Chapter 89 Let Sun Mei Go
Zhao Fei's meat cannery has broken ground.
The sounds of foundation work and workers' shouts echoed from morning till night.
It's not particularly large in scale, but it's not a small-scale operation either. Just the planned factory buildings and warehouses look quite impressive.
Once the project started, Zhao Fei became a spinning top, so busy that he was constantly on the go and often didn't get home until two or three in the morning.
When I got back, everyone in the family was asleep. After washing up, I went straight to bed.
Sometimes, he had to get up and rush to the construction site just as dawn was breaking.
Sometimes, when I'm really exhausted, I can sleep until late morning.
That morning, Wen Xiaoxiao received a call from her kindergarten teacher. "What? You broke a classmate's head?!" Wen Xiaoxiao's voice suddenly rose, startling the guests nearby.
She quickly lowered her voice, "Teacher, please don't worry, I'll be right there! I'm so sorry, so sorry!"
After hanging up the phone, Wen Xiaoxiao was so angry that her face turned pale and her chest heaved.
This is a minor revision! If you don't discipline someone for three days, they'll be tearing the roof off!
"Sister Sun, please check the shop. I have to go to the kindergarten! That little devil has caused trouble again!" Wen Xiaoxiao said through gritted teeth as she grabbed her coat.
"Okay, go ahead," Sun Mei quickly agreed.
Wen Xiaoxiao rushed out in a flurry of activity, heading straight for the kindergarten.
Zhou Lanying had made an appointment with some old neighbors to go listen to opera and chat early in the morning, but she hadn't returned yet.
Yizhen, Yibao, and Zhao Yidi have all gone to school.
Upstairs, Zhao Fei slept in, a rare occurrence for him.
I talked with an equipment supplier until late last night and slept soundly.
He didn't wake up until the sun shone on his face through the gap in the curtains, feeling ravenously hungry.
Downstairs, Sun Mei saw off the last guest and glanced at the wall clock; it was almost ten o'clock.
She walked to the small kitchen at the back, looked at the white porridge in the pot and the leftover pickled vegetables next to it, and hesitated for a moment.
I turned around and went out, and bought two freshly baked hot buns and a bowl of tofu pudding.
Carrying breakfast upstairs, I found the master bedroom door ajar.
Sun Mei stood at the door, her heart inexplicably racing.
She took a deep breath and gently pushed open the door.
Zhao Fei was still asleep, lying on his side facing the door.
The blanket covered his chest, revealing his strong shoulders and arms.
Sun Mei stood at the head of the bed, momentarily forgetting to speak, her gaze fixed on Zhao Fei's face as if glued to it.
Compared to his own husband, who was tanned dark and rough-looking and had developed a belly early on, Zhao Fei was like...
"who?!"
Zhao Fei suddenly opened his eyes and saw someone standing at the head of the bed. He was startled and sat up abruptly.
"Ah! Mr. Zhao!" Sun Mei was also startled, her face instantly turning bright red. She hurriedly explained, "Mr. Wen asked me... to check if you were awake and bring you some breakfast!"
She quickly put the food on the bedside table, her eyes darting away, not daring to look at Zhao Fei.
Zhao Fei recognized her and breathed a sigh of relief, rubbing his temples. "Oh, it's Sun Mei. You scared me. Where's Xiaoxiao?"
“Xiaoxiao went to kindergarten,” Sun Mei said quickly, as if trying to cover up her earlier lapse in composure. “Xiao Gai was naughty at kindergarten and broke a classmate’s head. Boss Wen went to apologize to him. She asked me to tell you.”
“That kid…” Zhao Fei frowned, “He never stops causing trouble. Okay, I got it, thanks.”
"No, you're welcome." Sun Mei lowered her head, not daring to linger, and turned to leave the room almost as if fleeing, gently closing the door behind her.
Back in the shop after going downstairs, Sun Mei's heart was still pounding and her cheeks were burning.
She cursed herself inwardly: Sun Mei, Sun Mei, you've really gone mad! What are you doing standing by someone's bedside looking at them! What kind of behavior is that!
But... Zhao Fei's appearance when he woke up just now... and his usual demeanor in speaking and acting... Sun Mei's heart began to tilt involuntarily again.
Then look at the days I spend every day...
When Wen Xiaoxiao brought Wen Xiaogai, who had caused trouble, back, it was almost noon.
After saying all the nice things, paying for the medical expenses, and even bringing a basket of eggs and fruit, they finally managed to calm down the other parents' anger.
She was exhausted herself and collapsed into a chair as soon as she entered the room.
"Mom, I was wrong..." Wen Xiaogai sidled up to her and whispered.
"Wrong? Do you know where you went wrong?" Wen Xiaoxiao glared at him, annoyed.
“I shouldn’t have hit Wang Xiaohu on the head with a wooden sword…” Wen Xiaogai said, head down.
"That's a head! How can you just hit it like that? What if you break it?" Wen Xiaoxiao got angrier and angrier, and spanked him a few times. "If you dare to do that again, I'll beat your butt to a pulp! Go upstairs! No TV today!"
Wen Xiaogai felt as if he had been granted a pardon and quickly slipped away.
When Wen Xiaoxiao looked up, she saw Zhao Fei coming downstairs, already dressed and holding a folder in his hand.
"You're back? Did you handle it?" Zhao Fei asked.
"Yes, I paid the money and apologized," Wen Xiaoxiao said weakly. "That little devil is driving me crazy. Have you had breakfast?"
"I've eaten." Zhao Fei nodded, walked to her side, and looked at her face. "I might be back late tonight. People from the equipment manufacturer are coming, and I need to treat them to dinner to discuss the installation and debugging."
Wen Xiaoxiao looked at Zhao Fei with heartache: "You haven't been sleeping well these past few days."
"There's no way around it, the factory's just started, there's a ton of things to manage." Zhao Fei patted her shoulder. "Things will get better after this period."
"Okay, try to drink less alcohol," Wen Xiaoxiao instructed.
"Don't worry." Zhao Fei picked up his briefcase. "I'm going to the construction site now."
Watching Zhao Fei's departing figure, Wen Xiaoxiao sighed.
She didn't notice that Sun Mei, who was tidying up the clothes rack next to her, paused slightly and her eyes flickered when she heard Zhao Fei say that he would be home late that night.
As expected, Zhao Fei returned home very late that evening.
After finishing his social engagements and seeing his guests off, he drove his Santana back home.
It was late at night, and there were few pedestrians on the street.
As we approached the corner of the street where the shop was located, the car headlights flashed, illuminating a figure sitting by the roadside.
Zhao Fei slowed down and took a closer look; it turned out to be Sun Mei.
He stopped the car and rolled down the window: "Sun Mei? What are you doing here so late?"
Sun Mei seemed to be startled awake. She raised her head, her face showing a deliberate look of worry. She stood up and patted the dust off her pants. "Boss Zhao... I'm fine. I just... had a little argument with my husband at home. I felt a bit down, so I came out for a walk to get some fresh air."
"Did you two have a fight?" Zhao Fei frowned slightly. "It's so late, it's not safe for you to be alone. Get in the car, I'll take you home."
Sun Mei hesitated for a moment, then said softly, "Then... thank you, Mr. Zhao." She opened the passenger door and got in.
The carriage was filled with the smell of cigarettes and alcohol, as well as the fresh scent of soap pods on Zhao Fei.
Sun Mei sat stiffly, twisting the hem of her clothes with her fingers.
"What are you arguing about?" Zhao Fei asked casually as he drove.
He remembered Wen Xiaoxiao saying that Sun Mei's husband was a bicycle repairman and seemed like a very honest person.
"What else could it be... a trivial matter?" Sun Mei sighed, her voice low and soft, tinged with grievance.
"He complains that I come home late, that I don't earn enough... He makes it sound like I'm lucky to be with him. Mr. Zhao, tell me, I work outside for this family, don't I? Why is it so hard for me..."
As she spoke, her body seemed to unconsciously lean slightly towards Zhao Fei.
His arm brushed against Zhao Fei's elbow, which was gripping the steering wheel.
Zhao Fei kept his eyes on the road ahead, his expression unchanged. He didn't even glance at her, but he held the steering wheel very firmly.
At the next intersection where he needed to turn, he naturally raised his elbow to shift gears, avoiding the near-miss.
“It’s inevitable for couples to have disagreements in their daily lives.” Zhao Fei’s voice was calm, revealing no emotion. “It’s good to talk it out. Don’t take it to heart.”
Sun Mei was rebuffed and looked a little embarrassed, so she didn't "casually" approach him again.
"We've arrived," Zhao Fei said.
"Thank you, Mr. Zhao." Sun Mei got out of the car and glanced at Zhao Fei one last time before closing the door.
"Go back and get some rest," Zhao Fei said, then disappeared into the night without lingering any longer.
Sun Mei stood at the alley entrance, feeling a mix of disappointment and inexplicable embarrassment.
She turned around and slowly walked towards the low, flat-roofed house in the alley.
When Zhao Fei returned home, Wen Xiaoxiao was still awake, leaning against the headboard reading a book while waiting for him.
Seeing him return, she put down her book and asked, "You're back? Have you been drinking?"
"I drank a little, not much." Zhao Fei took off his coat and went to wash up.
When he came out drying his hair and sat down on the edge of the bed, he suddenly said, "Xiaoxiao, let's fire Sun Mei."
Wen Xiaoxiao was taken aback: "She quit? Why? Was she not doing a good job?"
“It’s not a matter of whether he does a good job or not.” Zhao Fei’s tone was calm but firm. “This person… is a bit too ambitious. It’s not appropriate for him to stay at home.”
Wen Xiaoxiao was even more puzzled: "Quick-witted? Sister Sun Mei? She's quite honest and hardworking. Are you misunderstanding something?"
Zhao Fei turned his head and looked at Wen Xiaoxiao with a serious expression: "I found her on the street when I came back tonight. She said she had a fight with a man and came out for some fresh air. I took her home, and on the way... she made some small movements."
"Sneaky actions?" Wen Xiaoxiao's eyes widened. "What sneaky actions? She...she seduced you?"
Her first reaction was disbelief; she found it absurd.
Sun Mei?
Sun Mei, who looks honest and even a bit rustic?
Although the two had been on a blind date, she disliked Zhao Fei at the time.
"It wasn't exactly seduction, but the intention was there," Zhao Fei said directly. "She leaned towards me and touched my arm. Xiaoxiao, I've been out in the business for so many years, I know what I'm doing. This person can't be kept around. Let her go as soon as possible, settle her wages, and send her off politely to avoid future trouble."
Wen Xiaoxiao still found it unbelievable: "No way...aren't you overthinking it? Maybe it was unintentional, or...not noticed? Zhao Fei, I know you're the factory manager now, the boss, but don't be too...too much, as if every woman in the world is after you."
As she spoke, she found herself somewhat amused and nudged Zhao Fei, saying, "Blindly confident!"
Zhao Fei was amused by her words and grabbed her hand: "I'm blindly confident? Wen Xiaoxiao, I'm talking to you about serious matters! This has nothing to do with my status. A saleswoman having inappropriate feelings for the male homeowner is a hidden danger! Today it might be an accidental touch, but what about tomorrow? The day after? What if something unpleasant happens? Will you look good then?"
Seeing that Wen Xiaoxiao was still skeptical, he sighed and softened his tone: "Xiaoxiao, you are kind-hearted and see everyone as a good person. But you can't be too careful. I'm not saying that Sun Mei is necessarily a bad person, but her behavior today crossed the line. Our family has finally achieved some stability, and we can't let anything or anyone that might cause trouble get close. Listen to me, resign."
Looking at Zhao Fei's serious eyes, Wen Xiaoxiao knew that he was not joking, nor was he making a mountain out of a molehill.
She recalled Sun Mei's usual demeanor, and it seemed... there was a slight difference?
What's the look in Zhao Fei's eyes?
The tone of voice?
She hadn't thought about it that way before; she just thought Sun Mei was hardworking.
Now that Zhao Fei had pointed it out, a hint of doubt arose in his heart.
"Then...then I'll find an excuse to talk to her tomorrow?" Wen Xiaoxiao asked hesitantly.
"No need to say too much. Pay her wages until the end of the month, then give her an extra half month's wages. Send her off politely." Zhao Fei arranged everything carefully. "Let her leave with dignity, and don't make things awkward."
Wen Xiaoxiao nodded, leaned into Zhao Fei's arms, and felt a little confused.
She certainly believed Zhao Fei, but she also felt a pang of regret. Sun Mei... seemed like such an honest person.
"Go to sleep." Zhao Fei turned off the light and hugged her tightly. "Don't think about it. I'll go to the construction site tomorrow, you can handle it."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com