Chapter 5 (7)
Out of the blue, Di Liren approached Yu Meng and arranged a private room for tea. When Yu Meng arrived, she found Liren alone, Yu Jia absent. She looked around, searching for someone to talk to.
Li Ren smiled and said, "Don't look at it, I didn't call her."
Yu Meng was puzzled. What could have happened without Yu Jia's knowledge? She sat down and was served tea. She instinctively sensed something was amiss.
Luan Chengyun has a good relationship with Lao Di, so it’s not about that line of work.
"Go ahead." Yu Meng sat with his back straight.
"Drink some water, drink some water." Li Renhe said in a friendly manner.
"Could it be that Luan Chengyun sent you here?" Yu Meng went straight to the point.
Li Ren smiled, "Can he send me? Don't think too much."
"What's that?"
"I can't look for you if there's nothing wrong."
"Oh my dear boss, please stop hiding it."
The standing man is still stretching.
"Did you have a fight with Yu Jia?" Yu Meng asked, "Want me to mediate?"
"no."
"I'm leaving now. I have a facial appointment and I don't want to be late." Yu Meng looked down at her nails.
Face is a big deal.
Li Ren shifted his stance and briefly explained his current situation and the difficulties he faced. Yu Meng understood. It was simply that his backers were leaving, and he wanted to leave too, fearing they wouldn't take him with them. But what was the point of explaining this to her? She had no understanding or interest in these matters.
So she said bluntly, "I sympathize. But my hands are not long enough to control the affairs of the government office."
Li Ren walked around, changed Yu Meng's cup, and then said with a cheeky smile, "Can you help me a little, do some work for the Zu Bureau?" Then he suddenly said excitedly, "Don't worry! It's definitely not in vain! Teacher Yu, I really have no other choice. Look at this, it's neither up nor down..." He called her Teacher Yu. Rare.
Yu Meng's head buzzed, like it had been slapped with paste. How did he know? Had word of her relationship with Liangcai reached Di Liren? Did Yu Jia tell him? No, if it was Sister Jia who leaked the news, he wouldn't have had to bring her along. A husband and wife together could always be more effective than one person. By not bringing Yu Jia, Liren was saving face for Yu Meng. Secrets were paramount, especially when they were in the government.
But what does this mean? Asking her to work for Liangcai, how? Just whispering in his ear? Doesn't that mean she's his mistress? Damn it! Who the hell is a mistress? She's his girlfriend! "Mistress" is a derogatory term, a disdainful way men use towards women. She doesn't want it, she's doing it openly and honestly...
Torn between inner turmoil and desire, Yu Meng looked at Di Liren's expectant face and suddenly felt a surge of pride. In the past, this "brother-in-law" had been the object of everyone's fawning, but now he was courting her, simply because she had boarded Liangcai's ship. Fortunes have changed, and this year it's my turn. It was hard to explain the feeling, but it was undeniably good. Very good. She then deeply understood why Yu Jia had clung to Liren for so many years. In ancient times, Yu Jia would have hoped to receive an imperial decree, a title granted. However, Yu Meng wasn't ready to agree, as she didn't know Liangcai's intentions and couldn't fight an unprepared battle.
"You've got the wrong person." Yu Meng calmed himself down, holding the teacup to his lips. "Teacher Zu and I are just ordinary friends." He paused and changed his words. "Oh no, not even ordinary friends, but acquaintances." He took a sip and changed his words again. "No, not even acquaintances, but just acquaintances."
She called him Master Zu, even in private, because she felt that talented people were particularly knowledgeable.
Li Ren was stunned. Yu Meng was no ordinary person. She had defined herself. What could he say? He couldn't just say, "You're just close, you're his mistress." Pillow talk was the most effective. The county magistrate might as well take charge now.
Li Ren said, "Don't your words carry weight?"
It's unreasonable to make trouble.
Yu Meng pretended to be confused, "That's funny, how come I have weight? Who told you that?"
He had a way of knowing, and Yu Jia had also mentioned it. At Yu Meng's birthday party, someone sang a song, and their favorite was "A woman like you, who brings joy and sorrow." Yu Jia hummed it for five days.
Devilish.
"Everyone likes to listen to you when you talk." Li Ren had no choice but to continue.
"Boss, I really can't help you." Yu Meng laughed. "Who are you? Sister Jia's husband, a friend of many years. If I can help, how can I not lend a hand?" Li Ren saw that the words were about to be said, so he had to use his last trick and sighed. "I came here thinking it was the Yangguan Road, but who knew it was the Huarong Road. Forget it, it's fate, so I die." Following Xuanran, "I just feel sorry for the children, sorry for Jiajia..."
Instantly, Yu Meng's heart softened. She was just thinking about easing things with Yu Jia. That birthday party, Sister Jia had been so helpful. Later, she'd come and give her some "advice." Yu Meng had always believed in it, and after all, she had a bed...
"Alright!" Yu Meng put down the teacup. "We'll talk about the details later, but I can't guarantee anything. You have to be mentally prepared."
Li Ren immediately bowed and said, "Please accept my humble greeting!"
The four of them had a small get-together when they had some free time. Yu Rui announced that they were having hot pot at Shuang's house. Yu Meng and Yu Jia both brought their own food. Yu Meng instructed them, "Sister Jia, you buy the vegetables. Don't worry about the meat." Yu Meng would prepare the meat dishes.
Yu Meng stood beside Yu Jia at the kitchen sink, washing vegetables. She didn't mention Li Ren's contact. Yu Jia didn't mention it either. Yu Meng thought she might not know, but she couldn't help but feel it was inappropriate—she had already told Liang Cai about their relationship, how important and strong it was—and she still hoped Yu Jia would do her a favor.
When they met this time, Yu Jia was calm and gentle again. The last birthday party was in the past, like a treasure sunk into the sea. Yu Meng didn't try to retrieve it, and Yu Jia would not take the initiative to do so.
What’s past is past.
The four people gathered around, and Yu Meng picked up a piece of mutton roll for Yu Jia.
Yu Jia sighed softly. Yu Rui had just announced their breakup, and Rui was fine, but Jia was terribly worried.
"The old must go before the new can come." Yu Meng encouraged.
Yu Jia said, "I'm just worried about when we can finally settle down."
Yu Shuang analyzed it from a philosophical point of view, "Unchange is relative, change is absolute."
Yu Meng reached out and patted Sister Jia, as a way of comforting her, "You have to find your own fun."
Yu Jia looked at Yu Meng, then at Yu Shuang, and finally at Yu Shuang, "Find someone like Yu Shuang, a university teacher, and live an ordinary life." Yu Shuang hurriedly said, "No, I don't plan to live an ordinary life. No one can tell what the future will be like."
Yu Rui nodded slightly. Yu Jia's words always felt like they were pulling Yu Yi's strings. Yu Yi was destined to be a university professor, similar to Kang Long. But she just didn't like him. Although she knew Yu Yi was simple, reliable, and a good marriage partner, her experience with Shi Tongguang had given her a deeper understanding of herself. She preferred mature men, successful men.
On this issue, she and Yu Meng agreed.
She was still young, still had a chance, and wouldn't return empty-handed from such a treasure trove. Yu Rui felt that while her battle with Shi Tongguang had been a heavy loss, it had also been a reward—she had become more resilient mentally, clearer in her goals, and more determined. She was no longer the flustered little girl who would settle for second best.
Yu Rui was lost in thought.
Yu Jia asked, "What should we do next?"
Yu Shuang rushed to answer for her: "Acting."
Yu Rui smiled faintly, "Go to the running group and find something else to do."
Yu Meng interrupted, "Come to my shop." The three hurriedly asked what he meant, and Yu Meng finally explained that he and a friend had opened a beauty salon. "That Weng?" Yu Jia asked. Yu Meng again said no. No one dared to ask further questions. Yu Shuang continued eating and drinking.
After the birthday party, Yu Jia thought Meng's social connections were complex, so opening a shop wasn't surprising. Yu Rui was a bit surprised. Her surprise wasn't the shop itself, but that she'd opened one before her. She'd spent so much effort and energy trying to get it off the ground, but with Sister Meng, it was like a piece of cake, making a big difference. It was clear that it was a beauty salon, not a shop.
Suddenly rising from the ground. Shocking.
Yu Meng continued, "We've just started our business and we're short of people. Rui, if you don't want to act, you have to come and help your sister Meng. I'll keep the position of store manager for you."
Yu Rui sighed. She couldn't agree right then and there. Maybe they were just being polite. Being sisters was fine, but being superior and subordinate was uncomfortable. Besides, Yu Rui wanted to be the boss lady, not the store manager.
Yu Meng added, "But I don't have any men here. I only have women as my clients." Yu Rui couldn't help but laugh. Yu Jia didn't think that was right, so she changed the subject. After her relationship with Li Ren cooled, she didn't like hearing about men or women. To her, they were all thieves and whores!
A few people chatted about other things, mentioning Kang Long and Bai Yuankai. Yu Shuang explained that Bai Yuankai had made some new achievements, had made a top 100 list, and had given a speech that had received much acclaim. The title of the speech was said to be "The highest virtue is like water; its tolerance leads to its vastness." Hearing Bai Yuankai's name reminded Yu Jia of Kunqu Opera, while Yu Rui felt a touch of melancholy. She hurriedly ate hot pot, as if the rich aroma could mask the melancholy.
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