"Heh heh... Su, you put it perfectly. There’s no woman in our compound more amazing than Divine Doctor Jiao Jiao. If that crazy woman still has designs on you, you should give her a good thrashing."

Su Shuochi slowed the car and turned to look at Song Zijie. "I never hit women."

"What, you didn’t hit that crazy woman? Then why was she sitting on the ground crying?"

"Who knows why she was crying. I only said a few words to her, and then I came out when I heard your car."

Su Shuochi said helplessly. He truly didn’t understand why Zhou Mei was sitting on the ground crying, because he had never seen his wife cry.

"Haha... I, Song Zijie, may not be a ladies’ man, and I certainly don’t know the first thing about being gentle with women, but it looks like you, Su, know even less."

"What’s the point of knowing all that? My wife says I’m just fine. When it comes to clingy women who won’t give up, I’ve always believed in an eye for an eye. Not hitting her was me being merciful."

"So you really don’t know how to treat a lady, Su? Divine Doctor Jiao Jiao must spoil you rotten. You’re a lucky man."

"I was incredibly lucky to meet her, and having her in my life has made me very happy."

"Tsk tsk... Divine Doctor Jiao Jiao isn’t even here, and I’m still being subjected to your public displays of affection. You’re really something else.

But you were dead right about one thing, Su. You can’t be polite with those stubborn, clingy women. If it were me, I’d beat her until her own parents wouldn’t recognize her."

Song Zijie’s words sounded like a joke, but his eyes, as he looked at Su Shuochi, were filled with admiration and respect.

Although he had been in poor health since birth, it didn’t mean he lacked female admirers. After all, he was handsome and came from a prominent family.

What annoyed him most were the girls who clung to him just to curry favor with the Song Family.

He was in poor health, not an idiot. Of course he understood the feelings between men and women.

Before, his poor health had left him feeling hopeless, so he refused to entertain any romantic feelings. Even now, he simply hadn’t met the right girl to stir his heart.

"Like I said, I don’t hit women. I didn’t even touch her, and she was already on the ground crying. If I had actually hit her, she’d probably be rolling around on the floor!"

After he spoke, Su Shuochi accelerated again. He felt the need to vent his frustration.

He was extremely agitated and felt a deep sense of unease. ’How can that woman be so shameless!’

After hearing Su Shuochi’s words, Song Zijie grumbled to himself. ’Su Shuochi, you’re all talk.’

’If he ran into Dong Yuanyuan, who’s going through her divorce, she would definitely cling to him. We’ll see if he doesn’t get angry enough to hit someone then.’

He didn’t dare say it out loud, however, and could only ridicule him in his head. No matter what, he would never dare to provoke Su Shuochi.

So it was best to just keep his mouth shut.

At the same time, he silently prayed that Dong Yuanyuan wouldn’t find out Su was back at the compound.

"So, Su, how many days are you planning to stay this time?" Song Zijie asked with a smile, changing the subject.

He also hoped Su would leave the compound quickly. That Dong Yuanyuan had pestered him relentlessly in the past.

’If she ran into Su now, she would surely grab onto him like a lifeline and not let go. That would be a disaster!’

"Is there a problem you guys can’t solve?" Su Shuochi asked, confused.

"Not at all. You usually arrange everything perfectly over the phone, but the guys still really miss you," Song Zijie said with a laugh.

Thinking of how smoothly Su had arranged everything at the factory, he was filled with sincere gratitude.

Su Shuochi saw the look on Song Zijie’s face and knew they all thought the factory’s success was his doing. In reality, every idea had come from his wife.

On the way to the factory, the car passed through several villages. The new concrete roads there had all been funded by them.

’If you want to prosper, first you must build roads.’ This made it much more convenient for outside merchants to pick up goods from the factory, saving both time and effort.

The newly wealthy families from the city could also drive out for recreation...

’If the entire countryside of the Empire were like this, with basic public infrastructure properly established, the whole nation would be powerful and prosperous. What a magnificent, flourishing era that would be!’

Farmland stretched out on both sides of the wide road, currently full of rapeseed seedlings. Ponds on higher ground provided water for the fields.

Seated in the car, he looked through the window at the villages, which seemed to be bustling with life.

The hillsides and roadsides were barren for now, but in the spring, they would be surrounded by green mountains, fragrant fields, and groves of fruit trees...

The villagers they encountered along the way all wore smiles that came from the heart.

This year, they could all find work to earn money. The able-bodied could work on road construction, and others could get jobs in the factory.

How amazing was that!

How could they not smile from the heart!

Su Shuochi watched them, recalling how his wife often told him that her wishes weren’t extravagant.

All she wanted was a stable life, for her family to be safe, and for their future children to grow up happy. That was enough to make her content.

In truth, he felt the same way. Su Shuochi admired the village scenery as he drove.

Thinking of the wonderful future ahead, a storm of emotion raged within him, but his expression remained calm.

Song Zijie looked at the ever-unflappable Su, and his admiration for the man rose to a whole new level.

Not far behind their factory was a block of single-story buildings. Some were partitioned into simple rooms for married couples to live in.

The core team members also had their own private rooms. Sheng Shiwu spent most of his time living in his single dorm room at the factory.

Xi Guodong and the others were very surprised to see Su Shuochi. Song Zijie hadn’t told them that morning that Su was back.

After another round of greetings, they all gave Su Shuochi updates as they led him on a tour of the factory.

Back in the Su family’s small courtyard, Su Shuochi’s words had left Zhou Mei’s face burning, as if he had slapped her hard across it.

Feeling her strength drain away, she collapsed onto the ground. Tears streamed uncontrollably from her eyes, and her sobs grew louder and louder.

This was why Su Shuochi and Song Zijie couldn’t understand her crying.

Watching Su Shuochi walk away without a single backward glance, her sobs became even more heart-wrenching.

Mrs. Zhou stood beside her, patiently trying to console her, but she roared impatiently, "This is all your fault! SOB... After he was crippled, I said I wanted to marry him, but you all said he was a cripple and couldn’t make me happy!"

"He was paralyzed and bedridden at the time. How could he have given you happiness?" Mrs. Zhou retorted, feeling entirely justified.

"Well, he’s all better now, isn’t he? Can’t you see that? Even when he was paralyzed in bed, his family was still living well and eating good food."

The more Zhou Mei spoke, the angrier and more regretful she became. She truly hadn’t insisted on marrying him back then!

’Su Shuochi might not have liked seeing me, but that must have been because he was frustrated with his condition!’

’But whenever Aunt Su saw me, she would always give me hopeful looks. Several times, she even whispered and asked if I was willing to marry into the Su family.’

’But I just averted my gaze and quietly told Aunt Su that my parents wouldn’t agree.’

’That must be why Aunt Su doesn’t feel the least bit guilty seeing how miserable my life is now.’ The more she thought about it, the deeper her regret became.

"AHH... AHH... SOB..." ’I regret it!’ Zhou Mei let out a roar like a wild animal.

Mrs. Zhou was so frightened by her daughter’s frenzied state that she was at a complete loss.