Chapter 5: Searching for a Stall, Meeting a Boss

Xiao Naiwang worked quickly, finishing the second portion in just a few minutes. This time, he didn’t add chili or the special chili powder, only sprinkling a small amount of Sichuan pepper powder, tsao-ko powder, and cinnamon powder.

Xiao Baobao couldn’t wait any longer. Gripping his little spoon, he scooped up a large piece of wolf-tooth potato, but instead of putting it into his own mouth, he raised it up, revealing his sweet little dimples. “Daddy, eat…”

“Baobao is so good, Daddy has already eaten. You go ahead.” Xiao Naiwang’s heart softened as he gently ruffled Baobao’s hair.

“Okay…” Xiao Baobao finally moved the spoon back and stuffed it into his own mouth. Instantly, his eyes lit up, and his little mouth moved excitedly. “Wow, this is so delicious too…”

“Then eat as much as you want, Baobao.” After settling Baobao onto the chair and watching him eat happily with big bites, Xiao Naiwang couldn’t help but smile. Realizing that steaming rice would take some time, he decided to make an egg pancake and tomato egg soup.

“Baobao, Daddy is going to make an egg pancake. Wait here for Daddy, okay?”

“I want to go with Daddy!” Xiao Baobao immediately put down his little spoon, wriggling to jump off the chair.
“Daddy will be very quick. I’ll be back in just a few minutes.” Xiao Naiwang patted Baobao’s little head. “Be good, Baobao. Eat your fill first, and after the meal, Daddy will take you out to play, okay?”

Xiao Baobao hesitated for several seconds before nodding pitifully. “Daddy, come back quickly…”

“Mm, Daddy will be quick. I’ll be back in ten minutes. Don’t run around, Baobao. Stay here and eat your food nicely.” Xiao Naiwang kissed Baobao’s forehead. “Be good. Daddy is going now.”

Xiao Baobao didn’t really understand how long ten minutes was, but he knew he had to be good and listen to his daddy. With teary eyes, he watched as his father walked toward the kitchen.

Xiao Naiwang worked swiftly. Within seven or eight minutes, he had the tomato egg soup simmering and the egg batter mixed.

Another two or three minutes later, the aroma of egg pancakes wafted from the kitchen, and the sizzling sound from the pan was incredibly enticing.

But suddenly—

A harsh, angry curse pierced through the sizzling sound.

…Zhou Chuanjing’s voice!

Oh no!!

Xiao Naiwang’s eyes widened in alarm. He quickly turned off the stove and rushed out of the kitchen, just in time to see Zhou Chuanjing slap Baobao off the chair. Baobao crashed to the ground with a thud, and his weak cries erupted. Then, Zhou Chuanjing’s foot viciously kicked Baobao as he snarled, “You filthy beggar, you dare to sneak food behind my back! I’ll kick you to death…”

“Wah… Daddy… Daddy… Waa…” Xiao Baobao’s cries were intermittent, as if he were in so much pain he could barely breathe, each sob piercing the heart like a sharp thorn.

Xiao Naiwang was furious, his head buzzing with rage. His body moved with incredible speed, reaching its limit as he dashed toward the two. Just as Zhou Chuanjing raised his foot again, Xiao Naiwang grabbed him by the collar and flung him violently to the ground nearby, his eyes blazing with fury. “Get out!!”

“Ah!” Zhou Chuanjing was momentarily stunned by the throw. After a brief pause, he began wailing again, glaring viciously at Xiao Naiwang. “Xiao Naiwang, you dare to hit me! Ah, I’ll kill you—!”

Xiao Naiwang picked up the baby, his gaze icy as he watched Zhou Chuanjing charge toward him again, ready to kick him away. But just as he raised his foot, the living room door suddenly swung open, and a forceful male voice rang out from the doorway: “Xiao Wang, what are you doing?!”

Xiao Naiwang turned his head to see Zhou Yiguo, dressed in formal attire, frowning at the doorway, his face filled with displeasure and annoyance. A cold sneer rose in Xiao Naiwang’s eyes. He strode over to Zhou Yiguo in two or three steps and raised his hand, delivering a fierce punch to Zhou Yiguo’s face.

“Just because I don’t beat up a brat doesn’t mean I’ll let the brat’s parent off either!”

Caught off guard, Zhou Yiguo took the punch, his teeth cutting into his lip and drawing a small circle of blood. The metallic, salty taste spread across his tongue, and his expression darkened, anger simmering in his eyes. “What are you doing?!”

“What am I doing?” Xiao Naiwang threw another punch, but this time, he aimed not at Zhou Yiguo’s face but at his stomach. Zhou Yiguo raised his hands to block his face but missed, letting out a muffled groan as he doubled over.
Xiao Naiwang wanted to continue, but he felt the baby in his arms trembling even more, sobbing and shrinking desperately into his embrace. He immediately stopped his fist, tightened his hold on Xiao Baobao, and patted his back gently, his heart aching with concern.

In the center of the living room, Zhou Chuanjing was already pale with fear, his eyes frozen in shock. He had originally intended to rush over and kick and punch Xiao Naiwang, but now he lay on the floor, not daring to move a muscle.

His father… his father, who was so tall and strong, had actually been… been punched by Xiao Naiwang?!

Xiao Naiwang raised his eyes to look at Zhou Yiguo’s face, his stomach churning with disgust. “Just now, Baobao was both cursed at and kicked by Zhou Chuanjing—he suffered no less pain than you! I was afraid that if I kicked Zhou Chuanjing, I might send him to meet his maker, so you’ll have to take his place. After all, you played no small part in raising such a child!”

With that, he turned his head and fixed a cold gaze on Zhou Chuanjing, enunciating each word clearly: “If you dare lay a hand on Baobao again, every punch I landed on your father will be doubled on you. I mean what I say.”

Zhou Chuanjing was so frightened he fell silent. It took several seconds for him to react before he let out a loud, ear-piercing wail, “Waaah—!!!” that made Xiao Naiwang’s eardrums buzz.

Zhou Yiguo gasped for breath, clearly both furious and in pain. He stared in shock for a long moment before finally reacting. “Xiao Wang… what’s wrong with you?!”

Xiao Naiwang was stunned by Zhou Yiguo’s audacity and twisted logic. How could he still have the nerve to ask what was wrong at a time like this?!

“Zhou Yiguo, stop pretending. Zhou Chuanjing hasn’t been bullying Baobao for just a day or two. This time, he pushed Baobao straight off the chair and even kicked him…” Xiao Naiwang was so furious he felt his chest tighten. He took a deep breath to steady his voice. “Let me make this clear to you: we must get a divorce. Otherwise, I can’t guarantee I won’t beat up your bratty son like this in the future!”

“Xiao Wang!”

Zhou Yiguo’s face showed pain and confusion, but he knew he couldn’t take sides too obviously. He put on a show of magnanimity as he looked at the others and said, “Xiao Jing, stop crying. What’s a little beating for a man? But why were you roughhousing with Baobao? Baobao is only two years old—he’s not like the boys at your school. You can’t push him around and play rough…”

Xiao Naiwang almost let out a cold laugh. His stomach churned with such disgust that he felt like vomiting!
What did he mean by “what’s a little beating for a real man”? Zhou Yiguo was really quick to pin labels on him. He should have just kicked Zhou Chuanjing back for that kick he gave Baobao!

And Zhou Chuanjing pushing a barely two-year-old Baobao off the chair, cursing and kicking him—that was called “just playing around”?!

Go to hell with your “just playing around”!!

“Zhou Yiguo, you really have no shame.”

This clearly struck a nerve with Zhou Yiguo. His usually refined and steady face suddenly tightened, his eyes flashing with a reddish anger, his entire body stiffening. It took him a moment to recover before he looked coldly at Xiao Naiwang. “Xiao Wang, stop making a scene.”

Xiao Naiwang couldn’t help but feel a twisted admiration for this scumbag. Even after all this, he could still so sanctimoniously try to smooth things over. His thick skin and tolerance were beyond what ordinary people could ever match.

But Xiao Naiwang could also guess Zhou Yiguo’s mindset. Zhou Yiguo was, after all, a minor leader in a state-owned factory. Getting divorced just twenty days after marriage would indeed look bad, especially in the 1980s, when divorce was more shameful than a crime for some people.

Not to mention, Zhou Yiguo had always been excellent at putting on a facade, always appearing “tolerant and magnanimous” and “deeply affectionate and patient”!

“Waaah—! Dad… waaah—!” After crying for a while, Zhou Chuanjing’s wails didn’t weaken; instead, they grew louder, as if he remembered his aunt’s instructions. He cried and shouted, “Wuwu, Dad, Xiao Naiwang is so scary! He hit me so hard! Dad, divorce him! Dad, get a divorce! Kick Xiao Naiwang and that little beggar out!”

Xiao Naiwang looked at Zhou Yiguo, his face cold, a faint, mocking smile on his lips. “What, you still insist on not divorcing? You won’t even listen to your own son’s opinion?”

“Enough!” Zhou Yiguo was truly furious. He walked to the table, slammed his briefcase down, grabbed Zhou Chuanjing, and started pulling him upstairs. “Come on, Xiao Jing, go upstairs first. I need to talk to your Uncle Xiao.”

“Waaah… Dad, divorce him! I’m not going, waaah…”

It was unclear how much force Zhou Yiguo used, but he couldn’t pull Zhou Chuanjing away. He turned to look at Xiao Naiwang. “Shall we talk in the yard?”

Xiao Naiwang turned and walked out without another word.

In the yard, Xiao Naiwang gently patted Baobao. Seeing that Baobao had stopped crying, he leaned down and kissed the child’s flushed little cheek, trying to lift his clothes to check. “Does it still hurt, Baobao?”

“Dad…” Xiao Baobao didn’t say whether it hurt or not, just wrapped his arms tighter around Xiao Naiwang’s neck. His dark eyes were wet, his long black lashes pitifully clumped together in strands. He buried his little face in Xiao Naiwang’s neck, his small, tearful voice calling out repeatedly, “Dad… Dad…”

“Dad’s here, Baobao, don’t be scared… don’t be scared…” Xiao Naiwang’s heart ached with every call from Baobao. When he looked back at Zhou Yiguo, who was walking slowly behind them, his impatience grew. “Zhou Yiguo, can you hurry up?!”

“About this divorce matter,” Zhou Yiguo walked over and looked at Xiao Naiwang, pausing before he spoke. “We need to delay it for a while. I won’t be getting a divorce for now.”

He was unwilling to divorce, firstly because divorce was too disgraceful, especially since they had just gotten married—divorcing so quickly would be utterly… He was still somewhat concerned with face, so of course he couldn’t agree. Secondly, he didn’t believe Xiao Naiwang could change so drastically in such a short time. There must be some hidden reason, and sooner or later, he would revert somewhat to his former self.

Moreover, after marrying Xiao Naiwang, he hadn’t even managed to get his hands on him before being forced into a messy divorce. That was not Zhou Yiguo’s style.

“How long do you want to delay?!” Xiao Naiwang’s patience was gradually wearing thin.

“Two…” Zhou Yiguo had originally wanted to say two years, but seeing Xiao Naiwang’s expression, he changed his mind. “One year.”

“Impossible.” Xiao Naiwang glared coldly at Zhou Yiguo, his voice stiff. “Not to mention how hard it is for me to resist beating your son, those two in your family don’t want to live under the same roof with me either.”

Zhou Yiguo’s expression darkened slightly. After a pause, he said, “Xiao Wang, what exactly…”

“Two months.” Xiao Naiwang cut him off. “Two months at most.”

Zhou Yiguo wanted to refuse outright, but he knew that anything he said now would likely be useless. After some thought, he decided to employ a delaying tactic for the time being. After all, in two months… many “uncontrollable” things could happen.

“Fine, two months it is.”

Xiao Naiwang narrowed his eyes, surprised that Zhou Yiguo had agreed so readily. He suspected there was some trickery involved, but he didn’t care. As long as nothing unexpected happened, he could save enough money to move out in less than a month. By then, it wouldn’t matter what Zhou Yiguo tried to do.

“You’d better remember what you said.”

Xiao Naiwang lowered his head and kissed the baby’s cheek. The baby had stopped crying and was lying quietly in his arms, though his two small hands still clung tightly to Xiao Naiwang’s clothes, showing he was still a little scared.
“Xiao Wang…” Zhou Yiguo’s voice was slightly hoarse. “Do we really have to be like this?”

Seeing Zhou Yiguo put on such a pained and affectionate expression so quickly, Xiao Naiwang genuinely felt disgusted and, in a way, “impressed.” This kind of extreme yet subtle scoundrel was exactly the type to trap those lacking love, leaving them ruined and still counting money for him.

Xiao Naiwang didn’t want to waste words with Zhou Yiguo and said bluntly, “There’s one more thing I need to tell you. Of course, I’m just informing you, not asking for your opinion.”

“What is it?”

“I plan to start a small business. I’ve already bought the supplies and materials, and I’ll start tomorrow. Don’t expect me to stay home every day as a nanny for your family anymore.” After a pause, Xiao Naiwang added, “You’d better tell those two in your family not to try to sabotage me. I know you also want to start a business, so isn’t this a perfect opportunity for me to test the waters for you?”

Zhou Yiguo’s pupils dilated slightly, completely caught off guard that Xiao Naiwang knew he also wanted to venture into business. However, he quickly regained his composure. “What kind of business are you planning?”

“Food.”

“Food?!” Zhou Yiguo frowned slightly. It was true he wanted to start a business, but food wasn’t what he had in mind. Still… Xiao Naiwang’s trial run couldn’t be said to have no reference value for him.

“That’s right. I don’t have the ability to run a big business. Earning a few cents or a few dimes is enough to support me and the baby.” Xiao Naiwang said this not because he truly believed it, but mainly to prevent Zhou Yiguo from getting any other ideas. After all, if he really only earned twenty cents or a yuan a day, he wouldn’t be willing to do it.

“What are you planning to sell?” Zhou Yiguo seemed convinced, yet also not entirely.

“Potatoes,” Xiao Naiwang replied frankly. After all, he couldn’t hide it once he started buying large quantities of potatoes.

“Selling potatoes?” Zhou Yiguo’s frown deepened. “Potatoes aren’t worth much.”

“I’m not expecting to make a fortune.” Xiao Naiwang hoped Zhou Yiguo would think exactly that. Suddenly, a rumbling sound interrupted them—it was Xiao baobao’s stomach growling.

Xiao baobao’s face flushed slightly, and he buried his little face into Xiao Naiwang’s shoulder.

Xiao Naiwang gently ruffled the child’s hair and said softly, “Baobao is hungry. Let’s go eat.” Without another glance at Zhou Yiguo, he turned and headed back inside.

Zhou Chuanjing was no longer in the living room, but the full plate of egg pancakes and the small bowl of wolf tooth potatoes were still there. Xiao Naiwang paused for a moment, then decided to cook again in the kitchen.

Spitting into the food? Heh, he wouldn’t put it past Zhou Chuanjing to do something like that.

“Baobao, be good. Wait a little while, and Daddy will make you a fresh meal, okay?” Xiao Naiwang gently squeezed the child’s small hand.

“I’ll go with Daddy…” Xiao baobao’s voice was muffled against Xiao Naiwang’s shoulder, his head still lowered, his tiny hands clutching tightly to Xiao Naiwang’s clothes.

“Okay, Daddy will take Baobao everywhere from now on.” Xiao Naiwang felt a pang of sadness in his heart and sighed. First, he carried Xiao baobao back to the bedroom to check him over. Finding two bruises on the child’s body, he quickly applied some medicated oil and massaged them gently. Then, he took Xiao baobao with him to the kitchen.

Xiao Naiwang made some simple egg pancakes, served them with tomato and egg soup, and finished off the remaining wolf tooth potatoes from the kitchen. After eating with Xiao baobao, he carried the child out of the house.

First, he took Xiao baobao for a stroll around a place with trees and flowers, waiting until the child’s smile returned before heading to the wholesale market.

Xiao Naiwang bought two rectangular wooden boxes for seasonings, two small lidded porcelain jars, and one iron wok along with two large buckets.

Each wooden box had three large compartments, perfect for holding special chili powder, Sichuan pepper powder, crushed peanuts, chopped cilantro, and the like. The porcelain jars could store special chili oil and Sichuan pepper garlic oil.

Next, he found a small shop selling disposable tableware and picked out two large stacks of paper bowls. Each stack cost twenty-five cents and contained sixty bowls.

All of this totaled four yuan and seventy cents, leaving Xiao Naiwang with three yuan and eighty cents.
Once again lamenting his poverty, Xiao Naiwang headed to the vegetable market. After checking many stalls, he finally found one with reasonable prices and quality: potatoes were five cents per jin, and small red chilies were six cents per jin. Buying in bulk later could make them even cheaper.

Xiao Naiwang bought thirty jin of potatoes, three jin of small red chilies, and four jin of scallions. Thirty jin of potatoes would be enough to make about seventy to eighty servings. For the first day, he wasn’t aiming to sell a lot—just enough to break even.

With everything purchased, Xiao Naiwang took Xiao baobao to scout locations. They walked through most of the small town until Xiao Naiwang was nearly exhausted, finally finding a spot he thought was most suitable.

—The small street in front of the town’s only middle school.

“Wow, Daddy, look… it’s a car!”

Xiao baobao suddenly tugged on Xiao Naiwang’s sleeve, waving his little hands, his soft voice filled with wonder and delight. Children were like that—a little play, a little exploration, and they’d quickly forget their troubles.

Xiao Naiwang looked up and saw a sleek, imposing black car parked at the school gate. The window was half-lowered, revealing the strikingly handsome and sharp profile of a man.

Such a vintage-style boss…

That was Xiao Naiwang’s only thought.

Author’s Note:
The male lead: I don’t think “vintage-style boss” is a compliment…