She won't clear her name; she'll throw away all the scum.

After a huge fight, Xiang Qiaoqian came to reconcile, and the two of them reluctantly ended the farce, their relationship strained despite their outward appearance of harmony.

Grandma Xia had her eyes closed, and Qiao Yi was comforting her. When Xiang Qiaoqian saw this, she ran out and caught up with Fang Yingdi, who had gone out to wash up.

"Comrade Xiao Fang."

Fang Yingdi, looking displeased, wet a towel and washed her face. "What, are you here to speak up for her too?"

Xiang Qiaoqian smiled very kindly. Seeing that no one was around, she approached her and whispered, "I've known you for much longer than she has. Of course I know what kind of person you are. Comrade Lao Xia is definitely talking nonsense. She's a complete mess herself, yet she dares to lecture you."

Fang Yingdi seemed to have found guidance and poured out all the anger in her heart.

Xiang Qiaoqian shared her hatred of the enemy and constantly echoed her, which made Fang Yingdi lower her guard.

After the two had finished talking, Xiang Qiaoqian noticed that the water had gotten cold, so she said, "Go ahead and wash, I won't bother you anymore, we still have things to do in the dorm."

When she said the last sentence, she spoke very softly, and pursed her lips, as if she looked down on Old Lady Xia. Fang Yingdi smiled knowingly, thinking that Xiang Qiaoqian was definitely on her side.

After Xiang Qiaoqian came out of the water room, she returned to her dormitory. By this time, Grandma Xia was no longer angry. She sat with Qiao Yi knitting a sweater. Qiao Yi was clumsy and knitted crookedly. She had to unravel it and knit it again and again.

Xiang Qiaoqian walked in and sat down opposite Grandma Xia. "Old Xia, Comrade Xiao Fang is young, please don't take it personally. I've already talked to her, and she knows it was wrong of her to yell at you. The four of us in the dorm should get along well."

Grandma Xia thought to herself, if she couldn't even maintain harmony in her own family, how could she expect harmony among a few strangers in the dormitory? Although Fang Yingdi and the other woman had only returned when they were halfway through their argument, they had already had a fight, so at most it would just be a formality, like before.

Seeing that the young girl seemed quite innocent and had treated her well before, Grandma Xia decided to give her face and nodded decisively.

Xiang Qiaoqian clapped her hands, "That's good. Xiao Fang can be a bit petty sometimes, and he can't always see things clearly. It's great that you don't mind."

Grandma Xia felt something was off about what the other person was saying, but the other person's expression was so sincere that Grandma Xia began to wonder if she was being too sensitive. In fact, that's how normal young girls talk.

Oh well, she's not that important anyway. If we can get along well, we can. If we can't, we can just swear at her. That's her forte, after all.

After a week of superficial harmony, Chen Xiangbei came looking for them.

He was holding a small oil paper package. When he saw them come out, he chuckled and opened the oil paper. Inside were two large vegetable packages from a state-run restaurant, still steaming hot.

"Mom, one for you, and one for Comrade Qiao Yi too." He grabbed the vegetable buns and stuffed them into their hands. "We can't afford meat buns anymore, Mom, vegetable buns are delicious too."

Chen Xiangbei felt that he was too good at dealing with people, which was a testament to the earnest advice his second brother had given him after their mother left that day.

Chen Xiangnan meant that he should understand who was most beneficial to him and try to please that person more. Chen Xiangbei immediately said he understood.

Chen Xiangnan meant that his father was currently in the best interest of them, but Chen Xiangbei remembered that his mother had brought him a big customer, Qiao Yi, and then she gave him jobs that paid for them. Chen Xiangbei felt that he had finally found a way to get rich.

So after he realized who was most beneficial to him, he used the remaining money to buy two large vegetable buns to please them and get them to introduce him to more jobs like this.

After the three declined for a while, they finally got down to business.

"Mom, are you sure the person you asked me to find is around here? I've been asking around for a long time but haven't been able to find her. Maybe she's not in the west of the city. I'll go to the east of the city to ask next week."

Grandma Xia was truly astonished. "You even have connections in the east of the city?"

Chen Xiangdong scratched his head and said embarrassedly, "What connections? Just a few acquaintances."

Qiao Yi asked impatiently, "What about my brother's matter?"

Chen Xiangbei looked at Grandma Xia and said, "Mom, why don't you go back first? This is their private matter, and it's not appropriate for you to hear about it."

Grandma Xia: ...This kid is quite dedicated.

“Okay, then I…” Grandma Xia turned to leave, but Qiao Yi stopped her.

Qiao Yi: "It's alright, Comrade Lao Xia is one of us, there's nothing we can't listen to."

Since the parties involved had said so, Chen Xiangbei naturally agreed, and he immediately began to speak in a low voice.

It turns out that because of his fierce appearance, Qiao Shan had helped someone at the hospital and caught the eye of a small group who coerced and bribed him to work for them, mainly in the black market. When they went to the countryside to collect goods, they would often encounter some fearless people who would try to rob or threaten them, and Qiao Shan's intimidating appearance could deter many of them.

But Qiao Shan is timid. Although he looks fierce, he is cowardly. Let alone the black market, he would feel guilty if he didn't help someone who has fallen on the street. It is absolutely impossible for someone like him to break the law.

Even if Qiao Shan never went out, never earned money, never ate or drank anything in his entire life, he would never do such a thing.

Because his refusal was so vehement, it angered certain members of the small group, who secretly plotted to make him pay.

This plan may be related to his family, but the specifics are unclear.

Qiao Yi's face turned pale instantly.

"What am I going to do?"

Since the other party had generously treated him to a meal, Chen Xiangbei kindly offered a suggestion: "What can you do on your own? It's good enough if you can protect yourself. Listen to me, just hide behind my mom. If anyone tries to harm you, have my mom slap them."

Feeling relieved to receive a slap from Old Lady Xia, Chen Xiangbei straightened his back even more, the familiar feeling putting him at ease.

"Which small group is it?" Grandma Xia asked. The feeling of having a knife to your head and not knowing when it will fall is the worst. It's best to know as soon as possible.

Chen Xiangbei shook his head, "I really don't know, I'm not very familiar with these people."

Suddenly, he slapped his forehead, pulled Grandma Xia aside, and asked in a very low voice, as if afraid that Qiao Yi would hear, "Mom, do you think my second brother will know about this?"

Grandma Xia sighed as she thought of her second son, that troublesome child. "Even if he knew, he wouldn't help us."

Chen Xiangbei rolled his eyes. "Give me some money, will you?"

Grandma Xia was about to hit him again, thinking, "Why does this brat only know how to ask for money? Didn't I just give him some?"

Chen Xiangbei: "That's nothing. I need money when I go out to run errands. Anyway, give me some more, and I'll ask Comrade Xiao Qiao to give me some too. I'll help her think of a way to find out more details."

After the three of them finished their gathering, they left. Chen Xiangbei felt at ease as he touched the money. He then went into the supply and marketing cooperative, bought some shortbread, and went home.

Second brother, I'm going to try to please you!