TBW - 29

Chapter 29: Rabbits Don’t Eat the Grass Around Their Burrows

As the Mid-Autumn Festival approached, Shi Ying’s grandmother, Cai Yuefeng, was at the nearby market, busy with last-minute holiday shopping.

Old-fashioned mooncakes filled with five nuts and rose petals, sticky rice sticks coated in sugar, and large blocks of peach pastries sprinkled with black sesame seeds—these snacks were once her husband’s favorites to buy during their market trips. But since her daughter had been ill and needed someone to stay home, these sweet treats now rested entirely in Cai Yuefeng’s hands.

From their courtship to marriage, Cai Yuefeng and her husband never had grand gestures or passionate vows. The most romantic part of their relationship was their shared routine: after work, they would go grocery shopping together. Back home, she cooked while he washed the dishes.

When they were younger, their busy schedules rarely allowed for such mundane pleasures. After retirement, with no grandchildren to care for, grocery shopping and cooking became the highlight of their day—a cherished pastime.

Accustomed to having her husband carry the heavier items, Cai Yuefeng found herself struggling as she reached the butcher’s shop. By then, a deep red mark had formed on her palm from the weight of the bags. Her thin lips panted slightly, and strands of her salt-and-pepper hair slipped from behind her ears onto her sun-spotted cheeks, giving her an air of exhaustion.

She shifted some of the load from her right hand to her left, which eased the burden somewhat. As she prepared to push aside the mosquito netting over the shop’s entrance, a robust man in his forties rushed ahead to hold it open for her, calling out excitedly, “Engineer Cai!”

It had been nearly a decade since anyone called her that. After retiring, Cai Yuefeng’s identity transformed from being an accomplished engineer to simply “Mrs. Li” among the neighbors. Few people knew her name; everyone assumed that knowing her husband’s identity automatically defined hers. There was no need for special treatment.

“Xiao Wu?” Cai Yuefeng’s cloudy eyes brightened as she immediately recognized the man before her.

As an experienced technician who’d worked decades at her job, she’d mentored many newcomers. But Xiao Wu was special—he was her last apprentice and also her unlikely confidant.

After earning her senior engineer title, Cai Yuefeng took on several apprentices. From her experience, most male apprentices harbored subtle resistance toward female mentors. Male mentors, like her husband and other colleagues, though less skilled than her, seemed to command natural authority, making them easier to respect. For her, however, her authoritative demeanor often came across as eccentric rather than commanding.

No matter how generously she imparted her knowledge, once her apprentices succeeded, they invariably sought to undermine her achievements to elevate themselves.

But Xiao Wu was different. He was modest and eager to learn. With him as her assistant, she rarely had to personally handle construction or maintenance work anymore, allowing her more time to focus on innovative designs. Under his help, she even mastered computer-aided design (CAD) software just before retirement—an impressive feat for someone of her age.

Their professional collaboration was so harmonious that when Cai Yuefeng retired and the company asked her to return part-time, she declined, instead recommending Xiao Wu to take over her position.

“Oh my goodness, my dear teacher!” Xiao Wu exclaimed, taking the heavy bags from her hands. “Only you still call me ‘Xiao Wu.’ I’m Old Wu now! Look at all these wrinkles on my face.” He paused, then asked gently, “Are you buying meat for the festival? Why didn’t you bring Mr. Li along to help carry things?”

“I happened to drive here,” he continued. “Let me accompany you while you shop, and afterward, I’ll drop you off at home.”

The two hadn’t seen each other in years, so Cai Yuefeng didn’t refuse his offer. Nodding, she began reminiscing about old times. “What brings you back? I heard your parents moved to Jicheng to live with you a few years ago. How’s your business doing there?”

At this, Xiao Wu chuckled sheepishly. Shortly after taking over his mentor’s role, he quit to start his own company. Because of this, whenever he returned to Banshan, he avoided visiting his former teacher out of guilt.

“It’s because of the recent urban redevelopment project in our old neighborhood,” he explained. “I came to settle the compensation for their house. My parents are fine—they’re enjoying their retirement.”

“As for my company…” He hesitated. “It’s tough going. I’ve jumped around quite a bit, working as an outsourced contractor for China Railway Construction. Before, I worked as the client side (甲方); now I’m on the service side (乙方). It’s not easy. What about you and Mr. Li? Is your place included in the redevelopment zone? Wouldn’t it be easier to sell and move in with your daughter? Your son-in-law is far more successful than me.”

Having spent years away from Banshan, Xiao Wu was unaware of the troubles within Shi Kaiji’s family. Cai Yuefeng paid for the pork ribs and moved on to the specialty lamb shop next door to buy a leg of mutton.

“Xiao Wu, don’t be too modest,” she said kindly. “I heard from the tea shop owner that your mother now has a driver taking her around Jicheng. Whether you’re on the client or service side, success is success. Only those with real ability dare to venture out.”

Her words struck a chord with Xiao Wu. As they strolled through the market, he felt compelled to share both his struggles and triumphs from the past decade. Once they settled into the car, he vented about the challenges of hiring reliable workers in Jicheng.

“The industry is chaotic now,” he complained. “Turnover is high, and experienced professionals are hard to retain. Some leave as soon as they gain enough experience from one project. Take the cost estimator I hired earlier this year—I paid him well, but his work was sloppy. When I fired him, he demanded severance pay! Sometimes I think about outsourcing everything myself.”

Since earlier, Cai Yuefeng’s thoughts kept drifting to her daughter. While she should feel proud of her student’s accomplishments, age had made her heart smaller and more sensitive. In the face of Xiao Wu’s success, she couldn’t help but feel sorrow for her own child.

It wasn’t jealousy over others’ luxurious lifestyles—it stemmed from a deep maternal instinct. She truly wished for her daughter’s happiness.

Like many women balancing career and family, compared to her husband’s self-contentment, Cai Yuefeng always felt a profound sense of inadequacy regarding her daughter.

When Li Xiangqun pursued education and a career, Cai Yuefeng hoped she would excel professionally and become a remarkable woman. Yet when her daughter chose to prioritize family life, unlike her husband, Cai Yuefeng didn’t oppose it. Instead, she quietly hoped her daughter could find the happiness she herself had missed in marriage and parenthood.

She likened herself to a lighthouse guiding her daughter’s journey. Her light might not illuminate her entire path, but its steadfast presence allowed her daughter to gauge how far she’d come.

However, the road ahead proved treacherous. Her son-in-law’s infidelity and failures dragged her daughter down, leaving Cai Yuefeng anxious to help.

Her daughter loved luxury and lived a pampered lifestyle, something Cai Yuefeng couldn’t provide. But lying idle at home, ruminating endlessly, would only worsen matters—especially given the trauma preceding her illness. She needed distractions, small encouragements to rebuild her confidence.

“Are there many freelance cost estimators these days?”

“Yes, Teacher,” Xiao Wu replied. “There are plenty of certified individuals willing to lend their credentials, though we must avoid illegal practices. Getting caught could lead to serious consequences.”

With this, Cai Yuefeng resolved to recommend her daughter for the job. As they parted ways, she leaned into the car window, smiling warmly despite feeling awkward. “Xiao Wu, if you’re still short-handed, how about letting me recommend someone for part-time work? They’re experienced and guaranteed to deliver quality results. You can trust me, right?”

________________________________________

Later that afternoon, after taking her medicine and eating porridge, Cheng Simin lay sprawled on the sofa like a corpse.

Several times, she mustered the courage to message Shi Ying but couldn’t figure out what to say.

The living room camera, hidden among potted plants on the windowsill, was originally used to check on Beibei when she was out. Its discreet location likely meant Shi Ying hadn’t noticed it—and besides, he didn’t own pets anyway.

A kiss between non-couples wasn’t trivial, especially under such circumstances. Though she had a fever and could justify her behavior, Shi Ying was fully lucid. Even if the footage failed to capture what she’d said before the kiss, his responses—both physical and verbal—were undeniably intimate.

Men don’t admire women they look down upon, and Shi Ying had always held her in contempt. Cheng Simin refused to misinterpret his actions. Yet, comparing their situations repeatedly left her uncertain.

The only plausible explanation was that Shi Yiing was emotionally vulnerable, lonely, and desperate for connection.

And what about her? Cheng Simin reflected honestly. She wasn’t celibate or asexual; hormonal fluctuations occasionally triggered physical desires, perfectly normal and acceptable.

She owned countless manga and novels considered masterpieces, so discussing intimacy openly shouldn’t embarrass her.

But imagining herself entangled with Shi Ying—his long-fingered hands gripping her waist, uttering biting remarks—Cheng Simin shivered involuntarily, furrowing her brows in discomfort.

No, absolutely not. Fantasizing about her nemesis was dangerous and foolish.

Rabbits don’t eat the grass near their burrows, and Shi Ying was undoubtedly experienced in romantic affairs. The risks far outweighed any potential benefits.

Emotionally, she was naive, straightforward, and incapable of separating physical attraction from emotional attachment. Engaging with Shi Ying would be disastrous.

Why complicate life further? She was unemployed, struggling financially, and already overwhelmed. Pursuing a man superior to her in every way was sheer folly.

After half an hour of contemplation, Cheng Simin decisively chose avoidance over self-torment.

Wearing her comfortable yet hole-ridden pajamas, she climbed back into bed, silenced her phone, pulled the blanket over her head, and drifted off to sleep, seeking solace in dreams.