Chapter 73: Only Your Wife Has the Right to Speak

Looking at the boy before her, with his innocent smile, unassuming appearance, and a touch of shyness, Xiao Yuxin found it difficult to associate him with the man who had recently stirred up so much trouble on the streets, turning the security team upside down with his legendary exploits.

She teased, “Such a good boy. If you’re free tonight, bring your wife and come sit in my shop. I’ll go buy some pork bones this afternoon and make soup.”

Jiang Fan smiled and protested, “Sister Xin, what do you mean ‘good boy’? That’s something you say to children. I’m already a man.”

Xiao Yuxin turned to move the fruit baskets in her shop outside, continuing to joke, “Whether you’re a man or not, only your wife gets a say.”

Deputy General Manager Tang’s eyes widened at the sight of Xiao Yuxin, so graceful and striking, bent over moving things.

Jiang Fan didn’t quite understand the meaning behind Xiao Yuxin’s teasing and couldn’t help but ask, “Why is it only my wife who gets to decide if I’m a man?”

Tang laughed, slinging an arm around Jiang Fan’s shoulder, glancing at Xiao Yuxin’s chest where she still nursed her child, and gave her a thumbs up, complimenting her, “Boss lady, truly impressive. You tease with innuendo but never utter a single coarse word.”

Jiang Fan turned to Tang, “Innuendo? What’s that? I’ve heard of rich food, but never innuendo.”

Tang patted Jiang Fan’s shoulder, replying meaningfully, “You’ll understand in time.”

Every day, Xiao Yuxin had to carry out baskets of fruit from the shop to the display stand outside to attract customers, then haul them all back in at closing. Each basket weighed twenty or thirty pounds, some even heavier.

After placing two baskets on the outdoor rack, she wiped the sweat from her brow with her sleeve and said, “You’re overestimating me, boss. I’m just a fruit vendor, nothing special.”

Tang simply smiled, saying nothing, his eyes stealing glances at her whenever her back was turned.

Jiang Fan noticed Xiao Yuxin was a little out of breath but didn’t catch Tang’s expression. He said, “Mr. Tang, you’re not in a rush, are you? Could you wait a bit while I help Sister Xin?”

Tang, already captivated by Xiao Yuxin’s poise and mature charm, was searching for an excuse to linger. Hearing Jiang Fan, he took off his crisp suit jacket, put it in his car parked by the roadside, and said, “Let’s help together; it won’t take long.”

Seeing Jiang Fan, with one arm still in a sling, and Tang, the owner of a luxury car, about to help, Xiao Yuxin quickly waved them off, “No need, really, I do this every day. I’m used to it. You two go about your business.”

Jiang Fan, using one hand, picked up a basket of apples, rested it on his bent thigh for a moment, then tucked it under his arm and carried it to the rack outside. “I call you Sister Xin, and you still act so polite when I help.”

Xiao Yuxin smiled and explained, “You’re injured, it’s inconvenient for you. And this boss is dressed so neatly—I’d hate to dirty his clothes.”

Tang grinned, replying with deeper meaning, “What boss? Just a few more coins than most. As long as you don’t mind the smell of money on me.”

Xiao Yuxin caught a hint of ambiguity in Tang’s words and her expression changed slightly, saying nothing more.

Once all the fruit had been moved to the racks, the arrangement was easy enough, and the two men took their leave.

It was past lunchtime; Uncle Qiu and his wife were inside tallying the accounts, Huang Guihua learning to knit.

Jiang Fan walked in and greeted warmly, “Uncle, Auntie, let’s have something to eat.”

The couple welcomed Tang, who followed Jiang Fan inside, “Boss Tang, you’re here!”

Huang Guihua chimed in, “Hello, Boss Tang.”

Dafeng was only a hundred or two meters away, and everyone was familiar with Tang, so Jiang Fan wasn’t surprised.

He didn’t joke with the couple, but pinched Huang Guihua’s nose, teasing, “You heartless thing, see the boss and you forget your brother.”

Huang Guihua wrinkled her nose, made a face, and retorted, “You’re my brother, no need for formalities. Boss Tang is a guest; it’s only right to greet him.”

Tang modestly replied, “We’re all familiar; no need to be so polite.”

Then he turned to Uncle Qiu, “Brother Qiu, what was the dish made from pork rind I had here last time? Do you still have it?”

Before Uncle Qiu could answer, his wife chimed in, “That’s pork rind jelly, a famous dish from the Northeast. It’s a bit tricky to prepare, and our shop is small, so we don’t make much—there aren’t many customers who’d pay for it. The last serving went at lunch. If you want it, I can make more tomorrow.

For today, how about stewed pork with noodles and some fruit? That’ll be plenty for you all.”

Tang didn’t answer immediately, but looked to Jiang Fan for his opinion.

Jiang Fan knew he’d suggested splitting the bill, and Tang didn’t want to embarrass him. Not wanting to appear stingy, he said, “Let Uncle and Aunt arrange whatever they like—two dishes and some dumplings. If it’s not enough, we can add more later.”

The couple went to the kitchen, Huang Guihua skillfully poured tea, washed bowls and chopsticks, made another face at Jiang Fan, pouted for a moment, then sensibly stepped aside, not disturbing the conversation.

Tang sipped his tea and asked, “Are you really leaving the factory?”

Jiang Fan felt Tang was a decent man, he nodded and joked, “I never thought a boss like you would drink such common tea.”

Seeing Jiang Fan willing to joke with him was a sign of closeness.

Tang joked back, “Didn’t I just say at the fruit shop? Only a few more coins, so don’t make fun of me. Besides, you’re the star of the factory now—just left this morning and the whole office building is abuzz.”

Jiang Fan laughed at himself, “Only worked for ten days and got kicked out—that’s some star power.”

Tang pointed at Jiang Fan, smiling, “That’s not being kicked out. Do you have any plans?”

Jiang Fan thought for a moment, “I haven’t decided yet. I’ll discuss it with my wife tonight, but probably look for another factory nearby.”

Hearing Jiang Fan had no plans, Tang quickly asked, “Would you mind if an old friend gave you some advice?”

Tang, calling himself an old friend to get closer, and Jiang Fan poured him more tea in response, “I’m all ears.”

Having witnessed Jiang Fan’s stubborn character, Tang paused, carefully choosing his words before replying, “Some of what I’m about to say isn’t pleasant, so don’t take offense.

Foreign investment comes here mainly for cheap labor. Your salary may not compare with the imported managers, but in the general workforce, three thousand is not low.

But in the long run, wages can improve your standard of living, but not your quality of life. If the open-door policy continues, the currency will surely depreciate. Those who work for wages will have no trouble with food and clothing, but in the end, they’re still working for others, their fate in someone else’s hands.

If you haven’t found the right place yet, you could stay at the factory a while longer, think carefully about what you truly want, what heights you hope to reach in life, and only then make plans to leave. By then, if you’re still willing to work with me, I can support you financially.”

Given their unfamiliarity, Jiang Fan wondered why Tang was sharing such personal thoughts. At Dafeng, Tang was just a senior employee—why did he want Jiang Fan to stay? What was Tang’s real motive? Jiang Fan fell into deep thought.

He pondered for a long time, suspicion in his eyes, and finally asked, “Why are you telling me this?”

Tang guessed his thoughts, smiled, and answered, “It’s a matter of intuition, and perhaps a bit of admiration.”

Tang’s ambiguous reply made it clear he was being evasive, so Jiang Fan said directly, “I’m not very clever, so could you be more straightforward?”