Title: How to Thrive in the Sixties
Translator: Fuyu
Extra 1 - Liu Mei vs Wu Guozhi
(T/N: This scene happens shortly after Wu Guozhi goes to see Su Yu at the factory again. It's taken from raw chapter 30.)
That night, after returning home, Su Yu called Liu Mei over, shared the original owner and Wu Guozhi's history, and explained what she wanted Liu Mei to do. Liu Mei worked at the steel factory, which was near the machinery factory, so Su Yu chose her for this important task.
"Just inquire what he usually does and who he has contact with. Most importantly, find out if he has any interactions with other women. Don't let people find out you're doing this on purpose. Get this information, and I'll reward you."
Liu Mei's eyes lit up when she heard there was a reward. "I'll do it. I'll definitely do a good job."
Su Yu nodded. "I believe in your ability. That's why I'm only asking you instead of sending the rest of the family. You're the most capable one out of them. I'll hand this family over to you in the future. I want to see how impressive you are."
Liu Mei was fired up. If she became the head of the family, she would punish her husband, that heartless guy!
(T/N: For extra context, in the past chapters, Su Yu has been rewarding the Su siblings for their loyalty to her, which upsets Liu Mei. Su Dazhi doesn't sympathize when she complains to him and tells her to be loyal to the family if she wants the same treatment, so she's annoyed with him.)
—
(T/N: From raw chapter 31.)
A few nights later, after dinner, when the Su brothers went to the communal bathroom and Su Lin went out to wash the dishes, Su Yu asked Liu Mei, “How's the task I gave you?"
Liu Mei immediately ran over to report with an angry expression, "I've been asking people for a few days and I also went over to secretly observe him. He's cheating on you!"
Su Yu said, "Speak well. Don't bring personal feelings into it."
Liu Mei swept away the anger on her face. "Oh, okay. I found out he's been very close to a female worker. She's an apprentice. Her name is Sun Min. She accepts his advances, but pretends to reject it. She's keeping him on the hook."
"Moreover, I found a big problem. People in the machinery factory think poorly of you. They think you're lazy and have a big temper. They think that Wu Guozhi has already broken up with you. It's clearly that Wu Guozhi saying nonsense. He only said he broke up with you after getting close to Sun Min. He's clearly pouring dirty water on you."
"..."
Su Yu swallowed and narrowed her eyes. Wu Guozhi was quite smart. If nothing came of their relationship, only she would lose face. Everyone in the textile factory knew they had been dating for a long time. Moreover, the original owner was very protective of Wu Guozhi and only said good things about him. This punk, he was quite good at tossing the blame.
"You shouldn't give this guy face. You should find people to beat him up and see who's more powerful!"
"Who's going to pay for his hospital fees?"
Liu Mei: "..."
Su Yu nodded. "Use your brain. Violence won't solve the problem. How can I trust you to take care of the Su family in the future if you only know how to use violence?"
Liu Mei blushed and lowered her head. She had suffered a loss at the hands of her older sister-in-law the last time she had this idea. Why did she suggest this idea to her? So stupid.
"What should we do then?"
"It's easy. Go to Sun Min, explain the situation to her, and tell her I'm going to go to their factory to make a fuss. She'll be the one that's embarrassed then, but if she cooperates with me, her reputation can be preserved and I'll share some benefits with her."
"How do you want her to cooperate with you?"
"Have her write a report letter of when and where Wu Guozhi started to pursue her and that she refused his pursuit. Tell her to clearly write that everything was one-sided entanglement by Wu Guozhi. That's all. Bring the letter back to me when she's done."
"That's such a good idea. We can take the report letter out, and everyone will scold that b*stard to death."
Su Yu rolled her eyes. "How could it be that simple? After you get the report letter from Sun Min, go to Wu Guozhi and tell him you accidentally found out about this. If he doesn't want things to escalate, he has to pay you hush money."
"... What's hush money?"
Ai, why were people so simple in this era?
"It's paying you to not say anything. Remember to ask for more. 20 yuan isn't too much. 30 yuan is even better."
Liu Mei gulped. "Will he be willing to pay that?"
"That depends on how much his reputation and job is worth to him."
"But then, how will you break up with him? You aren't going to stay with him, are you?" Liu Mei felt nothing but disdain towards Wu Guozhi. If her sister-in-law married someone like Wu Guozhi, wouldn't he be able to manage this family in the future? That wasn't the resolution she wanted.