When Lu Yun was reading the novel, she had really disliked the male lead, Chen Zhiqiang. During the conflict between his mother and his wife, if Chen Zhiqiang had made even a little effort to help the supporting female character, their life later would not have become such a complete mess. If the supporting female character had felt Chen Zhiqiang’s concern and care for her, perhaps she would have been willing to cooperate with him and give in to his mother as well.
After all, once they were married, it could not be that every problem had to be left for the supporting female character to solve on her own.
It was not that Lu Yun thought the supporting female character had done nothing wrong. Even though Lu Yun was now the supporting female character herself, she would not think that way. She simply knew that she would never marry a man like Chen Zhiqiang.
Chen Zhiqiang had returned to the Cotton Cloth Factory, but his return did not affect Lu Yun at all. She slacked off when she was supposed to slack off, went to the cafeteria when it was time to eat, and went about her day as usual. She did not run into Chen Zhiqiang at the Cotton Cloth Factory even once.
The Cotton Cloth Factory was not a small factory, and Lu Yun and Chen Zhiqiang did different kinds of work. Unless they deliberately tried to meet each other, they might not run into each other even once in ten days or half a month, let alone every day.
Before transmigrating, Lu Yun had lived in an apartment complex. The neighbors she knew well lived in the same building, yet they might only run into each other a few times a year. Of course, that might also have had something to do with the fact that Lu Yun usually preferred staying at home.
Sister Sun was in an especially good mood today. Previously, she would only become happy when it was almost time to get off work. Now she was already happy before the workday had even ended. Everyone else in the office was the same.
The Cotton Cloth Factory would be paying their salaries tomorrow.
Listening to their conversation, Lu Yun silently memorized today’s date.
After all, things were different from before she had transmigrated. Back then, she could barely be considered successful in her career, but now, in order not to live off her parents, Lu Yun still had to rely on the salary she received from the Cotton Cloth Factory every month.
Sister Sun said, “I really envy those of you who aren’t married yet. Once you earn money, you can spend it on dresses and cosmetics. For those of us who are married, our husbands aren’t particularly capable either, so we have to carefully calculate how to spend every bit of money we earn each month. My child is also almost old enough to start kindergarten.”
She then asked, “Lu Yun, are you going to the provincial capital this weekend? If you are, could you bring something back for me?”
Lu Yun quickly waved her hand.
“I’m not going this month. If you aren’t in a hurry, tell me what you need and I’ll bring it back for you next month.”
Sister Sun said, “That works too.”
These past few days at work, Lu Yun had gained more than just experience with working, slacking off, and eating.
For example, from listening to the people in the office, she learned that every time she received her salary, she loved buying dresses and cosmetics to dress herself up. All of it had been for Chen Zhiqiang.
There were already so many clothes in Lu Yun’s house that sometimes she even wondered whether she really was in the 1980s.
However, because she had spent all her money on clothes, Lu Yun did not have much money left now. In modern terms, she could barely be considered a member of the monthly spending crowd.
But Lu Yun could no longer live like that. She could still buy dresses and cosmetics, but she also needed to save some money.
Zhang Hao and He Chengan had grown up together.
Zhang Hao had gotten a girlfriend who also worked at the Cotton Cloth Factory. When he came to pick her up after work, he heard her mention that Chen Zhiqiang had returned. Zhang Hao’s girlfriend also knew about He Chengan and Lu Yun.
Zhang Hao’s girlfriend spoke sourly.
“That factory beauty really has it good. On one side, your Brother is chasing after her, while on the other side, she is still thinking about our Director Chen. You didn’t see her when she came to work today. She dressed herself up so beautifully. Even if she fails to get our director, she can still go back and find your Brother He. Either way, she profits.”
Zhang Hao’s expression darkened.
“If you don’t know how to talk, then don’t talk.”
He stopped his bicycle beside them.
“Get off.”
Zhang Hao rode away at nearly astonishing speed. Only when he reached the alley where He Chengan lived did he gradually slow down.
Zhang Hao knocked on the door and entered.
“Brother He, I know why Lu Yun has been paying attention to you these past few days. Chen Zhiqiang was away on a business trip, and today Chen Zhiqiang came back.”
After saying that, he cautiously glanced at He Chengan.
“My new girlfriend told me. Chen Zhiqiang came back from his business trip, and she works at the Cotton Cloth Factory too.”
He Chengan was working in the courtyard. When he heard what Zhang Hao said, his expression darkened.
“Are you saying that, or is she saying that?”
Zhang Hao suddenly lost some of his confidence.
“I came up with it myself.”
He Chengan looked at him.
“There won’t be a next time.”
Zhang Hao immediately admitted his mistake.
“I was being foolish. How could Lu Yun be the kind of person who would do that? I was wrong, Brother He. I just felt that it was almost like a dream that she suddenly started paying attention to you.”
He Chengan said nothing.
It was not only Zhang Hao who felt that it seemed like a dream. Even He Chengan himself felt the same way.
Lu Yun had accepted the things he gave her without giving them away. She had not rejected them. She had even gone to the movies with him.
He had never dared to imagine any of those things before, but He Chengan did not ask her about them.
On the morning when the Cotton Cloth Factory paid their salaries, Lu Yun got up earlier than usual.
She stood in the courtyard brushing her teeth with a ceramic toothbrush mug. Her mouth was covered in foam. Whenever someone greeted her, she would respond with a few words or smile at them. Everyone lived in the same courtyard, and the people there were all very friendly.
Zhang Meili said, “Child, why did you get up so early today?”
Lu Yun smiled.
“Today is payday.”
Zhang Meili immediately became worried again. She could not exactly forbid her daughter from buying dresses.
Just as she was about to turn around and continue preparing breakfast, Lu Yun called out to her.
Lu Yun said, “When I come home, I’ll buy some pork belly and cabbage. Let’s make pork and cabbage buns.”
Zhang Meili:
This really was strange.
Zhang Meili had already prepared breakfast. The thin porridge was homemade, the pickled vegetables had been prepared by the family earlier, and there were also several fried dough sticks that had been bought outside the alley.
Lu Yun drank a large bowl of porridge and ate a fried dough stick.
Lu Yun said, “I’m going to work.”
Zhang Meili said, “Wait, wait a moment. Your older brother just rode your bicycle out to buy something. He’ll be back soon. Wait until he brings the bicycle back, then go to work.”
The Lu family had two bicycles in total. One belonged to Zhang Meili and Lu Dong, since they both worked at the same factory. The other belonged to Lu Yun.
As for Lu Yun’s older brother, the factory where he worked was nearby, so he did not need a bicycle to commute. As Zhang Meili often said, it only took him a few minutes to walk there, so there was no point wasting a bicycle on him.
Lu Yun looked at her watch.
“I’ll take the bus. It won’t be crowded today.”
When the Cotton Cloth Factory distributed salaries, Lu Yun was especially enthusiastic about getting in line.
She received a total of seventy three yuan. The brand new bills were placed inside an envelope. Lu Yun counted the money several times and did not even feel tired despite the long line.
After work, Lu Yun went to the market and bought four jin of pork belly with both lean meat and fat. She also bought two large cabbages to make pork and cabbage buns.
However, on the way home, Lu Yun once again understood what it meant to be a delicate female character in a period novel.
She could not carry all those things very well.
That moment reminded her once again that she was now the supporting female character in a period novel.
He Chengan arrived at exactly the right time.
He reached out and effortlessly carried everything Lu Yun had bought. In his large hands, the weight seemed almost nonexistent.
By now, Lu Yun was completely calm about somehow running into He Chengan again.
He Chengan asked, “Do you need to buy anything else?”
Lu Yun said, “No, this is enough.”
Lu Yun genuinely could not carry it all. Two large cabbages were already quite heavy, not to mention the pork she had bought. Altogether, she had more than fifteen jins of groceries.
When He Chengan carried everything to the entrance of the alley, Lu Yun had not even said anything yet when he pointed toward the Lu family’s home.
He Chengan said, “I’ll take these over first and leave them at your door.
When you go inside, have your older brother or your father carry them in.”
Lu Yun blinked.
In the novel, Chen Zhiqiang’s aunt had complained about Lu Yun in front of the female lead.
“Lu Yun is so delicate. She can’t even carry something herself, yet she expects Zhiqiang to carry everything for her. Did our Zhiqiang marry her just to carry things for her for free? She’s just being deliberately difficult. I don’t believe she really can’t carry those things.”
Lu Yun watched He Chengan walk ahead.
She simply followed behind him.
When He Chengan turned around and saw her, he looked stunned.
Lu Yun said, “Thank you. I’ll bring you some buns later. I’m making pork and cabbage buns. They’re really delicious.”
He Chengan cautiously asked, “You made the buns yourself?”
Lu Yun nodded.
“Yes, I made them. I’ve been reading quite a few cooking books recently and wanted to try them out. Besides, even without reading a book, I know how to make pork and cabbage buns.”
He Chengan’s smile was almost dazzling.
Looking at him, Lu Yun simply said, “I’ll bring you ten.”
The male supporting character she had never been able to get over really was different from everyone else.
Lu Yun did not want to see him unhappy. When she saw him happy, she simply wanted to make him even happier.
Making pork and cabbage buns was extremely easy for Lu Yun, who had been a food blogger. She had not cooked for quite some time, so she was actually eager to get back into the kitchen.
At this time, the courtyard still had a shared kitchen. Lu Yun came home early today, and there was no one else in the kitchen.
She washed all the ingredients, kneaded the dough and left it to rise, then immediately got busy.
Before long, the people returning home from work began to smell the buns.
They could not help commenting.
“Whose family is making buns?”
“They smell so good.”
“They smell incredibly fresh.”
Lu Yun needed four lunchboxes to pack the ten buns. She put the lunchboxes into a net bag and told her family before leaving.
Buns did not need to be eaten immediately. She could eat them after she came back.
Since she had already told He Chengan that she would bring him buns, Lu Yun felt embarrassed about making him wait until after she finished dinner.
Zhang Meili said, “Where are you going? It’s getting dark outside. If you’re taking the buns to someone, why don’t you let your older brother take them?”
Lu Yun said, “No need. I’ll ride my bicycle there and be back soon. It won’t take long.”
When Lu Yun saw He Chengan not far from the alley, she walked over.
“Why are you here?”
After saying that, she noticed several mosquito bites on the back of He Chengan’s hand. She then glanced at the lush trees around them and could not help laughing.
She stuffed the net bag containing the lunchboxes into He Chengan’s hands and immediately turned around to go home.
Holding the net bag, He Chengan could think of nothing except the fact that Lu Yun had just smiled at him.
He took several large strides to catch up with her. If there had not been so many people around, he would have wanted to shout out loud.
Instead, he could only lower his voice and say, “You look really beautiful when you smile.”
Lu Yun:
Lu Yun said, “Go home quickly. Don’t stand there and let the mosquitoes bite you.”