Chapter 214: Chapter 216 I’m Engaged Chapter 214: Chapter 216 I’m Engaged “Alright then!” she thought knitting sweaters must indeed be tiresome, so she didn’t say anything else.

Xu Qigang drove her back to the General Union, but Sheng Ning, fearing being seen, asked to get out far away and walked the rest of the way back by herself.

Xu Qigang silently watched her, a trace of dissatisfaction in his eyes.

He really didn’t like people?

*******
Back in the dormitory, Zhang Hongmei hadn’t returned yet. After setting down the yarn, Sheng Ning went to the General Union’s convenience store to buy some daily necessities.

She still ate lunch at the canteen, and on her way out, she passed by the porter’s lodge. Seeing her name written on the blackboard placed at the entrance of the porter’s lodge, Sheng Ning rushed in happily.

“Sir, do I have a letter? My name is Sheng Ning.”

With two to three thousand people in the whole General Union, except for official correspondence collected by the general office, everyone else’s private letters were held in the porter’s lodge. Whoever received a letter that day would have their name written on the blackboard outside.

The old man at the desk was a retired comrade, unable to bear leaving the General Union where he had spent his life, so he was assigned to manage the porter’s lodge.

“I know you’re Sheng Ning, who in the whole General Union doesn’t know you!” The old man was invigorated, looking at Sheng Ning with more eagerness than he would his own granddaughter.

Anyone in the union respects those who are capable. That’s why countless people from the Four Regions idolized Xu Qigang, regardless of age, job titles, or rank.

Sheng Ning figured out why and said shyly with a smile, “Sir, I’m here to collect my letter.”

“I prepared it for you early.”

The old man pulled out a white envelope from the drawer, with a five-cent stamp on it.

Sheng Ning took the letter and quickly thanked him when she saw it was from her mother.

Stepping out of the porter’s lodge, she stood under the warm sun, tearing open the letter and reading it swiftly.

Luhua’s handwriting was even neater than An’an’s. The letter started by inquiring about her recent status, then mentioned that everything at home was fine, and the sprouts business was not bad. The focus of the letter was that Xu Qi’s parents had personally visited to propose marriage.

Sheng Ning’s hands trembled slightly as she read this.

When had he asked his parents to propose? Why hadn’t he discussed it with her?

Continuing reading, Luhua mentioned that her family had not given an immediate answer and asked the Xu family to wait for the result–they were writing to ask for her opinion.

At the end of the letter, Luhua cautiously wrote, “Don’t worry about the debt we owe to the mayor; they will find a way to solve it. Xu Qi is a very handsome son-in-law for Sheng Laosan. If you like him, don’t miss out.”

Sheng Ning sighed. How foolish had she been in her last life to continuously oppose her mother? Even though she was a stepmother, she was more qualified than many biological mothers.

It all came down to the friends she kept and her own lack of judgment last life, primarily believing that Luhua harbored ill intentions.

In the end, it was her own foolishness.

After reading the letter, she felt a mixture of emotions and carefully resealed the letter into the envelope. On her way back to the dormitory, she ran into Qiu Bai.

Qiu Bai greeted her with a smile, “Didn’t go home?”

“There wasn’t enough time to travel home,” Sheng Ning greeted Qiu Bai.

“Good! Keep working hard.”

“I will, thank you, teacher.” Sheng Ning aimed to join Qiu Bai’s song and dance drama, and combined with Qiu Bai’s amiable personality, Sheng Ning looked at her as if staring at a delicious cake.

Qiu Bai felt a bit embarrassed under her gaze but still kindly reminded her, ” Sheng Ning, do you really like Shen Jianguo?”

This was her most promising student currently, a young woman with great talent in the General Union Dance Troupe. She didn’t want her student’s future to be ruined prematurely.

Nor did she hope that the student she wanted to train wholeheartedly would be more concerned about finding a powerful and influential man to marry than about dance or art.

Sheng Ning shook her head firmly.

“That’s good, he’s not suitable for you,” Qiu Bai said with a smile. “I’m not saying Shen Jian is bad. On the contrary, he’s very good. Excellent in both character and scholarship, from a good family, and he has no bad habits. But because he is so good, he won’t be able to offer you the best protection.”

Qiu Bai’s words struck at the heart of the matter, and Sheng Ning nodded seriously. “Actually, I’m already engaged, so I wouldn’t take a liking to anyone else.”

The words she now spoke to Qiu Bai were also meant indirectly for Shen Jian, and for Qin Cuifen.

Thinking back to the rumors that had circulated after returning from the General Union Dance Troupe’s training camp, Qiu Bai raised her eyebrows in surprise, “Captain Xu?” Xu Qigang’s rank was higher than hers, so she couldn’t address him informally.

Sheng Ning nodded shyly.

Qiu Bai’s expression shifted from surprise to shock, then from shock to relief.

This girl was indeed too beautiful; it was worrying to think of her marrying just about anyone. If she could marry Living Yama, that would be the best. Thinking of how harmonious they looked standing together was surprisingly pleasing.

But even Living Yama was getting married–quite a shock indeed! Leaders in the rescue world had wanted to marry off their granddaughters to him, but he had refused them all.

“Not bad, you need to focus on getting promoted.”

Sheng Ning smiled wryly; why did they tend to think getting promoted was an easy task? The quota for promotions was pitifully small, wasn’t it?

In her past life, among the female comrades in the Song and Dance Troupe, only Liu Yilan, Yang Xiaoman, Chen Huaying, and Qin Cuifen had been promoted.

This life, now that she was reborn, her goal was of course to get promoted. But she was prepared to strive hard to achieve it.

“It’s not difficult for you,” Qiu Bai winked ambiguously and walked away with her items, leaving Sheng Ning standing there puzzled. What did she mean it wasn’t difficult for her?

That would be more applicable to someone like Chen Huaying.

*******
Qiu Bai returned to Yang Wenying’s office, finding her engrossed in documents. Setting down her things, she excitedly said, “Guess what news I just found out?”

“What’s got you so cheerful?” Yang Wenying didn’t even look up, focused on the documents in front of her.

These were newly issued documents from the Inspection Department, also signed by the director, Su Hai himself. This cunning old fox, his sudden move this time puzzled her.

Personally providing a script and going to rehearse a drama?

Su Hai had never interfered in the internals of the General Union Dance Troupe, and he was Su Yun’s brother, fully aware that her ultimate goal was to surpass Su Yun. Would he genuinely help her?

Nonsense–believing that Su Hai, a sly old fox, who had outsmarted older peers as a child, had no ulterior motives would be absurd.

If he had no agenda, she would take her head
off and use it as a ball to kick.

“About Sheng Ning.”