Chapter 37 Just Feeling Sorry for You

Chapter 37: Just Feeling Sorry for You

It snowed outside over the weekend.

Old Mr. and Mrs. Lu took advantage of the weekend to stock up on some more vegetables, and ran into Lu Cheng, who was also stocking up. Lu Cheng helped carry their things back home.

Lu Cheng seemed to have lost more weight. Old Mr. and Mrs. Lu couldn't help but feel a pang of pity, so they told him to stay for dinner.

Lu Yun suddenly realized why she had an inexplicable dislike for that new person assigned to Sister Lü's workshop, even though she'd never met her.

The deputy factory director's description of her sounded a lot like her sister-in-law!

Lu Cheng leaned in with a sincere expression. Lu Yun really wanted to ruffle his hair like she used to—she'd always been close with her little brother.

Lu Yun resisted the urge, but Lu Cheng said, "Sis, are you mad at me?"

Lu Yun said, "It's not about blaming you—I just feel bad for you."

Lu Cheng looked even more endearing in his pitifulness, and Lu Yun finally ruffled his hair. She said, "Take better care of yourself."

Lu Cheng said, "Thanks, Sis!"

Old Mr. Lu made radish and pork rib soup—light and savory.

Lu Yun had two bowls of soup and a good amount of ribs. After stuffing herself, she went back to her room and just vegged out.

In the past, Lu Yun used to go shopping or just chill at home on weekends. But since she started earning money, working on the courtyard house, and then dating, she rarely got a whole day to just veg out.

When Lu Cheng left, Old Mr. Lu glanced at Lu Yun's room with a look of relief.

Old Mrs. Lu asked, "What's up with you?"

Old Mr. Lu said, "At least there's one person in this family who isn't lovesick."

Old Mrs. Lu said, "That's true, Lu Yun has been sensible since she was little!"

If both kids turned out like Lu Cheng, their hair would be gray by now.

As soon as Aunt Han got back, Aunt Jiang went after her. "What have you been up to? Why are you heading out before sunrise every day? Are you going to your daughter-in-law's folks' place?"

Aunt Jiang had no clue about Aunt Han's family drama. All she knew was that Zhao Lan was pregnant and had stormed off to her parents' house in a huff. The Han family had no decency—even if Zhao Lan had a fight with them, they shouldn't have let a pregnant woman go home to her folks by herself, and her family lived out in the countryside, with no buses running at that hour.

Aunt Han must be going out every day to beg her daughter-in-law to come home. She'd been at it for days, and Aunt Jiang had no idea how she was getting shot down at the Zhao place. Just thinking about it made Aunt Jiang feel smug.

Aunt Jiang said, "Your daughter-in-law is something else. You've gone to get her so many times as her mother-in-law, and she still won't come back? What about Sun Zhi? Why didn't he go with you on a weekend like this?"

Aunt Han said, "What goes on in our family is none of your business!"

Aunt Jiang said, "I'm just worried about you, thinking maybe I could help talk to her. Why would you say something like that?"

When Sun's father came out, Aunt Jiang put on an even more pitiful look.

Sun's father said, "Thanks, but our family's business is none of your concern."

Aunt Jiang didn't argue, just looked even more hurt.

Lu Yun was inside eating snacks and enjoying the drama, thinking she had to say, Aunt Jiang was truly in love with Sun's father!

Who else in the courtyard could get Aunt Jiang to shut up with a single word? If Aunt Han had said that, Aunt Jiang would be raising a ruckus in the courtyard right now.

The snow had stopped, so Lu Yun headed out to grab some fruit. There weren't many fruits to eat in winter—apples were the main one, and Lu Yun quite liked apples. Winter jujubes were fine too—she liked those as well.

Out in front of the courtyard, Aunt Jiang and Sun's father were standing together. Sun's father had that guilty look, just like Sun Zhi—or rather, Sun Zhi's guilty look when he messed up was probably because he took after his dad. Aunt Jiang looked totally calm and even had the nerve to flirt with Sun's father.

Aunt Jiang said, "What's going on with your family anyway? Why did Zhao Lan go back to her folks' place? This is your grandchild—how could she go back to her parents' house while pregnant with your grandchild? Do you want me to think of a way to help?"

Aunt Jiang was practically clinging to Sun's father.

When Sun's father saw Lu Yun, he immediately stepped back several feet and said sternly, "Our family's matters have nothing to do with you. Don't bring up my family in front of me or my wife again, or next time don't blame me for being rude!"

Sun's father nodded at Lu Yun and walked back into the courtyard.

Aunt Jiang rolled her eyes at Lu Yun and asked with a fake smile, "Going out?"

Lu Yun said, "Auntie, next time you're with Uncle Sun, don't stand so close."

Aunt Jiang said, "What does it have to do with you whether I stand close to him or not!"

Lu Yun said, "What does Uncle Sun's family have to do with you? And what does it have to do with you whether I go out or not?"

Don't think she didn't know why Aunt Jiang rolled her eyes at her. She wanted to talk to Sun's father, so she didn't want Lu Yun to leave—what kind of logic was that?

Aunt Jiang said, "You're getting sharper and sharper with your tongue!"

Lu Yun said, "Thanks for the compliment, Auntie!"

Having lost to Lu Yun, Aunt Jiang deliberately said, "I heard your matchmaking date walked you home last time? You're not officially dating yet, so you should still be a bit more reserved."

Aunt Jiang was telling her to be reserved?

Lu Yun smiled and said, "Auntie, you're really managing more and more things these days."

Lu Yun rolled her eyes just like Aunt Jiang had and went off to buy fruit. She had just come out to buy fruit and hadn't exposed anything about Aunt Jiang and Sun's father, yet Aunt Jiang was annoyed that she had interrupted them?

Aunt Jiang was furious and went back into the courtyard, giving everyone a sour look, especially Old Mr. Lu, whom she glared at darkly.

Lu Yun came back with the fruit and said she had run into Aunt Jiang and Sun's father outside.

Old Mr. Lu said, "No wonder she gave me that look."

It wasn't the impulsiveness of youth anymore—Aunt Jiang's daughter-in-law had already given her a grandson, yet she was still so infatuated with Sun's father. Lu Yun couldn't understand it.

And Aunt Jiang's husband—he had treated her well since they got married, and after all these years, Aunt Jiang still had no romantic feelings for him.

Lu Yun thought of Lu Cheng, and the thought that Lu Cheng might still be lovesick even when his hair turned white made her feel utterly speechless.

Lu Yun said, "When Lu Cheng's hair turns white, he won't still be like this, will he?"

Old Mr. Lu said, "At least they're a proper married couple."

That was the only way to comfort themselves.

In the morning, Lu Yun arrived at the office. It was cold outside, so she drank some hot water before sitting down.

Perhaps because the factory had new orders, things had gotten busy.

Sister Lü came to their logistics department to request supplies. Since their department had a sufficient budget, they didn't hold things up.

Chen Qiao whispered to Lu Yun, "Look at Sister Lü's face."

Sister Lü's face looked even worse than it did when Chen Shu was working in her workshop. It wasn't hard to guess that the troublemaker was the new person the Deputy Factory Director had foisted onto Sister Lü's team.

At noon, when Lu Yun arrived at the cafeteria, she was hoping to hear some juicy gossip, but she didn't hear anything about Sister Lü. Probably because Sister Lü hadn't kicked up a fuss this time.

Sister Lü knew it was a factory order, and unlike Chen Shu, this newcomer was a different story. Even though she was angry and frustrated, she held it all in. When Sister Lü came to their logistics department, she didn't say a single extra word.

Sister Lü ate a bit more at lunch to soothe her mood.

The cafeteria served braised pork bites at noon, which Lu Yun really liked. She finished the whole portion, even the peppers. The only catch was that the peppers were a bit spicier this time, and after finishing, Lu Yun downed nearly a whole thermos of water.

Chen Qiao walked back with Lu Yun and said, "I've been making some money at my stall lately, but it's exhausting and grueling."

It was more than just tough, and Lu Yun knew it. It was freezing out now, and running a stall was brutal. But when she thought about the money she could make, Lu Yun didn't feel tired anymore.

After complaining about how tiring and tough it was, Chen Qiao's face lit up, her eyes gleaming with hunger for money.

Chen Qiao: "Want to go shopping together this weekend?"

Lu Yun: "Sure."

That was the perk of making money—no more suffering through the misery of pinching pennies.

Zhou Yanze wanted to invite Lu Yun shopping this weekend, but unfortunately, Lu Yun was a bit sensitive to the cold. Zhou Yanze was also a guy who knew how to read the room; every time he invited Lu Yun out, he'd pick activities she was actually up for.

Lu Yun was happy to go shopping with Zhou Yanze, too, but this weekend she had to pass. She had already made plans with Chen Qiao in advance.

Lu Yun: "If I agree to go out with you, Chen Qiao will definitely say I'm putting romance over friendship."

Zhou Yanze: "The fact that you even have a hint of that thought makes me really happy."

Lu Yun looked up at Zhou Yanze and said, "Just a tiny bit—just a tiny bit, and I'd be ditching Chen Qiao for you."

Zhou Yanze: "I'm truly honored. I hope there'll be a chance in the future where you'd put me before a friend."

Zhou Yanze couldn't land a date with Lu Yun this weekend, so this time he locked her in for the weekend after next, before Chen Qiao and Lu Yun could make plans.

The weekend after next, Zhou Yanze invited Lu Yun to see a movie, since a new film was coming out that weekend.

Lu Yun suspected Zhou Yanze had planned this all along—shopping this weekend, a movie the next. Otherwise, how would he know a movie was releasing the weekend after next? Then she wondered if she was overthinking it.

Lu Yun: "And the weekend after that one?"

Zhou Yanze smiled and said, "Looks like you've got me figured out. I already bought tickets for a concert the weekend after next."

Whether it was a date with Zhou Yanze or shopping with Chen Qiao, those would have to wait until the weekend. The next day, Lu Yun went to work as usual.

Sister He was dishing gossip to Lu Yun and Chen Qiao, and talking didn't slow her knitting one bit.

Lu Yun: "Sister He, do you want to take a break?"

Sister He wasn't tired at all. She said, "You young folks have no idea how important making money is."

Lu Yun and Chen Qiao both knew, of course, but Sister He's family was just incredibly hardworking—the kind that could go without rest.

Lu Yun thought about it and could understand. Once the weather warmed up, Sister He wouldn't have as many chances to make money.

Sister He: "You know that Xiao Lü in the workshop, right? Someone from my compound works in her workshop, and they told me a relative of a higher-up got transferred in."

Lu Yun and Chen Qiao were both all ears.

This was the gossip Lu Yun had been waiting for.

Bringing up this relative, Sister He clicked her tongue a few times, put down her knitting, and sat right next to Lu Yun and Chen Qiao to tell them all about it.

Author's note:

None.