Chapter 265: Chapter 257: Zhong Yuying of Shanghai
In a yard within an alley that somewhat resembled a large cluttered courtyard in Shanghai Xuhui District, Zhong Yuying was washing clothes under a communal faucet. Beads of water covered her face and hands, which sparkled enchantingly in the afternoon sunlight.
Two years had gone by, and Zhong Yuying had grown into a tall, graceful young girl, completely shedding her former rustic air. She did not look at all like a girl who had come from the countryside, but rather like a flower bud on the verge of blooming.
"Yu Ying, could you fetch me a glass of water to drink?" A hoarse and aged voice came from the room on the west side.
"Okay, Grandma, wait a moment."
Zhong Yuying dropped the clothes she was holding, wiped her hands on her clothes, and then hurriedly ran inside.
The room was not large, about ten square meters, furnished with only two beds, a table, and a few chairs. The bigger bed was occupied by a thin and frail old lady, while the smaller bed, brimming with youthful vibrancy, presumably belonged to Zhong Yuying.
"Grandma, here’s some water for you."
Zhong Yuying poured a glass of cool boiled water and helped the old lady drink it. She then carefully wiped the water from the old woman’s mouth with a handkerchief, showing meticulous consideration.
"Grandma, do you need to use the bathroom?"
"That would be good."
Zhong Yuying brought over a chamber pot and assisted the old lady in urinating. Carrying the old lady, she frowned and held her nose in distaste. When would these days come to an end?
After running away, Zhong Yuying had headed straight to Shanghai. She had her plans set—she would work as a domestic helper in Shanghai. With her looks and intelligence, she was certain to marry off better than Tian Manxing!
But upon arriving in Shanghai, she realized how naive she had been. A young country girl like her, who had no relatives in Shanghai, found no families willing to take her in. Fortunately, she had brought two hundred yuan with her, or else she wouldn’t have even had a place to stay.
After living in a hostel for over half a month, the owner couldn’t stand by any longer and helped her find her current job as a domestic helper. Her employer was a paralyzed old lady whose children were all at work and couldn’t take care of her, which necessitated the hiring of a caregiver.
The old lady, however, had a somewhat odd temperament, and since she needed assistance with toileting due to her paralysis, many caregivers quit after a few days. As a result, this family was always looking for someone to fill the position. The hostel owner thus recommended Zhong Yuying, to avoid having this young girl wandering around the hostel all day. She couldn’t take responsibility if something went wrong.
Although Zhong Yuying also resented the old lady, she had no other choice. If she didn’t take the job, she would have nowhere to go. Therefore, she made every effort to please the old woman, and generally took good care of her. This is how she came to stay with the old lady.
Zhong Yuying continued to wash clothes in the yard when a short, plump man in his thirties came out from a room on the east side. Dressed in a sweat-soaked shirt and floral shorts, he looked lethargic and seemed to have just woken up.
Upon seeing Zhong Yuying washing clothes, the man perked up and, shuffling his slippers, walked over to her with a laugh.
"Yu Ying, you’re washing clothes?"
Zhong Yuying glanced up at the man, forced a smile at the corner of her mouth, and continued to wash the clothes.
"Tsks, just look at those delicate and tender little hands of yours, definitely not cut out for this rough work," Debiao Huang boasted. "Yu Ying, if you follow me, I guarantee you’ll live like a lady—no longer having to serve that paralyzed old hag, dealing with piss and shit, which pains me just to see!"
The man, unabashed, squatted down next to Zhong Yuying, prattling on regardless of whether she was listening.
"Yu Ying, you know my situation. I have no parents, but I do have two houses."
Pride spread across his face as he mentioned this, and indeed he had reason to be. Owning two properties in Shanghai was quite the feat. Yuying’s hands paused for a moment when she heard this but then she resumed scrubbing. The man noticed the pause, and his heart leaped with joy.
"I’m also a grade-two worker at a state-owned factory, making over forty yuan a month. Give it another two years, and I’ll be grade three, which means forty-eight yuan. Yu Ying, think about it carefully, I’ll wait another month for you. If you don’t agree by then, I’ll go back to my hometown in Jiangsu to find a wife!"
After finishing his speech, the man shook his head and swaggered back to his room, a sly grin spreading across his face, turned away from Zhong Yuying. He was certain that this pretty little maid would take the bait this time.
This man, Huang Debiao, 32 years old, boasted a decent lifestyle by Shanghai standards—owning a house, a bicycle; he was an orphan with a steady job, didn’t gamble or frequent prostitutes. Reasonably, a man like him could find a wife in a matter of minutes.
However, Debiao, though not handsome, had high ambitions. He vowed to find a tall, good-looking, young and beautiful girl—preferring to shatter completely rather than be flawed—leading him to become an older bachelor until he met Zhong Yuying.
Debiao believed that Yu Ying was heaven-sent to be his wife, meeting all his criteria. Although her background wasn’t great and she wasn’t a local, if she were a local, she wouldn’t be available for him, would she?
Back in his room, Huang Debiao hummed a tune smugly, imagining the happy and blissful life he would soon share with Zhong Yuying.
In the yard, Zhong Yuying scrubbed the clothes vigorously, warring with herself. Truth be told, she found Debiao unattractive—older in age and unfortunate in looks, broad as he was tall. Yet, excluding those faults, his other attributes were indeed quite favorable, better than many younger, better-looking men!
A year prior, Yuying would’ve unequivocally rejected Debiao. She came to Shanghai to find a good-looking man with a good family background. How could she possibly marry someone like Debiao, this stumpy man?
But after nearly two years in Shanghai, all her dreams had been shattered. As a little maid like herself, she was considered the lowest class in Shanghai, where men would rather marry local women of lesser beauty than maids like her. Tian Manxing had just been lucky!
Yuying agonized internally, if she didn’t marry Debiao, would she really spend her life in Shanghai as a maid? Yet, marrying him felt unbearable. She, Yu Ying, was pretty, tall, and smart. Why should she settle for an ugly man?
"Yu Ying, come help me change, I’ve had an accident."
A raspy voice called from within the house. Upon hearing it, Yuying’s face fell. That damn old woman, hadn’t she just helped her urinate? How could there be another accident so soon?
Yuying hurried inside and was hit by the stench. She retched, her face grim as she went to change the old lady’s clothes. Inevitably, filth smeared onto her hands. Yuying fought back her disgust, wishing she could leave this wretched place at once!
No, she, Zhong Yuying, could not go on like this. She came to Shanghai to make something of herself, not to wait on this dying old hag!
With her lips tightly pursed, Yuying made up her mind.