Chapter 10 She is free
Huangpu is a long way from Zhucheng, and during rush hour, traffic was snarled. Shi Zhenglin's driver, Xiao He, glanced at the clock, anxious. He squeezed in, finding a gap, and with just two seconds left on the green light, he prepared to charge straight ahead. A pedestrian crossed the crossing without waiting for the green light, and he braked hard, sending a third of the car over the line. He glanced in the rearview mirror at the person in the back seat, who had just reclined with their eyes closed. A scowl flashed across his face. The scowl wasn't about him cutting in, but about him not being proactive enough, not predicting the time well enough. Xiao He knew what he was saying, needless to say. He'd been told this countless times. As the car entered a slightly clearer lane, Shi Zhenglin urged again, "Drive faster." It was unnecessary. He'd heard this every time they drove home. Xiao He had only been with him for three weeks, and his command had become mechanical. Every day, he kept a vigilant eye on the office building entrance. If he saw someone approaching from a distance, he'd start the car beforehand, driving as fast as possible to buy him that little extra time. In those three weeks, Xiao He calculated, he'd already received eight speeding tickets, three of which had resulted in penalty points. He had no choice but to go to great lengths to buy other people's points. The company's onboarding training had clearly stated the rules: drivers were not allowed to violate traffic rules, and were responsible for the fines and points resulting from violations. He hadn't received his salary yet, and was worried it wouldn't be enough to cover the deductions. Furthermore, exceeding a certain number of violations each month would result in dismissal, as clearly stated in the company's administrative regulations. A few days ago, the young man, blushing, cautiously told him he couldn't exceed the limit, as it would be difficult. He immediately transferred him 10,000 yuan, specifically for fines, and told him if it wasn't enough. He couldn't argue that money silenced people and sped up their legs. As for the dismissal system based on excessive violations, Shi Zhenglin taught him to see through the unspoken rules. "If they want to get rid of you, they can make one up without any basis. If I don't let you go, they can use a hundred regulations to pressure you, and you won't be able to leave. What's there to be afraid of?" Xiao He understood; all he needed was to serve him well. Jiang Lingli had originally assigned Shi Zhenglin a veteran employee, hoping to place someone close to him. He said he worked too hard, and the veteran driver couldn't keep up. The people who followed him around all day, from business secrets to their private lives, were all visible to him. He couldn't possibly have someone whose background he didn't know scrutinizing him comprehensively. His aunt had long since asked him to find a job for her nephew, and when he saw the honest and dutiful Xiao He, he immediately took a liking to him. The young man, struggling to support his family, had requested a salary slightly above the company's standard for drivers. Jiang Lingli, playing a trick, used Shi Zhenglin's request for her to control labor costs to claim that the driver team's costs were exceeding the standard, controlling the company's driver salary line and failing to meet his requirements, effectively blocking his employment. Shi Zhenglin told him to accept the company's salary...
Huangpu is far from Zhucheng, and there is a huge traffic jam during the rush hour. Shi Zhenglin's driver Xiao He looked at the time and became anxious.
He squeezed in, finding a gap, and with the light turning green in the last two seconds, he prepared to charge straight ahead. A pedestrian crossed the crossing without waiting for the green light, and he braked hard, causing a third of the car to cross the line. He glanced in the rearview mirror at the person in the back seat who had just reclined with his eyes closed, and a dark face popped up.
The black face wasn't blaming him for grabbing the opportunity; it was complaining that he wasn't forward-thinking enough and hadn't predicted the timing. Xiao He knew what he was saying, without needing to say it. He'd been told this several times before.
The car entered a slightly clearer road, and Shi Zhenglin urged again, "Drive faster."
Superfluous words. He'd always come up with this on the way home. Xiao He had only been with him for three weeks, and he'd already become mechanical with his instructions. Every day, he kept a vigilant eye on the office building entrance. If he saw someone approaching from afar, he'd start the car well in advance, driving as fast as possible to buy him a little time.
In the past three weeks, Xiao He has counted eight speeding tickets, three of which resulted in point deductions. As a last resort, he resorted to buying other people's point deductions.
During the company's onboarding training, the rules were clearly explained to him: drivers are not allowed to violate traffic rules, and are responsible for the fines and points deducted for violations. He hasn't received his salary yet, so he's worried the deductions won't be enough. Furthermore, if a certain number of violations are exceeded each month, the company's administrative regulations clearly state this.
The young man blushed and carefully told him two days ago that he couldn't exceed the limit anymore because it would be difficult.
He immediately transferred him 10,000 yuan specifically for the fine, and told him if it wasn't enough.
What else can I say? Money shuts the mouth and speeds up the legs.
As for the system that punishes dismissal for excessive violations, Shi Zhenglin taught him to see through the hidden rules. "If they want to force you to leave, they can make one up without any basis. If I don't let you leave, even if they use a hundred regulations to pressure you, you still can't leave. What's there to be afraid of?"
Xiao He understood, so just serve him well.
Jiang Lingli originally assigned Shi Zhenglin an old employee, hoping to place someone close to him. He said that Shi Zhenglin was working at such a high intensity that the old employee couldn't keep up.
The person who followed him all day long knew everything, from business secrets to his personal life. He couldn't possibly use someone whose background he didn't know to monitor him from all angles.
The aunt at home had asked him to help find a job for her nephew a long time ago. When the honest and upright Xiao He stood in front of him, he took a liking to him at first sight.
The young man, who had to support his family, made a request that was slightly above the company's driver salary standard. Jiang Lingli played a trick and took advantage of Shi Zhenglin's request for her to control labor costs, saying that the driver team's costs exceeded the standard and that the company's driver salary line was controlled, so she could not satisfy him and actually blocked his employment.
Shi Zhenglin asked him to accept the company's salary quota, and he would privately add 3,000 yuan to his monthly salary. This far exceeded his expectations, so he just accepted the job.
The aunt at home brainwashed her nephew all day long, "Mr. Shi is so good to you, you should be smarter, drive more steadily, cherish it, and work hard."
He carries both the benefits and the pressure, and working with him every day makes me nervous and apprehensive.
A colleague in the driver's lounge saw him frequently handling fines and jokingly called him a "order-puller." Word quickly reached the administrative manager, who spoke to him, ostensibly reminding him to be safe, but actually trying to get inside Shi Zhenglin's affairs.
Apart from anything else, the new young boss has a good figure and a handsome face, and there are too many people in the company who are curious about his private life.
"Mr. Shi must be very busy at home. Does his wife want you to drive? If you are too busy, please tell me and I will see if I can get another driver to help."
The administrative manager asked a lot of questions out of concern, and every word he said was filled with gossip.
Xiao He is loyal to his master. He was trained by Shi Zhenglin and said, "Thank you. I will pay more attention next time."
No one can put a single word on him.
Once we entered Zhucheng, the traffic was blocked again.
Shi Zhenglin checked his watch. Having just been delayed by the headhunter, he couldn't possibly meet the time limit set by Li Yasong. He shrugged off his black suit, unbuttoned his white shirt, and gripped the back of his neck with one hand. He moved his neck back and forth, his joints cracking. The effects of last night's drinking were now lingering, and he felt a discomfort all over his body, as if he was starving for air.
Open the window for fresh air, and the noise will enter your ears.
He closed the car window again in annoyance and said, "Turn on the air conditioner."
"Ah? Oh." Xiao He did as he was told.
In the Flower City in late February, the daytime temperature has been around ten degrees Celsius these days. The people outside the car are wearing different clothes, and some are even wearing thick down jackets.
Ten minutes later, Xiao He drove the car into the basement and parked near his home's parking space. He nervously checked the time and saw that it took him 52 minutes, which was 3 minutes faster than yesterday. It was considered another smooth day. He was afraid of being fired during the probation period.
Shi Zhenglin got out of the car and said, "Drive away. I probably won't be back to the company tomorrow morning. Please confirm with me at 7 a.m."
"good."
Xiao He drove off with the company car, and Shi Zhenglin got into his own car in the parking space. He didn't go home.
After a few adjustments, he finally answered the phone call that had been demanding his life. He said calmly, "I'm here. Don't talk at home. It will affect the children. Come down. I'll wait in the garage."
He bought two parking spaces, connected together, and the parking space next to Li Yasong's car was different from the one he saw last night. He knew that she had driven out again today.
A few minutes later, his aunt called and asked if he was coming back for dinner. He said he had an appointment.
Who wouldn't want to go home and have a hot meal? At this moment, he didn't feel hungry, only tired.
People with great energy never feel how tiring work is, at least that's how he feels. Tired, because of Li Yasong.
She filed for divorce six months ago, citing his absence from the city. From the initial negotiations, negotiations, and arguments, to his retreat to Guangzhou and his compromise, she is now exhausted, emotionally drained, and her love has dissipated.
He knew it was enough and it was time to let go.
Since he joined Xingtan, he has been bombarded with phone calls every day. The lawyer calls, and she also calls, which disrupts the peace of the office. Today she called to say that his lack of response caused her to have a mental breakdown. He was afraid that the child would be affected, so he agreed to come back to talk at the time she requested.
This time she was in no hurry to come down, so he was too lazy to urge her and just waited quietly.
The scene that was just intercepted by the headhunter kept popping up and wouldn't go away.
That headhunter, the one who caused all this trouble, he leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes thinking of her. If she hadn't asked him to go to KG to talk, and if she hadn't spread the news to him, he wouldn't have left Shanemo and wouldn't have gone elsewhere. Now the situation was so messed up, he knew the core of the problem. She was just an instigator and it wasn't that she was guilty of a serious crime.
He pinched his brows, then thought, she just wanted to eat, so what if she made a mistake? He, too, was caught up in those treacherous survival games, managing them with ease. Shi Zhenglin wouldn't cut off a woman's path. What bad luck for her! And yet, at this very moment, it was swirling before his eyes.
As he was thinking this, the phone rang again. It was his boss Yang Chengkai, who wanted to discuss with him their business trip to Beijing in two days.
While we were chatting, Li Yasong came, knocked on the car window, and sat in the passenger seat.
She was tired of listening to him talk about work, and turned her head to the side with a look of contempt on her beautiful face. In her eyes, all the crap he did at work was just a bunch of rubbish.
He tried to control the call time and hung up.
The two of them didn't look at each other.
"The child was making a fuss, so I fucked her for a while. Go upstairs, I don't want to talk here," she said.
"I told you I don't want to talk about this at home." He started the car.
"Where are you going?"
"Go for a ride."
He stepped on the accelerator and quickly went over the speed bump, causing the car to shake violently.
She was frightened, "You are crazy!"
"Who's crazy? I just took over a bunch of things, and you keep pushing me all day long. How can I live a peaceful day?"
"You sign it. You'll be safe if you sign it."
He restrained himself and said nothing.
"Say something." She urged him to express his opinion.
"If you don't want to die, wait until the car stops."
He was afraid that the two would argue and cause traffic safety problems.
The car drove onto Pazhou Bridge, the wind gusting. She said she was cold, and he closed his window. He was silent all the way, while she sent text after text.
We crossed the Pazhou River and parked the car in an open-air parking lot.
Looking at his new home in Zhucheng on the other side of the river where he thought he could start anew, he had nothing to say and only wanted to know one thing.
"When did you get together?"
He felt that she must have someone else. He was too busy to check, nor did he want to.
She said nothing.
"If you want to sign, tell me the truth." He stared at her.
"It's impossible for me to be with him without you being away."
Finally admitted it.
He thought that as long as he confirmed that there was someone there, he would release it immediately.
"Okay! It's my responsibility! It's all my fault!" He bit his lip and nodded, then put his fingers on his forehead and smiled.
"You don't love me, don't you know that? Shi Zhenglin, don't tell me you still love me. If you don't love me anymore, you should give me my freedom."
She needs love the most.
This woman, who was once incredibly beautiful in his eyes, followed him amidst a swarm of crazy pursuers. She had once received the intense love he had with her that would make her excited, cry, and tremble when they were together. She couldn't lose that intensity, and she couldn't live without even a little bit of it.
"Don't talk about love now. What about responsibility? Talk about responsibility to her."
"I don't need to be responsible for anyone. I shouldn't live for you, nor for her. From now on, I will live for myself."
That was a good point. He agreed.
"Okay, live for yourself. I respect you and respect that you live for yourself."
His eyes were red and his voice was choked. "Where's the stuff? I'll sign it for you."
She had prepared the divorce agreement six months ago. It was at home, at his office, and in the car. They were everywhere, ready to be signed. She pulled out two copies from the storage compartment and gave them to him along with the pen.
He flipped the pages quickly, so fast that the corner of one page was broken. He turned over the endless entanglements, the endless calls demanding her life, the daily rush to meet her schedule like a ghost, turned over everything, turned over everything! Everything was over!
A signature quickly fell after hers. After signing, he threw the pen out the car window, where it hit the hard concrete floor and the pen's spring detached.
After calming down, he handed her the agreement and said, "You are free."
She took it, not daring to look at him. "I'll make an appointment with the Civil Affairs Bureau. I'm going to New Zealand next week. Let's do it this week. I'll go back by myself. Be careful on the way."
Going to New Zealand, so the reason for the death penalty was to go to New Zealand. He slammed the steering wheel hard, laughing at himself, having fought for everything for this family, and she threw it all away like garbage.
The warm fragrance of her body remained in the car, lingering with sadness.
Her swaying figure continued as she walked around his car and toward the main road. He sat still in the car, watching her fade away. His fatigue eased, and he could finally breathe in some fresh air.
She waited by the roadside, watching the empty taxis coming and going. A few minutes later, a Land Rover pulled up and she got in the passenger seat.
He saw the man's profile. Blood rushed to his head, and he instinctively started the car, sending it flying off the ramp of the parking lot.
Just as he was about to catch up, his phone rang and he connected it via Bluetooth.
"When will you be home, Dad?"
The soft, anxious voice of a child dissipated the anger tearing through his veins and brought him back to his senses. He slowed down the car.
He had just told her that she was free. Yes, she was free, and he shouldn't forget that.
The voice that needed him kept asking, "Dad, I want you to come home now. What time will you be there?"
"Dad will be right away. Fifteen minutes, you count."
The car in front turned around, so he went straight, stepped on the accelerator, and headed home.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
