Chapter 6

Xu Zhenguo became the new workshop director almost without any doubt, and ninety percent of the credit should go to Luo Mei, including her relentless encouragement and strong recommendation to Secretary Jiang. When Xu Zhenguo swaggered into office, Luo Mei, hiding in a corner, wore a satisfied smile.

After work, Xu Zhenguo was still immersed in the joy of his promotion. He rode his "Forever" brand 28-inch bicycle towards the dormitory building through the light snow of early winter, his heart burning with excitement.

Xu Zhenguo parked his bicycle in the garage, and Grandpa Zhang, who was watching the bikes, greeted him as usual: "Little Xu is back."

Xu Zhenguo's reaction was a bit strange. With a broad smile, he said, "Uncle Zhang, didn't you see the factory bulletin board? I've been promoted to workshop foreman! I'll treat you to a meal sometime!"

Grandpa Zhang didn't say anything, just gave a cold "hmm," and turned back to continue reading his newspaper while wearing his reading glasses. After confirming that Xu Zhenguo had gone far away, he muttered under his breath, "Hmph! The smug face of a petty person."

Xu Zhenguo hurried up to the third floor. He never carried a key; Wang Lili always left the door slightly ajar for him. The aroma of food greeted him as he opened the door. Because of their different jobs, Wang Lili could leave work an hour early every day to prepare dinner. At that moment, Wang Lili, wearing a faded apron, was placing the last plate of vegetables on the table: "Xiao Chen said he got 96 on his math test today, so I'll make him an extra fried egg tonight." Xu Zhenguo said "Oh," and placed his briefcase on the sofa. On the coffee table in the living room were Xu Chen's homework notebooks, next to which was Wang Lili's medical report. He had glanced at it yesterday; it said "mild anemia," but he had forgotten to ask if she had picked up her medication.

Twelve years of marriage, life was like a cup of lukewarm water, bland and tasteless. There were few things to be excited about. Today's promotion to director didn't require much celebration for Wang Lili, because she knew it was achieved by stepping on Li Junsheng's shoulders. Sometimes Xu Zhenguo would stare blankly at the back of Wang Lili's neck when she pulled her hair back, where a faint scar lay—a mark left from when her father had hit her with a ruler during their first love, because he objected. It recorded Wang Lili's stubbornness back then, but now, looking at it, it seemed like the wall clock, silently counting down the days.

The knocking sounded at that moment. Wang Lili wiped her hands and went to open the door. Standing outside was Luo Mei. This building was the dormitory of Huaxing Machinery Factory, and ninety percent of the residents were factory workers. Luo Mei lived in the second room on the west side of the fourth floor. She was wearing a beige woolen coat, clutching a flashlight, and her eyes were red. "Brother Xu, could you help me check the lights? The lights in my house suddenly went out, and I'm all alone..."

Xu Zhenguo glanced at Wang Lili, who smiled and said, "Go ahead, but remember to come back for dinner soon, or the food will get cold."

He followed Luo Mei out of the house. The wind in the stairwell carried the chill of the night, causing Luo Mei to sneeze.

Luo Mei's house was half the size of his. In the small single room, there was a portrait of her husband, framed in black, smiling broadly. As one of the few people from outside the factory, Xu Zhenguo knew very little about her husband. He only knew from Luo Mei that he was a truck driver who had been in a car accident three years ago, leaving no last words. It was said that his head was flattened at the time…

Xu Zhenguo moved a stool over to check the overhead light. Luo Mei stood below and handed him tools, saying softly, "Brother Xu, you're such a kind person. When my husband, Lao Zhou, was alive, we had to call an electrician even to change a light bulb."

Xu Zhenguo hummed in agreement, but his hand paused. Luo Mei was only twenty-five years old, with fair skin that hadn't been exposed to much sun, and her eyes sparkled as she spoke, as if they were filled with water. The last time he helped her move flowerpots, the enamel mug she handed him still held the warmth of her fingertips.

“Brother Xu,” Luo Mei suddenly spoke, her voice trembling with tears, “I know this is wrong, but I… I feel so lonely every night when I look at Lao Zhou’s photo. You and your wife are so close, but I see you sometimes sitting downstairs smoking, and you don’t seem happy.”

Xu Zhenguo got off the stool, his heart suddenly racing. He wanted to argue, saying he wasn't unhappy, that he had a wife and son, and his life was peaceful. But Luo Mei took a step forward, tears falling onto the cement floor, leaving a small wet patch: "Brother Xu, I just feel you deserve better... I'm not saying your wife is bad, I just think you deserve someone who understands you!"

The words "I understand you" felt like a fine needle, gently pricking Xu Zhenguo's heart. He recalled how, when he used to talk to Wang Lili about his work troubles, her usual reply was, "Don't think so much, let's eat first." He remembered the last time he wanted to go shopping with her at a department store, Wang Lili said, "It's better to stay home and help the kids with their homework." He knew Wang Lili was right, but the emptiness in his heart seemed to be filled with Luo Mei's tears.

“No,” Xu Zhenguo took a step back, his voice a little tense, “I have a family, don’t do this.”

Luo Mei didn't stop. She stepped forward and gently grabbed Xu Zhenguo's arm: "Brother Xu, I don't care what you do to me. I just want to tell you that someone cares about your happiness. Someone knows about your struggles at the factory, which is why I'm doing everything I can to help you! Do you understand?"

Xu Zhenguo's arm was touched by her fingers, warm and soft. Suddenly, images of Wang Lili's nape, his son Xu Chen's crooked homework, and the medical report on the coffee table flashed through his mind. But Luo Mei's eyes were so close to him, reflecting his image. In that image, there was no sense of responsibility as a husband, no sense of duty as a father, only a man wanting to escape the mundane life.

He closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, he saw that Luo Mei's tears were still falling. He heard his own voice: "Don't cry."

He raised his hand and wiped away Luo Mei's tears. As his fingertips touched her cheek, he knew he could never go back. The light in the room wasn't fixed yet, but the light in Luo Mei's eyes was dazzling. Xu Zhenguo thought of Wang Lili waiting for him to come home for dinner, of his son probably waiting for him to check his homework, but his feet felt rooted to the spot.

Xu Zhenguo gently grasped Luo Mei's hand; it was small and trembled slightly in his palm. He knew he was wrong, but a long-lost flutter in his heart surged like a tide, instantly overwhelming all reason...

(To be continued)