Women's hearts are like needles at the bottom of the sea. What Xie Sui thought was respect, Lin Wanwan felt was due to her lack of charm, or perhaps the previous incidents had scared him, making him hesitant.
But that didn't seem right either. He ate the food she cooked without any suspicion, not afraid she might have poisoned it. So, it could only be her charm that was insufficient.
Lin Wanwan's eyes flickered, her thoughts unclear.
When the last batch of ice cream was sold, Xie Sui counted the money, packed it into a sack as usual, and brought it home.
Adding the thousand yuan from Yan Xiaoliang, Xie Sui's fortune had increased again.
That evening, he set aside the money for building the house. After counting his assets, he had over three thousand yuan. He took out a thousand yuan to pay the affiliation fee at the county food factory the next day, to avoid any unforeseen complications.
He was left with over two thousand yuan, which he handed over to Lin Wanwan for safekeeping.
Lin Wanwan teased him, "You're that trusting? You've given me all your assets!"
"I am all yours, let alone a little money?"
Xie Sui's words were sweet. This time, Lin Wanwan didn't get embarrassed. Instead, she raised an eyebrow, "Is that so? Why do I feel like you're avoiding me?"
Xie Sui still didn't understand women. After thinking for a moment, he said, "Am I? You're overthinking it. I wish I could tie myself around your waist like a belt, how could I be avoiding you?"
"Stop joking, let's go to bed."
"Alright, I'll leave. You sleep early."
Xie Sui turned and left. Lin Wanwan, furious, beat the bed. This idiot, did he expect her to make the first move?
She was so angry, she'd sleep alone for the rest of her life.
The next morning, Zhang Wenfeng took leave due to family matters. Xie Sui didn't think much of it. He and Lin Wanwan, with some homemade snacks and canned goods, went to Accountant Xu's house.
Accountant Xu, named Xu Siman, was refined and delicate, wearing black-rimmed glasses. Though middle-aged, he didn't look old, but rather possessed a calm and scholarly demeanor accumulated over the years, giving a very comfortable impression.
However, his clothes were full of patches, and his hair was graying. The hardships of life had etched a sense of weariness onto the man.
"Accountant Xu, good morning!"
Upon seeing them enter, Xu Siman did not show the disdain and contempt that the villagers had previously directed at Xie Sui. He smiled and said, "Wanwan, Xie Sui, why have you come? I heard you're doing quite well in business now, know how to support a family. That's good. Wanwan is a good girl, don't let her down."
They were all sent-down youth. When Lin Wanwan first arrived, Xu Siman had taken good care of her. However, the gossipy old women in the village would spread rumors if men and women were even slightly close. Lin Wanwan had to avoid suspicion, and they seldom interacted.
Now that she was coming with Xie Sui, she wasn't afraid of gossip.
Xu Siman's wife, Zhao Yunxiang, was distantly related to Zhao Xuefei, even considered family, though distantly. Zhao Xuefei still had to call her aunt.
She came out of the kitchen, poured water, and invited them to sit, being very enthusiastic. "Xie Sui, does your factory hire people? Do you think Auntie can work there?"
Xu Siman said awkwardly, "He just got here, what are you talking about?"
"If I don't find a way to earn some money, can I count on you? I still want our children to go to school, but where's the money? I rely on you for everything related to farming. You're just a decoration, what else can you do besides reading those tattered books of yours?"
Xu Siman felt embarrassed, "We have guests, can you stop talking about it?"
Zhao Yunxiang shot him a glance and sat down. If her husband was useless, she had to find a way to strive for opportunities. Now that she had a chance with Xie Sui, she had to plead her case.
Xie Sui sighed. Men have a hard life, and men who don't earn money have an even harder life.
He suddenly felt that Lin Wanwan had been quite good to him. She never berated him like a subordinate in front of outsiders.
"Uncle Xu, we're here to ask for your help. You used to be an accountant, right? I need an accountant in the county town. Would you be willing to come?"
Xu Siman was stunned. Was this a stroke of luck?
Zhao Yunxiang quickly nudged him, "Say something! Of course, you have to go. It's Old Xu's old profession. He might not be good at anything else, but he's definitely good at accounting. Xiao Sui, Auntie has decided for you."
Xu Siman also said, "Thank you for giving me this opportunity. Uncle Xu can't lift anything heavy and can't carry anything, so I can only do accounting work. Look, I have almost no standing at home. I only dare to drink soup when we eat."
"Nonsense, who ate two cornmeal pancakes last night? Did I starve you?"
Xu Siman said good-naturedly, "Yunxiang treats me the best, she hasn't starved me. Our family is fortunate because of you, you've worked hard."
Zhao Yunxiang was pleased. Their relationship was still very good.
"Xiao Sui, how is the salary calculated?"
"Fifty yuan a month, for now. If the efficiency is good, there will be a bonus at the end of the year."
"Fifty yuan? Really?"
"Yes, an accountant is management, a talent. Uncle Xu is worth this much."
Xu Siman was excited, "That's too much..."
Zhao Yunxiang pinched him. Is he stupid? Who complains about having too much money? What a blockhead!
"It's settled then. Uncle Xu can start working today if there's nothing at home."
"Nothing. I'll go with you after lunch. Will we take a tractor?"
"Yes, for now, you'll come back and forth with me. When things are settled, if you need to stay in the county town, traveling back and forth will take time and expose you to the elements. Aunt Zhao, if you're not busy, you can also come work at the factory later, though not as much as Uncle Xu, maybe twenty to thirty yuan."
"Auntie can work too? Xiao Sui, you've really made it. Wait a moment, Auntie just picked some eggplants and cucumbers. Take some home to eat." Su Dan Novel Network
Lin Wanwan took them, "Thank you, Auntie. We'll leave now. Uncle Xu, come to my place after lunch, and we'll go together."
After the two left, the Xu couple were so happy they could have set off firecrackers. This job was like a timely rain, saving their entire family.
Lin Wanwan then said to Xie Sui, "Didn't you say you'd give thirty yuan a month? Why fifty? That's an extra twenty."
Generally, factory workers earned twenty-something, and with years of service and promotions, they could reach forty to fifty. Xie Sui's offer of thirty wasn't low compared to the average.
Xie Sui said, "Let's consider it as me giving all men some backbone. You saw Uncle Xu's standing at home. This will also help Uncle Xu get back on his feet."
Lin Wanwan couldn't help but laugh, "What kind of idea is that? You're pitying him."
"I guess so. Thinking about it, I'm truly fortunate. Wanwan, you've never scolded me like that, you've saved me face. My Wanwan is the best in the world."
Lin Wanwan lowered her head, not saying anything. It wasn't that she didn't want to scold him like Aunt Zhao. Seeing such a woman, she still found it hard to believe. Why would her own man be so disrespectful, as if they had a deep-seated hatred?
When she married Xie Sui, she would understand their feelings. When a man is unreliable, life and the burden of raising children fall on oneself. If one doesn't vent, one will be suffocated.
People, after all, live and eventually become the very people they despise.