Chapter 38: How Could Yunshu Possibly Lay Hands on Him

Around six o’clock was the busiest time in the old apartment building.

Workers from the packaging factory were scattered about—some sitting at the entrance chatting, others helping their wives wash vegetables and cook, and some playing with their children near the alleyway. Especially by the water basin on the first floor, it was crowded with women filling water and preparing meals.

Everyone was still talking about how earlier that afternoon, Xie Yunshu had hit her sister-in-law.

“Hey, you didn’t see it, Yunshu really hit hard! That girl’s face was swollen so big!”

“I heard the Lu family’s daughter is even a college student. How could she talk so rudely? Although Yunshu and her husband are divorcing, they haven’t finalized it yet, right? And Fenlan is an elder, but she kept saying those things—really deserved a slap!”

“But did Yunshu hit too hard? That’s Lu family’s person—do you think Lu Zhixing would be okay with that?”

Lin Cuiping had just come out and, listening closely to the gossip, quickly understood. That crazy Xie Yunshu actually hit Lu Zhixing’s own younger sister—and quite badly!

She pursed her lips. Xie Yunshu was tough; she knew well how much Yunshu had been beaten growing up. The pampered young lady from the Lu family wouldn’t withstand even one slap—probably would cry for three days!

She was certain that with Yunshu’s bad temper, Lu doctor couldn’t stand it anymore; the divorce was definitely on.

Lin Cuiping felt a bit gleeful: “Xie Yunshu’s been acting like a shrew these days. Someone like Lu doctor, an intellectual, she really isn’t worthy of! Who hits their own sister-in-law? Such disgrace to our apartment building!”

Hearing this, Aunt Liu, who lived at the far east end, couldn’t stand it: “Cuiping, you weren’t here today, that Lu girl really spoke rudely! Not just Yunshu, even I wanted to hit her! She looks down on everyone in our building, acting like a big lady!”

Lin Cuiping didn’t buy it: “That Miss Lu is a college student, what is Yunshu? Just wait, when Lu doctor really divorces her, she’ll be crying and begging!”

Aunt Liu frowned: “That’s not certain. Yesterday on TV, Yunshu said she’s determined to divorce Lu Zhixing.”

Who would believe that?

Lin Cuiping rolled her eyes inwardly, turning to go upstairs. It was just watching some crappy TV, and everyone sided with Yunshu! What’s so great about Journey to the West? She didn’t like watching it anyway!

Just as she left the laundry room, she bumped into a man.

Lu Zhixing, wearing a black coat, stood on the first floor frowning into the dark hallway. He had only been here twice—once when marrying Yunshu and once during last year’s New Year. Other times, he never came.

He was busy with work, and since Yunshu hadn’t asked him to visit, he just acted like he didn’t know. The old apartment building was so shabby he didn’t even remember where the Xie family lived.

Lu Zhixing spotted Lin Cuiping and asked politely, “Excuse me, which door does Xie Yunshu live behind?”

He only remembered it was on the first floor.

Lin Cuiping’s eyes widened and her face flushed, “Lu… you’re Lu Zhixing, Doctor Lu?”

Lu Zhixing nodded calmly. Seeing the woman stammer, he faintly frowned, “Which room does Yunshu live in?”

Lin Cuiping calmed her beating heart and pointed inside the hallway: “Second door on the east side. Doctor Lu, are you here to pick up Yunshu? She’s had a bad temper since childhood, I’m already used to it…”

Lu Zhixing was quite good-looking. In the 1980s, most people in the country were short, but he was nearly 1.8 meters tall. Even without the title of chief physician at Haicheng Hospital, he would be popular with women.

Lin Cuiping had once had a chance to go on a blind date with him, but before she could, Xie Yunshu beat her to it and married him. She had never accepted it and felt Yunshu had stolen her “good marriage.”

So their relationship was never good and had only gotten worse now!

Though she couldn’t beat Yunshu, Lin Cuiping didn’t hesitate to speak badly of her: “She even hit your sister today. You better not be like her—when she gets crazy, she might even hit you!”

She wasn’t lying. Xie Yunshu was fierce and reckless in fights. When Xie Mingcheng was in middle school and bullied for not having a father, the 17-year-old Yunshu fought back like a lioness. She stood at the school gate and beat six boys at once.

Middle school boys could be tough fighters, but they couldn’t stand Yunshu’s fearless style. She beat them with a stick until they were crying and begging, all the while bleeding but grinning.

Since that day, Lin Cuiping was afraid. Usually, she only dared to tease Yunshu verbally—never fight her.

Lu Zhixing looked refined and handsome, yet had been fooled by Yunshu’s face! Thinking about this made Lin Cuiping feel deeply upset. If only she had gone on that blind date instead!

A trace of impatience flickered in Lu Zhixing’s eyes, but he politely nodded, “I’m here to pick up Yunshu. Thank you.”

He then strode toward the Xie family’s room, not paying any attention to Lin Cuiping’s words.

How could Yunshu possibly lay hands on him?

Behind him, Lin Cuiping gasped and, watching Lu Zhixing walk inside, angrily stomped her foot. He really was here to pick up Yunshu? Hmph, Aunt Liu just said Yunshu was determined to divorce. Looks like she was slapped in the face!

The Lu doctor personally came to pick her up, and Yunshu still wouldn’t obediently go? Pathetic!

She didn’t say whether it was jealousy or frustration toward Yunshu, but she stopped going upstairs, waiting for Yunshu to come out so she could sarcastically take a jab at her!

The Xie family’s door was open. Yunshu was on the balcony cooking, also planning the menu for tomorrow.

“Mom, the weather’s pretty cold now. What if I make more hot and sour soup to sell? Just put some gluten and vegetable leaves in big bone broth. Those workers would definitely feel warm after drinking it.”

Li Fenlan was mending Xie Mingcheng’s clothes. She looked up and smiled, “That sounds good, but can you handle it? Zhao aunty and I can help with cooking, but when selling the food, it’s all on you.”

Besides, how much money could be made from selling one pot of soup? She knew her daughter had a tough exterior but a soft heart—she just wanted the workers to eat better.

That was a real concern. Yunshu brought out the cooked cabbage and meat and checked the time, “Mingcheng gets off school early today. He should be here soon.”

The door creaked open.

She thought it was Mingcheng and smiled, turning to say, “There’s meat today, go wash your hands and come eat!”

Lu Zhixing stood in the doorway, blocking most of the light. His eyes darkened as he looked at Yunshu’s smiling face. Suddenly, an absurd thought rose in his mind.

Without living with him, she seemed so happy…