Chapter 32

The young man, who had received money from Yu Li, firmly insisted that there were bugs in Gao Xuelian’s food.

“This bowl is right here, take a good look and see if there are any bugs in it! Give me my money back!! Who would eat such disgusting food!”

The young man started the commotion, and many people gathered to see.

“Oh my, there really are bugs! So disgusting, and they’re those yellow, pus-filled bugs! I won’t eat it, boss, give me my money back!”

“Ugh… how can such disgusting people even sell food!”

“Don’t you know? She’s Yu Tuanjie’s ex-wife! She divorced him because she was having an affair with her family… This kind of woman must be dirty!”

“Oh, and wasn’t Yu Tuanjie selling food? People were already saying there were rats in his kitchen, and now this woman comes selling food? What a coincidence!”

…

A group of people crowded around demanding a refund, throwing the food in front of Gao Xuelian!

Her stall was quickly turned into a mess, and the money box was overturned! The money inside was quickly snatched up.

Gao Xuelian was shaking with rage!

Looking at the situation, it seemed that not only had she earned nothing today, but she had also lost a lot, essentially working for free for most of the day!

When she looked up, her eyes met Yu Tuanjie’s, and in her fury, she rushed over.

“You’re behind this, aren’t you? It must be you! The Yu family is disgusting and low! If you can’t do your own business well, you’re jealous of others! Do you have no shame? Aren’t you afraid of retribution?!”

Chen Ailan slapped her: “Watch your mouth! What makes you think we’re behind this?”

Yu Li also asked, “You blame us for your bad business, so should we blame you for ours? I want to ask, who spread the rumor that there were rats in our kitchen?”

She shouted loudly, “Can anyone testify? Who spread the rumor? There’s a reward for three days of free food!”

Immediately, someone spoke up: “I can testify! It was Gao Xuelian! She came early today and was sneaking around telling people that she saw rats dying in the pots at the Yu family’s place!”

Gao Xuelian’s face turned red: “I didn’t! You’re all in it together! You’re bullying us! You all deserve to go to the 18th level of hell!”

She refused to admit that she had harmed Yu Tuanjie and his family.

But she insisted that it was Yu Tuanjie and his family who had caused trouble for her.

At this moment, a slender but capable woman spoke up.

“The day before yesterday at noon, I happened to meet Gao Xuelian when I was grinding flour. She was also grinding flour, but used moldy wheat. The shopkeeper told her that the wheat was no good, but she laughed and said it wasn’t for her to eat. You can ask the people at the flour mill!”

Gao Xuelian froze, her face turning red: “Who are you? What does it have to do with you?! What I do is none of your business! You’re talking nonsense!”

But the capable woman stared at her sharply: “We’re all working hard here as canal workers! We buy your food to get enough energy to work harder! You used moldy flour to make sesame cakes and mixed soup. That’s harmful! Who deserves to go to hell?”

By now, everyone understood the situation. It was simple: Gao Xuelian had deliberately stolen Yu Tuanjie’s business and spread fake rumors!

A few quick-tempered men immediately went up and smashed Gao Xuelian’s stall, stomping on the pots!

Gao Xuelian tried to stop them but was thrown aside, twisting her waist and crying out in pain!

This was a case of reaping what she had sown, and now she’d have to pay for medical treatment.

Yu Tuanjie’s stall quickly regained its bustling atmosphere.

After all the commotion, everyone was hungry, and Chen Ailan decided, “We’ve wasted everyone’s time today, so everything is half-price! Consider it our treat!”

The crowd, already hungry, quickly rushed over, and Yu Tuanjie’s stall was once again as popular as before.

Gao Xuelian, still nursing her sore waist, watched from the side, glaring at Yu Tuanjie but unable to do anything.

In the end, she begged a kind-hearted person to take her to the hospital.

Yu Tuanjie and his family had worked for over half an hour, and with the help of Yu Li and Chen Ailan, most of the food was sold.

The remaining portion was kept for themselves, as all three of them were now hungry after the busy day.

Suddenly, a voice of surprise rang out from not far away!

“Hey, girl! Why did you faint?”

“Girl, wake up!”

Yu Li and Yu Tuanjie quickly rushed over and, when they reached the girl, they discovered that it was the young woman who had been speaking up for them earlier.

Yu Li hurriedly crouched down to check on her. The girl had a good-looking face, but her skin was rough from the wind and sun, her hands calloused, and she was wearing a man’s worn-out clothes, patched up here and there.

Someone nearby said, “Ah, this girl is really unfortunate! Both her parents are sick, and it’s just her and her younger sister at home, and her sister is still in high school. Every household has to have someone working as a canal laborer, and the others are all men, who’s ever seen a woman doing this kind of work?

But she insisted on doing it. I’ve been secretly watching, she doesn’t eat lunch, no wonder she fainted!”

Yu Li quickly pulled out a piece of candy from her pocket and put it into the girl’s mouth.

Then, after feeling her pulse, Yu Li realized that the girl’s pulse was weak and beating very fast. Her body had been pushed to its limit, and she was seriously malnourished. If she kept going like this, something serious might happen!

She immediately discussed with Chen Ailan and Yu Tuanjie and decided to take the girl home to rest, eat something, and take some medicine, as she had helped them today.

Chen Ailan and Yu Tuanjie naturally had no objections and hurriedly packed up the table, chairs, and pots and took the girl with them.

Once they got home, Yu Li cooked some medicine, and just as she brought it over, the girl woke up.

The girl’s eyes were very bright, her features were neat, but her skin was badly weathered, and her eyes were red. “You… you brought me back? No, I have to go back to work…”

Chen Ailan quickly pressed her down: “Girl, you need to rest, eat a proper meal, sleep, and take some medicine. Otherwise, you won’t last long!”

Yu Tuanjie brought over a bowl of hot brown sugar eggs: “You’re young, how can you handle canal labor work? Eat something before you talk.”

The warm, sweet-scented eggs were placed in front of her.

Ye Fangfang felt like she was about to starve to death, fainting from hunger.

Everything in front of her seemed like an illusion.

But she gritted her teeth and tried to get up, enduring the dizziness as she said, “No need, thank you, I…”

But as she spoke, she collapsed back onto the bed, too dizzy to get up.

Yu Li and Chen Ailan both sighed, feeling deeply sympathetic for this stubborn and strong girl!

Yu Tuanjie, who was straightforward, said, “What’s the point of all this? Isn’t it just because you have no money? I won’t take your money. Since you helped me today, it’s only right that I treat you to a meal.

I know you’re anxious to go back to work. Don’t worry, from tomorrow, after I finish selling the food, I’ll help you with canal labor in the afternoon. You’ll finish your work quickly! You’re young, you can push yourself, but you also need to take care of your health!”

Ye Fangfang’s throat tightened, and she could barely hold back her tears. She had been struggling, but what else could she do but struggle?

Hearing Yu Tuanjie’s blunt words, she choked up, “I really can’t accept your food, and I don’t need your help… because I can’t repay you…”

Her family was so poor, she couldn’t repay anyone’s kindness!

Chen Ailan looked at Ye Fangfang, who was about the same age as Yu Li, yet the two girls seemed so different in appearance and condition.

She was also a poor, unfortunate child!

Yu Tuanjie suddenly said, “How about this: you can come and work for me as a helper! I’ll pay you a salary! You can earn money with your own labor, right?”

Ye Fangfang was taken aback. After a long pause, she slowly nodded, agreeing to the offer. She obediently ate her meal, took her medicine, and rested at Yu’s house for the afternoon before heading back.

Yu Tuanjie even gave her an advance on her wages, but Ye Fangfang refused. Yu Tuanjie scolded her in a stern tone.

Watching this scene, Yu Li and Chen Ailan couldn’t help but feel that people’s interactions were really different.

In the past, Gao Xuelian had been harsh, and Yu Tuanjie had always been very tolerant in front of her.

But now, in front of another girl, Yu Tuanjie could be this upright and decisive.

Chen Ailan, thinking about it, couldn’t help but ask Yu Li, “What do you think of Ye Fangfang?

No matter what, I still hope for my son to marry again!”