CHAPTER 166: 166 ENTANGLEMENT

Kong Mengjie felt guarded against Zhao Zhongshuo, if Jiang Xinyu found out, she would surely marvel at how deserving of the main character role she is.

In the evening, the two went home together after work. Those watching the spectacle behind them were exasperated, while the male colleagues envied Huang Hongwei, the women were utterly disdainful.

Being women themselves, they now sympathized greatly with Huang Hongwei’s wife. A wife of humble origins, a woman who has been left behind; they all believed this man wasn’t worth anything, had a wandering heart, and abandoned his wife and children.

Therefore, the male and female colleagues below frequently clashed.

Men went home warned by their women, instructed not to get close to Huang Hongwei, believing that associating with such a man would lead to corruption.

Unaware of this, Kong Mengjie and Huang Hongwei were sweetly wrapped up in each other, with Huang Hongwei feeling as though he was ten years younger, full of youthful passion.

The county was so small that such news always spread the fastest. Today, Huang Yi had already learned that his dad had remarried.

He was very distressed, showing his pitiful side, abandoned by his father. His siblings and mom were still unaware of this news, he truly hated Kong Mengjie from the bottom of his heart.

Thankfully, no one at the furniture factory knew that he was Huang Hongwei’s son, otherwise he wouldn’t know how to face everyone’s scrutiny.

With New Year soon approaching, he could still earn a month’s wages, so his siblings and mom could have a good New Year.

In the future, he no longer had a dad; he had to work hard and become the backbone of his family.

On the morning of the twenty-third month, Huang Hongwei hugged Kong Mengjie tightly, "Honey, I can’t bear to leave you."

"What nonsense are you talking? Get up quickly, I’ll make breakfast, you go to work, I’ll travel back and wait for you at home."

They sweetly finished breakfast, and Kong Mengjie carried a large bag of belongings packed last night, intending to take it home.

She had just opened the door when it pushed open from the outside. "Zhao Zhongshuo, why is it you?"

Kong Mengjie was startled, seeing the man with reddened eyes before her, she stepped back.

Zhao Zhongshuo stepped inside, shutting the door behind him with one hand. "Kong Mengjie, I like you so much, and yet you abandoned me for a married man?"

"I no longer have feelings for you."

"Mengjie, what are feelings? I recall once when you acted particularly strange, was it then that you got together with him? During that time, you were so distant towards me?"

"Zhao Zhongshuo, it’s useless to talk about this now, I’m already married, you should leave quickly or I’ll call out."

"Mengjie, you can’t treat me like this. I like you so much."

"Hurry out, Zhao Zhongshuo, we’re still colleagues."

Seeing the woman speaking harshly to him, Zhao Zhongshuo clutched his chest, "I feel terrible, Kong Mengjie, you’ll regret this one day." He said and turned to leave.

Kong Mengjie felt bad too, how could she not know Zhao Zhongshuo’s kindness towards her?

Deeply downcast, she stood in the yard for a while, then forced herself to lift her spirits and went out.

What she didn’t know was, her home was already under close watch, and the neighbors on either side were eavesdropping under the corner, this was yet another explosive piece of news.

In the morning, Jiang Xinyu was studying while Wei Kaiyun went out again; she didn’t know what he was busy with, but it was pretty good this way, she could enjoy peace at home.

At noon she ate alone, gnawing on a large pork knuckle, truly satisfying, this is how life should be.

Thinking about how she still had a lot of oil in her space, she felt like making fried dough twists, decided to just do it, sweet, salty, and milky - she made a whole basin of dough for each flavor. She’d let She Xiaoyun taste them later.

In the evening, when Wei Kaiyun returned, he could smell the fried aroma at the front door.

He knocked on the door and saw his wife with an apron and holding chopsticks.

"What tasty treat are you making for me?"

"Hehe, fried dough twists, with three flavors, close the door." She said and ran inside the house.

After washing his hands in the bathroom, Wei Kaiyun came into the main room, and Jiang Xinyu handed him a milky twist, this one was soft. "Try it. I think it’s so good, I’m planning to use this as our New Year’s gift."

Wei Kaiyun sat on the small stool by the stove, took a big bite, having not eaten lunch, "Yummy, really yummy, this is enough as a New Year’s gift.

Wife, who are you planning to give them to?"

"On the 25th, we’ll go back to the village and give a portion to the Wang Family, one to She Xiaoyun, a separate one to Wang Ailing, and one to Qian Jun, since this time I made money, he hasn’t said anything about it. Also to Hao Shichao and the other seven."

"You’re still giving one to Qian Jun?" Wei Kaiyun was a bit unwilling.

"I’m not saying I wanted to give him money, but he didn’t accept it, so I treated him to a meal, which doesn’t seem very fair."

"Alright then, go ahead and give it to him."

She made a full three large basins of twists, no matter how good they tasted, she didn’t have an appetite anymore.

That night Wei Kaiyun cooked porridge and roasted two sweet potatoes, both of which Jiang Xinyu ate alone.

"Honey, if you like them, I’ll roast more for you tomorrow."

"Aren’t you going out tomorrow?"

"I’ll roast them for you when I come back in the evening. How are you planning to go back on the 25th? Riding a bike, I’m afraid you’ll catch a cold."

"But taking a bus wastes too much time. You should lend me your bike that day. Wang Ailing and I will each take one."

"Drive, then."

"No need, just cycling will be fine."

On the twenty-third, Jiang Xinyu prepared wrapping paper, large sheets of it, and packed three bags each for Wang Ailing and Qian Jun. She rode her bike to the textile factory to deliver them.

"Director Jiang’s gift is exactly what I wanted. If you hadn’t come today, I would have gone to your house tonight. It’s your welfare."

"Haha, thank you, Mr. Qian. I’m heading back."

"I really envy Director Jiang. I want a month’s holiday too."

"Haha." Jiang Xinyu could only chuckle awkwardly, she might come back less often in the future.

After leaving the factory manager’s office, she went straight to find Wang Ailing. Wang Ailing was working, and Jiang Xinyu handed her the twists, told her they’d ride bicycles home the day after, then headed back home.

She sorted out eight more portions and headed directly to the supply and marketing cooperative.

"Xinyu, these are twists, I smelled the aroma."

"Sister She, what kind of nose do you have? I’ve come to bring you New Year’s gifts, indeed they’re twists, with three flavors.

Also, let Secretary Hao’s discussed seven come over, I’ve left them here with you."

"Haha, that’s great. They’ll all come by before the afternoon shift."

She Xiaoyun was straightforward, picked up the phone, and notified each of them.

"Sister She, I’m not waiting for them, I’m heading home."

"Are you staying home too cosily, no longer wanting to come out?"

"Isn’t that right? On these cold days, it’s so nice to lie on the kang (heated bed) reading a book."

Jiang Xinyu lastly bought some green onions and garlic, next year she definitely wanted to plant them in the yard.

Hao Shichao was the first to arrive. "Where’s Jiang Xinyu?"

"She’s gone home to nest. They’re twists, very tasty."