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“My aunt wants a hundred thousand,” Zhuang Jie said. “He’s been discharged for a week already, but his waist’s left with a permanent injury. He won’t be able to do heavy work anymore.”
“How old is your second uncle?”
“Fifty-something, I think.”
“A hundred thousand is fine,” Wang Xixia said. “But you need a contract. From now on, no matter what happens, your family bears no responsibility or additional costs.”
Zhuang Jie nodded. “That’s what we discussed.”
“Words mean nothing. I’ll recommend a lawyer to you tomorrow. Saves you from future disputes.” Wang Xixia flicked ash from her cigarette. “Can your uncle guarantee anything? What if his kids regret it later?”
“Can you guarantee that if your cured-meat factory grows bigger, they won’t regret it either? Don’t test human nature. That Chen family bastard—I regret it even now. He crashed into my dad, we settled it for thirty or forty thousand. Now I see him doing well and I wish I could go back and ask for five hundred thousand.”
“I did think about a lawyer,” Zhuang Jie said hesitantly, “but it feels a bit… distant.”
“It’s already been agreed the money is paid now, but your uncle said before New Year is fine. I’ve already written an IOU.”
“Soft-hearted,” Wang Xixia said, glancing at her. “If you say the ugly things first, you won’t suffer later. Didn’t your uncle make you sign one too?”
“Fine. I’ll go to a law office tomorrow and draft a contract.”
Wang Xixia stared at the ceiling for a while, then crushed out her cigarette and lay down. “You getting used to home life yet?”
“I’ve lived here over ten years. Of course I’m used to it,” Zhuang Jie said, also lying down.
“How’s that the same as before? Back then your skincare set was a hundred-something yuan. Now it’s two or three thousand, right?”
“I’m used to living here. Just winter bathing is troublesome,” Zhuang Jie said. “I can’t go to public baths, and the hot water at home isn’t stable.”
“Why don’t you renovate? Install underfloor heating and proper systems?”
“Later,” she said lightly. “I don’t have the energy to deal with the house right now.”
Wang Xixia exhaled. “People are funny. They take themselves too seriously. If you think of yourself as a monkey in a zoo, everything becomes easier to swallow.”
Zhuang Jie laughed softly. “Sleep, monkey.”
—
The next day, back in Nanping Town, she first brought clothes to Chen Maidong. Grandma Chen tried to give her money, but she refused, saying Chen Maidong would settle it later. The old woman insisted anyway, stuffing the money into her hand.
“I can only buy my grandson some clothes,” she said. “Don’t take away even that bit of happiness from me.”
Zhuang Jie couldn’t refuse again and accepted it.
She withdrew money from her credit card and transferred part of it to Luo Tao so she could buy chickens. The rest would go into shop renovation, gift boxes, and packaging. Tomorrow she planned to negotiate with a pharmaceutical factory. It was already December—most companies issued employee benefits around New Year.
Upstairs, He Niaoniao was using a Dyson mite vacuum, proudly reporting that she had cleaned everything—floor, sofa, bed. Ever since Zhuang Jie shipped the vacuum back from Shanghai, the girl had taken over all cleaning duties. If not stopped, she might have even chased the spring goose around with it.
The spring goose flapped its wings excitedly when it saw Zhuang Jie, almost tripping her. She kicked it lightly, then pulled a candy from her bag and fed it.
“Take the goose to Xixi Village later for a swim,” she told He Niaoniao.
“I can’t. I’ve got tutoring.”
Zhuang Jie went to cook dinner. There was braised meat in the fridge, so she simply made meat broth noodles. She called He Niaoniao down to eat, then packed another bowl into a thermal container and brought it to Luo Tao at the factory.
Luo Tao was just about to go home when Zhuang Jie arrived. She sat down and ate while asking about things. Zhuang Jie pulled out a notebook and explained the loan interest—it was a good deal, even lower than a mortgage. Approval was still pending, expected next Monday.
Luo Tao was satisfied. She was most satisfied with her eldest daughter—efficient, decisive, just like her.
Her first husband had been bookish, like a teacher. The second wasn’t a businessman either—too shy to even charge regular customers for roast chicken. Her only son lacked backbone too.
Sometimes she would scold him harshly, saying he was too soft, not man enough.
—
When Chen Maidong got home from work, Grandma Chen immediately started scolding him.
“What kind of man are you? Don’t you feel ashamed letting a girl buy your underwear?”
“I was busy.”
“Couldn’t I go buy it for you?”
“Your taste is too bad…”
“So you can let Xiao Jie buy it? Learn some respect!”
“She didn’t say anything,” he asked.
“She didn’t need to.”
He sat down to eat, annoyed at how much she nagged.
Grandma Chen poked his head. “Stubborn boy.”
Then she suddenly clutched her chest.
“Chest pain?” he put down his chopsticks.
“Go see that girl tomorrow,” she said. “She works at the pharmaceutical factory as a quality inspector. Pretty too.”
“I’m not going.”
“You trying to kill me?” she pretended to hit him, then muttered, “I used to think Xiao Jie was nice, but she’s going back to Shanghai anyway.”
“You like her?” he asked casually.
“What’s the point of me liking her?” she waved him off. “And I’m not even talking about your two-bit skills—” she cut herself off and rushed out the door. There was a supermarket sale on eggs.
Chen Maidong tried on the clothes one by one, then sent her a message:
“Thanks. Good taste.”
Zhuang Jie was by the river in Xixi Village with her goose. She replied:
“Don’t mention it.”
He asked where she was.
“Walking the goose in Xixi Village.”
“Have you eaten?”
“It’s already this late.”
“Want lamb skewers at Lao Ma’s?”
“No.”
He typed for a while, then sent:
“Business talk.”
Zhuang Jie replied: “What business do we have?”
“Chicken orders. Two thousand.”
She replied instantly:
“Lao Ma, see you.”
She grabbed the goose, placed it on her electric scooter, and sped off.
—
When Chen Maidong arrived, Zhuang Jie was already there, standing by the grill.
“Winter boy, order whatever you want!” she called.
He ordered ten lamb skewers, lamb chops, and grilled potatoes. Zhuang Jie sat down with the goose in her arms.
“That all?”
“Enough,” he said.
She poured him tea.
“I talked to the porcelain factory today,” he said directly. “They’re giving employee benefits at year-end. You just go sign the contract.”
“Are you two close?”
“Family connection,” he said vaguely.
Zhuang Jie patted his shoulder. “Got it. Thanks.”
Then she insisted on ordering baijiu, saying she owed him a drink.
He didn’t refuse. “Come by my house more often. My grandma likes you. I’m busy, and she’s annoying when she talks too much.”
“Sure,” she said. “She’s my grandma too.”
He smiled faintly. “You’re quite loyal. I misunderstood you before.”
“What did you misunderstand?”
“That you were cold when I texted you. But the moment I mentioned business, you moved faster than anyone.”
She laughed. “Misunderstanding. Huge misunderstanding.”
He just shook his head.
She studied him openly, then said, “Looks good. Hanging there is seven out of ten, on you it’s ten.”
The room was warm. He took off his jacket. She looked at him again—broad shoulders, narrow waist, solid build.
Before they could eat much, he got a call. His grandmother had caused trouble at the supermarket.
He left.
—
That night, Zhuang Jie told Wang Xixia that Chen Maidong had helped her secure factory orders.
Wang Xixia replied: “His father and the factory boss are cousins. They grew up together.”
Only then did Zhuang Jie understand.
She sent Chen Maidong a message:
“Thanks for the porcelain factory deal. No need to say more.”
He was soaking his feet when he saw it. He wiped his hands, went outside, and leaned against the wall to smoke.
“Don’t mention it.”
Then he asked: “What are you doing?”
“Replying to your messages while soaking my feet.”
“We?”
“Xixia and you :-)”
He paused, then typed:
“I went on a blind date recently.”
She perked up.
“How was it?”
“Didn’t click.”
She comforted him:
“Try again. Not clicking is a hard injury.”
Then she asked:
“What’s your type? I’ll see if I know anyone.”
He replied:
“No specific type.”
Then asked her back:
“What about you?”
She thought.
“Stronger than me. Someone I can rely on completely. Someone who takes care of me more.”
He replied:
“I have a standard now too. Someone who can let me be relied on unconditionally.”
Zhuang Jie: “Get lost.”
He: “Are you a peacock?”
Outside, Grandma Chen almost tripped over him crouching by the wall, thinking it was a black dog.
Inside, Chen Maidong leaned back on the sofa, staring at the ceiling.
—
Zhuang Jie had never been loved in a straightforward way. No one had ever really confessed to her. Even her only relationship began with her first move and ended quietly after a year.
She liked many people at first sight, but the feeling always faded with time.
Wang Xixia once said she confused liking with novelty. But Zhuang Jie didn’t care.
With enough exposure, everyone turned out ordinary.
Not good enough.
She had once resented her disability because of someone named Ji Tong—but later realized it had nothing to do with her condition.
It was about people who couldn’t accept it.
Everyone had flaws—family, appearance, height, body.
No one could change those things.
Finding a partner meant finding someone who could accept imperfection.
If they couldn’t, then leave.
That was all.
Later, Wang Xixia asked:
“Do you still like Chen Maidong?”
Zhuang Jie replied:
“It’s not really liking. It’s admiration.”
Wang Xixia: “Get out.”
She insisted:
“I do admire him.”
Wang Xixia asked again:
“Whatever it is—does that feeling still exist?”
Zhuang Jie paused.
“Yes.”
“He makes me feel safe. Like someone in his line of work… you feel protected.”
Wang Xixia: “……”
Zhuang Jie added:
“He thinks I’m frivolous. Like I’m experienced in relationships.”
Wang Xixia: “I also think you look like someone experienced in relationships.”
Zhuang Jie said:
“It depends how he sees me. Friends don’t interfere in each other’s values. But partners are different—you have to live your whole life together.”
After a pause, she added:
“At first I thought he liked me. But maybe I was overthinking. He probably just sees me as a friend.”
Wang Xixia didn’t reply.
She had gone to shower.
Later she asked:
“So—this feeling for him. Still there or not?”
Zhuang Jie replied:
“It is.”
