Chapter 427: Cold Treatment

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

When Ah Zhuang returned to the boiler room, Su Shen had already left. He dutifully handed over the clothes he had been instructed to find to Aunt Yang. However, due to his irritation, he didn’t offer her a friendly face. Tossing the clothes aside, he grumbled impatiently, “Next time, dress warmer. Don’t catch a cold and cause us trouble, understand?”

Aunt Yang was startled by his loud voice. Looking up, she met his cold gaze, causing her face to flush with embarrassment. She murmured apologetically,

“I’m sorry for the trouble. I’ll be more careful. I won’t cause any more problems for you. Thank you.”

Ah Zhuang, his face still cold, didn’t respond. He turned on his heel and left. Aunt Yang stood awkwardly in place for a while before finally picking up the clothes and putting them on. The garment was thick and provided much-needed warmth.

Aunt Yang knew that the clothes were probably provided at the boss’s instruction. Even though her job was part-time, it was highly sought after. Many people wanted the position but hadn’t been successful in securing it. She was aware that many at the pig farm were unhappy with her presence. They didn’t make things difficult for her, but they certainly didn’t go out of their way to be kind.

However, due to her connection with Mother Lin, the boss, Su Shen, showed her some consideration. He had glanced her way a few times during his recent inspection. Ah Zhuang might have been rude, but she couldn’t reject the boss’s goodwill.

She didn’t mind the cold treatment. It was nothing compared to what she had endured before. After being driven out of her home by her daughter-in-law, she had resolved to survive on her own, even if it meant starving on the streets.

She had been living a stifled life for years! In her former home, even eating a bit more than usual would earn her the label of a glutton from her daughter-in-law, who accused her of eating the family into poverty. But how could anyone survive without a full stomach?

Moreover, she did all the work at home, which naturally led to a larger appetite. It was an unavoidable fact of life. She ate no more than any other working woman, yet even this was ridiculed.

Those days were unbearable to recall. Now, she had a job and an income. What did it matter if others treated her coldly? She was content.

Once she had saved up some money, she planned to find someone to inquire about her daughter’s whereabouts. Regardless of the circumstances, she needed to know her daughter was safe.

“Aunt Yang, what’s the matter? Hurry up and fetch a few buckets of hot water for the pigsty. We’re going to start slaughtering soon. We’ll probably be working until dawn again. Hurry up, or it’ll be morning before you know it.”

A man approached Aunt Yang, ordering her to fetch hot water with a gruff tone. Aunt Yang quickly turned away to wipe her tears, responding with a forced laugh, “Alright, I’m coming right away.” She then quickened her pace, fetching water for the pigs.

During periods of high demand for pork, pig farms typically slaughtered their livestock at night. This nocturnal practice ensured that the next day’s supply of pork could be delivered promptly and in sufficient quantities to their various business partners.

The pig farms were usually located in remote areas, so there was no need to worry about the noise of the slaughter disturbing anyone. This made the process of slaughtering pigs rather convenient.

Aunt Yang poured warm water into the sink before returning to the boiler room. She still had to haul water to the slaughter area, which would soon be in use.

At one in the morning, the cries of the pigs echoed throughout the entire farm. The slaughter had begun. Once the pigs were killed, they had to be packaged and loaded onto trucks. By four or five in the morning, the delivery process would commence. There was perhaps an hour of rest in between, but the prospect of returning home for sleep was slim. However, the promise of earnings kept everyone from complaining. They all worked enthusiastically.

At five in the morning, Su Shen rose punctually from the sofa in his office. After freshening up, he prepared to deliver goods to the town. Before leaving, he made a special trip to find Jin Long, instructing him, “Later, call Lin Cheng and take the pig offal and trotters that were packaged last night to the Lin family. Remember to clean them before delivery, and deliver them early.”

Having said his piece, Su Shen turned to leave. Jin Long, still groggy from sleep, instinctively blocked Su Shen’s path. His voice was incredulous as he mumbled, “Brother, when did you become so stingy, only sending these to your in-laws?”

Su Shen looked at Jin Long’s sleepy face with some disdain. Casually brushing him aside, he climbed into the delivery truck with ease, leaving behind a single sentence, ‘You don’t need to worry about that, just deliver them.”

Jin Long rubbed his forehead, watching as Su Shen closed the truck door and drove away. He couldn’t help but smirk, “Tsk, tsk, the true colors of a scoundrel who’s won over a girl finally show! Is this the kind of person you really are?”

Feeling indignant on behalf of his sister-in-law, Gu Zi, Jin Long lost all desire to sleep. It wasn’t until he went to find Lin Cheng that he learned the items Su Shen had asked him to deliver were for the Lin family’s braised food business, not for their personal consumption..