Carrying a sense of grievance and anger, Cheng Su left the compound, suddenly feeling lost. Where was she supposed to go?
She was determined not to let personal emotions interfere with her work, so Cheng Su didn’t go to the restaurant or the factory. Instead, she simply took the bus into the city.
Upon boarding the bus, she instinctively looked back, but there was not a single familiar figure; Qi Taiguo had not followed her, and her heart filled with even more grievance and disappointment.
"Bastard!" Cheng Su muttered through clenched teeth, lifting her head to fight back the tears in her eyes.
Except for the early days when they were not so familiar, those little quarrels could be dismissed; after all, Qi Taiguo was just a stranger living under the same roof with her at that time.
And then there was the time they had a fight because she came home late from being too busy to cook. Still, it was quickly resolved due to that minor car accident.
They had argued and made up, shared the most intimate moments, opened their hearts to each other, and were supposed to be understanding and considerate as each other’s spouses. Yet, Qi Taiguo’s attitude during this argument wounded her.
That’s right, disappointment and heartache.
Her mother-in-law’s behavior certainly hurt her pride and angered her, but that was only embarrassment, and the mother-in-law was just that, a mother-in-law. As a 21st-century career woman, Cheng Su didn’t have the old-fashioned belief that one should not offend one’s mother-in-law.
A mother-in-law, she figured she could respect from a distance, as in the end, she would not live with her for a lifetime.
But Qi Taiguo was different; he was her life partner. Unless something unexpected occurred, they were supposed to live and die together. What was his attitude, then?
He blamed her, accused her, saying she was making unreasonable demands!
Initially, he was the one who had agreed with her. How could he blame her now? It was just like that business deal they had disagreed on.
"Jerk!" Cheng Su wiped the corner of her eyes.
Arriving in the downtown area, Cheng Su got off the bus and aimlessly wandered the streets, eventually finding herself in a department store she often visited.
When women are heartbroken, shopping can be a vent for frustration and the best cure!
Cheng Su walked around the department store and soon found her hands filled with bags containing clothes and shoes. After leaving the department store, she visited a supply and marketing cooperative and spotted a watch counter.
Indeed, she thought, she had been coming to this place for some time, but except for clothes and shoes, she hadn’t bought any jewelry for herself.
"Welcome!" The sales clerk greeted her with a warm smile.
Cheng Su leisurely browsed the counter, noting the Shanghai and Plum Blossom brand watches that featured many classic styles.
"Does the lady need a watch for women or for men?" The sales clerk asked Cheng Su with a smile, following her gaze.
Cheng Su stopped, her eyes settling on a watch inside a drawer.
It was a men’s watch with a stainless steel bracelet and a round face, a classic design.
Qi Taiguo, she realized, didn’t have a watch.
Seeing her interest in that watch, the sales clerk sized her up and said, "Is the miss buying for her husband or as a gift for an elder? This watch is a classic Shanghai brand model, very practical, and looks good when worn. Oh, and there is also a women’s model."
"Oh?"
Noticing her interest, the clerk led her to another counter, and sure enough, there was a women’s watch in the same classic design, clearly meant for female wearers.
Cheng Su had her try it on, and it indeed suited her well. She then asked, "How much is the men’s one?"
"One hundred and twenty yuan."
Cheng Su hesitated briefly and said, "I don’t have any vouchers."
The sales clerk frowned for a moment, then asked thoughtfully, "Does the lady really wish to purchase it?"
"Can you give a discount? I will buy both models, but I don’t have any vouchers!" Cheng Su pondered and asked.
"You wait a moment." The sales clerk went into the inside of the shop, and after a short while, returned with a man wearing gold-rimmed glasses. The man was pointed toward Cheng Su and they exchanged a few words.
The man with gold-rimmed glasses approached with a smile and asked, "Is the lady looking to buy watches?"
Cheng Su looked up, startled, and blurted out, "Lu Wei."