Chapter 58: Working at the Garment Factory

At night, held in Xie Zhi’s embrace, Xu Jiaojiao had never felt so safe before. This feeling was like a baby in its mother’s arms—so fitting and comforting.

Jiaojiao had suffered such grievances, and Xie Zhi was determined to make Yuan Ling pay. If nothing else, he’d get him beaten up in a sack to vent his anger. There was no way he would let him off easily.

That night, the two did nothing but hold each other.

Since what happened yesterday, Xu Jiaojiao had no desire to leave the house. She stayed in her room all day drawing designs. In the end, it all came down to her being too weak.

She desperately needed a steady stream of money. Once the 700 yuan arrived, she planned to open a clothing factory or a boutique for custom-made fashion.

Ever since she had completely fallen out with Xie Zhi’s parents, she no longer felt the need to put on an act. She wasn’t willing to force herself to please them anymore. For the past few days, Xie Zhi had been the one bringing meals back home.

Even though he was incredibly busy—running between the police station, the research institute, and home—he was more than happy to take care of her.

Xu Jiaojiao glanced at the designs on the table, stretched lazily, and leaned back against her chair. The chair was hard and cold, so she always had to put a small cushion on it, or else her back would ache unbearably.

It was already 6 PM. If she calculated the time correctly, Xie Zhi should be back soon. The wall clock rang precisely on the hour. She packed away all her things, chose the outfit she would wear tomorrow, and took her nightgown into the bathroom.

When she came out, steam still clung to her skin. Her pale yellow spaghetti-strap nightdress outlined her graceful figure. From a distance, she looked like a beauty stepping out of a painting.

Xie Zhi had already set dinner on the table and was watching her seriously, his eyes darkened with desire.

Xu Jiaojiao immediately saw through this seemingly proper man. What was this? A refined scoundrel.

With a gentle tug, Xie Zhi pulled her onto his lap, his eyes filled with deep emotions. He tilted her chin up, capturing her lips in a passionate kiss.

By the time he let her go, her hair was in disarray, her gaze was hazy, and she was gasping for air.

“I’ll take you to work tomorrow,” he said.

“No need, that’d be too much trouble. You have work too, and we still have translations to do at night,” she replied.

“Alright.” His tone carried a hint of regret.

The two ate dinner slowly and soon went to bed. The temperature difference between day and night in Qingcheng was significant. She figured it was because the environment wasn’t as polluted as in later years.

Under the blanket, it was cold. Wasn’t it always the man’s job to warm the bed?

Xu Jiaojiao curled up in the corner, hugging herself for warmth. Even after Xie Zhi finished drying his hair, her body was still icy, especially her feet, which were practically ice cubes.

Xie Zhi lifted the blanket and wrapped her in his arms like a walking human heater. Her cold feet rubbed against his legs, and under the warmth, she soon drifted into a deep sleep.

…

The next morning, Xu Jiaojiao woke up early. The garment factory started work at 9 AM, but to ensure she looked perfect, she got up at 7 AM, put on light makeup, and changed into the halter-top she had bought at the clothing store. It had a unique design.

Xie Zhi also woke up. After getting ready, they headed out and grabbed breakfast from a small stall outside the neighborhood. The stall had everything—steamed buns, fried dough sticks, and more.

A vegetable bun cost one cent, a meat bun two cents, and a fried dough stick two and a half cents. Prices were quite cheap. Xu Jiaojiao carried a small handbag filled with candies and chocolates—she needed to make a good impression at the factory.

“The bus is here, hurry up and get on,” Xie Zhi said, patting her head.

“I’ll come pick you up in the afternoon. Be good, okay?” he reminded her again, unwilling to let her go.

Xu Jiaojiao nodded, tiptoed to kiss his cheek, and smiled. “I know, you nagging old man.”

Watching her board the bus, Xie Zhi got into a car that had been waiting for him. They each headed in opposite directions. Xu Jiaojiao was in such a good mood that even the familiar streets around her seemed more interesting than usual.

At the factory entrance, the security guard noticed she wasn’t wearing an employee badge and asked, “You said you’re here for an interview? What’s your name?”

“Yes, I’m here for an interview. My name is Xu Jiaojiao. A boss named Wang told me to come,” she answered honestly.

“You must mean Factory Director Wang. He mentioned you. Go on in.” The guard lifted the barrier and let her through.

The factory looked like the typical ones in later years—low-rise buildings in the outskirts. Three buildings formed a square, with some greenery in the center and a freight elevator for deliveries. The buildings weren’t very tall, about four or five floors.

Since it was working hours, many people were coming and going. Most wore the same blue uniform, though there were occasional variations.

Xu Jiaojiao understood why—being a factory worker in this era was considered a respectable job. Even if someone was illiterate, wearing a uniform made them the object of admiration.

She followed the crowd into one of the buildings and went up to the second floor. It was a large workshop that could accommodate dozens of workers. Sewing machines were neatly arranged, bamboo mats were used as light-blocking curtains, and in the center stood a ten-meter-long pattern-making table.

Looking at the scene, she felt a wave of nostalgia. Compared to the university’s art department workshop, this place was worlds apart.

A woman with a Teresa Teng-style haircut and a red outfit walked over. The two exchanged a friendly handshake—this woman clearly held some authority.

“You must be Xu Jiaojiao. Coincidentally, my surname is also Xu. Just call me Supervisor Xu. The factory director asked me to receive you,” she said.

“Nice to meet you, Supervisor Xu,” Xu Jiaojiao greeted sweetly.

Then, she pulled out an oil-paper-wrapped pastry and handed it over. “Have you had breakfast yet, Supervisor Xu? This is a pastry from Longxing Tang. It’s delicious.”

Supervisor Xu wanted to refuse, but the pastry smelled of rich milk, and Longxing Tang was a famous bakery in the city—expensive, too.

“Alright, I’ll try it. Thank you,” she said, taking the pastry.

“No need to thank me! I’ll be relying on you for guidance from now on,” Xu Jiaojiao said playfully.

Supervisor Xu chuckled. “The factory director said you can design clothes. Did you bring your sketches? Let me take a look.”

Xu Jiaojiao handed over six meticulously prepared designs—all women’s clothing. Each one was stunning. Supervisor Xu narrowed her eyes slightly as she examined them.

Pointing to a spot, she said, “Go grab some non-woven fabric and make a sample. There’s a mannequin and sewing machine over there. Do you know how to use them?”

“Yes, I do!” Xu Jiaojiao nodded confidently.

Supervisor Xu smiled in satisfaction. Before leaving, she added, “A designer gets better pay, but we need to see your practical skills. Do a good job, and I’ll negotiate your salary for you.” She then gave her a knowing look.

Well, a favor had been given, and besides, Xu Jiaojiao seemed genuinely talented—a promising individual.

Xu Jiaojiao was thrilled. Work hadn’t officially started yet, so many employees were still having breakfast, some of them eyeing her curiously.

She had already noticed this many times. During summer breaks, she had worked in factories, but back then, most people’s eyes were dull. Yet in this era, their gazes were full of energy.

Sometimes, she wondered—why is it that the more society advances, the less happy people seem to be?

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Sia:- First of all, I want to thank everyone for all the love and I am sorry that I have not been consistent about uploading. It has been 2 weeks since I have joined my new company and I am also doing my masters along with job and translation. I will try my best to be consistent with the uploads, so please continue to support me.