Chapter 33
This Shameless Bastard

Shen Yuebai took a few steps back to avoid others gossiping and increased the distance between him and the woman. “Who are you? I’m married now, so stay away from me, women.”

The woman pressed her hand to her chest, looking hurt. “Don’t you remember me?”

“Should I remember you?” Shen Yuebai didn’t want any involvement with the woman. He dropped that line and walked away.

The woman stared at his retreating back, sobbing loudly, “Wuwuwu… I didn’t even confess, and the person I liked is already someone else’s!”

After crying enough, she wiped her tears and encouraged herself, “I’ll just go after the next one.”

……

Xu Jiajia knew nothing about the affairs in the army and was currently discussing Chen Ji with Grandma Xu.

After hearing the details, Grandma Xu wore an expression that spoke volumes. “What’s going on with the Chen family?

“Chen Ji’s foolery might be one thing, but they’re going along with it too! When people recognize their relatives, they do it for someone capable.

“They’ve gone as far as looking for someone from the countryside—aren’t they afraid of being laughed at!”

Xu Jiajia didn’t like Grandma Xu’s self-deprecating attitude. “Grandma, we’re not inferior to them at all. You’re an old revolutionary—do they have anyone like that in their family?

“This kind of honor is something others could never achieve in their lifetime!”

Grandma Xu thought back to those days with nostalgia. Although it was tiring, it was thrilling and gave her a sense of accomplishment.

“Countless revolutionary martyrs shed their blood to bring us the peace we have today. We must cherish it well.”

Xu Jiajia leaned against Grandma Xu’s shoulder. “I know, Grandma.”

Grandma Xu smiled kindly, then brought up Chen Ji again. “Do you want a little brother? If you want him, accept him; if you don’t, then don’t. The choice is yours.”

Xu Jiajia didn’t mind either way. “Let’s see what Dad says.”

Xu Jianguo walked in with his hands in his pockets. “Dad listens to you.”

Xu Jiajia thought for a moment and decided not to acknowledge him. Even though Guagua said the Chen family had good morals and there were no secrets, who could predict what would happen in the future?

“I’ll not acknowledge him.”

Grandma Xu didn’t actually want to acknowledge him either, as she didn’t know much about the Chen family. “Alright, I think it’s better not to recognize him.”

……

The day of picking up the photos, Xu Jiajia brought both Grandma Xu and Xu Jianguo along.

Although it was a black-and-white photo, Xu Jiajia was still breathtaking in the picture—almond-shaped eyes, thick eyebrows, a delicate nose, and overall exquisite features.

Grandma Xu carefully stroked the photo. “My granddaughter is so beautiful!”

Xu Jiajia’s gaze stayed fixed on Shen Yuebai’s photo. His features were sharp, his facial structure clear and angular, with a profile that had distinctly defined lines at a 120-degree angle.

He radiated masculinity, with his aura almost bursting from the photo.

In another photo, he had a slight smile, resembling the warmth of the winter sun or the spring breeze brushing over the treetops.

Xu Jiajia couldn’t take her eyes off it. No wonder she picked him—he was so handsome!

Xu Jianguo, seeing this, also wanted a photo. “Mom, should I take one too?”

Grandma Xu gave him a slap. “What do you need a photo for? Do you think money grows on trees? Jiajia has someone taking care of her. Do you?”

This remark hit hard, and Xu Jianguo’s mind went blank for a moment before he replied, “I have a daughter! I’ll rely on her when I’m old.”

Grandma Xu: “……”

This shameless man!

Xu Jiajia had brought them to town with a plan in mind. “Grandma, Dad, the three of us haven’t taken a photo together yet. How about we take a couple today?”

Xu Jianguo immediately agreed. “I support it.”

Grandma Xu hesitated. “It’s too expensive.”

Xu Jiajia linked arms with Grandma Xu. “It’s not expensive, really. In a few decades, when we look back at these, it will be meaningful.”

Grandma Xu couldn’t resist and finally agreed to take the photo.

They not only took a group photo but also individual ones.

However, Xu Jiajia didn’t take an individual photo this time.

When paying, Grandma Xu grimaced. “It’s too expensive! One photo costs more than meat.”

The photographer commented, “Meat goes into the stomach and becomes waste. A photo stays forever.”

Xu Jianguo: “……”

Grandma Xu: “……”

These city folk really have no manners, more uncouth than the country people!

The photographer had said the same thing last time, so Xu Jiajia wasn’t too surprised.

After leaving the photo studio, they headed to the bathhouse.

Xu Jiajia handed two bath tickets to Grandma Xu. “Grandma, Dad, why don’t you both go and experience it?”

Grandma Xu glared at Xu Jiajia. “No wonder you told us to bring our clothes. You were planning this all along!”

Xu Jianguo looked at the bathhouse sign, excitedly rubbing his hands. “Mom, I’ve made it! I’m finally going into the bathhouse.”

Occasionally, workers would get bath tickets.

Ordinary people didn’t have that privilege.

It was Xu Jianguo’s first time entering a bathhouse, and his excitement was palpable.

Grandma Xu gave him a side glance. “How embarrassing.”

Xu Jianguo grinned like a fool. “I might be embarrassing, but I’m happy.”

Grandma Xu couldn’t be bothered with him and turned to Xu Jiajia. “What about you?”

Xu Jiajia smiled sweetly. “I’ve already bathed last time. I’m going to send a photo to Ah Yue.”

Grandma Xu nodded. “Alright, be careful.”

……

After leaving the post office, Xu Jiajia saw Li Chengye surrounded by a few people.

And those people happened to be ones she recognized.

She walked over and asked, “What’s going on?”

Before the group could say anything, Li Chengye hurriedly urged her, “Hurry up, they’re street thugs.”

The group, worried Xu Jiajia might tell Chen Ji, quickly explained, “We’re not street thugs, we’ve reformed.”

Xu Jiajia didn’t believe them at all. “Then what are you doing here?”

“We’re, we’re asking for directions.”

Xu Jiajia kicked one of them. “People who hang around the streets every day need directions?”

One of them, afraid Xu Jiajia might report them, grabbed her arm. “Sis, dear sis, we won’t do it again, please don’t tell Brother Ji, okay?”

Xu Jiajia pulled her arm away. “My mom only gave birth to me, don’t call me your sister.”

The man awkwardly touched his nose and chuckled, “Right, right.”

This twist left Li Chengye stunned. “Xu Jiajia, you know them?”

Xu Jiajia smiled. “Chen Ji’s little brothers.”

“Ah—” Li Chengye didn’t know much about Chen Ji. He only knew his father was the deputy director of the machinery factory, and didn’t know anything else.

Hearing Xu Jiajia’s words, he was extremely shocked. “His father is so powerful, and he goes and hangs around the streets? Doesn’t he fear his dad will slap him to death?”

Every family is different, and Xu Jiajia didn’t want to comment. “Do you live by the sea? Why do you care so much!”

Li Chengye chuckled. “I’m just curious!”

“Still not leaving? You want a tour of the police station?” Xu Jiajia shot a glare, and the street thugs scattered, running off in all directions.

One of them ran so fast his shoe fell off.

Li Chengye burst out laughing. “Is this a comedy show?”

Xu Jiajia looked at him speechlessly. “Is it that funny?”

Li Chengye: “……”

Wasn’t it funny?

He was about to laugh himself silly!

After parting ways with Li Chengye, Xu Jiajia went to the sugar factory. “Hello, I’m looking for Xu Xiaoyao from the second workshop. Can you call her for me?”

A kind-hearted security officer smiled warmly. “Of course, please wait here. I’ll go find her.”

Xu Jiajia expressed her gratitude. “Thank you!”

The officer waved it off. “No need to thank me, it’s my duty.”

Soon, Xu Xiaoyao arrived.

Seeing Xu Jiajia, she shared some good news. “Jiajia, that Han Jian was taken by the police.”

Xu Jiajia didn’t expect Liu Kui to be so efficient. “Has he caused you any trouble recently?”

Xu Xiaoyao nodded frankly. “Yes, once. The deputy factory director saw it and scolded him.”

After confirming the details, Xu Jiajia nodded and then pulled out a glass jar from her military bag. “This is some green beans my mom made, specially for you.”

Xu Xiaoyao was so moved that she almost cried, hugging Xu Jiajia tightly. “Jiajia, you’re so good to me!”

Xu Jiajia pushed her away. “Stop being dramatic. Go to work.”

Xu Xiaoyao wiped away her nonexistent tears. “I’ll work hard and try to earn the diligence award.”

The security officer gave her a thumbs up. “Nice, you’ve got ambition. Keep it up!”

This was the first time Xu Xiaoyao had received such direct praise, and her face turned red. “I… I’m just saying it. I might not get it.”

The security officer laughed. “At least you dare to dream. Some employees don’t even dare to think about it.”

……

Xu Jiajia and the others arrived home at dusk.

Xu Jianguo dropped his bundle and immediately went to the threshing ground.

A crowd had already gathered, and someone saw him coming and asked, “Jianguo, where did you go today? You didn’t go to work?”

This was exactly what Xu Jianguo had been waiting for. He coughed lightly and began his performance. “My daughter got two bath tickets, so she took us to the bathhouse.

“I’m telling you, that bathhouse is huge, steaming like heaven, and they have special people to scrub you, but that costs extra.”

The person who asked first slapped himself hard. “I shouldn’t have spoken. I shouldn’t have spoken.”

Damn it.

He had just heard the bragging a few days ago, and now here it was again. This was going to drive them crazy!

Some people couldn’t stand Xu Jianguo’s bragging and sneered, “There are places to bathe at home. Why spend money to go to the town to bathe? Isn’t that stupid?”

Xu Jianguo put his hands in his pockets and sneered. “What’s the difference? If it was the same, would the workers still go to the bathhouse? Are you smarter, or are the workers smarter?”

The person who spoke was left speechless.

“Taking time off just to bathe, you’ve really got guts!”

Xu Jianguo proudly said, “Not just that, I even took photos. My daughter said that decades later, when we look at them again, it will have different meaning.”

The crowd grew even more jealous.

Xu Jianguo excitedly talked about the process of taking the photos.

The crowd listened intently.

Near the end, someone suddenly asked, “Jianguo, your daughter worked so hard to get that job, and you gave it to someone else. Why didn’t you stop her?”

“Yeah, your daughter is supposed to go with the army. You could have taken her place. Why give it to someone else so easily? It’s too much of a loss.”

“Exactly.”

If it were them, they wouldn’t have done that.

Xu Jianguo explained, “The workshop my daughter’s assigned to is all women. It’s not convenient for me to go.”

“Going to work isn’t anything special, why care so much?”