Blackening starts from the golden years

"What did you give me?"

Yuan Xudong took the thermos out of his backpack and put it on the dining table. As he opened it, he said:
"I know you have a bad stomach, so I specially stewed chicken and rice porridge for you to nourish your stomach."

At this time, Zhu Li brought a large bowl from the kitchen and placed it on the dining table. She looked at Yuan Xudong and smiled:
"Pour it into the bowl."

"it is good."

As Yuan Xudong was about to pour the porridge, Su Daqiang, who was sitting next to him, suddenly said:

"You, wait a minute before pouring it. Bring me a small bowl and let me taste it first. If it doesn't taste good, you can take it back."

Yuan Xudong was speechless. This old man was quite rude. Zhu Li, who was standing by, couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed. She looked at Su Daqiang and said with a smile:
"Dad, please sit down. I'll get you a small bowl."

"Ah."

Su Daqiang hummed calmly and said:

"Get another spoon."

"it is good."

After Zhu Li brought a small bowl and a spoon, Yuan Xudong picked up the thermos bucket and poured a small amount of chicken and rice porridge into the small bowl. Su Daqiang picked up the small bowl and tasted it. His eyes lit up and he said:

"Pour it all in. Pour it all in."

"it is good."

Yuan Xudong smiled, poured all the remaining chicken and rice porridge in the thermos bucket into the large bowl on the dining table, and asked with a smile:

"How does it taste, old man? Is it okay?"

"it is good."

Su Daqiang smiled happily and said:

"What's in here? It's delicious."

"They are all good ingredients. If you like them, I will deliver them to you every day."

"Delivered every day?"

Looking up at Yuan Xudong, Su Daqiang asked while eating porridge:
"Don't you mind the trouble?"

"It's not a problem. I need to eat it myself. Just make a little more."

"Well, thank you."

"You're welcome."

At this time, Zhu Li was carrying her bag and preparing to go to work. She looked at Su Daqiang and said:
"Dad, take your time eating. I have to go to work."

"Ah."

Su Daqiang hummed.

Zhu Li nodded towards Yuan Xudong and said with a smile:

"Mr. Yuan, I'm really sorry to bother you. I'll be leaving first."

"No trouble, I have to go to work at the company too."

As he spoke, Yuan Xudong looked at Su Daqiang and said goodbye:

"Uncle, please enjoy your meal. I'm leaving now."

"okay."

After looking at Su Daqiang, Yuan Xudong closed the thermos lid and put it into the backpack on his shoulder. He turned and walked to the shoe rack at the door, changed his shoes, and left with Zhu Li.

downstairs.

Yuan Xudong and Zhu Li walked out of the building together. He looked at Zhu Li beside him and smiled:

"Where are you going? I'll take you there."

"No, no, I can just take a taxi."

"It's okay. The car belongs to Su Mingyu. I'm just borrowing it to offer my gratitude."

"Then I'm sorry to trouble you."

"You're welcome."

Yuan Xudong smiled and took Zhu Li to the car parked on the roadside in the community. At this moment, Zhu Li suddenly twisted her foot and cried out in pain. She was about to fall to the ground. Fortunately, Yuan Xudong quickly supported her. He looked at Zhu Li and asked with concern:
"Are you okay? Did you sprain your ankle?"

"It hurts, it hurts, my feet hurt so much."

"Let me see, just bear with it."

Yuan Xudong helped Zhu Li sit on a stone pier by the roadside. He squatted down, gently lifted her sprained right foot and said:
"Let me help you take a look. It would be troublesome if the bones were injured."

"It hurts, it hurts, please be gentler."

"it is good."

Maybe it was really painful, Zhu Li didn't care about being reserved at this time. Yuan Xudong helped her take off her black high heels. She was wearing white socks with a cartoon duck printed on them, which looked quite cute.

Seeing Yuan Xudong pinching her toes, Zhu Li couldn't help blushing. Except for her husband Su Mingcheng, she had never had such close contact with any other man. For a moment, she felt a little weird and something was strange in her heart.

This strange feeling was not bad. She even felt a little stimulated. When Yuan Xudong gently kneaded her feet, she felt as if a stimulating electric current was instantly transmitted from the tip of her right foot to her whole body.

"Hmm~"

Zhu Li couldn't help but moan, her face flushed with shame. Yuan Xudong seemed not to hear her moan, he continued to massage her feet gently, and said:

"Fortunately, no bones are injured. I'll just rub it for you."

"Hmm~"

Zhu Li hummed softly, she looked at Yuan Xudong and blushed:
"Thank you, Mr. Yuan."

"You're welcome, it's easy."

As he spoke, Yuan Xudong continued to massage Zhu Li's feet for a while. He knew the acupoints and made Zhu Li feel comfortable for a while.

For Julie, she didn't know what massage techniques Yuan Xudong used. She just felt very comfortable. She couldn't help biting her lower lip lightly with her pearly teeth, barely holding back her moans.

"Okay, take two steps and try."

"Ah."

Zhu Li hummed softly, and her pretty face blushed as she watched Yuan Xudong help her put on her high heels.

After Yuan Xudong helped her put on her high heels and stood up, he supported her from the side. She slowly stood up and took two tentative steps forward, smiling happily:

"It really doesn't hurt anymore."

As she spoke, she gradually quickened her pace. Yuan Xudong reminded her:

"Slow down, be careful..."

Before he finished speaking, Zhu Li cried out in pain and was about to fall. Yuan Xudong quickly ran forward and held her up. Because of the position and the urgency of the situation, he didn't think much and almost subconsciously hugged Zhu Li in his arms. After their eyes met and they were both stunned for a moment, Zhu Li quickly broke free.

Yuan Xudong was secretly surprised. He didn't expect that although Zhu Li's place looked small, it was actually quite impressive.

At this time, Julie blushed and said unnaturally:

"Well, let's go."

"Okay, get in the car."

There was no conversation along the way, and Yuan Xudong drove Zhu Li to the downstairs of her company. After saying thank you, Zhu Li hurriedly got out of the car with her small bag. Looking at her back, Yuan Xudong couldn't help but smile and drove away.

……

Zhu Li trotted into the office building. Her right foot still hurt a little. She patted her chest gently and took a deep breath. She felt that it was really embarrassing just now, especially when Yuan Xudong hugged her from behind, her chest was pressed tightly against his chest. She was so nervous at that time that she still felt a little weird. This feeling was not bad, but it was a little weird and she couldn't tell why.

After calming herself down, Julie took out her badge from her bag and put it on around her neck. She passed the access control at the office building lobby, took the elevator, and pressed the button for the floor where her company was located. Only now did she slowly calm down and gradually return to her normal working state.

……

The Internet company where Su Mingzhe works in San Francisco, USA.

"Sue, David is calling you."

"it is good."

Su Mingzhe went to David's office. After coming back, he quietly packed up his personal belongings and left the company. He was laid off by the company and he was unemployed.

In the evening, Wu Fei brought her daughter Xiao Mi back home and saw a storage box of Su Mingzhe's things on the table in the living room. She was stunned for a moment and immediately realized that Su Mingzhe had been laid off by the company.

"dad."

Xiao Mi was still young and didn't understand much. She smiled and trotted towards Su Mingzhe, who was drinking alone in the kitchen, asking for a hug.

"Xiao Mi is back, let's go play."

"it is good."

Let his daughter go somewhere else to play. Su Mingzhe put down his wine glass and looked at Wu Fei who walked into the kitchen. He forced a smile and said:

"Fei Fei, you're back."

"Well, I'm back. There's a big sale at the supermarket today, so I bought some more."

Wu Fei smiled as if nothing had happened. She put the paper bag she was holding on the table and said with a smile:

"Help me pass something."

"it is good."

Su Mingzhe handed the fruits and vegetables in the paper bag to Wu Fei one by one, watched her put them in the refrigerator, and said hesitantly:

"Fei Fei, I, I'm unemployed."

Wu Fei's hand movements paused for a moment, then quickly returned to normal. She took a deep breath and said:
"It's okay, I'll look for it again."

"Then I'll put my stuff in the garage."

"well."

Su Mingzhe walked into the living room and was about to put the storage box he brought back from the company into the garage. At this moment, he heard a bang from the kitchen and the sound of the refrigerator door slamming shut.

Su Mingzhe stood in the living room in a daze, while Wu Fei hid in the kitchen, crying on the refrigerator door.

……

In the evening, after dinner, Xiao Mi went to bed, while Su Mingzhe and Wu Fei were still sitting in the living room.

Su Mingzhe wanted to send all the documents his father Su Daqiang needed to apply for a visa to Su Mingcheng so that his father could get a visa to the United States as soon as possible, but Wu Fei firmly disagreed. She looked at Su Mingzhe angrily and said:

"Do you think it's a good time for Dad to come to America?"

"What's inappropriate?"

"You're unemployed. If you weren't unemployed, I wouldn't be saying this."

"It's only a matter of time before I find a job, but my dad can't wait even a day until he comes to the United States. The second brother's family doesn't know how to take care of people, and Mingyu doesn't care about him. My dad has food poisoning."

"Your father has a stomachache. How can people not get sick if they eat all kinds of grains?"

Looking at Su Mingzhe, Wu Fei tried his best to suppress the anger in his heart and advised:

"Besides, can you guarantee that he won't get sick for a day when he comes to the United States? He's an elderly man without a green card. If he gets sick again in the United States, he'll have to go to the hospital. Then we have to charge the same as in the United States. Can we afford it?"

Hearing Wu Fei say this, Su Mingzhe got angry and said:

"How can this be about money? I am the eldest in the Su family. My mother is gone, and I have the responsibility and obligation to support my father!"

“How come this isn’t about money?”

Wu Fei said angrily:

"Su Mingzhe, you are unemployed now, with no income and no job. Can you face the reality?"

"Why are you bringing this up again?"

Looking at Wu Fei, Su Mingzhe said angrily:
"Didn't I tell you? Please believe me, I can find a job, unless you don't have faith in me!"

"I have great confidence in you, but this difficulty cannot be solved in a short time. The current employment environment is very severe. Your company alone has laid off so many employees. It is very difficult to find a job now. Do you understand?" "Okay, okay, let's not talk about this for now. My dad must come to the United States, and I must support him, unless you don't recognize my dad!"

"Su Mingzhe, I have never disowned your father. I just hope you can do what you can. Think about it yourself. With my income alone, how miserable will it be to support three adults and a child? Do you want me to sacrifice, or do you want Xiao Mi to sacrifice?"

"Can you calm down? We don't have to be so miserable!"

"Su Mingzhe, wake up. I'm telling you, if you really want your dad to come to the United States, you have to wait until you find a job. This information cannot be sent out now!"

"Wu Fei, do you have no confidence in me? I told you I can find a new job soon!"

"Then go find it. Come back and tell me about this when you find a new job!"

"Wu Fei, you just don't believe me, am I right?!"

"Su Mingzhe, you are unreasonable!"

"Wu Fei..."

Su Mingzhe and Wu Fei started arguing. Su Mingzhe felt that being unemployed was no big deal, but Wu Fei was very worried and pessimistic about the future. Many of her college classmates used to work in offices, but what about now?
They all went to work as waiters in restaurants in Chinatown. This was enough to show how severe the current employment environment in the United States is. However, Su Mingzhe still couldn't see clearly. He had stayed in his comfort zone for too long and was seriously out of touch with the outside environment.

……

Soon, a week passed.

During dinner that night, Wu Fei asked softly:

"Mingzhe, why haven't you looked for a job today?"

Su Mingzhe whispered:

"Next week, I have three more interview opportunities."

Hearing this, Wu Fei said softly:
"It's been a week. It's hard to find a job in information technology right now. Why don't you try another job?"

"What do you want to change? This is what I studied. I don't know how to do anything else except information technology."

After that, Su Mingzhe fell silent, looked up at him, and Wu Fei also remained silent. She was thinking that if she couldn't find a suitable job for the time being, even if she could work part-time as a waiter in a restaurant, it would be better than staying at home all day and living off her savings.

However, she knew that Su Mingzhe was too embarrassed to say it, so she didn't say it out loud. She planned to wait for a while and see. If Su Mingzhe still couldn't find a job by then, she would say it again, or call Yuan Xudong to see if he could help their family.

"Let's eat."

"Ah."

……

Suzhou, Su Ming started a family.

This week, Yuan Xudong had been delivering meals to Su Daqiang. One time, he ran into Su Mingcheng, and the two almost got into a fight. Fortunately, Su Daqiang and Zhu Li both helped Yuan Xudong. With the help of the two of them, they stopped the impulsive Su Mingcheng and prevented them from really fighting.

However, Su Mingcheng was almost angry to death. Why did his wife and father help outsiders? Isn't this just turning his elbow outward?
His two big front teeth were knocked out?
He asked Julie, who rolled her eyes and said:

"Then can you beat him?"

He asked his father Su Daqiang again, and Su Daqiang said with drooping eyelids:
"Can you make me something delicious?"

In the end, Su Mingcheng had no choice but to give in. He pretended that Yuan Xudong didn't exist and let him continue to deliver meals to his father. As a result, Yuan Xudong and Zhu Li became familiar with each other, and he even added Zhu Li as a friend on WeChat.

Although the problem of eating was solved, Zhu Li was still very dissatisfied with Su Daqiang's habit of not liking to take a bath. She really couldn't stand the bad smell on Su Daqiang's body, so she asked Su Mingcheng to tell him to take a bath and change into clean clothes, otherwise the house would be full of his bad smell. Moreover, he didn't allow her to open the window, saying that he was afraid of the cold. The bad smell in the house could not be dissipated, and she really couldn't stand it.

living room.

Looking at Su Daqiang who was watching TV, Su Mingcheng advised him:

"Dad, can you take a shower?"

"I don't wash. Old people have dry skin and can't take a bath often."

As he spoke, Su Daqiang pointed at the characters on TV and said with a smile:

"Mingcheng, look quickly, does that man look like your elder brother?"

"What big brother? My big brother is in the United States now."

Seeing Su Daqiang who refused to take a shower, Su Mingcheng couldn't help but said angrily:

"Dad, let's wash one. When my eldest brother left, didn't he say to wash it once a week?"

"Does your elder brother think I smell bad? Can your elder brother smell it in America?"

Su Daqiang smiled and pretended to be confused, saying that no matter what Su Mingcheng said, he would not take a shower.

“Dad, what are you saying? Wouldn’t it be more comfortable for you to take a bath?”

"Humph, I guess it wasn't your eldest brother who asked me to take a bath, it was someone else who asked me to take a bath, right?"

"Dad, just wash one, can't you just wash one?"

"Mingcheng, do you dislike this old man like me?"

"Hey, how can you say such a thing?"

"You just dislike me."

"Dad, I don't dislike you."

"I don't want to take a shower, don't force me to take one."

"Okay, okay, if you don't want to wash it, then don't wash it."

"That's good. I don't like taking a bath. I'll continue watching TV."

"Okay, you can take a look. You can take a look."

There was really nothing he could do about Su Daqiang, so Su Mingcheng shouted to Zhu Li who was eavesdropping in the kitchen:
"Lili, please say a few words."

Unexpectedly, Su Mingcheng betrayed her like this. Zhu Li was stunned, then walked out of the kitchen with a smile on her face, looked at Su Daqiang and said with a smile:

"Dad, Mingcheng asked you to take a bath for your own good. You will feel better after you wash yourself, right?"

Su Mingcheng also followed and advised:

"Yes, you will feel better if you wash yourself. Go and wash one."

Looking at Su Mingcheng and Zhu Li, Su Daqiang sighed and said:

"You just dislike me, can't I just leave?"

"No one will despise you wherever you go. If you don't want to wash, then don't wash it."

Su Mingcheng said impatiently. He was caught between Su Daqiang and Zhu Li, and he was already very angry. He looked at Zhu Li and said:
"Dad doesn't like taking a bath, so you should stop forcing him to take one, okay?"

"I always force my dad to take a bath?"

Zhu Li stared at Su Mingcheng with wide eyes.

Seeing her like this, Su Mingcheng quickly said:
"You didn't force me to do that. I did. So I won't force you to do that now, okay? And don't be so picky."

"I'm picky?"

Su Mingcheng and Zhu Li were both a little angry. At this time, Su Daqiang added fuel to the fire and said:
"Oh, instead of staying here, I might as well go."

"What's the matter with you?"

"Dad, let's make everything clear today. I don't know what you mean. We asked you to take a shower, but you left. What will others say? Will they say we abused you?"

Looking at Su Daqiang, Zhu Li simply opened her mouth and said:
"Tell me honestly, since you moved in, haven't we been around you every day? We can't be unreasonable, can we? When my eldest brother was here, he told you to take a bath, so why can't you take a bath now? Yes, sometimes we don't take good care of you, but we have tried our best to meet your requirements. Now, we just ask you to take a bath, why can't you do that? Shouldn't you respect the feelings of us young people?"

"Okay, Lili, I understand. I'm leaving. I'm leaving."

As he said this, Su Daqiang stood up and was about to leave. Su Mingcheng quickly stopped him and advised:

"No, Lili means..."

Su Mingcheng didn't want to waste any more time explaining. He turned and yelled at Zhu Li:

"Isn't it just a bath? It's so annoying. He's an old man. If he doesn't want to take a bath, then don't take a bath. What's wrong with us, as his children, being accommodating? What's wrong with the smell? Can't you just bear with it?"

"Su Mingcheng, who are you angry with? What do you mean? I'm not sensible, right? I want to chase dad away and force him to take a shower?"

"That was not what I meant!"

"So what do you mean? You mean you are a family and I am superfluous, so I can leave, okay?"

"No, that's not what I meant. Sorry is not enough. Where are you going so late?"

With a bang, Zhu Li closed the door and left. At this time, Su Daqiang retracted his gaze and looked at Su Mingcheng in confusion:

"Why did she just leave like that? Go chase her out and take a look."

"Why should I chase her? She will come back. This bad habit cannot be indulged. She can't talk to my dad like that."

Su Mingcheng said in front of Su Daqiang. At this time, Su Daqiang turned off the TV, got up and walked back to his small bedroom, and locked the door from the inside. Looking at his door, Su Mingcheng said:
"Dad, don't you want to wash one?"

……

Downstairs, without waiting for Su Mingcheng to catch up and apologize, Zhu Li left the community angrily. She walked on the side of the road, ready to hail a taxi to go back to her parents' home.

At this moment, a Mercedes stopped beside her. The car window rolled down, and Su Mingyu looked at Zhu Li who had run away from home and smiled:
"Second sister-in-law, it's so late, where are you going? Come on, get in my car, I'll take you there."

"Mingyu."

Looking at Su Mingyu, Zhu Li waved her hand and smiled:

"No, no, you're busy, I can just take a taxi."

"Hurry up and get in the car. It's not easy to get a taxi here."

"Okay, thank you then."

"It's okay, why are you so polite?"

……

At the same time, Su Ming started a family.

Seeing that Zhu Li had not returned yet, Su Mingcheng quickly sent her a WeChat message:

[Wife, I was wrong. Where are you now? Please come back soon. ]

Seeing that Zhu Li didn't reply to the WeChat message, Su Mingcheng called her again, but unfortunately, Zhu Li turned off her phone.

……

in the car.

Seeing that Zhu Li turned off her phone, Su Mingyu smiled while driving:
"Did you have a fight with Su Mingcheng?"

"Ah."

"How about staying at my place for a night?"

"This is not good."

"What's wrong with that? It's decided. Let Su Mingcheng worry all night. Let's see if he dares to quarrel with you next time."

"That's...ok."

Zhu Li agreed. On the one hand, just like Su Mingyu said, she wanted Su Mingcheng to be anxious all night because he couldn't find her, which would be a lesson for him. On the other hand, the relationship between Su Mingyu and Su Mingcheng has always been bad. She wanted to take this opportunity to talk to her and see if she could resolve the conflict between them.

……

After half an hour.

Walking into Su Mingyu's villa, Zhu Li couldn't help but be surprised:

"Mingyu, your house is so big. You must be very happy to live in such a big villa."

Su Mingyu smiled but said nothing. She used to think that being rich, driving a nice car and living in a big villa was happiness. But when she really had all these, she didn't feel how happy she was. She longed for family and love, and hoped that someone would really care about her and love her so that she would no longer be alone. She felt that this was true happiness.

Looking at Julie, she smiled and said:
"The bathroom is over there, go take a shower first, I'll get you some clothes."

"okay."

...(End of chapter)