Chapter 46

In the pitch-black night, Lin Xiang could almost hear the man’s heavy breathing, which stirred up waves of heat, making the air feel thinner.

Lin Xiang had only observed well-built bodies from afar, mostly those of paper-thin models. Now, standing before her was a real handsome man, and she suddenly felt her cheeks flush, unsure of how to proceed.

The man’s impressive physique was barely concealed by the thin fabric of his training shirt, which clung to his body, faintly outlining his lean waist and the contour of his abs. However, He Hongyuan maintained a serious and composed expression, as if he were discussing—of all things—the lines and feel of abdominal muscles, not at all self-conscious about what could be considered an embarrassing situation.

“If you’re not going to look, then don’t think about anyone else,” He Hongyuan said in a calm, slightly domineering tone.

Lin Xiang quickly looked up, meeting his expressionless face. She thought to herself that she couldn’t lose to him, so she boldly replied, “I want to look! Your physique must be the best in the whole military district, right?”

As she spoke, she impulsively raised her hand, filled with a sense of recklessness and determination.

Seizing the moment, she placed her right hand without hesitation, intending to lift his shirt to get a better look. But, due to the force, her palm pressed directly against his abdomen, and even through the fabric, she could clearly feel the firm, slightly elastic touch.

Tight, hard, and hot…

Lin Xiang’s heart raced, as if she were doing something forbidden.

Then, almost on instinct, she pushed down with her fingertips.

By now, it was past 9 PM. The sky had fully darkened, and most of the military families in the compound had returned to their homes to rest. Only a few playful children were still running and playing, while their parents called them to come back home.

A light breeze blew, cooling the warmth on Lin Xiang’s cheeks. As she walked out of the new house with He Hongyuan, the two remained silent. Lin Xiang waved her hand in the air, trying to cool herself down, replaying the sensations she had just felt.

Her hand was burning now.

Back at the Zhou family’s house, Lin Xiang quickly bid He Hongyuan goodbye. But as she looked at him, her gaze was somewhat evasive. “It’s getting late, you should go back,” she said.

He Hongyuan remained calm as ever, showing no sign of any change in emotion. “Mhm, you should get some rest.”

Lin Xiang nodded, but when she reached her room, sleep eluded her.

Lying on the bed, she replayed her actions in her mind. She was so timid! The abs were right in front of her! What was there to be shy about? After all, she was a modern woman of the 21st century! And moreover, He Hongyuan was her future husband.

She must have lacked experience. Next time, she definitely wouldn’t hesitate!

The next morning, still groggy, Lin Xiang yawned and sighed, “Beauty really does fool people.” After having breakfast and heading to the factory, the first big news she heard was that Director Qin from the shrimp paste workshop had returned.

Some people made sarcastic comments: “This Director Qin used to act so aloof, insisting the factory director come personally to invite him.”

Others supported him: “Who told him he’s so capable? Just look at how much the canned food workshop depends on him.”

Lin Xiang remembered how Director Qin had been so angry yesterday that he almost put on his work uniform right there, and she couldn’t help but secretly smile.

Back in the shrimp paste workshop, Qin Yangbo was still as imposing and authoritative as ever. The first thing he did upon returning was to inspect the entire workshop, checking each production process to ensure everything was running smoothly. After confirming the production output and task completion for the past month, he resumed work without any break.

After all, he had been in this line of work for decades, and it was second nature to him.

Team leader He Zhigang welcomed Qin Yangbo back, his face practically wrinkled from smiling. “Director, you’re finally back! We’ve been waiting for you!”

The deputy director, Liu Qingshan, was also happy: “It’s great to have you back, Director Qin. Now the workshop has a steady hand. Unlike before when we had… well, never mind.”

He Zhigang furrowed his brow and excitedly retorted, “Brother Liu, why stop there? It was the factory director’s fault for letting a female colleague who had only been with the factory for two months lead our workshop. What was that about?”

Though they had managed to get through the tough times, it was still uncomfortable to talk about.

Qin Yangbo’s face darkened as he recalled what Lin Xiang had said to him the day before. “Enough with that. Let’s have a meeting!”

With Qin Yangbo back in control, the shrimp paste workshop was back on track, and everything at the factory returned to a sense of stability.

The factory held several meetings in a row, preparing to organize a program to celebrate National Day and to motivate production efforts. However, these were all activities for the first workshop. The second workshop, as usual, was left out since it had always been marginalized. They wouldn’t be performing in any programs, and in previous years, they had simply gone as audience members.

The first workshop’s workers were proud of this, while the second workshop’s workers were relieved to avoid the hassle of performing.

Lin Xiang and Kong Zhenzhen were in the workshop checking the progress of their production tasks. They were getting ready to submit the data for the upcoming payroll when they overheard Sister Guihua laughing and chattering. “What program? It’s so exhausting! The workers in the first workshop have to stay after work for one or two more hours to rehearse. I’d rather go home and rest than waste my time on that.”

The other workers laughed in agreement. “Exactly! Only the first workshop workers would feel embarrassed about not performing. We’re happy to be spectators!”

“I’m just happy not to be performing.”

Lin Xiang listened to their conversation, and despite the dismissive attitude from the first workshop’s leaders and workers, the second workshop’s workers seemed perfectly content.

Thinking back, she could also complain about working at a company in her past life, where the annual meeting required everyone to perform, taking up after-hours rehearsal time and in the end, she never knew who they were trying to please. It was much better to just go home and sleep.

Director Zhao, enjoying his free time, didn’t compete for attention. Anyone who wanted to take the opportunity to perform could do so; he was content just to watch.

However, as National Day approached, it had been some time since the coconut juice had been submitted, and he urged Lin Xiang to check the situation.

“If it gets approved, we might be able to sell the coconut juice during National Day,” Director Zhao optimistically thought.

Lin Xiang noticed that Director Zhao was becoming more motivated, even considering holiday marketing, which was a good idea.

But soon, they were both disappointed.

In the factory manager’s office, they didn’t find Manager Huang. Only Secretary You relayed the news that the proposal for coconut juice as a new soda flavor had been rejected during yesterday’s meeting.

Director Zhao’s face darkened: “Why was it rejected? The coconut juice would have been great, it’s a perfect opportunity for testing. Where’s the manager? I’ll report the situation to him directly.”

“Director Zhao, the manager is busy these days, preparing for National Day and various meetings,” Secretary You, who often spoke on behalf of the manager, said. “This wasn’t just the manager’s decision.”

Lin Xiang quickly understood: “Secretary You, did several leaders oppose the proposal during the meeting?”

In the past, Secretary You wouldn’t have shared so much with the Factory No.2, but given the recent changes, he replied, “The party secretary, vice factory manager, and several workshop leaders opposed it. They felt that the Factory No.2’s orange soda was just starting to show some progress and that we should focus on producing more of it for the next few months instead of getting distracted with other products.”

Lin Xiang responded, “Our orange soda is just a temporary boost; it won’t last long. We need to launch new products soon to strengthen our sales.”

Secretary You, having no authority to discuss this, said, “You can try to report it again after National Day.”

“Okay, we’ll talk to the leaders after the holiday,” Director Zhao said, in a friendly tone with Secretary You, as they left.

Although the new coconut juice was blocked, Lin Xiang felt regretful and was reminded of the strict rules and conservative strategies at the large state-owned factory.

Director Zhao remained calm: “I had a feeling this might happen. Don’t be discouraged. The leaders are reluctant to make changes. After the holiday rush, we can talk to the manager again.”

“Okay, we’ll keep trying after the holiday,” Lin Xiang said, feeling reassured by Director Zhao’s composed demeanor.

Before National Day, Lin Xiang received a generous September salary. With the increase in soda sales, all employees received a bonus, and compared to August, the salary was up by more than 30%.

With her 45 yuan in hand, Lin Xiang felt secure and was looking forward to the National Day celebration at the food factory on the day before the holiday.

The Factory No.1 workers, sacrificing their personal time, were rehearsing their performances, including a chorus and model opera. Although not very professional, they were full of energy, and Lin Xiang enjoyed watching.

After several performances, the factory leaders spoke one after another, summarizing the year’s production progress and looking forward to the future, all while urging employees to keep working hard.

The three leaders spoke for over an hour, and the Factory No.2 workers started to feel drowsy, occasionally being reminded by security officers on patrol to stay alert.

Lin Xiang, fighting off sleepiness, checked her watch, eagerly waiting for the speeches to end, as she couldn’t wait to start her National Day holiday!

At 5:30 pm, with the factory manager’s final words, the auditorium erupted in applause as workers stood up—work was over! The holiday had begun!

Lin Xiang, beaming with joy, squeezed through the crowd with Kong Zhenzhen and looked up at the blue sky and white clouds, her gaze sweeping over the sea of coconut trees. She spotted a tall, strong figure under a tree.

She took a deep breath of fresh air and said goodbye to her colleague: “Zhenzhen, my fiancé’s here. I’m leaving now.”

“Okay, see you the day after tomorrow!”

“See you then!”

Unlike the extended National Day holidays of later years, the 1970s National Day holiday was simply two days off, on the designated dates.

Lin Xiang was excited to have her first two-day break after starting work. It was a precious time.

“Finally, a holiday!” Lin Xiang skipped over to He Hongyuan, her eyes sparkling with a crescent-shaped smile.

Seeing her so happy, He Hongyuan smiled back: “Would you like to watch the military troupe’s performance tomorrow afternoon?”

“Of course!” Lin Xiang eagerly hopped on the back of his bicycle, wrapping her arms around his waist. “Can I go?”

“Family members have tickets.” This was the first time He Hongyuan had ever requested a ticket for a family member to attend a military performance.

---

On National Day itself, a joyful atmosphere filled the air.

The busy comrades spent the day preparing to go into the city for shopping or relaxing at home, all wearing happy, content smiles.

Lin Xiang slept comfortably until she naturally woke up and had breakfast with Zhou Yuezhu, who also got up late.

This morning, the 119th Division was going to conduct a military parade rehearsal, but as family members, Lin Xiang and the others weren’t able to watch. They would be lucky just to hear some sounds.

“Yuezhu, is it just my imagination, or do I really hear some chanting?” Lin Xiang asked curiously while eating her porridge with pickled vegetables.

Zhou Yuezhu, who had lived here for many years and was familiar with the National Day rehearsals, raised an eyebrow and said, “It’s real. In a bit, we’ll also hear the sound of gunshots!”

“Really?” Lin Xiang got excited at once.

Zhou Shenghuai had gone out early for the military parade rehearsal, and Feng Li didn’t wake up the two girls. She went with some of the other military wives to the city by boat to buy some things.

After breakfast, Zhou Yuezhu took Lin Xiang to the beach: “Just wait here, soon we’ll hear cannon fire, and smoke will drift down from the sky.”

Lin Xiang became more excited, as she had seen the National Day parade in front of Tiananmen on TV before, with the soldiers standing tall and proud, marching with great energy. She was curious how the naval rehearsal would go, but unfortunately, she couldn’t see it.

The beach was crowded with families out enjoying the holiday, and the festive atmosphere was contagious. Lin Xiang and Zhou Yuezhu joined the kids, picking up some shells and conchs. After Lin Xiang gently blew away the sand from a colorful shell, it revealed its beautiful form. Just then…

A muffled sound came from far away.

One after another, the sounds attracted everyone’s attention on the beach.

Perhaps because of the distance, the cannon fire had lost some of its power by the time it reached the beach, but it was still powerful and resonated through the air.

Everyone looked toward the horizon, seeing wisps of smoke drifting in the white sky, most of it already dissipated.

“Mom, when will Dad come back?” a child asked after watching for a while.

“Your dad’s in the rehearsal. He’ll be back by noon.” A military wife, holding her child, walked toward the water, coaxing him, “That sound you just heard was your dad saying hello to you.”

“Boom, boom, boom!” The child shouted, wanting his military father to hear his echo.

Like everyone else, Lin Xiang looked in the direction of the sound, listening to the booming noise, feeling as though she was in sync with He Hongyuan, who was in the middle of the rehearsal.

After lunch, Lin Xiang and Zhou Yuezhu finally met up with He Hongyuan.

Today was a large-scale rehearsal, and all the soldiers were in full gear, their uniforms seeming even more sharp and neat than usual. He Hongyuan appeared energized and called to the two, “The cultural performance starts in half an hour. Let’s go now.”

Zhou Yuezhu cheered, “Great, let’s go!”

With water-filled military water bottles in hand, Lin Xiang and Zhou Yuezhu locked their doors and headed to the base. Zhou Yuezhu had lived here for many years, and she knew so many people that, in no time, she was chatting with people in all directions.

Lin Xiang kept a normal distance from He Hongyuan, about a fist apart. She whispered, “He Hongyuan, why do you look different today?”

He Hongyuan, who had been busy all morning and was highly focused and tense, relaxed when he saw Lin Xiang. He raised an eyebrow, curious: “What’s different?”

“You look even more handsome!” Lin Xiang smiled with satisfaction at her own judgment. His sharp eyebrows, bright eyes, and upright posture made him not only a handsome soldier but also an accomplished one, truly charming!

Taken off guard by such a straightforward compliment, He Hongyuan, though used to it, still couldn’t help but look away slightly: “Watch your words.”

Lin Xiang, unable to stop herself from laughing, pulled out an orange shell from her pocket and handed it to him: “Here, this is to recognize He Hongyuan’s outstanding performance in this military rehearsal.”

He Hongyuan paused, looking at the shell, feeling like he was a child again. He smiled slightly and accepted it, playing along with Lin Xiang’s “childish” game.

“Thank you, Comrade Lin,” he said with a light laugh.

The young couple joked and reached the open-air performance area. The factory square outside the auditorium was vast and bright, with the dazzling blue sky above.

A temporary steel-frame stage was set up in the center, with neatly arranged benches below. From the side, Lin Xiang saw that everything was on the same level, which was very satisfying for anyone with a slight obsession with order.

More than half of the audience for the cultural performance were soldiers, and there were also family members who had been given tickets to attend. The entire square was packed, and soon it was a sea of people.

Lin Xiang and He Hongyuan sat together, while Zhou Yuezhu sneaked off to sit with her own partner, Shen Jianming. Their secret relationship was still developing, and they were using their single friends as cover.

“Hongyuan, Lin Xiang, you two got here early!” Jiang Weijun and his partner Song Qingya arrived a bit late. They were about to get married, and Song Qingya had been busy with some bureaucratic work at the youth office, which delayed them.

Lin Xiang peeked from behind He Hongyuan’s broad shoulders and greeted them: “Major Jiang, Comrade Qingya, come sit down, I heard the performance is about to start.”

The two couples sat down together, and soon, Zhang Huafeng arrived.

He had just been backstage talking to his partner, Yan Min, and rushed to sit down on the empty bench.

Not long after, the 119th Division’s National Day cultural performance officially began!

The professional troupe’s performance was quite different, with the dance team, chorus, and opera troupe taking center stage. A series of impressive performances swept through the audience, creating wave after wave of excitement.

The soldiers grinned widely, their rough hands clapping loudly, creating an energetic atmosphere. This rare entertainment event became the perfect opportunity for everyone to unwind and relax, making them the most enthusiastic audience.

Lin Xiang, equally absorbed in the performance, became even more excited when she saw Zhang Huafeng’s partner, Yan Min, take the stage. She eagerly peeked around He Hongyuan and gossiped, “Political Commisar Zhang, your partner’s coming on! She’s so beautiful!”

Yan Min performed two pieces today: a group dance, The Grassland Female Militia, and The Red Women’s Army. Both dances were led by her, making her the center of attention. According to later popular sayings, this is the “C position” lead dancer.

She was beautiful and had specially done her makeup for the performance, enhancing her charming and graceful demeanor. Her dance, combining both power and beauty, was visually stunning.

He Hongyuan was somewhat frustrated with Lin Xiang’s focus on other people’s relationships: “Don’t mind Zhang Huafeng.”

However, Zhang Huafeng, sitting alone amidst two couples, couldn’t help but boast about his partner. He turned to Lin Xiang and said, “Right? My partner’s beautiful, and she dances even better!”

Lin Xiang could almost see stars in Zhang Huafeng’s eyes when he talked about Yan Min.

The two of them chatted across He Hongyuan, with Zhang Huafeng gushing about how amazing his partner was. He Hongyuan, left with one ear filled with Zhang Huafeng’s excitement and the other with Lin Xiang’s prattle, leaned back in his seat, trying to block them out: “Zhang Huafeng, just watch your partner dance.”

“Yeah, yeah, I’ll talk to you later, Lin Xiang.” Zhang Huafeng was so caught up in bragging that he almost forgot to watch the performance.

Lin Xiang returned her focus to the stage, but noticed He Hongyuan leaning toward her, whispering, “Stop paying attention to others. If you need to talk, talk to me.”

Lin Xiang: “…”

She pouted and returned her attention to the show.

After the Red Women’s Army dance ended, thunderous applause filled the air, followed by a large-scale performance of The White Haired Girl, a classic opera from the revolutionary era.

Soon, a slim figure appeared through the crowd. It was Yan Min, who had just finished her performance, rushing to sit beside Zhang Huafeng: “How did I do just now?”

Zhang Huafeng, eyes filled with stars, enthusiastically said, “It was amazing! No wonder she’s my wife!”

Yan Min playfully pushed him away and said softly, “Who’s your wife?”

Listening to the couple next to her showering each other with affection, Lin Xiang glanced up and found herself meeting He Hongyuan’s gaze. She suddenly had a thought.

Could He Hongyuan ever say something like, “She’s so beautiful, no wonder she’s my wife”? With that excited and lively tone?

Hmm, that definitely wasn’t possible. He wasn’t that type of person.

He Hongyuan, observing Lin Xiang’s bright eyes shifting in thought, raised an eyebrow. Clearly intrigued by her musings, he asked, “What are you thinking about?”

“I was thinking…” Lin Xiang blurted out, then quickly added, “I was thinking about whether you could speak like Political Commisar Zhang?”

He Hongyuan frowned, clearly troubled by her comment. His lips tightened as he recalled the excited, almost exaggerated tone Zhang Huafeng had used earlier.

Lin Xiang, watching He Hongyuan with a furrowed brow and trying but failing to express himself, held back her laughter, feeling a little guilty.

Finally, she smiled and let him off the hook: “Okay, I’m just teasing you. I still prefer you as you are, calm and reserved!”

Having been praised by his partner again, He Hongyuan relaxed his furrowed brows, but his gaze still showed slight avoidance.

He wasn’t used to it.

Halfway through the performance, Zhang Huafeng was called away by a fellow soldier. When he returned after about ten minutes, he looked slightly irritated, a stark contrast to his earlier enthusiasm.

Lin Xiang, curious, nudged He Hongyuan with her elbow. He seemed to know exactly what was going on and leaned in, whispering, “It’s a family matter. He’s upset.”

“Oh.” Lin Xiang didn’t press further, understanding that every family has its troubles. She waited for the brief intermission to end before returning her focus to the show.

The art troupe’s performance ended at 4 PM, with the lively atmosphere continuing as people left. The final song, My Motherland, performed by the choir, led to a rousing chorus from the entire crowd.

The soldiers’ voices were strong and powerful, full of passion, matching the grandeur of a large concert. Especially with it being National Day, the patriotic song filled Lin Xiang with pride.

The next day was the wedding banquet of Jiang Weijun and Song Qingya. The couple hurriedly left as they had more to do. Zhou Yuezhu, having had a secret date, returned to meet her cousins and prepare to head home.

As they parted, He Hongyuan glanced at Zhang Huafeng, who had raised his eyebrows in frustration, and patted him on the shoulder. He nodded toward him and Yan Min as they prepared to leave.

Lin Xiang, still buzzing with excitement from the performance, enthusiastically called out, “Political Commisar Zhang, Yan Min, we’re heading home! By the way, Yan Min, your dance was amazing! I’ve never seen such a powerful and beautiful performance. No wonder you’re in the art troupe!”

Lin Xiang and Yuezhu linked arms as they walked off with He Hongyuan, leaving Zhang Huafeng and Yan Min behind, the latter still in a daze.

“Is it… He Hongyuan’s partner?” Yan Min stared after Lin Xiang’s departing figure.

“Huh?” Zhang Huafeng seemed to still be hearing the words in his ear and, quickly adjusting his mood, asked, “What’s up with Lin Xiang?”

Yan Min pressed her red lips tightly together, shook her head, and lowered her gaze. “It’s nothing.”

Just now, Lin Xiang had openly complimented her, and it wasn’t just empty flattery—her simple words hit the right spot and touched Yan Min’s heart.

She remembered the last time the three couples had eaten together. She had felt uncomfortable and hadn’t quite cooperated…

---

Back at the Zhou family’s home, Zhou Shenghuai and Feng Li, the middle-aged couple who hadn’t attended the performance, had already prepared a pot of spicy and sour pigskin soup. They had also fried the tilapia they had bought from the seafood market until crispy and fragrant. The shrimp paste that Lin Xiang brought back had been nearly finished, with just enough left to mix with two eggs. The golden eggs, dotted with the red shrimp paste, were irresistibly appealing and full of flavor.

Watching the performance had consumed some energy, and the three of them were feeling hungry. They quickly started discussing how wonderful today’s program had been while enjoying the food.

After dinner, He Hongyuan took on the dishwashing duty, and Lin Xiang and Zhou Yuezhu each grabbed a coconut to finish the sweet coconut water before sneaking into the kitchen to supervise the man.

She deliberately tiptoed, trying to sneak up on He Hongyuan, who was washing the dishes. But before she could get close, the man’s deep voice came from behind her: “Finished with the coconut water?”

Without turning around, he already knew it was her.

Lin Xiang took a few steps forward, leaning against the sink, surprised. “How did you know it was me?”

He Hongyuan glanced at her quickly while continuing to wash dishes. “I could tell by the sound.”

“I didn’t even make any noise!” Lin Xiang suspected he wasn’t a soldier but a detective, so sensitive!

The second day of the National Day holiday, Lin Xiang still didn’t rest. In the morning, she and He Hongyuan attended Jiang Weijun and Song Qingya’s wedding banquet.

It was held in the military cafeteria, and before the meal, they invited Brigade Yang to serve as the officiant, reciting famous quotes from a great leader. The newlyweds also recited a few quotes, and that was the end of the ceremony.

The outside area of the cafeteria had long tables and benches, and there were private rooms inside with space for two round tables. In the past, this space was often used by military leaders to host important guests or hold private weddings.

Jiang Weijun had ordered a meal with four meat dishes and four vegetable dishes from the chefs in the mess. These included Eight Treasure Duck, Steamed Fish, Braised Pork, and Radish and Pork Rib Soup, along with stir-fried cabbage with lard, stir-fried potato strips with green peppers, cold seaweed salad with wood ear mushrooms and red carrots, and boiled vegetable hearts.

The guests were all fellow soldiers, most of them bringing their families, though some didn’t bring children to avoid the event becoming too overwhelming.

At that time, it wasn’t customary to give cash gifts since most people weren’t well-off. It was common practice to bring a gift instead.

Lin Xiang took full charge of choosing the wedding gift, buying a pair of enamel cups and two embroidered pillowcases with red silk threads featuring mandarin ducks—since Jiang Weijun was one of He Hongyuan’s best friends, this gift was sincere and not insignificant.

But when the meal started, Zhang Huafeng and Yan Min arrived hurriedly. Lin Xiang noticed that Zhang Huafeng looked even more upset than the previous night, but he forced a smile for his friend’s big day.

“Sorry, brother, something came up at home. I just finished the phone call and came over.”

Jiang Weijun wasn’t the type to hold grudges, so he quickly welcomed them and said, “Hurry up and eat, don’t stand on ceremony.”

After the meal, which was full of laughter, He Hongyuan surprisingly drank nearly half a jin of white wine, but his face didn’t change at all.

Jiang Weijun teased him, “You really can’t tell if you’re drunk. When you and Lin Xiang get married at the end of the month, I’ll see if you can handle your alcohol.”

Of course, the groom had to drink the most, and Jiang Weijun’s face, still flushed from the wine, was now a bit slurred.

He Hongyuan chuckled lightly. “We’ll see about that.”

Lin Xiang, hearing this, pulled at the hem of his shirt. “Still making threats? Be careful, they might surround you later!”

He Hongyuan smiled, unusually carefree. “Your man has never been afraid.”

Lin Xiang’s cheeks flushed; she now suspected that he was already drunk!

After attending the modest 1970s-style wedding, Lin Xiang found it quite strange, so different from modern wedding procedures. The only thing that remained was the newlyweds’ passion and longing for married life. There were no other complicated steps.

On the way home, Lin Xiang excitedly discussed their wedding banquet at the end of the month with He Hongyuan. “Will we hold it in the cafeteria too? What if there are other couples getting married? Can we choose the dishes, or are they fixed?”

He Hongyuan didn’t have much experience, so he had just asked Jiang Weijun for advice. “We’re doing it in the cafeteria. I just asked the quartermaster. There’ll be another couple getting married in the main hall, but we’ll be in a private room, so it won’t interfere. As for the menu, we’ll have to finalize it three days before. Pork is no problem, but the seafood depends on what they catch at the time.”

Lin Xiang nodded. “That sounds good. I’ve never thought about having the banquet in the military cafeteria. It’s quite interesting.”

As they were talking, they reached the Zhou family’s house. When evening came, Lin Xiang suddenly felt a bit melancholic. Her two-day holiday was over, and she would have to return to work!

---

After returning from the National Day holiday, the workers at the factory were generally full of energy. After the busy festivities, they were well-rested and ready to go back to work.

Fortunately, the production and construction at the Factory No.2 weren’t too strict, especially without many complicated processes. Lin Xiang could still relax a bit and ease the sadness of the holiday ending.

She calculated—it would be a while before her next break for the Spring Festival! Several months to go.

The Factory No.1 next door had a meeting on the first day back from the holiday. The loudspeakers pierced through the thick walls, and Director Huang’s voice motivating the workers could be heard clearly through Lin Xiang’s ears.

“Director, we should prepare to go visit Factory Manager Huang and try to get the coconut juice,” Lin Xiang had been thinking about this matter persistently.

Director Zhao agreed, “Yes, we need to go! Such good stuff shouldn’t be left idle!”

However, Factory Manager Huang was busy with official duties and had gone to the city for meetings for two consecutive days after the holiday. By the time he returned, he hadn’t had the chance to meet with anyone from the Factory No.2.

A truck loaded with shrimp paste cans slowly left the 119 food factory. Liu Qingshan, the workshop deputy director who had been smoking a cigarette while overseeing the shrimp paste workshop, and He Zhigang, the fermentation team leader, saw Zhao Jianjun and Lin Xiang leaving with disappointment.

“Why are these two still coming to our factory every day?” He Zhigang, who had felt awkward for a few days after the shrimp paste workshop crisis was averted, no longer took Lin Xiang seriously after a while.

“An accidental young colleague, what real skills can they have?”

Liu, the deputy director, took a deep drag from his cigarette, savoring the taste of the expensive cigarettes from the capital, enjoying every moment. “What else could they be doing? They’re probably anxious to return to the Factory No.1. Xiao Sun from the factory office is leaving soon, so someone must be eyeing that position.”

“Wow, Lin Xiang sure has good luck.”

Lin Xiang herself had almost forgotten that after the National Day rehearsal in October, the military personnel were about to leave, along with their families. This included Sister Sun, who worked in the factory office and was set to leave.

Back when her application form had been altered by He Fen, the final resolution was that Lin Xiang would take Sister Sun’s position in the Factory No.1.

In early October, when the personnel from the Factory No.1’s office came to the Factory No.2 to welcome Lin Xiang back to the Factory No.1, Lin Xiang was clearly stunned. She vaguely remembered that they had said she would be returning in mid-October.

“Comrade Lin Xiang, there was some unexpected situation when you joined, so we’ve kept Sister Sun’s position for you.” The personnel officer from the Human Resources department, Zhou, had heard many things about Lin Xiang over the past two months and was quite curious. She knew that Lin Xiang was capable, and even the factory manager had mentioned twice that she should return to the Factory No.1 early, but Lin Xiang had refused both times. Zhou was somewhat impressed by Lin Xiang’s composure. “Now, Sister Sun is leaving a week early with her husband. The position is now yours. Welcome back to the Factory No.1.”

In the office, even Director Zhao, Kong Zhenzhen, and Ma Defa were stunned. They had all been reluctant to let Lin Xiang go and were hoping she would stay in the Factory No.2 for a while longer. They had thought she would still be there for at least another week, but it turned out Sister Sun and her family had moved out earlier than expected.

This was a problem—Lin Xiang was suddenly told she was going back to the Factory No.1.

The workers in the Factory No.2, who had heard the news, were also surprised. Qiu Hongxia yelled loudly, “Why is she leaving already? Didn’t they say she’d stay for a bit longer?”

The personnel officer smiled and replied, “Sister Sun is leaving early, and it’s just right that Lin Xiang is taking over.”

Qiu Hongxia’s face darkened, her eyes almost wrinkling with frustration. “What’s so great about that? Ugh!” She turned around and ran out.

Lin Xiang, who had been preparing to handle the handover with the personnel officer, suddenly recalled the day she first arrived in Jinbian City.

She had nearly escaped, having sold the money she made from the mechanical factory in Xifeng City, with no connections and no job.

Now, after living with the Zhou family for so long, she had come to regard them like her own family. She was about to marry her fiancé, He Hongyuan, and even the job at the Factory No.1 that she had once dreamed of was now just within reach.

She had filled out that application form herself, and without hesitation, had chosen to apply to the Factory No.1. The Factory No.1 was large, well-equipped, and had a vast workforce, a completely legitimate state-owned enterprise. On the other hand, the Factory No.2 was dilapidated, with outdated facilities and a bad reputation for being lazy, unmotivated, and producing subpar goods.

However, as Lin Xiang thought back on the past two months in the Factory No.2, all she could remember were pleasant memories. The most diligent workers were often joking around while they worked, but they still managed to complete their tasks. They would snack on sunflower seeds, peanuts, and oranges, always sharing with each other. Despite their lack of drive, they would even argue and fight in the shrimp paste workshop just because they felt someone had been unfair to them.

As Lin Xiang got lost in her memories, she suddenly heard some noise outside the office door.

Qiu Hongxia had led a group of workers inside, and she looked both reluctant and dissatisfied. She glared at the personnel officer from the Factory No.1 and then looked at Lin Xiang with a longing gaze but couldn’t say anything to keep her there.

After all, everyone knew that the Factory No.1 was much better than the second, and anyone would choose to go to the Factory No.1.

“Lin Xiang, this is all happening too suddenly. We didn’t even have time to prepare anything. This is just some sunflower seeds, peanuts, oranges, sugar peanuts, and sorghum candy we pooled together… please take them with you.” Qiu Hongxia dropped a handful of her favorite sunflower seeds, forcing a smile that looked somewhat strained. “Don’t forget about us in the Factory No.2! Come back and visit when you have time, and I’ll tell you some gossip!”

Lin Xiang looked at the pile of snacks stacked on her desk and felt a pang of sadness. She looked up at Qiu Hongxia and the workers behind her, about to speak, when suddenly she heard Yang Tianyang shouting outside.

“Not good, that damn food factory has started selling coconut juice!”