Chapter Eleven: Who Exactly Are You Calling?

Chen Yuanshan silently climbed up from downstairs and kicked Liu Fengling away from the edge of the rooftop. Like a nimble cat, he leapt close to Liu Fengling, grabbing her arm and hoisting her up.

“I heard everything you just said to Comrade Liu Jingqiu. I will report it truthfully to the leadership.”

Liu Fengling was stunned. “How could you have heard that?”

Chen Yuanshan sneered coldly, “Because the spot where you were talking in the back alley happens to be right next to the back door of the supply and marketing cooperative. Even if the door was locked, you could still be seen through the crack, and of course, I could hear everything you said loud and clear.”

At that moment, Liu Jingqiu had been anxious and hurriedly trying to talk things over with them. None of the three noticed there was someone inside behind the locked door. Liu Fengling regretted it deeply.

Upon hearing this, Qu Yingqiu strode toward the rooftop edge.

“If you all want to force me and my mother to death, then I’ll just go die.”

Fang Aihua reached out to stop her but was violently pushed down by Qu Yingqiu.

Seeing Qu Yingqiu about to jump off the building, suddenly a figure flew forward, executing an over-the-shoulder throw, pinning Qu Yingqiu’s hands behind her back and pressing a knee against her lower back.

Luo Shicheng showed no mercy, treating Qu Yingqiu like a dangerous criminal. His grasp was skillful and painful enough to make her scream and cry out.

“Comrade Luo, please show mercy.”

Fang Aihua got up from the ground and pleaded on Qu Yingqiu’s behalf.

Luo Shicheng’s face was icy cold. “What are the regulations of your cooperative that allow employees to behave so recklessly?”

Fang Aihua felt ashamed. “It was my management negligence. I will make the most serious self-criticism.”

Without Luo Shicheng and Chen Yuanshan present, this could have ended in tragedy today.

Fang Aihua was still shaken but deeply grateful for their timely intervention. She took the blame sincerely, but Luo Shicheng was not convinced.

“For employees like them who jeopardize collective honor for personal gain, what is Director Fang’s plan for handling this?”

Chen Yuanshan chimed in, “If Director Fang hesitates, we can report this to higher authorities. We must never allow extreme individualism to harm the interests of the people.”

Before his words ended, Luo Shicheng added, “Comrade Chen is right. Although Hua Li is my beloved, she is also a member of the people and deserves the rights that come with it.”

Fang Aihua felt overwhelmed.

“Comrades, what you say is correct. I will handle this matter strictly.”

Hearing this, Hua Li, who had just arrived, caught Luo Shicheng referring to her as his beloved. Her nose tingled with emotion, as if all her past hardships suddenly turned sweet.

Worried the matter might escalate and affect Luo Shicheng, Hua Li gritted her teeth and decided to give up reclaiming her job.

“Director Fang, about the work—”

Before she could finish, Luo Yan, held in Hua Li’s arms, quickly interrupted.

“Mommy, Mommy, Yan Yan is hungry.”

Luo Yan patted her sunken little belly, calling pitifully, and her stomach obligingly let out a rumble.

Hua Li swallowed the rest of her words.

Luo Shicheng and Chen Yuanshan escorted Liu Fengling and her mother downstairs, supervising Fang Aihua as she immediately issued disciplinary measures, ordering Liu Fengling and her mother to be suspended without pay and to wait at home for further notice.

Once away from the cooperative, whether Liu Fengling and her mother lived or died was no longer within her responsibility. Sending away these two troublemakers, Fang Aihua breathed a sigh of relief.

Trying to stir trouble by provoking Liu Fengling had backfired unexpectedly. Liu Jingqiu glared fiercely at Hua Li and then bowed apologetically to Fang Aihua.

“I’m sorry, Director Fang. I didn’t know Sister Liu would get so upset. It’s all my fault. Please punish me.”

Fang Aihua patted Liu Jingqiu’s shoulder with a helpless sigh.

“This isn’t your fault. Don’t dwell on it and just get back to work.”

Liu Jingqiu hurried back to work, afraid Fang Aihua would again bring up returning the job to Hua Li.

Fang Aihua processed Hua Li’s employment paperwork. Since two people had just left, Hua Li was assigned to take over Liu Fengling’s position.

The cooperative had taken Liu Fengling’s poor health into account, assigning her a lighter duty mainly handling the cigarette cabinet.

At this time, cigarette varieties were few, only about twenty kinds, plus leaf tobacco sold by the pound and rolling papers by the pack. It wasn’t difficult; even someone slow could adapt within a few days.

Hua Li felt worried. “But what will we do when Sister Liu comes back?”

This mother was really straightforward and hard to manage, Luo Yan frowned in worry.

Fang Aihua was both amused and exasperated. “Just follow the leadership’s arrangements. You just need to work hard, no need to worry too much.”

With only half a day left before work ended, Fang Aihua didn’t require Hua Li to start immediately. She told her to go home and settle the child, then arrive promptly at 7:30 the next morning.

With the work issue resolved, a great weight lifted from Hua Li’s shoulders. Holding Luo Yan, she said goodbye to Fang Aihua.

Outside the office, Luo Shicheng approached, holding a small floral dress, and handed it to Hua Li.

Luo Yan, whose urine had already dried from body heat, was speechless.

Hua Li also felt the wet spot had dried and shook her head.

“No need, you should return it quickly.”

Luo Shicheng took the dress back with a cold expression, then pulled ten large-denomination bills from his pocket and handed them to Hua Li.

“This is the allowance issued yesterday, here’s a hundred for you.”

Hua Li still refused. “I can’t take your money, and you don’t need to give me any more in the future… As for Captain Sun, I’ll keep it from him for you. Just don’t let it slip, and there won’t be any trouble.”

Why refuse? Luo Yan was nearly dizzy with hunger and didn’t want to suffer alongside her mother.

Luo Shicheng forcefully stuffed the money into Hua Li’s coat pocket and turned to walk downstairs.

The more Hua Li called after him, the faster he walked. By the time she left the cooperative, he had disappeared.

Chen Yuanshan opened the car door and called to Hua Li.

“Comrade Hua Li, Captain Sun specially instructed me to ensure you and your daughter get home safely. Please get in.”

The scorching sun was harsh; unwilling for her daughter to suffer, Hua Li got in.

Just as Chen Yuanshan started the engine, the passenger door opened. Luo Shicheng, carrying two lunchboxes, climbed in.

Chen Yuanshan felt an impulse to kick Luo Shicheng out of the car.

Luo Shicheng handed one lunchbox to Hua Li. “For the child to eat.”

Thinking of the dwindling snacks at home and not wanting her daughter to go hungry, Hua Li reached out to take it.

The lunchbox was heavy in her hand. She kept one and handed the other back.

“It’s too much; the child can’t finish it. You eat this one.”

Luo Shicheng ignored her, and Hua Li kept holding it out. After a while, her arm ached terribly.

Chen Yuanshan glanced at them through the rearview mirror and couldn’t help but smile.

“Hua Li, you can’t be so honest. If Captain Luo gives you something, just take it. If the child can’t eat it, then you eat it. It’s better than letting Captain Luo’s kindness go to waste.”

Hua Li stammered, “I—I don’t want to take advantage.”

Chen Yuanshan scoffed, “You’re married, what’s this about taking advantage or not? Right, Captain Luo?”

“You don’t speak up, no one will think you’re mute,” Luo Shicheng shot a dark look at Chen Yuanshan.

Chen Yuanshan just smiled carelessly but then heard the baby’s soft voice calling “Daddy.”

Who exactly was the baby calling? Suddenly, Chen Yuanshan found himself very tempted to say yes.