Chapter 67: Handling

Strictly speaking, the formula for liquid soap wasn’t Lin Qiao’s. But she didn’t know how to explain it, so she hesitated, “This has probably existed abroad for a long time.”

Vice Principal Qi sighed, “How many things we research now don’t exist abroad? Our people still can’t use them. The country is doing this to encourage innovation and provide a promotion channel.”

This reminded Lin Qiao of the sanitary pads Ji Yan had mailed her. Although they had existed abroad for over a hundred years, women in China had only recently started using sanitary paper. She didn’t say anything more.

Before coming, Lin Qiao had been reviewing for the college entrance exam. After leaving Vice Principal Qi’s office, she now had two direct paths to graduate school. One was to attend a teacher training college, and the other was to find a way to win an award and then get recommended to a science and engineering college.

This was completely unexpected for her. She sincerely thanked Vice Principal Qi and Principal Zeng.

“What’s this?” Vice Principal Qi smiled, adjusting his glasses. “You’ve done so much for the school. Don’t you deserve a recommendation?”

Principal Zeng didn’t say anything, but his guidance had already spoken volumes.

These older generations didn’t have much bureaucratic air about them. Even Principal Zeng, despite being worn down by ten years of hardship, still had a burning passion. Given a chance, he was willing to do something for the students and the teachers who genuinely cared about teaching.

It seemed that people from the country’s early days had a spirit that later generations lacked. No matter how difficult or poor the situation, they always invested their full enthusiasm into building the country.

Lin Qiao had almost left the office but suddenly turned back, looking directly at Vice Principal Qi. “Vice Principal Qi, I still want to do more experiments.”

Attending a teacher training college was certainly easier and more secure, unlike the other path where she had to find a way to win an award first. But her first love was chemistry experiments, not teaching. She preferred her lab over a classroom.

Moreover, her previous achievements weren’t because she was exceptionally talented but because she came from forty years in the future. She knew what she was good at.

These people never forgot their original intentions and always strived to be good educators. She didn’t want to forget her original intentions either, just because attending a teacher training college was easier. Just like she knew making liquid soap was profitable but never thought of giving up the college entrance exam and studying to become a pure businessperson.

Lin Qiao’s eyes were firm, and her words were sincere, “If I have the opportunity in the future, I will also teach students, but first, I want to explore more of the chemical world.”

This might have seemed to reject Vice Principal Qi’s goodwill, but he wasn’t angry. Instead, he smiled, “You have your own ideas.”

His eyes showed some appreciation, “Attending a teacher training college is just one option. The final decision is up to you.” Worried she might feel burdened, he added with a smile, “Prepare well for the registration. If you have any new inventions, bring them out for everyone to see.”

“Definitely.” Lin Qiao also smiled. This time, leaving the office felt even lighter and brighter than before.

She still needed to think carefully about what to submit for the competition. Liquid soap had been around for a long time; the formula was simple, and it had even been leaked before. It would be best to come up with something new and genuinely useful. However, she didn’t have many ideas yet, but the matter of the complaint letter needed to be addressed. Perhaps it was a habit from those ten years, but whenever someone wanted to cause trouble, they first thought of writing a complaint letter. In the past six months, she had encountered this more frequently than students reporting holiday tutoring to the education bureau in her previous life.

Previously, it only involved her, but it dragged the liquid soap factory this time. Who knew if it was aimed at her or Ji Duo?

When Ji Duo came home at noon, she told him about it, “Your friend hasn’t encountered this kind of thing, right?”

Ji Duo’s focus was entirely on the complaint, “You’ve been reported again?” His brow furrowed, and his gaze darkened.

“I’m fine,” Lin Qiao said. “In fact, it turned out to be a blessing in disguise. The school found out I had the formula and pointed me towards a direct path to graduate school.”

“Direct path to graduate school?” Lin Qiao didn’t even know about this, so Ji Duo, being outside the education system, certainly didn’t.

Lin Qiao explained the situation to him, “But it’s just a path. Whether it works out depends on whether I can win an award.”

Ji Duo’s gaze remained on her face, “Not many people know you can make liquid soap, right?”

Lin Qiao paused, but she looked him straight in the eye, “Only the family knows for sure. I always said it was a friend’s work to outsiders.”

If someone at the school wanted to make an issue of it, they would have reported it long ago. Principal Zeng and Vice Principal Qi wouldn’t have just confirmed the formula was hers now.

So, it was either a family member or information leaked by a family member. Ji Duo’s eyes turned cold, already having a rough idea, “I’ll handle this.”

Not on a Sunday, he found time to return to the old house alone. As he entered, he saw Ji Jun walking out with his head down, looking visibly awkward.

Seeing the awkwardness, Ji Duo didn’t want to say much. He greeted him and went inside, just in time to see the old man still visibly angry.

The old man’s face had been sour for days, but this was the first time he openly displayed his anger. Ji Duo asked, “What’s wrong?”

Old Mr. Ji’s face stiffened, and he clearly found it difficult to speak, but he finally sighed and said, “Your elder brother came back and asked me if Qiao Qiao could sell the formula to your sister-in-law’s elder brother.”

Although Ye Minshu was very angry that day, her main anger was directed at her elder brother and sister-in-law for trying to take a large portion of the family business from her son for free. The longer Ji Ze refused to compromise, the more she felt it would be better to agree with her elder brother and sister-in-law and let her son return to the army as soon as possible.

However, Ji Ze was clearly not going to agree. With no other option, she devised another plan: have Lin Qiao sell the formula to her elder brother, who would then start a factory to squeeze out Ji Ze’s business, forcing him to return to the army. But she couldn’t bring herself to ask Lin Qiao directly, so she had Ji Jun ask Old Mr. Ji instead.

“I didn’t agree,” Old Mr. Ji’s face was as dark as the bottom of a pot. “The formula belongs to Qiao Qiao. He didn’t ask Qiao Qiao but came to ask me. How could I pressure Qiao Qiao to sell it to his brother-in-law?”

Whether Lin Qiao agreed or not was one thing, but the lack of sincerity was another. Was this how the eldest family handled things?

Old Mr. Ji had long suspected something was off with Ye Minshu’s illness. He had been waiting to see when his eldest son would speak up. But Ji Jun had kept it hidden until now, not saying a word, fearing the old couple would find out. When Ye Minshu pushed, he came running to ask for help.

Old Mr. Ji had been maintaining his eldest son’s dignity, but now he was done with it. “Why can’t he think for himself? After two days of peace and his wife’s illness, he falls back into his old habits!”

Ji Duo was both surprised and not surprised that his elder brother could do such a thing. He adjusted his military pants and sat on the sofa beside him. “I have something to tell you, too. Qiao Qiao has been reported.”

“Qiao Qiao has been reported?” Xu Li, who had just returned with tea to calm the old man, heard this and asked, “Who reported her? For what?”

“Reported that the Muzi Liquid Soap factory is hers and that she engaged in private business while employed,” Ji Duo glanced at Old Mr. Ji.

As expected, the old man’s face grew even darker, and Xu Li’s expression wasn’t good either.

Ji Duo lowered his gaze, “I’ve already investigated thoroughly. The report only reached their school, not the education bureau or the ministry of education.”

But this wasn’t exactly good news for Old Mr. Ji.

Because Lin Qiao had done so much for the school, the school’s stance naturally leaned more towards her. If someone really wanted to target Lin Qiao, the best way would be to report her to the Education Bureau or even the Ministry of Education. The fact that they didn’t do this meant either they weren’t smart enough or they were afraid of causing more trouble, so they could only annoy her this way.

“Qiao Qiao is making liquid soap. You and Mom wouldn’t casually mention it to outsiders, let alone report her, right?” Ji Duo said calmly.

Old Mr. Ji raised his eyebrows, “Are you questioning us?”

“Not at all,” Ji Duo replied. “Since it’s not you or Mom, then no matter who it is, I’ll consider it all on one person’s head. It ultimately can’t be unrelated to her.” He suddenly leaned forward and asked Old Mr. Ji, “The family is in such chaos. Aren’t you going to do something? If you don’t, I will.”

Clearly, he was thoroughly fed up with the situation.

Old Mr. Ji was silent for a while before asking, “What do you plan to do?”

“Either my elder brother or sister-in-law, or both, should be transferred to another place, separated,” Ji Duo said succinctly.

Though brief, his words were like pulling the rug out from under Ye Minshu, taking away her biggest support. What gave Ye Minshu the confidence to stand firm in the Ji family and cause trouble? It was her hold over Ji Jun and having someone backing her. Whether Ji Jun was transferred or she was, if they were sent far away, she wouldn’t have anyone to support her schemes.

This time, Old Mr. Ji was silent for even longer, “No need for you, I’ll handle it myself and transfer your elder brother.” His voice was hoarse as if he had aged several years instantly.

The eldest daughter-in-law always said he favored the second son, but in truth, he had always favored the eldest, feeling most guilty towards the second. He always thought the eldest had no mother from a young age and no abilities. If he didn’t keep him close to guide and watch over him, how could he be at ease?

The second son, on the other hand, had always been independent and capable, needing no worry, so he cared less. Who would have thought the eldest daughter-in-law would become more temperamental and extreme over the years? She used to have small schemes, but now she dared to do anything.

This was already her second offense against the second son. The second son was only doing this for the sake of the children. He couldn’t really let the second son take action, could he?

But to send a woman far away, the eldest family still had Xiao Ling, so he could only send his own son away…

Ji Duo said nothing more and stood up, “Then I’ll go to the hospital.”

Clearly, he had come back to resolve this matter.

Old Mr. Ji nodded. After Ji Duo left, he sighed deeply, “If I had known it would come to this, I would have let the eldest resent me rather than give in to his wishes.”

Xu Li understood his thoughts. It was nothing more than raising a promising son strictly while a less promising one was left to his own devices, sometimes even relaxed.

It wasn’t favoritism; it was different expectations for the children, leading to different ways of treating them.

She handed him the teacup, “Have a sip before it gets cold. I put a lot of effort into making it for you.”

The old man took it and couldn’t help but squeeze his wife’s hand, “You’ve been through a lot over the years.”

This rare soft remark lowered Xu Li’s voice: “Whether it’s been hard or not, I knew you had a son when I married you.”

But she had raised the eldest and lost a child, and even after the eldest got married, his heart still leaned towards his wife.

The old man was about to say more when the door opened, and Ji Duo returned.

He quickly withdrew his hand, showing agility that didn’t match his age. Xu Li also looked a bit uneasy and asked her son, “Is there something else?”

Ji Duo’s expression didn’t reveal much, and it was unclear if he had seen anything. “Did we have any photos of Qiao Qiao when the engagement was arranged?”

The family hadn’t mentioned it before, and he hadn’t thought about it until he was about to find Ji Ze and ask about the camera. Suddenly, this question came to mind.

Xu Li had long forgotten about it but thought for a moment, “I remember we did. Let me find it for you.”

The photos were clearly not with Ye Minshu. She rummaged through boxes and cabinets for a while and found a familiar black-and-white photo of Lin Qiao at four or five years old, with her hair tied up and a red dot on her forehead.

Ji Duo took the photo and examined it carefully, imagining that if Lin Qiao had a daughter, she would be this small and soft. He put the photo in his pocket, “I’m leaving now.” This time, he really left.

“This kid,” Xu Li couldn’t help but say, turning to see Old Mr. Ji still sitting there, “Better than you.”

Suddenly attacked, Old Mr. Ji: “…”

After handling everything, Ji Duo returned home in the evening, and the familiar white smoke and strange smell wafted from the kitchen.

Ji Duo took off his coat and walked over. Several small buckets were already placed at Lin Qiao’s feet, and the concentration and color were different from the previous liquid soap.

“What are you making this time?” Seeing Lin Qiao reaching for another bucket, he bent down to help her.

Lin Qiao raised the freshly made liquid in her hand, “This is laundry detergent.” She pointed to a transparent one, “That’s dishwashing liquid.”

After pouring everything, she pointed to another darker one, “That’s shampoo.”

“So many?”

“Yes.”

These were advanced liquid soap products. Lin Qiao hadn’t made them before because their functions were too specific, and she feared they wouldn’t sell well. The petrochemical technology of the time couldn’t keep up, and there were no plastic bottles.

After finishing everything, she took off her gloves and asked, “Which one do you think is better?”

Ji Duo gazed at the buckets for a long time, then looked at her face, “Is there any difference?”

He genuinely didn’t understand these things. Lin Qiao sighed, “Yes, they’re all liquid cleaners. What’s the difference?”

This reaction made Ji Duo pause and re-examine the buckets, “Why don’t you explain it in more detail?”

“Even in detail, they’re still liquid cleaners, just with different formulas,” Lin Qiao said, sitting at the dining table. “I don’t have any tutoring sessions tomorrow afternoon, so I’ll go out and look for inspiration.”

For now, she could only think of these household chemicals but wasn’t satisfied with them. Market demand determines success, so she needed to explore more.

Ji Duo couldn’t offer any better suggestions, so he asked, “Should I have Xiao Fang drive you?”

“No need. How can I find inspiration sitting in a car?”

The next day, after lunch, Lin Qiao took the bus out without any specific destination, just wandering around malls, factories, and residential areas.

With the recent thaw, the sun felt nice when it was out, but it was especially cold in the shade. Tired from walking, Lin Qiao found a sunny spot to rest. Unexpectedly, a modified tricycle passed by, stopped, and turned back, “Comrade Lin?”

The voice sounded familiar. Lin Qiao looked up and saw it was Chen Zhaonan, whom she hadn’t seen for a while.

Having been bundled up all winter, Chen Zhaonan was much fairer than before, had gained some weight, and had her hair cut into a neat, short style.

Seeing Lin Qiao look up, she couldn’t hide her joy, “It really is Comrade Lin! Did you use the knitted bag I gave you last time? Is it comfortable?”

Not only had her appearance improved, but her Mandarin was also much more standard. Such progress in a short time was impressive.

Lin Qiao showed her the bag she was carrying, “I’m using it. I took it to school, and my colleagues all said it looks nice.”

“Then I’ll make you another one next time,” Chen Zhaonan said, her eyes lighting up like a child receiving praise.

“That’s too much trouble. This one is already very nice, thank you,” Lin Qiao noticed her vest, “Are you delivering goods to the liquid soap factory?”

It was clear Ji Duo had arranged this, probably to help her find a livelihood in unfamiliar Yandu.

Chen Zhaonan nodded, “Thanks to Comrade Ji, I was looking for needlework work, but I didn’t know anyone and couldn’t get any. Comrade Ji found me a job at the liquid soap factory. But I don’t usually deliver goods. The boss has been away recently, and they’re short-handed, so I’m helping out.”

Solving the problem at its root, allowing Chen Zhaonan to rely on her own hands to stand firm in Yandu, was indeed Ji Duo’s style.

Lin Qiao stood up, “Where are you delivering to? I’ll walk with you for a bit.”

“Won’t it delay your time?” Chen Zhaonan asked, a bit embarrassed.

“I have nothing to do this afternoon. It’s good timing to meet you and ask how your literacy is going.”

Unexpectedly, Chen Zhaonan had a literacy book with her and immediately took it out to show Lin Qiao.

Walking and reading, Lin Qiao saw that her progress was quite fast. Before long, they arrived at a nearby dye factory.

“This area is full of factories, no small shops. We sell at the factory gates. The dye factory has many female workers, so sales are quick,” Chen Zhaonan explained in a low voice.

Just then, the factory workers were getting off work, and a group of female workers came out. Seeing the liquid soap, they immediately surrounded it to buy.

Lin Qiao saw the crowd and helped sell for a while. Unexpectedly, just as they finished selling a bucket, the factory security came out and chased them away, not allowing them to block the entrance.

“We’ll leave right away,” Chen Zhaonan apologized softly and looked at Lin Qiao with embarrassment.

The security guard wasn’t unkind. Seeing them really leaving, he said, “If you can sell detergent, bring some over. We use a lot before and after dyeing. If you sell that, the leaders won’t mind.”

“Got it, got it. I’ll tell our boss,” Chen Zhaonan nodded repeatedly. Turning back, she saw Lin Qiao deep in thought.

“What’s wrong?” she asked softly.

“Nothing,” Lin Qiao snapped out of her thoughts and smiled, “I just feel that this trip was really worthwhile, and so was meeting you.”

She knew what to create for the exhibition now: a degreaser.

This product is a high-efficiency degreasing agent, not commonly used at home but widely applicable in textiles, pharmaceuticals, food, transportation, electronics, and metal processing. It’s especially suitable for dyeing polyester and polyester-blend materials. It can mix water and oil to form an emulsion, breaking down the fabric’s oil stains into the water. This was a complete departure from her previous liquid cleaners, which mainly consisted of inorganic salts and surfactants, resulting in a white powder.

Lin Qiao returned and made a long list, handing it to Ji Duo, “Can you help me get these?”

The list included the original formula ingredients and the best substitutes in case some materials were hard to find.

Ji Duo didn’t say anything, carefully reviewing the list from start to finish, then folded it and put it away. Within a week, the first batch of materials arrived.

Another ten days later, the last two hardest-to-find items were also delivered.

Lin Qiao spent some time testing it and even tried it at home. She submitted the final product and several liquid cleaners before the registration deadline.

Now, she just had to wait for the exhibition to open officially. Lin Qiao put this matter aside and focused on her students’ studies.

Around this time, Ji Jun suddenly received a transfer order to go to the southern province where Old Mr. Ji had been sent before.

The news left not only Ye Minshu but also Ji Jun stunned. After work, the first thing he did was go to the old house to ask Old Mr. Ji.

“You haven’t been working properly these days, have you?”

At this point, Old Mr. Ji was calmer than he had been in days. He looked at his son, who was full of shame, and finally put down his teacup, “Running around every day, being ordered around by your wife. If I don’t transfer you, you’ll lose your job.”

“I, I…” Ji Jun stammered for a long time but couldn’t say anything.

“Although it’s a poor and harsh place, it’s where real work gets done. Go there and do some proper work for two years. Don’t let the country down for paying your salary.”

Ji Jun was left speechless by the old man’s words. He stood there until it was almost time to return to work in the afternoon, but the old man didn’t say anything more, so he left with his head hanging low.

When he told Ye Minshu in the evening, she was so shocked that she didn’t even put on her coat and ran straight to the old house.

The old man had anticipated her visit and had already left with Xu Li to stay at the old cadre’s sanatorium for a while.

Finding no one at the old house, Ye Minshu had no choice but to go to Ji Duo and Lin Qiao, asking if they knew where the old couple had gone.

Lin Qiao had known her for so long, but it was the first time she saw her speak so humbly, “The southern province is so far; it takes two days to get there, and the climate is different from Yandu. Your elder brother will definitely not adapt. And Xiao Ling, she will miss her father. You care about her the most, so please tell me.”

Even when Xiao Ling was mentioned, Lin Qiao genuinely didn’t know: “You said our parents left? When did this happen?”

Seeing her reaction, Ye Minshu felt a sinking feeling. She asked Ji Duo, who was even more inscrutable, “I’ll help you find out, Sister-in-law.”

Ye Minshu fell ill again, this time genuinely. But before Ji Jun’s matter was resolved, news came that Ji Ze’s transfer application had been approved. She didn’t even know when her son had submitted the transfer report. At that moment, she felt all hope was lost.

Lin Qiao didn’t return to the old house, so she didn’t know. But Ji Duo frowned at the calendar and said, “This is really bad timing.”

“What’s bad timing?” Lin Qiao was working on the preliminary chemistry competition questions, which had just been taken two days ago, and the results weren’t out yet.

“I mean the rain,” Ji Duo glanced out the window, “There’s training tomorrow.”

It was indeed bad timing. Judging by the rain, even if it stopped tomorrow, the ground wouldn’t dry up.

Lin Qiao continued working on her questions, then heard him say, “We won’t go to the old house for dinner this Sunday. I’ll have Xiao Ze come over and talk to you about something.”