The original host never cooked. All three meals were eaten at the mine cafeteria.
But she never ate together with Xie Fangzhu. Usually, she would only slowly stroll over after he had already left.
Xie Fangzhu had long gotten used to her coldness. Normally, he’d just inform her before leaving.
So for him to主动 ask whether she wanted to go together today—
What an honor… my ass.
The original host didn’t want to eat breakfast with him.
And neither did she.
But could someone whose entire persona revolved around worshipping her husband possibly refuse?
The answer was no.
Thinking this, Shen Yingying resigned herself and flashed a dazzling smile bright enough for twelve full points.
“Sure!”
Then she trotted over to his side, eyes full of anticipation.
“I was too lazy to walk anyway. Will you give me a ride?”
Seeing her radiant smile, bright as a little sun, Xie Fangzhu couldn’t help the smile rising in his own eyes.
Pushing the bicycle forward, he said,
“Once we get down the mountain and give the snake to Uncle Chen, I’ll take you over.”
Shen Yingying immediately hooked herself onto his arm and grinned.
“My man is the best!”
…
At the foot of the mountain was the family residential area, rows of single-story houses scattered in neat disorder.
Chen Wenxing’s house happened to be the very first one at the corner.
The two quickly arrived at his doorstep.
After parking the bicycle, Xie Fangzhu spoke briefly to Shen Yingying before lifting the black sack from the basket and heading inside.
The door was only loosely shut.
As a frequent visitor, Xie Fangzhu didn’t stand on ceremony and simply pushed the door open.
“Uncle Chen, you there?”
A woman’s voice immediately answered from inside:
“Oh, Little Xie! Your Uncle Chen is washing his face inside. Have you eaten breakfast yet?”
Xie Fangzhu entered the house.
His voice wasn’t loud, so Shen Yingying standing outside couldn’t hear clearly what he said afterward.
Soon after, however, a rough, booming voice rang out:
“What’s there to thank me for over such a small matter? My girl’s idle anyway. Don’t worry—I’ll make sure she keeps a close eye on it!”
Hearing this, Shen Yingying couldn’t help glancing further inside.
Keep a close eye on what?
While she was still wondering, Xie Fangzhu came back out.
Following behind him was a man around forty years old.
The man had dark skin and held a large bowl in his hands. He wore a broad grin, and the missing front tooth in his mouth was especially eye-catching, making him look simple and honest.
This was Xie Fangzhu’s foreman, Chen Wenxing.
But the moment his eyes landed on Shen Yingying, his smile froze like he’d seen a ghost.
The expression was so dramatic it was almost comical.
Shen Yingying sweetly smiled at him and greeted politely:
“Hello, Uncle Chen!”
Hearing that, the still-shocked Chen Wenxing’s hand trembled, nearly spilling the noodle batter from his bowl.
Had he seen a ghost today?
Or had the sun risen in the west?
Since when did Shen Yingying come out together with Xie Fangzhu?!
“…Good heavens…” Chen Wenxing muttered instinctively.
Only after saying it did he realize such words weren’t appropriate in front of youngsters. He hurriedly slapped his own mouth.
“Ptooey, ptooey! Getting old, my mouth’s slipping… Look at the nonsense I’m saying… Hello, Little Shen! Hello!”
Xie Fangzhu swung one long leg over the bicycle and glanced at the still-dazed Chen Wenxing.
“Uncle Chen, it’s getting late. We’re heading to the cafeteria first.”
Only then did Chen Wenxing snap back to reality.
“O-okay…”
After Shen Yingying sat sideways on the bicycle’s back seat, she even waved at him cheerfully.
“Bye, Uncle Chen!”
Chen Wenxing: “!!!”
At that moment, Chen Wenxing’s wife had also heard the commotion outside.
She leaned out the window, and upon seeing the two figures riding away together, her eyes widened as though she too had seen a ghost.
“…Good heavens…”
She muttered the exact same words as her husband.
“She practically shoved a green hat right onto Little Xie’s head, and he still treasures her this much? This girl’s methods really are impressive! If only our daughter could learn even half of it!”
Chen Wenxing: “……”
…
After leaving the Chen household, Xie Fangzhu rode with Shen Yingying toward the mine cafeteria.
The cafeteria was about a mile or two away from where they lived.
At this hour, it was peak commute time, and many people were walking along the road.
The two of them seemed to carry spotlights with them.
Everywhere they went, people stared as though celebrities were walking through town.
This was entirely within Shen Yingying’s expectations.
The original host and Xie Fangzhu were already well-known figures around the mine.
Then yesterday’s elopement scandal had exploded everywhere, making them even more famous.
People were probably already using them as after-dinner gossip topics.
Now that the main characters themselves had appeared, how could people not stare?
And so, like walking a red carpet, the two endured countless gazes all the way until they finally arrived at the cafeteria.
At this hour, the cafeteria was packed.
The moment they stepped inside, it was like droplets of water splashing into boiling oil—the already noisy cafeteria became even louder.
People whispered among themselves.
One gaze after another landed on Shen Yingying as though trying to pierce through her body and condemn her very soul.
Everyone pointed at her.
Even though she couldn’t hear exactly what they were saying, Shen Yingying was certain none of it was good.
If it had been an ordinary girl, she probably would’ve been so ashamed she’d want to dig a hole and crawl into it.
But Shen Yingying had strong mental resilience.
And extremely thick skin.
Not only could she completely ignore them, but whenever someone stared especially intensely, she would even return a generous, open smile.
The result?
The other person’s gossiping mouth would immediately freeze awkwardly, too embarrassed to continue.
They could only curse inwardly:
She’s still smiling even while being insulted. Is Shen Yingying sick or something?
Of course Shen Yingying wasn’t sick.
She was broad-minded.
With the original host’s reputation, she’d definitely get cursed out plenty more in the future.
If she got angry every single time, she’d probably die of rage within days.
Far better to relax and face it calmly.
She was determined to stay cheerful and annoy every single person who wanted to insult her.
…
The cafeteria had six serving windows.
At breakfast rush hour, every line was packed with people.
The two chose one with fewer people and had barely settled into place when a voice suddenly rang out from the neighboring line.
“Look! Shen Yingying, that slut. Damn, she got caught eloping yesterday. How the hell does she still have the nerve to show her face today?”
“So shameless! Only Xie Fangzhu would spoil her like this. If it were me, I’d chop her legs off!!”
Shen Yingying smiled without warmth and turned toward the source of the voices.
Two men stood there talking—one short and fat, the other broad and sturdy.
They were openly staring at her while whispering.
Perhaps noticing her smile, the sturdy man snorted and cursed loudly:
“She’s still smiling? How does she still have the face to smile? Damn slut!”
Shen Yingying’s expression immediately cooled.
Other people had also pointed fingers at her, but at least they kept their voices low enough not to let the target herself hear.
These two, however—
Weren’t they being a little too arrogant?
And weren’t they completely disregarding the man standing behind her?
After all, her Xie Fangzhu’s reputation for “doting on his wife” was famously terrifying around here.
(Even if it was technically all an act.)
As long as Xie Fangzhu hadn’t decided to deal with her himself, nobody else had the right to yap at her.
These two idiots actually dared insult her right in front of him.
They were practically running through the streets carrying buckets of manure—
Courting death.