smiled and pulled her back, wiping her face with a damp towel. "Thank you for what happened with Second Brother. Mom also told me about the shop. Thank you, honey!"

Qiao Wanqing turned her head and saw how serious he was, so she put the popsicle to his mouth and let him have a bite too.

"We're husband and wife, we're one, there's no need to be so polite with me, besides..."

She leaned closer to Lu Mingzhou and whispered, "I also have a big house! It's also on the street, but it would be a waste to use it as a breakfast stall, so I'm leaving it for now. It's huge, two stories high. It'll definitely be a hit as a shop in the future. Aren't I amazing?"

Lu Mingzhou raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised. "There's another set?"

"Yes!" Qiao Wanqing nodded.

Do you have enough money left?

Lu Mingzhou could actually guess that Qiao Wanqing must have money. It was hard to say exactly how much dowry the Xu family and the Qiao family had given her. But looking at the Xu family's current investment in building factories, he knew that the Xu family might be richer than he had imagined.

However, he didn't care about Qiao Wanqing's money. She could spend it however she wanted; he wasn't short of money.

Based on the amount of money they originally had, Qiao Wanqing should have very little money left.

Lu Mingzhou said, "I still have some left, and I've hidden some in my hometown. When my dad comes over, I'll have him bring it to you. Anyway, with your grandfather being such a wealthy person, it's not surprising that you have a lot of money."

Qiao Wanqing asked with some curiosity, "How much do you have left?"

Lu Mingzhou leaned close to her ear and said, "Over two hundred thousand yuan in cash, and some old items."

Qiao Wanqing raised an eyebrow. "Pretty rich!"

Lu Mingzhou explained with a smile, "It was all accumulated little by little back then, and many of them were capitalists. Those people are really rich. I've spent most of my time on the battlefield. If I had stayed in the Beichuan camp, I would be even richer."

Qiao Wanqing: "..."

Actually, the lion's share belongs to Bai Zhengxiong. Lu Mingzhou's mind isn't on the money. He cares about money, but as long as it's enough, he's not greedy.

What he wanted more was power, so he kept striving to climb the ranks.

"When did you bring it over?"

He went to work as soon as he arrived in Beijing, so she knows very well what's in his house. Besides, if he really brought it over and left it at home, he would definitely tell her before leaving, to avoid a repeat of the last time someone reported him and they came to search his house. If she doesn't know, then it'll be terrible!

Lu Mingzhou explained, "I didn't bring any. I hid some in Beichuan before, and some more in my hometown. After my training, I knew I would be transferred, so I took some back with me when I went back to visit my family. There's still a little bit left in Beichuan!"

"It's alright. Your parents are still there, as are my uncle and some comrades. If you want to access that money, we can find an opportunity to visit them."

Qiao Wanqing: "..."

They're really well hidden! They're in several places.

"Then hurry up and take some out. I want to buy more properties, and I also want to invest in some more in the next two years. My grandfather will definitely invest in building a factory in Beijing. When I take over this factory, I will need some capital to pave the way."

Lu Mingzhou did not object. He knew a little about Qiao Wanqing and her mother's thoughts over the years. It was a big family with so much wealth. Which child wouldn't want it?

Let's see who has the best skills!

"Okay, my mom is here. My dad will definitely come over after the autumn harvest, and I'll have him bring it to you then."

Qiao Wanqing nodded. "What do you plan to do about Mingyu's matter?"

Lu Mingzhou frowned and remained silent.

"What's wrong?"

"I think Mingyu is a bit strange. I can't quite put my finger on it, but I just feel that he's too deep-seated. I don't see the youthful energy of a young person in love in him."

Qiao Wanqing: "..."

Are scouts really that good? They can spot it at a glance?

Qiao Wanqing became interested. "Continue."

Seeing his wife's enthusiastic expression, Lu Mingzhou raised an eyebrow and asked, "You figured it out?"

Qiao Wanqing remained silent. In truth, she didn't want to get involved in the affairs between the brothers. As long as Lu Mingyu's love life didn't harm the Lu family or affect her and Lu Mingzhou, he could like whoever he wanted and go to his hometown with whomever he wanted. Her in-laws were there to worry about it; it wasn't her place as a sister-in-law to speak.

She didn't want to get involved.

Marriage is something that should be avoided at all costs, especially when other people interfere. If things go well in the future, all will be well, but if things don't go well and the other person regrets it, then it's all over, and they will most likely blame you.

As a daughter-in-law, she rarely took the initiative to interfere in her husband's family affairs. Even when she asked her second brother and sister-in-law to come to Beijing, she left herself an out, saying only that they should try the treatment and whether they should stay in Beijing or go to their hometown city in the future was up to them.

She wasn't sure about Lu Mingyu's situation and didn't want to say anything more.

Seeing her like this, Lu Mingzhou frowned, glanced at the yard, and saw that no one was paying attention to them. The child had run out, leaving only the two of them in the living room. He whispered, "I'm your man, the closest to you. What can't you tell me? That kid is just my brother. Can he compare to you?"

Qiao Wanqing: "..."

Qiao Wanqing pursed her lips. Seeing that he hadn't been home for so long and his face had become thinner, she finally told the truth.

"You're the one who told me to say this! I'm just sharing my feelings, and I'm not sure if they're right or wrong. As for what kind of person he wants to marry in the future, if your parents and brothers don't have any objections, then I won't have any objections either."

Lu Mingzhou nodded. "Okay, go ahead."

"My feeling is similar to yours. He doesn't have the passion and impulsiveness of young people in love. He has no vitality at all. On the contrary, he seems very mature. To be honest, when the college entrance examination results came out, his scores were much lower than Mingyue's. But your younger brother is definitely more thoughtful than Mingyue. Mingyue is more lively and good at studying. She should not be bad in her professional field in the future. But when it comes to navigating the workplace... or rather, the political arena, I think your younger brother might be more adept."

"His attitude toward this girlfriend has been strange to me from beginning to end. He didn't impulsively insist on going, nor did he hesitate or feel guilty towards his parents. He was just too calm, as if he had everything under control. I feel that he knows what he's doing and what he's saying now is just to appease her."

Lu Mingzhou fell silent, because he had sensed it too.

At this moment, Lu Mingyu was in his room, sitting at his desk, studying diligently.

Academically, he was not as smart as his younger sister, Lu Mingyue, and always had to put in more effort to achieve satisfactory results. Therefore, in order to get good grades, he had to put in more effort.

Lunch was very plentiful. Lu Mingzhou ate his mother's cooking at noon and stayed there until evening. After dinner, he took his wife and children home.

When Qiao Wanqing came out of the bathroom after taking a shower that night, she was surprised to find no one rushing towards her.

What happened?

This guy used to be so energetic. Even though he was exhausted when he came back yesterday, he's rested all day today. Normally, he would have pounced on me long ago, and we would even take a shower together.

What's wrong with me today?