PWE – Chapter 30 Finally Back

Xiao Wange gave a weak smile.

Zhan Zeyan’s sudden return—she suspected it was probably because of the earlier incident when she had mistreated Zhao Zhao.
Maybe someone had tattled on her.

“Zeyan’s wife, this gentleman is…?” Zhao Lijuan’s gaze fell curiously on Mu Yunhao.

She had met Shi Jin Zhu and Zhao Guixiang before—they’d both visited the village. But this man driving the car was a new face.
He was dressed in a sharp suit and leather shoes, his features refined, almost like a movie star.

Though she knew she shouldn’t overthink things, since Zeyan wasn’t home, she felt responsible for looking after his wife a bit.
If any man dared have improper thoughts about Zeyan’s wife, she’d be the first to grab a broom and chase him off.

“Hello, Auntie. My name is Mu Yunhao. I’m the manager of Yunjin Garment Factory. Here’s my business card.”
As he spoke, Mu Yunhao took a paper card from his suit pocket and handed it to her.

Business cards were quite rare in those days—some people didn’t even know what they were.

Zhao Lijuan took the card, first looking at it in surprise, then her eyes lit up as she turned to him and said with delight,
“So you’re the owner of Yunjin Garment Factory! Oh my, I know that place—it’s the biggest factory in our county! Young man, you’re truly capable. To have such a large factory at your age—amazing!”

She didn’t doubt his words for a second. After all, Mu Yunhao was driving a very expensive car and dressed like a wealthy man.
Someone like that saying he owned Yunjin Garment Factory didn’t sound fake at all.
Besides, if it weren’t true, Zeyan’s wife would have corrected him already—so it had to be real.

“Auntie, you flatter me,” Mu Yunhao replied with a warm, modest smile. “I just happened to benefit from the new national policies—and a bit of luck.”

“Oh, you’re still so humble! You really are something, young man—so capable!” Zhao Lijuan praised him enthusiastically, completely forgetting her earlier suspicion and her intent to “watch over” Zeyan’s wife.

She chatted with Mu Yunhao for a while, then left, saying she wanted to ask her nephew if he’d be interested in applying for a job at his factory.
Her nephew had been struggling to find decent work, and this might be his big chance—so she hurried off to tell him the news.

Meanwhile, the villagers who had gathered to watch the scene—hearing that Mu Yunhao was the manager of the largest factory in the county—also began whispering among themselves, tempted by the idea of getting a good job through him.
Still, none of them dared approach, only peeking from afar.

At the gate of Xu Meifeng’s house, Zhan Hongxin was gossiping angrily to a young woman beside her.
“What kind of luck did Xiao Wange have, huh? How did she meet such a rich man? Just look at him—tall, handsome, and loaded!
My god, he’s exactly the kind of man I dream about. If I could marry someone like that, I’d never have to worry about money again!”

As she spoke, she couldn’t tear her eyes off Mu Yunhao—her gaze full of open admiration, as if she might throw herself at him any second.

The woman next to her glanced at Mu Yunhao and said,
“If you like him, then go for it. You’re so cute—he’s bound to like you. And since he already knows Xiao Wange, just have her introduce you.”

“Cousin, I don’t get along with Xiao Wange! Why would she introduce me?” Zhan Hongxin said sulkily.

Her cousin raised an eyebrow and smirked. “Isn’t Brother Zeyan coming back soon? When he does, just bring it up in front of him.
With him there, I’d like to see how she dares refuse you. If she does, that would just prove she’s petty and doesn’t care about the Zhan family’s reputation.”

Zhan Hongxin’s eyes lit up. “You’re right! I can say it in front of Brother Zeyan! Auntie said he’ll be back any day now—Cousin, stay a few more days here. At least until you see him!”

Her cousin’s eyes flickered with a calculating light. She glanced in Xiao Wange’s direction and nodded slightly.
“Alright.”

After Zhan Zeyan’s mother passed away, this woman had wanted to marry him herself—but she’d moved too slowly, and Xiao Wange had snatched him first.
That wretched woman stole her man. One day, she’d take him back!

Meanwhile, from the corner of her eye, Xiao Wange caught sight of Zhan Hongxin and her fierce-looking cousin.

She narrowed her eyes, a cold smile flickering across her lips.

If she remembered correctly, that woman was Zhan Hongxin’s uncle’s daughter—her eldest cousin. And just like Bai Caixuan, she had once harbored feelings for Zhan Zeyan.
After Zhan Zeyan left, the woman had come to torment the original Xiao Wange several times, saying she wasn’t worthy of him.

Now, the way that woman glared at her—it was as if she wanted to tear her apart.

But Xiao Wange wasn’t afraid. She’d dealt with Bai Caixuan already—this “cousin” was small fry by comparison.

Turning her gaze away from them, she invited Zhao Guixiang and the others inside, and made a pot of tea for them.
After all, they had come all this way to escort her and Zhao Zhao home—it was only right to treat them properly.

…

After having some tea, Mu Yunhao and the others prepared to leave.
Before going, Mu Yunhao handed Xiao Wange a business card and said,
“If you ever need anything, you can call me.”

She accepted the card and slipped it casually into her pocket.

She didn’t think she’d ever actually call him—she preferred solving her own problems.

After seeing them off, she went back to prepare dinner.

As usual, Zhao Zhao sat by the stove, helping her feed the fire.

After a while, he suddenly looked up and said, “Mama, can I call you ‘Sister’ instead?”

Xiao Wange: “…”

She blinked, startled. “Call me Sister? Why all of a sudden? Don’t you want me to be your mama anymore?”

If that was the reason, it would really break her heart.

Zhao Zhao shook his head. “No, that’s not it.” He propped his chin in his hands, looking troubled.
“I just want to live with Mama forever. But Sister Jin Zhu said only Mama’s husband can live with her forever—not her son. So I…”

He looked up at her with wide, earnest eyes. “I don’t want to be Mama’s son anymore. I want to be Mama’s husband instead! Mama, wait for me to grow up—when I do, I’ll marry you!”

Xiao Wange: “……”

Thunder. Deafening, brain-scorching thunder.

It felt like bolts of lightning struck her head all at once.

She frowned slightly, speechless. “That won’t do. I’m already married to your father—I can’t marry anyone else.
Besides, by the time you grow up, I’ll be old. You won’t like me then—you’ll probably dislike me.”

“I won’t! Never!” Zhao Zhao waved his hands frantically. “I’ll never dislike Mama, ever!”

Dropping the fire poker, he ran to her side, tugged on her sleeve, and looked up earnestly.
“From now on, I’ll just call you Sister, okay? Sister, Jin Zhu said you can still divorce Papa.
If you divorce him, you can marry me instead! You just have to wait for me to grow up. I’ll be better than Papa—I won’t go to the army, and I’ll never leave you.”

Xiao Wange: “……”

Her lips twitched. She truly didn’t know what to say anymore.

She was starting to seriously suspect that Shi Jin Zhu had been filling the boy’s head with nonsense.
What was that girl even thinking?!

She picked up the knife and went back to chopping vegetables. “Alright, enough talking—go stoke the fire.
And stop imagining silly things. That’s impossible.”

Zhao Zhao went back to the stove, but as he added more wood, he mumbled,
“Sister, Jin Zhu said nothing’s impossible. As long as we work hard for it, we can make it come true.”

Xiao Wange: “……”
Heh. Shi Jin Zhu, just you wait.

Meanwhile, sitting in the car, Shi Jin Zhu suddenly sneezed hard.

She rubbed her nose, frowning. “Weird… is someone badmouthing me?”

…

Ever since hearing that Zhan Zeyan was coming back, Xiao Wange had been waiting for him.

And finally, on the third day, he arrived.

Carrying a large military duffel bag on his back, Zhan Zeyan walked steadily into the village.

When he passed by the Party secretary’s house, Zhao Lijuan came rushing out to greet him. After some small talk, she said,
“Zeyan, remember what you promised me—don’t quarrel with your wife. She’s a good one, truly. If you drive her away, you’ll regret it.”

Earlier, Zhao Lijuan and her husband had even called the military base about this—they’d told Zhan Zeyan the truth about why Xiao Wange had hurt the child before, and how she had since changed.
They had urged him not to make things hard for her, not to reject her just because of what had happened in the past.

Zhan Zeyan looked at her and nodded slightly. His deep voice was calm as he said,
“I understand, Auntie.”

“That’s good. Now hurry home—your wife’s waiting for you. She even told people she misses you terribly!
She’s been thinking about you all the time,” Zhao Lijuan teased with a smile.

Zhan Zeyan’s fine brows furrowed slightly.

She missed him?
They had barely exchanged a few words on their wedding day before he left. There had been no real affection between them. Could she really miss him?

A faint shadow crossed his expression. He bid Zhao Lijuan goodbye and continued toward his home.

When he reached the gate, he glanced inside. The yard was empty, but he could hear sounds from the kitchen.
It seemed she and the child were cooking—after all, it was around noon.

His brow moved slightly. He stepped over the threshold.

Inside, Xiao Wange, who was cooking, suddenly heard movement in the yard.
Her hands froze mid-action, her brows knitting slightly.