Qin Baozhu wasn’t the type to overthink or feel embarrassed.
Hearing Zhou Fuguang say that, she didn’t hesitate. She loosened her red scarf, took the chopsticks he handed her, and started tasting the braised pork.
Everyone in the cafeteria was watching. The employees noticed their factory manager, mid-meal, handing his chopsticks to his wife, as if offering her his lunch. And Baozhu didn’t refuse—she actually took them.
With the red scarf undone, her delicate, petite face was revealed. She ate quite confidently, showing no signs of being a “fool.”
The employees watching couldn’t help but feel a little wistful. It seemed their factory manager really did love his wife.
Baozhu picked up some rice, ate a few pieces of braised pork, and sampled the carp. Her appetite was small, so she was full after a little. She handed the chopsticks back to him.
Zhou Fuguang looked down at the chopsticks. “Finished eating?” he asked.
“Yes,” Baozhu replied, feeling slightly embarrassed.
He didn’t comment further and took the chopsticks back, eating the remaining food. He ate neatly but quickly, devouring it in no time.
From her angle, Jiang Zhi could only see Zhou Fuguang’s back and Baozhu’s profile. She whispered to Jiang Canran, “This Baozhu is something else—delivering lunch and eating Brother Zhou’s food too.”
Jiang Canran, half-asleep at the table, had watched Baozhu awaken. Today, she looked far better than she did when she first woke up. He had feared she might resist staying at the Zhou household, or make a big scene.
Aunt Feng hadn’t returned yet with Lusheng. Zhou Fuguang finished his meal and cleaned the lunchbox at the sink. Normally, Aunt Feng handled all the washing. With Baozhu here, it would make sense for her to do it.
Jiang Zhi was annoyed. Zhou Fuguang worked so hard—dealing with suppliers, visiting the slaughterhouse, checking on the chicken farm when there was an outbreak. Hundreds of young workers from the town were employed at his factory, earning much more than they would in the city. The townspeople respected him—he had given them a better life.
Cooking, childcare, washing dishes—these were trivial things. Baozhu used to be a “fool” and couldn’t do them, fine. But now she was awake; how could she let Zhou Fuguang do them?
Seeing him still washing dishes, Jiang Zhi deliberately spoke up, loud enough for the employees to hear, “Brother Zhou, go rest. I’ll wash the dishes—it’s nothing.”
Jiang Canran frowned. That girl was at it again.
Zhou Fuguang paused, glanced at Jiang Zhi’s pouty face, and said, “No need.”
Jiang Zhi protested, “No way! You work so hard every day. Washing dishes is nothing; look at my brother’s plates—they’re all mine. I’ve got nothing else to do, so of course I do the chores. How can I let you do it?”
Jiang Canran was speechless. The girl was even meddling in other people’s chores. But he knew Jiang Zhi had admired Zhou Fuguang since childhood, always praising him. If it weren’t for her brother, one might even suspect she had a crush on Zhou Fuguang.
Zhou Fuguang wasn’t naive. He understood Jiang Zhi’s intentions when she pointed out Baozhu’s “negligence.”
Looking at Baozhu, bored and wandering with her gaze, he couldn’t help smiling. Ask Baozhu to wash dishes or take care of the child? She’d probably take the baby to the river or smash all the plates at home. This young lady was born to be waited on, not to work.
Aunt Feng returned with the child. Seeing Zhou Fuguang still washing, she felt a little embarrassed and hurried over. “Oh, Little Zhou, I took Lusheng out to play in the snow. When did you finish eating? Leave the dishes in the sink; I’ll wash them.”
Zhou Fuguang wiped his hands, taking the smiling Lusheng from her outstretched arms.
“Do you want to go to Mommy?” he asked.
Lusheng, with a face so similar to Baozhu’s, nodded happily. “Want mommy hug!”
Aunt Feng and Jiang Zhi were melted by the sight. Jiang Zhi reached out, “Auntie hug, auntie hug!”
But Lusheng dodged Jiang Zhi and nestled into Baozhu instead. Jiang Zhi’s face fell. “I used to hold her every day and feed her myself. And now she ignores me?”
Jiang Canran laughed. “You think everyone’s as naive as you?”
Jiang Zhi shot back, “When was I naive?”
Jiang Canran smirked, “Pleasing your real mom keeps the household peaceful. Pleasing Baozhu will get you good food and perks later. All your effort—useless.”
Jiang Zhi was furious. “Shut up! Lusheng, our little angel, doesn’t have all your scheming mind!”