MTLNOVEL Chapter 33: What a Beast!
Chapter 33: What a Beast!
Xu Erlei felt his eyes had truly been opened today.
He’d thought Lu Yuan was shameless before—spending just ten yuan to marry a wife and making Su Liyan serve him like a slave. He fed her sweet potatoes and cold water instead of proper food. Then he visited his mother-in-law’s house and returned with goods worth more than ten yuan. Rather than losing money through marriage, he’d actually profited!
But this? This was beyond comprehension.
“Fuck you!” Xu Erlei thought furiously. “You’re not going to work anymore?! Claiming poor health?! You want to retire internally and let Su Liyan take over?!”
There were limits to being calculating or slightly underhanded. But this crossed every line!
Lu Yuan appeared perfectly healthy—eating meat or fish daily and even bringing chickens from his mother-in-law’s house for soup. After work, he’d lounge by the door waiting for Su Liyan to serve him.
What health problems could he possibly have? Should he see a veterinarian instead?
It was obvious: he wanted Su Liyan to work and support him. The civil service exam was merely an excuse. They’d all grown up together—who was he fooling? If Lu Yuan could pass that exam and become a civil servant, then the beggar at the city’s south gate could do it too! This was just a ploy to trick Su Liyan into supporting him.
Xu Erlei looked at Su Liyan’s proud expression beside Lu Yuan and felt genuinely sad. Why hadn’t he found such a gullible wife? Why did Lu Yuan get all the good things? The man wasn’t human!
Lu Yuan ignored Xu Erlei completely. Taking his wife’s delicate hand, he said simply, “Let’s go!”
He would take Su Liyan directly to the sampling inspection team, introduce her to Sister Ma, and complete the task. Then he could go home for a good sleep, enjoy meat noodles at lunch or order takeout, and perhaps spend the afternoon strolling around the lake outside the city to catch wild ducks or fish. What a life!
Xu Erlei stood watching them walk away, consumed with jealousy. Why? WHY?! Tonight he would urge his mother to find him a wife immediately!
Soon Lu Yuan brought Su Liyan to the inspection team’s office. The sampling team consisted entirely of women. Though the imperial court proclaimed that women held up half the sky and that men and women were equal, this kind of light work was typically reserved for women.
Most people who joined the sampling inspection team had connections. The job was so easy—like collecting free money monthly—that ordinary people couldn’t secure positions. Consequently, most team members were city women from influential families.
These women were formidable. Their team leader, Sister Ma, was particularly powerful. Anyone in the factory who offended them faced immediate consequences—often involving a man’s most sensitive anatomy.
Despite their fierceness, Lu Yuan felt comfortable sending his wife to work with them. With these tiger-women around, his beautiful, delicate wife would be safe.
Upon entering the office, Lu Yuan immediately spotted Sister Ma—a large, imposing woman. He approached, showing her the paperwork while explaining the situation briefly.
Sister Ma had clearly been informed about a new person joining today. She knew about Lu Yuan and Su Liyan. Eating melon seeds, she squinted and raised her eyebrows. “You’re the one who stole Wang Xiaofei’s wife?”
The office women gathered around with mischievous interest, seemingly ready to expose Lu Yuan if he failed to explain himself.
Before Lu Yuan could respond, Su Liyan immediately defended her husband. “I was never Wang Xiaofei’s wife! I only agreed to a blind date with his mother—I’d never even met him. How could I be his wife? My man and I fell in love at first sight. I have always been his.”
She continued passionately, “Even if I had gone through with Wang Xiaofei’s blind date, it wouldn’t have worked. I’m the daughter of a criminal, and his mother scolded me when she discovered this.”
Su Liyan typically avoided revealing her background, having experienced enough discrimination. But to protect her husband’s reputation and her own, she spoke plainly. She hated when others suggested she belonged to anyone else. She had always been and would always be her man’s wife!
Sister Ma, understanding the heavy burden of being a guilty minister’s daughter, finally looked at Lu Yuan appreciatively. “So, you’re actually a real man. It’s settled—you can leave now. I’ll protect your wife. No one will bully her!”
Relieved by Sister Ma’s words, Lu Yuan smiled and departed the Innovation Factory. He headed home for a nap.
When Lu Yuan returned to the compound at half past eight, middle-aged women who had seen their husbands off to work sat on small stools outside, chatting and enjoying the cool air. They looked at Lu Yuan with puzzlement.
“Why are you back? Aren’t you working today?”
Lu Yuan walked toward his door with a bright smile. “I’ve retired internally and won’t be working anymore. My wife took my place.”
The compound fell silent.
Lu Yuan hummed a cheerful tune as he entered his yard, closed the door, drew the curtains, and prepared for sleep.
Outside, the stunned aunties exchanged bewildered glances.
Had they heard correctly? Lu Yuan had retired? At nineteen, just after passing the first-level worker exam, he’d retired from the Ministry of Industry? And Su Liyan would take over his position? She would earn money while he stayed home?
Finally, someone couldn’t contain their outrage: “You beast! What a beast!”
Those nearby frantically waved their hands. “Shhh! If that little beast hears you, he’ll bring disaster to your family in the future!”