Chapter 44

Zhou Shengqiang and Wei Minhui left early the next morning.

In the dim early morning light, the two of them stood outside the gates of the 119th Unit, bidding farewell to Zhou Shenghuai, Feng Li, and Yuezhu. Regardless of the issues in the second brother’s marriage, Zhou Shenghuai and he were still brothers, especially since they had been protected and raised together from childhood. At this moment, there was still a sense of reluctance and emotion.

When they were little, they were always together. Later, as they were assigned to different military districts, they could only meet once every few years. With age, countless thoughts surged in their minds.

“Second brother, next time we’ll visit you in the Northwest Military District,” Zhou Shenghuai said with a deep feeling.

Zhou Shengqiang patted his younger brother on the shoulder, his face showing rare traces of weariness: “Mm, we’ll have the chance to meet.”

On the other side, Feng Li was saying her goodbyes to her daughter Yuezhu and her second sister-in-law, exchanging polite small talk, until Wei Minhui mentioned their son: “Hongfei is also in Jinbian City now, not too far from you. I told him that once he’s less busy with work, he’ll come to the island to visit Third Uncle and Third Aunt. Please look after him for us.”

“That’s wonderful! It’s been years since I’ve seen Hongfei,” Feng Li replied, though she didn’t hold much affection for the unruly nephew. Still, she had to respond politely. “You and Second Brother don’t worry. If Hongfei needs anything, he can come to me or his Third Uncle. We’re family, we’ll help.”

After some small talk, as the departure time approached, Zhou Shengqiang still couldn’t help but glance at the gates of the unit…

His son knew he was leaving early today, but the familiar figure he was hoping for didn’t appear on the straight, deep, and quiet stone path of the 119th Unit.

Zhou Shenghuai knew what his older brother was still waiting for, but also understood Hongyuan’s personality, so he could only comfort him: “Second brother, let’s go. I’ll take you and second sister-in-law to the ship, or we’ll waste time.”

As the boat sailed again on the sea, gently rocking on the blue waves, it gradually moved farther away.

On the shore, Zhou Shenghuai, along with his wife and daughter, watched their family leave, then turned to look at his own peaceful family of three. He couldn’t help but sigh: “I wonder if Second Brother will regret his decision from back then…”

Feng Li interrupted her husband’s words: “It’s been so many years, there’s no point in talking about regrets. With Second Brother’s personality, if it happened again, he’d still make the same choice.”

Yuezhu, listening to her parents, couldn’t help but interject: “Mom’s right. If Cousin is still useless now, would Second Uncle want to acknowledge him? He probably doesn’t even want to have any connection at all.”

“You…” Zhou Shenghuai gave his daughter a stern look, raising his voice, though not too harshly, “Children should not get involved in adult matters.”

Yuezhu: “…” So annoying!

The news of Zhou Shengqiang and Wei Minhui’s departure reached He Hongyuan and Lin Xiang. Since Lin Xiang wasn’t related to them by blood and was working in the factory, she could maintain her peace, and He Hongyuan, naturally, wouldn’t be going to send them off.

During the few days that Zhou Shengqiang and Wei Minhui stayed at the Zhou family’s home, He Hongyuan didn’t visit for a meal. But once they left, that very afternoon, He Hongyuan arrived at their door with a bag of clams, prawns, and a pound of sorghum candy.

Feng Li was amused, realizing that her nephew really kept his word, waiting for his father to leave before coming over for a meal.

“He Hongyuan, why did you bring so much stuff?” Feng Li glanced at the food, then noticed the pound of candy.

“Aunt Feng, Lin Xiang and I are getting married, so I brought some candy to share with you,” He Hongyuan explained. After all, Lin Xiang had been taken care of by the Zhou family since she arrived at Jinbian City and Langhua Island.

Feng Li was suddenly overjoyed, her eyes widening as she nearly shouted: “Oh, you’re getting married! That’s great news!”

When Zhou Shenghuai returned from the unit, Feng Li eagerly shared the good news.

Zhou Shenghuai, more composed than Feng Li, yet with a gleam of approval and happiness in his eyes, said: “Good, Hongyuan is at the age to start a family, it’s time for some good things to happen.”

He Hongyuan and Lin Xiang’s decision to get married made Yuezhu the most excited one.

After dinner, she seemed even more eager than the couple, flipping through an old almanac beside her mother: “Mom, how about this day? Doesn’t it say it’s good for weddings? Oh, this one looks good too!”

On the other side of the sofa, Lin Xiang and He Hongyuan sat together, watching as Aunt Feng and Yuezhu picked a good wedding date for them. Meanwhile, Zhou Shenghuai reminded his nephew about the responsibilities he would have: “Hongyuan, you’ve performed excellently in the army, but that’s with your comrades and soldiers. That’s fine for your temperament, but once you’re married, you have to treat Xiao Lin better. Don’t always have that serious face.”

Zhou Shenghuai was actually a bit worried about his nephew. He had seen He Hongyuan’s cold and tough personality up close for many years. He was concerned that, after marriage, Hongyuan’s hard temper might upset his wife, and that could lead to trouble.

Lin Xiang couldn’t help but smile as she listened to Uncle Zhou’s words. She thought back to when they first got together—she’d never seen He Hongyuan act cold toward her. Despite his seemingly cold and distant nature, at times, he was quite the opposite.

Suppressing her smile, she looked at the man beside her and teased softly: “Comrade He Hongyuan, did you hear that? If you bully me, I’ll ask Uncle Zhou and Aunt Feng to help me.”

Hearing this, Yuezhu jumped up excitedly: “And me, Cousin-in-law! I’ll help you too!”

He Hongyuan was teased by everyone but didn’t show any signs of embarrassment. Instead, he was smiling even more: “Yuezhu, what’s it got to do with you?”

Still, there was no clear distinction between who was the older sibling and who was the younger one.

Zhou Yuezhu tightened her fists: “…Hmph.”

As the wedding plans were being discussed, Lin Xiang slept particularly soundly that night. She had a dream where she was at the orphanage, watching other children being adopted or reunited with their biological parents.

Little Lin Xiang was envious, her big, watery eyes watching longingly. She too wanted a family.

But she never got one…

Just as Little Lin Xiang was about to turn away in disappointment, she was suddenly called by a slightly childish voice. She turned around and saw a boy of about ten years old, wearing patched clothes with wide sleeves that revealed his thin arms. He stretched out his hand towards her and asked, “Come, let’s go home together.”

The next day, as the first light of dawn broke, Lin Xiang woke up, rubbing her sleepy eyes. She thought back to the unfamiliar boy in her dream and felt a sense of familiarity.

That face, that expression—it was unmistakably He Hongyuan when he was young!

After breakfast, Lin Xiang went to the food factory and shared the good news with her colleagues in the office. Director Zhao, excited, clapped his hands along with Ma Defa and Kong Zhenzhen, filling the room with enthusiastic applause.

“Little Lin and Captain He are getting married! That’s wonderful!” Director Zhao said generously. “When you have the wedding, we’ll give you a day off.”

Lin Xiang smiled brightly. “We haven’t set a date yet. Aunt Feng has picked out three good dates for us. We’ll call Hongyuan’s mom this afternoon and let her choose.”

Kong Zhenzhen agreed, “That’s a good idea. Let your mother-in-law choose; she’ll be happy about it! By the way, is Captain He’s mother easy to get along with?”

Women and men tend to focus on different things. Kong Zhenzhen immediately started worrying about Lin Xiang’s future relationship with her mother-in-law, as it was a significant issue.

Lin Xiang nodded. “She’s very easy to get along with. Aunt He is really kind to me.”

Kong Zhenzhen sighed in envy. “That’s great. You’re so lucky.”

Ma Defa, who had been flipping through a poetry book, theatrically prepared to speak. “How about I recite a poem to celebrate your engagement?”

Both Kong Zhenzhen and Director Zhao interrupted him in unison: “Please, spare us.”

Ma Defa: “…”

Lin Xiang smiled, her eyes crinkling in delight.

The good news spread quickly throughout the Factory No.2, especially since everyone there loved gossip. As Lin Xiang made her way to the workshop to help with the coconut juice, she was playfully teased along the way.

“Little Lin, congratulations! Captain He is impressive; you two are a perfect match!”

“When’s the wedding?”

“Don’t forget to share some wedding candy with us!”

Lin Xiang responded cheerfully. Though they weren’t married yet, the joy already seemed to spread, and it was clear that the excitement was contagious.

Arriving at the workshop, Lin Xiang put away her smile and joined Director Zhao, Qiu Hongxia, and Yang Tian to taste the freshly prepared coconut juice.

The soda production line was large and complex, consisting of equipment for raw material processing, mixing, canning, sealing, and cooling.

For the coconut juice processing, they had to manually crack open the coconuts, scrape out the meat, and place it into the juice extraction and mixing equipment. The soft, tender coconut meat was initially a milky white color. After being rapidly processed, it transformed into a milky liquid, dense and smooth, resembling soft satin. The air was filled with a sweet aroma.

The extracted coconut water was mixed with coconut meat juice, water, and a small amount of sugar. The resulting coconut juice was a creamy white color, rich in fragrance, and visually appealing, even rivaling yellow sodas in appearance.

The group tasted a little of the juice, and as the enamel cup neared their lips, the sweet fragrance filled the air, and the juice itself was thick and smooth, with a fresh, soft texture that was both natural and sweet, leaving a lasting impression.

“This tastes even better than straight coconut water!” Qiu Hongxia said, smacking her lips, savoring the sweetness.

The coconut juice, after being mixed with coconut meat juice, had changed in color, texture, and flavor. The clear, sweet base was enhanced into a more striking, flavorful, and aromatic sweetness.

More importantly, this method retained the pure, natural quality of the juice, adding a richer layer without any artificial or rough qualities.

Director Zhao, trying the juice for the first time, immediately approved. “This tastes great! It’s definitely going to sell well! It’s just as good as orange soda.”

Lin Xiang thought about how coconut was a classic addition to various beverages. Its natural sweet flavor was simply irresistible. “Director Zhao, we still need to research the right proportions of coconut meat juice, coconut water, purified water, and sugar.”

“Right, different ratios make a big difference in flavor,” Director Zhao agreed, eager to get started. He quickly asked Yang Tian and Qiu Hongxia to supervise the testing of different proportions of coconut juice.

The coconut juice formula still needed time to be perfected. After finishing up the morning work, Lin Xiang hurriedly went to the cafeteria for lunch, then left the factory to meet He Hongyuan.

The two of them planned to call his mother at the post office in the afternoon.

Such an important event like a wedding needed to be communicated with the mother-in-law as soon as possible.

After some effort, with the help of the production team members, Aunt He hurried over. After waiting for a moment, she finally received a call from her son.

He Hongyuan, who was succinct in his speech, was as brief as ever even when talking to his own mother. “Mom, Xiangxiang and I are getting married.”

One sentence was like dropping a heavy bomb, causing He Guifang’s smile to fade, and in her excitement, she slapped the table. “Good! Marriage is great! If it weren’t for you dragging your feet, you two would have gotten married a long time ago.”

He Guifang still blamed her son for being hesitant in the past. If he had been more decisive, when Lin Xiang first arrived in Jinbian City, they could have married soon after.

He Hongyuan didn’t respond to this and didn’t argue with his mother. He only softly admitted his mistake: “Yes, it’s my fault.”

The conversation between mother and son lasted only two or three sentences. He Guifang, irritated that her son was so tight-lipped, quickly asked him to pass the receiver to Lin Xiang.

On the other end of the line, she warmly said, “Xiang Xiang, Hongyuan didn’t bully you, did he? If he dares to, you can tell me… no, you can now call me ‘mother!'”

Lin Xiang blushed on the other end of the line. Having lived two lifetimes, it was the first time she had ever called someone “mother.” She softly replied, “I understand, mother. If he bullies me, I’ll definitely report it.”

As she spoke, she purposely glanced at the man beside her, as if she had found her protector.

The phone call was expensive, and neither side had much small talk. After hearing that Feng Li had already picked three auspicious dates, He Guifang quickly made her decision, determining the wedding date for next month, on the 30th. She planned to come a few days earlier to personally witness her son’s wedding.

Before hanging up, He Guifang quickly listed all the things that needed to be prepared for the wedding, as these matters always grew more complicated the more you thought about them. She immediately reminded her son, “I’ll have Accountant Li help me write a letter. You make sure to prepare everything on your side.”

He Hongyuan was completely new to wedding matters, so he obediently agreed: “Okay, I’ll do as you say.”

Once the phone call was over and the wedding date set, the two hurriedly parted ways and went back to their respective places—He Hongyuan to submit his marriage report to the organization, and Lin Xiang to immerse herself back into her coconut juice research.

In the afternoon, Lin Xiang went with Director Zhao to the workshop office to try six different ratios of coconut juice. They adjusted the proportions of coconut meat juice, coconut water, purified water, and white sugar.

Lin Xiang had never drunk so much coconut juice in one go. The sweet and fragrant taste seemed to linger in her mouth, making it hard to stop drinking until she was nearly full.

After everyone tasted the samples, they were undecided. The difference between the samples was slight, with only minor changes in the sugar and coconut meat juice ratios.

In the end, Lin Xiang suggested, “Let’s have all the workers try it and take a vote.”

The samples were handed out to the workers. Many of them had never seen such a milky-colored juice before and couldn’t help but admire it. The color was soft and pleasant, unlike the usual bright, harsh colors of other drinks. The coconut juice had a naturally sweet and refreshing taste that immediately appealed to the workers.

After tasting the juice, they eagerly cast their votes.

Lin Xiang personally counted the votes. In line with the times, the workers preferred the coconut juice with a slightly higher ratio of coconut meat juice, which was more milky in color and had a stronger, sweeter fragrance.

After all, in times of scarcity, people naturally prefer more flavor.

Thus, the ratio for the factory’s coconut juice was settled.

The workshop was buzzing with excitement. The workers, used to producing orange soda, looked at the piles of oranges and pears in the warehouse. They hadn’t expected that one day they would have to deal with coconuts.

Picking the hard coconuts from the trees wouldn’t be easy, let alone cracking them open. Some of the workers were concerned.

“How much effort will it take to produce coconut juice? Are we going to have to climb trees to pick coconuts every day?”

“And then each of us swinging an axe to crack open the coconuts?”

The workers couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity of the situation. “Are we still workers at a state-run factory, or are we monkeys in a state-run factory?”

“Forget about the production part, but do you think this will actually sell? I just tasted it, and it’s good, but all the sodas out there are orange-flavored. I’m worried our coconut flavor won’t work.”

Some workers were worried that all their hard work and effort would be in vain.

After all, the national soda market was dominated by orange soda, with some competitors offering pear, peach, and lychee flavors. Coconut flavor was rare.

They hadn’t seen it on the market, and it might either surprise or shock people.

Qiu Hongxia, eating sunflower seeds casually, said, “This idea came from Xiao Lin. She suggested our factory try making coconut water.”

Hearing this, the workers immediately changed their tune: “It was Xiao Lin’s idea? Then it’s definitely going to work!”

“Xiao Lin is really capable, so it’ll definitely be fine!”

“I agree, I think this coconut water is promising!”

While the factory was getting ready to produce coconut water samples, He Hongyuan in the 119th brigade was also preparing to submit his marriage report.

In the office of Yang Lu:

He Hongyuan handed over a thin sheet of paper. Yang Lu, who had been expecting no reports from him recently, casually glanced at the paper he had received.

Suddenly, his eyes widened!

For his favorite subordinate, who had been slow to settle down, Yang Lu had been anxious, especially since He Hongyuan had always kept his distance from women, which made him even more troublesome to deal with.

Now this person has actually submitted a marriage report!

“Comrade He Hongyuan, you’ve answered the call of the organization!” Yang Lu said with a look of satisfaction.

The organization’s call is to help military comrades solve personal issues and establish families, and He Hongyuan, who rarely follows the path, had finally come around.

He Hongyuan saluted the brigade commander: “Commander Yang, I’ve always followed orders and instructions! The normal process for submitting a marriage report seems to take over a week? Can this one be expedited?”

Yang Lu: “…”

Yang Lu’s lips twitched, and internally he was thinking, “I’ve never seen you so obedient and eager before!”

As a veteran, Yang Lu didn’t make things difficult for him. After all, it was the first time his beloved subordinate had rushed the marriage report. He waved his hand to dismiss him: “Who’s going to stop you? Once your partner’s identity is confirmed, I’ll sign it right away!”

He Hongyuan, beaming, gave one final salute to the brigade commander before leaving the office, his posture as straight as a pine tree. “Thank you, Commander!”

Yang Lu watched his beloved subordinate leave and then stared at the marriage report on his desk, with He Hongyuan’s name in the applicant column and Lin Xiang as the intended spouse. He couldn’t help but mutter, “If this were three months ago, who would have thought that He Hongyuan would be applying for marriage?”

At the time, his niece Meng Qing had pursued He Hongyuan for years, even begging him and his wife to help mediate. But marriage is not something that can be forced.

That evening, when Yang Lu returned home, he hung his military jacket on the coat rack and immediately started talking to his wife about the matter.

“Guess who submitted their marriage report today?”

Her husband, playing coy, asked, “Who else? It must be some soldier in your brigade.”

Yang Lu kept the suspense going: “It’s someone you wouldn’t expect.”

“He Hongyuan?” Tian Guiju reflexively guessed the name.

“Yes, I can’t believe I’m finally receiving this boy’s marriage report.”

The couple sat on the sofa, reminiscing. Tian Guiju still marveled: “He Hongyuan used to be so stubborn. He refused to agree to any introduction, no matter how many young women surrounded him. He turned them all away, except for our Jingjing…”

Tian Guiju recalled how she and her husband had invited He Hongyuan over for dinner, hoping to matchmake him with Meng Qing. They were a good-looking couple, so they thought it might work. But He Hongyuan was completely oblivious to the situation and even refused to take Meng Qing back to the hospital. He bluntly rejected her.

“His personality is so direct, no sense of keeping things respectful.”

Now, to everyone’s surprise, He Hongyuan was the one submitting the marriage report. He was the last person anyone thought would get married.

Tian Guiju thought about He Hongyuan’s fiancée, Lin Xiang. They had a history together, especially after He Fen caused some drama, which Tian Guiju had helped resolve.

“How is Lin Xiang, the one working at your factory?” Yang Lu had already arranged for someone to look into Lin Xiang’s background since, as a military officer’s spouse, her identity had to be verified.

“I think she’s a good person. She’s attractive, well-educated, and most importantly, she’s done a lot of good work at our factory!” Tian Guiju spoke about the recent events in great detail, from the Factory No.2’s soda production to the Factory No.1’s shrimp paste…

The conversation continued until Meng Qing returned from the hospital.

“Looks like Lin Xiang is a good match for He Hongyuan. Once her background check is cleared, I’ll make sure their marriage report gets approved quickly, so this boy doesn’t get too anxious… Hey, why are you pushing me?”

While Yang Lu was speaking, his wife suddenly pushed him, interrupting his words.

Tian Guiju glared at him, signaling him to stop talking, then turned her attention to their niece, who had just returned from the hospital: “Jingjing, are you home? Come in and have some water. I’m making fish soup, dinner will be ready soon.”

Meng Qing, having overheard the conversation, kept her expression neutral. “He Hongyuan and Lin Xiang are getting married?”

Tian Guiju’s heart sank, but she reluctantly admitted, “Yes, Jingjing. Don’t be upset… there are still many good soldiers in our military district. Your uncle will introduce another one for you.”

Yang Lu hadn’t planned on mentioning He Hongyuan’s upcoming marriage in front of his niece. After all, Meng Qing had been in love with He Hongyuan for years, and hearing this news would likely hurt her.

Just as Yang Lu was about to comfort her, he saw Meng Qing casually go to her room to put down her bag and say, “Oh, that’s nice. They seem like a good match.”

Tian Guiju and Yang Lu exchanged surprised glances. What was going on? Why didn’t Meng Qing have any reaction to the news that He Hongyuan was getting married?

Meng Qing threw her cloth bag on a chair in her room and sat down on the edge of the bed, lost in thought. Instead of thinking about He Hongyuan, whom she had loved for years and who was now getting married, her mind was filled with another despicable and annoying person.

She tried to push Jiang Zhenghao’s image out of her mind and stood up to help her aunt prepare dinner.

The news about He Hongyuan submitting his marriage report spread quickly throughout the 119th unit.

The most shocked person was Zhang Huafeng. He never imagined that among his good friends, he would be the one left behind. He Hongyuan, who had once treated marriage like a plague, was now getting married before him!

“Weijun’er, tell me, how could this happen?” Zhang Huafeng, who had longed to get married, was struggling to accept that He Hongyuan, of all people, was ahead of him in this matter.

Jiang Weijun laughed, “Alright, give up now. The person managed to submit the marriage application before you, you’ve lost.”

Zhang Huafeng: “……”

He grumbled in frustration.

What made it worse was that the sharp-tongued He Hongyuan had to rub it in even more: “When I get married, I’ll pass on some experience to you about preparing the dowry and the three-turn one-ring tradition.”

Zhang Huafeng: !

What a show-off!

---

As the end of the workday approached, the news that the renowned Captain He from the 119th unit was getting married also spread to the food factory. After all, no secret stays hidden forever, and with Captain He’s popularity, it wasn’t surprising that the object of his marriage—Lin Xiang—had been a topic of conversation at the food factory for the past couple of months.

When Lin Xiang, along with Director Zhao, went to the Factory No.1 to deliver a sample of coconut water and a report requesting the addition of a new flavor for juice, they were watched by many on the way there.

The workers at the Factory No.1 were already familiar with Lin Xiang. Especially since she was an outstanding talent, they felt like she was one of their own, a member of the factory, and since she would be returning next month, they were extra warm in their greetings.

“Xiao Lin, I heard Captain He has submitted his marriage application? Congratulations!”

“I’ve always said, you two are a great match!”

Lin Xiang graciously accepted their good wishes and, after responding politely, managed to escape from the enthusiastic workers’ circle.

Director Zhao, who was walking beside her, sighed, “Ah, being young is good. I remember when I got married—oh, it was over twenty years ago.”

As they spoke, Director Zhao absentmindedly touched his forehead, remembering the days when he had a full head of hair.

Ah!

When they knocked on the door and entered the factory director’s office, they immediately overheard Director Huang complaining.

“Old Qin is really stubborn, even when we gave him an easy way out, he insists on maintaining his pride and suffering for it, refusing to come back!”

Secretary You tried to comfort him, “It seems Director Qin is really determined not to return.”

Director Huang snorted angrily, but as soon as he noticed Lin Xiang and Director Zhao had entered, he stopped talking about the shrimp paste workshop.

His attention shifted to the bottle of milky white liquid that Lin Xiang was holding.

The soda produced by the Factory No.2 of the 119th Unit was typically bottled in glass containers with the “119 Soda” label, but it was usually orange soda inside. He curiously asked, “What’s in this bottle? It looks so white.”

At first glance, it looked like milk—milky white with a silky texture.

Milk in the ’70s was a precious commodity, hard to come by even with money. It was mainly available to high-ranking officials, senior teachers, researchers, or pregnant women and patients who could get a prescription from a hospital.

Director Huang was one of the few families that could afford milk, and the rich, creamy taste was something he cherished, lingering in his mouth long after drinking.

“Director, this is coconut water!” Director Zhao quickly followed up, presenting the report, “Our factory is planning to add a new soda flavor—this coconut water.”

Director Huang looked at the report in his hands, still confused. “The water from those coconuts on the trees? Can we sell that?”

It wasn’t that he had a bias, but in Haining city, while there were plenty of coconut trees, the trees grew so tall that it was a struggle to get the coconuts down. Furthermore, the coconuts were hard as rocks, and it was quite difficult to get the water out, let alone bottle it and sell it.

Lin Xiang smiled and patiently explained the situation, having already anticipated these concerns: “Director, the coconut trees are wild, which helps us save costs. Unlike the orange soda, where we need to buy oranges, this is different. As for how to get the materials, we’ve thought of that too. In the initial stages, we can hire people to harvest the coconuts. The cost of this won’t be higher than the cost of buying oranges.”

Director Zhao immediately gave Lin Xiang a look, signaling her to offer a taste. “Director, why don’t you try it? I guarantee it tastes great!”

Director Huang was persuaded by their enthusiasm and hesitated for a moment before deciding to try the taste.

As the milky white coconut water flowed into his mouth, it was smooth and refreshing, with a delicate texture that spread through his throat and filled his chest with a sweet aroma.

He felt that this coconut water was truly different from the orange soda on the market. It was smoother, richer, and didn’t have the overly sweet taste of orange soda; instead, it had a subtle, fresh sweetness that lingered.

He smacked his lips, still savoring the aftertaste.

This was truly special!

“This taste is really quite different,” Director Huang said, realizing that the coconut water must have had something added to it, making it distinct from the coconut water directly from the fruit, but still perfect for bottling and selling.

Director Zhao was encouraged by the compliment and eagerly pressed on, “So, Director, do you think this will work? Our Factory No.2’s soda line is simple, and we’ve only had a few flavors of orange soda. If we can start selling coconut water, things will definitely improve.”

Director Huang was not easily swayed by such sudden ideas and suggested further discussion: “Leave the product with me. This matter still needs to be discussed in a meeting.”

Lin Xiang understood the situation well. In large state-owned factories, everything had to go through proper procedures, and no matter how fast they wanted to act, it would still take some time.

But she was confident.

After finishing the report on coconut water development, Lin Xiang and Director Zhao prepared to leave. There was still half an hour before the end of the workday, and after collecting a few more things, they would be ready to head home.

The day after tomorrow is Sunday, and He Hongyuan had agreed with her to go into the city to buy wedding supplies, and they had a lot to do.

However, just as they reached the door, Lin Xiang was suddenly called by the factory director. She had no choice but to watch Director Zhao march off happily, walking as if he didn’t know anyone, heading home from work.

“Director, is there something wrong with the coconut juice from earlier?” Lin Xiang asked, a bit annoyed. She really hated it when a leader called her in right before the end of the workday—it was so disruptive!

The factory director waved his hand dismissively. “It’s not about the coconut juice, it’s about the shrimp paste workshop.”

Lin Xiang was taken aback. “What’s wrong with the shrimp paste workshop?”

As far as she knew, the Mid-Autumn shrimp paste incident had caught the food flavor factory off guard, and up until now, they hadn’t made any major moves; they were temporarily suppressed by 119.

“Qin Yangbo still refuses to come back. He insists that since you’re so capable, you should just be the director of the shrimp paste workshop,” the factory director said, rubbing his temples. “He’s really making things hard.”

Clearly, Qin Yangbo was making a point.

Lin Xiang didn’t believe this for a second. She knew Qin Yangbo was mocking her, feeling embarrassed after being put in his place by her, and was deliberately saying this to provoke her.

She understood the director probably didn’t take it seriously either.

Moreover, the internal factions in the shrimp paste workshop were divided into small cliques, and the competition was intense. If she were to go there, wouldn’t she be adding to her own troubles?

Lin Xiang smiled lightly. “Director, Qin’s just joking. I’m a new worker, how could I compare to someone like Director Qin with such seniority? I’d be too embarrassed.”

The factory director had been waiting for this response. No matter how capable Lin Xiang was, there was no way she could become the workshop director. That was just nonsense! It was clearly Qin Yangbo being petty and refusing to let the matter go.

“Well then, next Tuesday, you come with me to visit Qin’s family. We’ll talk to him in person.” The only way to resolve Qin Yangbo’s issue was for Lin Xiang to take the initiative.

Lin Xiang looked at the factory director and understood his scheme. The truth was that Qin Yangbo felt humiliated by her, and the factory director wanted Lin Xiang to go, lower her stance, and smooth things over so that Qin would feel better and return.

“Director, I don’t have any ties to the shrimp paste workshop. Even if I went, it wouldn’t make much of a difference, and it would just take time away from my work at the factory. If you go yourself, surely Director Qin will respect your authority.” Lin Xiang politely refused. She had no interest in getting involved in this matter.

Seeing Lin Xiang’s reluctance, the factory director thought of Zhao Jianjun, who was always slipping away from his duties. “This is for the factory’s benefit.”

He threw out that high praise, but Lin Xiang didn’t rise to the bait. Instead, she asked, “Director, about the new equipment for our Factory No.2…”

The factory director was beginning to feel overwhelmed. Approving funds for new equipment for the Factory No.1 wasn’t a problem, but for the Factory No.2, it would certainly meet with opposition from the factory’s leadership. But since he had promised, he replied, “I’ll keep this in mind, and we’ll discuss it in a meeting. As for going to see Qin Yangbo, we’ll go Tuesday morning. It won’t take long, and I’ll give you the afternoon off.”

Lin Xiang’s eyes lit up. A free afternoon sounded great. “Alright, I’ll go to Director Qin’s house on Tuesday.”

After leaving the Factory No.1 director’s office, Lin Xiang took a bottle of coconut juice back to the Zhou family. When He Hongyuan arrived from the army, Lin Xiang eagerly offered him a taste.

“What do you think of the taste?” Lin Xiang asked, her almond-shaped eyes fixed on him.

He Hongyuan swallowed, the coconut juice’s fragrance filling his mouth. “It’s pretty good, though it’s a bit different from regular coconut water.”

“Mm, we’ve improved it,” Lin Xiang explained. The coconut juice sample she brought back was unanimously praised by the Zhou family.

Zhou Yuezhu, with a greedy look, drank a small amount and exclaimed, “If this coconut juice really goes on sale at the supply and marketing cooperative, I’d definitely buy it!”

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Despite the busyness of work, Lin Xiang and He Hongyuan’s top priority these days was still their wedding. On Sunday, Lin Xiang got up early, and the two of them went into the city again.

This time, their goal was clear. They weren’t familiar with wedding customs, so they followed a list that Aunt Feng had helped them put together and bought everything item by item.

The Phnom Penh Department Store had everything they needed.

He Hongyuan had already bought two of the “three turns and one ring” items for Lin Xiang earlier— a bicycle and a watch. He had also traded industrial coupons with a comrade to get a radio. Lin Xiang didn’t know how to use a sewing machine, so they decided to save the money on that.

As Lin Xiang continued to shop, she began to feel uneasy. “When you gave me the watch and the bicycle before, you weren’t just buying them for the wedding, were you?”

He Hongyuan grinned, “If we hadn’t talked about marriage, the next thing I’d save up for with industrial coupons would have been a radio. Once we’ve got everything ready, you’ll have to marry me.”

Lin Xiang looked at He Hongyuan, who was carrying a pile of bags, and couldn’t help but marvel at how sly he was!

After purchasing the big items, it was time for the wedding supplies.

Lin Xiang paid for the items the bride was supposed to prepare herself— bed sheets, blankets, pillowcases, enamel basins, enamel cups… all with festive designs.

If this were in the future, she might find them a bit tacky, but when in Rome, do as the Romans do. These items, decorated with mandarin ducks or red peonies, were quite fashionable at the time.

He Hongyuan was about to pay, but Lin Xiang stopped him. She winked at him and said, “I told you, these are for the bride to prepare. Don’t try to take over.”

He Hongyuan had no choice but to give up.

They also needed to get new clothes for the wedding. The two of them managed to gather up eight feet of cloth ration tickets and used it to buy bright red twill cotton fabric for Lin Xiang’s wedding dress. They planned to find a tailor to measure her for a beautifully made red gown. He Hongyuan would wear his military uniform for the wedding, which was also a characteristic of that era.

Lin Xiang thought about it for a moment. A white military uniform for the wedding would also look handsome, similar to a white suit, after all, both were uniforms.

“Should I buy you a pair of leather shoes?” He Hongyuan, having spent all his savings, was eager to buy everything for Lin Xiang. As he looked around, his eyes landed on a pair of black leather shoes on the shoe rack.

Lin Xiang only had two pairs of cloth shoes, which were fine for everyday wear but didn’t quite suit a wedding occasion. “Yes, I should get a pair,” she said.

Lin Xiang chose the most fashionable T-strap pointed leather shoes, which were said to be popular in Shanghai and sold for a pretty penny. However, no price was too high to stop some of the workers with extra money from buying a pair of nice leather shoes.

A pair of black calfskin shoes, elegant and compact, cost thirty-five yuan.

He Hongyuan bought himself a pair of shoes, and Lin Xiang was thinking about what else to get for him. This man never seemed to want anything, so Lin Xiang didn’t ask for his opinion anymore. She simply bought him two pairs of black nylon socks, which were the most fashionable at the time. They were twice as expensive as regular cotton socks, and factory workers who had just received their wages were eager to own a pair, striding with pride.

When they returned home with their shopping bags, they had spent almost two hundred yuan.

Of course, most of it was due to the man’s extravagant spending.

Two hundred yuan in the 1970s was no small amount, and Lin Xiang couldn’t help but feel a bit of pain. Money really didn’t last long.

He Hongyuan, on the other hand, was indifferent. He shifted the topic back to furniture: “I heard from Jiang Weijun that someone on the island makes good furniture. He’s planning to get married and will be buying from there. We should go take a look.”

Lin Xiang’s eyes lit up at the mention of furniture. It was worth spending money on their new home: “Okay, let’s wait until the house is assigned. Then we can go see and plan which furniture we need to get. We have to choose quality pieces; after all, they’ll last for many years.”

They took everything back to the Zhou family’s house for storage. Lin Xiang had thought it would take some time for the housing allocation, since they had to wait for He Hongyuan’s marriage report to be approved before they could even begin the house assignment process.

But to her surprise, on Monday afternoon, she received a call from He Hongyuan saying the marriage report had been approved and that she should take a day off to go choose a house.

It was easy to take leave from the Factory No.2, and Director Zhao readily approved her request.

When Lin Xiang followed He Hongyuan and the family housing unit director to look at a few currently vacant houses, she was still a bit dazed. Her own seaside house was really happening!