Chapter 215: I’m Ailing’s Partner
Yi Roujing still has a rather deep impression of Guo Xiangxiang. She’s a young woman with a somewhat unique personality, usually not deepening relationships with others. When invited to the canteen, she would agree, but she typically doesn’t call others to join her, giving off a somewhat solitary vibe.
But her solitude is not off-putting; it’s more that her presence is relatively low.
Although Guo Xiangxiang doesn’t often joke or laugh, she is kind-hearted. She’s happy to help colleagues switch shifts whenever feasible and directly asks if she doesn’t understand something. When colleagues ask her questions, she tries to give complete answers.
Yi Roujing had previously switched shifts with Guo Xiangxiang. Their colleague relationship is better than that of most, so Yi Roujing seriously answers Guo Xiangxiang’s questions.
"Xiangxiang, I had some foundations before coming to the operating room and am well-versed with the instruments needed for various operations." Yi Roujing said without exaggeration.
Guo Xiangxiang looked serious, showing she’s thinking hard.
"To be fast and accurate, your basic skills need to be solid, and practice makes perfect. Xiangxiang, you haven’t been in the operating room often yet, but as you gain experience, you’ll get better."
"Mm, I understand. Thank you, Roujing." Guo Xiangxiang sincerely thanked her, "Can I ask you again if I don’t understand something next time?"
"Sure, you can." Yi Roujing replied.
Inside the food factory workshop, Wang Qiushuang, responsible for packaging, seemed out of sorts today, as if she’d lost her soul.
The couple’s room application by Ding Jianshe was granted on August 22nd, the day after July 15th, and the keys were obtained. Nowadays, the Ghost Festival discourages superstitious practices, but people still honor their ancestors and perform rituals.
Ding Jianshe’s father passed away early and not on the Ghost Festival, so every year Ding Jianshe goes back to the village on this day. This year, Wang Qiushuang naturally went with him, especially since the double harvest ended, they planned to fetch some grain.
Given the rush to return to work and the anticipation of getting the couple’s room keys the next day after the rituals, they had lunch and then each carried a big bag of grain, walking towards the commune to catch the bus.
While walking towards the commune, they encountered Hu Aiqiang driving a tractor, with a man and a woman seated on it.
Hu Aiqiang stopped when passing Ding Jianshe and Wang Qiushuang, "Jianshe, do you want a ride?"
Ding Jianshe saw Hu Aiqiang and slightly furrowed his brows, refusing without a second thought, "No need."
Wang Qiushuang stared at a woman sitting on the tractor, and in disbelief, called out, "Hu Ailing?"
Wearing a green blouse, a white skirt, black sandals, and shoulder-length short hair, Hu Ailing smiled at Wang Qiushuang, "Hello."
Wang Qiushuang looked at Hu Ailing, who seemed plumper than before, with a more defined figure, fair complexion, and smiling eyes, appearing almost ten years younger. She couldn’t recover for a long time. If someone claimed Hu Ailing was only twenty years old now, it would have been believable—how could this be?
Ding Jianshe initially didn’t recognize her. Hearing Wang Qiushuang call her Hu Ailing and then the familiar voice, Ding Jianshe was shocked, staring at Hu Ailing with disbelief.
"Ailing, who are they?" Lou Wenjian knew but still asked.
Hu Aiqiang heard Lou Wenjian’s question, immediately tensing up, regretting stopping to call them. He had wanted to show off and forgot how Lou Wenjian might react once he knew.
Knowing your future wife has been divorced is one thing, but meeting her ex-husband is another—it’s akin to catching her cheating, a disaster...hoping this doesn’t ruin his sister’s chances with this excellent match.
Hu Ailing knew what Lou Wenjian meant, caring for her and wanting to save face, "Ding Jianshe, my ex-husband. You might know of him but haven’t met. This is Wang Qiushuang, his current wife."
Hu Aiqiang shuddered, thinking his sister wasn’t smart, and should have muddled through.
"Hello, comrades." Lou Wenjian jumped off the tractor, walked over, and extended his right hand to Ding Jianshe, "I’m Lou Wenjian, Ailing’s partner. We’re having a wedding at the end of this year. You are welcome to join us for a drink if convenient."
Lou Wenjian stood before Ding Jianshe, towering over him, with an incomparable aura, leaving Wang Qiushuang stunned.
Ding Jianshe felt as if he was being clawed inside, his face stiff, "Hello, I am Ding Jianshe, a worker at the food factory."
"I know, Ailing mentioned you before." Lou Wenjian smiled, "Also, I work at the county’s public security bureau, so if you encounter any trouble, you can come. The public security bureau serves the people."
Public security? Ding Jianshe flinched internally, looking at Lou Wenjian with a restrained expression, and stole a glance at Hu Ailing, her eyes fully focused on Lou Wenjian, making him feel uncomfortable.
Wang Qiushuang stared directly at Lou Wenjian. This person was far superior to Ding Jianshe; how could such a man want to marry someone who’s divorced and had an abortion? How did Hu Ailing manage to find this partner, something isn’t right, is it?
Wang Qiushuang felt she seemed to have lost something important.
"Not riding? Then we’ll head off first." Lou Wenjian got on the tractor, "Brother, let’s go."
"Eh, eh." Hu Aiqiang felt relieved, seemingly no anger, which was great.
After that brief encounter with Hu Ailing and Lou Wenjian, Wang Qiushuang became restless. That night, back at the food factory, staying in the worker’s dormitory, she couldn’t sleep amid the colleagues’ snoring.
Even getting the couple’s room key the next day, seeing the relatively spacious tube building room didn’t pique much interest, nor did she feel like decorating the room.
That noon, after lunch with Ding Jianshe, Wang Qiushuang couldn’t resist, found an excuse to go out, unsure what compelled her, went by the public security bureau in Huaixi County, didn’t enter, but hid in the alley to look at the door.
She really saw Lou Wenjian, wearing a police uniform, coming out of the bureau, carrying a bag of apples.
Wang Qiushuang then discovered Lou Wenjian had a slight limp in his right leg; they hadn’t seen him walk before, and now, a few steps showed albeit slightly. No wonder.
Seeing this, Wang Qiushuang felt relieved. Lou Wenjian seemed older, likely having remarried with kids, making Hu Ailing a stepmother; still, it’s not bad, marrying a civil servant while being a second wife.
But what did it matter? She had a job while Hu Ailing surely didn’t. Thinking of this, Wang Qiushuang headed back to the food factory with a lighter step, starting to consider how to decorate the couple’s room.