Volume One, Chapter 20: He Protects Her

Jiang Weiyue and Jiang Weiyi had been busy until around seven-thirty, finally finishing making the buns, steamed bread, and porridge.

After she was done, the person in charge of the steel plant cafeteria approached Jiang Weiyue and said, “Comrade Jiang, Director Song said that if you sell breakfast here, the prices must be half of what you’d charge outside.”

Jiang Weiyue furrowed her elegant brows in confusion. “What do you mean? I don’t quite understand; could you please explain it more clearly?”

“It means, for example, if you sell a bun outside for ten cents, here inside the factory you have to sell it for five cents. But don’t worry about losing money—Director Song said he’ll subsidize you at the end of the month.”

“Why would he do that?”

The person in charge was quite talkative, and since Jiang Weiyue was beautiful, who wouldn’t want to chat with such a charming young lady? So he started a conversation.

“Comrade Jiang, you might not know, but the steel plant is no longer a state-owned enterprise; it’s privately owned now. Our steel plant was acquired by Director Song.”

“He’s the new boss and wants to make an impression. Not only has he promised the workers that their original benefits won’t change, but he’s also set up a breakfast stall in the cafeteria to subsidize the workers’ morning meals.”

“Comrade Jiang, you have to understand how wealthy Director Song is. This steel plant has over a thousand employees, and he just bought it outright. He’s a real tycoon, a big boss.”

Jiang Weiyue knew from the book that many state-owned enterprises in the late 1980s were transferred to private individuals due to management issues.

The book also mentioned that at this time, Song Chuanhe acquired the steel plant and, within half a year, aligned it with international standards, securing several huge overseas orders, turning the plant profitable.

He also ventured into real estate, technology, electronics, entertainment, and other booming industries of the future. One had to admit, Song Chuanhe was a man of great vision.

Investments made in the late 1980s were all in sectors that would flourish later, bringing in easy profits.

This laid a solid foundation for him to become the richest man in the country in future years.

So Jiang Weiyue was not surprised.

What did surprise her was that in the book, Song Chuanhe never set up a breakfast stall in the factory or offered this kind of subsidy.

But that was also because the original owner never sold breakfast here.

Now that she had taken that role and sold breakfast, Song Chuanhe did not want to let her off easily—he wanted her to live well.

So he had to find ways to manage and control her here.

As they were talking, the workers arriving for their shift crowded into the cafeteria.

Everyone rushed to the breakfast stall to line up, and when they saw Jiang Weiyue was the one selling breakfast, they were all shocked.

Everyone knew Jiang Weiyue; after all, she had been selling breakfast at the steel plant for a long time, and not only was her food delicious, but she was also beautiful.

Previously, several young men who didn’t mind her past had even courted her.

She was definitely a “celebrity figure.”

“Comrade Jiang, why are you selling breakfast here?”

“Yeah, why her? Isn’t the director at odds with her? How could he allow her to sell breakfast here?”

“Don’t you think Jiang Weiyue sneaked in here to sell breakfast secretly? The real breakfast vendor hasn’t arrived yet. Otherwise, since the director hates her so much, how could he let her do this?”

“Jiang Weiyue, how can you be so ungrateful? Who allowed you to sell breakfast here? Did you get the director’s permission? I suggest you leave now, or it’ll be embarrassing if the gate guards throw you out.”

“Yeah, you’re still an unmarried young lady. How can you do such a thing? Aren’t you ashamed?”

Jiang Weili also came to the cafeteria to stir up trouble. When she saw Jiang Weiyue selling breakfast, she was equally shocked.

How could Jiang Weiyue be here selling breakfast?

Who sent her?

It must be that shameless Jiang Weiyue who came on her own.

With this settled in her mind, she joined the workers in condemning Jiang Weiyue.

“Big sister, you act wildly and independently at home, but this is the factory. How could you sneak in and sell breakfast here without the director’s approval?”

“Oh my god, look, even Jiang Weiyue’s cousin is here to confirm it. This matter is 100% Jiang Weiyue’s own doing. She must have been afraid we wouldn’t buy her breakfast at the factory stall, so she shamelessly came over here.”

“This is outrageous. Such a beautiful young woman, how could she be so bad?”

“Cousin, listen to me: leave now, or when Brother Chuanhe finds out and has the gate guards kick you out, it won’t be a simple matter. Because of you, our whole family is disgraced.”

“You’re all mistaken. Director Song asked me to come here to sell breakfast.”

“Cousin, do you believe your own words? It’s come to this, and you’re still lying?”

The person in charge was originally here but had apparently been pushed aside by the crowd.

So now, there was not a single person to speak up for her.

“I’m not lying. If you don’t believe me, you can call the person in charge and Director Song here to verify.”

Hearing this, Jiang Weili, who had been struggling to find an excuse to involve Song Chuanhe, now saw her chance.

She was firmly convinced that Jiang Weiyue had secretly come here to sell breakfast.

Once she called Brother Chuanhe over, knowing how much he disliked Jiang Weiyue, he would definitely not spare her once he saw her selling breakfast here.

“Cousin, since I can’t persuade you, I’ll go find the director. When he arrives, let’s see how you’ll defend yourself. Just remember, when I reveal your true nature in front of the director, don’t be mad at me.”

“Right, Jiang Weili is right. This whole thing is your fault. If the director punishes you, don’t blame Comrade Jiang Weili.”

“Don’t worry, I won’t blame her. But if I’m not wrong and the director really asked me to sell breakfast here, what will you say then?”

“Heh, no way. If Brother Chuanhe told you to sell breakfast here, I’ll apologize to you on the spot.”

“Apologies are boring. How about this: if I’m lying, I’ll slap myself ten times here loudly admitting my mistake and pay you five yuan. If you’re lying, you have to do the same. Jiang Weili, are you willing to bet?”

Jiang Weili had been confident, but suddenly, seeing Jiang Weiyue’s confident gaze and determined expression, she had a bad feeling.

Before she could decide, someone behind her answered for her.

“I bet! Of course, I bet! I guarantee Jiang Weiyue is lying and will be kicked out by the gate guards!”

The man speaking was one Jiang Weiyue had rejected before. Since she spurned his advances, he had held a grudge against her.

“Jiang Weili bets on her; you’ll definitely win. Just wait for her to apologize, slap herself, and pay you.”

Surrounded by the crowd’s cheers, Jiang Weili had no choice but to agree reluctantly.

The man who had shown interest in Jiang Weiyue hurried off to find Song Chuanhe.

Coincidentally, just as he left the cafeteria, he ran into Song Chuanhe.

Seeing the director, the man was ecstatic, as if he expected to witness Jiang Weiyue groveling and begging for mercy.

“Director! Director! I have urgent news.”

Song Chuanhe despised frantic, chaotic people who lost their composure.

“What is it?”

“That Jiang Weiyue—she was setting up a stall at the factory gate, and since no one wanted to buy from her there, she had the audacity to come sell breakfast in our cafeteria.”

“Please hurry over and scold her. She not only refuses to admit her mistake but shamelessly lies about it.”

After finishing, Song Chuanhe strode boldly toward the breakfast stall in the cafeteria.

Just as the man said, a crowd had gathered around the breakfast window.

Jiang Weili’s sharp eyes spotted Song Chuanhe first.

She thought to herself and cast a provocative glance at Jiang Weiyue, smugly saying, “Brother Chuanhe is here, cousin. Your fox tail can no longer be hidden.”

With that, she fluttered forward like a busy bee among flowers, rushing to Song Chuanhe’s side.

Pouting and acting fragile, she said, “Brother Chuanhe, don’t be angry. Cousin might have been too eager to sell her breakfast and make money, so she made this mistake. Please just have her leave; don’t do anything else.”

Song Chuanhe glanced coldly at Jiang Weili, ignoring her completely, then looked at the person in charge and asked sternly, “What’s going on?”

The person in charge, having just pieced together the situation, was sweating coldly.

He had only stepped away briefly to maintain order at the cafeteria entrance, and now such a big issue had arisen. As the person responsible, he had to bear the main responsibility.

Wiping his forehead messily with his sleeve, he stammered, “I’m not sure exactly. I just know I went to the entrance to maintain order, and when I returned, these people were surrounding Comrade Jiang, gossiping…”

“You don’t know? How can you be responsible here?”

Song Chuanhe’s expression was already intimidating, but now, with this cold interrogation, the person in charge was drenched in cold sweat.

“I—I…”

“Director Song, please explain to these workers. It was you who arranged for me to sell breakfast here, not me doing it on my own.”

Though Song Chuanhe was cold and domineering, Jiang Weiyue had learned from the book and from observing him these days that he was fundamentally just and never lied.

So when Jiang Weili said they should call him over to clarify, Jiang Weiyue was not afraid.

Even if he disliked her, he wouldn’t lie.

“Cousin, now that Brother Chuanhe is here, do you still dare to lie? I really don’t know what to say about you.”

“You can’t just lie to avoid apologizing or punishment.”

“Who said she’s lying?”

At that moment, Song Chuanhe, who had been silent with tightly pressed lips, finally spoke.

His words stunned not only Jiang Weili but everyone present.

“Brother Chuanhe, what do you mean?”

“Comrade Jiang Weiyue selling breakfast here was indeed my idea. Do any of you have objections?”

“Oh my god, it really was Director Song who asked Jiang Weiyue to sell breakfast here!”

“This is unbelievable. Didn’t they say Director Song and Jiang Weiyue were at odds? What’s going on?”

“You don’t understand. I’m from the same village as Director Song and Jiang Weiyue. When the director was dating Jiang Weiyue back then, he treasured her so much.”

“In my opinion, the director both loves and hates Jiang Weiyue, but love outweighs hate.”

“You’re right. No matter how mighty the director is, he’s just an ordinary man like us.”

“This ordinary man can’t forget the first woman he loved. That’s probably how the director feels. Besides, she’s so beautiful and captivating; it’s no wonder he can’t forget her.”

“Look at the director now—he’s paving the way for Jiang Weiyue’s breakfast stall in the cafeteria, protecting her openly. Maybe they’ll reconcile.”

“Good thing I didn’t join those people earlier to offend her, or I’d be done for.”

“Same here. I’ve had a pretty good relationship with Jiang Weiyue.”

Listening to the crowd’s chatter, Jiang Weili felt her heart breaking.

She looked at Song Chuanhe in disbelief and asked, “Brother Chuanhe, were you lying to me just now? Is Jiang Weiyue lying?”

Song Chuanhe frowned deeply, his eagle-like eyes casting a sharp glance at Jiang Weili. He said coldly, “Why would I lie to you?”

“I…I…”

Jiang Weiyue understood Jiang Weili’s feelings perfectly.

Jiang Weili liked Song Chuanhe.

But none of that mattered now, especially since she had not forgotten their earlier bet.

“Jiang Weili, the person in charge just told you it was the director who arranged for me to sell breakfast here. You didn’t believe him, but now the director himself is here to tell you. You have nothing to say, right?”

“You…you…”

“Enough with the back-and-forth. You made that bet in front of everyone; now it’s time to honor it.”

No wonder Jiang Weiyue had wanted to bet earlier—she had already been confident that Brother Chuanhe would support her.

She couldn’t understand how, despite hating her so much, Brother Chuanhe would allow her to sell breakfast in the factory cafeteria and even speak up for her.

People are adept at reading the wind. Seeing the director side with Jiang Weiyue and knowing their ambiguous past, many began to support Jiang Weiyue and criticize Jiang Weili.

“That’s right, Comrade Jiang Weili, you made that bet with your cousin in front of all of us. You can’t back out now.”

“Apologize, compensate, slap yourself…”

“You…you all, cousin, I’m sorry. I didn’t understand. Why didn’t you tell me earlier? If you had, none of this would have happened.”

“If I’d told you earlier, would you have believed me?”

“I…”

“Enough talk. Apologize, compensate, and slap yourself quickly. Don’t hold up everyone’s breakfast.”

“Cousin, we’re family. Can you bear to embarrass me in front of so many people?”

“What does family have to do with it? People have to take responsibility for their words. Besides, if I lose, will you let me off?”

That question stumped Jiang Weili. But if Jiang Weiyue lost, she certainly wouldn’t let her go.

Jiang Weili kept hesitating and refusing to apologize.

The impatient workers began to scold her.

“Jiang Weili, you’re a young lady. How can you not keep your word? We all heard what you said. Apologize to Jiang Weiyue quickly.”

“Yes, don’t ruin our breakfast because of you. If you stall any longer and I’m late, with my pay docked, I’ll come looking for your father.”