Their actions naturally drew the attention of the neighboring table.
A gossip-loving auntie could not help asking, “Aiyo, big brother, is this your daughter? She’s such a pretty girl.”
The auntie spoke in a mix of Mandarin and Cantonese.
That single “pretty girl” made Yang Tiehua feel oddly emotional.
The auntie was speaking to Eldest Uncle.
Eldest Uncle smiled and replied, “This is my niece.”
“Aiyo, so she’s your niece. The one beside her must be your niece’s husband, right? Such a handsome young man!”
Eldest Uncle chatted with the auntie for a few sentences before continuing to eat his noodles.
Unexpectedly, the moment he turned away, the auntie immediately whispered to someone else in Cantonese, “So she’s a gold digger, huh? One woman with three men. This woman really has no shame.”
The auntie assumed they could not understand Cantonese.
She was still gossiping enthusiastically when Yang Tiehua suddenly stood up, grabbed the bowl of noodles in front of the auntie, and dumped it straight onto her face.
“Ah!”
The noodles were not hot, but the sudden attack made the auntie scream.
“A gold digger? Who are you calling a gold digger, Auntie?” Yang Tiehua grabbed her by the collar and nearly lifted her off the seat.
“You… you’re from Yangcheng?” The auntie’s face turned pale.
She was usually just sharp-tongued and loved gossiping about others, but the moment she encountered someone fiercer than herself, she instantly turned timid.
“Where I’m from isn’t important. What’s important is that you slandered me here. If I report you to the police, you’ll get three years behind bars.” Yang Tiehua smiled as she reminded her.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry! I was wrong! I’ll never talk nonsense again, please let me go!” The auntie burst into tears from fright.
“I can let you off, but because of what you said, I’ve already lost my appetite. The noodles have already been ordered, though, and I…”
“I’ll pay for it! I’ll pay!” The auntie gritted her teeth and hurriedly agreed.
“But the sisters at the neighboring tables all heard your slander. I wonder if they’ll report you too…”
“I’ll treat everyone to breakfast! I’ll pay for everybody! Please don’t report me!”
The auntie hurriedly pulled out money, paid the bill, and ran away.
The people at the neighboring tables immediately burst into laughter.
“Pretty girl, you’re amazing!”
Seeing one of the aunties give her a thumbs-up, Yang Tiehua smiled.
“That woman spends every day gossiping and stirring trouble. We’ve all been annoyed by her for ages. Didn’t expect you to be this bold today,” the noodle shop owner said cheerfully.
Yang Tiehua chatted with the aunties for a while before finishing breakfast and heading to Yangcheng University with Eldest Uncle and the others.
As soon as the car stopped at the entrance and they stepped out, they heard an angry female voice roaring nearby.
“Zheng Kun! If you refuse to come back with me, then I’m divorcing you!”
Yang Tiehua’s footsteps abruptly halted.
Zheng Kun?
That name sounded very familiar.
“Factory Director, isn’t that the Instructor Zheng we arranged to meet?” Driver Wang quietly said while carrying the bags.
The moment she heard that, Yang Tiehua immediately remembered.
Zheng Kun!
The man known as the pioneer who pushed forward domestic environmentally friendly PU resin technology!
In her previous life, Yang Tiehua had read a report about Zheng Kun. Because of issues involving his personal life, nobody had supported the environmentally friendly PU resin project he proposed, causing the country’s development in environmentally friendly PU resin to lag behind by an entire thirty years.
If Eldest Uncle successfully partnered with Zheng Kun this time, not only would the sugar factory successfully transform, but the nation’s environmentally friendly PU resin industry would also make a huge leap forward.
“Wife, stop making a scene. I still have classes to teach. Whatever it is, let’s talk when we get home,” Zheng Kun pleaded tiredly.
He wore a white laboratory coat and rimmed glasses. White hairs had already appeared at his temples. Although he was only in his thirties, he looked closer to his forties, his face filled with exhaustion.
Zhang Gu’s eyes were red as she said, “Zheng Kun, do you even still remember that you have a wife? We’ve been married for ten years. Count for yourself how many times you’ve actually come home.
Since you don’t care about me as your wife, then let’s divorce. You can spend the rest of your life with your precious PU resin research, and I won’t stop you anymore.”
“Wife, believe me. The environmentally friendly PU resin project is about to succeed. Please give me a little more time. Don’t divorce me, okay? I’m begging you,” Zheng Kun said as he grabbed her hand.
Zhang Gu shook him off and wiped away her tears.
“How much more time? One year? Two years? Or another ten years?
Zheng Kun, you’re thirty-eight, and I’m thirty-six. If we don’t have children soon, we won’t be able to anymore. You’ve already wasted ten years of my youth on this broken research project. Why should I keep waiting for you?
I’ll ask you one last time. Either divorce, or resign!”
Hearing this, Yang Tiehua suddenly recalled another crucial piece of information.
The so-called issue with Zheng Kun’s conduct in her previous life was that his wife had committed suicide at home. Her family had then stormed the university and caused a massive public scandal.
As a result, the university terminated his PU resin research project.
This was serious.
She absolutely had to stop it.
From what she had heard just now, Zhang Gu’s request was actually very simple. She only wanted her husband to spend more time at home. She did not care about his position as a research instructor.
If that was the case, then this problem would be easy to solve.
At that moment, Zheng Kun clenched his fists, clearly intending to muddle through things the same way he always had.
“Wife, I still have guests arriving soon. Go home first. I promise I’ll give you an answer tonight.”
Zhang Gu had already made up her mind that she needed a clear answer today, so naturally she refused.
Yang Tiehua immediately walked over with a smile.
“Instructor Zheng, greetings, Teacher’s Wife!”
Zheng Kun looked at Yang Tiehua and sized her up, his brows furrowing slightly.
“Who are you? You’re not one of my students.”
As he spoke, he instinctively pulled his wife behind him protectively.
That subconscious action alone proved that Instructor Zheng genuinely cared about his wife.
“Instructor Zheng, hello. I’m Factory Director Ao from the Tuocheng Sugar Factory. This is my niece, Tiehua.”
Eldest Uncle stepped forward to introduce himself and extended his hand.
“So it’s Factory Director Ao. Hello.”
Zheng Kun quickly shook his hand, though his expression looked awkward.
Zhang Gu looked equally uncomfortable, after all, the two of them had just aired their argument in front of everyone.
“Wife, be good and head home first, alright?” Zheng Kun quietly coaxed her.
Before Zhang Gu could answer, Yang Tiehua stepped forward and took her hand.
“Instructor Zheng, why not let Teacher’s Wife take us around the university for a tour?”
Eldest Uncle followed up, “Instructor Zheng, I wonder if your wife has the time?”
“Well… wife, what do you think…”
Zheng Kun looked at Zhang Gu somewhat helplessly.
Fortunately, Zhang Gu still gave him a face in front of outsiders.
“Fine. I’ll show you around.”
“Thank you, wife. Then I’ll trouble you to take care of this young lady for me.”
Zhang Gu only nodded without saying anything else.
After entering the university, Yang Tiehua chatted with her casually as they walked.
At first, Zhang Gu remained somewhat reserved, but gradually, thanks to Yang Tiehua’s warmth and enthusiasm, she slowly opened up.
Only after their conversation did Yang Tiehua learn that Zhang Gu had not demanded Zheng Kun resign simply because he rarely came home. It was because his medical report showed extremely poor health indicators. If he continued overworking himself long-term, he would be at risk of suffering a heart attack.
She could give up on having children, and she supported her husband pursuing the career he loved, but if chasing that dream meant risking his life, then she would rather play the villain and force him to resign and recover.
Once Yang Tiehua understood this, everything became much easier to handle.
“Teacher’s Wife, I can help Instructor Zheng keep his job while also properly recovering his health, but I’ll need your cooperation for this matter,” Yang Tiehua said with a smile.