Li Wuwei hummed a tune as he arrived at the factory, parked his car, and realized he was early. Having a car was different.
He decided to go pretend to be sick again, feigning a stomach ailment. This was a slow process, he needed everyone to acknowledge his condition before they would accept that he was retiring at such a young age.
"Doctor, my stomach just won't get better. I couldn't even eat breakfast today."
Li Wuwei thought to himself, "I didn't eat much. I only had half a steamed bun."
"Li Shifu, your condition requires gradual treatment. Stomach problems don't disappear overnight."
The doctor had no choice. If he were truly skilled, he would have gone to a large hospital long ago. Why would he be stuck in the factory infirmary?
"Alright, I'll have to trouble you more in the future. I'll rest here for a while."
Li Wuwei took the opportunity to stay in the infirmary, taking a break whenever he could.
This was a collective era, not about working more for more pay. The factory was huge, it wouldn't miss his little bit of work.
Besides, he was retiring, allowing Qin Huai Ru to take his place, starting as an apprentice. This saved the factory wages and was a contribution in itself.
It was past nine o'clock, and the doctor couldn't bear it anymore. "Li Shifu, how's your stomach ache?"
"It's feeling a little better. I'll go back to the workshop now."
Li Wuwei reluctantly left, but didn't rush to the workshop. Instead, he went to the office building and found the factory administrator.
"Tang Zhuren, I have a severe stomach problem. I'm afraid it might affect my work."
This was just a probe, a way to get familiar with him. Later, he could find a way to send a gift. Even without it, he could solve the problem.
He wasn't planning to work, but Qin Huai Ru would still be in the factory, so maintaining good relations was necessary.
"Li Shifu, don't worry. The factory won't neglect anyone. Besides, seeing a doctor is free."
What could Tang Zhuren do? If he dared to say that someone's illness was affecting work, it would spread, and he would be labelled as exploiting workers. Would he still want to progress?
"Okay, I'll persevere."
Li Wuwei left after a short while. Being a worker was truly great these days, guaranteed income no matter what.
Unless he stole machines from the factory, even if he took scrap metal and got caught, he wouldn't be fired.
This position was essentially an iron rice bowl, one that could even be passed down through generations. Father to son, son to grandson. Of course, this was only if the factory was profitable and didn't go bankrupt.
As soon as he entered the workshop, he heard the chatter of his colleagues, and he was the main topic.
"Hey, who would've thought Li Wuwei, seemingly harmless, is actually a ruthless guy? He stole Jia Dong Xu's blind date."
"He cut him off! Look at Jia Dong Xu, his eyes are swollen. He must've cried all night last night."
"Good! Who told Jia Dong Xu to act like a boss, flaunting his master, Yi Zhong Hai, and being disrespectful to us old masters? They're from the same courtyard."
"Jia Dong Xu is a real wimp! A beautiful woman in his hand, and she flew away. If it were me… hey, Li Shifu, you're here."
Seeing Li Wuwei arrive, the man wasn't afraid, but it wasn't appropriate to gossip in front of him.
"Yeah, I've got a bad stomach. I went to the infirmary."
Li Wuwei pretended to be ill again. He believed that soon, the whole factory would know about his stomach problems.
He reached his workstation, picked up his tools and could work. It was just too monotonous.
He was a trendsetter in his previous life. Even if he couldn't make it, he would rather deliver food or parcels than work in a factory.
Suddenly, he felt someone looking at him. He looked up, and there, across several machines, was Jia Dong Xu, glaring at him with hatred.
Li Wuwei smiled. His good days were still ahead. He was a real player.
…
In the courtyard!
After Li Wuwei left for work, Qin Huai Ru didn't rest. She cleaned the house inside and out. Although it wasn't as good as the courtyard her grandpa left behind, it was her home, Old Li's house, and she had to take good care of it.
"What a wicked thing!"
"This isn't marrying a wife, it's finding a maid."
The housewives in the courtyard who weren't working were keeping an eye on this new wife that Li Wuwei had tricked.
They found her to be genuinely hardworking. She'd been doing chores since she arrived yesterday, and this morning she was still working.
At lunchtime, Er Da Ma couldn't sit still anymore. She pretended to visit Li's house, since they lived next door anyway.
She found just one steamed bun and some leftover cabbage on the table, and Qin Huai Ru was pouring water.
"Qin Huai Ru, is this all you're eating for lunch?"
Er Da Ma was shocked. You can't treat someone like that!
"You must be Er Da Ma. I have a small appetite. This is enough for me."
Qin Huai Ru wiped the sweat off her forehead, picked up a steamed bun, and smiled.
"Oh, this Li Wuwei is no good. How much allowance does he give you each month?"
Er Da Ma felt sorry for her, but she wouldn't bring any food over. She was just there to snoop.
"Three yuan."
Qin Huai Ru actually received thirty, which was more than enough, but she had to listen to her husband and tell everyone three yuan.
"What a wicked thing!"
Er Da Ma shook her head. Looking around the house, they didn't even have a wedding ceremony. Li Wuwei didn't have any elders, so they couldn't have a wedding banquet anyway. But, you can't have nothing! At the very least, they should have bought a new red washbasin, a new commode, new sheets, etc.
But there wasn't a single new item in this house, and they only gave the new wife one steamed bun. She was busy working so late at night, could she withstand it for long?
"Qin Huai Ru, go to the courtyard this afternoon and chat with the other wives.
Er Da Ma first acknowledged Qin Huai Ru's character. She was hardworking and diligent, but she was simply naive. That Li Wuwei had tricked her.
"Okay, I'll have some free time once I take down the curtains to wash them."
Qin Huai Ru was very satisfied with her current life. She had money in her pocket, thirty yuan! There was also double-cooked noodles in the kitchen, and her husband was working to earn money. Plus, she had the huge fortune her grandpa left her. Everyone in the village envied her for marrying well. What else could she be dissatisfied with?
"Sigh!"
Er Da Ma sighed and left, immediately spreading the news about Qin Huai Ru.
The wives in the courtyard gasped. They had all been through being new wives, but they hadn't been treated this way.
"What a wicked thing! But, we have to admit that Li Wuwei has good eyes. I initially thought someone like Qin Huai Ru couldn't do any work."
"Of course! We never thought Qin Huai Ru would be so hardworking and diligent. She eats so little, and her husband is not home, she doesn't slack off. She even finds things to do herself."
"You guys didn't see her. Everyone's hands were red with cold, it's winter. Who washes curtains in this weather? She's looking for trouble."
"Li Wuwei only gives Qin Huai Ru three yuan a month. He didn't even buy a single new item for the house. Qin Huai Ru's hard times are still ahead, but Li Wuwei's life is getting easier."
The wives were gossiping, and they didn't notice that Jia Zhang Shi was standing nearby. After hearing these words, Jia Zhang Shi felt her head about to explode.
If she had known that Qin Huai Ru was so hardworking and diligent, she should have acted sooner! She shouldn't have let that wicked Li Wuwei get away with it.