Jiang Hongguo brought over the two bags of tea leaves she’d carried from home.
“They’re a local specialty,” she said gently. “Not store-bought.”
She noticed that Sun Aiqin looked even more troubled than she had that morning.
Changzong was still at driving school.
But Sun’s husband had come back early.
Did the instructor send him away?
Gu Changzong was already jealous, so Jiang Hongguo didn’t dare probe further. After delivering the tea leaves, she prepared to leave.
But Sun Aiqin insisted on giving something in return. She brought out a packet of dried bamboo shoots and said she hadn’t seen Hongguo’s baby yet—she wanted to come over for a look.
Jiang Hongguo had the feeling she had something to say.
That morning at the shop, they had all still been strangers. Now that Sun claimed she just wanted to see the child, there was no good reason to refuse.
Out of the corner of her eye, Hongguo glanced at Sun’s husband. From the moment she arrived until now, he had stood silently to the side. His expression hadn’t shifted once. His heavy, brooding face looked downright intimidating.
If Sun weren’t here, Hongguo would’ve been too scared to even step into their courtyard.
Now she understood—no wonder Sun’s ex-in-laws only dared to look for her at the shop, and even then sent relatives instead of going themselves. With a man built like that standing guard, who would dare knock on the door?
The little one was asleep. Sun leaned over and, seeing how adorable the baby was, praised him sincerely several times.
When it became clear she had no intention of leaving, Hongguo brewed tea and brought out some biscuits. They sat in the main room to talk.
“Sun-jie,” Hongguo asked gently, “you’re back so early this afternoon. Is something wrong?”
Sun Aiqin drank half her cup of tea before speaking.
“My husband refused to help the instructor with errands. He couldn’t even handle something simple like bringing cigarettes or wine as courtesy. The instructor got angry and sent him back. I was thinking… when your husband finishes learning to drive, maybe he could teach mine.”
Changzong was already jealous of this man. Even if he weren’t, he wouldn’t talk to him much—how could he possibly teach him?
Hongguo had come here to collect a debt. How had she ended up entangled in someone else’s family affairs? Besides, she had only moved in yesterday. For Sun to make such a request already felt rather abrupt.
“Sun-jie,” Hongguo said frankly, “I speak directly. If what I say makes you unhappy, you can walk away. You know where your husband’s problem lies. If he doesn’t change, even if someone teaches him to drive, he’ll clash with them. How will he work? What leader or colleague would like that? He’ll suffer too. If your family can still get by financially, maybe let him slow down for now?”
What she said made perfect sense. Sun had simply chosen to ignore it. But the problem was still there.
She set down her teacup, eyes reddening.
“He’s had it hard. He doesn’t want to live off me. He wants to find something to help ease the financial burden. It’s not easy for him.”
Hongguo hesitated, then added softly, “Sister Shan said you earn commission selling antiques. Your income’s good. Does he really need to rush into work? I heard he’s suffered greatly too. Maybe he needs time to rest.”
Sun admitted their daily life was manageable—but she owed a huge debt. A very large one. And it weighed heavily on her heart.
“My ex-husband’s family wouldn’t let me repay it. They wanted to default. After the divorce, I made up my mind to repay everything. When he found out, he insisted on helping me. No matter what I say, I can’t change his mind. Such a fool.”
Jiang Hongguo suddenly realized—this “huge debt”… could it be the IOU left by Changzong’s grandmother? What other debt could there be?
So they had intended to repay it. They just didn’t have the ability yet.
Hongguo felt a twinge of unease for having misunderstood her.
“Sun-jie,” she asked carefully, “I only moved here yesterday. Why would you ask Changzong and me for help so soon?”
Sun looked puzzled. “Gu Changzong didn’t tell you? During the years he was sent down to the countryside, I mailed him money from time to time.”
Seeing Hongguo’s genuine shock, Sun regretted mentioning it and quickly reassured her.
“I didn’t realize you didn’t know. Hongguo, don’t take it to heart. And don’t go confronting Changzong over it. Don’t let it affect your marriage.”
Suddenly, Hongguo remembered.
Half a year before she married Gu Changzong, he had received two parcels. She’d asked about them. He’d said they were from his grandmother’s student—but hadn’t specified who, nor shown her what was inside. He’d only taken out the food and given it to her.
So it had been Sun who sent them.
No wonder her request today wasn’t abrupt at all.
Hongguo’s cheeks flushed with embarrassment. If she now said she was willing to help, it would sound insincere. And she couldn’t decide for Changzong.
After seeing Sun off, Hongguo sat in silence for a long while. She fed the baby formula. The little one was unusually obedient and even smiled at her, as if trying to cheer her up.
Her guilt deepened.
She couldn’t let her pessimistic mood affect the baby. Even if he was small, he could sense things. Changzong was the same. She couldn’t pass her negative emotions onto him.
That evening, when Changzong returned, he excitedly talked about driving lessons.
“Guoguo, those truck drivers don’t rely on their wages. On a long-haul trip, the private goods they carry on the side can earn at least two or three hundred yuan.”
Being able to drive a big truck meant money. Serious money. Perhaps that was why he didn’t want to tolerate Sun’s husband’s bad attitude for the sake of a small courtesy gift.
Hongguo thought perhaps Sun’s husband was just that kind of person.
People who looked fierce weren’t necessarily bad. Truly bad people didn’t wear their wickedness on their faces—they were sly, good at disguising themselves.
“Is Sun’s husband still going to learn?” she asked.
Changzong’s reply sounded heartless toward someone from the same hometown. It made Hongguo’s heart sink.
“He should’ve died last time. If he can’t change and still keeps that dead look on his face, he deserves whatever happens.”
Her chest tightened.
If Changzong could think that way about others, others might think the same about him. She hoped that when he needed help someday, there would be one less person pouring cold water over him.
But she didn’t truly understand how he and those from the same hometown could watch each other suffer—or even die—and remain unmoved.
Changzong was such a good person.
She fell silent. Her expression cooled slightly.
Gu Changzong immediately sensed he had said the wrong thing.
Had calling Sun’s husband deserving of death made Hongguo think he was cold-blooded?
He put down his chopsticks, appetite gone.
“Guoguo… are you angry?”
Seeing how cautiously he asked, Hongguo quickly pushed aside her pity for others.
She had to protect Changzong first.
She had already finished eating. Setting down her chopsticks, she moved to sit beside him and took his hand.
His anxiety eased at once.
She wasn’t angry. She still liked him just as much. As long as she asked, he would do anything.
“Changzong,” she said gently, “I’m not angry. I was just thinking… when it came to Aunt Liu, you told me to leave a little room for feelings. With Sun and her husband, I won’t tell you to help anyone. But you need friends. If you don’t treat people with sincerity, you won’t gain sincere friends. Think about it—if I hadn’t been sincere with Aunt Liu, when you went out to handle things, no one would’ve come to keep me company at home. We’re new in the provincial capital. I hope you can make one or two true friends. It would really be good for you. Trust me.”
Changzong didn’t lack drinking buddies or people to run errands with.
But none of them were from his hometown. If something happened back there, he wouldn’t even have someone to discuss it with.
Only then did Gu Changzong understand.
Hongguo wasn’t upset because she pitied someone else. She was worried about him.
The moment he changed his perspective, everything became clear.
If Sun’s husband weren’t pitiful, Hongguo probably wouldn’t spare him a glance.
Enlightened, Gu Changzong beamed.
“Guoguo, I know what to do.”
That vague answer didn’t reassure her.
“What exactly are you going to do?” she pressed.
In the past, he would have done nothing. He would’ve watched from afar—even if the other man died, he would’ve simply watched.
But everything Hongguo said was for him to live better. He couldn’t disappoint her.
“Guoguo,” he explained, “Sun’s family is struggling right now. You won’t collect the debt on the IOU. When they’re no longer pitiful and have money, you can collect it then. You won’t need to worry about me. Wouldn’t that be good?”
For him to think that far already meant progress.
Hongguo couldn’t force him to act exactly like her—that would turn him into a puppet.
So she rewarded him immediately.
She leaned in and lightly bit his neck.
The sensation made him tremble.
He hadn’t expected a reward. Dinner forgotten, he scooped her into his arms and carried her to the bedroom.
“Guoguo, wait for me. I’ll feed the baby, take a quick bath, and come right back.”
She pressed her lips together, her face glowing with warmth.
“I’m not going anywhere. No need to rush.”
While Changzong coaxed the baby, Hongguo hugged a pillow, her heart burning pleasantly. He was so happy—she felt she’d handled today well.
Soon enough, he returned, fresh and clean.
They had been indulgent last night. And now again…
She remembered how he once hiked for more than ten hours without collapsing. No need to worry about his stamina.
So she didn’t dampen his enthusiasm.
A thoroughly satisfied Gu Changzong moved swiftly and efficiently the next day.
At noon, he came home briefly, proudly reporting:
“Guoguo, Cheng Qizheng can’t handle it. You still have to rely on me. I had him rescue my driving instructor. The instructor agreed to take on one more student. I’m with him in the morning, and Cheng Qizheng in the afternoon. From now on, I’ll be home every afternoon. Are you happy?”
Cheng Qizheng—that was Sun’s husband. Big and burly, powerful, taciturn. The complete opposite of Changzong, who navigated social situations with ease.
Hongguo truly was happy.
“Changzong, you’re amazing. Once Sun’s family gets through this rough patch, I’ll be able to collect the debt. I’m so happy.”
But that was only on the surface.
What pleased her more was that Changzong had changed. Only when he changed first could he influence others. With someone from his hometown as a friend, he wouldn’t be alone anymore.
After half a month of lessons, Changzong had smoothed things over with the transport company. He was registered under the unit for training. Only after completing training could he qualify for internship, then follow veteran drivers on runs. After passing internship, he could obtain a large-truck license.
That license was invaluable. Once you had it, it was like holding an iron rice bowl. The extra income alone was substantial.
To build those connections, Changzong had spent effort—and money. In several installments, he had Hongguo take nearly two thousand yuan to send as favors. Luckily, they had some savings. Without connections or money, learning to drive would’ve been impossible.
A month later, Changzong entered the transport company as an intern.
Since he’d greased the right palms, people assumed Cheng Qizheng was with him. Touched by Changzong’s generosity, they turned a blind eye and stamped Cheng Qizheng’s internship papers too—though they assigned him to a distant, somewhat dangerous route that others avoided. It suited him perfectly.
On only his second run, Cheng Qizheng beat back bandits trying to hijack the cargo, saving the company from heavy losses.
On such a dangerous route, having someone fiercer than the robbers on board brought overwhelming peace of mind.
After that, no one rejected him anymore.
Jiang Hongguo had also received the specialty goods and extra income Gu Changzong brought back from his driving runs. On his first trip, he just did some scouting. On the second, he bought ten electric fans wholesale—making twenty yuan profit per fan, totaling two hundred yuan.
Tasting this sweet profit, Gu Changzong grew bolder and more careful. Not only did he earn extra with his own instructor, he also roped in several other instructors running the same routes. Each time, he brought home more money than before.
Hongguo was both thrilled and nervous. She scolded him a few times: “Changzong, making money like this will draw envy. Wait until you get your license before thinking about earning extra—don’t put the cart before the horse.”
Changzong was in high spirits. A thousand-plus yuan of extra income a month seemed fine to him, but Hongguo worried it was dangerous.
He listened, nodding earnestly. “Guoguo, I’ll do as you say. Then I’ll spend this extra thousand or so—maybe there’ll be fewer people jealous of me. How’s that?”
Hongguo’s heart ached. All that hard-earned money, just spent on entertaining people!
She didn’t show her worry, though. Smiling, she said, “That’s fine. Money is meant to help people. If spending it helps you, then spend it.”
Changzong went out to network with the money in hand. The favor worked. Originally, he wouldn’t have received his license until spring, but by the end of the year, the transport company had completed the paperwork and could issue it.
Once Changzong got his license, Sun’s husband could also get his, with no one holding up the process.
Hongguo felt the worst of Sun’s family troubles were over. Now they could try producing the IOU—to see if they truly wanted to repay it, or if they were just putting on a show.
She couldn’t deliver it herself; Changzong would have to go in disguise.
Gu Changzong was more than willing. On his days off, he would leave the house with a bag during the day, heading out somewhere in disguise.
Hongguo trusted him completely now. Today, they didn’t need to collect anything—just a trial run. He went out in the afternoon, and before dark he would be back. The young couple often stayed home all day, so no one would suspect him.
When night fell, Changzong returned. Hongguo saw his clothes were wrinkled and dusty. Had he gotten into a fight?
If so, it could be serious—either he beat someone badly or got beaten himself.
Hongguo hurried to ask what had happened. Last time, he collected from several households in one go and wasn’t this messy. Who had he clashed with today?
“You got into a fight?”
Anyone who left dust and dirt on Changzong’s clothes clearly wasn’t ordinary. Hongguo’s worry spiked.
Grimacing, Changzong cursed Sun’s husband under his breath, admitting he had indeed fought him. He reassured Hongguo not to be disappointed: the matter was settled, just a small unexpected incident, and it was resolved.
“Don’t be fooled by his weight advantage,” Changzong said. “I’m much stronger. He suffered badly; I gave it to him good. Guoguo, I’m the strongest—you don’t need to envy anyone.”
Hongguo was exasperated but couldn’t bring herself to scold him. “I don’t believe it. Let me see properly.” She quickly undid his buttons.
“Then look,” Changzong obediently said, exposing himself.