Fang Pingying stopped the work in her hands and walked to the shop entrance, she looked in the direction juzi was pointing and indeed saw Bai Jing crossing the street across from her, arm in arm with a man of around fifty, who exuded an extraordinary presence. The two of them looked very intimate.
Bai Jing was smiling the whole way, ever since Fang Pingying had gotten to know Bai Jing, it seemed was the first time she saw her smiling so happily.
Bai Jing usually did not join the women from the compound for a chat; she would just give Fang Pingying a faint greeting when they happened to meet, and her smile, too, was always faint.
Moreover, Bai Jing didn’t interact much with Xiao Juzi and the others, so when Xiao Juzi saw her, she didn’t shout out to greet her.
It was only after watching her walk far away that Xiao Juzi suddenly whispered to Fang Pingying, "What do you think? Who is that man with Bai Jing?"
Fang Pingying knew what Xiao Juzi was suspecting and guessed with a laugh, "Looks like he could be her family member or relative, it’s not like she would be walking on the street in broad daylight arm in arm with another man."
"That’s true," Xiao Juzi said, though her words felt insincere. She kept watching Bai Jing walk away, her expression full of playful curiosity. "Sister Fang, don’t you think Bai Jing and Zhou Guangsheng are an odd match?"
"How so?" asked Fang Pingying with a raised eyebrow. In fact, she had the same thought but had never voiced it.
Xiao Juzi, as though she had long known Fang Pingying held the same view, pushed her playfully and then analyzed in detail, "Look at Bai Jing, she’s pretty, has a good job at the hospital, and I’ve heard that her family background is excellent. Her parents are doctors at the Provincial People’s Hospital, and she’s their only daughter."
"What’s more, her personality is always so aloof, looking down on us ordinary folks in this compound. So why would she take a fancy to Zhou Guangsheng who came from the countryside?"
"That’s true. They don’t seem to match up well." But talking about Zhou Guangsheng, Fang Pingying did have a few words of praise, "However, Zhou Guangsheng is also a good man, down-to-earth and steady, and he adores Bai Jing. That kind of man is perfect husband material."
Xiao Juzi pursed her lips and gestured towards the direction where Bai Jing had gone. "You might think that way, but Bai Jing might not. I’ve always felt that there must have been some compelling difficulty for Bai Jing to marry Zhou Guangsheng, otherwise with her high standards, she certainly wouldn’t consider someone like him."
"That’s not necessarily true. The affairs of a couple are not something outsiders can understand. We only see what’s on the surface; perhaps they get along very well in private." Like her and Luo Zhiyong, at home, people also thought she wasn’t good enough for Luo Zhiyong, but she didn’t feel inferior, so why wouldn’t she match him?
After hearing this, Xiao Juzi nodded slightly but after a while, she leaned in close to Fang Pingying and said, "Sister Fang, you might not know this, but rumor has it that Bai Jing can’t have children."
"How do you know that?" asked Fang Pingying in surprise.
"It was last year, I think. I heard people in the compound talking about it." Xiao Juzi began to share the gossip, "Bai Jing and Zhou Guangsheng have been married for several years, but she still hasn’t gotten pregnant. Last year, Zhou Guangsheng’s mom came to inquire about it, and it seemed there was a big argument about it. Bai Jing and Zhou Guangsheng had a fight and the old lady left angry, and she hasn’t come back since."
After finishing her story, Xiao Juzi added uncertainly, "But I heard it from someone else, not sure if it’s true. But indeed, they’ve been married for almost four years, and Bai Jing is twenty-five this year, yet she’s never been pregnant."
"That’s..." This subject was difficult to discuss, Fang Pingying rolled her eyes at Xiao Juzi and said, "Hey, let’s not concern ourselves with other people’s business. Maybe they just don’t want to have children right now. Twenty-five isn’t old; they can always have children later."
As soon as Fang Pingying finished speaking, Luo Honglan, who had been listening to their conversation, suddenly piped up, "Sister, you’re not thinking of waiting until after the age of twenty-five to have children, are you? Mom’s been nagging at home every day, wondering when you’ll get pregnant."
"Heh, even if your sister-in-law agreed, Luo Zhiyong wouldn’t," said Xiao Juzi with a knowing look at Luo Honglan. She then leaned close to Fang Pingying and whispered, "There are quite a few marks on the neck. Camp Chief Luo seems to be desperate for a son, huh?"
Fang Pingying’s face flushed with understanding. She must have gotten the mark on her neck from Luo Zhiyong’s intense actions the night before. Due to the rush of the morning, she hadn’t had the chance to carefully look in the mirror, and now Xiao Juzi had noticed it.
She immediately pulled up the collar of her sweater and glared at Xiao Juzi, "Don’t talk nonsense."
Seeing Fang Pingying’s embarrassed expression, Xiao Juzi burst into laughter.
With Xiao Juzi’s help, they quickly tidied up the shop.
By noon, everything was neatly packed away.
After having lunch, Fang Pingying and Luo Honglan started making pastries, while Xiao Juzi, being pregnant and easily tired, lay down on Luo Honglan’s bed to rest for a while.
By the time she woke up, Fang Pingying and Luo Honglan had already made a good number of glutinous rice dumplings.
This time, Fang Pingying didn’t just make red bean flavored ones, but also mixed in some mango filling.
Xiao Juzi helped herself, picking up a glutinous rice dumpling that had been set aside to cool and popping it into her mouth.
After taking a bite, she smacked her lips and said with a smile, "Sister Fang, with the flavor of these treats, you definitely won’t worry about business once you open your shop."
Fang Pingying smiled, "That would be great, I’m opening a shop in the hope of good business, after all."
"I should tell my uncle not to wait until you’ve been operating for half a year to discuss a contract. We should settle it right away. Otherwise, more and more people will take an interest in your business in the future, and what if you don’t sign with my uncle then?" Xiao Juzi finished with a laugh and stuffed another dumpling into her mouth.
Xiao Juzi was making idle chitchat with Fang Pingying, but the honest Luo Cuilan took her seriously and hastened to say, "Don’t worry, my sister-in-law has already made arrangements with Uncle Zeng, she’ll definitely keep her word."
"This girl is just too sincere. I was only making a joke," Xiao Juzi teased and laughed, playfully patting Luo Honglan on the back of her head.
Seeing this, Fang Pingying also laughed heartily, agreeing the girl was indeed very honest.
Luo Honglan, realizing she had said something silly, laughed sheepishly.
That evening, after having dinner here, Xiao Juzi was picked up and taken home by her uncle.
As Luo Zhiming and Fang Xiu had not returned to the shop, Fang Pingying was worried about leaving Luo Honglan alone there, so she didn’t go back to the compound either. She called Luo Zhiyong in the afternoon from the provincial city, saying she wouldn’t be coming back and would see about returning tomorrow night.
Luo Zhiyong sighed after receiving Fang Pingying’s call in the office.
Before he had a wife, living alone seemed fine and without issues. But now, he felt uncomfortable with her not coming home for just one night. If it wasn’t for the distance being too far from the city, he would have liked to check out how his wife was doing with her endeavors.
(To be continued. If you work, you are welcome to vote for it with recommendations and monthly tickets at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.)