“Brother Xu, we agreed for the children to meet, and we’ve been waiting! My son has missed so many other opportunities because of this,” Gao Mu protested, plopping herself down. “If you just say no, it won’t work. You’re treating us like clowns . We’re not leaving!” Her eyes darted around the room, taking in every detail. As expected, a household with two full-time workers meant wealth. A TV, an electric fan… what was that in the master bedroom? A sewing machine? They had all the big-ticket items. Her sister Gao had been right; Accountant Xu’s family was rich.
Accountant Xu, infuriated by this brazen display, exploded. “What do you want if you won’t leave? Are you trying to rob us in broad daylight? You think I’m afraid of you?” He snatched a broom from beside the stove and began wildly swinging it at Gao Mu. He was no thin-skinned city man; he’d grown up in the countryside and knew how to handle a shrew. He hadn’t climbed his way from the village to the city by being delicate. Accountant Xu, a master of shamelessness, spoke to people as they presented themselves: human words for humans, nonsense for ghosts, and madness for crazy women.
Gao Mu shrieked in shock as the broom landed several blows. “Ouch, You’er trying to kill me!” Gao Yang recoiled in fright. Xu Qiuye, hidden behind the door, watched as her father, for the second time since her childhood, completely lost his temper.
“Ouch, you’re trying to rob someone! This is a new society, and people still dare to come to my house to steal my daughter? You think your family are landlords? Even landlords can’t steal people’s daughters! Just because my daughter is better looking and has a better job, you think you can take her home? Isn’t this against the law? Call the police! Yes, I’m going to call the police right now and have you two, mother and son, arrested, you landlord and old wealthy family!”
Gao Mu was terrified. “Brother Xu, don’t talk nonsense! This is a new society; there are no landlords! Our family are just ordinary workers. I’m a temporary worker at a food factory, and my son is a temporary worker at a steel factory. If our family was so capable, why would we all be temporary workers? Wuwuwuwu…” Gao Mu dissolved into tears, reeling from the accusations.
Accountant Xu’s fury intensified when he heard they were all temporary workers. So, the matchmaker had conspired with the Gao family to deceive him! They’d claimed the whole family were regular employees, that the son was in the transportation team and about to be promoted, and that the father was a team leader at the steel plant. It had all been a lie. Luckily, he hadn’t fallen for it and harmed his daughter. The more he looked at the Gao family, the angrier he became, striking them several more times with the broom. Gao Mu, beaten and humiliated, fled, crying.
Back home, Gao Mu, disheveled and distraught, glared at her son. “You’ve seen the Xu family’s character. Give me a break! You and Xu Qiuye aren’t a good match, and they don’t like you. Don’t even think about marrying her.” She was utterly mortified, touching her wet pants as she burst into tears again.
Gao Yang’s face burned with embarrassment. He couldn’t believe such a humiliating scene had unfolded. He was angry at Accountant Xu for looking down on them, and at his mother for her ineptitude and for offending everyone. He had liked Qiuye for years and refused to give up. He saw no one else as beautiful and capable as she was; she was the woman he wanted to marry. “Mom, you’ve gone too far!” he yelled, storming out.
Gao Mu’s heartbroken wails carried through the neighborhood, alarming the next-door neighbor, who quickly called Gao Guihua. “Guihua, your mother is crying so terribly! You should hurry home; she’s screaming that she doesn’t want to live anymore, that she’s going to die!”
Gao Guihua’s heart leaped. “What’s wrong with my mother? Why is she crying?”
“I don’t know,” the neighbor replied loudly, “they seem to be talking about Hu Meizi, scolding Qiuye for seducing your brother.” Xu Ying, overhearing the conversation, looked up just as Gao Guihua met her gaze. Gao Guihua quickly averted her eyes and fled. “Chunfeng, please ask for leave for me. I’m going home first!” Gao Guihua called out, not waiting for Chen Chunfeng’s reply, and dashed away.
No sooner had Gao Guihua left than Director Hong arrived, his face etched with worry, having heard about the restaurant’s latest drama. “Is Xu Ying injured?” he asked, already knowing the full story and inwardly seething at Zhang Quanquan.
“Director Hong, I’m fine. It’s just that the new chef Liu Guohua fell, and his arm seems to be dislocated. He’s recovering at home!” Xu Ying explained, running out to meet him.
Director Hong breathed a sigh of relief. He had another announcement to make today: For the new front office manager.
“Gao Guihua, Chen Chunfeng, Sun Lifang, Gao Xianghong, please come over if you’re not busy right now,” Director Hong called out. The others quickly gathered.
Director Hong frowned. “Where is Gao Guihua?”
Sun Lifang and Gao Xianghong shook their heads, realizing only then that Gao Guihua was gone. Chen Chunfeng subtly shook her head, her expression unchanged.
“Where are people going during working hours?” Director Hong fumed. After a moment of silence, he announced, “I have one more thing to do this time, which is the candidate for front office manager. After careful screening by the leaders, I feel that Chen Chunfeng is the most suitable. From now on, Chen Chunfeng will be the front office manager.” Director Hong clapped his hands, beaming at Chen Chunfeng. “Your hard work in the restaurant is seen by the leaders. I hope you can continue to work hard in the future.”
Chen Chunfeng’s honest face broke into a simple smile. She turned to the others and bowed. “Thank you, and thank you for the leader’s appreciation. I will definitely work harder in the future.” Director Hong didn’t linger and left after making his announcement.
When Gao Guihua returned, she found the front hall’s atmosphere oddly subdued. Chen Chunfeng walked towards her, a look of feigned distress on her face. “Sister Gao, Director Hong just came.”
“What was he doing here? Did he say anything about my absence?” Gao Guihua’s heart pounded.
Chen Chunfeng skillfully changed the subject. “Director Hong came to announce the manager’s position. He said I would be the front office manager.”
The towel in Gao Guihua’s hand slipped from her grasp, falling to the ground like a kite cut loose from its string.