Font Size:
Chapter 40
The workers from Factory No. 2 were originally busy with their tasks when rumors started spreading like wildfire. Everyone had heard that their own Lin had been working at Factory No. 1’s shrimp paste workshop for the past few days, supposedly on temporary assignment. But now, people were saying that the old-timers at the shrimp paste workshop were ganging up on her, treating her like she didn’t exist, and refusing to cooperate with her in any way. That was enough to make them furious.
Muttering curses about how shameless those people were, a small group of workers stormed off toward Factory No. 1. The others couldn’t leave their posts because the machines were still running, but they showed their support, saying, “If it really turns into a fight, just give us a shout, and we’ll be there in no time.”
When they arrived at the shrimp paste workshop and took one look inside—whoa. Their petite, slender Lin was standing alone, facing off against a group of burly workers. What chance did she have?!
Qiu Hongxia took the lead and immediately launched into a tirade, leaving the shrimp paste workers completely dumbfounded.
What did this have to do with them?!
The fermentation team leader, He Zhigang, was the first to step forward, his voice sharp with authority. “Qiu Hongxia, what do you think you’re doing? You people from Factory No. 2 want to stir up trouble here? This is the shrimp paste workshop, not your soda workshop! Get lost!”
“Pfft!” Qiu Hongxia, a veteran worker at Factory No. 2, had a powerful voice from years of cracking sunflower seeds and an even sharper tongue. She immediately fired back, raising her voice, “He Zhigang, you’re the one leading the charge to bully our Lin, aren’t you? You lot claim to be the senior workers of this factory—so that’s just an excuse to gang up on a young girl who just started?! Lin came here out of goodwill to help you, but you’re acting like a bunch of shameless idiots, running in circles with your heads buried in the ground! Do you really think Factory No. 2 is easy to push around? Listen up, shrimp paste workshop—Lin is one of us! If anyone dares to bully her, step forward right now, and we’ll settle this with a fight!”
The shrimp paste workers: “……”
Who wants to fight?!
Factory No. 2’s workers really lived up to their notorious reputation! Look at the mess they were making!
Lin Xiang stood to the side, watching in awe. Originally, she had planned to implement the recovery plan today, waiting for the right moment to use the factory director’s influence to persuade the shrimp paste workers to cooperate. In fact, just now, some of the regular workers had already started wavering—she just needed to push them a little further.
But who would’ve thought that the Factory No. 2 crew would suddenly charge in like this? Compared to her calm and logical persuasion, these workers were a force of nature—sharp, direct, and utterly relentless.
Their scolding left the shrimp paste workers speechless, their faces red with frustration.
The mixing team leader quickly stepped in to mediate. “Alright, alright, what is this mess?! Everyone, disperse! If Factory No. 1 and Factory No. 2 end up brawling, won’t that just make us a laughingstock?”
But He Zhigang refused to back down. “Disperse, my ass! They came from Factory No. 2 just to cause trouble, and now they think they’re in the right? No way! We’re taking this to the factory director!”
…
By the time Factory Director Huang, Secretary You, and Factory No. 2’s Director Zhao Jianjun arrived at the fermentation workshop, both sides were furiously lodging complaints, their voices overlapping in heated argument. Factory Director Huang’s brow furrowed so tightly it looked like he could trap a fly between the creases.
He was well aware of the arrogance in the fermentation workshop and their unwillingness to cooperate with Lin Xiang’s recovery plan. He had personally come several times to persuade them, but they acted agreeable in front of him while disregarding his orders behind his back. And now, things had blown up.
Of course, the Factory No. 2 people were no better—this group of workers was practically more gangster than gangsters! Coming in here cursing and threatening to brawl—what a mess!
Factory Director Huang had a headache.
His gaze swept over the crowd and landed on the slender figure in the center. Unlike the others, Lin Xiang remained calm and collected.
After thinking things through, he decided to handle this fairly—everyone was getting punished.
“You shrimp paste workers sure have been stirring up a lot of trouble lately, haven’t you? Ever since Shiwei’s shrimp paste cans started competing for market share, the entire factory has been brainstorming solutions for you! Even the workers from Factory No. 2 have been concerned about your situation! I personally assigned Comrade Lin to assist, but what did you do? You singled her out because she’s young and new, refused to cooperate, and failed to work as a team!”
Factory Director Huang’s stern voice carried the weight of his past military service. The workshop instantly fell silent, the workers too afraid to even breathe loudly.
As the factory’s flagship workshop, the shrimp paste team had always been praised by the leadership and envied by other workers. Now, being publicly reprimanded in front of so many outsiders was downright humiliating.
Many workers lowered their heads, feeling uneasy.
“I’ve reviewed Comrade Lin’s proposal—it’s worth trying. Right now, 119 Shrimp Paste Canned Goods is on the verge of losing its reputation entirely. If you don’t act soon, this workshop will be shut down!” Factory Director Huang’s voice was sharp as he finally tore through the polite pretense. “Everyone, cooperate fully with Comrade Lin! Your Director Qin is no longer here, but don’t think that means you can just slack off and ignore factory orders!”
The shrimp paste workers stood silently as they were reprimanded. Meanwhile, the Factory No. 2 workers were thoroughly enjoying the show, eager to break out sunflower seeds and peanuts as they watched their rivals get scolded.
But then, Factory Director Huang turned his gaze toward them.
“And as for you lot! What business do you have here? Barging in, picking fights, cursing people out—do you have any discipline at all?” Factory Director Huang was just about to give them a thorough scolding when Zhao Jianjun, the director of Factory No. 2, suddenly cut him off.
“Director, our Factory No. 2 workers have been completely out of line! Please, take a rest—I’ll handle the reprimanding!” Zhao Jianjun stepped forward, looking every bit the righteous leader, ready to discipline his own people.
Factory Director Huang pressed his lips together and glanced at him, his eyelid twitching slightly.
He had a feeling this guy was definitely up to something. And sure enough…
Zhao Jianjun sternly addressed the workers from Factory No. 2, “What are you all doing here? Factory No. 1 and Factory No. 2 are sister factories—we’re all family! What do you think you’re doing charging in like this? Even if the workers in the shrimp paste workshop at Factory No. 1 were in the wrong, even if they bullied Xiaolin, you can’t just lose your temper like this! Even if they look down on younger workers because of their seniority, that doesn’t mean you can just go up and start a shouting match, rolling up your sleeves for a fight! Even if they gang up on Xiaolin, with hundreds of people against one, no matter how unfair it seems, you should report it to the factory director! Our director is the most impartial and just person—he’ll definitely see that justice is done!”
Shrimp paste workshop workers: “…?”
Who exactly is he calling out here?
Factory director: “…?”
Is he lecturing Factory No. 1 or Factory No. 2?
Lin Xiang lowered her head, trying to suppress the curve of her lips. Director Zhao was truly skilled at criticizing one side while pretending to admonish the other! Looking around, she saw that the workers from the shrimp paste workshop all had dark expressions.
With the conflict settled, both sides had been given a stern talking-to. Director Zhao led the Factory No. 2 workers back with their heads held high, not forgetting to give the shrimp paste workers one last warning glare before leaving.
Lin Xiang walked with them to see them off. She truly hadn’t expected Sister Guazi and the others to rush over today, let alone argue and even fight with the shrimp paste workers on her behalf. Though their fierce energy made them seem intimidating, warmth surged in her heart.
“Sister Guazi, thank you all so much today.” Lin Xiang often handed out a few candies to people, but today, she had nothing on hand, so she simply said, “You all should head back and rest. Don’t delay your shifts.”
Qiu Hongxia waved her hand dismissively, her face full of bravado. “Xiaolin, you should stop hanging around these ungrateful people and come back to us sooner! I’m waiting to crack sunflower seeds with you and gossip!”
Of all the workers in Factory No. 2, Sister Guazi—Qiu Hongxia—loved gossiping with Lin Xiang the most. The reason was simple: whenever Xiaolin heard a juicy story, her eyes would light up, making her the most engaged, curious, and enthusiastic listener. For someone like Qiu Hongxia, who loved to tell gossip, Xiaolin was the perfect audience. One loved to listen, the other loved to talk—an ideal match!
After sending off the Factory No. 2 workers and the factory director, Lin Xiang returned to the shrimp paste workshop and immediately sensed a change in the atmosphere.
Perhaps it was because no one had ever dared to scold them so directly before, but the workers looked thoroughly embarrassed. However, every single word Qiu Hongxia had shouted was the truth. Now, no one dared to look at Lin Xiang directly. Instead, they busied themselves with their tasks, and when Lin Xiang started discussing the upcoming adjustments, no one argued—they simply cooperated in silence.
Early in the morning, Lin Xiang hurried out of bed and chose the most vibrant outfit among her four new pieces of clothing—a dark red, fitted jacket with a front closure. The cinched waist accentuated her gradually recovering figure, and a pair of slim black pants showed off her long, straight legs.
After freshening up, she went into the kitchen to help. The family’s egg supply, including her own portion, had been pooled together. Since it was already the middle of the month, only thirteen eggs remained. Given that it was a holiday, they had to eat well. Lin Xiang cracked three eggs, whisked them, and made steamed egg custard.
Meanwhile, Aunt Feng had woken up early to knead dough. While a pot of corn porridge was boiling, the dough finished resting, and she steamed some coarse-grain cornbread.
At the dining table, each person had a bowl of corn porridge. A plate of steaming, fluffy cornbread sat in the middle. The egg custard was golden and glossy, and after being sliced with a spoon, it was drizzled with soy sauce and sesame oil, then sprinkled with chopped scallions. Finally, Lin Xiang took out a can of 119 shrimp paste, scooped out a spoonful onto a small dish, and placed it alongside some pickled vegetables—perfect for enhancing the meal.
“Since today is Mid-Autumn Festival, don’t dawdle after work. Come home early,” Feng Li reminded them. She had planned the holiday meal days in advance, determined to make it as rich as possible. She had been saving up food stamps for this occasion and had even used the ones He Hongyuan had exchanged.
Zhou Yuezhu and Lin Xiang both nodded in agreement.
“Mom, I’ll run straight home after work to help with the cooking!” Zhou Yuezhu was always excited about holidays—especially for the food.
Lin Xiang also assured her, “Aunt Feng, don’t worry. It’s a festival, so no one will want to stay late.”
Even Zhou Shenghuai, their usually busy brigade commander, chimed in, “Save the fish for me. I’ll handle the butchering.”
Feng Li’s eyes crinkled in delight. “That’s great.”
As they ate their porridge, occasionally taking a bite of shrimp paste, Feng Li suddenly frowned slightly. “Xiangxiang, does this shrimp paste taste a little different?”
The shrimp paste they were eating was a newly reformulated version that Lin Xiang had brought home.
Feng Li had a sharp palate and immediately noticed the difference. Zhou Shenghuai, on the other hand, was used to rough meals and couldn’t tell the difference—shrimp paste was shrimp paste to him.
“Aunt Feng, you figured it out after just two bites? This is the newly modified recipe—it just hit the market recently.”
Feng Li took another bite with her corn porridge, smacked her lips, and said, “I still prefer the original taste. Will all 119 canned shrimp paste be like this from now on?”
Lin Xiang smiled. Thinking about today’s adjustments, she replied firmly, “No, this is just a special Mid-Autumn Festival edition. It’s meant to be eaten with mooncakes.”
In recent months, the rapidly rising Shiwei Food Factory was buzzing with excitement.
The once obscure Shiwei Food Factory had now made a name for itself, rapidly gaining market dominance with an improved shrimp paste fermentation process suggested by Qiu Xiuping and sales channels secured through Zhou Hongfei’s connections. Their success had put significant pressure on the leading seafood canning company, 119 Food Factory, forcing them into retreat.
Recently, 119 Food Factory had even made the baffling decision to alter the recipe of their shrimp paste, a move that had the employees at Shiwei laughing uncontrollably.
Factory Director Qiu Zhiyong praised his suddenly brilliant niece, Qiu Xiuping, while mocking 119’s misstep. “That 119 Food Factory has been driven into a panic by us! They’re so desperate they’re pulling out all sorts of terrible ideas—even changing their own classic formula.”
Qiu Xiuping, brimming with pride, didn’t bother hiding the confidence in her eyes. “Even if they change it, their shrimp paste still won’t be as good as ours. These past few days, I’ve been hearing from various department stores that customers are complaining about 119’s new shrimp paste flavor. People who bought it are demanding refunds.”
She was certain of the superiority of the recipe she had insisted on modifying. After all, in her previous life, she had once secretly seen 119’s exclusive shrimp paste recipe. Now that she had been reborn, all she had to do was follow it to the letter, ensuring her version was even better.
It was laughable how 119 had been beaten into confusion, to the point where they foolishly changed the flavor of their signature product. Now, their loyal customers were rejecting it outright, assuming there was something wrong with the shrimp paste itself.
Director Qiu chuckled. “Xiuping, look at you. Just a few months ago, you fell into the river and got a fever. Then, after waking up, you suddenly became this capable. Truly a member of the Qiu family.”
Qiu Xiuping disliked people bringing up the fever incident—it was during that fever that she had returned to the year she was 22.
In her past life, she had been just a lowly female worker in the failing Shiwei Food Factory. The seafood cans produced there had a strong, unpleasant fishy taste and sold poorly. As a result, the factory’s workers earned significantly lower wages than those at 119 Food Factory.
The factory barely held on until the 1990s before going bankrupt, leaving all its workers unemployed. The so-called “iron rice bowl” they thought would last a lifetime had shattered overnight.
After being laid off, Qiu Xiuping’s life spiraled downward. She was nearly left to freeze and starve to death on the streets during a harsh winter—until a soldier in a white military uniform saved her. He gave her a meal and even gave her 30 yuan to survive.
Later, she learned that this soldier’s name was He Hongyuan.
As mass layoffs swept the country, finding a job was nearly impossible. Eventually, Qiu Xiuping found work as a housemaid in the home of a retired worker who had once been employed in 119 Food Factory’s shrimp paste production department. It was there that she secretly discovered 119’s exclusive shrimp paste recipe.
However, she was caught stealing and fired. Shortly after, she fell ill with a fever. When she next opened her eyes, she found herself back at 22 years old.
After investigating, she learned that He Hongyuan, the soldier who had saved her in her previous life, was currently a regimental commander in the military. He was tall, handsome, and had striking features. She was immediately drawn to him. But He Hongyuan was naturally aloof—he helped others out of duty as a soldier, but he showed no interest in someone like her who was perfectly capable of taking care of herself.
Determined, Qiu Xiuping returned to Shiwei Food Factory and used the recipe she had stolen in her past life to improve their shrimp paste. She believed that once she led Shiwei to utterly defeat 119 Food Factory, He Hongyuan would hear her name.
She would meet He Hongyuan, and she would stand by his side.
——
Zhou Hongfei arrived at the factory in the afternoon, barging into the director’s office with a smug expression. “Uncle Qiu, I heard 119 changed their shrimp paste flavor, and now tons of people are demanding refunds! Hahaha! I’ve only been at this factory a few months, but look how fast we’ve risen!”
Zhou Hongfei had a strained relationship with his father. His father, who had once doted on him, had recently started criticizing him for being incompetent and lacking ambition. It infuriated Zhou Hongfei—especially when his father kept bringing up his other son from a previous marriage, who had grown up to be a heroic soldier and had already become a regimental commander at a young age. Meanwhile, Zhou Hongfei was just drifting through life, bringing shame to the family name.
Unable to stand it anymore, Zhou Hongfei had a huge argument with his father and left home. He came to Shiwei Food Factory, where his father’s close friend was the director, seeking refuge. As the son of a high-ranking official, Zhou Hongfei had good connections, and he had used them to secure distribution channels for Shiwei’s shrimp paste.
That success had boosted his confidence. He was determined to prove himself—to show his father that he, the legitimate son, was far more capable than the older brother his father kept obsessing over.
Before coming to the factory today, he had even called his father’s office, smugly reporting how Shiwei’s shrimp paste sales were skyrocketing while 119 Food Factory was falling apart.
For the first time in years, his father actually praised him. He told him to keep working hard, not to fear hardship, and to aim high. He even mentioned that he would be visiting Jinbian City after the Mid-Autumn Festival.
Director Qiu, however, had little respect for Zhou Hongfei. If it weren’t for his father’s influence and the benefits that came with his family background, Qiu wouldn’t have accepted such a lazy, entitled rich boy into the factory.
But Zhou Hongfei was completely oblivious. He actually thought Shiwei’s success was entirely due to him.
“Hongfei, you’ve indeed contributed a lot to our factory,” Director Qiu said, playing along. “At the end of the month, we’ll be holding an awards ceremony. Both you and Xiuping will be recognized as model employees.”
Knowing about Zhou Hongfei’s issues with his father, Qiu even added, “You should invite your father to attend. What father wouldn’t be proud of his son’s achievements?”
This was exactly what Zhou Hongfei wanted to hear, and he immediately agreed.
The three of them envisioned a bright future, feeling that 119 was on the verge of being completely crushed by Shiwei. Just then, a sudden knock on the office door interrupted their discussion.
The factory director’s secretary burst in anxiously, exclaiming, “Director, bad news! 119… 119 has suddenly regained its momentum!”
The three people in the room immediately sat up straight, and Director Qiu furrowed his brows. “What happened?!”
The secretary, still panting from rushing over, detailed the bizarre turn of events.
It turned out that after the recent uproar caused by the flavor change in 119’s shrimp paste, the company had just released a new batch of products. Though it still contained the modified formula, this time, the packaging featured a newly printed moon icon along with a small line of text: “Mid-Autumn Festival Limited Edition.”
119’s representatives informed all major sales outlets that the revised shrimp paste was a special edition for Mid-Autumn Festival, available only for the ten days leading up to the holiday. After the festival, they would revert to the original flavor.
The reasoning behind this limited edition? They had added a slightly saltier taste to enhance the festive experience, suggesting that the thick crust of mooncakes would pair wonderfully with the shrimp paste. Besides, since the new flavor was quite salty, they couldn’t sell it year-round—otherwise, people would have to spend extra money on water every time they bought it!
As soon as this explanation spread, customers who had been complaining about the flavor change immediately stopped protesting. The classic flavor would return soon, and this new taste was just a temporary festive special—how interesting!
Not only did longtime 119 customers feel reassured, but even those who had been drawn to the rising popularity of Shiwei’s shrimp paste turned their attention back to 119.
For many, this was the first time they had heard of a seasonal limited-edition shrimp paste for Mid-Autumn Festival. The concept was appealing, and the added symbolism—wishing everyone a flavorful and fulfilling holiday—made it even more enticing. Suddenly, people were eager to give it a try, abandoning Shiwei’s shrimp paste in favor of 119’s.
After all, the Mid-Autumn Festival shrimp paste from 119 was only available for ten days. If they didn’t buy it now, they’d have to wait an entire year for another chance!
This turned out to be an incredibly effective marketing strategy. Before long, department stores across the city were swarmed with customers eager to get their hands on 119’s limited-edition shrimp paste, completely overshadowing Shiwei’s sales.
To make matters worse for Shiwei, the salty shrimp paste turned out to be an unexpectedly delicious pairing with the thick mooncake crust. It was an instant hit—customers were satisfied both in terms of taste and the novelty of the product. Eating a special, once-a-year shrimp paste for Mid-Autumn Festival became a source of pride.
Shiwei Food Factory was completely caught off guard. Director Qiu was stunned—he had never even imagined such a strategy was possible!
119 had initially shot itself in the foot by altering its classic recipe, but now they had somehow managed to turn the situation to their advantage with this clever trick!
“What Mid-Autumn… Limited Edition?!” Director Qiu’s earlier confidence vanished. His face darkened as he asked urgently, “Surely not every customer at the department stores today bought their shrimp paste instead of ours?”
The secretary hesitated before replying nervously, “Pretty much… Almost everyone rushed to buy 119’s. They said if they didn’t get it today, they’d miss out. Many department stores have already sold out of the Mid-Autumn edition and are urgently restocking. Meanwhile, our shrimp paste is just sitting there… untouched.”
Bang!
Director Qiu slammed his palm on the desk in frustration, his anger boiling over!
Qiu Xiuping was equally shocked. She couldn’t recall 119 ever launching a Mid-Autumn Festival limited edition in her past life. Steadying herself, she reassured him, “Uncle, don’t worry. We still have ways to counter 119!”
Meanwhile, at 119 Food Factory, the good news kept rolling in.
“Our shrimp paste sales are booming today! All the department stores in the city sold out and keep urging us to restock.”
“Shiwei’s shrimp paste didn’t even sell a tenth as much as ours today.”
“Instead of complaining about the flavor change, people are excited to try the new taste. They’re worried that if they don’t buy it now, they won’t get another chance!”
Director Huang listened to the reports with a broad smile, pacing excitedly around his office. “Good, good, good! Xiao Lin’s idea was brilliant!”
It took a sharp young mind to come up with such a plan!
But not just any young person could pull this off—it had to be Xiao Lin!
By branding Qin Yangbo’s modified recipe as a limited-edition Mid-Autumn Festival special, they had managed to market the change as an exclusive seasonal treat. Tying it to the tradition of eating mooncakes with a salty-sweet contrast struck a deep chord with customers.
The thick mooncake crust paired with the rich, salty shrimp paste turned out to be an unexpectedly delicious combination.
Genius!
Director Huang, looking revitalized, hurried to the shrimp paste production workshop. As the factory leader, he had to personally boost morale. With such a strong sales surge, it was critical to maintain momentum and ensure they secured victory in this battle against Shiwei Food Factory!
Even before Director Huang arrived, the shrimp paste workshop was already buzzing with excitement.
Previously, the workers had been growing anxious. Even Director Qin had failed to suppress Shiwei’s rise, and the backlash from changing the shrimp paste’s flavor had left many longtime customers upset. It seemed inevitable that the new formula would become an unsellable disaster.
If they stuck with the new taste, they risked losing all their loyal customers and heading toward ruin.
Reverting to the classic flavor would be a slap in the face—having sold the new flavor for just under ten days only to switch back so quickly would make them the laughingstock of their competitors. Not to mention, constantly changing flavors would drive customers away for good.
It seemed like a dead end no matter which way they looked. The workers were deeply worried.
Then, one after another, the good news started pouring in, leaving the shrimp paste workshop workers utterly stunned!
They had followed Lin Xiang’s instructions from the Factory No. 2, but they weren’t confident. They thought her idea was nothing but nonsense and had no real effect. Yet reality delivered a harsh slap to their skepticism.
It actually worked!
This was the most decisive victory 119’s shrimp paste cans had achieved in nearly two months!
Factory Director Huang arrived at the workshop and gave a rousing speech to boost the workers’ morale. Halfway through, he started looking around for the key contributor to this success. “He Zhigang, where’s Lin Xiang?”
The fermentation team leader, He Zhigang, had mixed feelings and wasn’t sure how to face Lin Xiang. He glanced around but didn’t see her, then a fermentation worker beside him reminded him, “I heard she went to the warehouse to check on the crabs.”
“Get her here immediately!” Director Huang ordered, and the workers quickly brought Lin Xiang back to the workshop.
As soon as the other workers saw Lin Xiang, they didn’t know where to look. Their faces burned with embarrassment. Just days ago, they had all worked together to resist her ideas, but now, under her leadership, they had achieved a complete turnaround.
“Comrade Lin Xiang has made a significant contribution to this Mid-Autumn Festival shrimp paste defense battle!” Director Huang was more and more pleased with this young worker—how did her mind come up with such a brilliant idea? “Everyone should learn from Comrade Lin Xiang, work hard, and be fearless in the fight…”
He went on and on, showering praise and rallying the workers. It was Mid-Autumn Festival, and after two months of struggles, the shrimp paste workshop had finally won a decisive victory. Director Huang seized the moment for an extended speech, delivering an impassioned, long-winded address.
Listening to the speech, Lin Xiang secretly checked her wristwatch. The director had already said “one last point” at least five or six times, and there was no sign of him stopping.
“Xiao Lin, what reward would you like?” Director Huang finally paused to take a sip of tea and, feeling generous, decided to let Lin Xiang name her own reward.
Lin Xiang touched the cool surface of her watch and said casually, “Director, it’s the end of the workday. Can my reward be leaving work on time? My family is waiting for me to have dinner for Mid-Autumn Festival.”
Director Huang: “…”
This girl had really been corrupted by the Factory No. 2! How could she be thinking about getting off work on time at such an important moment?
“…Fine, go ahead,” he said, watching her skip off happily. As he continued his speech to the workers, he made a mental note—he needed to transfer Lin Xiang back to the Factory No. 1 as soon as possible. Such a talent couldn’t be wasted!
Because of Director Huang’s rambling, the motivational meeting lasted over forty minutes. Following the heroic tradition of Director Zhao, Lin Xiang took advantage of the opportunity to slip away and leave work on time.
After a slight delay, she ran to the factory gate, only to see a sleek bicycle, glinting silver under the sun, parked quietly by the roadside.
A slender, well-defined hand rested on the handlebars. The veins on the back of the hand extended faintly before disappearing beneath the cuff of a crisp white military uniform.
“Where did you get the bike?” Lin Xiang’s lips curled into a smile as she saw her fiancé.
“Just bought it—for you. It’ll make commuting easier.” He Hongyuan straddled the bicycle and left space on the back seat. “Hop on and give it a try.”
Lin Xiang knew bicycles were hard to come by in this era. She had the money to buy one, but without a ration ticket, she hadn’t been able to get one. Now, as she wrapped an arm around He Hongyuan and felt the salty sea breeze rush past as the bicycle sped forward, she was filled with a refreshing sense of freedom.
The wind lifted the edges of her clothes, sending a pleasant chill through her. He Hongyuan’s voice, carrying a hint of amusement, drifted back to her with the wind. “Heard your factory got some good news?”
Under her hands, He Hongyuan’s military uniform was thick and sturdy. Even through the fabric, she could feel his solid, well-built muscles.
“What have you heard?” She had been momentarily distracted before responding.
“I overheard some workers talking at the gate. They said the 119 Food Factory finally turned things around today and crushed Shiwei’s shrimp paste sales.” His tone was relaxed, with a touch of teasing. “They also said Comrade Xiao Lin is quite the genius for coming up with such a clever move.”
Lin Xiang let out a laugh. As they approached a steep slope, she tightened her arms around his waist. “They’re exaggerating. I’m just a tiny bit smarter than the rest. But today’s Mid-Autumn Festival—it’s nice to know Shiwei won’t be enjoying their mooncakes while we celebrate properly!”
Hearing the playful mischief in her voice, He Hongyuan couldn’t help but smile.
When they arrived at the Zhou family home, He Hongyuan carried in the Mid-Autumn Festival gifts he had prepared: two cans of malted milk, a box of Golden Rooster biscuits, and a bottle of Tequ liquor—high-end goods from the department store.
Although Lin Xiang lived with the Zhou family, she had received plenty of care from them, so she wasn’t empty-handed either. She had bought gifts in advance—delicate silk scarves for Aunt Feng and Yuezhu, light and soft as cicada wings, and a tin of Pu’er tea for Grandpa Zhou, his favorite.
Aunt Feng playfully scolded the two juniors for being too polite, but after some back-and-forth, she had no choice but to accept their gifts.
The Mid-Autumn family feast was so lavish that it rivaled a New Year’s celebration.
A pot of lotus root and pork rib soup simmered until the ribs were tender, with tiny droplets of oil floating on the milky-white broth. The lotus root was soft and slightly sticky, making for a perfect combination. A plate of boiled shrimp, sweet and fresh, sat beside a dish of steamed crabs that Lin Xiang and He Hongyuan had prepared together. The crabs were bursting with golden roe, creamy and rich, while the crab meat was delicate and sweet. The chopped pepper fish head exuded a spicy and fragrant aroma, and to top it all off, there was a grand dish of braised pork with potatoes. The pork was so tender it fell apart at a touch—the skin was glutinous and full of collagen, the fatty meat absorbed all the flavorful sauce and melted in the mouth, while the lean meat retained a satisfying chewiness. Even the potatoes, soaked in the braised sauce, were so fragrant that they could make anyone eat two full bowls of rice.
Since it was a rare festive occasion, Zhou Lu and He Hongyuan made an exception and had a small glass of white liquor.
Not too much—just enough to enjoy the moment. Each of them drank half a cup of the premium liquor that He Hongyuan had bought. The liquor was strong and spicy, something that Lin Xiang had no intention of touching. Instead, she quietly observed He Hongyuan’s expression as he drank.
Some people turned red when they drank, but He Hongyuan showed no visible reaction. His expression remained calm as always, though there seemed to be a fleeting hint of melancholy in his eyes.
Lin Xiang keenly noticed that, despite his efforts to hide it, a trace of sadness still lingered around him. She recalled what Yuezhu had told her that morning.
After dinner, as the family sat in the courtyard eating mooncakes and admiring the full moon, Lin Xiang deliberately teased him, “Captain He, are you drunk?”
He Hongyuan lowered his eyes and gave her a glance. “Are you still eating mooncakes?”
The Zhou family had more than enough mooncakes for the five of them—each one was as big as an adult’s palm. Unlike many other families who had to share one mooncake among several people, they had a generous supply.
Aunt Feng had sent two mooncakes to a neighboring family with more mouths to feed, and the rest were divided among themselves so that everyone could have a taste.
In this era, five-nut mooncakes were made with real, substantial ingredients—sunflower seeds, peanuts, and walnuts were mixed with candied winter melon and colorful fruit peels. The fruit peels were often made from shredded carrots, orange peel, and papaya, all coated in syrup. The rich aroma of the nuts, combined with the sweetness of the filling, lingered in the mouth long after the first bite.
After everyone had finished their mooncakes, Lin Xiang brought out the newly developed shrimp paste and spread a thin layer over the mooncake crust. The soft, fluffy texture of the mooncake combined with the salty umami of the shrimp paste created an unexpectedly harmonious flavor—deliciously fresh and savory.
Zhou Yuezhu gave Lin Xiang a thumbs-up. “Sister Xiangxiang, this tastes amazing!”
That evening, as the workers from the 119 Food Factory returned home, they shared stories of their victory in turning the business around, and Lin Xiang’s name spread throughout the residential compound.
Lin Xiang smiled as she ate nearly half a mooncake, but she was too full to continue.
Zhou Lu and Aunt Feng went next door to visit, while Yuezhu took her mooncake to chat with friends her age in the neighborhood. Lin Xiang, meanwhile, slipped behind the small building to look at the moon.
The deep night sky was dark and still, with only the full moon hanging high, casting its cool, silver light over everything.
She heard the sound of steady, powerful footsteps approaching. Without even turning around, she knew who it was. She lifted her hand and pointed at the silver disk in the sky. “Hongyuan, look. Today’s the fifteenth. The moon is so round. It’s the Mid-Autumn Festival—we’ve eaten mooncakes, and I’m sure your mother is eating them too.”
She recalled what Yuezhu had whispered to her that morning—how, years ago, on Mid-Autumn Festival, He Hongyuan’s father had left, telling his mother that he was walking away from their family for good.
Yuezhu had said that He Hongyuan had not celebrated Mid-Autumn Festival for many years.
But today, he was here. Acting as if nothing was wrong, as if there were no past wounds. The only time he had let anything slip was when he took that sip of liquor, allowing himself a brief moment of indulgence.
The footsteps halted. Lin Xiang turned and looked at the man standing in the shadows, his sharp features partially illuminated by the moonlight. Slowly, she moved her right hand and grasped his—his hand, rough and calloused, yet so reassuringly warm.
“This is a reunion too,” she said softly, tightening her grip on his hand as she smiled up at him.
He Hongyuan gazed at her in silence for a moment. Then, as if understanding her words, he responded with a quiet “Mm.” His phoenix eyes shone brightly in the moonlit night.
He tilted his head slightly, leaned down, and pressed a kiss against her lips.
Startled, Lin Xiang took a half-step back. The sounds of neighbors chatting, children running, and laughter filled the air—every noise amplified in the quiet night.
She whispered, “There are people everywhere!”
But He Hongyuan simply leaned in again, more stubborn this time, his arms tightening around her shoulders. As their lips met once more, his voice was low and slightly slurred.
“I’m drunk.”
I don’t care about anything else anymore.