Her full bosom, slender waist that looked delicate enough to snap, fair complexion, and those alluring eyes – Xia Xiaolan’s presence had severely unsettled Zhu Fang’s mother, sending her on high alert! From a woman’s perspective, the type of looks that were most detestable and flashy were often exactly what men found most attractive. While the older generation disapproved, Zhu Fang was captivated – his eyes lit up at the sight of Xia Xiaolan, leaving his mother feeling utterly dismayed.
“Xiaolan, you’re a bit late today. Did something happen on the way?”
“I’m sorry for keeping you waiting. I had more goods to carry today, so it took a bit longer.”
Xia Xiaolan smiled apologetically.
She had dealt with Zhu Fang several times before, always alone except for the first time when Hu Yongcai had introduced them. Suddenly seeing an imposing middle-aged woman, Xia Xiaolan initially thought she was staff from the Huanghe Restaurant until Zhu Fang said it was his mother.
“Hello, Auntie. I’ll leave right after delivering the goods.”
Xia Xiaolan had no idea about Zhu Fang’s mother’s intentions, nor did she know that the woman had deliberately waited several hours for her. She even felt apologetic for interrupting Zhu Fang’s time with his mother.
“Xiaolan, right? Wait a moment, Auntie has something to discuss with you.”
Zhu Fang’s mother softened her tone and forced a smile.
She couldn’t afford to get angry – Zhu Fang responded better to gentleness than force. This Xia Xiaolan was even more beautiful than she had anticipated and had completely bewitched Zhu Fang.
Xia Xiaolan couldn’t imagine what Zhu Fang’s mother wanted to discuss.
However since she was asked to stay, Xia Xiaolan could only listen respectfully.
“Look at you, why haven’t you called someone to take in the eels Xiaolan brought?”
Zhu Fang’s mother wanted to send her son away. Zhu Fang himself felt somewhat embarrassed. Though confident in his condition and believing Xia Xiaolan didn’t dislike him, having his family arrange a job for her meant things were getting serious… Zhu Fang cleared his throat:
“Mom, talk nicely with Xiaolan, don’t frighten her.”
After Zhu Fang left, Xia Xiaolan felt uneasy.
Once her son was gone, Zhu Fang’s mother spoke with underlying meaning:
“Xiaolan, right? Zhu Fang has mentioned you several times at home, saying how difficult it must be for a young girl like you to trade in eels. I understand and admire you – who doesn’t hope for a better life? But a better life needs to be earned through one’s efforts. Women can hold up half the sky; you shouldn’t pin all your hopes on marriage… Auntie likes you, but throughout history, marriage has always been about matching social status. I don’t approve of your relationship with Zhu Fang. He’s kindhearted and says he can’t bear to see you struggling as a private trader without security. Auntie can use some connections to arrange a job for you. University isn’t easy to get into. Zhu Fang says your family’s circumstances aren’t good – there’s nothing wrong with keeping your feet on the ground and having a steady job, right?”
Only a crazy person would let such an unsettled temptress marry into their family, thought Zhu Fang’s mother.
The Zhu family had some small influence and could arrange a job, but Xia Xiaolan had a rural household registration and nothing going for her except her looks. At best, she could be squeezed into a restaurant as a server – though certainly not at the Huanghe Restaurant.
Zhu Fang’s mother had calculated everything. Her behavior resembled those “evil mothers-in-law” from future TV dramas who looked down on the female lead, though those wealthy dramatic characters usually asked “How much money would it take for you to leave my son?” while throwing down a million-yuan check, humiliating the female lead before leaving haughtily.
Zhu Fang’s mother was playing a low-budget version of the evil mother-in-law.
There was no choice – even among truly wealthy families at that time, no one could throw out a million yuan to make a girl leave their precious son.
With average monthly wages of just dozens of yuan, households with 10,000 yuan were considered wealthy. Who had even seen what a million yuan looked like?!
Zhu Fang’s mother expected Xia Xiaolan to be flustered or mortified after having her intentions exposed, or even show greed or resentment. But Xia Xiaolan’s expression was unexpected.
Xia Xiaolan acted as if she hadn’t heard anything.
Thanks to Director Xia’s broad experience, after the initial surprise passed, she remained very calm.
She knew Zhu Fang probably had feelings for her, but she wasn’t interested in him… Zhou Cheng was impulsive enough, but at least he had expressed his feelings directly. Zhu Fang had never formally confessed to Xia Xiaolan, yet suddenly brought out his mother to negotiate, using both carrots and sticks. If this had happened to the original proud ‘Xia Xiaolan,’ she might have tried to bash her head against a wall again.
Xia Xiaolan just found the whole thing amusing.
She had seen far worse specimens in her previous life – Zhu Fang’s issue wasn’t major, and his mother was merely overconfident.
These weren’t big problems.
Xia Xiaolan felt she should explain properly. Just for the sake of the 50 jin of eels delivered to Huanghe Restaurant every other day, she couldn’t let this misunderstanding stand.
“Auntie, I think you’ve misunderstood. I haven’t even thought about finding a partner yet. As for this eel business, I’ll stop doing it after November.”
Zhu Fang’s mother didn’t believe her.
She thought this little temptress was playing hard to get.
“Well, let’s say Auntie was wrong. But about the job – Xiaolan, won’t you at least hear what I have to say?”
Delivering eels until November? If they kept in contact that long, wouldn’t Zhu Fang be completely enchanted and refuse to marry anyone else? Zhu Fang’s mother wanted to arrange for Xia Xiaolan to be sent far away. Even being a waitress seemed unsuitable – she needed to find exhausting work that would leave this temptress too tired to think about seducing her son!
Zhu Fang’s mother maintained her superior attitude, waiting for Xia Xiaolan to beg.
Xia Xiaolan thought to herself, I’ll be magnanimous and not hold this against her.
While doing this mental preparation, her tone wasn’t particularly pleasant – Director Xia had never been a helpless victim anyway.
“Auntie, thank you for your kindness, but I haven’t thought about finding a job. A few dozen yuan per month wouldn’t help much… I’m sorry if that sounds like I’m looking down on the job you’d arrange. I do plan to take the university entrance exam.”
Xia Xiaolan would only continue the eel business until November.
While she valued Huanghe Restaurant’s purchase volume, she wasn’t afraid that someone would try to use this to control her.
Weren’t there other restaurants in Shangdu City?
At worst, she could clear out her family’s stock. She had several hundred yuan in hand and could start another business.
It was extremely difficult to get rich starting from nothing, but now that Xia Xiaolan had some startup capital, she wasn’t afraid to begin again.
Zhu Fang’s mother was stunned by Xia Xiaolan’s neither-soft-nor-hard response.
Her chest felt tight and uncomfortable.
Xia Xiaolan wasn’t the type to swallow her pride. Though she spoke without vulgarity, she never delayed in returning a slight – Zhu Fang’s mother wanted to curse her as shameless, but on what grounds? She couldn’t arrange a good job for Xia Xiaolan just to prove her importance!
Setting aside whether Zhu Fang’s mother could find such a job, why should she arrange one for Xia Xiaolan anyway?
Using “university entrance exam” as an excuse, trying to make herself look good?
Was university so easy to get into? How many students racked their brains every year?
Not to mention, if Zhu Fang could have gotten into university, would he be working as a small-time purchaser at Huanghe Restaurant?!
Zhu Fang brought people to carry the eels to the kitchen, then dawdled on his way back. Seeing Xia Xiaolan smiling, he thought the job arrangement had been agreed upon.
“Xiaolan, I didn’t mean anything by it. I don’t look down on you being self-employed, I just wanted to help.”
Zhu Fang’s mother was about to explode with anger – how could her son be so obtuse?
Just as she was about to lose her temper, someone called out to Xia Xiaolan from a distance:
“Xiaolan, you are here!”
Liu Yong was panting heavily. He’d had quite a journey, leading people to Shangdu City. After much exhaustion, they finally found Xia Xiaolan at Huanghe Restaurant.
“Uncle! Why are you here…”
Old Wang tossed his bicycle aside and squeezed forward to announce:
“Are you Student Xia Xiaolan? You passed the transfer examination for County No. 1 Middle School!”