The Engineer Falls for His Sweet-Scented Maid - Chapter 35: Cutting In
Nianhe sat shaken in her chair. Her chest rose and fell with quick breaths, stretching the red-and-white floral dress tighter still. The fabric at the neckline looked ready to split.
Yi hurried over and stopped half a step away. He rubbed his hands against the seams of his trousers, his face full of guilt.
“Comrade Su, are you all right? Did they frighten you?” He spoke very softly, afraid to alarm her again. “I apologize for my parents. They aren’t usually like this. I don’t know what came over them today. Please don’t take it to heart.”
Nianhe shook her head, her eyes red. “I’m all right. I’m sorry, Brother Lu. I’ve caused you trouble.”
“Don’t say that. I handled this badly.” The sight of her reddened eyes pained him, but he did not know how to comfort her.
The union officer stood nearby, looking at the mess on the floor. She sighed.
She was a sensible woman. After a scene like that, there could be no more discussion today.
And with parents like his, even if Nianhe did marry into the family, there would be no peace afterward.
“Xiao Lu, this has turned into a very ugly business.” She picked up her cloth bag. “Don’t just stand here. Go home and have a proper talk with your parents. Marriage is serious. You can’t rush into it on impulse. Go back for now. We can discuss this another day.”
She wanted to say more, but at the sight of Nianhe’s silent, bowed head, she swallowed the words.
“I’ll be going, then.”
She left, thoughtfully closing the door to shut out the people gawking from outside.
The room fell completely quiet.
Nianhe covered her face with both hands and let out a long breath.
Everything that had just happened felt like a farce. Her already muddled emotions were more confused than ever.
She knew the way into the Lu family was now closed.
Her hope of marrying an honest worker and obtaining urban household registration had come to nothing, along with that spilled orange soda.
Yi stood half a step away. The big man was helpless now, his face burning red.
Her reddened eyes distressed him terribly. He rubbed his rough hands over his blue work trousers again and again.
“Comrade Su, please don’t be upset.” His voice was dry, his words stumbling. “My mother never thinks before she speaks. This is all my fault. I should have spoken to them beforehand. Don’t worry. I’ll go home and make it clear: I won’t marry anyone but you!”
Nianhe lowered her hands.
“Brother Lu.”
Her voice was quiet and tired. “There’s no need. Our families aren’t a suitable match. Even if you defied yours and married me, we couldn’t have a good life afterward. Your parents don’t think I’m good enough. I can’t make you turn your family into enemies for my sake.”
Yi stepped forward anxiously. “We’ll move out once we’re married! I’ll apply for a room in the mill’s single workers’ dormitory, or rent somewhere outside. I’ll give you all my wages. I won’t let you suffer the slightest wrong!”
He meant every word.
He was a rough, plainspoken man who knew nothing of elaborate sweet talk. All he could do was offer everything he had.
Nianhe looked at him.
It really was a good way forward.
Yet when it came to actually saying yes, her mind dissolved into confusion.
Last night’s liquor-scented kiss. That oversized white shirt in the alley.
She shook her head, picked up the old canvas bag on her chair, and stood.
“I’m sorry about today, Brother Lu. I’ll go home now.”
She stepped around the broken peanuts scattered over the floor and headed for the door.
Yi could not simply let her leave. He hurried after her. “Comrade Su, it isn’t safe for you to go alone. I’ll walk you back.”
“There’s really no need.”
“I won’t say a word. I’ll just follow behind and make sure you get inside the compound.” He was stubborn about it.
Unable to dissuade him, Nianhe let him follow.
They left the state-run restaurant one behind the other.
The midday sun was fierce, softening the asphalt.
Nianhe walked ahead, her red floral dress vivid in the sunlight. The waist was too tight for her to walk quickly. With each step, her striking curves swayed.
Yi followed, staring at his own toes. He dared not let his eyes wander for fear of offending her.
They turned a corner, still two streets from the Municipal Party Committee Compound.
A 28-inch roadster bicycle stood outside the state-run Supply and Marketing Cooperative.
Huai leaned against the wall.
He wore a short-sleeved white shirt tucked into suit trousers, his leather shoes planted on the paving tiles. The sleeves were rolled to his elbows, exposing sturdy forearms.
He had been in a meeting at the mill. When Tiejun went to the Security Section to pour some water, he had casually mentioned seeing Liping take Nianhe toward the state-run restaurant. He had added that Yi had taken leave that day too.
Huai’s face had darkened immediately. Halfway through the meeting, he had excused himself on the pretext of something to attend to.
He had been waiting here for some time.
His gaze passed the cooperative’s glass window and caught the two figures rounding the corner.
A red dress with white flowers.
His eyes lingered for two seconds on that impossibly tight dress. His throat moved.
He strode toward them, his leather shoes striking the road with dull thuds.
Nianhe was walking with her head lowered when a shadow blocked the light in front of her.
The clean scent of soapberry reached her.
She looked up into Huai’s stern face. Her heart missed a beat.
“E-Engineer Shen.” She retreated half a step, her voice uncertain.
He ignored her. His gaze went past her to Yi.
Yi paused in surprise, then stepped forward to stand protectively at Nianhe’s side. “Engineer Shen. What a coincidence.”
Huai kept one hand in his trouser pocket. His voice was level, with anger held beneath it. “It isn’t. I’ve come to collect someone.”
“Collect someone?” Yi frowned. “Comrade Su took leave today. She hasn’t even finished her meal—”
“She’s finished.” Huai cut him off. “The baby is making a terrible fuss. He can’t manage without her.”
That excuse again.
This time, Yi would not be dismissed so easily.
He had just fought with his parents in the private room and was full of anger with nowhere to direct it. He also considered Nianhe the woman he meant to protect. His manner hardened.
“Engineer Shen, Comrade Su may work for your family, but she’s entitled to time off. She’s upset right now. I’m taking her home.” He straightened, standing in the way like a dark tower.
Huai lifted his eyes and looked him over.
“The foundry workshop is testing a new batch of molds this afternoon. You’re one of its key skilled workers. Instead of supervising, you’re here walking someone home?” His voice was quiet.
Yi faltered.
He had insisted on taking leave today, and the workshop supervisor was already displeased.
“And another thing.” Huai stepped closer to him. “Everyone at the mill will hear this afternoon about the scene your parents made at the state-run restaurant. Do you think she doesn’t have enough gossip to contend with, that you have to follow her around now?”
That struck Yi squarely where it hurt.
He knew his parents’ tongues. Once word spread, Nianhe’s reputation would suffer.
If he still clung to her and people in the compound saw them, there was no telling what stories they would invent.
His face reddened. His fists clenched and loosened. Finally, he lowered his head in defeat.
“Comrade Su.” He looked at Nianhe, his voice subdued. “I’ll head back to the mill, then. I’ll make things right over what happened today.”
She nodded. “Take care, Brother Lu.”
Yi left, looking back every few steps.
Only Huai and Nianhe remained beside the street.
The hot summer wind carried her sweet milk scent toward him.
He looked at her.
The red floral dress cinched her waist slender. Two buttons at the neckline were strained to their limit; with every quick breath, the edges of the fabric pulled taut.
Her eyes were still red from crying, bright and damp, lending her an indescribably delicate look.
“You didn’t listen to a single word I said last night.” His voice was very low.
Nianhe gripped the straps of her old canvas bag in both hands and bowed her head.
“I haven’t just given myself to anyone.”
