Sun Mei desperately wanted to find her benefactor, but sadly she had no idea where the benefactor had lived originally.
As the days passed, her concern grew immensely.
Originally without hope, one day, suddenly, hope emerged... telling her that her daughter’s throat could be healed.
She was more than willing to cling to this last thread of hope.
"Sun Mei, you seem to be in a daze all day, is everything okay?"
It was the sixth day and they had already started work at the factory. The one who asked was her team member Yu Lan.
Ever since they resumed work, she noticed that Sun Mei just wasn’t herself, her concentration astray and seemingly weighed down by worries.
Could it be... Sun Mei still hung up on that man from before?
It was said that he left quickly and married just as swiftly, having already found someone new and tying the knot before the New Year – a seamless transition!
Upon hearing Yu Lan’s voice, Sun Mei snapped back to reality and shook her head, "I’m fine."
She gathered her spirits, preparing to go home after work.
Working at the factory, she couldn’t just wait at home all the time, especially not knowing when the benefactor might come.
"You sure you’re okay?" Yu Lan was somewhat doubtful.
Sun Mei shook her head again, "I really am fine."
Seeing that she wouldn’t open up, Yu Lan became even more convinced of her own conjecture.
"It’s good if you’re fine. But Sun Mei, a woman needs a home. Now that you’re divorced, forget about the man in your past. Instead, how about I introduce someone to you? That butcher from the meat factory, Master Ma... His wife passed away six months ago, he hasn’t found anyone yet. He has two kids, the oldest is only eight, and the youngest boy is about the same age as your daughter Axiu; those poor children without a mother. So, Old Ma is thinking of finding someone again."
"I think you two are a perfect match. The meat factory is great! They pay well, Master Ma earns thirty yuan every month, and I’ve heard he doesn’t beat his wife."
"As a woman and with a child, it’s certainly not easy. One must find a companion. I reckon you two are quite well-matched."
A divorced woman normally didn’t have an easy life, always the subject of excessive scrutiny.
Moreover, a divorcee living alone is prone to much gossip. Better to find someone new sooner rather than later.
Yu Lan truly believed she had found a good match for Sun Mei, someone well-off, working at the meat factory... Many would vie for such a chance!
This included those with unmarried daughters at home.
Sun Mei’s expression turned sour; she could barely manage a smile.
"I’m not in a hurry to... to find someone right now."
Yu Lan became anxious upon hearing this, "How can a woman not look for another partner? If you don’t seize the chance while you’re still young, in one or two years, you won’t find anyone decent..."
Perhaps noticing Sun Mei’s displeasure, Yu Lan hastily added:
"Sun Mei, you know me, I’m blunt with words, don’t take it personally! I’m saying this for your own good. Although my words are unpleasant, they are sensible. Having a man at home makes it a home. You can’t rent someone else’s house forever, can you?"
Unable to take any more, Sun Mei said, "Sister Yu, I have no intention of finding someone else. Please introduce him to someone else. Right now, all I want is to raise my daughter well, nothing else."
"Sun Mei, we work in the same factory, I wouldn’t harm you," Yu Lan insisted, believing she was looking out for her.
How tough was it for a divorced woman? Was it really so great being the object of so much scorn?
Besides, the man she had found for her had truly good prospects.
Why couldn’t she understand well-meaning intentions?
"I really don’t intend to look, stop talking about it, I don’t like hearing this," Sun Mei’s refusal was quite adamant.
This was mainly because ever since her divorce, there had been too many people trying to set her up.
Wasn’t it all because they valued her job?
Moreover, she genuinely didn’t want to find anyone.
After experiencing a horrendous marriage... it was only after jumping out of that pit did she realize how wonderful life could be with just her daughter.
Had her good intentions been taken for an offense?
Her expression turned slightly ugly.
But let it be; she wouldn’t force her helpfulness on someone unreceptive.
What started as a friendly conversation ended in discomfort, with both of them bowing their heads to their work, no more words exchanged.
However, Sun Mei didn’t expect that during the short time she went home for lunch, the factory was abuzz with rumors that she wasn’t looking for a partner and was still pining after her ex-husband... by the time it reached her ears, it was already afternoon.
This infuriated her right when she was about to confront Yu Lan.
It was then that the factory’s gatekeeper shouted from the workshop door, "Sun Mei, your daughter is looking for you."
Startled to hear that her daughter was searching for her as she had just been home at noon, Sun Mei couldn’t contain her shock.
Without a moment’s delay, she got up to confront Yu Lan, "Team leader, my daughter has come looking for me, I need to see what’s going on..."
The team leader glanced at her and nodded, "Alright, go ahead!"
Sun Mei quickly made her way outside.
What she saw at the factory gate completely overwhelmed her.
Rong Yan’s lips twitched as she heard this, sensing that the gatekeeper’s gaze had changed.
She quickly said, "Just call me Xiao Rong, it’s fine. If it’s convenient for you now, take some time off; I’ll come to your house shortly."
Hearing this, Sun Mei was even more ecstatic, nodding rapidly, "It’s convenient, very convenient, Mr. Rong, please wait here a moment, I’ll be right back..."
Without waiting for Rong Yan’s response, she turned and dashed off, narrowly avoiding a fall due to her haste.
There really was no need to rush.
"Miss, are you Sun Mei’s relative?" The gatekeeper was curious, mainly because she was incredibly beautiful – he had never seen such an attractive woman in his life.
Fair and clean... She clearly appeared to be from the city.
But then he pondered whether his question had been inappropriate.
If Sun Mei had such an affluent relative, she wouldn’t have been subjected to such mistreatment by her former in-laws without anyone to defend her.
"Not a relative," Rong Yan didn’t elaborate further.
If it were someone else, the gatekeeper might have continued to chat, but sensing the elegant demeanor of the woman before him, he felt it was not his place to pry further and kept quiet.
Sun Mei returned from her leave quite quickly.
Out of breath, she arrived back, "Mr. Rong, I’m ready... let’s go!"
The benefactor didn’t want to be addressed as such, and calling her Xiao Rong was out of the question, so Mr. Rong was the most appropriate.
Rong Yan nodded, then turned to leave.
Sun Mei hurried to follow, holding her daughter’s hand.
When they arrived at Sun Mei’s place, the neighbors were naturally curious... why was Sun Mei coming home from work at this time? And who was this beautiful young woman?