Chapter 10: Xie Yunshu Gets Fired

Just as dusk settled, Xie Yunshu rode her brand-new tricycle back from the wholesale market, loaded to the brim.

“Mom, come help me carry these!” she called out, sweating despite the cold, her rosy little face beaming with a smile.

Old Mrs. Zhang, who lived across the street, peeked out and was stunned by the piled-up load on the tricycle. “Yunshu, what on earth are you doing? Buying so much food for your mom, it’ll all go bad!”

Even though it was winter, the household only had Li Fenlan and Xie Mingcheng, mother and son. How much could they possibly eat? If they couldn’t finish it all, it would just be wasted!

Xie Yunshu smiled at her. “Mrs. Zhang, I’m going to cook meals to sell!”

“Sell meals? You’re not working anymore?” Mrs. Zhang was old-fashioned and unaware that Xie Yunshu had just lost her job. She worriedly advised, “Oh no, you shouldn’t do that. You still have to work—only then you won’t starve!”

Having a steady government or factory job was deeply rooted in the minds of everyone here. If a family had both parents working, they were envied by all, and their children felt superior.

Xie Yunshu didn’t explain much. She lifted a heavy 20-kilogram bag of rice and some pork in her right hand, heading upstairs. “Mrs. Zhang, when I finish cooking, I’ll bring you a bowl! I cook delicious food!”

Most of the tenants in the old apartment building were factory workers or migrant renters. Around this time, everyone was getting off work and cooking dinner. Hearing Xie Yunshu’s words, they exchanged glances but no one said anything.

Getting fired from the factory wasn’t something honorable, especially since Xie Yunshu had taken over her father’s position. What was the difference from risking her life? Though she had protested once and the factory director changed the firing to a voluntary resignation, everyone knew that was just for show.

The end result was the same—no job.

Everyone were longtime neighbors and had sympathized with Xie Yunshu, but every family had their own troubles. No one dared to stir up trouble for her at the factory—what if they lost their own jobs?

The Lu family was a big and influential household in Haicheng. Ordinary factory workers like them didn’t dare provoke them.

Mrs. Zhang smiled with wrinkles blooming on her face, “Then this old lady will have a treat tonight. You should go home early. A married girl can’t often eat at her parents’ house, or people will gossip! Listen to me, don’t sell meals—just be a good factory worker. That’s the most honorable thing!”

Her ideas were old-fashioned but genuine. Xie Yunshu just smiled warmly.

“Pfft! Mrs. Zhang, Xie Yunshu isn’t working anymore!”

Lin Cuiping, pushing her bicycle and coming back from work, shot Xie Yunshu a glance, full of schadenfreude. “Don’t you know? She got fired for fighting! And guess who handled it? Dr. Lu himself! I’m telling you, Yunshu, you’re way too impulsive. Dr. Lu is a cultured guy, studied overseas! You make a scene like this, I’m embarrassed for you!”

Lin Cuiping was the same age as Xie Yunshu and also worked at the factory. Naturally, she knew what had happened recently. Dr. Lu Zhixing was the top attending doctor at Haicheng First People’s Hospital. When Xie Yunshu and Lu had a blind date, Lin had a chance too—but Lu nodded to Yunshu instead.

When they married, Lin saw Lu once, driving up in a nice car, dressed sharply like a movie star. She was almost jealous to death—Xie Yunshu really had luck!

If only she had gone on the blind date first, maybe she’d be Mrs. Lu now!

But now, since Yunshu had pissed off Dr. Lu, she lost her job. Serves her right! So what if she’s prettier? Dr. Lu isn’t shallow like that!

Mrs. Zhang was a little confused. “Cuiping, what did you say?”

Lin and Yunshu never got along and always argued, so Mrs. Zhang didn’t believe her.

“I said she was fired from the factory! Maybe Dr. Lu doesn’t want her anymore!” Lin had always been outdone by Yunshu in studies and looks and was jealous of her fiery temper. Now finally having the upper hand, she was more shameless, grinning proudly. A fired factory girl, disliked by her husband—Yunshu could never compete with her.

“No way…” Mrs. Zhang was so shocked she stumbled, almost losing her footing.

Xie Yunshu quickly stepped forward and caught her. Her phoenix-like eyes blazed. “Lin Cuiping, get out of here!”

Angry and beautiful, her aura was fierce and imposing, making Lin more jealous. “What? I’m just telling the truth! You dare do it but don’t want people to talk?”

“Say one more word and I’ll rip your mouth apart! I’m not afraid to fight since I have no job now. If you want to lose yours too, come fight me and see who’s afraid!” Though slim, Xie Yunshu had never lost a fight.

Lin clenched her teeth, furious but dared not fight. Yunshu was vicious in fights since childhood—Lin had even lost a patch of hair once!

Some neighbors washing vegetables nearby tried to ease the tension: “Alright, enough talking. It’s almost dinner time!”

“Cuiping, hurry upstairs to cook. Your parents will be home soon.”

“Yunshu, your mom is still outside preparing the vegetables. Go help!”

Lin stormed back into her home, grumbling: “Fired and still so proud? You’ll starve sooner or later!”

Xie Yunshu didn’t hold back, hands on hips, spat: “Lin Cuiping, if I hear one more word from you, I’ll tear your hair out!”

Bang!

Lin slammed the door in anger, then muttered quietly once it was calm: “Damn you, Xie Yunshu. Wait till Dr. Lu dumps you. I’ll watch you marry some old man and get beaten three times a day! See if you dare pull my hair then!”

She rubbed her head, feeling the pain, then started cursing while cooking.

Downstairs, Mrs. Zhang looked confused, holding Xie Yunshu’s hand tightly. “Yunshu, tell me what really happened. Fired or not?”

Xie Yunshu guided her inside, gave her a cup of hot water, then squatted and smiled, “Mrs. Zhang, I’m fine! Don’t listen to Lin Cuiping’s nonsense. You don’t know, selling boxed meals now makes good money! When I earn enough, I’ll buy Mom a big color TV so you can come listen to Yue opera every day, okay?”