Xu Xiuwen smiled and changed the subject, "Sister Mu, are you thirsty? Let me pour you a glass of water."
Mu Zhilan waved her hand and said, "Boss Xu, no need..."
"It's okay, just sit down and don't stand all the time." Xu Xiuwen said with a smile, then walked towards the kitchen.
After pouring two glasses of water and returning to the living room, Xu Xiuwen handed one of the glasses to Mu Zhilan.
Mu Zhilan had already sat on the sofa as he said, but when she saw him handing her water, she immediately stood up again.
The whole person looked extremely nervous from head to toe.
Xu Xiuwen smiled, "Sister Mu, you don't have to be so nervous. I won't eat anyone."
Mu Zhilan also knew that she was too nervous.
She looked a little embarrassed and said, "Boss Xu, you are such a joker."
Mu Zhilan held the cup of water in her hand, took a sip, but immediately put it down.
"Boss Xu, I brought yesterday's money."
Xu Xiuwen took a sip of water and asked, "You came here to pay back the money, right?"
Mu Zhilan said "hmm".
"Look at you, you rushed here early in the morning just to pay back the money. It's just a small amount, it doesn't matter if you don't give it to me."
Mu Zhilan shook her head and said, "No, you have already helped us, I can't take advantage of you anymore."
The woman in front of me is actually very mature physically, but her personality seems a little stubborn.
Xu Xiuwen said helplessly: "Okay."
Mu Zhilan took out 120 yuan that she had prepared from her pocket and handed it over.
They're all paper tickets.
Xu Xiuwen took the money and put it on the coffee table.
After taking another sip of tea, Xu Xiuwen suddenly said, "Until now, I still find it hard to believe that you are Qiao Gang's mother."
"Boss Xu, I don't understand what you mean?" Mu Zhilan showed a puzzled look on her face.
Xu Xiuwen smiled and said, "Don't get me wrong. I mean, you look so young. I can't believe your son is already this old."
Mu Zhilan understood what Xu Xiuwen meant.
Her face turned red, her hands involuntarily clenched together, and her toes were put together.
"Boss Xu, Qiao Gang is really my son."
"I know."
When Xu Xiuwen saw Mu Zhilan's exaggerated reaction, he realized that what he had just said seemed inappropriate.
There seems to be a hint of provocation.
He was afraid of causing more misunderstandings, so he quickly changed the subject, "Sister Mu, are you still working at the housekeeping company?"
Mu Zhilan nodded and said, "Yes, Boss Xu."
“I see.”
Mu Zhilan suddenly said: "Boss Xu, I also want to thank you."
Xu Xiuwen was stunned, "Thank me for what?"
Mu Zhilan continued, "Actually, Xiaogang doesn't know that my job is to clean for people. I never told him. Thank you for keeping it a secret for me yesterday."
"Why didn't you tell him? Is there something wrong with your work?"
Mu Zhilan said softly: "I'm afraid he will think I've embarrassed him."
Xu Xiuwen smiled speechlessly, "You earn money with your own hands, there's nothing to be ashamed of. I think Xiaogang should understand you."
Mu Zhilan said "hmm" again.
"How much do you earn per month in your current job?"
Mu Zhilan replied: "2,000 yuan."
"2,000 yuan? That doesn't seem like a lot."
Mu Zhilan shook her head slightly: "2,000 yuan is already a lot. I don't have much education. If I do other jobs, I can't earn more than 2,000 yuan."
2,000 yuan was not a lot in Jinling in 2006, but it was not very low either. After all, there would still be jobs paying two or three thousand yuan in a dozen years.
Xu Xiuwen remembered that the shoes on Qiao Gang's feet were very old, and couldn't help asking: "What does Qiao Gang's father do for a living?"
Mu Zhilan's face turned ugly after hearing Xu Xiuwen's words.
Xu Xiuwen realized that he might have asked something he shouldn't have asked, and quickly apologized: "I'm sorry, I said the wrong thing."
Mu Zhilan shook her head and said, "It's okay, Boss Xu."
After a pause, Mu Zhilan continued, "Xiaogang's father hasn't worked for a long time."
"Ah? Why?" Xu Xiuwen was very curious and couldn't help asking again.
Mu Zhilan explained: "He hangs out and drinks all day, no job would want him."
Although it was just a few brief sentences, Xu Xiuwen already understood Mu Zhilan's family situation.
Mu Zhilan's husband hangs out and drinks all day and doesn't work.
The child is still in school, and all the expenses of the family are borne by Mu Zhilan.
One can imagine the multiple burdens and pressures this woman is carrying.
Xu Xiuwen remembered that Mu Zhilan went to the hospital yesterday without bringing any money.
It is possible that she did not forget to bring money, but had no money to bring.
Maybe the 120 yuan she used to pay him back today was all scraped together.
Although there is no evidence to prove that Xu Xiuwen's guess is correct.
But it did not prevent him from feeling a little respect for the woman in front of him.
We chatted briefly again.
Mu Zhilan prepared to leave.
Xu Xiuwen stood up and saw her off.
Watching the door close little by little, Mu Zhilan's back gradually disappeared through the crack of the door.
Xu Xiuwen sighed quietly.
There are too many poor people in this world.
He couldn't help, and although he didn't have much contact with Mu Zhilan, based on the limited contacts, he felt that Mu Zhilan was not the kind of woman who was willing to accept help from others for nothing.
To Xu Xiuwen, Mu Zhilan is just a passer-by in his life.
Two days passed in the blink of an eye.
The evening of June 11th.
Xu Xiuwen received a call from Li Haimei at noon.
On the phone, Li Haimei informed him of the place and time of the dinner in the evening, and told him that someone would be sent to pick him up, so he should make preparations in advance.
Xu Xiuwen thought it meant one hour in advance.
Who knew that around three o'clock in the afternoon, Li Haimei's driver came to pick him up.
Xu Xiuwen was very puzzled.
After going downstairs.
Li Haimei's secretary Su Luoyi was already waiting by the car.
Xu Xiuwen got into the car but found that Li Haimei was not there.
Xu Xiuwen was completely confused and had no idea what Li Haimei was up to.
As a result, Su Luoyi told him that Li Haimei asked her to accompany him to buy some clothes to wear to the dinner party in the evening.
After listening to Su Luoyi's words, Xu Xiuwen couldn't help but say, "This woman Li Haimei is really speechless. She likes to act on her own."
After Xu Xiuwen finished speaking, the male driver in the driver's seat suddenly opened his eyes wide and secretly glanced at Xu Xiuwen through the rearview mirror.
The male driver was very surprised that Xu Xiuwen actually complained about Li Haimei in front of them.
Su Luoyi's expression did not change at all, and she always had a faint smile on her face.
Although Xu Xiuwen was a little unhappy, he would not vent his dissatisfaction and resentment on the two people in front of him.
One of them is a driver and the other is a secretary, and they both do their jobs obediently.
They are just workers, there is no need to make things difficult for them.
Xu Xiuwen sighed and said, "Okay, let's drive."
Su Luoyi still maintained a polite smile, "Mr. Xu, please sit tight."
"Old Zheng, you drive."