Chapter 39

Factory No. 1 was indeed facing its greatest crisis in recent years due to an aggressive competitor. It was evident that Shiwei’s shrimp paste cans were gradually eating into the market share of 119’s shrimp paste cans.

The factory leadership convened a meeting to analyze the situation, paying particular attention to the thoughts of Qin Yangbo, the director of the shrimp paste workshop. After all, while they managed overall operations and strategy, they couldn’t match the expertise of those in the shrimp paste production line.

Qin Yangbo was a veteran at the factory and had personally built up the shrimp paste canning workshop into a flagship division, propelling 119 Food Factory to its peak. Thanks to his contributions, the factory became a household name across southern provinces, earning him significant recognition.

When developing strategies to counter Shiwei Food Factory, Director Huang hoped to include not only the shrimp paste workshop but also Lin Xiang—the young talent unexpectedly discovered during the previous incident. Young minds were often more flexible and innovative compared to their more rigid-thinking senior counterparts. Since Director Huang had to attend the Haining Provincial Trade Association, he instructed Secretary You to arrange for Lin Xiang to attend as well, in hopes that she could provide valuable insights for the shrimp paste production team.

At the Haining Provincial Trade Association, Director Huang met, for the first time, Qiu Zhiyong, the rising star and director of Shiwei Food Factory.

Qiu Zhiyong moved through the core circles of the trade association with two young individuals by his side, striking up conversations with everyone he met. His demeanor was warm, and he was both cheerful and engaging. Within moments, Director Huang witnessed the young man beside Qiu greeting the vice president of the trade association affectionately as “Uncle Hao.”

Secretary You murmured, “Director, so it turns out…”

Director Huang waved his hand, cutting him off, but he understood the implication—Shiwei had powerful connections.

Before long, the trio from Shiwei approached them, as if the recent fierce battle over market share and orders between Shiwei and 119 had never happened. The two “old foxes” met for the first time, exchanging pleasantries as if they were long-time friends.

“Director Huang, I’ve heard so much about you. 119 Food Factory has long been the industry leader in Haining Province.”

“Director Qiu, you flatter us. Shiwei Food Factory is the real powerhouse these days.”

Secretary You listened quietly, carefully observing the three individuals from Shiwei. Director Qiu Zhiyong wore the smile of a cunning fox, the young man beside him carried an air of arrogance, and the young woman discreetly sized up their side.

As the two sides formally introduced themselves, Secretary You learned that the young man was a newly recruited employee named Zhou Hongfei—whose background seemed far from ordinary. The young woman, Qiu Xiuping, was Director Qiu’s niece.

With a veiled message, Director Qiu said, “Director Huang, 119’s shrimp paste cans have dominated the market for years. You should leave a little room for others. After all, we’re promoting common prosperity now—you can’t keep all the benefits to yourselves.”

Director Huang countered with ease, “Director Qiu, with Shiwei’s capabilities, why would you need us to step aside? It looks more like you’re aiming to carve out a big chunk of our market.”

Director Qiu chuckled, “Director Huang, you must be joking. If 119 can’t handle the demand, we’re simply lending a hand. It’s all about harmony, isn’t it?”

Director Huang was boiling inside. This smiling fox was being outwardly polite while taking jabs at 119’s declining market position. Yet, there was no way for him to lash out—after all, his factory’s shrimp paste cans were indeed struggling.

Noticing the triumphant expressions on the faces of Shiwei’s representatives, Director Huang suddenly changed the subject. “You’re right—these days, it’s all about common prosperity and mutual support. We’re quite grateful to you for helping promote Factory No. 2’s soda, ha ha ha ha.”

At the mention of Factory No. 2’s soda, Director Huang burst into laughter, clearly pleased. Shiwei had used its connections to secure various sales channels, but in doing so, it had inadvertently paved the way for Factory No. 2’s soda as well. A truly satisfying turn of events!

The moment Director Huang brought up that “worthless soda,” Qiu Zhiyong’s smile froze on his face.

That damned soda had been a thorn in their side. For some inexplicable reason, the packaging contained slogans that practically called out Shiwei’s shrimp paste by name. Wherever Shiwei’s products were sold, 119’s Factory No. 2 soda soon followed.

People had even started saying that shrimp paste cans had to be paired with that soda!

Furious at Director Huang’s jab, the Shiwei trio turned and left. Once they were out of earshot, Qiu Xiuping fumed, “They’re playing dumb! Who came up with such a dirty trick? We put in so much effort to secure these sales channels, only for Factory No. 2’s soda to ride our coattails! I heard that soda used to be impossible to sell, but now their orders have skyrocketed. Isn’t that infuriating?”

“Forget it,” Qiu Zhiyong said, keeping his composure as a seasoned businessman. He waved a hand at his niece. “Xiuping, don’t be childish. This is the only kind of trick they can pull. If they had real skills, they’d compete with us in the shrimp paste market instead.”

“You’re right.” Hearing that, Qiu Xiuping immediately brightened up.

Zhou Hongfei, on the other hand, scoffed. “Uncle Qiu, our factory has nothing to fear from them!”

Qiu Zhiyong didn’t think much of the arrogant young man, but considering his powerful family background, he chose to give him some face. “That’s true, Hongfei. We really appreciate your family’s strong connections—they’ve helped us open quite a few doors. I should find time to visit Chief Zhou.”

Zhou Hongfei beamed with pride. “Uncle, my dad would be happy to see you.”

After the trade association meeting, Director Huang returned to the factory, only to be greeted with a detailed report from Qin Yangbo about their response strategy.

Director Huang remained skeptical about modifying the shrimp paste recipe.

For such an established and well-loved product, even the slightest change in flavor could have significant consequences.

However, Qin Yangbo was unusually resolute, willing to stake his reputation on his strategy, and was extremely confident in his plan.

As a senior veteran of the factory and the backbone of the shrimp paste production workshop, Qin Yangbo’s influence among the workers often surpassed even that of the factory director and party secretary.

Factory Director Huang had no choice but to seriously consider his proposal.

He asked whether Comrade Xiao Lin had any opinions. Secretary You repeated the response, but Qin Yangbo scoffed disdainfully.

“Director, if you really don’t trust me and would rather listen to some young girl, a new worker who just joined the factory, then go ahead and listen to her. I might as well hand over my position as workshop director to her.”

Qin Yangbo took this personally—just the fact that the director was willing to consider the opinion of a newcomer, someone who knew nothing about shrimp paste production, was already a slap in the face and a huge blow to his pride.

Factory Director Huang remained silent for a moment before offering some words to placate Qin Yangbo. In the end, he decided to convene the factory leadership for a vote. Opinions were divided, but those in favor of Qin Yangbo’s proposal narrowly outnumbered those opposed.

With the decision made, Qin Yangbo doubled down, formally vowing that if he failed to defeat Shiwei Foods, he would resign.

The reformulated shrimp paste canned products were loaded onto trucks and sent to major department stores and municipal units. It didn’t take long before bad news came back.

At that time, Lin Xiang was listening to gossip from Kong Zhenzhen and Ma Defa.

After the skyrocketing orders for Factory No. 2’s soda, the factory had repaired its production equipment and emphasized standardized and regulated operations. As a result, efficiency improved significantly, and truckloads of soda were being shipped out one after another, presenting a scene of prosperity.

However, interest in Factory No. 2’s soda only lasted a few days—what everyone really wanted to talk about was shrimp paste.

“Did Director Qin really make a formal vow? That if he doesn’t beat Shiwei, he’ll resign?” Lin Xiang was surprised by his determination.

She hadn’t been in the factory long but had heard that Qin Yangbo held unparalleled authority. The shrimp paste workshop workers only listened to him.

It was fair to say that he had built the shrimp paste workshop from the ground up, turning it into a flagship department with relentless effort.

Kong Zhenzhen nodded excitedly. “Director Qin is ruthless—he even said that not only would he resign, but he’d also forgo his salary this year. He refuses to believe he can’t take down Shiwei.”

Ma Defa, who had a poetry collection on his desk and occasionally read aloud, admired Qin Yangbo’s boldness. “Do you think his formula change will work?”

Kong Zhenzhen thought hard but couldn’t come up with an answer. If the new formula was similar in taste, 119 had the stronger brand name, so they’d definitely win. But if the change was too drastic and customers didn’t like it…

She pondered for a long time before finally muttering, “Hard to say.”

Lin Xiang, who was studying some documents while listening to their conversation, slowly remarked, “I don’t think it’ll work.”

“Something’s wrong! Something’s wrong!” During a break, Sister Guazi rushed back from the restroom, shouting loudly, “Factory No. 1’s shrimp paste formula has a problem!”

Everyone in the office exchanged glances, their hearts sinking. They quickly went out to investigate.

It turned out that Qiu Hongxia had overheard some workers talking in the restroom. Rumors were spreading that major department stores had reported poor sales, and many loyal customers had complained about the taste change, demanding refunds.

Factory No. 2’s workers joined the gossip. Upon hearing Qiu Hongxia’s report, they all exclaimed in shock.

Even Ma Defa and Kong Zhenzhen looked worried.

The atmosphere at Factory No. 1 grew heavy—if there really was a major issue with the shrimp paste cans, the entire factory’s revenue would take a massive hit. The seriousness of the situation made workers from other workshops nervous as well.

Inside Factory No. 1’s shrimp paste workshop, Director Qin Yangbo paced back and forth, repeatedly tasting the newly reformulated shrimp paste. The slight adjustments in fermentation and ingredient proportions were meant to enhance the flavor, bringing it closer to Shiwei’s taste profile.

He prided himself on his craftsmanship and couldn’t believe Shiwei had produced something he couldn’t replicate. But now, the reaction to 119’s reformulated shrimp paste was overwhelmingly negative.

“Director Qin, what do we do? Chief Song from the sales department says many department stores are reporting poor sales, and customers are demanding refunds because the taste has changed.” The deputy director was anxious.

Qin Yangbo clenched his fists. He had absolute confidence in the new flavor. “They just need time to adjust! It’s only a matter of getting used to the new formula!”

The deputy director was stunned. “We’re just going to wait?”

“What else can we do?” The reformulated shrimp paste was already on the market—there was no turning back. Qin Yangbo was not one to lament over past decisions. Now, all he could do was hold firm.

Surely customers would soon recognize the quality of the new formula. If Shiwei’s flavor was popular, then how could his improved version not sell?

Factory No. 1 took no immediate action, but rumors continued to spread.

At Factory No. 2, Lin Xiang mostly heard gossip from Qiu Hongxia. She learned that Qin Yangbo had personally gone to the director’s office to pat his chest and assure them that the new formula would sell—he just needed more time.

The canned shrimp paste with the improved formula sat on Lin Xiang’s desk. She took a small taste—twice. The flavor had become richer, saltier, and more umami-heavy. It was clear that the original signature taste had been abandoned in favor of something closer to Shiwei’s flavor profile.

But while Shiwei’s rise came from offering something new and refreshing, 119 was essentially undermining its own brand. Customers wouldn’t find the change novel; instead, they would feel that the product had lost its classic taste.

Hierarchy in Factory No. 1 was rigidly entrenched. Its long-standing dominance had bred a deep-seated arrogance in the shrimp paste workshop, making it nearly impossible for anyone to intervene.

After tasting the shrimp paste, Lin Xiang took a large sip from her enamel cup filled with warm water, finally easing the lingering saltiness on her tongue.

She gathered her research notes from the past few days and went to find Director Zhao.

Director Zhao had also been keeping an eye on Factory No. 1’s predicament. Clicking his tongue in amazement, he couldn’t help but sigh, “A few years ago, who would’ve thought our Factory No. 1 could be backed into a corner like this? And over shrimp paste, no less!”

It wasn’t an exaggeration to say that 119’s canned shrimp paste was the pride of the entire workforce. No one wanted to see it fail.

With his weathered face slightly scrunched up, Director Zhao tiptoed and craned his neck to peer over the wall separating them from Factory No. 1, clearly curious about the drama unfolding there. Suddenly, he heard someone calling his name from behind.

“Director Zhao.”

Recognizing Lin Xiang’s voice, Zhao Jianjun quickly stepped back down, pretending to casually inspect the flowers and plants around them. “Oh, Lin! What’s up? I just came out to check on the greenery around our factory, not to spy on Factory No. 1, of course.”

Lin Xiang didn’t bother to expose his feigned nonchalance and got straight to the point.

After listening to her proposal, Director Zhao looked surprised. “Coconut soda?”

Lin Xiang nodded. “That’s right. Our factory can’t compete with Beibingyang in orange soda or with the Northeast in pear soda. No matter how hard we try, we won’t outsell them. Instead of following the crowd, we should capitalize on our regional advantage and produce flavors they can’t.”

In business, having no unique selling point was the greatest failure.

Recently, thanks to the buzz around Shiwei’s shrimp paste, Factory No. 2’s sodas had gained some recognition. This was the perfect time to launch a distinctive new flavor while the factory still had the market’s attention. They couldn’t rely on piggybacking off shrimp paste sales forever—now was the best opportunity to establish their own reputation. All they needed was a signature soda flavor.

Director Zhao pondered her words. On one hand, it made sense; on the other, he had concerns. Jinbian City had plenty of coconuts—wild ones, even. People sometimes went to the trouble of climbing trees to harvest them, chopping them open for the juice inside. He had tried it himself once or twice—the taste was mildly sweet and quite pleasant, but the effort was considerable.

“This needs some careful thought. Let me think it over.” Factory No. 2’s soda line had never been a priority. It was always about playing it safe, producing the most widely accepted flavors—orange and pear. If they introduced a coconut flavor, would it even sell?

Lin Xiang had expected him to be hesitant. There was still time. As long as Director Zhao agreed, Factory No. 2 could start with a small test batch of coconut soda to gauge the market’s response.

“Director Zhao, I really think there’s potential here. At the very least, it’ll sell well in the neighboring provinces. What we’re offering is a one-of-a-kind flavor. If you’re unsure, we can begin with a small trial run.”

Director Zhao nodded in agreement, deep in thought as he headed toward the workshop.

The turmoil at 119 Foods had spread far and wide. Even after work, Lin Xiang found herself questioned about it at home by Aunt Feng.

Feng Li had picked up on the gossip: “Xiangxiang, is it true that your factory’s shrimp paste isn’t selling anymore?”

Lin Xiang wasn’t ready to make any definitive judgments. “It’s facing some challenges, but it still has a solid foundation. It won’t collapse just like that.”

“Oh dear, 119’s shrimp paste used to be the best-selling product! What happened?” Aunt Feng expressed her concern before turning to lift the pot lid.

A pork knuckle had been simmering for over an hour, its glossy red hue shining under the light. The skin was glistening, the meat tender, falling apart at the slightest prod with chopsticks, releasing an irresistible aroma.

Mid-Autumn Festival was just days away, and the military had distributed subsidies to soldiers’ families for the occasion. Aunt Feng had taken a meat voucher to the grocery store and bought a pork knuckle to stew.

She boiled fresh noodles in a cast-iron pot, scooped out five bowls of white, glistening strands, and ladled over chunks of pork knuckle with rich, red broth. The deep crimson seeped into each strand of noodle, and a final sprinkle of chopped green onions added a burst of color, making it an utterly mouthwatering sight.

When Zhou Yuezhu arrived home from work, she was practically drooling at the sight of the braised pork knuckle noodles. “That smells amazing! I’m starving.”

Aunt Feng chuckled at her daughter. “You’re such a foodie.”

At that moment, He Hongyuan entered the house, carrying two pig trotters he had exchanged from the military’s mess hall. As soon as he stepped inside, he was hit with the mouthwatering aroma.

Lin Xiang had been waiting at the door and finally spotted him. “Hongyuan, hurry up! We’re all waiting for you~”

It was the first time He Hongyuan had ever heard Lin Xiang call him like that. His sharp brows raised slightly. “What’s for dinner? Smells incredible.”

“Braised pork knuckle noodles, made by Aunt Feng. It’s unbelievably good,” Lin Xiang replied as she led him into the dining room.

The handmade noodles were springy, the pork knuckle was meltingly tender yet not greasy, and everyone at the table ate heartily.

After dinner, Lin Xiang and He Hongyuan went out for a walk. She shared everything that had been happening at the factory lately. The man listened quietly, and after a moment, he remarked, “Sounds like Factory No. 2 has it easier for now.”

“That’s right. Everyone used to think Factory No. 1 was great, but as it grew and more people joined, so did the number of different agendas.” Lin Xiang leaned in closer to He Hongyuan and whispered, “I heard from Sister Guazi that even the factory director can’t fully control those senior workers.”

He Hongyuan caught onto a different point entirely. “Sister Guazi—is she the one who kept giving you sunflower seeds?”

“Yes!” Lin Xiang enjoyed chatting with He Hongyuan about work and was surprised he even remembered that detail. “Her real name is Guihua, but one time she gave me a bunch of sunflower seeds, and I casually mentioned that I’d eaten so many of hers. The name ‘Sister Guazi’ just stuck, and she actually liked it.”

“Sounds like you all have a pretty harmonious workplace,” He Hongyuan remarked. Spending all his time in the military, where everything was strict and serious, he found that whenever Lin Xiang talked about Factory No. 2’s amusing moments, it helped him relax.

They walked along a small path under the coconut trees, the evening sunlight filtering through the leaves, casting dappled shadows on the stone road. Lin Xiang pointed at the coconuts above. “I suggested to Director Zhao that we start producing coconut juice, but he’s hesitant.”

He Hongyuan thought for a moment. The supply cooperatives mostly sold orange-flavored soda and other common fruit sodas—he had never heard of coconut-flavored soda. “Would that even sell?”

“Of course!” Lin Xiang spoke enthusiastically about her idea. “Think about it—there are so many soda factories across the country making orange soda. But if our factory produces something unique, won’t it stand out? Besides, coconut juice tastes great.”

He Hongyuan nodded. “Makes sense.”

He stopped walking and studied the woman in front of him, as if analyzing or deep in thought. Lin Xiang looked down at herself, wondering if something was wrong with her outfit. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

He Hongyuan smirked. “I just think you’re sharper than most people. Last time, you redesigned the packaging, and your factory’s soda sold better. Now you’re coming up with the idea to sell coconut juice.”

He couldn’t help but feel a little regretful—if the college entrance exam still existed, Lin Xiang, with her sharp mind, would have surely gotten into a university.

Lin Xiang grinned at his praise, tilting her head slightly. “So, getting a compliment from Captain He isn’t easy, huh? I heard from Yuezhu that you’re pretty strict in the military.”

He Hongyuan chuckled. “That’s true. I rarely praise anyone in the military.”

“Then why aren’t you sticking to your principles now?” Lin Xiang knew He Hongyuan well—he was a man of high standards, strict with both others and himself.

He Hongyuan replied without missing a beat, “Sticking to principles won’t get me a girlfriend.”

Lin Xiang: “…”

Wow. Smooth talker!

---

As the Mid-Autumn Festival approached, a festive atmosphere finally returned to Factory No. 119.

The factory opened a special workshop to produce over a thousand mooncakes, distributing them to all employees.

Workers lined up happily to receive their mooncakes, but then a sales department officer rushed back, looking troubled.

Lin Xiang and the other workers from Factory No. 2 had also come to Factory No. 1 to collect their mooncakes. Seeing the commotion, Kong Zhenzhen exchanged a glance with her. “Something bad must’ve happened again.”

After collecting her mooncake, Lin Xiang carefully carried the precious factory benefit back to her office. Wrapped in white paper, the five-nut mooncake was rich in sugar and oil, with a slight sheen of oil seeping through the paper. In these times, mooncakes were large and hearty, almost the size of a hand, and filled the air with a tempting sweetness.

Urban residents received mooncake ration tickets every Mid-Autumn Festival, allowing them to buy two mooncakes per household at the supply cooperatives—no more, even if they had money. Nationalized factories, however, offered better benefits, ensuring every worker received at least one.

In an era of sugar and oil shortages, mooncakes were an irresistible treat.

Lin Xiang planned to keep hers until Mid-Autumn Festival, saving it for a family gathering at the Zhou house.

Meanwhile, inside the director’s office of Factory No. 1, while the rest of the factory was celebrating mooncake distribution, a heavy gloom settled over the room.

The sales department was reporting the declining sales of the shrimp paste cans. Factory Director Huang looked serious, while the shrimp paste workshop supervisor, Qin Yangbo, appeared grim.

“Old Qin,” Director Huang addressed him respectfully, acknowledging his years of experience at the factory, “we can’t keep going like this.”

The sales department had just received another update: ever since the recipe was changed, shrimp paste sales had plummeted further—worse than before. It was practically self-sabotage.

Nobody could afford to sit still anymore.

Qin Yangbo’s face was tight, and if one looked closely, even his muscles seemed to tremble. “Director, I have faith in our new formula. It will sell!”

Director Huang, however, had made up his mind. He keenly sensed that this situation couldn’t continue. But now, they were in a deadlock—Factory No. 119’s shrimp paste brand was on the verge of collapse!

There were 2,000 cans of shrimp paste already loaded for delivery, with another 1,000 cans set to be shipped in a few days. What were they supposed to do?

Director Huang had never faced such a crisis before.

“Xiao You.” A thought suddenly struck him. “Didn’t Factory No. 2’s—”

Secretary You, always quick to catch on, immediately responded, “Lin Xiang. Comrade Lin Xiang.”

“Yes! Didn’t she come up with some ideas before?” Director Huang pondered. This young woman had a sharp mind. “Call her in. Let’s see if she can help brainstorm some solutions.”

Qin Yangbo’s expression darkened further, as if he had just been slapped. “Director, you can doubt my methods, but you’re seriously going to listen to some young girl?”

Director Huang spoke in a muffled voice, “Old Qin, you’re just too stubborn!”

Qin Yangbo remained obstinate. “Director, if you really want to listen to that little girl, then I might as well quit as the shrimp paste workshop director and let her take over!”

By the time Lin Xiang was summoned to the Factory Director’s office by Secretary You, Qin Yangbo was already gone, leaving only Director Huang with an unhappy expression. Lin Xiang quickly pieced together what had happened. When Director Huang mentioned the ideas she had previously suggested, she responded decisively, “Director, the current situation is different from back then. Those solutions won’t work anymore.”

The factory director sighed. “It’s really difficult now, but I remember you explaining things very clearly last time. It’s obvious you’ve done your research. Xiao Lin, to be honest, Qin from the shrimp paste workshop just threatened to quit. If you can help the factory get through this crisis, I’ll promote you on the spot!”

The implication was clear.

Lin Xiang shook her head. “The situation is tricky. The reformulated shrimp paste has already been sold, and even our loyal customers are dissatisfied—it’s a big problem. Besides, Director, the shrimp paste workshop has always been a tight-knit, exclusive group. Apart from Director Qin, no one else can really manage those workers. If you assign someone else, they probably wouldn’t even be able to get a word in, let alone someone like me with no seniority.”

She saw the situation clearly—if she took over this mess now, even if Qin left, his influence would linger. There was no way she’d be able to command the workers in the shrimp paste workshop. Taking the role would be asking for trouble.

Unless…

Director Huang pondered for a moment, examining the young woman in front of him. It was clear she had ideas but was hesitant due to the difficulties ahead. He said, “Xiao Lin, First and Factory No. 2 depend on each other. If Factory No. 1 collapses, Factory No. 2 won’t have it easy either. If you really have a way to help Factory No. 1 get through this, I’ll make sure you get a proper position back in Factory No. 1—one that won’t waste your talents. Even if you’re young, I’ll bypass seniority and make you a team leader.”

For a new employee to be fast-tracked to team leader in just a few months was no small achievement. It would mean not only higher wages and benefits but also a promising future.

Lin Xiang understood the interdependence between the two factories. Factory No. 2 had been able to slack off over the years precisely because Factory No. 1 was doing well. She definitely didn’t want to see Factory No. 1 decline.

But right now, the challenges were overwhelming.

She negotiated with the director, “Director, solving this problem will take a lot of effort. If I have to spend time and energy figuring out a solution, I won’t be able to focus on Factory No. 2. It would be great if Factory No. 1 could approve some funding for Factory No. 2 to upgrade its equipment.”

Director Huang’s face stiffened—so that’s what she was angling for!

Upgrading equipment would cost tens of thousands of yuan, yet she dared to ask!

“Director, with our improved soda sales, Factory No. 2 can generate more revenue for the company. If we get new equipment, the initial investment will be large, but the long-term returns will be even greater. Looking at the bigger picture, it’s a worthwhile investment.” Lin Xiang seized the opportunity to push for benefits for Factory No. 2.

Director Huang knew she made sense. In the past, all equipment upgrades went to Factory No. 1, and Factory No. 2 was ignored. It didn’t matter how outdated or worn-out their machines were, as long as they still ran.

But now, things were different. Weighing Factory No. 1’s struggles against Factory No. 2’s rising potential, he finally made a decision. “Fine, if you can help Factory No. 1 get through this crisis, I’ll approve the equipment for Factory No. 2! And I’ll increase your salary and bonuses!”

---

News spread quickly that Qin Yangbo, the shrimp paste workshop director, had taken sick leave. Even more shocking was that Lin Xiang had become the new acting leader of the shrimp paste workshop.

At Factory No. 1, when curious workers asked about it, Lin Xiang simply replied that she was only there temporarily to help. The workshop director was still Qin, after all—she was from Factory No. 2.

Given the dire situation with the shrimp paste canned goods, especially the disastrous decision to alter a long-standing classic recipe, Lin Xiang devised a plan.

But before she could even begin executing it externally, she first had to fight an internal battle—the shrimp paste workshop workers simply refused to acknowledge her authority.

The workshop employees were proud and tightly united. They looked down on workers from other departments, believing their workshop was the backbone of the entire factory. And they had even less regard for Factory No. 2, considering it an absolute joke.

Now that Qin had left and a young girl had taken over, naturally, no one respected her.

Even after multiple visits from the factory director himself, urging them to cooperate, the workers remained defiant. They paid him lip service while he was present, but as soon as he left, they ignored Lin Xiang completely. They were openly uncooperative.

Lin Xiang had expected this. She waited patiently for the right opportunity, but she couldn’t help sighing—workplace politics were the same everywhere, full of backhanded tricks and passive resistance.

Many people in the factory saw the difficult position she was in. The shrimp paste workers treated her like she was invisible, often making snide remarks. Some who had previously envied her promotion now pitied her instead.

Rumors about her predicament spread from Factory No. 1 to Factory No. 2.

Three days before the Mid-Autumn Festival, Lin Xiang once again went to the shrimp paste workshop to discuss adjustments for the next batch of canned goods with the team leaders. But before she could even begin, she was met with ridicule.

“Oh, should we start calling you Director Lin now?” The fermentation team leader sneered. “Giving us orders, are you? I thought you had some real skills, but in the end, aren’t you still just selling the same so-called improved shrimp paste recipe that Director Qin introduced?”

As the Mid-Autumn Festival approached and the modified shrimp paste canned goods were about to be shipped out, Lin Xiang knew the time had come. Unlike the past few days when she had been indifferent to the shrimp paste workshop workers’ disregard or even ridicule, she now adopted a serious expression and spoke sternly:

“If you all want to watch 119 Shrimp Paste Canned Goods be defeated like this, gradually eaten away by Shiwei’s shrimp paste, then I have no objections. After all, I belong to Factory No. 2. Our factory’s soda sales are booming, orders are increasing, and even if shrimp paste cans stop selling, it won’t affect me.”

“You—!” The workers in the shrimp paste workshop were enraged upon hearing her words. How harsh! They had worked so hard to protect the shrimp paste cans, only to hear such belittling remarks. The anger in the room was palpable.

“Lin Xiang, just because Director Qin left, don’t think you can do whatever you want here! What qualifications do you have to interfere in our workshop’s affairs?”

Lin Xiang remained calm and said, “It’s true that I lack seniority, but do you have any other way to stop Shiwei? Or are you planning to let our factory’s shrimp paste cans die a slow death? The director has already reviewed my proposal and believes it’s feasible. If you all just want to watch 119 Shrimp Paste Canned Goods get completely devoured until nothing is left, then yes, it’s best not to cooperate with me.”

Though Lin Xiang was young, her words were steady and composed. Compared to the group of red-faced, emotionally charged workers, she was the more reassuring presence.

Her simple words struck a chord with some of the regular workers. They weren’t as stubborn as the senior employees—they didn’t want to see the shrimp paste industry decline, and they were more concerned about their wages and bonuses. Now that they were facing a dead end, some of them started whispering among themselves, considering whether they should at least give it a try.

The fermentation team leader, however, was unconvinced. Having followed Director Qin for years, he looked down on young, inexperienced women like Lin Xiang. “Stop trying to scare people! I don’t believe that after all these years, our brand will be taken down by some upstart like Shiwei!”

Lin Xiang knew that some of the old-timers in the shrimp paste workshop were stubborn, clinging to their past achievements and viewing themselves too highly. She was just about to respond when suddenly, a commotion erupted at the workshop entrance.

“He Jiangang, you shameless old bastard! Hey, you shrimp paste workshop guys, what do you think you’re doing?”

Factory No. 2’s loud-mouthed sunflower seed seller, Qiu Hongxia, stormed into the shrimp paste workshop, leading a group of men and women from Factory No. 2, all of them marching in like an army. Her booming voice practically shook the walls.

“Are you guys bullying someone from our factory?!”

A group of twenty to thirty people from Factory No. 2 barged in, only to see their frail little Lin, standing alone in the office, facing dozens of intimidating shrimp paste workers. Their fury erupted instantly.

Qiu Hongxia took the lead. “Have you no shame?! Are you all ganging up on our Lin? Pfft! She’s here to help you, even putting aside her responsibilities at our factory, and you’re still ostracizing her? A bunch of shameless jerks! If your workshop is gonna collapse, then collapse already! I’ll be at the entrance setting off firecrackers to celebrate!”

The crowd from Factory No. 2 cheered in agreement, their momentum so overwhelming that it seemed like they had come for an all-out brawl. Seeing that the shrimp paste workers were still glaring indignantly, they rolled up their sleeves, ready to throw down.

“If you’re not happy, then fight us!”

After all, Factory No. 2’s reputation was already in the gutter—they didn’t mind dragging it down a little further.

Lin Xiang: “……?”

But inside, she felt a warm sense of camaraderie.