"Coal Ball" sat down brazenly in the chair opposite and vowed, "Three days. I guarantee not a single household will be left uncleaned. We won't delay the start of construction."
Gao Mingyuan nodded with satisfaction, "I've made good progress on my end. I'm just waiting for your good news."
...
After work, Tian Lin and Xin Ying said goodbye to Wang Aixiang and left one after another.
Wang Dazhu changed into an old shirt and went downstairs. Seeing that she hadn't left yet, he couldn't help but say, "Why haven't you left yet? I've almost finished tidying up the new house. All that's left is to paint the walls. You should hurry back to take care of Xiaopeng."
"Xiaopeng is much better after his shot. Besides, I've already troubled you enough. I'll go with you."
Ever since they bought the house and started renovations, she was grateful for Wang Dazhu's help. Otherwise, she wouldn't know how long it would take her to manage everything alone.
Wang Dazhu scratched his head, "Why are you being so polite with me? We're colleagues, and I don't have anything else to do after work."
So, they were just colleagues.
Wang Aixiang's eyes dimmed slightly, then she thought self-mockingly that with her circumstances, she wasn't worthy of him. What was she even hoping for now?
The two locked the shop door. Wang Dazhu rode his bicycle, carrying Wang Aixiang, towards the direction of Jiangpan Garden.
Wang Dazhu had already prepared the paint and tools the day before and brought them to the new house. Once they arrived, they quickly got to work painting.
Wang Dazhu glanced at Wang Aixiang, who was diligently working, and hesitated before saying, "My sister-in-law said a while ago that she wanted to introduce me to someone."
Wang Aixiang's hands paused. A strange feeling suddenly welled up inside her. She couldn't quite describe it—a sourness, very sour, making her heart ache with bitterness. Yet, behind the sourness was an extreme sense of powerlessness, even a kind of relief that came from giving up.
See, what was never meant to be, was just her own wishful thinking.
Wang Aixiang tried hard to hide her feelings and smiled, saying, "Is that so? That's good. You're not getting any younger. Look at me, we're only a year apart, and my Xiaopeng is already ten years old."
"She also asked me what type I like," Wang Dazhu said, his gaze starting to wander. For the first time, his face began to redden, but unfortunately, he had naturally dark skin, so it was barely noticeable.
The bitterness in Wang Aixiang's mouth intensified, but she forced herself to act as if nothing was wrong, laughing heartily, "I know men like you well enough. You definitely like young and beautiful ones. As for me, all I need to do is work hard to make money. Men, men, men—get lost!"
Wang Dazhu's unspoken words were all stuck in his throat.
He opened his mouth several times, but finally couldn't help but ask, "Aren't you considering remarrying?"
"I..."
"Aixiang—"
Just as Wang Aixiang uttered "I," she suddenly heard someone call her name. Turning her head, she saw her neighbor, Zhou Chuanfu, standing at the doorway.
"Finally found you," the man said, glancing at Wang Dazhu and stepping forward with an anxious expression. "Hurry back with me. Your Xiaopeng is vomiting and has diarrhea. Your mother-in-law was so worried she called for help and accidentally fell. The house is a mess."
"What?" Wang Aixiang threw down her brush and hurried out with Zhou Chuanfu.
Wang Dazhu quickly followed, "I'll go with you. It's not good for you to be alone if things get too much to handle."
Wang Aixiang seemed to have found a pillar of support. She nodded and said, "Thank you."
"I tried to find you at the shop earlier, but it was locked. Your mother-in-law gave me this address. Fortunately, you're here, or I wouldn't have known what to do. Who is this comrade?" Zhou Chuanfu asked, his gaze falling on Wang Dazhu.
He had heard people in the courtyard gossiping that Wang Aixiang was involved with a man. Seeing the man's worried expression, he guessed it was him.
Wang Aixiang was anxious and simply introduced, "My colleague, Wang Dazhu."
Zhou Chuanfu had also arrived by bicycle. After they went downstairs, Wang Aixiang rode on Wang Dazhu's bicycle, and the three of them rushed towards the compound.
"Mom, are you alright? How is Xiaopeng?" As soon as she entered the house, she saw her mother-in-law sitting by the kang, wiping her tears. She quickly rushed forward.
"Aixiang, don't worry. We've already called a doctor from the clinic at the end of the street. They said it's a stomach flu. Xiaopeng has taken medicine and is much better. Your mother-in-law just sprained her ankle, nothing serious," said Auntie Zhang, explaining the situation.
Hearing her words, Wang Aixiang's anxious heart finally settled a little. She went to the kang to check on her son. She saw him sleeping, wrapped in a quilt, his little face pale. Wang Aixiang's heart ached.
"You didn't come home after work, where did you go? My life or death is not important, but Xiaopeng is your own son, isn't he? I think your mind has wandered. Why are you back now? Why don't you just go with your lover and forget about us?"
Wang Aixiang's mother-in-law's anger erupted as soon as she saw her. Thinking of the gossip from the people in the courtyard and her own age and uselessness, she felt both angry and anxious, directing all her frustration at Wang Aixiang.
"Mom, aren't your words stabbing my heart? Xiaopeng was fine when I left this morning. I thought he would be better after the shot and medicine for his fever, but I didn't expect him to get a stomach flu. Besides, I can't just leave the new house entirely to others, can I?"
"What's wrong with leaving it to others? You bought the house with your own money thinking you'd move in with them. Do you think I'm so senile I don't know anything? You talk nicely about the house belonging to the factory, but you've been out there often. Xiaopeng is my Wang family's descendant. No one will take him away."
Wang Aixiang felt a blockage in her throat, unable to breathe in or out. She felt like she was going to suffocate. But in front of the neighbors, if she truly argued with her unreasonable mother-in-law, it would only lead to outsiders laughing at them.
"Mom, I told you before, this house was bought for our family of three to live in. It has nothing to do with anyone else. Believe it or not. There are so many people here, I hope you'll save me some face. We can talk after they leave."
"What face do you have left when you do things like that?" Wang Aixiang's mother-in-law pointed at Wang Dazhu, who was standing by the door. "Is it him? He's captivated you, and you have no interest in your life anymore. You used to bring him food every day. How did I not realize it earlier? You're bringing him things and helping him with the house, and now you don't even care about me and the child."
"What's wrong with you, you old woman?"
Before Wang Aixiang could speak, Wang Dazhu had already stepped forward, frowning with displeasure. "You keep saying Wang Aixiang has someone outside. That's true, I like her, but she doesn't know anything about it."
Wang Aixiang looked up in shock, staring at Wang Dazhu in disbelief.