Reborn in the 1980s: I became a stepmother in the 1980s

Part 199 You carry me over

"Qing, Qing, why are you still here? Something's happened at your place! You need to go back and check it out!"

The caller was Xiao Zhang Qian, a close friend of Zhou Tingting. They often kept in touch over the phone, which is how Zhou Tingting had learned about Si Nian's family's recent financial success.

Sweat on her brow, Zhou Tingting asked, puzzled, "What's going on?"

Xiao Zhang Qian glanced around to make sure no one was listening, then whispered, "Remember that colleague of yours who was trying to seduce your man? The person you introduced me to just called and said they saw Li Jiaming and her having a private dinner together."

Zhang Qian was of similar age to Zhou Tingting and had also planned to marry into the city, just like Zhou Tingting. However, she wasn't as attractive and wasn't selected back then. Zhou Tingting had the luck of finding Li Jiaming, a man with a stable job in the city, which quickly elevated her status to that of a wealthy city dweller.

Zhang Qian and Zhou Tingting had been close friends since school, sharing a strong bond. Zhou Tingting, known for her loyalty, didn't want her good friend to be mistreated in the countryside, so she promised Zhang Qian that she would introduce her to a city husband. The idea was that they could both enjoy city life together later on.

As soon as there was any hint of movement or gossip, Zhang Qian would seize the opportunity to inform Zhou Tingting, acting as her most reliable informant.

Zhang Qian was of a similar age to Zhou Tingting, and her family hadn't pressured her about marriage because they were waiting for the city match Zhou Tingting had promised. In this day and age, marrying into the city was a significant achievement, a source of pride for the family.

However, marrying into the city wasn't easy; city dwellers weren't likely to choose someone from the countryside without a compelling reason. That's why Zhang Qian had been waiting for so many years.

As Zhang Qian grew older and anxiety set in, she became increasingly impatient. After numerous reminders, Zhou Tingting finally introduced her to a divorced man in his thirties, who was a factory team leader. Although his monthly salary of fifty yuan and his modest background seemed less than ideal, he had a stable city job, a house, and a bicycle.

Despite his age and appearance being less than desirable, Zhang Qian saw potential in the opportunity, especially with his position as a team leader, which might lead to a supervisory role in the future. She was determined not to let this chance slip away, so she endured the awkwardness of the initial meetings.

Now, Zhang Qian frequently contacted him by phone or letter, hoping to keep the relationship on track and worried that he might find someone better in the city.

Coincidentally, Zhang Qian mentioned that the man she was seeing had reported seeing Li Jiaming dining out with another woman. This reminded Zhang Qian of Zhou Tingting's return to her hometown.

Previously, Zhou Tingting had confided in Zhang Qian about a female colleague at Li Jiaming's workplace who persistently tried to seduce him. Zhang Qian immediately relayed this information to Zhou Tingting, feeling it was her duty to assist her friend, especially as Zhou Tingting was helping her find a city husband. Zhang Qian wasn't fully satisfied with her current match and hoped for a better introduction in the future.

When Zhou Tingting heard this, she nearly dropped the broom she was holding. Her lips trembled as she asked, "What did you say?"

In the saying that "family shame should not be aired," only Zhou Tingting knew the true nature of her husband. Although he had previously maintained a semblance of decency due to her brother's wealth and his position as a factory boss, as well as the fact that his brother worked in the family factory, Li Jiaming had been unfaithful.