Chapter 52 The Bottom Line Must Not Be Lost
"Thank goodness you're here, otherwise I really had no one to talk to. I felt so wronged, it was so painful..."
She finally gently rested her head on Zhou Shufen's shoulder.
Zhou Shufen nodded gently, patting her back to comfort her while also understanding the gist of what she had heard.
She must have had a fight with her husband at home and ran away in a fit of anger.
Zhou Shufen understood.
She didn't blame Yao Mingzhu for being impulsive; if it were her, she might not have been able to withstand such verbal attacks either.
She just felt sorry for Yao Mingzhu, who had been juggling family and work for so many years, only to be met with such accusations.
After crying for a while, Yao Mingzhu finally calmed down a bit.
"I'm so sorry for coming so late and crying like this. Did I scare you?"
"Why are you saying this? We're like family! What exactly happened?"
Zhou Shufen shook her head, waved her hand dismissively, got up and went to the small kitchen, poured a glass of warm water, and gently placed it on the coffee table.
After she sat down, she reached out and held Yao Mingzhu's cold hand, her palm conveying warmth.
Upon hearing this, Yao Mingzhu felt a lump in her throat again.
She tilted her head back, trying to hold back the tears that were about to well up.
"I just... had a fight with my husband."
He said I was only focused on work and neglected my family, and told me to quit my job and take care of my family full-time.
She felt she had done nothing wrong.
She never skipped work or arrived late, and she completed the project better than others; she was a key member of the company, and she didn't neglect her responsibilities at home either.
She had to worry about everything, from picking up and dropping off the children to arranging housework and visiting relatives.
But... but what should we do?
She didn't want to resign.
But she didn't want to lose her family.
"What nonsense is he spouting!"
Zhou Shufen suddenly spoke, her voice not loud.
"ah?"
Yao Mingzhu was stunned, her eyes widening in astonishment.
She subconsciously raised her head and looked at Zhou Shufen.
Zhou Shufen still remembers accompanying her to the factory to inspect goods once.
That day, the workshop was noisy and chaotic, with workers shouting and machines roaring incessantly.
But Yao Mingzhu stood in the center and pointed out the problems one by one without any ambiguity.
"Your business is thriving. All these years of hard work, getting up early and working late, traveling around, enduring countless grievances and staying up countless nights, watching the company gradually get on the right track, with more and more orders and more and more stable customers, and now you want to give up because of one sentence? Just give up like that? Are you willing to do that?"
Zhou Shufen turned around and looked directly into her eyes.
Yao Mingzhu immediately shook her head, almost as a conditioned reflex.
"Of course not! I built it up bit by bit, starting from scratch, with no background, no connections, relying on myself to close every single deal, step by step. Every step was difficult, and only I know how much hardship I endured. It's my everything! It's my blood, my sweat, my dream, how can I just give it up like that?"
"That's right."
Zhou Shufen nodded, her tone softening slightly.
"You can talk to him again and lay everything out on the table. Is it really impossible to have both work and family? Do you have to choose one? Why should it be you who has to make the sacrifice? Why can't he take a step back, or work together to find a solution?"
"That's why I feel so bad..."
Yao Mingzhu's voice trailed off.
"Conflicts can be discussed, argued, and even quarreled, but the bottom line cannot be abandoned."
Zhou Shufen gently persuaded her.
Those past memories came flooding back like a tide.
She had experienced a rebirth, returning from the brink of death, and only then did she truly understand what it meant to "live your own life".
She didn't want to see Yao Mingzhu lose herself.
For the sake of family, for the expectations of others, we gradually wear down our edges.
Eventually, you become someone you don't even recognize.
"You're absolutely right, I feel much better now."
"That's good. It's so late, so don't leave. Stay here tonight."
As Zhou Shufen spoke, she stood up, walked to the bedside, and began to tidy the bedding.
Yao Mingzhu did not refuse.
The two lay down side by side.
But I couldn't fall asleep for a while.
Moonlight streamed in through the window, casting its glow on the floor.
They each stared at the ceiling, neither of them in a hurry to close their eyes.
They started chatting idly, one sentence at a time.
They talked about their childhood and their experiences over the years.
As they chatted, soft laughter broke the silence.
The two talked about everything from everyday life to childhood memories, from work stress to future aspirations. The more they talked, the more they felt a connection and discovered that they had so many similarities.
The next morning, Yao Mingzhu slowly opened her eyes.
The morning sunlight streamed into the room through the gaps in the curtains.
She rubbed her eyes, turned to look beside her, and found that the other side of the bed was empty, with the blankets neatly folded.
She paused, a hint of doubt flashing through her mind.
He then sat up and rubbed his throbbing temples.
She vaguely heard the crisp sound of spatulas clattering in the kitchen.
She threw back the covers, slipped on her slippers, put on a coat, followed the scent out of the room, and gently pushed open the kitchen door to take a look.
Sure enough, Zhou Shufen was busy at the stove.
Golden eggs were frying in the pan, while white porridge was cooking in a small pot next to it, filling the air with its aroma.
Several breakfast items were already neatly laid out on the dining table.
A dish of cucumber salad, a plate of salted duck eggs, a small dish of pickles, and a bowl of steaming millet porridge.
"Wow, what time did you get up? You made so much delicious food!"
Yao Mingzhu couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.
Hearing the sound, Zhou Shufen turned around, served the last plate of chopped vegetables, and put on a gentle smile.
"I didn't get up very early, only about half an hour ago. I thought you went to bed late last night, so it would be good for you to sleep in a little longer this morning. I got up first to prepare something to eat, it's just a quick thing to do. Go wash your hands and eat it while it's hot, it won't taste good when it's cold."
"Okay, it looks delicious."
Yao Mingzhu responded cheerfully, feeling exceptionally pleased.
She skipped and hopped into the bathroom, humming a little tune as she washed her hands.
Zhou Shufen is a quick-witted, considerate, and thoughtful person, and she can cook such delicious food.
In Yao Mingzhu's eyes, she was almost flawless, like the kind of "other people's child" who was praised from childhood.
It's such a pity, such a good person.
But living alone, without a caring partner by my side.
Yao Mingzhu chewed on the crisp cucumber while thinking silently.
I wish I could meet the right person.
Just then, the doorbell rang.
Zhou Shufen wiped her hands, got up and walked towards the door, adjusting her collar as she did so.
She opened the door and was taken aback to see Guo Zhenyi standing outside.
"Mr. Guo? What brings you here?"
Guo Zhenyi was wearing a dark gray jacket, his hair was neatly combed, and he was carrying a paper bag.
"Is Yao Mingzhu with you? I'll come pick her up."
"Yes, yes, we're just about to have breakfast. Come in and have some with us."
Zhou Shufen stepped aside and greeted him warmly.
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