Ji You had predicted correctly. For the two three-hundred-year-old roots of ginseng, Zou Wentao would definitely make the trip, afraid of missing the station pick-up time. He had already slept poorly the first half of the night. By eleven o’clock, rain began to drizzle.
He could only put on a raincoat and ride his bicycle toward the train station in the heavy rain, complaining all the way but summoning determination when he thought of the ginseng his leader needed.
By two o’clock, staring at the crowd exiting the station, his eyes were sore, yet he did not see Ji You. Even after all passengers for that train had left, there was still no sign of her.
He waited like a lover in a passionate romance, longing to see the ginseng immediately.
He searched the train station, turning it almost upside down, but still could not find Ji You. To be precise, he could not find the ginseng.
Wearing a raincoat, he was still soaked like a drenched chicken. He kept staring at the exit but still did not see Ji You.
By seven o’clock, another group of passengers emerged. Ji You might have been on this train. Zou Wentao searched with some hope, but there was still no sign of her.
Raindrops blurred his face. He had never been so miserable.
This ginseng was of great importance.
His worry was that if the two roots were lost, the section chief position would be lost too.
He was extremely disappointed. On top of that, he had spoken too soon about the ginseng. Now that he could not secure it, what could he tell his leader?
He wanted to slap himself for speaking so quickly.
The drenched man left the station listlessly, ashamed to see his leader. He had confidently promised ginseng. How could he explain now?
He hoped he would not be transferred to a meaningless post.
Unwilling to go to work, he immediately wrote to Ji You after returning home, suppressing his anger, lowering his tone, and using the gentlest wording to urge her to send the ginseng as soon as possible.
He even arrogantly hoped to entice her with a reward, saying that if Ji You delivered the ginseng, she could make amends, and they might even reconcile.
Rain provided a soothing background, and Ji You slept exceptionally well. When she woke, she smelled the fragrance of wet earth. Peeking through the window, she was delighted to see the rain.
“Fang Yi, it’s raining here. Binjiang City must be raining too. Zou Wentao should be braving the rain to pick up the ginseng,” she said joyfully.
Fang Yi stood beside her, voice low, “Would you be disappointed if he didn’t go?”
Ji You nodded, “Of course, that would mean my plan to tease him failed.”
Fang Yi said with resignation, “As long as you are happy. Come on, wash up. Be careful walking to work later.”
He thought if Zou Wentao truly went to pick her up in the rain, their feelings must be strong.
At noon, when Ji You was heading to the gate after work, the young editor Du Zhongqiu hurried up to her, fidgeting with his hair and rubbing his temples. Only after reaching the gate did he speak, “Ji You, thank you for your guidance.”
Ji You glanced at the young man and said, “No need to thank me. It wasn’t guidance; I just didn’t want to read mistakes on air.”
Her standards were not high. She pointed out others’ mistakes without mercy as long as they did not think she was nitpicking.
Du Zhongqiu was very polite, “Few people are so enthusiastic in urging me to improve. I am lucky to meet someone so attentive. Recently, I have been memorizing the dictionary whenever I have time and feel much improved.”
Ji You paused, “…”
If the young man did not seem sincere, she would have thought he was being sarcastic.
The two were initially walking in opposite directions. Du Zhongqiu stayed with Ji You for a while, but she corrected him, “Really, it’s not my urging. If anyone urges, it would be your Group Leader Liu.”
Du Zhongqiu felt embarrassed, speaking cautiously, “I see it as urging, as help. I am grateful to you.”
Ji You was momentarily speechless, “…Fine, say whatever you want. Then improve your word choice and expression. You are still following me.”
Du Zhongqiu scratched his head, tone lightening, “Thank you. I am going home for lunch now.”
In the evening, after dinner, the young couple was about to go downstairs for a walk when someone called, “Guilan, at home?”
Zhang Guilan’s voice came from the washroom, “I’m here. We just finished eating and are washing dishes. Have you eaten?”
“We’ve eaten,” the visitor said while walking inside.
Ji You knew who it was by the voice and glanced at Fang Yi, “Your third aunt and cousin.”
The cousin was the one Ji You had seen outside the black clinic.
Fang Yi noticed Ji You’s finely arched brows furrowing slightly. He stepped closer to her, nodding, “Yes.”
Zhang Guilan was Fang Yi’s foster mother, also her third aunt. The deceased foster father had been his third uncle.
His third uncle, originally from Binjiang City, worked at a third-tier factory and married Zhang Guilan. The couple was infertile. Around ten years old, Fang Yi was adopted by them and moved from Binjiang City to the mountains.
Relatives usually visiting them were from Zhang Guilan’s side.
Ji You had already pulled Fang Yi to the outer room. The visitor’s gaze fell on Ji You, opening her mouth, “Ji You…”
Ji You ignored her, and Fang Yi said, “Pull up a chair.”
Fang Yi quickly arranged the chair. Zhang Yulan had assumed it was for her, but Ji You sat down first.
The remaining chair was for her. She moved quickly to sit but found Fang Yi sitting beside her and even moved the chair closer to Ji You.
Zhang Yulan was embarrassed and displeased, having never seen such manners for guests.
She coughed to hide her awkwardness, “Look at these two kids. I thought this chair was for me.”
Zhang Guilan came out, wiping her hands on her apron, “Ji You is pregnant. She should sit. You sit elsewhere.”
Ji You did not engage in pleasantries and bluntly said, “You don’t think my work belongs to you, do you? Wanting me to abort and go back to Binjiang City so Yu Zimin’s fiancée can take my job. Your abacus beads are really clattering.”
Is there such a thing as unearned fortune in the world?
She spoke directly, hitting the mother and son in the heart.
They had wanted to make small talk and gradually approach the topic. They did not expect Ji You to be so straightforward, leaving no need for a preamble.
Zhang Yulan stuttered, “Ji, Ji You, you don’t want…”
Fang Yi crossed his long legs, leaning against the chair, arm on the back of Ji You’s chair, coldly saying, “Do not say abortion. Do not let me hear these two words. If anyone besides Ji You, I will hold them accountable.”
Zhang Yulan wanted to ask about Ji You aborting and returning to Binjiang City. Everyone wanted her to abort so Yu Zimin’s fiancée could take the job. It seemed like a win-win, but Ji You refused to follow their plan.
At this moment, Zhang Guilan moved two more chairs. Hearing the topic of abortion, her face fell.
Seeing Fang Yi’s dark expression, Zhang Yulan had to rephrase, “Ji You, you want to return to Binjiang City. Zimin’s fiancée works as an announcer here. Her voice is good, and her broadcasting is excellent. It seems fitting that she takes your place, doesn’t it?”
Yu Zimin spoke up, “Cousin-in-law, she has the skill and ability. She really wants to work at the radio station. She always listens to your broadcasts and admires you.”
If he could get his fiancée into the radio station, the match would succeed. Otherwise, it might fail.
They were thinking so straightforwardly, taking what was not theirs. Ji You was about to shatter their illusions.