Chapter 20

As soon as Li Weimin spoke, everyone finally noticed him and immediately called out, “The Director is here!”

Xin Guoping quickly squeezed over to Li Weimin’s side and cautiously explained, “Director Li, what brings you here?”

“It’s just a childish tantrum, sorry to have embarrassed you.”

Li Weimin ignored him and walked straight up to Xin Qi.

“You must be Xin Qi. What you said just now made a lot of sense.”

“Young comrades should focus more on their work. As for personal matters, you can think about them whenever you want.”

“As long as it doesn’t violate the law, the state actually encourages late marriage and childbearing.”

Xin Qi responded with composure, “You’re absolutely right, Director Li.”

“The revolutionary martyrs fought with their lives to build a new China. Our younger generation must shoulder the great historical mission of national rejuvenation.”

“A thousand years is too long—we must seize the day. Please supervise me as well. If I, Xin Qi, don’t make some small contribution to the Four Modernizations, I won’t consider personal matters.”

Li Weimin didn’t actually care whether a young girl got married or not, but Xin Qi’s words really resonated with him. As a former soldier, he had a deep love for his country.

Li Weimin sighed emotionally, “I think some of our veteran comrades aren’t as ideologically sound as this young lady here. Don’t you agree, Comrade Xin Guoping?”

The mentioned “veteran comrade” Xin Guoping broke out in cold sweat.

“Yes, yes, yes, my ideological awareness is lacking.”

Li Weimin nodded. “We must not only focus on economic production but also not slack off on ideological education.”

“As long as our thinking doesn’t regress, there are always more solutions than problems. But if our mindset isn’t right, how can we do well in production and construction? How can we build the Four Modernizations?”

“I believe this situation today is not an isolated case but a common phenomenon. I’ll bring this up at Monday’s Party Committee meeting. Our factory leadership’s next focus will be strengthening political and ideological work.”

“And I ask all comrades to remember: if you have a problem, come to the factory office. We will solve it for you.”

Li Weimin had always been popular. He frequently visited workshops to inspect production and got along well with the workers.

The factory workers trusted Li Weimin deeply, and after hearing this speech, they burst into enthusiastic applause.

The loud clapping was like one slap after another on Xin Guoping’s face. It was over. Everything was over.

Li Weimin soon left, but before he did, Luo Hongying quietly told Xin Qi that Li Weimin had approved the red and black list proposal. Xin Qi winked at her, “I’ll be the first to submit something.”

Luo Hongying was amused and left, satisfied.

Once everyone had left, Xin Guoping still stood dumbfounded on the balcony. Xin Jianjun half-carried, half-dragged him back to the room.

Li Huilan came out of her room only after the noise died down. Seeing what was happening, she followed them into the room, worried.

Xin Qi’s voice was already hoarse from shouting. She was about to pour herself some warm water to soothe her throat.

Zhang Lan saw this and quickly stepped forward to take the cup, asking Xin Qi to rest on the sofa while she poured the water instead.

Xin Qi didn’t resist, obediently sat down, thinking about finding a place to live tomorrow. She couldn’t stand being in this house even one more day.

Zhang Lan, unaware that her “lightning rod” was about to leave, eagerly handed her a cup of warm tea.

Xin Qi took it, drank it all in one go, then said, “Thanks, sister-in-law. I’m tired, I’m going to sleep.”

She got up and left, not giving Zhang Lan a chance to speak. Zhang Lan opened her mouth but said nothing. Xin Jianjun came out of the other room and asked what she was doing.

Zhang Lan shut her mouth, gave him a glare, and went back to their room.

The next day was the weekend, so no one had to work.

Xin Guoping was still sulking in bed, and Li Huilan also stayed hidden in the room. Xin Jianjun bought breakfast and delivered it to them.

Zhang Lan was in an excellent mood, unable to hide the smile on her face, happily feeding Haohao youtiao (fried dough sticks).

After getting up and washing, Xin Qi changed clothes and came out. Zhang Lan quickly called her over for breakfast.

Xin Jianjun and Haohao were eating silently. Zhang Lan had specially placed a set of utensils beside her.

Xin Qi didn’t want to talk to her and said she had something to do before heading out.

Once again, Zhang Lan’s kindness was met with coldness. She grumbled unhappily, “What’s so special about her anyway?”

Xin Jianjun glanced at his wife and shook his head. Halfway through breakfast, Haohao suddenly asked, “Mom, if Auntie isn’t home, will Uncle still come today?”

Last night after Director Ma left, Haohao had asked his mom what a blind date was. Zhang Lan told him it meant his auntie was going to meet his uncle, and the uncle would be visiting their house today.

That question was like a wake-up call. The Xin household was suddenly in chaos again—Director Ma had said yesterday that he’d bring someone over in the afternoon. Now Xin Qi had left—who was going to meet the guy?

Zhang Lan reminded Li Huilan, who got so angry she nearly fainted again. She felt like if Xin Qi stayed in that house any longer, she wouldn’t live much longer herself.

Meanwhile, the Xin household was in complete disarray.

Xin Qi, having left the house, first found a place to eat, then went to the bank and exchanged 100 yuan, confirming with Manager Wang that she’d be back in a few days to withdraw money, asking if there would be any issues.

When Manager Wang heard she wanted to withdraw all her money, he didn’t dare delay and quickly fetched Director Li.

Director Li hurried over as well, worried she was still upset with the bank. Xin Qi couldn’t help laughing and explained repeatedly that she really just needed the money urgently, not because she was angry at the bank.

Director Li was very regretful and insisted she leave a contact address, saying it was to maintain customer relations.

So Xin Qi gave him the address of the Chunfeng Repair Shop. When Director Li heard she worked at a repair shop, he was shocked again. Just what kind of background did this mysterious Xin Qi have?

After leaving the bank, Xin Qi walked toward the bus stop, heading to the repair shop. Since she’d be working there from now on, she needed to buy a place nearby—otherwise, the daily bus fare would add up.

There were no real estate agents back then, and individuals didn’t have property deeds either. Finding housing was hard, and transferring ownership was complicated.

Xin Qi was mentally calculating how much her savings could get her.

The bus arrived—it was the exact one she needed. She got on, bought a ticket, and found there were no seats. She squeezed her way inside, lost in thought again.

Ling Liehuang recognized Xin Qi the moment she got on.

Strange—was it really just a one-time meeting? Why did the memory feel so vivid?

That’s what Ling Liehuang was thinking, even as the corners of his mouth involuntarily curled into a faint smile.

The bus was crowded. As Xin Qi made her way toward the back, Ling Liehuang happened to be standing near the rear door, about to get off at the next stop.

He watched as Xin Qi slowly made her way closer to him. The arm closest to her tensed up slightly. Ling Liehuang held his breath.

When the bus braked at the next stop, inertia caused a collective sway. Xin Qi lost her balance and instinctively reached out to grab the nearest arm.

The moment her hand wrapped around it, the muscles under her palm tensed instantly—firm, solid, brimming with vitality. She couldn’t help but give it a little squeeze.