Chapter 28

Lin Xiang almost thought she had misheard.

The night was deep and quiet, with only the occasional chirping of cicadas and birds, mixed with the rustling of leaves in the wind.

And in such a tranquil night, He Hongyuan’s words made Lin Xiang look up in surprise. Her beautiful apricot eyes widened slightly, rippling with confusion and a hint of astonishment.

“What did you say?” she instinctively asked, as if trying to confirm whether she had misheard or misunderstood.

He Hongyuan remained calm and unhurried, repeating himself. Perhaps because he had already blurted it out once, this time, he spoke with an added sense of composure and certainty, his lips curving into a faint, almost imperceptible smile.

“I’m worried that half a month is too long. While I’m away on my mission at sea, someone might try to pursue you.”

Lin Xiang’s lips parted slightly. She wanted to ask something but found it difficult to voice her thoughts. This man… did he even realize what he was saying? Was he implying what she thought he was?

Perhaps noticing her shock, He Hongyuan leaned down slightly, his tall figure bending toward her. Meeting her gaze head-on, he spoke as directly as a blade cutting through hesitation.

“Comrade Lin Xiang, I want to form a revolutionary partnership with you.”

Boom—her mind felt as if fireworks had exploded, rendering her momentarily incapable of thinking.

The He Hongyuan in the book—cold and emotionally detached—how could he be saying something like this to her?

The night shadows deepened, casting a surreal air over his words, as if they were as elusive as the evening breeze—touching her skin but impossible to grasp.

Lin Xiang had lived two lives, but never had she imagined that one day, someone would confess to her like this!

The phrase “revolutionary partnership” carried the weight of the 1970s, so different from the sweet words and flirtations she had once received from university seniors, colleagues, executives, and handsome strangers.

There was no flowery language—just a simple, solemn sincerity.

Her thoughts were in turmoil, emotions tangled in a web she couldn’t quite identify.

How could He Hongyuan say something like this? The man she knew from the book was supposed to remain single forever, never dating or getting married.

“Captain He, are you… are you mistaken?” This couldn’t be He Hongyuan.

Back when she arrived on the island with their childhood engagement certificate, the very first thing this man did upon meeting her was insist on breaking off the engagement.

His words had been resolute, his stance unwavering.

And yet tonight, he was saying he wanted to be with her?

It was as if He Hongyuan had anticipated her reaction. His voice was steady as he asked, “Comrade Lin Xiang, didn’t you personally say that you liked me?”

Lin Xiang’s face instantly flushed red. Under the moon’s soft glow, her fair cheeks turned rosy.

She had indeed said that before—but only to get herself out of a tricky situation when he had suspected her identity. She never expected him to remember it. Since she had said it herself, there was no denying it now.

“Yes, but…”

“I like you too.”

His deep, phoenix-like eyes shimmered with an almost imperceptible warmth, his gaze unwavering as he looked straight at her.

Five simple words—yet they had come from He Hongyuan.

The words Lin Xiang had been about to say were suddenly caught in her throat.

She looked at the man in front of her. His thick, curled eyelashes trembled slightly, betraying an inner emotion. Her heart grew increasingly chaotic.

She never imagined she would hear those words from He Hongyuan.

Her heartbeat quickened, a mix of panic and disbelief swelling within her.

Ever since she had that dream foretelling the future, she had come to understand her arranged fiancé’s personality—he was as cold as a rock that couldn’t be warmed, immune to any affection. Even in the book, the female lead, Meng Jing, with all her charm, and countless other persistent admirers, had failed to move him.

So, despite the fact that he matched her aesthetics perfectly, had impeccable character, and was an outstanding man by 1970s standards, she had long since given up on the idea of pursuing him.

There was no point chasing after something destined to have no outcome.

And yet—just now, he had said he liked her?!

Just when Lin Xiang had resigned herself to merely admiring He Hongyuan from afar, unattainable like a figure in a novel.

Her emotions were in disarray, like raindrops pounding onto a lake, stirring endless ripples. The first words she managed to utter were:

“We already broke off our engagement.”

It was as if stating the fact out loud gave her some strength, a clear reminder of their supposed relationship.

Where was all of this coming from now?

“The engagement certificate is in my dormitory drawer.”

Lin Xiang’s apricot eyes widened in surprise, her gaze misty with disbelief.

“You didn’t tear it up or burn it?” she asked in shock. Back when they had agreed to dissolve the engagement, she had suggested destroying the document to sever all ties.

He Hongyuan chuckled lightly. “I couldn’t bring myself to do it.”

That had been so long ago—had he already…?

She studied him carefully and, for the first time, saw a rare flicker of amusement in his otherwise deep and unreadable eyes.

“You didn’t want to date or get married,” she pointed out, her voice carrying all her confusion.

He Hongyuan suddenly straightened his posture, standing tall like a pine tree. Beneath the white brim of his military cap, his sharp, dark eyes were resolute.

“Before I met you, that was how I felt.”

His expression was serious, his words solemn—not like a man making a romantic confession, but like a soldier swearing an oath under the national flag.

“Because of my family background, I’ve never been interested in marriage. I thought it was meaningless.”

When it came to mentioning the scars of the past that he had been unwilling to recall, He Hongyuan, surprisingly, was quite composed. Perhaps it was because he was facing, for the first time, the female comrade with whom he wanted to form a revolutionary partnership that he finally allowed himself to tear away his facade.

“But this time, I understand now.” He lowered his gaze to Lin Xiang, his fiery and intense eyes making her cheeks flush. “Marriage, I suppose, would allow me to stand by your side rightfully and ensure that you never have to suffer even the slightest grievance.”

Lin Xiang felt a tight pull in her chest. He Hongyuan’s words echoed in her ears, mingling with Zhou Yuezhu’s exaggerated recounting. It was the first time she had encountered someone who would disregard all consequences and take action, just so she wouldn’t have to suffer even the smallest injustice.

In truth, she had long since grown accustomed to swallowing grievances on her own, slowly repaying them over time. She was used to fighting her battles alone.

“I would never let myself be mistreated,” Lin Xiang murmured. Even if she couldn’t retaliate immediately, she would find a way to secure the best outcome for herself.

He Hongyuan’s lips curled into a smile. He thought about the capable woman in front of him—how she had secretly sold her job, reported the factory director’s son, arranged for her younger brother to volunteer for rural work, and then dared to travel alone across a great distance to an unfamiliar place. Even now, faced with pressure from higher-ups that she couldn’t resist, she still managed to negotiate and secure a permanent worker’s position under unfavorable circumstances.

The more he thought about it, the brighter He Hongyuan’s eyes became. He held onto Lin Xiang firmly, his gaze locked onto her face. His heart pounded at an unusual speed, beyond his control.

The dim yellow light in the room enveloped her figure, making her seem as if she radiated a soft glow.

He Hongyuan said, “Yes, you are very capable. So, Comrade Lin Xiang, will you give me the chance to fight alongside you?”

—

The last lit lamp in the guesthouse was extinguished.

Downstairs, He Hongyuan stood silently, watching as Room 201 was swallowed by darkness. Only then did he turn and leave.

At dawn, he would set out to sea for a mission. Striding briskly, he made his way back to the dormitory.

Upstairs, in the darkened room, Lin Xiang lay in bed, tossing and turning in turmoil.

Her childhood betrothed had suddenly confessed to her, and in the most intense way possible. Others might ask, “Would you be my girlfriend?”

But He Hongyuan asked, “Can we fight side by side?”

Lin Xiang’s lips curled slightly in the darkness. She murmured to herself, “How can there be someone like him?”

At the time, when He Hongyuan asked that question, Lin Xiang hadn’t given him an answer. She simply told him it was too late, and that he had a mission early in the morning—he should focus on his work first.

In truth, she was afraid of acting on impulse at night. His confession had come so suddenly that it had caught her completely off guard. Lin Xiang had always prided herself on being a rational and well-planned person. Rarely had she ever been so confused and unsure. She needed time to calm down and think it through carefully.

It just so happened that He Hongyuan would be away on a mission for half a month. Not seeing him, not hearing his voice, would help her make a clearer decision.

After a day of chaos, uncertainty, and emotional upheaval, Lin Xiang woke up to the gentle morning sunlight filtering into the room.

Golden rays seeped through the thin curtains, scattering across the floor and warming her face with their comforting heat.

Looking at the rising sun in the east, she realized that He Hongyuan must have already departed. At this moment, he was likely clad in a white military uniform, standing on a white naval vessel, sailing across the deep blue sea. The wind would be whipping around him, and he would stand tall and steady—like a resolute pine tree.

As she imagined it, Lin Xiang suddenly snapped out of her thoughts. She reminded herself to use this time to think rationally, not to act impulsively, and certainly not to dwell on a certain someone who had set out on a mission.

—

Today was the last day to sign up for recruitment at the food factory. Because of yesterday’s interruptions, Lin Xiang’s registration had been postponed, and she absolutely could not delay it any further.

After breakfast, she took her household registration papers and introduction letter and set out. As soon as she stepped out of the guesthouse, she ran into Director Tian, who was hurrying toward her.

Yesterday’s incident had left Director Tian in a difficult position—she had reluctantly protected He Fen for the sake of balancing the situation, but by the evening, her husband had changed his stance, leaving her exhausted. Still, she felt somewhat satisfied with how things had turned out.

If it had been up to her, He Fen would have been punished long ago. How could she have let the recruitment process become such a mess? Now that He Fen’s punishment was settled, however, Lin Xiang’s position in Factory No.1 was still uncertain.

“Xiao Lin, He Fen and Li Jun both came to apologize to you yesterday. He Fen’s punishment will be carried out, but regarding your job, Comrade He Hongyuan personally asked me to help arrange it. He said that you’re highly educated and intelligent, and that you could be of great benefit to the factory. He hopes that you can be given the position you rightfully deserve.”

Just moments ago, Lin Xiang had resolved not to think about He Hongyuan for the next half month. Yet now, his name had already resurfaced in conversation.

Especially knowing that he had gone to Captain Yang first, and then specifically sought out Director Tian—her grip on her documents tightened, crumpling the edges of her household registration papers slightly.

“I’ve thought it over,” Director Tian continued. “Right now, all positions have been finalized. If we were to reassign you now and swap positions with someone else, it could cause dissatisfaction among the military spouses. That wouldn’t be good for your integration into the factory.”

After all, a factory was like a miniature society. First impressions were crucial.

Who would be happy to see a recruitment list, already finalized and announced, suddenly changed? That would only stir resentment. A young girl like Lin Xiang might find herself isolated and ostracized.

“In October, one of our military spouses will be transferring with her husband to the Southwest Military District. The transfer order has already been issued, and it’s just a matter of time. When she leaves, her position will be vacant—it’s a good role, and I was thinking of keeping it for you,” Director Tian said, acknowledging the hardships Lin Xiang had endured over the past few days. “As for the permanent worker status we mentioned yesterday, that still stands. You can work in Factory No.2 for two or three months, and in October, once that position opens up, you can transfer over. What do you think?”

Lin Xiang could tell that Director Tian had been subtly dissatisfied with He Fen the previous day, and now she was making meticulous arrangements for her, which was the best possible resolution to the matter.

She nodded. “Thank you, Director Tian. This arrangement is very good, and I have no objections.”

“Alright.” Director Tian had a good impression of this young woman. Yesterday, despite being wronged, she neither cried nor made a scene. Instead, she cleverly secured herself a permanent position through negotiation. Today, she readily accepted the work arrangement without hesitation. She was clearly capable and open-minded.

Captain He was right—Comrade Lin Xiang might indeed be an asset to the food factory.

With her job settled, Lin Xiang smoothly proceeded to report to the food factory.

He Fen had called in sick and was absent today. Instead, Director Tian personally accompanied Lin Xiang to submit her household registration and introduction letter and helped her fill out the personnel information form.

Several factory office workers, noticing the special treatment, exchanged glances. They couldn’t quite figure out why Captain He’s relative was receiving such attention from Director Tian, and they couldn’t help but take a few more looks at Lin Xiang.

One look was enough to see that she was a fair-skinned young woman with striking features.

Then, upon hearing Director Tian openly praise Lin Xiang’s performance in the recruitment exams—she had ranked first in both rounds and had a high level of education—they learned she had been granted a coveted permanent worker status. She was to be temporarily assigned to the Factory No.2 for training before returning to take up a better position.

The staff members clicked their tongues in surprise. Who would’ve thought that this seemingly young girl was so promising?

Although she would be stationed at the Factory No.2 for now, she would be working in the office. Director Tian had even made it clear that once Secretary Sun left in October, the position would be reserved for her. That was quite remarkable!

Lin Xiang, however, paid little attention to the way others looked at her. At the moment, she was listening to Sister Huang, the personnel officer, explaining the factory’s culture and the Chairman’s teachings.

The recruitment and onboarding process in the 1970s was not too different from later years. After verifying identity documents, the personnel officer would give a speech, mainly introducing new employees to the factory’s history, corporate culture, and production lines. Finally, they would be handed a yellow-covered book of the Chairman’s quotations to enhance their ideological awareness.

The 119 Food Factory had been around for a decent number of years—not too long, but long enough to develop rapidly. The main production lines were in the Factory No.1, primarily focusing on canned goods.

Being located near the sea, the military took advantage of the natural resources, processing and selling products to supplement military expenses and improve the living conditions of soldiers and their families. Surprisingly, this had turned into a promising venture.

Currently, the factory’s best-selling product was shrimp paste in cans, which could be found across six provinces and cities in the south.

Food processing technology in the 1970s was not as advanced as in later years, but with some foundation built over time, the shrimp paste could be preserved for nearly a month. In an era of food scarcity, it was considered a delicacy for those with some extra money.

Apart from the flagship shrimp paste production line, the factory also had a canned fish line, which, though smaller in scale, was known for its great taste and strong sales.

“Comrade Lin Xiang, do you have any questions?” Huang Yan, a long-time employee who had been with the factory since its inception, asked kindly. She was always the one to conduct onboarding sessions for new employees.

Lin Xiang smiled. “Sister Huang, what will my main responsibilities be at the Factory No.2?”

She had originally applied for the position of publicity officer at the Factory No.1, but after all the unexpected twists, she was now being assigned elsewhere. Naturally, she wanted to clarify her new role.

Huang Yan, having been briefed by Director Tian in advance, immediately responded, “The Factory No.2 is smaller in scale, and the workload isn’t heavy. Honestly, sending you there is a bit of an underutilization of your skills. There are only three office staff members: Director Zhao Jianjun and two clerks, Xiao Ma and Xiao Kong. Since the work isn’t strictly divided, everyone does a bit of everything. You’ll be working in the office, and Director Zhao will assign your tasks.”

Lin Xiang understood—it sounded like a relatively relaxed position. She agreed without complaint.

The factory, following the regulations of state-owned enterprises, also provided new employees with dormitory accommodations and a few basic living supplies: an enamel basin, an enamel cup, and a towel. After the orientation session, Lin Xiang received her basin, which had “119 Food Factory” printed on it in large letters.

The benefits were indeed quite decent.

Lin Xiang was still staying at the guesthouse for now. Upon inquiring, she learned that the factory only had single dormitory rooms. Those with families were allocated military housing, so unmarried military spouses either lived with their soldier relatives or applied for factory dormitories.

The dormitory rooms were shared by six people—fairly standard—but Lin Xiang felt her scalp tingle at the thought.

She preferred having her own private space. The idea of living in a six-person dormitory was dreadful—after all, in her past life, she had owned her own apartment!

She politely declined the dormitory arrangement for now, choosing to remain at the guesthouse while keeping an eye out for rental options nearby.

In this era, renting a room usually cost a few yuan per month. Many people were reluctant to spend that money, and available housing was scarce, making it difficult to find a place.

Lin Xiang, however, was willing to allocate a portion of her salary to improve her living conditions—if she could find a suitable place.

After completing her registration, she was invited by the Zhou family for a meal. Zhou Yuezhu insisted on celebrating her successful recruitment.

Since there was still time, Lin Xiang accompanied Zhou Yuezhu and Feng Li to buy groceries, using the opportunity to ask about rental housing.

Feng Li, upon hearing her question, immediately smiled. “Why bother looking for a rental? We have an empty room at home—you can just move in. Yuezhu keeps saying she wants some company anyway.”

Zhou Yuezhu’s first reaction was the same. She exclaimed excitedly, “That’s right, Sister Xiangxiang! Move into our house! I’ll go home today and clean up the empty room while you pack your things at the guesthouse.”

Lin Xiang was momentarily stunned by Aunt Feng and Yuezhu’s suggestion. She hadn’t considered this option before. Living in someone else’s house felt like an imposition, and she was naturally too reserved to trouble or disturb others. “That’s too much trouble for you. I’d better look for a place to rent,” she said hesitantly.

“Oh, come on! It’s no trouble at all!” Zhou Yuezhu protested. “My dad is always busy—he went out to sea again today! It’s just me and my mom at home, so it gets lonely. Sister Xiangxiang, move in with us!”

Aunt Feng genuinely liked Lin Xiang. She was a well-mannered young woman, good-looking, well-educated, and had an agreeable temperament. There was nothing to complain about. She joined in persuading her, “Housing is tight these days. It’s not easy to find a place to rent. Just stay with us and treat it like your own home.”

Aunt Feng wasn’t wrong. At the time, there were too many people and too few houses. It was common for seven or eight family members to squeeze into two rooms, so rental options were scarce.

Besides, there was always the concern of difficult neighbors. Otherwise, one might end up dealing with endless petty troubles.

Lin Xiang considered it carefully and realized that this was indeed the most convenient arrangement for her. She finally agreed with a smile. “Aunt Feng, Yuezhu, then I’ll have to trouble you. But let’s agree on one thing—I must pay rent, at the standard market rate.”

Aunt Feng would never agree to charge her rent, and the three of them debated the issue all the way to the grocery store before finally settling on a compromise.

Lin Xiang couldn’t win against her elders, so she gave up on paying rent. Instead, she decided she would frequently buy groceries and snacks to make up for it.

The sun had climbed high in the sky, casting a golden glow. Many military families were out buying vegetables, meat, and seafood. On the island, the grocery store and seafood market were right next to each other, making the place lively and bustling.

This was Lin Xiang’s first time going out to buy groceries here. The grocery store shelves were stocked with various items—red Sichuan pepper, salt, MSG—and large vats of soy sauce and vinegar stood at the entrance, where people brought their own bottles to fill.

Further inside were the vegetable and pork stalls, all government-run. The pork was delivered directly from the slaughterhouse, with fatty cuts jiggling enticingly.

Next to them was the seafood market, where all the goods were kept in water tanks. Local fishermen handed over their catches to the state, part of it going toward labor credits, while the rest was sold. At the end of the year, they received a share of the earnings, similar to how inland farmers divided up their harvest profits.

Aunt Feng’s family had the privileges of a regiment commander’s household, so they had more ration tickets than most. She used a sugar coupon to buy half a jin (250g) of white sugar, got some star anise for seasoning, and was about to buy pork when she realized that their household’s meat ration for the month was already used up. She had to settle for buying more seafood instead.

Lin Xiang noticed that there were some pig offal and trotters piled up at the pork stall. She turned to Yuezhu and asked, “Do you need ration tickets for those?”

Zhou Yuezhu shook her head but wrinkled her nose. “They don’t taste good. They always have a weird smell. Let’s not buy them.”

Lin Xiang just smiled at her and decisively stepped forward to buy four jin (2 kg) of pig offal for 20 cents.

At this time, pork cost 10 cents per jin and required meat coupons, but pig offal—being hard to clean and prone to having a strong odor—wasn’t in high demand. People only bought it if they couldn’t get pork. Because of that, it was cheap, readily available, and, most importantly, didn’t require ration tickets!

Aunt Feng came back from the seafood market carrying a bag of small shrimp and fish. Zhou Yuezhu immediately brightened up. “Fried with chili powder!”

That was one of Zhou Yuezhu’s favorite dishes. The thumb-sized fish and shrimp, when deep-fried, turned crispy and golden. Sprinkled with a light layer of chili powder, the flavor was simply irresistible.

The only downside was that it used up a lot of cooking oil! But as an occasional treat, it was fine. Aunt Feng figured Lin Xiang needed more meat in her diet anyway, so she didn’t mind using extra oil this time.

Back at the Zhou household, the three of them got busy in the kitchen. Aunt Feng fried the small fish and shrimp until crispy, scooped them out to drain the excess oil, and saved the leftover oil for later stir-frying—oil ration tickets were scarce, and not a drop could be wasted.

Zhou Yuezhu eagerly sprinkled a layer of chili powder over the crispy fish and shrimp, filling the air with a mouthwatering aroma. She glanced at Lin Xiang, who was handling the pig offal, and couldn’t help but worry. “Sister Xiangxiang, those heart, liver, and lungs have a strong smell. You should eat more of the fried fish and shrimp instead.”

Lin Xiang knew that people at this time weren’t very skilled at preparing pig offal. They didn’t pay much attention to cleaning it properly, and they were too frugal with seasonings, making it hard to remove the gamey odor.

But she wasn’t concerned. In her past life, she had collected many cooking recipes, including tricks for making offal taste delicious. She prepared a special spiced marinade and, after thoroughly cleaning the pig offal, simmered it in the broth.

As time passed, the kitchen filled with a rich, savory aroma that made everyone instinctively take a deep breath.

Zhou Yuezhu stared in shock as Lin Xiang lifted a plate of sliced braised pig offal from the pot. The dark brown heart, liver, and lung slices had absorbed the fragrant marinade. One bite, and the flavors burst in the mouth, leaving a lingering umami taste.

The pig offal she had always disliked had no unpleasant smell at all. Instead, it was infused with deep, savory flavors. It was so delicious that she almost forgot about her beloved fried fish and shrimp!

Aunt Feng was equally surprised. She hadn’t expected Lin Xiang to be so skilled in the kitchen. The dishes she made last time were already impressive, but now she had even made her own marinade. The taste was as good as anything from a state-run restaurant!

“Xiangxiang, you’ve really got some talent!” Aunt Feng praised, taking another bite. She almost couldn’t stop herself from eating more.

Lin Xiang thought that once she moved into the Zhou household and had a stable and steady income, improving her meals would no longer be an issue. Life was finally starting to look hopeful.

By the time lunch was over, the three of them were completely stuffed. In the afternoon, under Zhou Yuezhu’s repeated urging, Lin Xiang and she went to the guesthouse to pack up her belongings and check out. Lin Xiang officially moved into the Zhou household.

Zhou Yuezhu was naturally the most excited. That night, she lay in bed next to Lin Xiang, whispering secrets. No matter how close one was with their parents, some thoughts and worries of a young girl were just too hard to share with them. Only a sister of a similar age could truly understand.

She lowered her voice and talked about her situation with Shen Jianming, complaining playfully about how dense he was. But beneath her words was an unmistakable sense of sweetness. Then, she turned her curiosity toward Lin Xiang.

“Sister Xiang Xiang, is it really impossible between you and my cousin? It’s so obvious that he treats you differently! Yesterday, when he heard you were being bullied, his face turned completely black! He was so worried about you. And you—do you like him?”

Lin Xiang had been so busy all day that she hadn’t thought about He Hongyuan at all. But now, at the mere mention of his name, all those words from the previous night started echoing in her ears again.

Her cheeks heated slightly. A while ago, she could confidently say that there was no chance between them, that their engagement had long been nullified.

But now… things felt different. She could only reply guiltily, “Why are you, a little girl, gossiping so much?”

Zhou Yuezhu refused to back down. “Even a little girl like me has a boyfriend, but you don’t!”

Lin Xiang: “…?”

I lost.

They chatted for a long time before Zhou Yuezhu finally returned to her own room to sleep, leaving Lin Xiang’s room quiet once more.

The lights went out, and she lay under the fresh bedding Aunt Feng had prepared for her. The deep blue fabric with tiny floral patterns was something originally meant for Yuezhu—a style that any young girl would love.

That night, Lin Xiang slept soundly.

The next day was Sunday. She was set to officially start work on Monday.

Last night, Feng Li had already taken out fourteen feet of fabric ration tickets from home, planning to take Lin Xiang to get a new outfit made.

“You’re about to start work. You’re already a pretty girl—you should dress nicely,” Feng Li said, not allowing any room for refusal. She took both girls to the supply and marketing cooperative and picked out a sky-blue fabric, thinking it would complement Lin Xiang’s fair skin. She then brought them to a state-owned tailor shop, where she had a dress rushed for completion the same day.

Lin Xiang made some suggestions to the tailor regarding the cut, aiming for both aesthetics and practicality. By the afternoon, she and Yuezhu picked up the finished dress.

It was a sky-blue belted dress with a turned-down lotus collar, exuding youthful energy and liveliness. The front had a vertical row of four decorative buttons, and the waist featured two pleated frills. The tailor even added a wide pocket on the thigh for convenience.

When Lin Xiang put it on and took a few steps, the hem swayed like a blooming flower. The blue fabric set off her fair skin beautifully, making her look both radiant and elegant.

Feng Li’s eyes lit up. “Xiang Xiang looks best in pretty clothes like these. We’ll save up more fabric ration tickets and get you two long-sleeve shirts later.”

By October, long sleeves would be necessary. Feng Li knew that Lin Xiang had lived a hard life before, with very few clothes in her luggage and no fabric ration tickets to her name. She had to make sure she was well-prepared.

Zhou Yuezhu circled around Lin Xiang, praising her repeatedly.

“So beautiful! So beautiful!”

Lin Xiang almost felt embarrassed.

No matter how nice an outfit was, such enthusiastic praise was overwhelming.

The dress was rinsed and left to dry. In this dry, hot weather, it would be fully dried by morning. Lin Xiang planned to wear it to work on her first day.

This was the second brand-new outfit she owned since arriving in this world. A beautiful sky-blue dress.

Since she was starting work early the next morning, Feng Li strictly prohibited Yuezhu from keeping Lin Xiang up with more late-night chats, making sure she went to bed on time.

Lying in bed alone, Lin Xiang applied some snow cream to her cheeks, marveling at how surreal everything felt.

She hadn’t expected that after so many ups and downs in securing a job, she would also suddenly move houses, leaving behind the guesthouse, which had never really felt like home, and settling into a two-story building in the military family compound. She even got a new dress.

It really seemed like everything was getting better.

The only thing bothering her was that annoying He Hongyuan, who, right before heading off on his mission, had said those heart-stirring words to her.

Lin Xiang turned over in bed and made up her mind—she wouldn’t think about him anymore.

Tomorrow was her first day at work. She had no idea what the Factory No.2 was like.

Hopefully, it wouldn’t be too terrible.