Chapter 80

Sister Yue Bai wanted Meizhu to stay and continue working at the store, but Meizhu firmly disagreed, saying she had come to the city with Manager Chen, and now that Manager Chen was no longer the manager, she naturally was no longer an employee. Sister Yue Bai said the Township Government Enterprise Office would re-hire her and increase her salary, but Meizhu still disagreed. Sister Yue Bai couldn't do anything, so she had to watch helplessly as Meizhu followed behind me and left.

I was also deeply puzzled by Meizhu's behavior. Since the Enterprise Office was trying to retain you to continue working, why leave? Could it be that you, Xi Meizhu, are going back to Suxi Township? Pan Xiaoqin opened a supermarket; what are you going to open?

Meizhu smiled without saying a word. After leaving the door, she led me away. After winding through several streets, she stood in front of a store with very impressive decor and pointed to a sign hanging on the side, saying, "This is your store."

I was so surprised my eyeballs were about to roll out. Xi Meizhu, what kind of trick are you playing?

Then I saw Wu Qian walk out with a smile, pointing at Meizhu and shouting exaggeratedly, "Dead girl, we agreed on two hours, and I helped you watch the store. What time is it now?" She stretched her wrist under Meizhu's nose, revealing a watch she was wearing, and said, "Eight hours!"

Meizhu hugged her shoulders, accompanied by a smiling face, and said, "Sister Wu Qian, you've worked hard. I couldn't just sneak away alone. How about this, I'll treat you to a big meal tonight, okay?"

Wu Qian pouted and said, "I don't care for your big meal. I'm leaving." She looked at me and walked over, saying, "Chen Feng, don't you recognize me anymore? You didn't even say hello."

I squeezed a smile onto my face and said, "What are you all doing?"

Wu Qian pursed her lips and smiled, saying, "If you want to know why, go ask your Aunt Jiang Xiaoyue and Meizhu. These two women, for the sake of a little man, don't even know what their own surnames are anymore."

I became even more suspicious, and my heart began to feel uneasy.

Meizhu smiled and pulled me into the store, sat down in a small room in the back, and went out to tell Bai Ling, "We'll eat together tonight. Sister Wu Qian, please help me call Aunt, and your husband, Section Chief Fu, should come too."

I heard Wu Qian teasing playfully, "Yo, you haven't married him yet, and you're already treating yourself as one of the family. Look, how well you've arranged it. Do you want to invite Chen Feng's parents too?"

Meizhu's voice came in, saying, "Okay, I'll go invite them."

I was startled and hurriedly went out to say to Meizhu, "My mother is in poor health, forget it."

"It's okay, I'll call a taxi to go over and send you home later." Meizhu pushed me and said, "You go inside and rest; I'll arrange things here."

I had no choice but to go inside and look at the store full of miscellaneous goods, all dazzling to the eyes. An inexpressible emotion welled up in my heart. Xi Meizhu's store—she hadn't revealed a single bit of information to me beforehand, not even Pan Xiaoqin had said a word. Setting those two aside, my Aunt hadn't mentioned a thing to me either. What kind of trick were these four women playing together? No wonder I couldn't see any goods in the company, no wonder the accounts were so balanced. What was their purpose in doing all this behind my back?

Seeing my puzzled expression, Meizhu pursed her lips and smiled, saying, "What are you thinking about?"

I touched my head and said, "I don't understand."

"I'll make you understand. You'll understand when we eat tonight." Meizhu handed me a glass of water and said softly, "Without Aunt, no one could have come up with this idea."

Her eyes were full of admiration, and a look of longing covered her face as she said, "If I could learn half of Aunt's skills, I wouldn't be afraid to travel the world."

I said, "Okay, I'll listen to what this is all about tonight. But, Meizhu, don't go to my house to pick up my mother and the others; her health is really not good."

"Oh, it's my fault." Meizhu slapped her forehead and said with immense apology, "I've been too busy lately, and I haven't had time to go to your house."

I said, "This has nothing to do with you."

"It has everything to do with me." Meizhu suddenly raised her eyebrows in anger and said, "You're not at home, so it's our duty to go take care of the elders. Not taking good care of them is a dereliction of duty."

I comforted her, saying, "It really has nothing to do with you. It's me, the son, who hasn't done well."

She chuckled and said, "Aren't you out there being an official? Since ancient times, it's said that loyalty and filial piety cannot be fulfilled at the same time. You went to fulfill your loyalty, how could you still take care of filial piety?"

I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. I was just a little secretary in Suxi Township, with no position in the administrative hierarchy. In three years, I hadn't moved an inch. Does this count as being an official?

"Aunt said that you won't stay in Suxi for your whole life. Someone as talented as you will shine brightly one day." Meizhu bent down to move a box of drinks from the floor, her full buttocks swaying before my eyes.

I closed my eyes and smiled sadly.

She suddenly lowered her voice mysteriously and said, "Do you know you have a cousin-uncle? Aunt's cousin, hehehehe." She laughed: "Aunt didn't even know this cousin, but she insisted on dragging me along to see him."

She was like someone doing Taiji, throwing punches here and there, leaving me stunned and completely unable to grasp the situation.

I felt restless and annoyed by her calling her "Aunt" every other word, as if my Aunt were her own, calling her so naturally and affectionately.

"What cousin-uncle?" I asked.

"Municipal Party Committee Deputy Secretary He Zhi." She straightened her back, brushed a strand of hair that had fallen to the corner of her eye behind her ear, and said proudly, "A big official."

I became even more confused.

"Municipal Party Committee Deputy Secretary?"

"Yes."

"My cousin-uncle?"

"Yes."

"Where did this cousin-uncle come from?"

"Who knows? Anyway, he is your cousin-uncle, and he has been to your house."

Meizhu looked at my foolish expression, handed me a stack of money, and said, "Go book a private room at the Linyin Hotel. If you go late, you won't be able to book one."

I took the money in a daze and walked out the door in a daze.

Just as I reached the door, Meizhu called me back and said, "Why don't you invite Sister Yue Bai tonight?"

I looked back at her without speaking. Meizhu explained, "I know about Sister Yue Bai's situation. Now she's a widow with a child, and she's not familiar with the city. No matter what, we are still from the same place." She didn't continue.

I hesitated and said, "Wouldn't that be inconvenient?"

She looked at me suspiciously and said, "What's inconvenient about it? Isn't it just having a meal?"

"Another day," I said. "Aren't you guys going to tell me a story tonight? It wouldn't be appropriate for her to be there."

Meizhu thought for a moment, nodded, and said expressionlessly, "That's fine, we'll do as you say."

My heart suddenly softened. I knew that Sister Yue Bai, who appeared strong on the surface, was actually as fragile as glass inside. With just a little impact, she would shatter into a mess.

After leaving, I remembered that I had been out all day and hadn't even made a phone call home. Xue Bing was still waiting for me to return, and a wave of sweetness welled up in me.