Chapter 54: I’ve Had My Eye on You for a While

"The braised pork made by Grandma is so delicious." Zhu Yanyi nodded while eating. She loved the braised pork made by Qi Qiao'er. It looked bright and tasted wonderful. People said salted fish and plain meat were best, but without good skills, one couldn't cook well.

Grandma smiled with her eyes closed. "If it's good, eat more. My little girl has gotten thin." She then glared at Xie Xinlian.

Xie Xinlian felt wronged. She wasn't a stepmother. She always gave the best food to her two daughters. She never mistreated them. Zhu Yanyi looked healthy and had chubby cheeks. But in Qi Qiao'er's eyes, she was thin. If it were anyone else, Xie Xinlian would have argued back. But her mother-in-law loved her granddaughter more than her own daughter. So she just shook her head helplessly and stayed silent.

Zhu Shun Yao ignored this. He remembered Cheng Baokun. "Father, Mother, I met Factory Director Baokun from our soy sauce factory at the market today."

"Is that the soy sauce factory where A-Cheng works as a temporary worker?" Qi Qiao'er asked.

"Yes," Zhu Shun Yao nodded.

"I heard from A-Cheng that the director is a good man. She treats temporary workers well and shares benefits. For example, she gave us two pounds of cake for New Year's Day." Qi Qiao'er was happy that Xie Cheng Yu had become a temporary worker there. Although the benefits weren't as good as for permanent staff, they were much better than other temporary jobs.

Xie Zhong swallowed a mouthful of rice. "I've heard of this Cheng Baokun. They say his family background is good. He seems like a capable man."

Zhu Shun Yao nodded. "Director Baokun is indeed good. He helped me solve the material problem for building our house a few days ago." He then told Xie Zhong what had happened. Xie Zhong was not like Zhu Guifu. If Zhu Guifu knew, he would have forced Zhu Shun Yao to give the materials to him for Zhu Xiang Yao's house. But Xie Zhong, perhaps due to his education, never told others or plotted against them.

Then Zhu Shun Yao told Xie Zhong that Cheng Baokun wanted him to learn from Master Chen, the electrician, next year. Xie Zhong nodded as he listened. "He is a capable man. Your personality is straightforward and stubborn. Unless someone has vision and generosity, they wouldn't see your good qualities. Now you have finally made it out."

Only Xie Zhong dared to say this. If anyone else said it, Zhu Shun Yao would definitely disagree.

Zhu Shun Yao chuckled, feeling a bit embarrassed. He knew his temper wasn't great. Indeed, if Cheng Baokun hadn't seen his true nature, he might not have had such good luck. "When I met the director today, she took a liking to Ani at first sight. She wants to adopt her as a goddaughter. So I came to ask you and Mother, what do you think?"

Qi Qiao'er asked from the side, "Does Director Baokun have no daughters?"

"No, only two sons. One is fourteen, the other is seven. Both are older than our two children." Zhu Shun Yao knew a bit about Cheng Baokun's family.

"If he is good, becoming god-relatives is fine. But remember, even if we accept, we are just relatives. You must not be greedy for his things." Xie Zhong warned. He worried that Zhu Shun Yao might become arrogant because of the god-relationship, which would be counterproductive. If Cheng Baokun were bad, it would be fine. But from what they saw, Cheng Baokun was a calculating man. At least in dealing with Zhu Shun Yao, he was very friendly.