Chapter 30: One Slap

Qiangzi figured he probably wouldn’t be eating stir-fried vegetables for another half month. Living in the work shed, cooking was forbidden for safety reasons, so he could only set up a stove outside to boil some hot water. But even the electric stove needed coal, and he was trying to save every penny, so he shamelessly asked others for some hot water. Going out cost only a few cents for steamed buns, which he could eat slowly.

Sometimes he’d soak the buns in hot water with a little salt for some flavor, but most of the time it was just steamed buns and cold water. Pickled vegetables were cheap but still cost money, and if he didn’t eat, he wouldn’t have the strength to work. He hated spending even a single cent.

Xie Yunshu didn’t look at his expression — doing these things wasn’t about making him feel grateful, it was just something she did casually.

A small bunch of mung bean sprouts cost less than a dime wholesale, and she could easily earn that from a single box. Besides, Qiangzi also bought himself two buns, so it wasn’t a loss.

She climbed onto the tricycle, putting on thick gloves: “Go eat quickly, the food is still hot!”

Facing the wind, Xie Yunshu didn’t feel very cold; her heart felt warm! The profit from selling boxed meals was better than she expected. On a typical day, she sold ten servings of food, with buns and rice, totaling 35.8 yuan.

She bought ducks at 1.9 yuan apiece; ten ducks cost 11.4 yuan in total. The mung bean sprouts and tofu skin cost 2.8 yuan wholesale, the buns and rice added another 7.1 yuan, plus Aunt Zhao’s wages…

After a busy morning, she earned a full 15 yuan!

In late August, 15 yuan was a big deal — equal to a factory worker’s half-month salary, a top doctor like Lu Zhixing’s week salary, or a regular family’s monthly living expenses.

Passing the department store, Xie Yunshu stopped the tricycle. There was still a month left before the holiday. By then, she planned to buy Shan Cheng a fashionable down jacket, a pure wool knee-length coat for her mom, and replace the old broken chairs at home with soft sofas like Lu family’s.

As for herself?

Xie Yunshu thought for a while and decided just a jar of moisturizing cream would do. She had to save money for Shan Cheng’s college and wedding!

Outside the factory’s long building was a lane, where mostly local elderly lived. Around two in the afternoon, people would sunbathe.

Xie Yunshu’s tricycle carried big bones, a half-bag of seaweed, and about 40-50 large potatoes. She pedaled past the lane, smiling and greeting: “Auntie and Granny, sunbathing?”

“Oh, Yunshu!”

“Bought so much stuff, still haven’t eaten?”

…

She felt especially cheerful and greeted everyone. But that good mood vanished as soon as she reached the building.

Lu Xueting had found out from some ‘casual’ conversation that Xie Yunshu had taken her brother’s TV back to her parents’ house. So that noon, she stormed to the building to confront Xie Yunshu.

“Xie Yunshu, get out here! You shameless woman, bring back my brother’s TV right now!” She wore the season’s most fashionable cream-colored wool coat and a pink hat — clearly a high-class lady from Haicheng.

But her manner was far from elegant or poised — her brows were furrowed in anger, sharp and fierce, completely at odds with her refined outfit.

Most workers were at their jobs, only a few women and elderly were tidying up at home. Hearing the noise, they peeked out but didn’t speak — last night, many had gone to Xie Yunshu’s place to watch TV and had learned a bit about why she wanted a divorce.

Suddenly a woman showed up; everyone wondered if she was the other woman Lu Zhixing was keeping. This lady was too shameless, stirring up trouble while the couple was about to divorce!

Li Fenlan knew Lu Xueting and had always felt looked down upon by this Lu family eldest daughter. When her own daughter just got married, she was insecure around the in-laws, fearing her daughter’s poor life.

So regarding Lu Xueting’s arrogant attitude, she’d always tried to avoid conflict — even when Shan Cheng wanted to fight back, she stopped him.

She was timid, and tolerating for the sake of her child wasn’t hard.

But now, Li Fenlan stood firmly in front of Lu Xueting, without a trace of retreat: “Miss Lu, your brother owes my daughter money. If you want the TV back, please ask him to repay as soon as possible, and then sign the divorce papers!”

Lu Xueting couldn’t believe her ears. She paused, staring at this poor middle-aged woman, and sneered contemptuously: “Like mother, like daughter! You married my brother for money, didn’t you? You’re so capable you’d even sell your own daughter to climb into our Lu family!”

Owing money? Her brother supported Xie Yunshu, let her live in the staff housing, yet she dared to mention divorce and ask for money? She was a low-class climber with despicable roots! Nothing like Sister Xinyue, who endured terrible things but still stood on her own, working proudly as a nurse!

Sister Xinyue was the real modern woman, while Xie Yunshu would just cling to men all her life!

Li Fenlan bit her lip hard. She saw Lu Xueting’s shoulders slightly hunched, her hands nervously twisting her coat, yet still spoke firmly and slowly: “Miss Lu, you owe my daughter an apology. She’s not that kind of person!”

“Not that kind?” Lu Xueting crossed her arms and looked down arrogantly, showing no respect for her elder: “Then why did she take my brother’s TV? Still have the nerve to ask for an apology? You must be used to selling your daughter, forgetting who you are. Oh, right, your husband died early too, probably because you…”

“Ah!”

She didn’t finish. Xie Yunshu suddenly screamed and grabbed her hair tightly: “Let go! Let go, you lunatic!”

With no expression, Xie Yunshu’s hand didn’t hesitate and slapped Lu Xueting hard across the finely made-up face: “Who told you to come here and cause trouble? Lu Xueting, haven’t I told you, I love slapping people the most when I fight?”

Lu Xueting felt like her entire scalp was being pulled off. She was half dragged to the ground but couldn’t break free. She kicked wildly and screamed sharply: “Let go, Xie Yunshu, you shrew! I’ll make my brother divorce you! Ah, it hurts! You filthy woman!”