“Xingdong, thank you so much today. If it weren’t for you, my brother-in-law and nephew wouldn’t have known what to do,” Jiang Yuning said.
Looking at the tall figure before her and recalling Gu Xingdong’s swift movements just moments ago, Jiang Yuning’s heart skipped another beat uncontrollably.
Sensing her gaze, Gu Xingdong’s brow furrowed almost imperceptibly. He said calmly, “Call me comrade.”
Jiang Yuning blushed and stammered, “Comrade Gu, Comrade Gu.”
Gu Xingdong nodded, stepped aside, and walked around her to Chen Lishu’s side. Seeing her pale face, he knew she must have been terrified. He explained with a hint of appeasement in his voice, “I only took action after ensuring it was safe.”
Chen Lishu couldn’t help but roll her eyes at him. “Do you know I was almost scared to death by you?”
Rui Rui tilted his small face up and looked at Gu Xingdong with adoration. “Dad, you’re so amazing.”
Gu Xingdong raised an eyebrow and affectionately pinched his son’s cheek. “Of course. Who do you think my dad is?”
“Comrade, thank you so much today. If it weren’t for you, my son and I might have perished in there. I’m Wan Liansheng from the Municipal Public Security Bureau. May I know your name?” Wan Liansheng extended his hand towards him.
Gu Xingdong shook it. “Gu Xingdong.”
“Brother-in-law, when I worked in the south, he and I were sort of colleagues,” Jiang Yuning said. Her gaze, without anyone noticing, fell on Chen Lishu beside Gu Xingdong, a flash of jealousy in her eyes.
She and Gu Xingdong had known each other first, but she was later transferred back to work due to family circumstances.
What Jiang Yuning hadn’t expected was that Gu Xingdong had also been transferred back. This meant their fate was not yet severed. Otherwise, how could they have met here again today? A man as outstanding as Gu Xingdong should have someone by his side who was more worthy of him, not a woman from the countryside who didn’t even have the ability to bear children.
“What a coincidence. You just…” Wan Liansheng was about to say more when his wife interrupted him. “Liansheng, are you injured? Yuning, quickly check your brother-in-law. Is it serious? Do you need to go to the hospital?”
Jiang Yuning snapped back to attention and hurried to examine Wan Liansheng’s injuries.
“You’ve already thanked me, so why mention where you work? What if someone uses it to ask for help later? Will you help or not?” Jiang Yuchi’s voice, when she said this, was not deliberately lowered and fell precisely into Chen Lishu’s ears.
Her man had risked his life to save someone, and instead of being grateful, this woman was saying such things. Chen Lishu’s anger flared instantly. She asked in a stern, unapologetic tone, “Comrade, what do you mean by what you just said?”
“It’s best if you understood. Although your husband helped, I believe my husband could have rescued my son without him. However, I am still grateful. As for other things, I hope you don’t overthink it,” Jiang Yuchi said, tilting her chin up slightly, looking at Chen Lishu with arrogant disdain. Where was the distress from her cries for help just moments ago?
“No, we can’t accept your gratitude,” Chen Lishu retorted. Turning back, she said, “Xingdong, since she says they could have rescued the child without you, why don’t you throw the child back in? Let’s see how they rescue him.”
Chen Lishu said this out of anger, but Jiang Yuchi took it seriously. Panicked, she quickly hugged her son and pointed at Chen Lishu, yelling, “How can you be so unreasonable?”
Chen Lishu let out a sneer. “I’m unreasonable? Haven’t you looked in the mirror to see your arrogant demeanor? Do you have a throne at home or something? Don’t worry, we are all law-abiding citizens, and we won’t come begging to you. As for your dirty thoughts, you’d better guard against others. But I’ll kindly remind you, instead of thinking about useless things all day, it’s better to watch your child closely. After all, not everyone is a kind person who will help.”
Jiang Yuchi was so angry she almost exploded. “Are you cursing my son?”
“Yuchi!”
Wan Liansheng truly couldn’t listen any longer. While reprimanding his wife, he looked at Chen Lishu and Gu Xingdong with immense apology. “I’m so sorry. My wife has always been loose-tongued. Regardless, thank you very much today. If not for Comrade Gu’s help, my son and I might not have been able to get out safely. You are the savior of my son and me. Thank you.”
At last, there was someone in the family with a clear head. Chen Lishu’s expression softened slightly.
“It’s nothing,” Gu Xingdong said, looking at Wan Liansheng and smiling magnanimously. “My wife is usually very reasonable. She might just be really angry this time. It’s hot, and people get flustered. I think you should take her to a cool place to clear her head.” And say fewer foolish things.
Wan Liansheng’s smile was a little awkward.
“I heard there are elephants ahead. Let’s take our son over there,” Gu Xingdong said, taking Rui Rui’s hand and turning. Although he did good deeds without expecting anything in return, making his wife angry was absolutely out of the question.
…
On the other side, everyone else was busy working. Liu Dashan, however, came over groggily after his nap.
As he approached, a strong smell of alcohol assaulted everyone’s nostrils, and all five people present instinctively frowned.
Gu Xingye took out his watch, which he kept in his chest pocket to prevent wear and tear while working, and glanced at it. It was already half past one in the afternoon. He couldn’t help but say, “Brother Liu, we still have work to do this afternoon. How can you drink?” Moreover, judging by the smell, he must have drunk quite a bit.
Liu Dashan slurred, “So much work every day, and earning so little money. It seems like all the big profits are going to your family, and you’re just treating us like fools. Isn’t it alright for me to drink some alcohol to cool down?”
Gu Xingye stopped his work. “Liu Dashan, what do you mean?”
“Forget it, Fourth Brother.” Gu Xingguo quickly stopped him and, at the same time, silently shook his head at Gu Xingye. It was a busy period, and they needed labor. Regardless of Liu Dashan’s behavior, he could still do some work every day. Half of the job was already done. They just needed to endure a little longer, complete the work on time, and then deal with him.
Liu Dashan, sensing their predicament, became increasingly brazen. Not only did he demand several breaks a day, but he also insisted on a nap at noon.
“I don’t mean anything. I just feel that it’s not worth it for everyone to work themselves to death like oxen and horses for others. Since the project is urgent, they should pay more.”
“Dashan, didn’t my third sister-in-law already say that if we finish on time, everyone will get an extra twenty yuan?” Gu Xingguo, seeing Gu Xingmin remain silent, couldn’t help but speak up.
When a box of matches only sold for two cents, twenty yuan was enough to cover a family’s expenses for two months.
Liu Dashan spat. “What good is an extra twenty yuan? Are you trying to appease beggars? At least fifty, or else I’d rather go home and sleep in this heat.”