The pushover offended a top-tier boss

Ye Zhenzhen went back and packed her things, then headed home in the afternoon with her bags full of groceries.

The journey from Binzhou to Nanjing County takes about an hour and a half by bus. The bus swayed and rocked along the way. When I woke up, I saw that familiar sign: Welcome to Nanjing.

The elderly Ye couple were overjoyed to see their daughter return.

The restaurant is closed today to prepare for the Chinese New Year.

"Zhenzhen, that Secretary Zhou is such a good man!" Ye's mother said as she served dishes to the table, her voice filled with undisguised gratitude. "He arrested those bad guys, and now these merchants don't have to pay tribute every month. A while ago, the county even issued a notice saying that to boost the economy, they wouldn't stop everyone from setting up stalls. Those vanity projects have all been stopped."

"Zhenzhen, your leader is really good," Ye's father remarked.

"Uh, it's pretty good..." Ye Zhenzhen lowered her head and mumbled a reply.

Okay, really okay. So good that he lured her to bed.

After finishing her meal, Ye Zhenzhen carried the bags to the living room and took them out one by one.

"Wow, what did you buy? It must have been pretty expensive!"

The elderly couple stared at the beautifully packaged boxes.

"Yeah, it's quite expensive. Someone else gave it to the boss as a gift, but the boss refused it and gave it to me instead."

Ye Zhenzhen instructed them,

Keep these for yourselves, don't give them away.

"Alright, this tea looks good. It should cost at least a hundred a box." Mr. Ye examined the box of tea.

"Dad, put this salmon in the fridge to keep it fresh. I want to eat it tomorrow."

She specifically instructed them to hand over the insulated bag.

I'm going to buy some wasabi and soy sauce tomorrow, and thick-cut salmon sashimi—just thinking about it makes my mouth water.

Mr. Ye hurriedly took it, saying, "Okay, okay, I'll put it away for you."

The feeling of coming home is wonderful. I don't have to think about anything, I don't have to do anything, I just wake up to a hot meal, and even the air is sweeter than in the city.

The next day, Ye Zhenzhen woke up naturally. Sunlight streamed in through the gaps in the curtains, warm and pleasant. She rolled over, buried her face in the pillow, and lingered for another ten minutes before getting up.

When I went downstairs, Mom was doing a thorough cleaning. Dad had bought a few live chickens from somewhere and was plucking them in the yard.

"The free-range chickens raised in the countryside, we'll make soup with them tonight, it'll be so delicious." Mr. Ye looked up, smiled at her, and continued working.

Ye Zhenzhen responded, went to wash up, and called her parents.

"Mom and Dad, don't bother, I'll take you to the mall to buy some new clothes."

I took one in each hand and pulled them outside.

It's Chinese New Year, and her parents have been busy all year; she should take good care of them and show them filial piety.

The shopping mall in the county town wasn't big, but the festive atmosphere was strong. It was packed with people, as lively as a market.

Ye Zhenzhen dragged her parents through floor after floor, buying seven or eight sets of clothes in one go. She bought her dad a down jacket and a pair of leather shoes, her mom a cashmere coat and a pair of boots, and also bought them two sets of thermal underwear and several sweaters each.

"Oh dear, this is too much. You only earn a fixed salary; you can't spend money like this." Ye's mother looked at the pile of shopping bags, frowning with heartache, and muttering to herself.

"Oh my god, my year-end bonus alone is over 30,000 yuan!" Ye Zhenzhen said, hooking her arm around her mother's and resting her chin on her shoulder, swaying it playfully.

"But we can't be so extravagant," the father chimed in.

Ye Zhenzhen hesitated for a moment.

She glanced around and lowered her voice, "Mom and Dad, actually, I have something to tell you—"

"I won the lottery, a million dollars."

The elderly couple were stunned at the same time, and it took them a long time to recover.

"My God! One million!" Dad shouted excitedly.

His mother quickly glared at him: "Keep your voice down! Don't flaunt your wealth!"

"Really, girl?" the two whispered to her, seeking confirmation.

Ye Zhenzhen nodded: "Yes, I got pregnant after breaking up with Meng Chen."

Mom slapped her thigh: "This kid is definitely going to ruin your luck!"

Dad also said, "It's good that they broke up! It's good that they broke up! Our daughter won't go to his house to suffer!"

Looking at her parents' happy faces, Ye Zhenzhen felt a mix of sadness and warmth in her heart.

She turned around and picked out a gold bracelet for her mother in a jewelry store in the mall; it cost over 40,000 yuan.

When the saleswoman took the bracelet out of the counter, Ye's mother's eyes widened. She kept saying, "Too expensive, too expensive," but her hand reached out to take it.

Ye Zhenzhen bought her father a new car. Their Wuling Hongguang had been driven for several years; the engine sounded like a tractor, and the air conditioning wasn't working anymore. She looked around at car dealerships in the county town and finally chose a white, domestically produced SUV. It was spacious, had high ground clearance, and was suitable for the county's rough roads. 120,000 yuan, cash on delivery.

Mr. Ye sat in the driver's seat, his hands trembling slightly as he gripped the steering wheel. He said, "Even if you have money, you can't spend it like this," but the light in his eyes was undeniable.

Ye Zhenzhen wanted to buy something else, but her parents stopped her.

"Keep the money for your down payment in Binzhou, don't squander it."

The elderly couple couldn't hide their joy.

Ye's mother went to play mahjong wearing a large gold bracelet, and she specially changed into a newly bought coat before leaving.

"Let me tell you, this was bought for me by my daughter, it cost over 40,000 yuan." Ye Zhenzhen didn't need to listen to know what her mother was saying at the mahjong table.

Mr. Ye started calling his old friends as soon as he got his new car, his voice so loud the whole street could hear: "Old Li, my daughter bought me a new car, an SUV, it's so spacious. Anyone buying New Year's goods? I'll give you a ride. No problem, no problem, I'll cover the gas."

Ye Zhenzhen sat on the sofa at home, listening to her father's undisguised pride on the phone, and suddenly felt a warm feeling in her heart.

It's good to be rich.

In previous years, when I went home alone, I would just bring some things from school. My parents were happy, but it was the kind of happiness that comes from knowing their daughter is home. This year is different; they can finally stand out in front of their relatives and friends.

When children are young, they compete based on their parents' connections; as parents age, they start competing based on their children's success. This is human nature, and it's also the meaning behind her struggles.

Ye Zhenzhen took out her phone and sent Lin Zhi a WeChat message: 【Zhizhi, when are you on vacation?】

After a while, Lin Zhicai replied, his screen filled with complaints: "[The heartless boss won't let me go; he won't let me leave until the very last minute. I'm still abroad, jet-lagged and completely messed up. I doubt I'll live to see the New Year.]"

That's terrible. Thinking about it that way, her life as a beast of burden seems much easier now.

I can't make plans with my best friend.

After hanging up the phone, Ye Zhenzhen thought that since it was almost Chinese New Year, she should take good care of herself.

She found a hair salon, and when she pushed open the door, it was full of people, all getting their hair permed and dyed.

"Zhenzhen?" A female voice came from inside.

Ye Zhenzhen looked up and saw that it was her junior high school classmate, Ahua.

"Ahua? This is your shop?" Ye Zhenzhen almost didn't recognize her.

They hadn't seen each other for five years. Ahua dropped out of high school, and the last time they met was at her wedding. She had married someone from another county, had a child a year later, and had been staying with her husband's family ever since.

"Yes, I got divorced last year and came back with my child," Ahua said, a smile still on her face.

Ye Zhenzhen suddenly didn't know how to respond; should she offer comfort or something else?

"Come, come, sit down." Ahua pressed her down into a chair. "My mom said you're getting married this year? When are we having wedding candy?"

Ye Zhenzhen's smile faded for a moment, and she shook her head: "No, we broke up."

"Huh?" Ahua was stunned for a moment. "Why did you break up so suddenly? I heard you two had a great relationship."

"The parents over there are no good; the man is a mama's boy," Ye Zhenzhen said.

"You absolutely can't marry him!" Ahua said firmly. "I'm a lesson learned. I was so in love back then that I married him far away without a second thought. When we argued, I had nowhere to cry. My mother-in-law was always causing trouble, and my ex-husband was blindly obedient to his parents."

Ye Zhenzhen sighed silently. Perhaps the beautiful love she once longed for was just a mess in reality.

"Yes, that's why we cut our losses in time."

"Students like you tend to get married late. In big cities, many people don't get married until they're thirty. Actually, there's no need to settle."

"Yes."

The two chatted for a while.

Ahua asked her what hairstyle she wanted. Ye Zhenzhen said she wanted to get a perm, but was afraid it would make her look older.

"Just a slight curl is fine. You have an oval face, and curly hair makes you look even cuter, makes your face look smaller, and also enhances your temperament."

"Would you like to dye your hair, Zhenzhen?"

Ye Zhenzhen thought for a moment: "It's almost Chinese New Year, let's go for the whole package."

Ahua picked out a cool brown for her, understated but with a subtle sheen under the light, which also made her complexion look better.

I've been busy for almost three hours.

I also got my nails done in between.

"Okay, take a look."

Ahua turned the chair around and pushed her to face the mirror.

Her hair was styled into loose curls, cascading over her shoulders. The cool brown color shimmered softly under the light, unlike the somber look of black, instantly elevating her style. She transformed from a "girl next door" into a "sophisticated urban woman."

"This hairstyle suits you so well, and the hair color makes you look amazing."

Ahua couldn't resist taking a few photos, saying she would post them on her WeChat Moments to promote the event.

Ye Zhenzhen was also very satisfied.

When it came time to pay, Ahua absolutely refused to pay. Ye Zhenzhen also didn't want to take advantage of her.

The two of them argued for a while.

"Oh, with our relationship, would I need your money?"

"You're doing legitimate business, and after working so hard all day, you definitely need to collect your money."

"Oh no! Stop messing around!"

"Oh, giving it to the child won't do! Give her a red envelope for Chinese New Year."

"Stop arguing with me! There are so many customers in the store."

Finally, Ye Zhenzhen took the opportunity to scan the QR code on the wall and transferred five hundred yuan.

Ahua chased after her, insisting that she had given too much and wanted to return it to her.

She ran all the way home before she could shake him off.

Ah, that's how it is in my hometown; you meet familiar faces everywhere you go.

It was almost seven o'clock when I got home.

"Wow, what a pretty little head shape!" Ye's mother poked her head out from the kitchen and looked her up and down.

"Eat quickly. Didn't you say you wanted to eat fish? Your dad has prepared it for you." Ye's mother came out of the kitchen carrying a plate of stewed fish, topped with scallions and cilantro.

salmon.

Stewed.

Ye Zhenzhen's vision went black.

"You stewed them all?"

"Yes."

Ye Zhenzhen tried her best to keep smiling.

It can also be considered a sign of the parents' love.

She quietly picked up a piece of fish; the taste was somewhat complex.

Thankfully, the freshly cooked chicken soup smelled wonderful. The soup made from free-range chicken was golden in color, and both fresh and fragrant.

Ye Zhenzhen drank two bowls of soup before she could suppress the regret of "spending money recklessly".

After finishing her meal, she lay in bed, opened the game, and found Chen Zheng online. The two teamed up and played a few rounds, with Chen Zheng chatting with her as they played.

"Sister Ye, you're home?"

"Hmm, and you?"

"I'm back in Beijing too. First day of vacation, finally I can sleep in." Chen Zheng yawned on the other end of the voice call, his voice lazy. "My older brother isn't back yet."

Ye Zhenzhen was somewhat surprised.

Why doesn't he go back?

"He still has to go to the countryside to visit impoverished households before he can return to Beijing."

"I've visited seven or eight townships in the past few days."

He was still out in the countryside during the Chinese New Year.

"Then why didn't you go with him?" she questioned Chen Zheng with some dissatisfaction. "You call yourself a brother?"

Chen Zheng chuckled on the other end: "Why aren't you going with him? You're still giving her—"

"You little mouth!" Ye Zhenzhen interrupted him angrily.

She played two more games, then logged off. She lay in bed, lost in thought for a long time.

She's been having a great time at home these past few days. She's eating well, sleeping well, waking up naturally every day, playing games, scrolling through her phone, and has almost completely forgotten about that person.

But who told him to be a leader? Leaders are expected to serve the people more, so his heavy workload is what he deserves.