Since he had already taken sick leave, he simply left work early.
Sick leave, they still have to pay him for today, not a loss.
Just as he rode his bicycle out of the factory, he happened to see Jia Dong Xu rushing towards the canteen with his lunchbox. Their eyes met, and it was a "you're going down" moment.
"Li Wu Wei, you just wait, I'm going on another blind date tomorrow."
Jia Dong Xu was so angry he gritted his teeth. The thought of Qin Huai Ru's charming face made him feel terrible.
There are two major grudges that a man must avenge: the murder of his father, and the stealing of his wife. This is one of them.
Li Wu Wei rode away, leaving behind a waving figure. No need to thank him!
He considered his actions as a rescue, a beacon of righteousness shining on this earth.
As he returned to the courtyard, he happened to see Yan Bu Gui entering the yard. It was a common sight, after all, he was the Third Uncle of the front yard.
As an elementary school teacher, Yan Bu Gui had plenty of free time, but he taught Chinese, and yet spent all day scheming. Can you believe it?
"Third Uncle, good morning!"
"Li Wu Wei, are you coming back for lunch too?"
Yan Bu Gui was taken aback. There was no such custom in the courtyard, everyone ate in the canteen for lunch.
"I have a stomach ache, I took sick leave."
Li Wu Wei didn't reveal his early retirement plans yet. He would wait for Qin Huai Ru to go through the procedures next Monday. Actually, this afternoon would have worked too.
But their work hours overlapped for the entire afternoon. Wouldn't that be a waste? Qin Huai Ru would only work half a day, and he wouldn't be able to get paid for that.
"You really have a stomach ache?"
Yan Bu Gui was skeptical. If you're sick, how can you drink alcohol and eat meat? Can you digest that?
"Of course it's true. I'm going back to rest, you keep busy."
Li Wu Wei pushed his bicycle away, reminiscing about the ubiquitous shared bicycles back in his previous life. Now, he was proud to own a bicycle.
He walked past the middle courtyard and returned to the back courtyard. The aunties saw him and couldn't help but point and whisper.
"Brother Li, why are you back?"
Qin Huai Ru was eating, just two steamed buns, some cabbage, and a bowl of boiled water.
"No, why are you eating so poorly again?"
Li Wu Wei wanted Qin Huai Ru to gain some weight, to increase their sense of happiness together.
"There's still some dough left at home, and there's cabbage in the cellar. It would be a waste not to eat it. It's fine, I've eaten even worse than this before."
Qin Huai Ru was satisfied with her current life, there was nothing to complain about.
"Okay!"
He changed the subject and explained: "I've already talked to the factory, I'll take you to go through the entry procedures and start work on Monday."
"Great!"
Qin Huai Ru knew it was about the replacement job and that it had already been settled, so she didn't ask any more.
Li Wu Wei casually closed the door. After eating his food, he had to work.
Confucius said: Food and sex, these are human nature.
Mencius said: That makes sense!
After that, Li Wu Wei went to take a nap. It was Saturday, so he should spend it like this.
Qin Huai Ru tidied up and then opened the door, carrying a basin to wash the dishes.
She happened to run into Second Auntie and Xu Mu who were also washing dishes, and they started chatting by the sink.
"Qin Huai Ru, I just saw Li Wu Wei come back. Why hasn't he gone to work yet?"
Second Auntie's room was next door, she didn't need to go out of her way to observe, she could see everything.
"He took sick leave, he's resting at home this afternoon."
As Qin Huai Ru spoke, her hands didn't stop. She efficiently washed the dishes and chopsticks.
"Oh my, he's so young, why is he taking leave? Is he that lazy?"
Xu Mu couldn't stand it anymore. Her old man Xu and Da Mao were both working, they never took leave all year round.
"He's not lazy, he's sick."
Qin Huai Ru defended her husband, but that made the aunties in the courtyard even more speechless. Had he brainwashed her?
Around three o'clock in the afternoon, Li Wu Wei woke up and saw Qin Huai Ru making a pair of sole slippers.
"Huai Ru, I'll buy you a sewing machine tomorrow, our family can't be left behind."
"No need, it's just the two of us now, we can use needles and thread for repairs. When we have a child, it won't be too late to buy a sewing machine."
Qin Huai Ru was truly virtuous. She was the eldest sister of her family, with two younger brothers, so she learned to take care of people early on.
Li Wu Wei thought for a moment and said: "Huai Ru, let's not be in a hurry to have children. You're going to start working at the factory soon, as an apprentice.
I negotiated your salary to be twenty-seven and a half yuan per month. Wait a couple of years, then I'll get your stomach bigger.
Well, that's a crude way of putting it. I mean, you'll get pregnant then, all the medical expenses will be covered by the factory, you can just stay in the hospital all day, you can avoid the assessment, and automatically become a full-fledged worker.
Plus, you'll have maternity leave, think about how good that is."
He was taking advantage of the benefits of the steel factory, enjoying these perks, and making the factory pay for his wife.
Qin Huai Ru's eyes lit up, "That's great, we can save a lot of money this way."
"That's the way to think about it. You can't be poor from eating, you can't be poor from wearing, you only become poor if you don't plan ahead.
Well, that's what Third Uncle said, our family has money, but we can't spend it recklessly, we need to save it for the children."
Li Wu Wei didn't want children so soon, but later on, he planned to respond to the call, have two children in three years, make Qin Huai Ru give birth to three children, completely tie her to his family, and have her work for his family for the rest of her life.
"Yes!"
Qin Huai Ru nodded, then walked over. "Brother Li, come and try, does this size fit your foot?"
She was making a pair of sole slippers, and she crouched down to measure his foot.
Li Wu Wei reached out and touched Qin Huai Ru's head. This white lotus, whoever marries her will know.
"I'm going for a walk, I'll go look for a fishing rod. From now on, I won't be working, I can fish to supplement our income."
As he walked out the door, he noticed that something was missing from his doorway. Maybe he could follow in Third Uncle's footsteps and raise some flowers and plants in the back, to cultivate his spirit.
He retired at a young age, he still had decades to go, he had to find some hobbies, right?
There was no one in the courtyard at this time. He didn't ride his bicycle. He just left the courtyard and suddenly saw a woman in her thirties looking around at the entrance.
What can I say about her looks? She had a certain charm, but she gave off a sharp, mean vibe.
"Big Sis, who are you looking for?"
Li Wu Wei had to ask this question, it was the rule to inquire about strangers at the entrance.
The woman's eyes darted around, but she still answered: "Does He Da Qing live in this courtyard?"
"You mean Sha Zhu's dad, he lives here."
Li Wu Wei was stunned, how could that He Da Qing with his drooping eyelids attract women?
Oh my god, could this woman be the White Widow from the show who was trying to hook up with He Da Qing?
(I never expected so many readers to urge me to update and vote! I'm so humbled and grateful, I'll try my best to write well, thank you!)