Chapter 79: Finding a Patsy

They had only known each other for two days. Though they got along well, there wasn’t much depth to their relationship, so it surprised Jiang Fan when Xiao Yuxin spoke to him with such warmth and consideration.

Jiang Fan fell silent for a long while, gazing at her before saying, “Sister Xin, there are many things you don’t need to say for me to understand. In terms of family background and social connections, Wen Yu and I belong to completely different worlds.

I come from humble beginnings, while she grew up with every advantage. Society may not care much about matching family backgrounds anymore, but our upbringings and the differences in our lives will inevitably affect how our feelings develop, and can easily create a gulf between us.

What I know about her is only that she has parents, two older brothers, and a sister—beyond that, nothing. To be honest, I want to know more, but I’m afraid to dig deeper. If I did, I might not even have the courage to pursue this relationship. She understands how I feel and never brings these things up in front of me; I know she’s being considerate.

Since we’re on this topic, I might as well be honest with you. It’s precisely because of her wholehearted devotion that I dare not ask for more, and so, even though we live together, many things haven’t happened between us.”

Seeing the faint sorrow on Jiang Fan’s face, Xiao Yuxin hesitated, but still asked, “When you say nothing has happened, you mean you haven’t crossed that line, don’t you?”

Jiang Fan nodded gently and said candidly, “Even though she keeps saying now isn’t the right time, I know that’s just a woman’s modesty. She dotes on me, and as long as I pushed a little, she would give in. I’m a man. Facing a woman as beautiful as my wife, I’m not immune to desire. But when I think about our families, I worry that if we don’t end up together, it’ll affect her future. So although I say I’m waiting until she’s ready, in truth, it’s fear that’s holding me back.”

Seeing that Jiang Fan was willing to confide in her, Xiao Yuxin smiled softly, comforting him, “The first night you both moved in, she told me about this. At the time I didn’t know the details and even advised her that if nothing had happened, it was best to keep it that way. Relationships are influenced by outside factors, but if two hearts are truly together, there’s incredible strength in that. Wen Yu is already prepared to stand up to her family. As a man, you should take responsibility too. If you keep running away, you might really end up hurting her.”

Hearing Xiao Yuxin’s words of wisdom, Jiang Fan let out a deep sigh. “You’re right. Everyone has a limit to what they can bear, especially a woman. Sister Xin, I’ll remember what you said today.”

“No need to remember it—if you’re a real man, act like one. Don’t just talk about it. Have you eaten?”

Jiang Fan touched his belly and replied awkwardly, “Not yet. When my wife left, she forgot to leave me any money. I think she’s trying to starve me to death. How about lending me ten yuan? I’ll pay you back when she returns.”

“Wen Yu isn’t careless—she cares about you too much to forget that. You’re just making things up.”

With his lie exposed, Jiang Fan told her about Zhang Xiaoye.

Upon hearing that Zhang Xiaoye had settled in, Xiao Yuxin didn’t ask for more details and joked, “I’ve been in Dongguan for over four years, and this is the first time I’ve heard of a robber giving money to the person he’s robbing. That man is something else.

I have to go out to restock this afternoon, so let’s make do for lunch. I’ll steam some rice and heat up the leftovers from yesterday. Tonight, I’ll cook something nice for you.”

Jiang Fan asked with concern, “Who’ll watch the shop while you’re gone?”

“I’ll just close up for a bit and reopen after I’m back.”

“You work late into the night and have to go out for supplies during the day, plus look after your baby. Where’s your husband?”

Xiao Yuxin replied, her tone warm but tinged with anger, “He’s dead.”

Realizing he had touched on her private pain, Jiang Fan quickly tried to make amends. “Sister Xin, please don’t be upset. If you trust me, I can help you watch the baby and the shop this afternoon.”

Seeing his earnest effort to please her, Xiao Yuxin returned to her usual self. “Would I have told you all this if I didn’t trust you? If you’re free, you can mind the shop for me. The baby, though—I won’t trouble a man like you with that. I’ve already found a nanny to take care of him from two in the afternoon until ten at night, two hundred yuan a month.”

It was only then, when she mentioned her husband’s death, that Jiang Fan realized Xiao Yuxin was a single mother. He didn’t dare ask if the father was really dead or just absent. Thinking of a woman drifting alone with a child, he said nothing more, only wondered to himself, “She dresses so beautifully, but how much hardship must she be hiding inside?”

After they finished eating, Xiao Yuxin changed out of her fashionable clothes into a men’s work jacket, a blend of polyester and cotton, and set off for Humen to restock.

In the afternoon, business was slow. Jiang Fan sat idly at the register, flipping through a copy of Jiangmen Literary Magazine left in the shop, when he suddenly heard two car horns outside. Looking up, he saw Deputy General Manager Tang in his car, waving at him.

Having watched the shop for over an hour without making a single sale, Jiang Fan thought it was a good chance to rope in a customer and help Xiao Yuxin’s business.

He walked over, leaned against the passenger window, and grinned, “I don’t have time to drink with you right now. Come in and buy a few kilos of fruit—help me make a sale.”

Deputy General Manager Tang got out of the car, walked over, and teased, “So you’ve given up your idle ways and started selling fruit now?”

Jiang Fan joked back, “I just bought into the place today, but haven’t made a sale yet. That’s why I’m looking for a sucker like you. You’ve come at just the right time—I need you to buy something so I can play boss and count some cash!”

Tang stared at him in surprise. “You really invested in the shop?”

Seeing his shock, Jiang Fan laughed, “Just kidding! Where would I get the money to buy in? Sister Xin went to restock, so I’m watching the place for her. I’ve sat here for five or six hours and haven’t sold a thing, so I needed a patsy to fleece. Lucky you showed up—now you have to buy something so I can at least pretend to be a boss for a day!”

Tang gave him a gentle shove, “Don’t be ridiculous. Most shops don’t even open until midday. How could you have been here five or six hours already?”

“Who cares how long it’s been? The point is, I’m selling fruit. You have to buy some, no matter what.”

Noticing how hard Jiang Fan was working to help Xiao Yuxin, Tang said, “Since you put it that way, of course I’ll buy. But let’s chat for a bit first. When Xin gets back, I’ll buy even more, all right?”

Jiang Fan sensed something off in Tang’s words, but didn’t show it. “Chatting can wait. Right now, I’m the boss, and if you don’t buy something, how will I explain myself if Sister Xin comes back and I haven’t sold a thing? I’ll pick out some fruit for you and put it in your car—we can talk as long as you want, even until tomorrow.”

Realizing his own intent was too obvious, Tang quickly agreed. “Fine, we’ll buy now and chat later.”

Jiang Fan gathered up four large bags of fruit that didn’t look very fresh and, with mock sincerity, explained, “These just came in, but they weren’t stored very well, so they look a bit wilted. The taste isn’t affected, though.”

Tang knew exactly what Jiang Fan was doing but didn’t call him out. He carried two bags to his car, then pointed at the other two, “You can’t just sell and not handle after-sales. I can’t eat all this by myself. Leave the rest here.”

As long as the sale was made and the money collected for Xiao Yuxin, Jiang Fan didn’t mind. “Thanks a lot then!”

They chatted for two hours, but Xiao Yuxin still hadn’t returned. As it neared the end of the workday and Dafeng’s employees would soon be coming to the shopping street, Tang didn’t want to be seen idling in a fruit shop by his staff, so he excused himself and left.

Only a few minutes later, Xiao Yuxin arrived, driving a small van loaded with more than half a truck’s worth of fruit.

Getting out and seeing two large bags of fruit by the door, she asked, “Did you bag this fruit for a customer?”

Jiang Fan had spent the whole afternoon at the shop, making only this one sale to Deputy General Manager Tang, but at least it was a large order.

He handed Xiao Yuxin the three hundred yuan Tang had given him, joking, “Found a fat cow to slaughter—he even gave me two bags as a gift for myself and didn’t ask for the change. Am I a great businessman or what?”

Xiao Yuxin took the money and tucked it into the canvas bag she’d carried for restocking, letting out a sigh. “Some people really don’t know how to take a hint—he actually came.”

Jiang Fan was puzzled by her odd comment. “Who are you talking about?”

Realizing she’d spoken aloud, Xiao Yuxin quickly changed the subject. “Nothing. Your hand’s hurting—just help me move the lighter boxes.”