Chapter 95: Chapter 95: Another Encounter with a Perfect Specimen
Because of the early transfer of the store, she lingered around the area for a while longer.
She wanted to wait for the factory to close, to see the flow of workers and the business situation of the surrounding shops.
However, before the end of the workday, people had already begun trickling back from the direction of the coal mine.
Slacking off at work, muddying the waters on the way home, this was a major characteristic of many state-owned enterprises of the era.
She stood beside the gate of the residential area for the families, silently counting the pedestrian traffic while observing which shops the workers preferred to patronize.
As she was busy with her task, she suddenly spotted someone she knew.
Xia Chengzu, the older cousin who took her spot as the child of a martyr to get into the factory, was happily escorting a female comrade, walking towards her.
That female comrade seemed familiar. It was indeed Zhang Zhicheng’s daughter, whom she had seen that morning.
Xia Chuyi frowned and thought to herself, what bad luck.
“Xia Chuyi?” Not until he was quite close did Xia Chengzu spot her. His face dropped instantly, filled with dissatisfaction, he said, “What brings you here?”
What brought her here? She wanted to ask him the same thing. If he, just an ordinary employee living in the collective dormitories, could come to the family residential area, why couldn’t she?
“This is no place for kids to play, get yourself home quick,” Xia Chengzu waved his hand dismissively, speaking rudely.
He was impolite, and Xia Chuyi didn’t feel like being polite either: “Yeah, this isn’t a place for me to play, it ought to be my place of work.”
If it weren’t for certain people taking her spot, this job should have been hers.
“You!” Xia Chengzu glared at her, fearful that she would say something untoward.
“What about me?” Xia Chuyi said indifferently, not at all intimidated by him.
It was always thieves who feared the people, never the other way around.
Xia Chengzu looked at her fiercely but didn’t dare make a scene because of the people around, he just scolded, “Get home quickly, your Second Aunt is waiting for you there.”
This was a reminder that Mother Xia was still at the Xia Family home, telling her to watch her words.
It seemed he was aware of the family division too.
Xia Chuyi let out a derisive laugh.
Did he really think he could threaten her with Mother Xia? Even setting aside whether she wanted to bother with her, Uncle Xia was still there. How could the Xia Family dare to do anything to Mother Xia?
But she couldn’t be bothered to waste her breath on Xia Chengzu.
Xia Chengzu was a shameless, selfish person who knew nothing but how to play the system. She had no desire to deal with him any more than necessary.
As for the coal factory job, she truly didn’t care for it.
Xia Chuyi, without sparing him another glance, shoved her hands in her pockets and walked away.
“Who’s that?” Perhaps out of a woman’s innate jealousy, Zhang Zhicheng’s daughter spoke behind her back, drawling, “A member of your family?”
Her voice was neither too loud nor too soft, just enough for her to overhear.
“What family member, just an ordinary relative,” Xia Chengzu snorted coldly, completely disowning her.
“Heh,” Zhang Zhicheng’s daughter chuckled, saying, “Since it’s just an ordinary relative, you should steer clear of such country bumpkins in the future.”
“You’re the child of a martyr, a person who’s been personally consoled by higher-ups visiting from above. Don’t let those tactless people take advantage of you.”
“Sure, I’ll listen to you, Xiao Ling!” Xia Chengzu’s voice was clearly joyful, probably feeling that Zhang Xiao Ling cared about him.
Hmm, those two. She had already steered clear of them, and they were still talking about her behind her back? Even making sure she could hear them.
Xia Chuyi stopped in her tracks, turned around, and met Zhang Xiao Ling’s gaze.
Probably not expecting her to actually turn back, there was a moment of surprise.
Then, Zhang Xiao Ling lifted her head haughtily, her gaze appraising Xia Chuyi from head to toe with extreme impoliteness.