“Miss, are you okay?” The man didn’t look at Wang Jie first but asked Zeng Shuyi instead.
Zeng Shuyi still held the wooden stick in her hand.
“Thank you, comrade. I’m fine.”
“That’s good.”
The man’s words had just fallen when Wang Jie recognized him.
“Chen Pan? Are you blind or what?” Wang Jie kicked Chen Pan, wincing in pain as his waist cramped.
“It’s me!”
They were coworkers in the workshop, with Wang Jie being the senior.
Now that he recognized Chen Pan, his anger grew even more. “Come over and help me up!”
Only then did Chen Pan realize the person on the ground was Wang Jie.
At first, he thought it was someone else and hadn’t looked carefully before rushing over.
Now seeing the person on the ground, Chen Ji and the foreman frowned deeply.
Wang Jie was the slick one in the workshop—submissive before the leaders but showing a different attitude to younger colleagues.
Now that he had kicked Wang Jie, Wang Jie would surely bear a grudge.
Zeng Shuyi hadn’t expected the two to know each other.
But then she thought, if they didn’t know each other, Wang Jie wouldn’t have gotten Chen Pan’s photo.
“Damn…” Zeng Shuyi didn’t understand Chen Pan’s attitude and hesitated on what to say next, when suddenly the Hong Xiu Zhang from the office arrived.
Seeing the red armband, Wang Jie excitedly pointed at Zeng Shuyi.
“Comrades, it’s her, the speculator! She’s brazenly tearing down capitalism. You guys arrest her quickly!”
The Hong Xiu Zhang immediately surrounded Zeng Shuyi.
Zeng Shuyi remained calm; after all, she now had a Individual Business License.
“You’re quite bold,” the Captain among the Hong Xiu Zhang said, ordering someone to take Zeng Shuyi back for questioning.
“Wait, wait, look at this,” Zeng Shuyi took out her Individual Business License. “You specialize in catching speculators, so you should recognize this license. It has my photo and an official seal. Comrades, I’m legally operating, not an illegal speculator.”
The Captain examined Zeng Shuyi’s documents repeatedly, his brow furrowing, then turned to Wang Jie.
“Do you think we have nothing better to do?”
They had hoped to catch someone to boost their performance, but it turned out Zeng Shuyi had a legitimate license.
Plus, a crowd had gathered.
They couldn’t just drag her away for their own benefit.
After wasting a trip, they could only vent their anger on Wang Jie.
“Once is enough. If you report false things again, there’ll be consequences!”
Wang Jie was stunned. “Impossible! How could she have a license?”
“How is it impossible?” Zeng Shuyi parked her bicycle and opened the license for Wang Jie to see.
“Open your dog eyes and look carefully. I’m legally operating, but you’re always causing trouble and even harassing me on the street. Folks, what do you think we should do with this kind of scoundrel?”
“Beat him up!”
“He’s playing dirty? Ha! Looks like a bad egg just by the look of him.”
“The poor young lady runs a business, it’s not easy. If you keep pestering her, could it be because she rejected you?”
Everyone pointed at Wang Jie, some sympathizing with Zeng Shuyi’s good intentions in business.
But Zeng Shuyi pretended not to hear such remarks and called the police.
As soon as Wang Jie heard she was calling the police, he immediately changed his attitude.
“I say, Shuyi sister, we’re family after all. No need to make things so difficult. You don’t want your sister-in-law to have a hard time, right?”
“Ha! I’d love to see my sister-in-law get upset,” Zeng Shuyi said with a laugh.
“Wang Jie, I don’t offend others unless provoked. Next time you’re bored and have nothing to do, go lick the Communist Party’s boots somewhere else. Don’t come polluting the air on the street. Just seeing you makes me sick!”
She had the Hong Xiu Zhang stay to keep an eye on Wang Jie, then went to thank Chen Ji.
“Thanks a lot for today. I’m Zeng Shuyi. I just graduated from Luogao High School this year.”
“I… I’m Chen Ji,” he said shyly, only two years older than Zeng Shuyi, too young to meet her gaze directly.
Although Zeng Shuyi didn’t need help, Chen Pan saw how Wang Jie kicked her and thought Zeng Shuyi’s impression of him couldn’t be bad.
“Alright, I’ll remember your name. If you ever need help, you can come find me.”
No sooner had he finished speaking than the police arrived.
Zeng Shuyi immediately told them about Wang Jie stopping her halfway.
“I told him I was legally operating, but he still blocked my bicycle. Officer, I was really scared. If not for that comrade rushing out to help me, I don’t know what would’ve happened.”
“Stop slandering me!” Wang Jie hurried to defend himself.
“Officer, I saw her selling popsicles in front of the cinema before, back then she didn’t have a license. I didn’t know she has one now. It’s all a misunderstanding.”
“A misunderstanding?” Zeng Shuyi denied ever selling popsicles.
She’d never been caught selling them.
She said that last time when she saw Wang Jie with someone for a match, he turned back to pester her.
“I think I kicked him first, and now he’s taking revenge. Officer, can you help me? I’m out here alone trying to do business because I have no choice. Now some crazy frog is targeting me. I… I’m scared.”
She was naturally beautiful, and now a few tears fell. Everyone watching felt even more sympathetic.
Zeng Shuyi told the police everything about Wang Jie’s harassment and how he wouldn’t reconcile.
But Wang Jie had committed no substantial offense.
After multiple inquiries, the police made Wang Jie pay Zeng Shuyi twenty yuan and detained him for three days.
Seeing things settle, Zeng Shuyi took the money and went to find Ma Shufen.
“Nanny Ma, I’ve got good news. Wang Jie got arrested!”
“Really?” Ma Shufen was thrilled.
“What happened?”
Zeng Shuyi didn’t mention her involvement.
“They said he was harassing someone and got detained. You should tell the neighbors so everyone can have a laugh.”
With Nanny Ma spreading the news, naturally, everyone nearby soon knew.
Ma Shufen beamed.
“Oh my, this is justice. I’ll tell you, not long ago Wang Jie’s son got caught stealing, but Wang Jie paid a lot of money in compensation. The police saw he was just a kid and told the Wang family to educate him properly. I was furious back then, never imagined we’d see this day!”
She patted her chest proudly.
“Don’t worry, I’ll tell everyone about this. Wang Jie really came at the right time. A few years earlier, he would have been criticized and sent down!”
Zeng Shuyi nodded in agreement.
Seeing the bamboo basket on the back of Zeng Shuyi’s bike, Ma Shufen, knowing Zeng Shuyi ran a small sundries business, looked closer.
“Shuyi, you’ve got quite a few things in here. My family’s out of sewing thread, could you bring me a couple of spools?”
In a good mood, she was willing to help Zeng Shuyi’s business—not because she really lacked thread.
“All right, I’ll give you a discount.”
Zeng Shuyi took out the sewing thread, and Ma Shufen helped gather neighbors from the Tube Apartment to come take a look, spreading gossip about Wang Jie.
Most residents in the Tube Apartment worked at the machinery factory.
Hearing about Wang Jie’s detention, one by one, they got excited.
Some who already disliked Wang Jie rushed to complain at the factory.
The workshop was about to appoint a team leader.
Previously, Wang Jie got along with the director, but now with this incident, Wang Jie wouldn’t be promoted—his rank might even be lowered.
Ma Shufen treated Zeng Shuyi like a close friend, enthusiastically helping to drum up business.
“If you want to buy anything in the future, just come to this girl. She’s honest. These things are much cheaper than at the State-Owned Store!”
Thread and buttons weren’t rare, but when word got out Zeng Shuyi would sell sugar soon, someone immediately offered to trade grain for it.
“Miss, you have to come when the sugar’s here. My kids love sweets.”
“Same here. Miss, when you come, I’ll definitely buy some!”
People in Rong City loved sugar in their meat and seafood dishes.
Their demand for sugar was almost as high as for salt and other seasonings.
Zeng Shuyi calculated how much sugar she could sell.
She felt as long as she could supply it, she wouldn’t worry about selling it.
After making the arrangements, she grabbed two extra spools of thread as a thank you for Ma Shufen.
Without Ma Shufen’s help, people wouldn’t trust her so easily.
“No need, no need. I didn’t do much,” Ma Shufen refused to accept the thread.
“It’s the right thing to do. Without you, I wouldn’t have sold so much today. Look, my basket’s already half empty.”
Zeng Shuyi’s profit today was at least one and a half yuan, a very good income.
“If you don’t take it, I’d feel bad coming back again.”
Ma Shufen liked Zeng Shuyi sincerely.
“You’re such a good girl. Wait a moment, my grandson just brought me some pomelos. I’ll get them for you. Don’t go yet, or I’ll be mad!”
Zeng Shuyi smiled and said she wouldn’t leave.
Not long after, Ma Shufen came back with five bright yellow-orange pomelos and put them in Zeng Shuyi’s bamboo basket.
“These pomelos are from the countryside, sweet and sour. Take them home and try them.”
Ma Shufen grew more fond of Zeng Shuyi.
“Come by the factory another day; I’ll let you try some grapefruit. It’s getting late—go home quickly. It’s not safe for a young lady alone.”
After waving goodbye, Ma Shufen went home humming.
She had bought lean pork today, planning to make Litchi Pork because her grandson was coming for dinner.
As the Tube Apartment filled with the aroma of cooking, Ma Shufen finished her meal and said, “Old man, go check the door. Why isn’t our grandson here yet?”
Chen Aiguo rubbed his knees, reluctant to move.
“It’s about time; he’s probably arriving soon.”
“Can’t I just ask you to do something? Why is it so hard?” Ma Shufen took off her apron and saw her grandson come through the door. She immediately beamed, “I was just telling your grandfather you’re here. Go wash your hands and eat. I made your favorite, Litchi Pork.”
She pulled her grandson to wash his hands, then sat down and piled his bowl with meat.
Litchi Pork was sweet and sour, very appetizing.
As Chen Ji ate, Ma Shufen smiled warmly.
“How’s work lately?”
“Not bad,” Chen Ji said, quickly saying he had enough before she could add more food.
“You all eat too, don’t just watch me.”
“All right, all right.”
Ma Shufen chatted with her grandson while eating.
When the topic of Wang Jie’s detention came up, she laughed heartily.
“I’m really happy today. It’s all karma!”
Thinking of Zeng Shuyi, Ma Shufen suddenly had an idea.
“Ji, do you have a girlfriend yet?”
“Ahem.”
Chen Pan was caught off guard by the question, his face turning red as he lowered his head.
Ma Shufen’s smile deepened.
“I recently met a young lady—beautiful, sweet-talking, and sincere. She came today and told me about Wang Jie’s arrest. The girl’s really nice. In a few days, you come visit Grandma again, okay?”
Hearing about Wang Jie’s arrest, Chen Ji thought of the young lady he met at noon.
Could it be the same person?
It shouldn’t be, right?
How could it be so coincidental?
Chen Pan refused.
“Grandma, I don’t have time for a girlfriend now. My master said this is a critical time to learn skills. Better to wait.”
“Rubbish! Learning skills doesn’t conflict with having a girlfriend. You just haven’t seen what kind of girl she is. Once you do, you’ll be itching to marry her.” Ma Shufen was anxious, but Chen Pan refused to nod, wishing he could drag him to meet Zeng Shuyi.
While the Chen family was eating, the Zeng family had just finished.
Before going home, Zeng Shuyi specially bought a few pairs of pure cotton socks for her mother, second sister, and Xiang Min.
“Mom, try these on. They’re so comfortable.” Zeng Shuyi pulled her mother down to sit.
“November is coming. The weather’s getting colder. Your old socks are worn out.”
Lin Jiazhen felt a pang of guilt.
“Why waste money? Go return them. I don’t need them.”
“They’re for you. You wear them. I earned money today!” Zeng Shuyi helped her mother take off her shoes, ignoring her father’s deliberate cough.
Zeng Qingliang thought: …She really won’t buy for him?
Wang Xu’s face turned red, sourly saying, “Shuyi’s got skills now. But aren’t you going too far? You didn’t buy for me or your brother, and not for Dad either?”
“I only exchanged this much cloth ration. Couldn’t buy more.”
Zeng Shuyi laughed.
“Sister-in-law, you don’t approve of my business. Think it’s shameful? Now you want what I bought?”
“You! I don’t want it!” Wang Xu sat down angrily.
She could afford her own torn socks.
“That’s what you said. I was thinking of buying for everyone next time. Since you care so much for me, thanks in advance.” Zeng Shuyi chuckled.
Seeing her father frown, she teased, “Dad, haven’t you read the newspaper lately? I heard there might be a new policy called the Planned Birth Policy. If it’s true, your eldest brother and sister-in-law won’t be able to give you a grandson.”
***
Author’s Note:
Thank you to the little angels and the two Bawang Tickets!
Spring, summer, autumn, and winter all wonderful.
Thanks for everyone’s support. Tonight at 0:08, I’ll go VIP with red envelopes!
[New book pre-order: The Selfish One’s Seventies]
Lu Shuang Yue is beautiful and educated but comes from a complicated background.
Seeing the youth returning to the city through recruitment, Lu Shuang Yue spent a night pondering.
She didn’t want a mediocre, hard life in the countryside, nor did she want to marry just anyone. She went to the military compound and found Shaoge, a man who almost became her brother-in-law.
Tall and imposing, when he smiled, her tears fell. Her mother had said that seeing a beautiful young lady cry could soften even the hardest man.
Lu Shuang Yue dreams of a good life, a very good one!
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