Chapter 59

Qu Hongqi was so furious he nearly spat blood—he had truly been terrified, never expecting this bastard was lying to him. He kept silently reminding himself: don’t get angry, don’t get angry; getting sick from rage would only hurt himself.

“Tsk tsk tsk!” Zhou Andong said with exaggerated clicks. “What’s this? The two guys crawling ahead didn’t bite me, and now you’re baring your teeth like you want to?”

Qu Hongqi flung his arm away and turned to leave; if he stayed another second, he feared he’d die at forty.

Zhou Andong burst out laughing. “Leader Gu Bing, keep up the good work—you’ve already caught Left Boss’s eye. As long as you don’t mess up, once the results come out, Zhang Deyou might just get pushed down by you.”

Gu Bing sneered. “I caught Left Boss’s eye, but you caught his heart. So I’m still nowhere near your level.”

Zhou Andong waved his hand. “I’m off—I need to borrow a reverse tricycle from the warehouse first.”

Gu Bing asked: “You’re riding a reverse tricycle home?”

Zhou Andong didn’t look back. “I’ve got to take that color TV back to Tanghezi.”

“You’ve got stuff to pick up?” Jian Qiu’s eyes flickered. “I’ll drive you back.”

Zhou Andong froze, stopping in his tracks. Gu Bing stared at Jian Qiu in disbelief.

“What are you staring at?” Jian Qiu snapped. “Give me your car keys.”

“Oh!” Gu Bing, utterly bewildered, pulled out the keys and handed them over.

Jian Qiu took the keys, stepped into her high heels, and hurried after Zhou Andong, grabbing his arm. “Come on, what are you standing there for?”

Watching Jian Qiu walk ahead, Zhou Andong scratched his head. She always seemed so cold and aloof—turns out she was actually kind-hearted.

They first went to Zhou Andong’s place to collect the TV and wild game, then drove straight to Tanghezi.

“Oh my!” Zhao Guifen, Zhou Andong’s aunt, leaned against the doorframe, cracking sunflower seeds between her teeth. “What’s there to think about? Dongzi’s a second-time husband, and she’s a virgin girl—how lucky are we?”

“Besides, the Liu family in Kuanghe Town is a big household—they run a big oil mill, filthy rich, at least ten ten-thousand-yuan households. It’s perfect for Dongzi to become a son-in-law there. He could help our family out, make our lives easier.”

With a bang, Zhou Anqin stormed out of the room and slammed the door shut. “Auntie, Kuanghe Town isn’t far—it’s only thirty miles away. Everyone knows the Liu family has a dumb daughter. Give up this idea right now. My brother won’t marry a fool.”

“You little brat!” Zhao Guifen glared with her small eyes. “So what if she’s dumb? Your brother’s a second-time husband—who else would have him? And your father’s paralyzed on the kang—when will he ever get better? That Jiang Yuyue was good, look what happened—he couldn’t keep her, she ran off.”

*Clang!* Yuan Liying threw the fire poker on the ground. “Sister-in-law, you’d better mind your own business about my Dongzi.”

“Huh?” Zhao Guifen’s face flushed. “You people are ungrateful! I’m doing this for whom? For your Dongzi! He’s a college grad, sure—but so what? He’s been at the distillery for years and still hasn’t become an official. No talent, and a second-time husband. If I don’t find him a match, he’ll die a bachelor.”

“He can stay a bachelor without your help—and he won’t marry that idiot!” Zhou Anqin shouted angrily.

“Fine, fine!” Zhao Guifen sneered. “You all have so much pride. When Zhou Andong can’t find a wife, don’t come begging me.”

Suddenly, the roar of an engine came from the gate. Zhao Guifen turned to see a Jeep parked at the entrance. Zhou Andong stepped out, then a woman followed. She was stunningly beautiful—more beautiful than any actress Zhao Guifen had ever seen on TV, and dressed in the latest fashion.

Next, Zhou Andong pulled a large TV from the car—clearly a color set—and the woman held two boxes of fruit candies and two packs of cigarettes.

“You insisted on buying them, even though I told you not to.”

“First visit—can’t come empty-handed.”

Hearing Zhou Andong and the beautiful woman speak, Zhao Guifen’s expression shifted repeatedly.

“Oh!” Zhou Andong feigned surprise at seeing Zhao Guifen. “Auntie, you’re a rare guest—what brings you here today?”

“Hmph!” Zhao Guifen snorted, wanting to leave—but her curiosity was too strong. She had to know where the TV came from and whether this woman was Zhou Andong’s new girlfriend. So she stayed.

“Brother!” Zhou Anqin rushed out at the sound, spotting the TV in Zhou Andong’s arms. “TV!”

Zhou Andong grinned. “I told you before—before the New Year, I’d get you a TV. And not just any TV—a big color set.”

Yuan Liying stared at Jian Qiu in surprise. Zhou Andong opened his mouth to introduce her, but Jian Qiu beat him to it. “Auntie, I’m Jian Qiu, Dongzi’s colleague.”

She handed the gifts to Yuan Liying. “First time visiting—I didn’t know what you’d like.”

Zhou Andong thought: Wait, does she plan to come again?

“Come on, no need to bring gifts,” Yuan Liying said warmly, taking the items. “Come inside—it’s freezing out here.”

Inside, Yuan Liying swiftly swept the kang with a broom. “The room’s a mess—quick, sit on the kang.”

“Auntie, I’m not a stranger—don’t bother,” Jian Qiu said, then turned to Zhou Xiao. “Uncle, how are you feeling?”

Zhou Xiao’s face lit up at the sight of Jian Qiu. “Not bad—no pain, no discomfort.”

Yuan Liying asked: “Girl, have you eaten?”

Jian Qiu shook her head. “Not yet.”

“Perfect!” Yuan Liying said. “Stay for lunch.”

Zhou Andong was about to say, “How could Director Jian eat here?”—but Jian Qiu answered: “Sure! I haven’t eaten since morning—I’m actually hungry. Sorry for the trouble.”

Yuan Liying waved her hands. “No trouble at all—the rice is already steaming. I’ll cook the dishes!”

Zhou Andong placed the TV on the cabinet against the north wall, watching Jian Qiu. He muttered to himself: Is this woman off her meds? But he didn’t dwell on it.

“Xiaoqin, there’s plenty of wild game in the car—come help me bring it in. We’ll have pheasant and rabbit for lunch.”

Zhou Anqin followed Zhou Andong outside, glancing back at the window. “Brother, brother—who is she? Is she my new sister-in-law?”

Zhou Andong scowled. “Don’t talk nonsense. She’s my colleague—and my superior. Today I had too much stuff, so she drove me back.”

“Huh?” Zhou Anqin drawled, sneering at Zhou Andong. “Are you stupid? She’s gorgeous, she’s your boss—and she drove you all the way back just because you had a lot of stuff? And if she was just dropping you off, why did she bring fruit candies and cigarettes? When Mom invited her to stay for lunch, she said yes right away—no hesitation at all.”