Chapter 1: An unmarried woman with a child goes on a blind date

“Comrade Shen, you’re unmarried and already have a child, yet you’re out here going on blind dates… That’s just shameless. What do you take me, Zhao Changjiang, for? A garbage picker?”

Zhao Changjiang’s voice rose in anger, and he had no filter when he spoke.

Shen Sisi clenched her fists, eyes instantly turning red. She could feel the soft little Bao shrinking into her arms. She dug her nails into her palm and forced herself to endure.

Over the past few days, she had encountered scenes like this countless times.

There were even harsher insults people publicly cursing her as a damaged woman, cheap trash.

She thought she had grown numb to it, but it still hurt.

Yes, she hadn’t been married. Yes, she had a child. But she, Shen Sisi, was still a virgin! She was not a used woman!

She gripped her cup tightly, forcing herself to stay calm. “Did the matchmaker not tell you about my situation before you came?”

Zhao Changjiang was momentarily speechless. He recalled how the matchmaker had looked hesitant, as if wanting to say something.

But he had seen Shen Sisi’s photo and liked her too much she looked like a model from a magazine. Before the matchmaker could finish speaking, he had rushed over.

To meet her, he had specially bought a brand-new Dacron shirt and ordered a whole table of fancy dishes, spending more than half his monthly salary.

And to be honest, she looked even more beautiful in person.

With almond-shaped eyes and peachy cheeks, snow-white skin, and a sweet and charming smile. Her figure slender arms and legs, but all the right curves in all the right places. She looked like she could bear sons at a glance.

He was utterly entranced. He had even thought of what to name their son… But who would’ve thought she’s a used woman?!

She had a kid without ever getting married, and even dared to bring the child to a blind date. Was she afraid people didn’t know about her glorious deeds in the countryside?

He was completely mortified!

Seeing him zoning out, Shen Sisi bit down on her molars in quiet fury. “Since you came knowing my situation, why would you humiliate me in front of everyone?”

Her voice was soft but resolute. Even with anger in her tone, her words were calm, steady, and firm hitting straight to the heart.

Zhao Changjiang’s fire died down a bit. Staring at her flushed, angry face, he suddenly felt weak inside.

“I, I’m satisfied with you. Your past… I can overlook it. But…”

His gaze slowly shifted to the sickly, yellow-faced child in her arms, looking pitiful and frail. “But the child has to go…”

If she wouldn’t give up her Niu Niu, then there was nothing more to discuss.

Shen Sisi glanced at this average-looking, even rather ugly man. Clinging to the last bit of dignity, she stood up decisively. “You may like me, but I don’t like you. I won’t hold this against you but we don’t need to ever meet again.”

Zhao Changjiang stared at her back, stunned. What the hell? A used woman doesn’t even want me?

Did that mean his half-month’s salary was wasted?

“Wait a second!” Zhao Changjiang hurried forward, blocking Shen Sisi and her daughter. “You need to pay for the meal.”

Shen Sisi raised her eyebrows and glanced back at the table braised pork, stewed noodles with pork, stir-fried meat… All expensive dishes.

She was so angry she laughed. “Comrade Zhao, you ordered all this. I didn’t order anything, nor did I even take a bite. Why should I pay?”

“I only ordered it because I was going to meet you…” Zhao Changjiang replied, his voice weak. The blind date was ruined he couldn’t let it be a total loss.

Noticing the amused glances from the onlookers, his face burned with shame. He blurted out, annoyed: “If you won’t pay, then come home with me and get married!”

“Are you insane? If not, you might want to get your head checked.” Shen Sisi gave him a massive eye roll.

She had met plenty of unpleasant men during these recent blind dates, but Zhao Changjiang was the stingiest of them all an eye-opener for sure.

As she turned to leave, Zhao Changjiang chased after her.

“Why shouldn’t you like me? I’m Zhao Changjiang, a security guard at the printing factory, thirty yuan a month, city residence, and an only child. You, an unmarried educated youth, fooling around and popping out a wild brat I don’t even mind that!”

Shen Sisi’s head buzzed. She covered Niu Niu’s ears with one hand and grabbed a teacup with the other, flinging its contents at him.

“That’s enough!” she turned around, almond eyes bloodshot, glaring fiercely. “Don’t you dare go that far in front of my child!”

Her face flushed red. She looked like a furious little wildcat protecting her cub claws out, fierce and unyielding.

Say what you want about her but no one, no one, insults her Niu Niu!

A mother’s strength is fierce. Whether the child was her own or not, she would protect Niu Niu with everything she had.
She would never allow anyone to call her child a bastard!

Zhao Changjiang’s face burned red, his brand-new shirt stained with tea, steam rising off the yellowed fabric.

Ruined. His new shirt ruined!

He gritted his teeth in anguish, finally tearing off all pretense. “You dare throw tea at me?! Do you know how expensive this shirt is? If you don’t pay for it today, this isn’t over!”

Compared to his rage, Shen Sisi looked calm but her trembling fingers betrayed her fury.

“Everyone saw it. You were the one spewing filth, insulting my daughter. Weren’t you asking to be taught a lesson? I didn’t even hit you just helped you cool off. You should be thanking me! Pay? Keep dreaming!”

The onlookers were moved by Shen Sisi’s unflinching stance. She didn’t look like a girl in her early twenties more like someone who had weathered many storms. So strong, it hurt to watch.

In the early 80s, having a child out of wedlock could get you charged with being a hooligan.

Something serious must’ve happened to this girl for her to end up like this.

Or perhaps, during her time as an educated youth in the countryside, she had gotten together with a peasant but never registered the marriage. Now that educated youths were returning to the city, she also wanted to bring her child back.

In any case, she must’ve had a rough life…

Shen Sisi noticed the sympathy in the crowd’s eyes. She could guess what they were thinking.

They misunderstood. She wasn’t as pitiful as they imagined. But because of the agreement she had signed, she couldn’t tell anyone a word about the truth. She had to swallow it all.

“She and her daughter are already so pitiful. The child is still so young and sickly. You’re a grown man just let it go,” an elderly woman finally stepped in.

Zhao Changjiang pointed at his shirt. “If you feel that bad, you pay for it!”

The old lady looked at the tea-stained shirt and fell silent.

“Zhao, if you’ve got a problem, take it out on me. Don’t scare other people,” Shen Sisi said.

“Fine then it’s on you!” Zhao Changjiang stared at her defiant face and exploded. “You second-hand tramp! And you’ve got the nerve to put on airs? You’re not going anywhere until you pay me thirty yuan!”

“Thirty? Are you trying to extort me? Why not just rob me?” Shen Sisi was disgusted by his shamelessness.

Thirty yuan was about a full month’s salary for someone like him.

Even if she had the money which she didn’t it would go toward Niu Niu’s medicine. No way was she giving it to a scumbag.

Seeing she had no intention of paying, Zhao Changjiang grabbed her wrist. “No money? Then either come to the police station with me or come home with me. Your choice.”

He twisted her wrist hard, dragging her toward the door.

During the struggle, Niu Niu burst into tears, coughing violently and clinging to her mother like a frightened little deer.

This man was terrifying. He was going to eat her mommy!

What should she do…

Niuniu’s cries rang in Shen Sisi’s ears as she struggled with one arm while trying to hold her child with the other almost completely powerless.

Just as Zhao Changjiang was about to drag her out.

A large, veined hand reached out from behind the curtain and clamped down on Zhao Changjiang’s “pig hoof.”

Shen Sisi stared at the hand broad and strong, rough-skinned, with a scary scar on the wrist… it looked familiar.

A military-green sleeve extended from above the wrist…

Before she could fully register it, a tall, imposing figure stepped through the curtain.