Volume One, Chapter 18: Why Do You Treat Me This Way?

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None of this mattered. She only knew that things now seemed to be slipping beyond her control. Qin Mu and Song Chuanhe’s attitudes toward her had shifted. This had left her feeling gloomy these past two days—unable to eat, unable to sleep. It seemed the plan had to be accelerated; she needed to deal with Jiang Weiyue first.

Old Madam Jiang slapped her thigh upon hearing her son’s words. “Good heavens, if only I had known how capable that Song Chuanhe boy was, I would never have stirred up a breakup between Weiyue and him back then. What a fine catch we lost.” She sighed deeply. “It’s such a pity. I’m an old woman with poor judgment, but Weiyue spent every day with him and still couldn’t see his potential. Wasn’t it obvious that Song Chuanhe would amount to something great?”

“Grandma, it’s too late to talk now. Jiang Weiyue is already part of Song Chuanhe’s past. Although he says he won’t hold grudges in front of us, today he issued a new notice to open a breakfast stall at the factory with subsidies. Isn’t that clearly to stop the workers from buying Weiyue’s breakfast?”

“That’s right. Poor Weiyue is in trouble. We need to find a chance to marry her off quickly. At her age, unemployed with a disgraceful past, it’ll be harder for her to find a match than a widow.”

“By the way, Weili, that Minister Qin who came with Song Chuanhe last time, does he have someone? Can you help set Weiyue up with him? How’s that going?”

“Grandma, don’t mention it. Qin Mu served in the military with Chuanhe; they were comrades through life and death. Chuanhe dislikes my sister so much—do you think Qin Mu would be interested in her?”

“Even if he were, Minister Qin works under Chuanhe. No one wants a woman who’s been with their boss. That would be so awkward, wouldn’t it?”

Old Madam Jiang sighed deeply. “Alas, Weiyue has no luck. I was only thinking of finding her a good man and forgot this. Looks like she’d be better off with an ordinary, honest man.”

“I do have a decent gentleman. The matchmaker said that as long as my sister agrees, they won’t object.”

“Who is he? Tell me.”

“None other than the young man Aunt Qiu mentioned—the one who also works at the steel mill. He’s an only child, so if my sister marries him, she’ll be the lady of the house.”

“If his parents pass away, my sister would be the head of the family. The boy is honest and simple. With my sister’s knack for handling men, she’ll surely keep him well in line.”

“That sounds perfect. An only son with a steady job—wonderful. Since the matchmaker says the other side has no objections, let’s find a good day and finalize this.”

“But Grandma, my sister has such high standards, and after having someone like Chuanhe… could she really settle for him?”

“Hmph, I’m still the head of this family. If she dares to refuse, she can get out of the Jiang family. I want to see if the eldest daughter and her husband dare to say no.”

“If you say so, I’ll have Aunt Qiu bring the boy over for us to meet.”

“Good. Once your sister’s situation is settled, you should focus on Song Chuanhe and try to win him over soon.”

“After all, he’s not just the factory director now, but the big boss of our steel mill with unimaginable wealth. He’s even building a two-story villa in our village.”

“With such conditions, you must seize the opportunity. There are plenty of women interested in Song Chuanhe besides you.”

“If you don’t take hold of him, you’ll end up like your eldest sister, marrying an ordinary man and living an ordinary life.”

“You’re right, Grandma. These days, I’ll step up my pursuit of Song Chuanhe and win him over as soon as possible.”

Jiang Weili outwardly obeyed Old Madam Jiang, lowering her eyes submissively, but inwardly she cursed herself bitterly.

“That’s the way. Don’t think it’s shameful for a woman to take the initiative. When facing a man who lacks ability or charm, you should be reserved and play it cool.”

“But when it’s a man hundreds of times better than you, you must be bold and shameless, even if you have to get in first and pay later.”

“I understand, Grandma. I will definitely win Song Chuanhe’s heart—definitely.”

She said this not only to Old Madam Jiang but also to herself.

———

“Comrade Jiang Weiyue, are you sure about this?”

“Yes, Comrade Jiang Weiyue, all the students love your steamed buns. Are you sure you won’t continue working here?”

“Sorry, Teacher Chen, Boss Gao, due to personal reasons, I can’t continue making buns in the school cafeteria. I apologize for letting you down.”

“Did something happen? Maybe I can help.”

Chen Haodong couldn’t understand. Jiang Weiyue had only gone out once this morning, yet everything had changed. He was genuinely upset. He had finally found a chance to get close to Jiang Weiyue, but now it was gone.

He knew the saying “the one near the water gets the moon first,” but now that she wasn’t in the cafeteria, how could he approach her?

He had never believed in love at first sight until he met Jiang Weiyue.

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“Teacher Chen, thank you for your help. Nothing happened here; everything is fine. It’s just personal reasons that prevent me from continuing to make breakfast here. I’m sorry.”

Jiang Weiyue’s tone was polite yet distant.

This made Chen Haodong even sadder.

Nearby, Boss Gao was shrewd. At his age, he’d seen everything. It was clear that Teacher Chen was deeply invested in Jiang Weiyue. Unfortunately, she had no interest in him.

Feelings could not be forced.

Nevertheless, leaving so suddenly felt like a loss.

After all, Jiang Weiyue’s breakfasts were delicious, and she was not only beautiful but also efficient.

More importantly, she had a good temper—reasonable, gentle, and generous.

Such a pity.

The aunties helping with chores in the cafeteria, the head chef—all felt the loss, except Sister Li, who was delighted.

Ha ha ha, before she had a chance to plot against that wretched woman, pushing her out, Jiang Weiyue left on her own.

That was for the best—it saved her the trouble.

That wretched woman had some self-awareness; she knew she wasn’t worthy of Teacher Chen and that he belonged to another’s niece. She left voluntarily, and that was enough.

“Since Comrade Jiang has made up her mind, we can’t force her to stay. Let me settle today’s account.”

“Boss Gao, I was the one who broke the contract first. You don’t need to pay me. I’m sorry to have troubled you, Teacher Chen, and everyone here these past days.”

“Comrade Jiang, don’t say that. We should take care of you. You must take the money. After all, we sold your buns to the students and made a profit.”

“Yes, Comrade Jiang, Boss Gao is right. No matter what, you must accept the money.”

“But I had promised long-term cooperation here. I broke that promise; it’s my fault. I shouldn’t take the money…”

“Oh, Jiang girl, I understand. You must have your reasons for not continuing with us. If you don’t want to say, we won’t ask further.”

“But we understand. Everyone has things they can’t say. You must take this money; otherwise, you’re not giving me any face.”

Boss Gao pulled out a ten-yuan bill and pressed it into Jiang Weiyue’s hand.

“Jiang girl, I roughly calculated. Based on the price we agreed on for each bun and the quantity you sold, you made about ten yuan a day. Take a look.”

That amount matched what Jiang Weiyue had in mind.

Even if it didn’t, she wouldn’t ask further.

Boss Gao was quite generous. If it had been another boss, promising long-term cooperation but then backing out, they’d be furious.

Undeniably, selling at the school cafeteria earned more than at the steel mill.

At the mill, some workers ate breakfast; some didn’t. But students were different.

Previously, at the steel mill, after selling all the breakfast, including porridge and steamed buns, she barely made ten yuan a day.

She hadn’t expected to make ten yuan selling buns alone on the first day at the cafeteria.

If she could stabilize here, she’d earn three hundred yuan a month.

In the 1980s, that was a considerable sum. After costs, she could clear about one hundred fifty yuan.

Though it was not respectable work and required hard labor and early mornings, it paid better than working in the factory.

Jiang Weiyue had done the math: her monthly earnings here exceeded what she earned in three months at the factory.

Many factories paid only thirty to forty yuan a month at that time.

Still, selling breakfast was lucrative in any era. In later years, some people could buy a house with a year’s breakfast earnings.

Ordinary office workers, however, couldn’t buy a house in a year.

Though breakfast sales were profitable, the effort was proportional.

After settling accounts with Boss Gao, Jiang Weiyue went to the teachers’ residential compound to prepare for moving out.

“Comrade Jiang, if you have no place to stay now, you can stay in the teachers’ compound as long as you need.”

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“Thank you, Teacher Chen. I really feel bad for going back on my word and for all your help.”

“It’s nothing. It’s my choice. Don’t blame yourself.”

“Teacher Chen, I might move out today.”

“Today? So soon?”

Chen Haodong glanced at his wristwatch. It was already past four in the afternoon. Packing up would take until six or seven. Wasn’t it too rushed?

“Yes. Since I’m no longer making breakfast here, I can’t just stay in the compound and trouble you more.”

Jiang Weiyue half-joked, half-serious.

Though they had only known each other for a few days, she felt Chen Haodong was a good person.

Maybe it was his calm demeanor, like snow on a mountain—pure and clean—or like bamboo after rain and a lotus on a lake. He seemed approachable, yet untouchable.

“Comrade Jiang, you never trouble me. I’m happy to be troubled by you. If you want, you can stay here forever.”

Jiang Weiyue didn’t know that this compound was assigned to Chen Haodong by the school.

Because his family lived nearby, he didn’t stay on campus but went home.

Hearing Chen Haodong’s words, she paused, a sudden realization dawning.

At first, she didn’t believe Teacher Chen was interested in her.

But now, seeing his serious gaze and hearing his words, she was beginning to believe.

Ah, if it weren’t for that scoundrel Song Chuanhe’s harassment and revenge, she might have flirted with Chen Haodong.

Chen Haodong was exactly her type—or rather, it’s not just her. Any woman would like a gentlemanly and refined man.

She was confident in her own looks; after all, the original character was cast as a temptress.

It was simply a pity.

She didn’t mind much, but knowing Song Chuanhe’s nature, if she spent more time with Chen Haodong these days, he would react badly.

If she dared to be with Chen Haodong, she guessed Song Chuanhe might kill her.

“Teacher Chen, I was just looking for you. So you’re here. And this young lady is…”

Just as Jiang Weiyue and Chen Haodong’s atmosphere grew intimate, a somewhat hoarse female voice interrupted.

Jiang Weiyue turned toward the voice and saw a woman in a blue polyester dress, her hair tied high in a ponytail, wearing black-rimmed glasses and clutching a stack of books.

She looked about thirty, her expression serious and stern, with not a hair out of place. She gave an impression of strictness and meticulousness.

If Jiang Weiyue guessed right, this woman was a teacher at the school.

Her appearance was a classic teacher’s look, like those in later generations.

Chen Haodong frowned involuntarily at Zhang Lin’s arrival and said in a low voice, “Teacher Zhang, what can I do for you?”

“I want to ask about the physics grades of the class I teach. Why are they falling behind other classes? What’s the reason the other classes are doing better than ours?”

Her questioning tone was aggressive, almost as if she were Chen Haodong’s superior.

“Teacher Zhang, let’s discuss this tomorrow when I’m back at work. It’s my off time now, and I don’t want to talk about it.”

“But you obviously have time now. And who is this young lady? Is she the reason you’re unwilling to analyze the students’ physics grades with me?”

Zhang Lin glanced at Jiang Weiyue, and that look made Jiang Weiyue realize she was seen as a rival.

“Who she is is none of your business. I don’t owe you an explanation.”

“Teacher Chen, have I done something wrong? Why are you treating me like this?”