Although Song Qinglan did not name names, Ruan Jiqiu knew she was referring to her and felt a pang of indignation.
She had heard that Song Qinglan and Cheng You had a bad relationship, yet here she was, defending this country bumpkin.
Regiment Commander Jiang chuckled, "This time, we have Cheng You to thank. I'll thank you all first."
"It was just a coincidence. I'm glad I could help," Cheng You said. Knowing that the cultural troupe would be handling internal matters next, they took their leave.
Not long after they left, Ruan Jiqiu caught up to them.
"Cheng You, I heard you're raising someone else's child. I advise you to return the child to the elderly, especially since she's so pitiful," Ruan Jiqiu advised with great sincerity.
Cheng You found it amusing. These two siblings who had suddenly appeared were truly persistent.
More annoying than Cheng Tao.
"Comrade Ruan Jiqiu seems to enjoy being generous with others' possessions. Earlier, you told Qiu Tingting not to pursue the matter and repeatedly obstructed her from uncovering the truth. Will you also be persuading Comrade Qiu Tingting to forgive that Lin Chunxia later?"
Ruan Jiqiu, whose inner thoughts had been exposed, froze, her face as if it had been stripped bare.
She had indeed planned to do just that.
"That's a different matter. Don't confuse the two! The girl by your side is the family's only granddaughter. Without her, the elderly will have no descendants. She has no blood relation to you in the first place. By what right are you keeping her?"
Cheng You said coldly, "I may not have a blood relation to her, but how do you know about Yuan Yongguo?"
Ruan Jiqiu was stunned. She thought Yuan Yongguo and Li Fen wouldn't lie.
If it weren't true, why would they want Zhenzhen back?
"Of course I know! If they weren't biologically related, would they have searched so hard? Cheng You, you're separating them from their grandparents. You're truly heartless!"
Zhenzhen, unable to bear it any longer, pushed Ruan Jiqiu.
Although her strength was not great, Ruan Jiqiu was caught off guard and stumbled back a few steps. Anger surged within her.
"Who taught you to lay hands on me? Have you no manners! Cheng You, do you understand what I'm saying now? You're simply unfit to raise a child because you don't know how to teach them!"
Cheng You pulled Zhenzhen back and shielded her behind her.
Adult disputes should not involve a child.
"You siblings are truly ridiculous. One publishes false reports in the newspaper, and the other comes to lecture me, trying to stand on a moral high ground to blackmail me. Ruan Jiqiu, you keep saying Zhenzhen has nothing to do with me, but what relation do you have to her that you need to play the good Samaritan here?"
Song Qinglan interrupted Ruan Jiqiu's hesitant words and said coldly, "If you dare to come to me babbling nonsense again, I'll go find your aunt and ask her how she's raising her child! Don't think that just because you don't have parents, I'll show you more tolerance!"
Her stern reprimand made Ruan Jiqiu's face change drastically.
She only dared to argue with Cheng You, but not to act wildly in front of Song Qinglan.
"Aunt Song..."
"Don't call me that. I can't accept it, lest you come back to lecture me too!"
After a thorough scolding, Song Qinglan left with Zhenzhen and Cheng You.
Her lingering anger was evident. They had come to watch a performance, only to encounter such an unpleasant situation.
She glanced at Cheng You, "You still need to think of a way to handle Zhenzhen's situation. Allowing the public opinion to ferment will affect your and the child's normal life."
Zhenzhen cried out, "Aunt Song, are you going to send me to the Yuan family too? They're really not my biological grandparents!"
Song Qinglan lightly tapped her head and said irritably, "If I truly wanted to send you away, I wouldn't have spoken up for you just now. With so many people talking about this every day, aren't you tired of hearing it?"
The gossip circulating in the compound now was largely due to Tang Jing's instigation.
Song Qinglan mused, thinking that after this, she would need to have a good talk with Tang Jing.
Cheng You knew she meant well and nodded obediently.
"I have it under control. Thank you for worrying about Zhenzhen during this time."
Song Qinglan waved her hand, "I like this child. It's no trouble at all."
The child was pretty, with a cute baby face. Song Qinglan had liked her from the moment she first saw her.
After this evening, the next day, news of disciplinary actions within the cultural troupe spread.
The one who was actually disciplined was Lin Chunxia. However, through Qiu Tingting, Cheng You learned that Ruan Jiqiu was somewhat involved.
Lin Chunxia had mentioned it briefly at the time but quickly changed her tune.
Either she was threatened by Ruan Jiqiu or bribed by her.
Qiu Tingting's face showed indignation, "I really didn't expect that Ruan Jiqiu to be so wicked! I haven't provoked her, so why is she targeting me?"
The more Cheng You interacted with her, the more she felt Qiu Tingting was a naive sweet girl.
She seemed to have no self-awareness. Her presence was almost threatening Ruan Jiqiu's position as the star performer, so of course, Ruan Jiqiu disliked her.
Cheng You chuckled, "Perhaps you're too beautiful, and she's jealous."
Qiu Tingting cupped her face, looking enraptured.
"Are you and Zhenzhen perhaps sisters? How can both of you have such sweet mouths? I love talking to you both so much."
Cheng You couldn't help but laugh. This naive girl wasn't so naive, but she was certainly sweet.
Speaking of Zhenzhen, Qiu Tingting remembered something and asked, "Our Commander Jiang seems to have taken a liking to Zhenzhen and wants to take her as a disciple."
"What?" Cheng You was taken aback, not understanding her words.
"Commander Jiang said Zhenzhen has a good physique and figure, is beautiful, and has a pleasant voice. He probably wants to take her as a disciple."
This was something Qiu Tingting had overheard and was not yet confirmed.
But judging by Commander Jiang's pleased expression, he would likely approach Cheng You soon.
"Zhenzhen never learned to dance before. She's nine years old now; is it still too late?"
If Zhenzhen was willing, Cheng You would be happy for her to join the cultural troupe.
This was an opportunity many people dreamed of. Joining the cultural troupe would secure Zhenzhen's future.
At the very least, if Commander Jiang took her as a disciple, he would be Zhenzhen's patron.
This news made Ruan Jiqiu even more furious.
She had previously recommended her cousin to the cultural troupe, but Commander Jiang had flatly refused.
Now, he was interested in Zhenzhen, which was a direct slap in her face.
Director Ruan walked in from outside and saw her fuming. "What's wrong? Who upset you in the cultural troupe?"
Ruan Jiqiu pouted, "I wanted to recommend Xiao Yun to the cultural troupe before, but Commander Jiang refused."
Director Ruan understood and patted her shoulder, comforting her, "What's there to it? Xiao Yun doesn't like singing or dancing. She's wild and not suited for it anyway."
Ruan Jiqiu pouted, "But Commander Jiang wants Zhenzhen to join now."
Director Ruan thought for a moment before recalling who "Zhenzhen" was.
She smiled gently, "Jiqiu, Commander Jiang must have his reasons for taking an interest in someone. It's not like the cultural troupe can't inject fresh blood just because Xiao Yun didn't get in."