Chapter 681: Leave a Contact Information

Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

With a flicker in her eyes, Li Li found words that would serve her favor. She shook her head with a bitter smile and said, “Mr. Gu, I’m not afraid of your ridicule. My current predicament is my own doing.”

Li Li and Su Jing, the sister-in-law of Gu Zi, Mr. Gu’s adopted daughter, were classmates and once close friends. Last year, seeing Gu Zi’s thriving braised meat shop in town, Li Li had sought a way to make a living.

She approached her dear friend Su Jing, hoping she could help her secure the recipe for the braised meat from Gu Zi. Li Li intended to use it as a means of livelihood after her marriage, to ease the burden on her future husband.

However, things didn’t go as planned. Su Jing did sell her the recipe, but it turned out to be a fake. The meat Li Li prepared using it was ruined. This incident brought shame upon her fiancé, who then decided to leave her.

Li Li’s tear-filled eyes evoked sympathy. Gu Shan, a man who was easily moved by such vulnerability, felt a strong urge to comfort her. He admired her for her softness and consideration for her fiancé. He thought to himself, how could such a good woman be so unfortunate? As for his own wife, he considered her marriage to him a blessing of eight lifetimes. What more could she possibly want?

Before his marriage to Zhang Mei, Gu Shan had no feelings for her. They were brought together by matchmakers, a common practice in their era. Many couples would meet for the first time on their wedding day. How else could he have ended up with Zhang Mei, a woman lacking in both talent and figure?

As Gu Shan pondered over his wife’s shortcomings, he found himself enjoying the company of Li Li, the country woman, during their journey. When they reached Daqing Village and Li Li was about to get off, both of them seemed reluctant to part ways.

Seizing the opportunity, Li Li mustered the courage to ask Gu Shan for his contact information. “Mr. Gu, I owe you for today. Please leave me your contact information. If you ever need a housemaid or something, I can do it. I’m hardworking, a good cook, and I don’t demand much salary. Please consider it as a favor.”

Under normal circumstances, Gu Shan’s family couldn’t afford a maid. But since Li Li had brought it up, he felt obligated to give her his contact information to save face. Besides, who knew what the future held? Zhang Mei had been complaining about her workload, juggling both her job and household chores. They might actually need a maid.

Gu Shan gave Li Li his office phone number and prepared to drive off to continue his journey to Little Lin Village. Just as he was about to start the car, he overheard a conversation between some villagers passing by.

“Boss Su really bought a big villa in the city, didn’t he? You’re not just bragging, are you? A three-story villa with a yard, just like that?”

“I’m not bragging. They asked me to help them move. I even had a meal at Boss Su’s place. Mrs. Gu Zi’s cooking is delicious. I also remember the name of the neighborhood, Jifu New Village. All the houses there are big villas, and every household has a car. I’ve never seen so many cars in my life. We even encountered patrolling soldiers on our way back…”

The villagers were so engrossed in their conversation that they didn’t notice Gu Shan listening. After a moment of surprise, Gu Shan convinced himself that the house in Jifu New Village must be rented. After all, not everyone could afford a house there.

This explanation made sense to Gu Shan, and he felt relieved. He regretted not asking around more when he had visited Lin’s family. It would have saved him a lot of trouble and the high cost of renting a car.

Now that he knew they lived in Jifu New Village, things would be easier. Although the neighborhood was known for its strict privacy policies, his position would allow him to find Gu Zi’s exact address quickly.

In the meantime, Gu Zi had mostly settled into her new home. Her two children were making good progress in their pre-school tutoring.

As for Su Le, her speech therapist was now able to visit more frequently since they had moved to the city. The therapist often spent the whole day with Su Le, whose speech was almost on par with children her age.

Gu Zi had agreed with Guan Xin on a time to report to the newspaper office, precisely at three o’clock that afternoon.

The Guangcheng Newspaper office was not far from Gu Zi’s current residence in Jifu New Village. After a nap, she got ready and set off on Su Bing’s bicycle at half-past two. When she arrived, she checked her watch; it was ten to three. She could report on time, everything was perfect.