1994: Starting with unpaid leave

A sudden rainstorm during the night caused the temperature to plummet to 9°C the following morning.

The morning market outside Wufu Market.

Zhao Ruidong wrapped his brand-new sheepskin jacket tighter, rubbed his red eyes, and still couldn't help but sneeze.

Playing mahjong for two consecutive nights was fun, but the cool breeze almost made me catch a cold.

Ma Qiang leaned closer and whispered, "Brother Dong, Dong Jianguo got his supplies yesterday, he'll definitely be here today! Let's hold on a little longer!"

Zhao Ruidong waved his hand: "Stay away from me, don't catch your cold from me! You son of a bitch, you've been circling around three times already, where are you?"

Suddenly, strategist Liu Xiangdong tugged at his sleeve and pointed to the distant intersection: "Brother Dong, isn't that Dong Jianguo's tricycle?"

Everyone immediately tensed up.

A tricycle was slowly driving along the wet and slippery road. The cargo bed was covered with a waterproof tarpaulin, and the bottom was bulging. The rider was wearing a raincoat, and the tricycle really did resemble Dong Jianguo's vehicle.

Zhao Ruidong gritted his teeth and waved his hand: "Go! Block him according to plan!"

Liu Da Nao immediately blew his whistle, and seven or eight people rushed toward the intersection.

The tricycle driver was so startled that he stopped the vehicle—only to find it was an unfamiliar old man.

"Damn it! Another morning of freezing for nothing!" Zhao Ruidong kicked over an empty basket on the roadside.

Liu Xiangdong couldn't help but speak up to persuade him, "Brother Dong, don't worry, I have another plan..."

"You've got a mother's worth!"

Zhao Ruidong pulled his jacket tighter: "Damn it, what kind of person is this! Setting up a stall for myself and then trying to cheat? I'm not playing this game anymore!"

……

On the other side, Dong Jianguo slept until 8:30 in the morning before waking up from his warm bed.

He reached out and touched nothing.

When he opened his eyes, he found his wife lying right in front of him, blinking her big eyes and looking at him.

"Hmm, you're awake?"

"I've been awake for a while now."

"What are you looking at?"

"Looking at the handsome guy!"

A good mood for the day begins with a wife's flattery.

Dong Jianguo smiled, sat up, and stretched.

Zhou Xiuyun handed over today's clothes and couldn't help but say to Dong Jianguo:

"I've already prepared breakfast."

"Oh dear, why are you doing this? Why not just go out and buy some?"

Xiuyun pouted, "You're already complaining that my cooking isn't good anymore?"

"No, that's not true. I was just worried you'd get too tired!"

Seeing that Dong Jianguo spoke sincerely, Xiuyun finally let him go.

"Did you know it rained last night?"

"Huh? That can't be, the weather forecast said there wouldn't be any rain."

"Weather forecasts are always wrong! But I think you're incredibly lucky. You just put up the rain shelter in the yard this afternoon, and it started raining in the middle of the night... I just went out to check, and the eggs are perfectly fine!"

Dong Jianguo was also somewhat surprised, inwardly exclaiming how lucky he was.

If we hadn't installed a rain shelter beforehand, the remaining eggs in the yard would probably have gone bad after being washed by the water.

But what came out of her mouth was: "Don't you even know who your man is? He has everything under control!"

There's nothing wrong with putting on a little act in front of your wife.

"That's right, that's why I say you're amazing!"

Xiuyun leaned over and gently touched Dong Jianguo's face with her lips.

Early risers are most susceptible to being teased.

This is similar to gasoline encountering a spark.

Xiuyun's actions piqued Dong Jianguo's interest, and he reached out and pulled her onto the kang (a heated brick bed).

"Hey, what are you doing? Stop messing around, I'm already dressed..."

"I'll wear it later..."

"No, Hongmin and Yueyue will be here soon. How can I face anyone if they find out?"

"What are you afraid of? We're already married. What can they do even if they find out?!"

"No!"

"Then let me have a go at it..."

"Ugh, you're so annoying!"

Xiuyun blushed and scolded him playfully, but she had no choice but to let him do as he pleased.

Unfortunately, Dong Jianguo had only been massaging for a short while when Yueyue's clear voice rang out from outside the courtyard gate:

"Godmother, Godfather, wake up! The sun's already high in the sky!"

"Oh dear, they're here!"

Xiuyun exclaimed in surprise and hurriedly got off the kang (a heated brick bed), quickly buttoning up her clothes.

Seeing his wife's pretty face flushed red, Dong Jianguo couldn't help but chuckle.

"Still laughing? You're so mean!"

"Women love bad boys, right? Besides, you seemed to be enjoying it just now!"

Dong Jianguo lifted the blanket to put on his pants.

For him, suppressing the thought wasn't difficult; he just needed to silently recite the multiplication tables a few times.

After Xiuyun finished getting ready, she checked her makeup in the dressing mirror again to make sure there were no problems before getting up to open the courtyard gate.

As soon as the door opened, Yueyue rushed in, hugging Xiuyun's leg tightly and looking up at Xiuyun with her little face to greet her.

Xiuyun gently patted Yueyue's head and responded with a tender expression.

She looked up and saw Zhao Hongmei carrying groceries right behind her.

"Sister Hongmei, have you finished buying your groceries?"

"Yes, the vegetables were cheap when the morning market was closing up, so I took Yueyue with me to the evening market. I hope we didn't disturb your rest?"

Thinking of what had just happened in the bedroom, Xiuyun's cheeks, which had just cooled down, began to burn again.

"No, that's not true. Come in."

After saying that, he took Yueyue's hand and led her into the yard.

Feeling the unusual heat emanating from her palm, Yueyue couldn't help but look up at Xiuyun:

"Godmother, why is your face so red? Do you have a fever?"

When Xiuyun was looked at by the child's innocent eyes, she was speechless and her face grew redder and redder.

Fortunately, Dong Jianguo came out from the outer room.

As soon as Yueyue saw her godfather who stood up for her, she cheered and skipped towards Dong Jianguo.

Dong Jianguo also squatted down and picked Yueyue up.

Yueyue is already 6 years old and will soon be of school age, but when Dong Jianguo picked her up, he realized something was wrong—the child was too thin.

Looks like I'll have to take a break here for a while.

Upon seeing Zhao Hongmei carrying groceries into the yard, Dong Jianguo put Yueyue down and invited Zhao Hongmei inside to discuss their business.

The two entered the house one after the other.

The quilts on the kang (heated brick bed) have been put away by Dong Jianguo into the kang music cabinet; now there is only a bed table on it.

On the table was Dong Jianguo's breakfast: two poached eggs and a large steamed bun.

"Sister Hongmei, I haven't had breakfast yet, please excuse me."

"How was your first day working for me yesterday?"

When Dong Jianguo asked her this question, Zhao Hongmei felt a chill run down her spine, and her hands began to tremble.

"Jianguo, I really enjoy working here. You're not going to fire me, are you?"

Dong Jianguo did not answer directly, but continued to ask:

"Sister Hongmei, you wanted to work for me before because you wanted to earn money to support your family. I want to ask you, if you suddenly had a large sum of money, say 3000 yuan, would you still come to work for me?"

"I……"

Zhao Hongmei was stunned when Tung Chee-hwa asked such a strange question, and she was speechless and unable to answer...