“Master, here, have some.” At the restaurant, Lin Jingwen pulled two chocolates from her pocket and offered them to her master.
“I don’t like these,” Chef Cai glanced at them, curled his lip, but didn’t return them. Instead, he slipped them into his pocket. “I’ll take them home for my grandsons.”
Hearing that, Lin Jingwen laughed. Her master often teased her, but wasn’t he the same—always thinking of the children first when he had something good?
Whenever the restaurant gave out treats, her master would bring them home for his beloved twin grandsons. He doted on them no less than she cared for her own child. But his affection was for his biological grandsons, who were sweet‑natured and close to him, calling “Grandpa” with such warmth. Unlike her—when she gave things, all she got from Li Dongle was being called a “vicious stepmother.”
Seeing her laugh at him, Chef Cai glared, then lowered his voice: “The matter’s done. He got a good beating.”
Lin Jingwen’s eyes lit up. Smiling, she said: “Master, thank you. I’ll buy you a good bottle of liquor later.”
“No need for anything fancy. Just Erguotou will do,” Chef Cai chuckled.
The two were joking together when someone shouted loudly: “Lin Jingwen, someone’s looking for you outside!”
Lin Jingwen answered and walked to the restaurant’s back courtyard, where she saw Zhang Lanxiang coming toward her.
Zhang Lanxiang spotted her too, her face immediately darkening. She strode forward with a fierce look, as if ready to twist Lin Jingwen’s ear off.
“If you dare lay a hand on me, I’ll shout it out loud—that Li Anping’s been fooling around outside, even fathering a child. I’ll make sure everyone knows, ruin his reputation, and cost him his job!”
Lin Jingwen looked at the approaching Zhang Lanxiang, her expression blank as she spoke. She knew her evil mother‑in‑law’s vile nature all too well. If she started a fight right away, Zhang Lanxiang would only go for broke, dragging them both down in mutual destruction.
But if she didn’t fight, didn’t speak, she could use this secret to control Zhang Lanxiang and the scumbag, keeping them from daring to provoke her or disturb her too much.
Being hounded by a mad dog was truly terrifying. Lin Jingwen only wanted to wait for the right time, cleanly divorce the scumbag, and cut ties—without driving his family into a frenzy. She had gone mad in her dream before. She knew exactly what it was like to be hysterical, desperate to destroy the other person.
Unfortunately, in that dream, her reputation was already ruined. No one believed her, no one helped her. She couldn’t destroy anyone else—she only destroyed herself.
Zhang Lanxiang’s face suddenly changed, her whole body frozen in shock, forgetting entirely why she had come.
“You—you… what… no, you’re talking nonsense!” Zhang Lanxiang glared viciously, shouting at Lin Jingwen: “Today you’re coming home with me! If you dare ruin Anping’s reputation outside, I won’t forgive you!”
Provoked by Lin Jingwen’s words, Zhang Lanxiang completely forgot her son’s instructions. Instead of coaxing, she lashed out with threats.
“Heh. And how exactly won’t you forgive me? Like before, beating me with your shoe sole? Or maybe killing me? Back then, I was foolish, letting you hit and scold me without fighting back. But if you dare lay a hand on me now, I’ll make you regret it—I’ll make you kneel and beg!”
Lin Jingwen sneered coldly, stepping closer, questioning her word by word: “I have nothing left to lose. At worst, I lose this job. But can you afford that? Can Li Anping afford to lose his job? Can he bear the shame of being known as a man who fools around outside? Can he stand being pointed at and whispered about behind his back?”
Forced back step by step, Zhang Lanxiang lost all her arrogance. Her eyes were filled with panic, disbelief, and even a trace of fear.
How had the third daughter‑in‑law changed like this? She looked as if she were possessed by a vengeful ghost!
Zhang Lanxiang took several deep breaths to calm herself down, finally remembering the purpose of her visit.
“Third daughter‑in‑law, I know you’re full of resentment. Anping said, if you don’t agree to give the apartment to Xinping, then you don’t have to…”
Hearing this, Lin Jingwen couldn’t help but let out a mocking laugh. What an unexpected surprise. But she had prepared an even bigger surprise for them. In a few days, when the housing allocation list was announced, she hoped they wouldn’t be so furious that they would curse their own mothers.
Well, maybe not their mothers—but they would definitely curse her. They’d probably storm over here, screaming like lunatics.
Lin Jingwen wasn’t afraid at all. She no longer feared losing her job. Other than herself, she had nothing left that she couldn’t afford to lose. With that thought, she turned and walked away, unwilling to waste time listening to Zhang Lanxiang’s false, hypocritical words. She’d rather spend that time secretly knitting.
Seeing Lin Jingwen turn her back and leave without even finishing listening, Zhang Lanxiang’s blood pressure shot up again, her head buzzing. She clenched her teeth, tightened her fists, muttered curses under her breath, and could only turn and leave.
Back in the restaurant kitchen, Chef Cai asked with concern what had happened.
Lin Jingwen briefly explained, and Chef Cai sighed. He couldn’t outright say he supported her divorce, but he did suggest: “Our restaurant is opening a branch near Liberation Bridge, and they need a pastry chef. You didn’t want to go before because it was too far and you had to take care of the family. But now, maybe you should reconsider. The pay is much higher than being a kitchen helper—one hundred and ten yuan a month, nearly half again more than what you earn now.”
The pay was much higher than being a kitchen helper—one hundred and ten yuan a month, nearly half again more than what she earned now.
Chef Cai thought that regardless of whether the divorce went through, it was never a bad thing for a woman to earn more money. If she didn’t have to rely on others for money and could support herself, she would have the confidence to live with dignity.
“They’re still hiring? Wasn’t this announced more than a month ago?”
Hearing this, Lin Jingwen was tempted. Before, she hadn’t dared to pursue such opportunities. Partly it was because of her own insecurity, feeling she wasn’t capable enough. But more importantly, she had to take care of the household, and her in‑laws would never have agreed to her working so far away. Now, however, her current place wasn’t far from Liberation Bridge—just a twenty‑minute bike ride. And it would put her even farther away from the scumbag’s family.
“They should still be hiring. You can ask the restaurant leadership,” Chef Cai said.
“Alright, I’ll check with them after the lunch rush,” Lin Jingwen nodded. A restaurant job was still considered an iron rice bowl—a secure position. She wasn’t ready to give it up yet, especially since she had no savings.
In her dream, she had lived until fifty before drowning herself in the river. She knew that in the coming decade, the market would open up more and more. If one had courage, becoming a self‑employed vendor could actually earn quite a lot.
These past few nights, she had even toyed with similar ideas.
But for now, with no money, she wanted stability. She would keep her restaurant job, run a small side business knitting, save some money, and then consider trying a small venture.
For example, selling breakfast on her own, or even opening a small restaurant—but those were plans for the future.
After finishing the busy lunch period, Lin Jingwen had time to rest. She went to the manager’s office to ask about the pastry chef position.
“Do your family members agree?” the manager asked her directly.
“I’m getting divorced, so I can make my own decisions,” Lin Jingwen replied. “From now on, I won’t need to take care of children or elders. I can devote myself more fully to work.”
The manager stared at her in shock, as if he had just heard that America was about to drop nuclear weapons on another country.
“You’re serious? This isn’t just a temper tantrum or a show?” the manager asked again, still astonished.
Lin Jingwen shook her head. “I’m serious.”
The manager furrowed his brows, not responding immediately. Finally, he said: “Alright, I understand your situation. You’ve learned pastries well under Master Cai, and I know your abilities. It’s just that your personal circumstances are a bit unusual. I’ll think it over.”
“Thank you, Manager,” Lin Jingwen said, then turned and left.
That evening, Lin Jingwen left work half an hour early to meet with He Shangjin and Cui Dongmei, a couple, to discuss the matter of the school housing. In plain terms, she was asking for a payoff.
This was the first time she had ever openly asked for such a benefit. To say she wasn’t nervous would be a lie. She had rehearsed her words in her head many times, practicing how to ask for a red envelope.
“This is what I deserve!” She kept reminding herself over and over to appear confident and justified. She didn’t want to be the “nice person” anymore. She wasn’t going to sacrifice everything for the sake of face, reputation, or a casual “thank you” from others. She didn’t even go inside their home. Instead, she called the couple out, found a quiet corner by a wall, and spoke in a low voice about the matter.
Lin Jingwen didn’t go inside. Instead, she called the couple out, found a quiet corner by a wall, and spoke in a low voice.
He Shangjin and Cui Dongmei were stunned! Such a good opportunity—could it really be true? It sounded unbelievable, yet they wanted to believe it.
“Sister, you can’t be lying to us!” Cui Dongmei cried, grabbing Lin Jingwen’s arm and shaking it excitedly, nearly hysterical.
“Shh! Keep your voice down, Sister‑in‑law. Before the list is announced, you mustn’t tell anyone else—not even your family. Do you understand?” Lin Jingwen quickly covered her mouth, warning her in a hushed tone.
He Shangjin had already clamped his own hand over his mouth, nodding furiously in excitement.
“You both know how hard it is to get a housing allocation. I’m still going through a divorce, and I have to endure the fury of my in‑laws. So could you give me…” Lin Jingwen intended to ask for a two‑hundred‑yuan red envelope, starting high to leave room for bargaining.
Her real target was one hundred yuan.
“Three hundred!” Cui Dongmei whispered, trembling with excitement as she held up three fingers. “If we really get the apartment, we’ll give you a three‑hundred‑yuan red envelope!”
“Deal!” Lin Jingwen nodded firmly, suppressing her own excitement. “It’s settled then. Go home and rest—I’ll be on my way.” She quickly hopped on her bicycle and sped off, afraid that if she lingered, they might calm down and reduce the offer from three hundred to one hundred.
Three hundred yuan! Her monthly salary was only sixty‑five—it was nearly five months’ wages in one go.
Lin Jingwen was so excited she felt strength surging through her whole body, pedaling her bicycle at lightning speed.
He Shangjin and Cui Dongmei watched her disappearing figure, riding off with such flair, then turned to each other and twisted each other’s cheeks.
“Aiyo, that hurts!”
“Are you trying to murder your own husband?”
Both of them cried out, clutching their faces, then shouted in unison:
“That wasn’t a dream just now!”
“Are we really going to get an apartment?” Cui Dongmei whispered, her eyes shining with excitement.
“Don’t get carried away—stay calm, stay calm! We won’t know the results for another four days!” He Shangjin clenched his fists, trembling as he spoke in a hushed voice.
“This is unbearable. I won’t be able to sleep tonight, I’m too excited.”
“Me too.”
“If we really do get the apartment…”
“Stop! Don’t say it—remember, keep it secret!”
“…Hee hee.”