Volume One, Chapter 10: This Woman Is Born to Bring Misfortune to Her Husband!

Liu Xueqin complimented,
“Old Zhang, don’t be modest with me. You managed to send Liu Guobin and Zhou Changzheng to prison, and you even got my sister-in-law out of jail. That’s some serious skill. I really need your help with this matter!”

Liu Xueqin’s words startled Zhang Weimin.
“Hey, Director Liu, you can’t say things like that carelessly. Saying I got Liu Fangfang out of prison—if that rumor spreads, how many people will it harm?”

“Yes, yes, sorry, I misspoke. I won’t tell anyone about this, I understand. Don’t worry.”

Liu Xueqin realized he had been reckless with his words and sweat began to bead on his forehead.

Zhang Weimin looked at Liu Xueqin and thought to himself:
Although Liu Xueqin seemed a bit bookish and pedantic, he was still better than that slick old fox Liu Guobin. If I want to make something of myself in this era, I need resources I can control. After all, it’s already 1995—not like the ’80s when you could make money with small trade. Now, to succeed, you have to integrate resources and have foresight!

“Director Liu, how about this: I’ll think over your matter first. If I come up with a good idea, I’ll come to the factory and talk to you. How does that sound?”

Liu Xueqin, as if clutching a final lifeline, grasped Zhang Weimin’s hand:
“Oh, Old Zhang, I’m counting on you. But hurry, I’m afraid if the higher-ups really send someone down, I might never get another chance in my life…”

Zhang Weimin reassured him:
“It won’t come to that. Everyone faces misfortune and luck in life. Look at me—I was once a vegetative state after being hit, and I came back alive.”

“That’s why you’re no ordinary man. Well, Old Zhang, I’ll take my leave now. Thanks so much for your concern…”

After seeing Liu Xueqin off, Zhang Weimin glanced at Liu Fangfang, who was sitting on a small stool in the yard washing clothes, and his anger flared:
“Liu Fangfang, why are you bragging so recklessly? You told Liu Xueqin I arranged your medical parole, and now he thinks I have the power to pull people out of prison. If this gets out, it’ll cause so much trouble!”

Liu Fangfang looked wronged and tried to stand to apologize and explain a few things.

But as soon as she stood, she felt dizzy and the world went dark. With a thud, she collapsed to the ground.

“Hey! Hey! Liu Fangfang, what are you acting now? I didn’t touch you. Don’t try to frame me…”

Zhang Weimin stared at her on the ground, wondering if she had actually fainted.

He slowly approached, squatted beside her, and gently shook her shoulder—no response.

Looking closely, Liu Fangfang’s face was pale, with a sheen of cold sweat on her forehead.

Zhang Weimin scooped her up and rushed to the hospital…

Emergency room.

“Family of Liu Fangfang, is the family here?”

A doctor called out at the entrance of the emergency room.

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“Yes, we’re here.”

Zhang Weimin pushed through the crowd to the doctor.

“Doctor, how is she?”

“Nothing serious. She’s a pregnant woman who fainted from low blood sugar. The fetus is fine. Take these forms to settle the bill. Once the fluids are finished, she can be discharged. Make sure she eats on time; low blood sugar fainting is dangerous.”

Zhang Weimin took the forms, paid the bill, and returned to the emergency room.

Seeing him come in, Liu Fangfang quickly wiped away her tears.

Zhang Weimin sat beside the bed:
“How did you end up with low blood sugar? From now on, be sure to eat on time. If something happened to you, I’d be responsible.”

Liu Fangfang said, aggrieved:
“I haven’t eaten for three days.”

Zhang Weimin was shocked:
“How can you go three days without eating? Who are you punishing?”

“You and your daughter eat every day, leaving not a crumb, and there’s nothing left in the house to eat.”

Zhang Weimin snapped:
“Even if you don’t want to cook, you can go to the factory canteen or buy something outside. If you do this, others will think I’m abusing you!”

Liu Fangfang began to sob again:
“I have no money now. I’m embarrassed to go to the canteen. There’s nothing edible in the trash outside—it’s all been eaten by stray cats and dogs… sob…”

A passing nurse overheard this pitiful confession. Surprisingly, she had a sense of justice and stopped, looking at Zhang Weimin:
“Are you her family?”

Zhang Weimin hesitated, then nodded.

“Are you her husband?”

“Ah.”

“And this is how you treat your wife? You didn’t feed her for three days, and she had to scavenge in the garbage but couldn’t find anything to eat, fainting from hunger?”

The nurse’s voice grew louder and angrier, attracting the attention of other patients and their families nearby.

Zhang Weimin hurried to explain:
“No, it’s not like that. She is…”

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“How can there be such a husband? This is worse than the tyrant Huang Shiren from the old days…”

“This is domestic abuse…”

“So pitiful… Shouldn’t the police intervene? Let’s call the cops!”

The onlookers began to murmur and gossip.

Zhang Weimin’s head buzzed…

He gave up explaining, saw that Liu Fangfang’s IV drip was finished, quickly asked the nurse to remove the needle, and helped Liu Fangfang leave the hospital.

Back at home, Lin Hao thought: Why is Liu Fangfang so troublesome!

He originally thought that once she was in prison, she’d be out of his life, and Zhang Weimin’s comeback story could finally reach its climax.

But reality seemed different. A seven-year sentence couldn’t keep her restrained, and now she’s back with me—how is this woman’s life so stubborn?

This woman is a natural jinx!

First, she caused a scene at the bank, then bragged shamelessly in front of Liu Xueqin, and now she stirs up trouble at the hospital.

It seems this indelible leech can’t be peeled off for now.

Well, for now, just endure it quietly and get through this year or so. Then she can return to prison to continue her sentence.

But… if she goes back to prison and leaves me with a weaned child, what do I do? What do I do?

Zhang Weimin’s head ached more and more. He had no choice but to take it step by step. First, he’d cook some food for this lady and hope she wouldn’t cause any more trouble.

At noon, the meal was ready. Zhang Yingying came home from school, saw the table full of sumptuous dishes, and asked happily:
“Dad, why did you make so much delicious food today? We won’t be able to finish it!”

Zhang Weimin took two big bowls and served some food.
“Yingying, go deliver some to Liu Fangfang.”

“Why should I? I’m not going. Didn’t you forget how she treated us before?”

Zhang Yingying turned her face away and pouted.

“Yingying, be obedient. Go deliver it first. I’ll tell you the reason afterward.”