Xia Enruo spent the whole day shopping at the market, and her ankles ached from walking. Fortunately, she bought everything she needed. She made an appointment with Wu Meixia's comrade-in-arms to cook at her home the next morning.
She caught the last bus and got home, only to find the lights on.
"Could it be that Gu Shaoxuan is back? How embarrassing."
Pushing open the door, Gu Shaoxuan was cooking in the kitchen. He saw half a bag of newly bought millet in the kitchen, so he decided to make some millet porridge. He also took out some pork and stir-fried some green peppers. Most people who have served in the army can cook a little, but Gu Shaoxuan doesn't know many dishes, though he can make simple ones.
"You're back?"
Xia Enruo stood at the kitchen doorway and said.
Where did you go?
Seeing that her hands were empty and there were no dishes in them, Gu Shaoxuan became even more convinced of his guess.
"I went out to buy groceries and came back late. I thought you wouldn't be back today."
This woman is outrageous. She lies without batting an eye. Although she's not as slovenly as before and the house is cleaner, she still cheats on her husband and lies constantly. I was too soft-hearted back then and didn't fight back. I actually married such a fickle woman.
"Nonsense! You spent all day grocery shopping? Where are the vegetables?"
Gu Shaoxuan threw the cleaver onto the cutting board, making a clanging sound.
"I'm not lying. The customer took the vegetables home. I was just accompanying the customer to buy groceries."
Xia Enruo was utterly baffled by Gu Shaoxuan's anger.
"Clients? Xia Enruo, you have no relatives or friends in Yongning City, and you haven't left your house since you moved here. Where did you get clients? Are you really lying through your teeth? Before the divorce, you were still my wife, so don't do anything to betray me!"
Seeing Gu Shaoxuan so wrongly accuse her, Xia Enruo couldn't hold back anymore. Her eyes reddened and her nose became stuffy. She never expected that he would think she was so despicable. He actually thought she was messing around outside. She could tolerate other things, but when it came to her reputation, Xia Enruo couldn't bear it.
"Gu Shaoxuan! When have I ever done anything to wrong you? You need to provide evidence to support your claim!"
Xia Enruo felt more and more aggrieved. She had already changed for the better, so why was Gu Shaoxuan still not satisfied with her? She might as well just get a divorce sooner rather than later. Sure enough, men were just stumbling blocks on her way to making money.
When Xia Enruo asked him to produce evidence, Gu Shaoxuan hesitated. He couldn't say that Qiao Huizhen and Yuan Qiang had told him; how could he face the two of them who had tipped him off?
Anyway, someone saw you sitting in another man's car, chatting and laughing, and they saw it very clearly.
Xia Enruo sneered inwardly. It seemed he only believed others, never her. But that was just the original owner's past laziness and ingrained impression, hard to change. Explaining herself here was pointless; he'd only see it as sophistry. Anyway, they were getting a divorce, so let him think what he wanted.
“Gu Shaoxuan, I said I didn’t, and I mean it. Believe it or not, we’re getting a divorce soon anyway. Since you despise me so much, let’s just go through the formalities tomorrow so you can get away with not seeing me. Here’s the 20 yuan I borrowed from you, I’m returning it to you.”
"Okay, you said it! Tomorrow we'll submit the divorce report to the political commissar! Xia Enruo, don't underestimate me. I never intended to ask you for this 20 yuan in the first place. Consider this meal our farewell dinner."
Xia Enruo raised her hand holding the money in mid-air, then lowered it. Since it was a farewell dinner, she might as well help with the cooking.
"I will never break my promise. Tomorrow I will go with you to see the leader and set you free."
The two fell silent. Gu Shaoxuan chopped green peppers while Xia Enruo watched the rice porridge, preventing it from overflowing. This was the first time the two of them had ever cooked together in the kitchen, like a "married couple" on the eve of their divorce.
The meal was ready, and Xia Enruo took the initiative to clear the dishes. Gu Shaoxuan sat at the round table watching her come and go. He thought it was ridiculous; she had become so diligent now that they were getting a divorce. Perhaps they were truly not meant to be, or perhaps Xia Enruo had never liked him from the beginning. Before, she would rather argue with him in a messy manner than live a peaceful life together.
"Oh right, I was so angry I forgot to tell you the important thing. I asked Yuan Qiang to find you a job at the sugar factory, with room and board included. Would you like to go? Also, Lu Tuan asked me to ask you about it. He said you have a very good voice, and if you want to work in the military arts troupe, he can talk to the leaders to get you special approval."
Upon hearing this, Xia Enruo was surprised that Gu Shaoxuan had actually found her a job. It seemed this man wasn't entirely heartless. In this era, these two jobs would be considered top-tier. Most people wouldn't have the connections to get them, especially the performing arts troupe, which offered permanent employment and a good retirement income.
However, Xia Enruo, who had been a businesswoman in her previous life, really didn't want to be tied to one job for the rest of her life. The thought of a life where she could see the end from the beginning was boring, especially now that it was the early stage of reform and opening up, with many untapped business opportunities waiting to be developed. How could she possibly want to miss such a good opportunity?
"Thank you, Gu Shaoxuan. But I don't want to take either of these jobs. I've decided to learn to cook and open my own small restaurant. I don't want to do the same job for the rest of my life."
Gu Shaoxuan thought Xia Enruo was simply delusional. These days, it's not easy to find a job. Running a small business is the most looked-down-upon profession. Besides, learning to cook? That's not something you can learn in a day or two. The head chefs in state-run restaurants are all over 50. Besides, I've never seen a woman learn to be a head chef.
"Learn to cook? Where do you want to learn? Cooking isn't something you can master in a day or two. Besides, being a freelancer is tiring and makes you look bad. You should think carefully about finding a comfortable and easy job, because once you miss this opportunity, it's gone forever."
“I’ve made up my mind. There’s a restaurant called Jufulai on Central Street. I’ll go there to learn how to cook.”
"I advise you to think twice before you act. The sugar factory job is great, a nine-to-five job in a large state-owned factory, and the performing arts troupe rehearses every day, sheltered from the wind and sun, and you can tour all over the place. These are jobs that everyone dreams of, and you're still not happy?"
Xia Enruo knew that people in this era all wanted to work in factories. Having a government job made the whole family feel proud, and they looked down on those who set up stalls and opened shops on the streets. Little did they know that these were the people who caught the economic boom, and many of them later became big bosses that were out of reach. The money they earned in a year was equivalent to what they could earn in a lifetime working.
"I've made up my mind, and I won't change it."
After dinner, Xia Enruo started washing and cleaning, not only wiping the kitchen thoroughly but also mopping the entire floor. She was going to move out after the divorce tomorrow, and she couldn't stay here any longer. Since she was leaving, she might as well make one last contribution to the house.
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