The CEO's Porcelain Wife

Stone Slab Town

Stone Slab Town was named for the stone slab paths that ran through every alley. Beside the ancient, cool, and clean stone paths was a supermarket, the only one in Stone Slab Town. The owner knew about Sima Qing's situation and agreed to let her work there, also giving her a part-time job as a tutor for a third-grade child. Sima Qing was sincerely grateful to the owner, as this would allow her to take her mother to see a doctor in a few months.

"Sima Qing, from today on, you can handle the cash register alone. You're really smart, you learned everything in just one day. It took me a whole week to learn!" Liu Xin said with admiration.

"Thank you for teaching me. It's because my mentor taught so well that I learned so quickly." Sima Qing kept her mother's teachings in mind: No matter where you go, you must be humble and eager to learn.

"Aiya, Sima Qing, please don't make me sound so old! I'm only 20 years old, calling me 'mentor' makes me feel ancient!" Liu Xin exclaimed.

"Then I'll call you 'sister'. I'll be 16 next month," Sima Qing whispered in Liu Xin's ear, "Don't tell the boss, I told him I was already 16 so he would let me work."

"Oh, you're not even 16 yet? Then you definitely can't show your ID to the boss. But it's okay, you'll be 16 next month anyway." Liu Xin quickly comforted her, understanding that there must be a compelling reason for her to start working at such a young age.

The supermarket was quite busy, with no breaks from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. It was almost time for her shift to end, and Sima Qing had to quickly get home to prepare dinner for her mother. After that, she would come back to the supermarket to tutor the owner's child. She felt busy but happy.

"Mom, I'm back!" Sima Qing said, parking her bike and running upstairs to pour a glass of water for her mother.

"Qing'er, I'm not thirsty. I even got out of bed today, don't worry," her mother replied, "Go wash your face since you just got back."

"Mom, I'm making dinner for you now. After you eat, I need to go tutor at the owner's house," Sima Qing said, with a cheerful look on her face.

"Qing'er, you work so hard, it's all my fault."

"Mom, it's alright, I'm not tired at all. Plus, I get double pay." She went downstairs to wash the vegetables, adding, "I'll bring the food upstairs when it's ready."

Knock knock knock... knock knock...

Who is it? Sima Qing turned off the faucet, placed the washed vegetables down, grabbed a dry towel, and went to open the door.

Knock knock knock...

"Coming!" she said, turning the doorknob. A figure in a straight suit came into view, and looking up, she saw a handsome, cool face she had never seen before. How could a man be so good-looking? She thought. We've never had a guest like this at our house before. He must have the wrong door. Sima Qing didn't invite him inside.

"Who are you looking for? Did you get the wrong door?" Sima Qing asked, opening her eyes wide.

The man didn't say anything; he just stared at her intently for a full three minutes. Sima Qing touched her face, wondering if she had something on it. No, I should be fine.

"Hey, who are you looking for? If you don't tell me, I'm going to close the door!" Sima Qing said loudly.

"Qing'er, who are you talking to? That's not very polite," Qing'er's mother said, slowly coming down the stairs. She had been able to move up and down the stairs for a few days now.

"Mom, this person isn't saying anything. I think he has the wrong door," Sima Qing said, helping her mother sit in a chair.

"It's okay if he got the wrong door, please come in and have a cup of tea," Qing'er's mother said to the guest.

"Mom, we don't know him, we can't just let him in," Sima Qing said, refusing to get the guest slippers.

"He doesn't look like a bad person to me, let him come in. We'll ask who he is looking for and see if we can help him."

Sima Qing placed the slippers on the floor, saying: "Come in."

The man walked over to Qing'er's mother, bowed deeply, and said, "Auntie, how are you?"

Qing'er's mother looked up at the man, and their eyes met. She immediately stood up, saying: "You... you are... Chun'er? Are you the young master, Master Sima?"

"Yes, I am Chun'er. I am sorry for startling you," Sima Chun said, bowing deeply again.

"I never would have thought, not even in my dreams, that the young master would come! I am so happy! Young master, please sit, I'll go pour some tea.” Qing'er's mother seemed to be feeling much better all of a sudden.

“How is the Old Madam doing? It's been more than ten years." Qing'er's mother said, placing a cup of tea on the table with both hands.

"Grandma is doing very well, thank you for asking," Sima Chun said politely, adding, "How has your health been lately?"

"Oh, I'm fine," Qing'er's mother replied with a smile, "Qing'er, this is Master Sima, say hello to the young master."

"Mom, I'm not used to calling people 'young master, young master,' it makes it sound like we're inferior to him. He looks more than ten years older than me, I should call him 'uncle' at most," Sima Qing said to Sima Chun directly. "Can I call you uncle? Or even big brother? I definitely won't call you 'young master.'"

"Sure, you can call me whatever you like, as long as you're happy. But I still prefer it if you call me 'big brother,' it makes me feel younger," Sima Chun replied.

"Oh, then I will call you 'big brother' from now on," Sima Qing said matter-of-factly. "Why have I never seen you before, big brother? Are you not from this area? You certainly don't look like you're from around here." Sima Qing was eager to find out why this distinguished relative had suddenly appeared at their house. Furthermore, this 'big brother' seemed especially respectful to her mother, and her mother seemed overwhelmed with joy at his arrival, which she found very strange.

"Qing'er, go buy some groceries. I want to cook some simple dishes to treat the young master," Qing'er's mother interrupted her daughter's questions.

"Oh, then I'll go buy groceries," Qing'er said, turning to grab her bike keys.

"Qing'er, don't go. I'll just treat you and your aunt to dinner instead," Sima Chun said, standing up.

"Young master, since you've come to our house today, you are our guest. There's no reason we would let you treat us to dinner. Just let me cook a few simple dishes, it's a token of my sincerity, please don't mind it." Qing'er's mother said, and was about to send Qing'er out to get the groceries.

"Then I'll follow your arrangements," Sima Chun had no choice but to agree.

"Young master, are you working in Hong Kong?" Qing'er's mother asked, trying to figure out why Sima Chun had suddenly come to their house.

"Yes, I've come to Suzhou on business. I heard from my grandmother that you were in Suzhou, so I took the liberty of coming to visit," Sima Chun lied without batting an eye.

"Oh, the Old Madam is so kind, she still remembers us. I really have to thank her.” Qing'er's mother still didn't understand why he had come to their house, after more than ten years of no contact. It couldn't just be a social visit, could it? As she was thinking, Sima Qing returned.

"Mom, I'm going to wash the vegetables and cook. You are not feeling well, it's best if you don't move around," Sima Qing said, taking a large basket of vegetables into the kitchen.

"Alright, cough cough cough... I'll chat with the young master," Qing'er's mother coughed abruptly.

Cough cough cough... cough cough cough... Qing'er's mother covered her mouth with a handkerchief. Her face had become pale due to the coughing.

"Qing'er, quickly come help your mother go upstairs to rest," Sima Chun quickly said, getting up from his seat, noticing Qing'er's mother's distress.

"Mom, you're coughing again, quickly go upstairs," Sima Qing said, as she and Sima Chun helped her mother slowly up the stairs, each on one side of her.

Halfway up the stairs, cough cough cough... cough cough cough... Qing'er's mother coughed so violently that she could barely stand up straight. Puh..., she spat out a mouthful of blood.

"Mom, Mom, what's wrong?" Sima Qing asked, terrified.