Chapter 38 Don’t Get Excited Yet

Chapter 38: Calm Down First

Sister He: "I heard this person acts all high and mighty all day long, working in the workshop. Sister Lü tried to help her out, but she asked if Sister Lü had some ulterior motive, and even told Sister Lü not to be so busy playing politics all the time. When Sister Lü stopped helping and got busy with work, she went up to Sister Lü herself and asked if Sister Lü had a problem with her."

Lu Yun and Chen Qiao knew she was the person Deputy Factory Director had squeezed into Sister Lü's workshop. Others didn't know, and they were all guessing what her deal was.

Sister He: "Now in the workshop, some female workers with ulterior motives are actively trying to build relationships with her. She's got people all around her in the workshop, and some even help her with her work. She went to Sister Lü again and told her to keep them in line."

Chen Qiao: "Huh?"

Sister He: "Even after all that, I didn't dare get into it with her in the workshop. So you tell me, who the heck is she?"

In the morning, Sister Lü came by again, looking green around the gills, like a firecracker about to blow. Sister Lü came to the logistics department to handle some business, and Sister He handled it, being extra quick about it—she really didn't want to get into a fight with her.

At noon, Lu Yun didn't eat at the cafeteria with Chen Qiao. The two of them went out together, and regretted it the second they stepped out—it was freezing.

Lu Yun and Chen Qiao had made money, so they didn't have to pinch pennies anymore. Especially since both of them loved eating and drinking, they'd rarely gone out at noon lately—both of them thought it was too cold. But today they gave in to the craving and came out for some crab roe soup dumplings.

Before they even reached the shop, they ran into Sister Lü. Sister Lü didn't see them and was rushing ahead.

They happened to be heading the same way—the dumpling shop was in the same direction Sister Lü was going.

Near the crab roe soup dumpling shop there was a park. Sister Lü had just reached the park entrance when she stopped and let out an "ah!" like she was letting off steam, then another "ah!" like it felt good.

Chen Qiao: "Even your cousin never got Sister Lü this worked up."

Lu Yun and Chen Qiao went to order the crab roe soup dumplings—they were so fresh it hit the spot.

After she finished, Lu Yun wanted to try their crab roe noodles too, but she was too stuffed. She figured she could come back with Chen Qiao another time. If their soup dumplings were that good, the noodles had to be good too, right?

On their way back, they ran into Sister Lü again. Sister Lü looked way more chill and greeted them first.

Chen Qiao: "Looks like it actually worked."

Lu Yun: "Seems like it."

Sister Lü's color looked a lot better too.

Chen Qiao: "Sister He was right. She said if she'd gotten into it with Sister Lü this morning, Sister Lü would've used the fight to blow off steam at her, and Sister Lü's at her most dangerous at times like that."

Lu Yun: "Makes sense."

After going out to eat and coming back, the two of them started goofing off again in the afternoon.

Before leaving work in the afternoon, Lu Yun asked their office manager for the day off. It wasn't for anything else—Sister He's order was ready, and Lu Yun needed the next day off to go sell at her stall and make some money. Their office manager was cool with it, since the office wasn't busy anyway, and approved it, just adding a few extra words of advice.

On her way back, Lu Yun passed the deputy director's office and heard a familiar voice—Sister Lü.

Sister Lü let out a screech before yelling: "That woman is seriously messed up! In the afternoon I didn't talk to her, and she told me if I had a problem with her, I should say it to her face. What problem could I possibly have with her! Do I even dare to have a problem? I told her I had no problem with her, and that it was fine if she was new and a slow learner. But then she refused to clock out, saying she absolutely had to get it down! If she won't leave, does that mean nobody else can leave? Does she think the garment factory is her own private company? I told her to go home and practice, and she said there's no sewing machine at home!"

Deputy Factory Director: "Calm down first!"

Sister Lü: "What do you mean 'calm down first'? How am I supposed to calm down? Surely nobody's supposed to stay and practice with her!"

Deputy Factory Director: "You've worked hard for this factory for years, and you could get a promotion. Look, how about... you stay with her?"

Sister Lü: "No need! There are people in the workshop who want to stay with her! I really don't get it—the guy who likes a woman like her must have water in his head!"

Lu Yun hightailed it out of there before Sister Lü came out.

On her way home, Lu Yun ran into her dad and Lu Cheng. Lu Cheng was dragging his feet behind their dad, only cracking a smile when he saw Lu Yun.

Her lovesick idiot of a brother—Lu Yun couldn't help feeling sorry for him.

Lu Yun told them about what happened at the factory, and their dad shot Lu Cheng a few dirty looks.

Lu Yun: "Look on the bright side—at least your future wife is better than that one."

If her future sister-in-law were like that girl Sister Lü was talking about, Lu Yun would want to go to the park and scream too.

Lu's dad: "That doesn't make me feel better."

Lu Cheng started to say something starting with "she" but their dad told him to shut up.

Both Lu's dad and Lu Cheng were heading to the market. Lu's dad didn't want to go with Lu Cheng, so he called Lu Yun to walk home with him instead. It didn't matter that they didn't buy anything today—there was still food at home. Lu's dad was thinking about what to make and talking it over with Lu Yun.

Lu's dad: "How about some sour soup dumplings?"

Lu Yun hadn't had sour soup dumplings in ages. If her dad hadn't mentioned it, she wouldn't have thought about it, but the second he said it, her mouth was practically watering. She nodded eagerly at her dad.

When the two of them got back to the courtyard, Aunt Jiang was standing in the yard looking around. When she saw them, she let out a "hmph," and Lu Yun hmphed right back. Aunt Jiang said nothing.

Lu Yun went home and had some hot water, and Aunt Jiang was still standing outside.

She wasn't even fazed by the cold.

Who knows if she was waiting for Uncle Sun to come back.

Lu Yun: "Has Aunt Jiang's husband still not come back?"

Lu's dad: "Should be soon. Last time we talked, he said he was pretty busy this time."

Busy he was, and when he was busy, he really raked in the money. Aunt Jiang's husband was a truck driver who traveled all over the country. Since marrying him, Aunt Jiang had a really good life—every time he came back, he'd bring trendy stuff and food.

Sour soup dumplings, tangy and spicy—Lu Yun really wanted some.

Lu Yun added more vinegar and chili oil. Lu's mom watched Lu Yun slurping the soup and told her to slow down.

Everyone in the courtyard had already finished dinner by the time Aunt Han got back. Aunt Jiang got even more suspicious of Aunt Han.

Aunt Jiang: "Back this late?"

Aunt Han didn't answer and went straight inside.

Aunt Jiang thought Aunt Han must be up to something—who knows what she's been doing lately!

Lu Yun had to head out at the crack of dawn the next morning. She was heading to Sister He's place. This batch was pretty big, so Sister He hadn't brought it to Lu Yun directly—Lu Yun had to go pick it up.

Aunt Jiang was out even earlier than Lu Yun. They ran into each other but didn't say a word—one went left, the other right.

Aunt Jiang wrapped her head in a scarf and looked around left and right, but in the end, she firmly decided to follow Aunt Han!

Lu Yun got to the He house. The whole family was there, treating Lu Yun so warmly that she felt a bit socially awkward. Sister He's mother-in-law even brought out a bunch of scarves for Lu Yun, saying they were gifts. Lu Yun didn't make a fuss—she took the goods and went straight to set up her stall.

Sister He's mother-in-law sighed: "Pretty, good at making money, and not petty at all. Even when you praise her, she doesn't get a big head. What a great girl—we definitely need to stay on her good side!"

It was just a shame that after one or two more orders, Lu Yun probably wouldn't order again—by then it'd be warming up.

Once she got to the department store, Lu Yun started setting up her stall.

Every time Lu Yun set up her stall here, she'd always sell out, but this time sales were slower than before. Lu Yun wasn't worried, though. That afternoon, she hit up other department stores, and this time business was straight-up booming, since it was her first time at those spots.

She had a ton of stock this time. Lu Yun didn't wrap up until it was dark, and even then she had a few items and scarves left, so she called it quits and headed home early.

She knew when to take care of herself.

She made money every time, but she didn't always head home buzzing. This time, she wasn't all that thrilled.

Lu Yun only felt human again after a shower. Once she settled down, she started counting her cash, and her eyes lit up more and more—she couldn't believe it!

Lu Yun now had over five thousand yuan in total. If she really pushed herself, she could even hit ten-thousand-yuan household status by year's end!

Lu Yun couldn't even wrap her head around it—she used to be living paycheck to paycheck!

Lu Yun wasn't tired anymore—she had to add more dishes, no question!

Lu Yun: "Dad, I'm gonna run to the restaurant and grab a few more dishes to bring back. Let's celebrate!"

Lu Yun went to the restaurant and grabbed four dishes to go. She wanted to get even more, but any more and they'd never finish it all.

When she got to the alley, Lu Yun saw Aunt Han glance around, then square her shoulders and head back inside. Right after, Aunt Jiang swaggered back in, but she kept eyeballing Aunt Han. Both were so wrapped up in their own thoughts that they didn't even notice Lu Yun.

By evening, Lu Yun's dad was a bit tipsy, praising her so much she felt embarrassed.

Lu Yun's dad thought she was braver than he was. Lu Yun's mom was worried he'd be too hungover for work the next day, so she talked him into stopping.

The wind was howling outside, but inside the warm room, Lu Yun counted her earnings again.

The future was looking bright!

The Sun family couldn't sleep a wink. Aunt Han had been watching for days and hadn't seen Zhao Lan getting close to any man, so the kid might really be Sun Zhi's—this was their grandson.

Aunt Han: "If it's our grandson, we gotta get Zhao Lan back here!"

Sun's dad: "Right, if it's our grandson, we gotta bring Zhao Lan back."

Sun Zhi didn't object either—this was his son, and he was even more eager!

Aunt Han: "The whole family needs to go to the Zhao's, or Zhao Lan probably won't come back with us."

Sun's dad: "Let's go, all of us. Why do we have to apologize to her just because she's pregnant? Back then, their family pretended to be honest and married their daughter into our family. We haven't even gone to confront them yet!"

With this excuse, Aunt Han sat up a bit straighter. Was this really only their fault? If it weren't for the child in Zhao Lan's belly, she wouldn't have said anything about going to the Zhao family, let alone go and admit fault to them!

The Sun family didn't eat and didn't want to eat. When it came to going to the Zhao family, none of them were willing. After Zhao Lan came back, because of the child in her belly, they couldn't treat her the same as before.

Sun Zhi really didn't want to go. He said, "Let's wait until the weekend."

Aunt Jiang was at home thinking hard. Why wasn't Aunt Han anxious about her grandson? She hid near the Zhao family and watched them!

Aunt Jiang suddenly had a revelation, as if she knew the truth—the Zhao family suspected that the child wasn't Sun Zhi's!

Aunt Han wasn't going to find her daughter-in-law and apologize; she wanted to see if the child her daughter-in-law was carrying was really her grandson's!

This was her grandson!

She had to keep a close watch these next few days. With that thought, she also began to suspect Zhao Lan!

Early in the morning, before dawn, Lu Yun had just gotten up when she saw Aunt Jiang, wearing a scarf, headscarf, and glasses, swaggering out of the courtyard.

After Lu Yun washed up and was about to go to work, she saw Aunt Han, who had been going out early every day these past few days, slowly coming out to cook.

Author's note:

None