My boyfriend, Hank, and I waited two years to get the factory's housing allocation quota. A cozy 800-square-foot two-bedroom apartment with a balcony. Perfect for our upcoming wedding. The day before we were set to register our marriage, I had ten bucks in my pocket. I was planning to buy Hank a nice Dacron shirt for our wedding photos tomorrow. But as I walked past the factory school gate, I heard a few female workers whispering: "Did you hear? Judy got an apartment this time." "For real? Those quotas are like gold dust. Everyone's been eyeing them." "I know, right? Heard Hank gave it to her. Judy's been walking around with her nose in the air for days." My heart sank. This wedding... might not be happening. 1 Judy was Hank's apprentice. From the day she joined the factory, she'd been following him around like a lost puppy, "Master" this, "Master" that. Anyone with eyes could see what she was after. Ideally, Hank had always kept things professional with her. He shouldn't be causing a scandal like this right before our wedding. I quickened my pace towards the workshop. From a distance, I saw Hank standing by his lathe. Judy had her head down, talking to him, shoulders shaking like she was crying. Before I reached them, Judy looked up and saw me. She forced an awkward smile. "Hey, Sarah." Hank walked over and took my hand. "Sarah, what are you doing here? I thought you took the day off?" I stared at him and asked bluntly: "I heard Judy got the housing allocation." "We waited over two years for the factory to release one quota. She's been here six months. Why did she get it?" Hank quickly covered my mouth. "Keep it down. It's not good if people hear." "Judy's quota... is ours." I forced a smile. "Quotas aren't just handed out. Even by seniority, it's not her turn." "Don't worry about that. I made it happen." Hank lowered his voice. "Judy's family is in a tough spot. Her brother needs to get married ASAP, and the fiancée's family doesn't want an older sister hanging around. So they kicked her out." "She's just a girl, she can't be homeless. I'm just helping her out." I laughed in disbelief, stepping forward and forcing him back a half step. "Helping her out?" "You used my quota to help her. Did you ask me?" Hank's face flushed red, his voice rising. "What's yours or mine?!" "The factory gave that apartment to me. I can give it to whoever I want!" "Besides, we just registered the marriage for show. It's not like I'm actually gonna live with her!" "Once her brother gets married, I'll divorce her immediately..." Divorce? A nameless fire burned in my chest. My eyes widened, trembling with rage. "You're talking about divorce? So you not only gave her the apartment, you married her?" "No wonder. I said that apartment wouldn't change hands easily." Seeing I was truly angry, Hank softened his tone. "Don't be mad. Once the apartment stuff is sorted, I'll divorce her and marry you properly." "Then I'll give you a grand wedding, okay?" "Not okay." I took a deep breath, my voice cold. "Hank, a marriage certificate isn't a joke. That makes you legally husband and wife. If you married her, what am I?" "You're my girlfriend." He said it so matter-of-factly, even a bit impatiently. "Why are you so hung up on this?" "Sarah, you're usually so reasonable. Why are you being so stubborn about this?" "It's just a piece of paper. Can you eat it?" I sneered. He really wasted his high school education. "You can't eat it, but it can send you to jail." "Do you think a sham marriage is a small thing?" "If the factory investigates, you'll lose your senior technician title, maybe even get fired!" Hank scoffed. "Investigate what?" "We just tell everyone we broke up." "Give it a year or two, Judy and I get divorced, then you and I register again. Problem solved." His nonchalance made me sick to my stomach. "Hank, where do you get the nerve to think I'd still marry you?" "And where do you get the confidence to think I won't expose this crap?" Hank pouted. "We've been together for years. Who in the factory doesn't know we're a thing?" "Besides me, who else would marry you?" "And if you expose this, my reputation is ruined, but do you think yours will be clean?" "A woman dumped by a man... people will talk behind your back wherever you go." 2 Looking at the man in front of me, I suddenly felt cold all over. I almost spent my life with him. He looked down on women, mocked marriage, and was using my reputation to threaten me. Blood rushed to my head. I raised my hand and slapped him. Smack! Hank held his face, eyes wide with disbelief. "You dare hit me?" "Damn right I dare." I looked at him coldly. "Hank, from today on, we are done." "Sarah!" He roared. "Don't you regret this!" I gave him a look of disdain and turned to leave. Suddenly, Judy popped out from behind him, blocking my path. Her eyes were red, tears falling like broken pearls. Her voice was as quiet as a mosquito, meant only for us. "Sarah, don't blame Master." She leaned closer. "Master still has you in his heart. He just pities a country girl like me." "Look at you. Born in the city, educated, have a job, and a good man like Master willing to marry you. What's one apartment quota?" "Besides, the factory will have more allocations. Maybe you'll get one next time." "But I'm different. If I don't have this apartment, my dad will force me to marry the cripple in the east village..." I stepped sideways, putting some distance between us before raising my voice. "Judy, are you addicted to playing the victim?" Workers around us looked over. "Last winter, your mom took all your money, and you were crying at the factory gate at midnight. I was the one who took you home." "My mom got up in the middle of the night to cook you noodles. I saw you shivering and gave you my new sweater. Did you forget all that?" Judy's face went pale. I ignored her act. I wasn't the one with a guilty conscience. I wanted everyone to know that Judy was the one who wronged me. "You acted all pitiful to gain my sympathy." "I was even worried you'd get fired for being slow, so I asked Hank to mentor you personally. What did you say then?" I mimicked Judy's voice: "Sarah~ You're so good. I'll definitely repay you someday." Laughter erupted around us. Judy's eyes filled with tears. I smirked. "Looking at it now, you really know how to repay people." "Everyone take note. Helping Judy comes with a price. Look at me—boyfriend stolen, apartment snatched." Hank frowned and stepped forward, shielding Judy. "Why bring up those petty past events?" "Who hasn't helped someone before?" "Sarah, you're being so petty. It's beneath you." I kicked him in the shin. "You two team up to bully me, and you have the nerve to call me petty?" Someone chimed in from the side. It was Lisa from the next group. "Just a few days ago, Judy was telling people that since Sarah is an only child and her family is well-off, helping her is expected." Another female worker added: "Exactly. Last time you said your mom was marrying you off, Sarah went to the factory manager to plead your case so you could stay. And you turn around and do this?" Judy couldn't lift her head, swaying like she might faint. Hank's face was livid. He reached out and pulled her into his arms. He pointed at me coldly. "Sarah, you're doing this on purpose, aren't you? Just to embarrass her?" "I'm embarrassing her? Weren't you two the ones who disgusted me first?" "If your Judy is so easily embarrassed, maybe stop doing embarrassing things." With that, I ignored them and pushed through the crowd. 3 As soon as I reached the workshop door, Lisa chased after me. She grabbed my arm, looked around sneakily, and whispered: "Sarah, be careful." "Just now, Judy was telling people you bully her because you're a city girl." "She said Master lost feelings for you ages ago and was just waiting to break up." "What else did she say?" "She said... you're fat and mean, not good enough for her good Master." Lisa pouted. "Unlike her, who can do laundry and cook for Master." "It makes me so mad!" "You're a Model Worker! Women hold up half the sky, what's so special about doing laundry and cooking!" "When she first came, she followed Hank around all day, calling him 'Master' so sweetly. Who couldn't see what she was up to?" "A few days ago, Hank even took her brother to buy a bike." Lisa held up two fingers. "Heard it cost two hundred bucks. Judy's family is broke, how could they afford that?" Hank came from a regular family. For our wedding, he only offered $166 as a dowry. Yet he casually gave away a $200 bike. My anger peaked, then faded into a cold clarity. "I know. Thanks, Lisa." 4 Back home. My mom was busy making dumplings. Seeing my face, she rushed over. "What's wrong? Why the long face?" She craned her neck to look behind me. "Where's Hank? Why didn't he come back with you?" I didn't speak. "Did the apartment thing fall through?" Her voice tightened. "Shouldn't be. We waited the longest. Plus, didn't your factory say key personnel get priority this year?" It was priority for key personnel. But last year, I helped Hank fix two machines. Now he was a grade above me. So the housing quota fell to him. "He gave the quota to Judy." I sank into the sofa, speaking weakly. "They registered a marriage. Said it's fake, just until Judy's family situation stabilizes, then they'll divorce." Mom gasped. "What kind of nonsense is that? Are they crazy?" Just then, a bicycle bell rang outside the courtyard gate. I peeked out. It was Judy. She had changed out of her work clothes into a brand-new floral shirt. Holding a mesh bag with a few apples. Peeking around the gate. Seeing me, she gave a timid smile. "Sarah, I know I wronged you and Auntie about the apartment." "These fruits are..." She planned to trade my apartment for a few rotten apples? My anger flared instantly. I jumped off the sofa and shoved her towards the exit. "Take your rotten apples and get out!" Startled by my shout, her tears fell instantly. "Sarah, I know you're mad, but I really had no choice." "I didn't want to be dragged back home or sold for a dowry." She sobbed, shoulders shaking. "My family thinks I got an apartment and married in the city, so they won't come looking for me for a while." "Master and I just borrowed the quota. Once my brother gets a wife and things settle down, I'll divorce him immediately..." I didn't buy a single tear. My eyes were fixed on her new shirt. Light blue with a white belt. Last month, an old classmate sent me one just like it. I was busy helping Hank fix machines, so I asked him to pick it up. He said he lost it on the way. Turns out it was lost onto Judy's body. I curled my lip in a mocking smile. "You really like 'borrowing' things, don't you?" "Borrowing a quota requires wearing a new shirt? Borrowing a quota requires Hank buying your brother a bike?" Judy's face went white. She bit her lip and glanced inside. "Is Auntie home? I want to explain to Auntie..." "No need to explain!" Mom walked out, her face pale. "Our family doesn't need your rotten apples! If you want to apologize sincerely, give the quota back to my daughter and get out of the factory." Judy stepped back in fear, crying harder. "Auntie, please don't be like this... I really..." Mom was breathing heavily, her finger shaking as she pointed at Judy. "Really what? Really shameless?" "My Sarah and Hank have been together for five years. She gave up a chance to go to the provincial capital for him." "And you, here for six months, steal her man and dare to show up at my door!" Judy suddenly squatted on the ground, hugging her knees and wailing. "I didn't mean to... I just wanted to live..." "I'm just a country girl, bullied at the factory. Only Master would help me..." 5 Before I could scold her, Hank came running. Frowning, he threw his precious bike aside and rushed to help her up. "What's wrong? Who bullied you?" The tenderness in his voice felt like needles in my heart. Mom's face went cold. She looked at me instinctively, patting my hand. Judy threw herself into Hank's arms, crying harder. "Master, I just wanted to see Auntie, but Sarah and Auntie scolded me..." "Did I do something wrong? Maybe I shouldn't take the quota. I'll just go back to my village..." "Nonsense!" Hank stroked her hair and glared at me. "Sarah, what is wrong with you and your mom? Is it easy for a young girl like her? Do you have to drive her to death?" Mom was trembling with rage, pointing at Hank, speechless. I supported her, watching Hank hold Judy, coaxing her softly. "Don't cry. I'm here. No one can bully you." He took out a handkerchief and gently wiped Judy's tears. Once she stopped crying, Hank glanced at Mom perfunctorily. "Auntie okay? Need to go to the hospital?" "Save your fake kindness!" Mom pointed at the door. "Take her and get out! Don't ever come back!" Hank frowned, didn't speak, helped Judy up, and said softly, "I'll take you back." He pushed his bike. Judy leaned against him. As they left, she looked back at me. There was a hint of triumph in her eyes. I watched their backs. Then looked at Mom's pale face. Whatever feelings I had for Hank snapped right there. I helped Mom inside. She grabbed my hand. "Sarah, you can't have a man like that. We don't need that apartment. Mom will save up for you. We'll live on our own capability." I nodded. "Mom, don't worry. Your daughter isn't a pushover." "I have to let them know who deserves that quota." Mom looked at me and suddenly smiled, wrinkles gathering at the corners of her eyes. "Good. My daughter has grown up, has a mind of her own. Do whatever you want to do. No one bullies us." "If your factory doesn't listen to reason, I'll... I'll hang myself at their gate!" I quickly comforted her. "Mom, relax. Our Factory Manager hates underhanded tricks the most." "Just rest at home and wait for my good news."
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