svetikya Chapter 216 Living a more beautiful life than him is the cruelest slap in the face.
Chapter 216 Living a more beautiful life than him is the cruelest slap in the face.
As soon as they entered the department store, Wang Lili abruptly shook off Zhao Gang's hand.
She leaned against the wall, breathing heavily, her eyes fixed on Zhao Gang, her gaze so intense it seemed she wanted to pierce a hole through him.
Zhao Gang was extremely guilty, his palms were sweating, but he still had to bite the bullet and try to cover it up: "Lili, what are you saying? I was just worried that the street stalls were messy and I was afraid of bumping into you."
"You're kidding me!"
Wang Lili roared in a low voice, tears welling up in her eyes, "Zhao Gang, do you think I'm blind? Your eyes are practically glued to Li Xianglian! What, you've changed your mind? You think she's prettier than me? You think she can make more money?"
"No way!"
Zhao Gang quickly looked around to make sure no one was paying attention, then pleaded in a low voice, "Lili, keep your voice down. I was just scared. Think about it, how did she, a country girl, end up setting up a stall in the county? I'm afraid she'll cause some trouble again, like going to our workplace and making a scene. I'm worried about our future!"
Zhao Gang fabricated these lies with ease, his face radiating loyalty and righteousness "for the sake of this family."
Hearing this, Wang Lili felt a little better.
She was like a flower in a greenhouse, completely unaware that men would say anything to survive, otherwise she wouldn't have fallen for Zhao Gang's sweet words.
But she understood Zhao Gang; this man had high aspirations, but he was also capable of being humble and subservient.
Li Xianglian used to be a burden to him, and he could kick her away without hesitation.
Now that Li Xianglian has become more beautiful and started a business, who knows if this man's thoughts will wander.
"I'm warning you, Zhao Gang."
Wang Lili, clutching her belly and snorting through her nose, said, "Your current identity is that of the Wang family's son-in-law, the father of the child in my belly. If you dare to have any further involvement with that woman, my dad can make you a cadre, and he can turn you back into that filthy vagrant. Remember that!"
Zhao Gang immediately changed his expression, his face scrunched up like a bitter gourd, and his eyes turned red.
"Lili, what are you saying? My heart is entirely with you and the child; how can I possibly have room for anyone else?"
He reached out to touch Wang Lili's stomach, but she dodged him. He wasn't annoyed and continued, "I was just scared. Think about it, that woman Li Xianglian, after getting divorced, should have stayed quietly in the village. Why did she run to the county town? It must be that her stepmother Niu Guihua is up to her old tricks again, selling her to the city to work and earn money. I've seen that family of bloodsuckers before."
As Zhao Gang spoke, he sighed, feigning lingering fear.
"Look at our Lili, she's our precious darling. How good your parents are to you! Marrying you is the greatest blessing I've ever had. If I ever dare to wrong you, may I be struck by lightning!"
These words were spoken with such sincerity that they extinguished most of Wang Lili's anger.
Although she still felt a little uncomfortable, she thought about it and realized it made sense.
Li Xianglian, a rural woman, must have been forced by her family to set up a stall in the county town.
Looking at myself, although it's inconvenient to be heavily pregnant now, I am at least a legitimate cadre's spouse. After the child is born, it will have a city household registration and be entitled to a government-subsidized food supply.
"At least you still have some conscience," Wang Lili snorted. "Let's go, I'm tired, let's go home."
Zhao Gang quickly and attentively helped her up, and the two slowly walked out.
Li Xianglian and Xiao Lan sold out of all their hair ties.
The two returned to the courtyard.
While counting the money, Xiao Lan casually asked, "By the way, Xianglian, I noticed you looked a little off when you saw that heavily pregnant woman at the stall. Do you know her?"
Li Xianglian was tidying up the scraps of cloth on the table when she heard this and paused in her work.
She lowered her eyelashes, her tone as calm as if she were telling someone else's story: "Yes, I know him. That man is my ex-husband, his name is Zhao Gang. The woman who is heavily pregnant is his mistress, Wang Lili, whom he hooked up with before the divorce."
"What?!"
Xiao Lan was truly furious this time, and almost dropped the wad of money in her hand.
She stood up abruptly, her beautiful peach blossom eyes filled with rage.
"You mean, that well-dressed man who was supporting that big-bellied guy just now was the Chen Shimei who dumped you?"
Li Xianglian nodded: "It's him. In order to climb the social ladder by marrying into the Wang family, he didn't even acknowledge his own mother, insisting that I was a poor relative from the countryside who came to freeload."
Xiao Lan was so angry that she paced around the room twice, her hands on her hips and her chest heaving violently.
"Oh, my temper! Li Xianglian, why didn't you say so sooner? If I had known she was this kind of scum, I would have thrown a basin of foot-washing water at her and pulled Wang Lili's hair out! Daring to show off in front of me, I think she doesn't know what death means!"
Xiao Lan was truly furious; the kind of man she hated most in her life was a scoundrel who abandoned his wife and children.
The thought of trying to sell the hair tie to that woman earlier made her feel nauseous, as if she had swallowed a fly.
"I was just thinking about that guy. He looked so fake, his eyes were always darting around. He was definitely not a decent guy. And that woman, forget about her. She's got that belly sticking out like a steamed bun, and she dares to complain about our stuff being low-grade? She should take a good look at herself in the mirror. How is that fat worthy of our Hong Kong-style hair ties?"
Xiao Lan cursed with spittle flying everywhere, truly feeling wronged for Li Xianglian.
"Xianglian, why didn't you say anything back then? If you had just said one word, I would have made them lose their minds and utterly humiliated in front of everyone!"
Li Xianglian pulled Xiao Lan down to sit and gently advised, "Sister Lan, calm down. It's not worth ruining our good mood for making money over someone like that. To him, seeing me living a better and more beautiful life than him is the cruelest slap in the face. If I really argue with him, it will only make it seem like I haven't let go, making him even more smug."
Now that Li Xianglian has Qin Rushan, she feels as if many years have passed since then.
"I used to be treated like a slave at his house, and I couldn't even get a hot meal. Now that I'm divorced and making money, even if I'm just setting up a street stall here, I feel at ease."
Zhao Gang is now the Wang family's son-in-law, but look at how servile he is! He's no different from a lowly eunuch in front of Wang Lili. Let him suffer that kind of life himself. I find it disgusting and don't even want to look at him.
Looking at Li Xianglian's calm demeanor, Xiao Lan couldn't help but admire her.
"Okay, girl, you're more magnanimous than I am. You're right, we're licensed people now, and we're going to be big bosses someday. Those scumbags who scheme for petty gains and climb the ladder by relying on women will eventually fall flat on their faces. We won't bother with trash, lest we get tainted by it."
Xiao Lan took a sip of water to suppress the anger in her heart.
"But seriously, your ex-husband's eyes were practically popping out of his head just now. He probably never expected you to become so attractive after the divorce; he must be kicking himself."
Li Xianglian snorted coldly: "He only got those crooked ideas because he saw I could make money. I know Zhao Gang best; he only cares about money and power and has never had a conscience. Who knows what he's plotting right now? We should be careful when we go out in the future, and not let this rotten leech stick to us again."
"He dares!"
Xiao Lan glared at him. "If he dares to harass you in this area, I, Xiao Lan, will break his third leg, or I'm not a Xiao!"