Xie Sui smiled. In the past, she always said the same things, which made Xie Sui full of resistance towards Lin Wanwan. A young man's pride is greater than the heavens; if you don't like me, why should I grovel to please you?
Thus, Xie Sui never thought of properly managing this marriage, planting the seeds for the tragedy that followed.
Thinking of this, Xie Sui's eyes grew colder: "Zhao Xuefei, this is between us husband and wife. You are an unmarried girl, aren't you meddling too much?"
Zhao Xuefei was stunned. The tactics that had always worked before were now useless. Xie Sui had indeed changed a lot, just as everyone said.
"I'm doing this for your own good. You are handsome, smart, and the only son of your family. What kind of girl isn't good enough for you? Perhaps Lin Wanwan used some tricks to force you to marry her back then."
"That woman is scheming and looks down on everyone. She's shameless yet acts so high and mighty. She's not worth your kindness."
Xie Sui almost burst out laughing. Despite his quick wit, he admitted defeat to Zhao Xuefei's ability to twist the truth.
Only son?
Indeed, but with an empty house, he didn't even qualify to be a prodigal son. There was no empire to inherit. What could she possibly want from him?
Forcing him to marry her?
Wouldn't Lin Wanwan have been better off studying, getting into university, and securing a stable job in the city? What was she looking for by marrying him?
Was it for his lack of honest work? His sharp tongue that got him into trouble? Or was it because he was handsome?
Ah, being handsome was a possibility. Xie Sui was quite confident in his looks, the same in both lifetimes.
"I'm willing. I'm willing to serve my wife. Go wherever it's cool and stay there. Don't waste your time and effort here. I see things clearly now. Your tricks won't work on me. Go try them on someone else."
Thinking this, Xie Sui missed his wife and child even more. He didn't even want the fish anymore. He wanted to go home and see his wife to feel at ease.
"Stop, don't leave."
Zhao Xuefei spread her arms to block him, saying furiously, "Xie Sui, you're good. You played with my feelings and want to dump me like this. No way!"
A devilish smile curved Xie Sui's lips, but his eyes were chillingly cold. "What do you want?"
"I, I want the secret recipe for canned goods. Tell me, and we'll pretend this never happened."
So that's what she was after. Xie Sui's smile grew wider. "What if I don't give it to you?"
"If you dare not give it to me, I'll accuse you of indecency and send you to jail."
Indecency was a serious crime back then, punishable by imprisonment, possibly even execution. Zhao Xuefei's move was truly vicious.
Lin Wanwan and Xie Sui had an accidental tumble in the haystack, and she could have accused Xie Sui. But she was a sent-down youth, a helpless weak woman. The villagers were protective, and Xie Sui's parents pleaded tirelessly. In those days, women who were wronged were afraid to make a fuss. Two months later, she found out she was pregnant and had no choice but to marry Xie Sui.
Zhao Xuefei was different. She was a girl from the village, and her family was large. If things truly escalated, she could easily sue Xie Sui and win.
"Zhao Xuefei, do you have to push things to the absolute limit? The canned goods are my family's livelihood. If you know how to make them, you'll sell them yourself, creating a competitor for me, won't you?"
"I won't sell them. I just want them for my own convenience. Xie Sui, would I harm you?"
"We were once in love, weren't we? You can't be so stingy with this little thing, can you?"
Xie Sui tilted his head back and looked at the sky, afraid he might vomit from disgust.
Those "green tea" girls should learn from her. Listen to her, how manipulative. With just a mention of being "in love," she was after Xie Sui's money-making recipe.
"Fine, I'll tell you. But you have to promise not to pester me anymore. I won't ask for anything back from the past, although I didn't take advantage of you, not even holding hands. You can't deny that, can you?"
Xie Sui wanted to slap himself again. He was so naive. He'd eagerly given her food and gifts, yet hadn't even dared to hold her hand, only acting tough at home.
"I know you're a good person, Brother Xie."
"It's actually very simple. For ten catties of peaches, add half a catty of salt and half a catty of sugar. Cut them into pieces, boil them, and that's it. Go home and try it. If it's not sweet enough, add more sugar, or use saccharin. It's just that simple, just a bit of hard work."
"Really?"
Zhao Xuefei was still a bit disbelieving that it was so easy to get.
"If you don't believe me, shall we write down a note?"
"No, no need. Then, Brother Xie, I'll be going."
Xie Sui sneered. Trying to trick him? You're still too young. Competing with me in business, you'll lose your pants.
The recipe itself wasn't wrong, but Xie Sui didn't mention the subsequent canning process, nor that the water added to the cans was boiled water used for sterilization to prolong shelf life.
Without preservatives, this was already the best method.
Just as Xie Sui was about to head home, he was blocked again. He felt like cursing. What kind of day was this? Was it so hard to get home?
"Xie Sui, are you worthy of Sister Wanwan?" Su Dan Novel Network
It was Wang Tiezhu. He couldn't sleep at noon and went for a walk at the foot of the mountain to catch a wild chicken or rabbit for some money. He hadn't expected to run into Xie Sui and Zhao Xuefei entangled.
He didn't know what they were saying, but a man and a woman alone, what good could come of it?
"I didn't. Tiezhu, you misunderstood. Zhao Xuefei was pestering me. I'm very annoyed too."
"Brother Tiezhu, since you saw it, I'll pour out my troubles to you. I want to live a good life with your Sister Wanwan. You saw it, right?"
If it were in the past, Wang Tiezhu wouldn't have believed him. But after more than half a month of change, Wang Tiezhu, an honest boy, genuinely wished they would have a good life and nodded involuntarily.
"Brother tells you, Zhao Xuefei is not a good person. She dates many people, scamming them for money and things."
"Is that true?"
"If you don't believe me, pay more attention to her. As far as I know, the village head's son Lu Tianxing from Xiawa Village, Tang Huawen from Sanligou, and Wu Guanliang from Wujiahe are all ambiguously involved with her. I was deceived by her."
Wang Tiezhu's sense of justice surged: "She's such a woman! What do you plan to do?"
"I've already made it clear to her. We're a family, don't come and ruin my life. What she does with unmarried men is her freedom, just don't come looking for me."
"Don't tell your Sister Wanwan. Women tend to overthink. I just made her happy; arguing would hurt our relationship."
Wang Tiezhu was a kind boy and was fooled by Xie Sui. "Okay, I won't tell Sister Wanwan, but you have to break it off cleanly with her and not hurt Sister Wanwan."
"Absolutely. Don't you trust my character, Brother?"
Wang Tiezhu thought to himself, do you even know what kind of person you are?
"You're being loyal to Brother, so Brother can't treat you unfairly. From now on, you catch fish from the river every day, and I'll take you to the town to sell them. A catty of fish can sell for thirty cents. Catching ten or eight, that's five or six yuan. Save up some money to get married!"
Wang Tiezhu blushed: "Thank you, Brother Xie. I don't want to get married."
"Then use it to support Mother Wang, buy some meat to eat. Follow Brother, and I guarantee you'll earn money and have a good life."