At this moment, Zhao Jun looked very different from the Zhao Jun in Wang Ying’s memory.
She clearly remembered the last time they had faced each other—his expression had left a deep impression on her.
Though he had been just as scruffy and unkempt then, when facing Wang Ying, he had carried a sense of superiority that even he himself hadn’t noticed.
Later, Wang Ying had thought about that encounter. Logically speaking, she hadn’t needed to admit in front of Zhao Jun that she, like him, was no longer the original Wang Ying. A few vague words would have sufficed, and the matter could have passed.
Zhao Jun didn’t seem like someone who would cling stubbornly to it either.
But Wang Ying just hadn’t been able to hold back.
Looking back, she attributed it to some lingering resentment left in the original owner’s body.
A deep grievance toward Zhao Jun.
That resentment had peaked when Zhao Jun displayed that unconscious air of condescension.
But Wang Ying didn’t regret it at all. She felt the original owner’s grievance wasn’t wrong. She had been unlucky her whole life. Outsiders saw her as glamorous, married to a good man. In reality, her efforts had been belittled, her contributions erased.
Being a stepmother—how easy was that?
Even Wang Lingling, driven by self-interest, couldn’t endure being Zhao Jun’s children’s stepmother. One could imagine how dire the original owner’s situation must have been in her previous life.
Wang Ying glanced at Zhao Jun in the distance. His clothes were stained, his hair messy, still maintaining order at the factory gates after work.
Heh. Without a woman willing to devote herself at home, his life didn’t seem so great either.
Knowing you’re not doing well makes me feel at ease.jpg
Humming a little tune, Wang Ying mounted her bicycle and sped toward the state-owned restaurant.
The sugar factory wasn’t far from the restaurant—about twenty minutes on foot, six or seven minutes by bike. Wang Ying pedaled swiftly, parked at the entrance, and went inside.
No wonder it was the largest restaurant in the county. Compared to the two or three tables at Xipo Town during dinner rush, the county restaurant was bustling in the evening.
A few bachelors had gathered to drink, a large family seemed to be celebrating something, and a pair who looked like officials were discussing business face-to-face…
The occupancy rate must have been seventy or eighty percent.
Wang Ying had come often before, so someone greeted her as soon as she entered.
“Sister-in-law, right? Here to see Chef Xu?”
Wang Ying tilted her head. Goodness—no one in the village had called her “sister-in-law,” yet in the city someone was already addressing her that way.
“Yes. Is he in the kitchen?”
“He is. I’ll call him.”
“No need, no need. Let him finish up. I’ll sit for a bit.”
“That won’t do. Chef Xu said if sister-in-law comes, we must call him.”
With that, the server went to the back kitchen. Soon, Xu Shuang appeared.
“You’re off work? Tired? What do you want to eat?”
“I’m fine. You go ahead and stay busy. We can talk when it’s less crowded.”
There were so many customers; the kitchen must be swamped.
But Xu Shuang simply sat down opposite her. “It’s my first day. I haven’t changed the menu yet—things aren’t that busy for me.”
Big restaurants had their advantages. There were several chefs, so losing one for a while didn’t disrupt operations.
Wang Ying relaxed. “Everything went well. My colleagues are quite friendly. Oh— I want steamed noodles.”
After a full day at work, she was starving.
Xu Shuang stood up. “Want chili?”
“Yes!”
Compared to the town, the county offered a greater variety of dishes. Steamed noodles were especially popular—townsfolk loved ordering them when they came to eat.
A large bowl of steamed noodles—thin, moist noodles steamed to a soy-brown color, topped with green beans, pork belly, and soybean sprouts. The aroma was irresistible.
After finishing her noodles, Wang Ying waited for Xu Shuang to get off work.
It was her first day—she wanted them to go and return together.
Xu Shuang didn’t keep her waiting long. Around 8:30 p.m., he tidied up and left.
As they walked home, they shared their first-day experiences.
Xu Shuang’s side had gone smoothly beyond expectation. As a head chef, though his seniority was a bit shallow, with Chen Dong backing him, no one dared object.
“When I left, Master stuffed half a lunchbox of steamed noodles into my hands. He said we can have it for breakfast tomorrow.”
Wang Ying blinked. “…Is that allowed?”
“Master said it’s always been this way. The restaurant’s big. There are leftovers every day—steamed noodles, dumplings. The head chefs can take some if they want.”
Wang Ying thought about it and understood. This wasn’t the town. In the town, leftovers were rare. Xu Shuang could estimate portions precisely—there was only ever too little to sell, never too much leftover.
But the county was different.
With dozens of staff front and back, and separate people responsible for purchasing ingredients, it was harder to control quantities. Leftovers weren’t strictly monitored, so people turned a blind eye.
After all, few who worked at the restaurant came from truly desperate households. No one would be so short-sighted as to take heaps home.
“Alright then. Tomorrow morning we’ll make some porridge—steamed noodles with corn porridge.”
Xu Shuang nodded and asked about Wang Ying’s first day.
The moment she heard that, Wang Ying lit up. “The sugar factory is really huge! There are nine of us in the office including me—four doctors plus one intern, two nurses, and two logistics staff. Everyone gets along pretty well…”
She went on and on about “Doctor Lighter” Jiang, skipping over the actual argument and only mentioning that there was a well-connected person in the office who was a bit difficult to deal with.
Xu Shuang said, “If you’re ever mistreated, tell me. No matter how well-connected she is—if we’re talking about connections at the sugar factory, we’re not lacking either.”
Wang Ying blinked. “Huh?”
Xu Shuang replied, “The sugar factory used to belong to Master’s family. The current factory director is on good terms with Master too. Every New Year, the factory still sends Master a gift. Two of the deputy directors used to be workers in the factory—they all know Master.”
Wang Ying: !!!
Well, well. Turns out the one with connections is me.
The couple braved the cold wind back home. Just as they reached their gate, a shadowy figure standing there startled them—Xu Shuang almost kicked out instinctively.
Looking closely, it was Old Madam Xu.
Wang Ying patted her chest. “Aunt Xu, what are you doing standing here? Someone might think you’re a thief.”
Old Madam Xu cursed her inwardly for her sharp tongue, but kept a pleasant expression. “I’m waiting for Xiaoyun. Comrade Wang, where did you go today? You haven’t been home all day.”
Heaven knew how long she had waited, how many times she had knocked. The house had been empty. Who knew where they had gone?
Old Madam Xu secretly looked down on Wang Ying. As a young wife, not staying home to do housework and have children, running around all day—what kind of married life was that?
She subtly sowed discord, hoping the young couple would quarrel.
Wang Ying smiled sweetly. “Aunt Xu, you really care about me—you even know I wasn’t home all day. You say Sister Yun works hard. I see you seem quite free. If you’re not busy, maybe help her out a bit? She works during the day and cooks at night. You should show her some consideration.”
Old Madam Xu: …
She nearly lost her smile and hurried to cover up. “Sigh, it’s not that I don’t do anything. My health isn’t good—I can’t do much. I’ve dragged Xiaoyun down…”
Wang Ying shrugged noncommittally.
Old Madam Xu still wasn’t satisfied and pressed on. “Where did you go today? Shopping? Or eating at a restaurant? Must’ve spent quite a bit, right? Life isn’t easy for anyone these days. I see Xiao Xu works hard. If you came home a little earlier to cook him a meal, wouldn’t that be nice? He could come home to something ready. You’re young—you might not know. It’s not food and clothing that make you poor; it’s failing to calculate carefully. Don’t you think?”
She played the part of a warm-hearted auntie, yet every word was meant to stir trouble.
Wang Ying replied calmly, “Auntie, you’re a bit… what’s that saying? ‘The dog catches mice’—what’s the rest again? Anyway, same idea. We both work. Isn’t it normal not to be home?”
Old Madam Xu’s eyes widened. “What? You have a job?”
Damn it—wasn’t she just following her husband into the city? Were jobs that easy to get?
She glanced at the well-matched couple standing together, lunchbox net bag in hand, pushing a bicycle—dual-income, no children, looking carefree and relaxed. Envy burned in her chest.
Why did everyone else seem to be living better than her family? It was all Zhang Yun’s fault for not earning more. If she made more money, their household wouldn’t be at the bottom of the courtyard!
Wang Ying had no patience to stand in the cold any longer. “If there’s nothing else, we’ll head in,” she said, pulling Xu Shuang inside.
After closing the door, Wang Ying peeked through the window. Old Madam Xu lingered outside a while longer, then turned and went straight to the Ma family’s house.
Wang Ying clicked her tongue. “Good thing we both have jobs. If I had to stay in this courtyard all day, I’d be miserable.”
Not a single neighbor was simple.
Xu Shuang pursed his lips and made a decision. On his day off this week, he’d cook meat again.
Make that Xu family boy cry from envy!
Meanwhile, Zhao Jun got off work close to seven in the evening. He checked his watch and immediately realized it was bad. He hurried to change his clothes and leave.
The head of the security department stopped him. “Zhao Jun, aren’t you on duty tonight?”
Security work had its own special requirements. Although most staff followed regular working hours, to ensure factory safety, two people were assigned for night duty each day. The duty mainly involved making rounds—walking through the grounds a couple of times at midnight. It was tiring, but shifts rotated fairly, so everyone only took a turn every half month or so.
Unfortunately, tonight was Zhao Jun’s turn.
He froze, then looked annoyed with himself. “Look at me—I forgot. Brother Shi, I really have something urgent tonight… Could we switch my shift? I’ve got two kids at home with no one to look after them…”
The department head had been about to scold him, but upon hearing about the children, he sighed and patted Zhao Jun’s shoulder.
“Xiao Zhao, I understand your situation. It’s tough. Honestly, you should find yourself a wife soon. Otherwise, with everything in chaos at home, it’ll affect your work. Our job may not look glamorous, but the safety of thousands of workers rests on us. How can you focus on work if your family matters aren’t settled? And it’s not necessarily good for the children either. My wife mentioned a distant relative of hers—the husband passed away, and she’s struggling with one child. She’s making ends meet folding matchboxes for the neighborhood office. If you’re interested, I can have my wife arrange a meeting? Don’t worry—the woman is good. She doesn’t have a job, but she has an urban household registration and could be added to your grain ration book. Raising three children wouldn’t be too hard.”
Zhao Jun felt irritated but knew better than to vent at his superior. He forced a smile. “You’re right, Leader. Actually… the woman’s probably already waiting.”
The head of the security department slapped his thigh. “You should’ve said so earlier! Go on, hurry! Don’t keep her waiting. Settle things soon and live your life in peace.”
Zhao Jun quickly agreed, tidied up, and rushed out.
As soon as he left, someone muttered quietly, “I wonder how many this makes now. I bet Deputy Captain Zhao still won’t succeed this time. Those two kids of his aren’t easy to deal with.”
“Exactly. Last time I heard Sister Ma from the Women’s Federation introduced someone—said she was from the countryside. I thought she seemed like a good girl, first marriage, dignified and generous. They met at Sister Ma’s house, and the two kids showed up, crying and making a scene until the woman stormed off.”
“And not just that. Logistics Sister Tian also tried introducing someone once. They met at a restaurant. The kids couldn’t find their dad, so they sat on the windowsill at home and refused to come down no matter how much they were coaxed. That scared the woman off too.”
“Don’t just blame the kids. Deputy Captain Zhao is actually pretty picky himself… In the year he’s been here, he must’ve gone on dozens of matchmaking meetings. More than half were ones he rejected.”
“Really? He doesn’t look that picky.”
“You came later. When he first transferred here last year, he wouldn’t even meet the women introduced to him. Only later did he gradually start meeting them, but he still refused most. It’s only this year that he’s lowered his standards.”
“…I haven’t even found a wife yet, and he’s out here being choosy. Same people, different fates.”
…
The department head looked disgusted. “You bunch of grown men gossip like old women! Get moving—those on duty stay, those going home go. Before you leave, check the factory grounds thoroughly. Don’t leave any security blind spots. Hey, Xiao Jin, you’re free tonight, right? Cover Deputy Captain Zhao’s shift. When it’s your turn later, he can swap with you.”
After barking orders, the department head couldn’t help worrying. When Zhao Jun first transferred here, he had thought highly of him. One reason was that Zhao Jun looked sharp and capable; another was that, like him, Zhao Jun was a demobilized soldier.
Naturally, the head had intended to cultivate Zhao Jun. In a few years he would retire; as long as Zhao Jun worked steadily and diligently, he could shoulder the security department’s responsibilities.
But the promising seedling he had pinned hopes on was lacking in one area—his messy family life.
Those two children left him frazzled. He was often late or left early. After a year, he hadn’t built solid relationships even within the department. Though he held the title of deputy captain, he hadn’t demonstrated any real leadership ability. Naturally, others didn’t truly respect him.
The department head lit a cigarette. His time was limited; he couldn’t rely on just one successor. If Zhao Jun didn’t resolve his family issues soon, he would have to consider someone else.
When Zhao Jun arrived at the agreed meeting place, it was already dark. Only the matchmaker was there; the woman was nowhere to be seen.
The matchmaker immediately launched into him. “Comrade Zhao, you asked me to introduce someone, and I did. But you can’t toy with me like this! Look at the time. The meeting was set for 6:30, and you show up at 7:30? Are you here to meet her or to embarrass her?”
Zhao Jun hurried to explain. “I’m sorry. I forgot I was on duty tonight, so the handover took time. Could we reschedule for tomorrow? Wherever the woman prefers—I’ll be on time, I promise.”
Seeing sweat on his temples, the matchmaker guessed he hadn’t been deliberately inconsiderate. He must have rushed over. Her anger subsided a bit, but she still said, “It’s unlikely. For matchmaking, if the first meeting doesn’t happen, a second one is usually hard to arrange. The woman has already lost face. It wouldn’t look good to try again.”
Zhao Jun felt deeply frustrated. He tried flattering her. “Then please keep an eye out for me. If there’s someone suitable, let me know.”
He reached into his pocket, cursing his bad luck. He had no small change—only a single unbroken one-yuan note.
Gritting his teeth, he handed it to the matchmaker. “Everyone says you’re the best, with the highest success rate. You know my situation. Please give it some extra thought.”
At the sight of the yuan, the matchmaker beamed. She pocketed it and patted her chest. “Don’t worry. My reputation as Matchmaker Fang is well known around here. I’ll find you a good one.”
After thanking her and paying for the tea stall, Zhao Jun saw her off as she continued flattering him.
“Actually, Comrade Zhao, your conditions aren’t bad. Yes, you have children, but there are plenty of widows in the city without men. I’ve got a few in mind—husbands died young, raising children alone, struggling. Of course, I know your preference—we’ll prioritize first marriages without children. But if there’s no perfect match, meeting a widow with a child wouldn’t be such a bad idea either, right…”
Zhao Jun laughed it off and finally sent her away, then walked home alone.
Only when he reached the factory gate did he realize he hadn’t eaten dinner. He rummaged through his pockets, found two coarse-flour bun meal tickets, and bought two buns at the small cafeteria window to take home.
From a distance, before even reaching the corridor building, Zhao Jun smelled the rich aroma of cooking. The building buzzed with noise. Children played and shouted. Many households had set up stoves in the hallway, frying dishes; occasional scolding voices rang out.
“You little rascal! Go outside and play—stop making a mess here!”
“Dashun! Come back and eat!”
“Yingzi! You’re a girl—stop running wild outside and come wash your hands for dinner!”
