Chapter 45: Looks Like We Really Have to Go to Court

This absolutely isn’t a beauty trying to seduce him…

For some reason, this thought popped into Tian Hao’s mind first. He glanced at the man sitting on the sofa and smiled: “Brother Shen, does this food look better than what you get at your unit?”

Shen Subai stretched out his long arm and took the paper, raising his sharp eyebrows slightly: “The menu isn’t bad, but you have to be careful about hygiene with outside food.”

Xie Yunshu wasn’t pleased to hear that. She cooked very cleanly!

“Comrade, I always cook at home. The pots, bowls, and pans are cleaned especially thoroughly! The meat and vegetables are all bought fresh, so you can rest assured!” She spoke confidently, with no hint of fear.

Shen Subai was somewhat surprised and gave her an extra glance: “Well, that’s naturally good.”

Only then did Xie Yunshu clearly see his face: sharp and defined, with a hint of severity. His eyes were narrow, nose high and prominent, sporting a crew cut with slightly tanned skin — completely different from Lu Zhixing’s appearance.

She quickly looked away after just one glance, turning to Tian Hao: “I’ll deliver the food tomorrow. If you’re satisfied, we can continue working together, okay?”

She used the word “cooperate,” which Tian Hao found quite interesting: “Sure! Payment will be settled daily. If we’re not satisfied, I’ll let you know by tomorrow afternoon.”

Carrying thirty aluminum lunch boxes, Xie Yunshu asked Tian Hao for a woven bag. She packed all the boxes inside and slung it over her shoulder. At about 1.6 meters tall and weighing just over ninety pounds, she looked far lighter than the heavy bag. Her slender figure contrasted sharply with the bulky woven bag.

After all, she was a younger beauty, and Tian Hao quickly stood up: “Want me to help you carry that downstairs?”

Xie Yunshu shook her head and smiled at him: “No need. This isn’t much weight at all. Manager Tian, see you tomorrow!”

She wasn’t a delicate girl—if she could carry it herself, why trouble someone else? Besides, this was business. If she relied on someone today, what about tomorrow? Would she keep making the manager carry her lunch boxes every day?

If so, the business wouldn’t last long.

After she went downstairs, Tian Hao clicked his tongue: “Didn’t expect the boss to be such a young and pretty girl! Brother Shen, she doesn’t seem afraid of you either?”

Shen Subai had a cold, tough aura. Although good-looking, he never coddled women, his gaze was icy enough to scare timid people to tears.

Yet this girl not only wasn’t afraid, she even dared to talk back!

Shen Subai glanced at him carelessly: “Since when did you start talking so much?”

Tian Hao immediately raised his hands in surrender: “I’m just talking too much, alright? Just joking. But that commercial housing you mentioned—is it managed by your team?”

“Yes. Including current projects, all will be handled by the Safety Inspection Unit after the New Year. There was a meeting recently — they will strictly inspect safety issues.”

Shen Subai spoke seriously: “Haozi, although you only manage logistics, you have to be careful about this too. If there are safety problems, that’s a big deal!”

That was why he had reminded Tian Hao about the food earlier. While most safety issues happen on the construction site, the food can’t be ignored either.

Tian Hao touched his chest, feeling grateful: “Good thing my old man has foresight. Otherwise, if I had to manage the site and something happened, I’d be scared to death!”

Safety issues on construction sites are serious — accidents can cause disabilities or death. Haicheng’s development has been rapid these past two years, and there are many construction sites. These commercial housing projects fall under investment promotion, so higher-ups entrusted Shen Subai to manage them.

“Do your own job well, and no one can find fault,” Shen Subai stood up. He was very tall. Through the window, he could see a thin figure carrying a big woven bag — it just didn’t look reliable.

He frowned slightly: “Leadership will come here to inspect and tour before the New Year. As usual, they’ll eat the staff meals at the project department, so these few days’ food is very important.”

Tian Hao immediately understood, nodding: “Brother Shen, so you’re responsible for the meals these days?”

“Tsk,” Tian Hao thought. Brother Shen has a bad temper and never coddles women. Hopefully, he doesn’t scare the young girl into tears…

After leaving the construction site, Xie Yunshu felt conflicted. She originally planned to ask Lu Zhixing for money to get a divorce today. It had been a week, but there was no sign from his side. Looks like she really had to take the legal route.

But suddenly, she received such a “big order,” and still needed to make a trip to the market. With so many people eating, and the price they offered being high, she definitely couldn’t just cook a big pot of mixed food and pass it off — otherwise, the business wouldn’t last long.

She heard it all clearly: the construction at the west outskirts of Haicheng is ongoing for a long time, earning a few dozen yuan a day. Even if it exhausted her, she could grit her teeth and persist. Her mother once thought this small business might require Zhao Auntie’s help and might even lose money. Now she not only needs Zhao Auntie’s help but will have to raise her wages too!

But if she didn’t visit the family housing compound, she wouldn’t feel comfortable inside…

At Haicheng Hospital’s family housing compound, since it was almost New Year, there weren’t many patients, and Lu Zhixing wasn’t busy — he didn’t go to work today.

He sat in the living room, a tape recorder playing a Hong Kong/Taiwan song, one that Xie Yunshu used to love. Though it was once an unremarkable part of life, he now especially missed it: her cooking in the kitchen, listening to music while busy, the dishes always the ones he liked…

Today was the seventh and last day. He had anxiously waited at home all day. Xie Yunshu hadn’t come, and in his heart, he didn’t know if he felt disappointment or relief.

Afraid she would come and firmly demand the divorce, angry that she had no feelings left for him, cold enough to not show up for so long.

Could that dark, cold tenement really be more comfortable to live in than here? He had already lowered his head, yet she still insisted on divorce. After money and slaps, she still wouldn’t look back. Sometimes he wished she’d just cry, throw a tantrum, even threaten to hang herself.

But she hadn’t shed a single tear all this time — only mockery and coldness toward him.

In the same compound, Zhou Linyue was dressing up. Over the past week, Lu Zhixing seemed to be deliberately distancing himself from her, making her feel anxious. She didn’t expect Xie Yunshu’s retreat-to-advance tactic to be so effective. Now Lu Zhixing clearly didn’t want a divorce, even after Lu Xueting got slapped, he wouldn’t relent.

What made her angrier was that, these past days, no matter how she hinted or directly asked, Lu Zhixing hadn’t bought her anything anymore. Even when she brought Xiao Wei out, he didn’t soften his attitude! Her forty-yuan monthly salary wasn’t enough. She was eager to become Mrs. Lu.

People in the family housing compound were all hypocrites who cared about reputation. She had to make sure Lu Zhixing and Xie Yunshu quickly got divorced. She didn’t believe that woman would really let go!

Xiao Wei had been discharged from hospital. He looked even thinner, sitting alone in a corner flipping through a picture book, not even daring to breathe loudly — afraid he’d get beaten if anything displeased anyone.