After Wang Fang left, Wang Dong and Wang Hong gradually accepted Qi Zhifang, and the family's life returned to its former peace.
Qi Zhifang still went home from get off work on time every day, but she received a monthly allowance from Xiao Hu, and remained financially secure. Wang Dong's demands on her had shrunk to just that she not go out with other men. He wasn't unaware that his mother's monthly expenses exceeded her salary, but he could only pretend not to hear.
Qi Zhifang still lived a comfortable and affluent life, but she did not consider at all that what Xiao Hu gave her was equivalent to more than half a month's wages for an ordinary worker, and how Xiao Hu's family would live without these things.
Meanwhile, Li Maocai, who still harbored designs on Qi Zhifang, summoned Qi Zhijun to his office and repeatedly revealed how hard it was for him to take care of the child and cook for her alone. On this particular day, Qi Zhijun tentatively suggested, "How about I have my sister come over after get off work and cook for you?"
Li Maocai immediately shook his head and said, "That won't do. It would be bad for a widower like me to have a woman come to my house for no reason. No, no!"
Qi Zhijun said, "What's there to be afraid of? Just have her cook early and leave before you get off work!"
Li Maocai stroked his chin and said, "Would your sister agree? Wouldn't that bother her?"
Qi Zhijun smiled obsequiously and said, "That won't do. Director Li still has to help my Wang Fang return to the city. Our whole family is already grateful to you!"
Li Maocai nodded, handed over a set of keys, gave him an address, and said, "This is fine then! Thank you for cooking for me for the next few days, sister."
Qi Zhijun acted as if he had received a tremendous honor, taking the keys and address and leaving. Li Maocai smiled disdainfully.
Qi Zhifang understood that Li Maocai harbored ill intentions towards her, but for her daughter Wang Fang's sake, she dared not offend him. In the past two months, Li Maocai had taken advantage of her quite a bit. But for her child's sake, she could only swallow her anger. And her true downfall came on this day…
After Xiao Hu's downfall, he was arrested, and Qi Zhifang faced retribution. With Li Yuemei's instigation, a major upheaval was specially prepared for her, and it was about to begin.
Someone in the steel plant's second canteen shouted, "Deputy Director Zhao, your son is here to see you."
Zhao Dahu has always served as the canteen team leader and deputy director, so he is currently in the canteen watching everyone cook. Although he is not needed, he likes to stay in the canteen, chat with everyone, and give instructions.
Upon hearing this, he turned around and said, "Hey, what brings this kid here?"
"Deputy Director Zhao, this is what your son looks like!" an employee exclaimed, giving a thumbs-up. Zhao Dahu chuckled and said, "He looks a bit like his mother, fair-skinned. He's not as good-looking as you describe."
Seeing Zhao Aiguo enter with a proud and imposing air, dressed in a royal blue outfit and canvas shoes, even though he was only 9 years old, he was already over 1.5 meters tall and as strong as a little calf. You could tell from his physique alone that he belonged to the family, even without looking at his face.
As soon as she entered the door, she called out, "Dad, I'm hungry, get me something to eat."
Zhao Dahu laughed and said, "You're hungry? Why don't you go find your grandma? Why are you looking for me? So the government canteen is just for you?"
At this moment, the apprentice Huang Zhenhua came over with a large lunchbox of stewed cabbage and pork, along with two pieces of pork bone, pickled vegetable shreds with chili oil, four steamed buns made from mixed flour, and a large mug of rice soup, saying, "Aiguo, come and eat!" He then carried the food to Zhao Dahu's office.
Zhao Aiguo happily turned around and said, "Thank you, Brother Zhenhua."
Zhao Dahu laughed and scolded, "You brat!" Then he threw the meal ticket into the basket at the cafeteria window and told the employee, "You left the meal ticket here!"
Then I got two more servings and told the cafeteria staff, "When my wife comes, I'll have her come to my office!"
Everyone in the factory knew that Wei Shuqing and Zhao Dahu were in their second marriages, but no one knew that Zhao Aiguo wasn't Zhao Dahu's biological son. Because of her fierce protectiveness and their physiques, everyone assumed they were father and son. After they left, they even said that Zhao Dahu's son was quite good. Wei Shuqing was fertile.
He came in, put down the five lunchboxes stacked together, and said, "What brings you here?"
Zhao Aiguo chuckled and said, "I heard the canteen got three pigs. My grandma said it'll definitely be stewed for lunch today!" He handed the meat bones to Zhao Dahu, who shook his head and said, "You're just going to eat here! I'm telling you, you're something else! You've been mooching off the canteens of the steel mill and the food factory for days. You always go wherever there's good food. So all you care about is the canteen's food? Fine, I'm too lazy to talk to you! Go back after you finish eating. Our factory has a sports meet this afternoon."
While eating, Zhao Aiguo said, "Give me some minced garlic. I was wondering what was missing. Eating meat without garlic makes it lose half its flavor!"
Zhao Dahu laughed and said, "Alright! The Zhao family really knows how to eat." Then he took out a clove of garlic from his pocket, peeled it, put it in his lunchbox and said, "There's no minced garlic, just make do with this! By the way, kids shouldn't watch too much of that stuff in the future."
Zhao Aiguo, eating a mouthful of garlic and a bite of meat, asked, "Dad, what does 'having an affair' mean?"
Zhao Dahu suddenly felt a pain in his tooth root and said, "Never mind that, finish eating and hurry home, your grandma is waiting for you!"
Just then, Wei Shuqing came in, looking rather grim. She frowned at Zhao Aiguo and said, "You've come to the cafeteria four times this month, and every time it's meat time. Are you a dog? Following the smell of food!"
Zhao Dahu glared at Wei Shuqing and said, "What's wrong? My son can't come? It's not like I'm not giving him a ticket. Everyone takes an extra portion home when I cook meat dishes, right? Son, don't worry, just come and eat! Your father didn't say anything!"
Zhao Aiguo nodded and said, "I've been to Grandpa's cafeteria six times this month! I wouldn't have come if your cafeteria didn't serve meat."
Wei Shuqing laughed in exasperation, shoved Zhao Dahu aside, sat down, took a steamed bun, picked up some vegetables, took a bite, and said, "You just spoil me!"
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