The Cheng family has been totally quiet, usually, Yang Yue Mei is a person that no one on this street dares to mess with. Everyone thinks it’s better to mind their own business and not bother with her.
But it’s true that the aggressive ones fear those who are not afraid of death. Jiang Xinyu’s actions left a deep impression on everyone.
Jiang Xinyu felt that this was enough, so she went home with the knife, not caring about the people around her watching the commotion.
Back home, she continued her usual routine, boiling water and cooking.
The people gathered on the street didn’t go inside but huddled in small groups whispering.
"Do you know what background this little girl has?"
One raised their head, "I know, she’s the office director at the textile factory."
"Wow! Such a young leader?"
"Indeed, she’s quite capable. The grains we’re buying now were brought back from Russia by her and a few others. Without skills or guts, how could they have managed it?"
"Really?" Everyone gathered around, and the one who knew Jiang Xinyu’s background became even more interested in talking.
"How could it be fake? She’s truly capable. We should avoid provoking her in the future. You never know when you might need her help, right?"
"Right, haha. The Cheng family, does Yang Yue Mei really have a good plan? People are right, she should look at herself in a puddle first." After saying this, everyone burst into laughter.
Jiang Xinyu was not concerned about this, she ate a bowl of dumplings, felt sweaty, and uncomfortably sticky all over, so she quickly went to wash up. Life is more comfortable this way.
In the morning, while drinking milk, she looked down at herself, feeling that she had lost weight, yet there was no big change here, which was a blessing in disguise.
Originally, she planned to bake bread this Sunday, but it seemed like time wouldn’t allow it.
She got herself together and went out, encountering several middle-aged women on the street who all greeted her warmly.
Jiang Xinyu responded with a full smile, knowing that she didn’t really want to keep the story going. One act of intimidation was enough; distant relatives aren’t as helpful as close neighbors.
At lunch, she didn’t meet Wang Ailing at the cafeteria and asked her group to tell her that she’d be waiting at home tomorrow.
"Director Jiang, you should eat more, alright?" Song Qingqing noticed Jiang Xinyu picking at her food and not eating much.
"I just can’t eat, just craving something good."
"I want something good too."
"Director Jiang, is there any way to improve the meals?" Pan Xiulan asked with a smile.
Jiang Xinyu shook her head, "I also want to improve it, but there’s no way."
"Director Jiang, you see Kong Mengjie, a lot of people are gossiping about them again, saying that Director Huang’s ex-wife was too weak."
Jiang Xinyu just smiled. She really didn’t know what to say; after all, she genuinely thought the same, that Huang Hongwei’s ex-wife was indeed too submissive.
But to actually speak behind someone’s back, she couldn’t bring herself to do it.
Kong Mengjie just kept her head down eating. These past few days had been really stifling for her. The days of being mocked at the beginning had passed, and she never thought another round would come. It’s their own business, how come there are so many idle busybodies?
Now she felt everyone was looking down on her, laughing at her. Every day she was surrounded by odd looks. After returning home, they weren’t as loving as they once were; there was a knot in their hearts.
After lunch, without talking to her husband across the table, she left with her lunch box, feeling utterly miserable, holding back tears from falling.
Huang Hongwei quickly finished the last couple of bites and followed his wife out. He knew that she was under a lot of pressure right now, but he too was not feeling great; some of the older women who worked around the same time as him now spat when they saw him.
But he told himself that this matter would pass soon; his wife was pregnant now, and he couldn’t let her suffer too much.
The couple were now the center of attention. After they left, the chatter grew louder and more reckless.
Jiang Xinyu didn’t . Maybe it’s just your curiosity, and you mean no harm, but for those involved, it’s a form of hurt. Although they made a mistake at the start, they shouldn’t be subjected to unending ridicule.
"Director Jiang, I noticed you’re not particularly keen on gossip."
Jiang Xinyu smiled, "I like gossip too, but sometimes what we see as a joke is harm to them."
Song Qingqing and the other exchanged glances, understanding Jiang Xinyu’s point. This little girl was more mature than they were. They also ended the topic.
After work in the evening, Jiang Xinyu wasn’t in a rush, leisurely packing up her things.
As she reached the door, she heard Kong Mengjie calling her name.
"Want to come to my place for a bit?"
Jiang Xinyu shook her head, "No, anything you need me for?" The two stepped out of the gate, with Jiang Xinyu standing by the roadside, pushing her bike, waiting for Kong Mengjie to speak.
"Xinyu, what should I do?" Kong Mengjie’s voice trembled.
"Kong Mengjie, I don’t know, but this is something you have to bear. You should have known this would happen when you made your decision."
"I really can’t take it anymore. I’m about to break down."
"You have to bear the blisters from the path you walk on. At this point, you have to grit your teeth and keep going.
Kong Mengjie, every day is the same; think it over properly yourself.
I’m going home now. They say that a mother becomes strong for her child."
Jiang Xinyu said a few words because she didn’t sense any threat from Kong Mengjie; Mengjie hadn’t gained anything from her, so she was willing to say something.
Kong Mengjie watched the back of Jiang Xinyu cycling away, lost in thought. When did she start seeking comfort from someone she used to look down on?
"Mengjie, why are you standing here? Come on home."
Kong Mengjie thought through Jiang Xinyu’s words. Yes, every day is a day no matter how you live it. Her path, she needs to walk it herself. So she smiled at Huang Hongwei, "I just had a chat with Jiang Xinyu. After hearing her words, I figured it out, let’s go home."
Huang Hongwei saw his wife’s smile return, feeling grateful to Jiang Xinyu. He took off his hat, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and smiled as he walked beside his wife.
Jiang Xinyu rode her bike while thinking about Kong Mengjie. She wondered how the heroine would grow in the future?
Thinking of herself as a passerby who could comfort the heroine, she found it amusing.
She didn’t go straight home but went to the supply and marketing cooperative. Xiao Yun had called at noon, saying the cooperative had received apricots today and saved some for her.
There weren’t many fruits in her space. She had planted cucumbers, beans, and eggplants in her yard, and had planted two watermelon vines, wondering if she could eat watermelon.
"Director Jiang, come quickly, I’ve kept the good ones for you. How many do you want?"
"Xiao Xu, how many can I buy?"