Switched Marriage: The Coddled Little Wife
Chapter 442: Reality Strikes Again

Chapter 442: Chapter 442: Reality Strikes Again

She absolutely could not let Zhang Wenbin take Ningning away.

Zhang Wenbin drew in a painful breath, instinctively raising his hand to strike.

But before his hand could land on Qin Juan, it was forcefully seized by a large hand, almost breaking his bones, causing him such pain that he couldn’t help but cry out in distress.

Turning his head, he met a pair of grim and piercing eyes, as well as that face covered in horizontal flesh that looked not to be trifled with.

"You..."

Before he could finish speaking, a fist the size of a sandbag met his face head-on. Zhang Wenbin hadn’t even processed how to dodge when the fist struck him.

A searing pain radiated from his nasal bone, his entire head buzzing, as a warm stream flowed from his nostrils.

Zhang Wenbin quickly released Ningging to cover his own face, only to see his hands covered in blood.

Looking up again, Ningning had already been picked up by the man, who, along with Qin Juan, left him with nothing but their backs.

"Qin..."

Zhang Wenbin tried to call out Qin Juan’s name, but as soon as he opened his mouth, his nasal bone throbbed with piercing pain.

On the other side, with Little Ningning in his arms, Jia Liang escorted Qin Juan all the way to their place before he reluctantly spoke.

"I’m sorry, Qin Juan. If it weren’t for following me to collect debts today, you wouldn’t have missed the time to pick up Ningning from school."

Today was the day for their shop to collect debts.

Previously, some units had run up a tab at the restaurant, but he had not taken it seriously.

In Jia Liang’s eyes, he only ever owed others money, and there had never been a debt he couldn’t collect.

Yet reality slapped him in the face once again.

These units saw them as sole proprietors and treated them like a game of kickball.

And the ways of the streets he used to rely on were completely futile against these units.

Only at that moment did he feel thankful for Qin Juan’s meticulousness.

Had it not been for Qin Juan foreseeing such a situation, by the end of the year, he couldn’t imagine how much money the shop would have had to advance, and how much would be uncollectible.

Now, they had agreed with those units to settle accounts quarterly. With shorter intervals, the amounts wouldn’t be too large, and even if they tried to avoid payment, they could directly confront the signatory. Although it took some effort, they could still recover the money.

Even if there were staff changes, the short interval meant relationships hadn’t cooled off yet.

Still, the process had been quite troublesome.

Being straightforward and hot-tempered, it was only because Qin Juan accompanied him today that the situation concluded satisfactorily.

They not only collected the money but also avoided harming future business with the clients.

However, this had caused a delay in picking up Ningning, nearly allowing that man to exploit the gap.

Qin Juan had calmed down on the way home, "It’s not your fault. What about you, why did you come back? Did you forget something earlier?"

Jia Liang’s face turned bright red all at once, stammering without knowing how to start.

Qin Juan gave a slight smile, "No worries, after all, the restaurant still belongs to my younger siblings. Even if you’re not the manager, if the shop is in trouble, as long as I can help, I definitely will."

Only then did Jia Liang scratch the back of his head, "The foreign trade accounts haven’t been settled yet. I’ve visited them once before, and didn’t get any definitive answers. I’m thinking of trying again tomorrow, and I want you to come with me. You know, I’m not good with words. They talk circles around me, and I don’t know how to respond."

Qin Juan nodded immediately, "Okay, I’ll go with you tomorrow. Isn’t there still work in the shop? We’ve arrived home, so if you have things to do, go ahead. Thank you so much for today."

If Jia Liang hadn’t shown up in time, Qin Juan truly didn’t know what might have happened.

She was genuinely grateful to him.

Having gotten the go-ahead, Jia Liang was very happy, "I’ll go back to the store and keep busy for a bit. You shouldn’t go out today. I see Ningning was also frightened. Keep her company. Later, I’ll have my mom go to the market to buy some extra groceries and send some over to you guys."

"There’s no need for Aunt Jia to go to all that trouble..."

Qin Juan was about to politely decline, but Jia Liang had already gone to push his own door open, "It’s no trouble at all. You guys should hurry inside."

Watching Qin Juan enter the yard, Jia Liang’s expression also darkened.

Aunt Jia came out of the house after hearing the noise at the door, saw Jia Liang, and glanced at the setting sun in the west, "Why are you home so early today? Why do you look so upset? If someone didn’t know better, they’d think someone made you wear a green hat."

Jia Liang pushed Aunt Jia into the house, "Mom, what are you saying, what green hat or not. If I’m to wear a green hat, it’d be because you gave it to me. Didn’t you buy me an army-green cotton hat this winter?"

Aunt Jia slapped him on the back, "Grown up and still not acting properly."

Jia Liang smiled, then spoke, "Later when you go to the market, buy some extra groceries and send some over to the neighbors. Also, visit them for a while if you have time."

"What’s the matter?"

The mention of the neighbors let Aunt Jia know it was about Qin Juan.

Her son might be getting on in years, but he can’t hide his little schemes from her — his mother.

Neighbor Qin Juan is good-looking and has a gentle nature. Although she has a daughter, the girl is quite lovable too.

Old Mrs. Jia wouldn’t think that Qin Juan, being a divorcee, isn’t worthy of her son.

After all, any way you put it, she’s a decent family’s daughter; their own son has been in a holding cell.

As for the divorce, that’s on the other party’s lack of discernment.

Especially after hearing from Jia Liang about how Qin Juan’s previous in-laws treated her, Aunt Jia could only feel sympathy for her.

It’s unfortunate — a good wife has not met a good man.

If her son could marry Qin Juan and bring her home, then their Old Jia Family would truly be fortunate.

Seeing her son saying this, Aunt Jia became quite agitated.

Jia Liang didn’t keep anything from her and told Aunt Jia about the incident of Zhang Wenbin going to the school to snatch the child today.

Aunt Jia’s face darkened upon hearing this, feeling a mix of pity for Qin Juan and the child, and anger at those people’s shamelessness.

"How can they have the audacity to show their faces at the school? Don’t worry son, I’ll handle this. After I’ve bought the groceries, I’ll stay over at the neighbors’. If that man dares to come again, I’ll make sure he enters standing up and leaves lying down."

Jia Liang: He didn’t even dare to make such a bold statement.

But he trusted his mother’s capabilities. Having said that, he then took out this month’s salary.

Aunt Jia saw the money and frowned, "Look at you, money comes in every month and you’re earning more and more. You should also make an effort to find someone. When you bring someone back to our yard, I won’t need to keep your money safe anymore."

"I know, Mom. I will. Be careful with your spending, I still need to rely on this money to get married."

"Hey, you little rascal..."

Before Aunt Jia could scold him, Jia Liang had already darted out the door.

When he passed by the tightly closed yard doors next door, the smile on his lips had not yet faded, and there was even a touch of tenderness in his eyes that he himself hadn’t noticed.

Having his mother visit next door more often was also good for building a stronger relationship.

.........

Leaving home, Jia Liang didn’t rush to the store but instead took a detour and walked back the way he came.

He stopped only when he saw a figure in the distance...