“Yes, I had nothing to do at home this afternoon, so I tidied up.” Lu Feng’s gaze fell on Jiang Xiaoyan’s other hand.
The bag contained vegetables, soy sauce, and a small piece of pork. Lu Feng had only had plain noodles for lunch, which weren't very nutritious, and he was already feeling dizzy from hunger.
Jiang Xiaoyan followed Lu Feng's gaze to the bag in her hand and said, "I borrowed eight mao from Sister Li at the electronics factory and bought some vegetables and meat. Could you hold this for me? I'll cook right away."
Lu Feng took the bag and said, "You watch the child, I'll go cook."
After saying that, she rushed into the kitchen. Jiang Xiaoyan put the sleeping Duoduo on the bed, looked at the clean and tidy home, and then looked at the busy figure in the kitchen. She felt like she was in a dream.
Is this true?
Is it because God thinks I've suffered too much and is giving me something sweet?
Jiang Xiaoyan never craves great wealth or status. Looking at the busy man in the kitchen, she only wishes that such days could last a few more days, or even just a few more hours, and she would be content.
Lu Feng had never been this excited even when ringing the bell for the first time his company went public. Now, looking at those few ounces of meat, he couldn't calm down for a long time and sighed, "Prices are really cheap now."
You can buy such a big pile of stuff for just 80 cents.
In some small places, food coupons are still in use. Nowadays, White Rabbit candy costs three yuan for one cent, and pork costs less than five cents a pound. Jiang Xiaoyan is very hardworking, and with her income, she can provide enough for her family to live comfortably.
The meat slices sizzled as they hit the pan, releasing an irresistible aroma. Lu Feng skillfully added vegetables to the pan and began stir-frying, the meaty scent wafting out of the house and into the stairwell.
In another rented room, a plump woman in her forties sniffed the air and asked the man beside her, "Whose meat smells like this?"
"Who cares whose house it is? Let's eat."
"There are only a few families in this building who can afford meat. It's not a holiday and there's nothing important going on. I have to go check it out. What if it's Lu Feng's family?"
"That Lu Feng is a gambling addict. He's so poor he can't even afford to drink the northwest wind, yet he still eats meat?"
"What if he wins money? His wife borrowed 1.2 yuan from me two months ago and paid back 0.6 yuan. She still has 0.6 yuan left. Damn it, she avoids me whenever she sees me."
The woman spoke as she pushed open the door and went out.
Lu Feng placed the food on the table and looked at Jiang Xiaoyan, saying, "Let's eat. Don't disturb Duoduo. Just leave some for her."
Jiang Xiaoyan nodded and sat down opposite. Looking at the food on the table, her eyes welled up with tears. She wanted to say something, but as soon as she opened her mouth, tears streamed down her face.
"What's wrong?" Lu Li picked up a steamed bun and stuffed it into his mouth, asking, "Why are you crying?"
"It's okay, I'm just happy." Jiang Xiaoyan wiped away her tears and choked up, "Find a job in a few days, and good days will come. Don't associate with your bunch of bad friends anymore, okay? I'm begging you."
"Okay, we won't keep in touch." Lu Li nodded. As for the job offer, he didn't agree. After the meal, he had to go back.
Lu Feng glanced at the sleeping Duo Duo, silently wishing the mother and daughter a bright future, and then lowered his head to eat.
The woman wandered around the hallway for a while before finally settling on Lu Feng's apartment and knocking on the door.
"Who is it?" Jiang Xiaoyan asked.
"It's me! Li Dafang." The voice outside the door was very low, as if it carried a hint of anger.
Jiang Xiaoyan looked a little nervous when she heard the name. Everyone in the building knew that Li Dafang was difficult to deal with. If it weren't for the fact that she was really struggling to make ends meet two months ago, she wouldn't have borrowed money from Li Dafang.
She was supposed to pay it back as soon as she got her salary, but as soon as she received the money, Lu Feng took it to eat and drink with his buddies. She managed to squeeze out 60 cents to pay back half of it.
"What's wrong?" Lu Feng noticed that something was off about her.
"It's nothing, there's just six cents she hasn't paid back. I'll go tell her and pay her back when I get paid this month." Jiang Xiaoyan said as she stood up to open the door.
"I'll put the dishes and chopsticks in the kitchen." Lu Feng picked up the dishes and chopsticks and went into the kitchen.
The kitchen was already half full of water, with an electrical outlet and two power cords nearby. Lu Feng looked at everything in front of him, took a deep breath, and began to tinker with it, silently praying that he would succeed and that when he opened his eyes again, he would be Chairman Lu Feng!
Jiang Xiaoyan opened the door and saw Li Dafang with a dark face. She smiled ingratiatingly and said, "Sister Li, it's so late, is there something you need?"
"Your family is doing well, eating meat!" Li Dafang said, leaning against the door frame. "You still owe me six cents. When are you going to pay me? I, the one who borrowed the money, can't even afford meat. You're shameless, borrowing money to eat fish and meat."
Jiang Xiaoyan looked embarrassed and said, "Sister Li, my family is having a hard time. I borrowed eighty cents today to improve my meals. Please give me a few more days. I will definitely pay you back when I get my salary."
"Stop spouting nonsense! How long have you been dragging this out? Have I been giving you face? Pay up now!" Li Dafang pressed on relentlessly.
Jiang Xiaoyan hurriedly reached into her pocket and found that she had three mao left out of the eight mao. She said with difficulty, "I'll return the three mao to you first. I'll definitely return it to you after I get my salary."
Li Dafang snatched the three mao (3 mao) away and shouted, "Where's the other three mao? If you don't pay me back today, don't blame me for cursing you in the street."
"Sister Li, can you give me a few more days?" Jiang Xiaoyan's voice was full of pleading, and her eyes were already red. She finally saw hope in her life and believed that things would definitely get better in the future.
I'm begging you!
Li Dafang flung Jiang Xiaoyan's hand away and said coldly, "Don't give me that crap. Pay me back now, or don't blame me for being impolite."
"Sister Li, please give me a few days, just a few days! I'll kneel down for you." Jiang Xiaoyan cried and knelt down on the ground with a thud.
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