"How do I know what Gao Lvxing is up to now? The Integrated Department has a huge grievance against me, as if I've implicated them. If I bump into him downstairs while smoking, I can't just tell him I don't smoke, right?"
"No, I still don't know what grievances you and Gao Lvxing have, Su! I'm just an employee. What use is it for Deputy General Manager Gao to try to bring me into his fold? Can I speak up in high-level meetings or anything?"
"No, he just said if I like smoking, I can go to his office to get some. As for leaving work early, he already asked, and then I reject him by saying I like working? Tang Wan is waiting for me downstairs. What should I do? Let's talk about it on Monday. I feel wronged to be suddenly dragged into your conflict."
"This isn't about money!"
Jiang Fan, in the passenger seat, was talking on the phone with Su Qing, completely devoid of the usual employee-boss formality. After hanging up, he threw the phone onto the back seat, frowned, and muttered under his breath.
"They all seem crazy."
Tang Wan, who was driving, chuckled and said softly,
"Are you angry? Shouldn't I pick you up?"
Jiang Fan shook his head and sighed.
"It's not really about you. Su Qing and Gao Lvxing seem to be on bad terms. Su Qing, this woman, asked if I'm going to betray her and side with Gao Lvxing. I..."
"Fan, calm down first. The internals of Rongyao are much more chaotic than Changxiang. Gao Lvxing is the brother-in-law of the major shareholder Liu Shengge and can be considered a direct supervisor. Su Qing is a professional manager who suddenly appeared and is said to have been brought in by Liu Shengge. The shareholders of Rongyao don't intervene in management. Gao Lvxing wants to push Su Qing out. When I called my uncle recently to ask about the airport matter, he told me Rongyao has already contacted the government units. Now, think from Su Qing's perspective. Isn't it strange? Have you made a splash in Rongyao again recently?"
Tang Wan parked the car by the roadside and handed a bottle of water to Jiang Fan while speaking. After receiving it, Jiang Fan frowned and said,
"Where did 'again' come from? Have I made a splash? It's just the matter of the airport land. I attended the Rongyao high-level meeting this morning. As an employee, what stance do I have?"
Tang Wan reached out and pinched Jiang Fan's cheek, forcibly turning his face to look at her and said seriously,
"Think carefully. Are you sure it's not related to you? I hope you can't figure it out and then leave Rongyao to continue helping me. Actually, you don't have to suffer this unjust treatment. With your standing in Li Jinhe and Old Tang's hearts, it's just a matter of a word for them to start a company for you."
"Did you take your medicine? I forgot to ask you yesterday."
Upon hearing this, Tang Wan let go of Jiang Fan's cheek, changed the topic, and said she wanted to buy groceries. However, she was grabbed by Jiang Fan and stuffed into the passenger seat as he took over driving.
"It's harder for you to take medicine than to go to heaven. Take it if you want. It's not me who will get sick if you don't. Don't take it. Don't take a single pill. I shouldn't have bought medicine for you. Just open your mouth and swallow it. It's not bitter. Is taking medicine so hard? Huh? Is it really hard?"
"Stop, stop, stop, stop. Don't say it. I'll take it! I'll buy it now!"
The serious atmosphere in the car only lasted for a moment. It then turned less harmonious due to Tang Wan's reluctance to take medicine and Jiang Fan's nagging. They drove to the supermarket where the landlord's sister worked. Tang Wan angrily went to get a shopping cart, while Jiang Fan jogged to the nearby pharmacy.
When Tang Wan saw the two pills and mineral water in Jiang Fan's hand, she felt terrible. After taking the medicine, Tang Wan pushed the cart straight to the seafood market. While buying crabs, Jiang Fan kept telling Tang Wan which crabs were fat, which were lean, and how to cook them deliciously.
Tang Wan was so annoyed that she punched Jiang Fan with little fists. Jiang Fan didn't feel the pain, but Tang Wan, feeling frustrated, threw the cart to him and turned to leave. Jiang Fan awkwardly scratched his head. Tang Wan seemed to be crying in anger.
Tang Wan didn't intend to buy seafood. She loved eating it, but Jiang Fan, with a soft heart, didn't. Tang Wan just wanted to scare him a bit. Unexpectedly, Jiang Fan coerced her into buying seafood. Tang Wan still couldn't bear to do it and ended up feeling wronged, with tears in her eyes.
Seeing this, Jiang Fan finally panicked. They had been together for so long, and he had rarely seen Tang Wan cry, especially not from being provoked. Jiang Fan worried that Tang Wan might call his mother. If his mother knew Tang Wan was crying, she would come and scold him tonight.
Jiang Fan's mother truly loved Tang Wan deeply. From the first time she saw Tang Wan and knew she was the daughter-in-law of the Jiang family, she went to all the nearby temples to burn incense after returning home. What a great fortune it was to have such a sensible daughter-in-law.
Jiang Fan poked Tang Wan's shoulder with his finger, but there was no reaction. The woman kept walking forward with her head down, not watching her path. Jiang Fan didn't apologize. He walked up and grabbed Tang Wan's hand. Tang Wan struggled a few times unsuccessfully and then bit Jiang Fan's hand. Jiang Fan quickly took a tomato and stuffed it into Tang Wan's mouth. Tang Wan ate the tomato angrily while Jiang Fan held her hand with one hand and pushed the shopping cart with the other.
In the daily necessities area, they encountered the landlord, a warm-hearted woman. Before Jiang Fan could even speak, she threw a black plastic bag into the shopping cart and smiled, "Don't look. It's just some towels. You young men are careless. Girls can't just have two towels. You're lucky to have such a beautiful girlfriend."
Jiang Fan smiled silently and said, "You must have been the prettiest girl in the village when you were young, haha. Are you busy after work tomorrow? Bring your child to our home for a meal. As a tenant, I should please my landlord, right? Not to mention anything else, my cooking skills are definitely at a professional level."
"Oh? You're not being modest. As your older sister, I won't be polite with you. But! I have to buy the groceries. It's not easy for you young couple to save money, so don't refuse."
"Hehe, it's too late. I've already bought all the groceries! It's settled. Bring your child over tomorrow. Once your child gets familiar with me, they can ask me if they have any homework questions."
Jiang Fan and the landlord joked and laughed, while Tang Wan stood aside like a wooden block, eating her tomato without saying a word. Jiang Fan tried several times to get her to speak, but Tang Wan remained silent.
Her personality of not daring to talk to strangers had been there for quite a while.
As they got into the car after leaving, Jiang Fan frowned and looked at Tang Wan, who was drinking yogurt, and said, "Why didn't you say anything when you met someone? The toothbrush and towel you're using were prepared by the landlord. Where did the courage you have when talking to me go? When someone compliments you on your beauty, you don't even say thank you."
Tang Wan held the yogurt with both hands and replied softly, "I didn't know what to say. She wasn't complimenting me; she was just stating a fact. I am beautiful."
Jiang Fan grimaced and whispered, "Should I compliment you on your big breasts next time?"
"You wish for death!"
Tang Wan exploded! Then, unconsciously, she pinched herself and looked completely fed up.