Chapter 52

He Honyuan had reached his limit—his wife’s free time was being completely taken over by Comrade Yan Min, and at the same time, he couldn’t bear to see his good friend in such a miserable state.

Caught in the struggle between his filial obligations to his parents and siblings, Zhang Huafeng had allowed his romantic relationship to fall into complete disarray.

He Hongyuan was the type of man who could cut ties with Zhou Shengqiang without hesitation, even changing his surname when he was just a child. His voice was cold and firm as he said, “Zhang Huafeng, do you think you can avoid this forever? As long as you want to be with Yan Min, your family will keep making a fuss. How do you plan to handle it? Are you willing to give up on Yan Min and marry whatever distant cousin your family picked out for you…”

Just hearing those words made Zhang Huafeng snap his tired eyes up to his friend and retort loudly, “I won’t marry anyone else! I only want to marry Minmin in this lifetime!”

“Good.” He Hongyuan looked down at Zhang Huafeng, who was hunched over on the bed. “Since you’ve figured that out, you need to stand your ground against your family. I know your family was poor when you were young, and as the eldest, you’ve always felt responsible for taking care of them. You also think it wasn’t easy for them to sell everything just to send you to the army. But over the years, you’ve done everything you could for them—financially and emotionally. You’re a grown man in your twenties. If you keep letting them control your life, Yan Min will never marry you. And let’s be honest, things have come to this point because you’ve been indulging them over and over. You act decisively on the battlefield—why can’t you show some of that resolve here?”

After dropping these words, He Hongyuan left, leaving Zhang Huafeng sitting in the dark, pressing his hands against his forehead. His mind flashed back and forth between memories—his family’s struggles, the way his parents and siblings scraped together money so he could enlist, the harsh letters from home accusing him of being unfilial, of forgetting his parents and siblings for some “city vixen”—and then to all the moments he had shared with Yan Min. His brows furrowed deeply as he clenched his fists.

That night, he stayed up writing a long letter—a full page. In it, he told his family that he loved Yan Min and was determined to marry her as his revolutionary partner, and that no one could stop him. As the eldest son of the Zhang family, he would continue to send 20 yuan a month to support his parents, which was more than enough for their daily expenses. But his siblings were all adults now, with families of their own—he saw no reason why he should keep subsidizing them. It was time for them to focus on their own lives and work hard.

After finishing the letter, he didn’t send it immediately. Instead, he went to the cultural troupe to find Yan Min.

Jiang Xiurong came out to meet him. “Minmin is rehearsing. She doesn’t have time to see you, Comrade Zhang. Please leave.”

“I know she doesn’t want to see me,” Zhang Huafeng replied. “Comrade Jiang, please tell her—I’ll be waiting right here.”

Jiang Xiurong studied him for a long moment, then sighed and returned to the rehearsal room. “Zhang Huafeng says he’s not leaving. He’s waiting outside.”

Yan Min, who had been stretching her muscles, didn’t even look up. Her voice was indifferent. “Let him wait if he wants to. It has nothing to do with me.”

An hour passed. Yan Min and Jiang Xiurong’s duet, The Joyful Milkmaid, came to an end. Jiang Xiurong glanced out the window and smirked. “Well, well. The political commissar is still standing there~”

Yan Min’s eyes flickered with emotion. After a brief struggle, she finally went downstairs.

When she appeared, Zhang Huafeng didn’t say much. He simply handed her a letter.

Yan Min had expected him to come begging for reconciliation, but her anger hadn’t fully subsided, and she wasn’t in the mood to listen to him. She was ready to dismiss him outright.

But the man didn’t follow the usual script—he didn’t say a word, just handed her a letter.

Frowning in confusion, she took it and quickly skimmed through its contents. Her eyes widened in shock.

Zhang Huafeng stood tall and straight, raising a hand in salute. His voice was solemn as he promised, “Minmin, I’ve made up my mind. I’ve told my family exactly how it is. Don’t worry—I won’t let you suffer. And don’t talk about breaking up with me anymore… just hearing those words makes my heart ache.”

…

“I always knew he was a filial person,” Yan Min murmured later that evening at Lin Xiang’s home. “He’s been looking after his family since he was a kid—helping his parents, taking care of his siblings. After all these years, I never expected him to actually stand up to them like this.”

Her feelings were in turmoil. That afternoon, reading Zhang Huafeng’s heartfelt words on paper had struck a deep chord in her.

This was the first man she had ever loved, the first relationship she had ever been in. If she really let go, it would be a painful regret. But if Zhang Huafeng had continued to let his family control his life, she truly would have walked away.

This time, though, things were different. He seemed to have made up his mind. He was drawing a firm line and refusing to let his family turn his sacrifices into a bottomless pit.

Lin Xiang hadn’t expected such a drastic shift either. Filial piety was one of the hardest things to break away from—especially for someone like Zhang Huafeng, who had lived by it for over twenty years. Changing such a deeply ingrained mindset and resisting the endless demands of his family wouldn’t be easy.

“It’s a good sign that he’s willing to change,” Lin Xiang said sincerely. “It means he values your relationship enough to fight for it. If you still have faith in him, if you still love him… maybe it’s worth giving him another chance. The decision is yours.”

Yan Min was indeed surprised by Zhang Huafeng’s sudden change. After confronting her own feelings, she finally nodded.

——

He Hongyuan finally felt at ease over the past few days.

Yan Min was no longer running to his house every day. After all, she was busy with the cultural troupe, and now she had to make time for dates too—she didn’t have the spare time to cling to his wife anymore.

Zhang Huafeng also seemed refreshed these days. After a brief breakup, reunited couples always tended to be extra affectionate. He and Yan Min invited the two couples who had helped mediate their relationship out for a meal to express their gratitude.

After dinner, Zhang Huafeng, grinning from ear to ear, clapped He Hongyuan on the shoulder and sighed, “Brother, what you said that day was absolutely right. I was too blind before! Good thing you told me straight.”

He Hongyuan smirked. “No need to thank me.”

I was doing it for myself too.

——

After feasting at a state-run restaurant, Lin Xiang couldn’t help but notice Zhang Huafeng doting on Yan Min—constantly offering her food and fussing over her. Yan Min rolled her eyes at him, reminding him to be mindful of their surroundings. Lin Xiang, on the other hand, deeply appreciated the rare sight of such public displays of affection.

On the way home, she sighed to He Hongyuan, “Look at them—love is really something else. Their gazes are practically melting into each other.”

He Hongyuan frowned. “What do you mean by ‘melting into each other’?”

Lin Xiang: “…It means they’re looking at each other with such deep affection that even the air between them feels sweet.”

He Hongyuan: ?

Really?

Lin Xiang couldn’t be bothered to explain romance to a man so utterly lacking in sentimentality. Regardless, watching Zhang Huafeng and Yan Min make up after their struggles made her happy as a bystander.

“I just hope Zhang Huafeng’s family stops causing trouble. With a son like him, what more could they want? They should just coexist peacefully.”

It was only after talking to He Hongyuan that Lin Xiang learned the extent to which Zhang Huafeng’s family benefited from him. His father had been elected as the brigade leader in their production team purely because of Zhang Huafeng’s status as an officer. His younger brother also landed an easy job as a scorekeeper instead of doing fieldwork, thanks to his brother’s respected position in the military.

Zhang Huafeng had earned his rank as a political commissar through blood and sweat, and his family had reaped countless benefits from it. Yet they were still insatiable, always demanding more—it was truly infuriating.

++++

Although Yan Min didn’t have as much time to visit Lin Xiang, their friendship had grown considerably. A few days later, Yan Min and her cultural troupe performed on a desolate island near Langhua Island, where only two soldiers were stationed. These soldiers endured extreme hardship, guarding an isolated, barren land.

When she returned, Yan Min brought Lin Xiang a gift—a large basket of “Guanyin vegetables.”

“We delivered supplies to the two soldiers—food, drinks, even canned goods and coconut juice from your 119 Factory,” Yan Min said with pride, her respect for the island’s sentinels evident. “They were incredibly polite. After the performance, they packed each of us a basket of Guanyin vegetables, saying the island had too many, and they couldn’t eat them all. I thought I’d share some with you and Qingya.”

Lin Xiang opened the bag and gasped at the sight of the fresh, purple-red leaves. “Wow, these look delicious. Thanks, I won’t hold back then.”

Yan Min, eager to reunite with her boyfriend after a few days apart, didn’t linger long and quickly rushed back to her troupe.

When He Hongyuan came home from work and saw the huge bowl of wild greens, he was startled. “You went out to pick wild vegetables?”

“No, Min Min brought them,” Lin Xiang explained as she sorted the vegetables and asked about the soldiers stationed on the island.

He Hongyuan, his expression solemn, replied, “Guarding an isolated island isn’t easy. It may be small, but it’s a crucial lookout for coastal defense. The duty may seem simple, but it’s incredibly tedious and requires great resilience.”

Lin Xiang nodded. “That does sound tough.”

Patrolling the coastline three times a day on a deserted island with only one other person—it was a lonely and grueling task, truly admirable.

That evening, Lin Xiang stir-fried the Guanyin vegetables with thinly sliced pork liver. The purple-red leaves were crisp and tender, complementing the fragrant and delicate pork liver perfectly.

In her past life, she had loved this dish, though back then it was called “Bloodleaf stir-fried with pork liver.”

He Hongyuan was completely won over by his wife’s cooking. He was a straightforward man, and his culinary skills were limited to making food edible—things like presentation and taste had never mattered much to him.

But after being married for a while, he had come to realize that their home-cooked meals were even better than the food at the army canteen or state-run restaurants.

Especially the jar of braised Spanish mackerel paste Lin Xiang had made for him to take to the army. Sometimes, when work kept He Hongyuan too busy to come home for dinner, he had to settle for canteen food. Wrapping some in a pancake with scallions or spreading it on a steamed bun made for an unbelievably tasty meal.

Because of that, He Hongyuan had started attracting attention in the canteen. Zhang Huafeng, Jiang Weijun, and other comrades frequently came over to “borrow” his fish paste.

During one meal, Zhang Huafeng and Jiang Weijun were slathering the paste onto their pancakes when its fragrant aroma spread through the canteen. Soon, more and more soldiers gathered around, and before He Hongyuan knew it, his entire jar of fish paste had been wiped clean.

When the jar was finally returned to him—almost completely empty—He Hongyuan couldn’t help but laugh and curse, “Damn it, you guys are ruthless!”

His comrades, still licking their lips from the meal, grinned and teased, “Captain He, your wife’s cooking is amazing! This stuff is incredible!”

“I ate way too much today—I scarfed down eight pancakes in one go!”

“Old He, will there be any more sauce tomorrow? I could eat pancakes with this every day! Meat doesn’t even taste good anymore.”

He Hongyuan spread the last little bit of sauce onto his own pancake, finally getting a taste of his wife’s cooking. He laughed, then cursed in mock anger, “Get lost! You think there’s any left? Scram!”

“Hey, why are you getting so worked up? We’re comrades-in-arms!” A few close comrades gathered around, teasing He Hongyuan. “Don’t you know how to show some camaraderie?”

That night, He Hongyuan went home carrying a bag of taro, three oranges, four persimmons, and a pomelo.

Lin Xiang was surprised as she helped bring everything inside. “Where did you buy all this?”

“A comrade gave it to me,” He Hongyuan replied indifferently. “He insisted on showing camaraderie.”

Lin Xiang: “…?”

That enthusiastic, huh?

---

Lin Xiang had no idea that the jar of sauce she made for her husband had become a hit in the military canteen. His comrades had even been hounding him for more, hoping she could make another batch, but He Hongyuan flatly refused.

The reason was simple: It’s not your wives who have to do all the work.

Comrades: We have nothing to say! We never thought the guy who refused to get married for so long would be such a doting husband!

Still, he accepted the gifts anyway. After all, they had all insisted on showing camaraderie and devoured his entire jar of mackerel sauce. The fruits were perfect to take home and spoil his wife a little.

The next day at work, Lin Xiang brought two persimmons to the office. In the afternoon, during some downtime, she cut up the firm persimmons into small pieces to share with her colleagues.

Kong Zhenzhen happily crunched on a piece and exclaimed, “This tastes great! I’m going to go pick some persimmons myself one of these days.”

Lin Xiang took a bite of the crisp persimmon. Just as the sharp crunch rang out, the factory announced that it was time to collect wages.

Not being eager to collect your salary? That’s a problem with your mindset!

Lin Xiang immediately shot up from her seat, forgetting all about the persimmon, and hurried off to the finance office to get her pay.

Her November salary hit a new high, mainly thanks to the surge in coconut juice sales that month, which had also boosted the factory workers’ bonuses. Lin Xiang clutched her own 58.34 yuan and felt the satisfying weight in her pocket.

Meat, candy, pastries—they’re all calling my name!

With He Hongyuan’s salary and allowances combined, he made a little over 100 yuan per month. Adding Lin Xiang’s earnings, the two of them were basically high-income earners in the 1970s.

She set aside the household expenses for December in a drawer in their bedroom, then deposited the rest in the bank.

Lin Xiang also had her own little savings stash, which included the 700 yuan from selling her previous job and the 200 yuan from her wedding dowry. On top of that, she consistently saved a portion of her salary each month. By now, her total savings were close to 1,000 yuan.

A thousand-yuan household in the ’70s—how is she not a little rich lady?

Every month, He Hongyuan sent 30 yuan to his mother. When they got married, He Guifang had told him to stop sending money and focus on his own family instead, but Lin Xiang was the first to object.

A child honoring their parents is only natural—as long as they aren’t parents like the ones from the Lin family.

Aside from the money sent to his mother, He Hongyuan kept 20 yuan for himself each month, mainly for the occasional cigarette or drink. The rest, he handed over to Lin Xiang, who managed the household expenses.

Shortly after they married, Lin Xiang saw He Hongyuan’s bankbook and was shocked by the numbers. But after thinking it over, she realized that soldiers put their lives on the line—it made sense for them to earn more.

From having absolutely nothing to now holding over 3,000 yuan in her hands, Lin Xiang felt a deep sense of security.

Money really does bring a sense of safety!

And a salary increase is a great motivator!

At Factory No. 2, the workers were overjoyed when they received their November wages.

Qiu Hongxia was happily munching on sunflower seeds, grinning so hard her face nearly split open. “Coconut juice is amazing! We should keep focusing on selling coconut juice!”

Captain Yang’s wages were the highest they had ever been this month. When he went home last night, he was practically strutting, his big, burly self finally able to stand tall in front of his wife. “Xiao Lin really knows her stuff!”

Director Zhao, delighted by the workers’ enthusiasm, strutted back into his office with a confident air and prepared to boost morale.

“Comrades! We’ve achieved a major milestone! This is all thanks to our Factory No. 2’s spirit of hard work and perseverance—”

Kong Zhenzhen shot a look at Ma Defa and Lin Xiang. Lin Xiang was a bit confused at first, but then she saw Ma Defa and Kong Zhenzhen both get up and quickly find excuses to leave.

Kong Zhenzhen grabbed an enamel cup and headed out. “Director, my cup’s out of water. Gotta go refill it.”

Ma Defa clutched a collection of revolutionary poems and hurried off. “Director, I’m going to recite some poetry to inspire the workers.”

That left Lin Xiang sitting there in a daze. She watched as Director Zhao, looking slightly disappointed, turned his gaze onto her instead.

“Xiao Lin, let me tell you, the spirit of hard work and perseverance is truly something remarkable…”

“Our Factory No. 2 didn’t have it easy…”

“There was a time when we were looked down on everywhere… But now, we’ve finally made a name for ourselves…”

Lin Xiang barely managed to stifle a yawn. She glanced at her watch—wow, Director Zhao had already been going on for half an hour!

Now she finally understood why Kong Zhenzhen and Ma Defa had run off so fast!

Help! Someone save me! Director Zhao wasn’t usually this long-winded!

“Director!” Lin Xiang couldn’t take it anymore and cut him off. “I have a work report to deliver.”

Director Zhao, who was in the middle of an impassioned speech upon finding an audience, froze. He still had seven or eight more points left to cover, but work took priority. “What’s the situation?”

“Director, our factory’s coconut juice has now firmly established itself in Jinbian City. It’s selling well, and the locals love it. Once the new equipment arrives at the end of the year, production efficiency will significantly improve. We should consider expanding into the entire Haining Province.”

Limiting sales to just Jinbian City would not be a long-term strategy. Expanding early and securing the market was the right move. If Lin Xiang’s prediction was correct, it wouldn’t be long before other soda factories started producing coconut juice as well.

Since coconut juice relied on specific raw materials and wasn’t as widespread as oranges or pears, its production was naturally limited to a few southern provinces. However, those areas also had soda factories, and someone would surely follow suit.

When more brands of coconut juice appeared on the market, would 119 Coconut Juice still be able to dominate?

Director Zhao knew Lin Xiang was right. “I’ve been thinking about this too. In the past, orange soda was sold nationwide, and expanding from our city to other provinces was a simple process. But coconut juice is different—there’s no precedent. We’ll need to visit the Provincial Grain and Oil Company in Haining Province.”

Lin Xiang nodded. This trip was necessary. At the same time, another critical issue needed addressing. “Director, our coconut juice is selling well, and sooner or later, soda factories from the province or neighboring regions will jump in. When that happens, everyone will be competing for coconuts, and we may not always secure high-quality ones. Since this is fruit juice, the quality of the raw fruit is crucial. Right now, we’re in a transitional phase, collecting wild coconuts that people gather from various places. But in the long run, we need to consider plantation farming to standardize quality and ensure a stable monthly supply.”

Director Zhao was surprised. “Plant our own?”

“We don’t have the resources to do it ourselves, but what if we partner with production teams that grow coconuts? Many teams already plant fruit trees and sell their produce to supply and marketing cooperatives. We could adopt a similar model—this way, we bring income to the villages, helping improve their livelihoods, while also securing our own supply of raw materials.”

“This idea is feasible, but it’s a big move.” Zhao Jianjun pondered for a moment, feeling that it might be too ambitious. “Factory No.1 might not agree to it either. I need to think this through.”

“Director, take your time considering it. Sooner or later, Factory No.2 will grow and strengthen. Who knows? One day, we might even sell nationwide.”

Director Zhao looked at this young comrade with amusement. “You sure talk big.”

Lin Xiang was just planting the idea for now. Their current coconut juice supply was sufficient for Jinbian City, but if they planned to expand, having their own coconut plantation would be essential.

At the monthly summary meeting for the 119 Food Factory in early December, thanks to the success of coconut juice, Zhao Jianjun was formally invited and attended the meeting with pride. As he entered, he shot a smug glance at Director Qin of Factory No.1’s shrimp paste workshop, making Qin look away awkwardly.

When Secretary Tang begrudgingly acknowledged and praised Factory No.2’s recent progress, especially the successful launch of new coconut juice flavors, Zhao Jianjun seized the moment to express his gratitude.

“Thank you to Factory No.1 for their support, to the factory leadership for their recognition, and to Director Huang for approving the purchase of new equipment. Without Director Huang, coconut juice wouldn’t be where it is today! Lastly, I must thank Secretary Tang—”

Secretary Tang’s face stiffened.

Zhao Jianjun continued, “Without Secretary Tang’s opposition and lack of confidence in us, we wouldn’t have been so motivated to prove ourselves!”

Secretary Tang: “…”

Zhao Jianjun had finally vented his long-held frustration. As the meeting’s loudspeakers broadcasted the monthly achievements—Factory No.1’s shrimp paste workshop progressing steadily, while Factory No.2’s coconut juice soared—he walked away with a swagger.

Later, when Lin Xiang heard that Director Zhao had the audacity to throw shade at Secretary Tang during the meeting, she couldn’t help but admire him. However, she was curious. “Director, aren’t you afraid of retaliation from Secretary Tang?”

Zhao Jianjun casually rubbed his shiny bald head. “Afraid of what? If I didn’t roast him today, he’d still keep targeting me and Factory No.2 anyway. Since he’s going to make things difficult for us regardless, we might as well take the chance to get back at him!”

Lin Xiang: Respect.

Factory No.2 was on a roll. The success of coconut juice earned them their first official recognition at the monthly meeting, and, for the first time ever, they received an invitation to the Haining Province-wide Soda Factory Exchange Conference.

Zhao Jianjun gleefully held up the invitation letter. “They never cared about us before, and now they’re inviting us personally!”

Checking the time and location, Zhao Jianjun immediately decided, “We’re going!”

His life philosophy was simple—if there was a chance to show off, he would absolutely take it.

“You’re going on a business trip?”

When He Hongyuan returned home, he saw his wife packing. Lin Xiang was carefully selecting a long-sleeved shirt and long pants to put into her wicker suitcase, making sure not to forget her Snowflake Cream.

After some questioning, He Hongyuan finally learned that his wife was heading to the provincial capital of Haining for a three-day business trip to attend the Soda Factory Exchange Conference.

“I’ll be back on Sunday,” Lin Xiang said, clearly more excited than reluctant. She was getting an official travel permit to visit the provincial capital—how could she not be thrilled?

He Hongyuan pressed his thin lips together. Many thoughts rolled around in his mind before he finally said just four words: “Come back soon.”

“Got it!” Lin Xiang was obviously more excited about the trip than sad about leaving. After all, it was only three days—far shorter than the time He Hongyuan spent away on missions—so there wasn’t much need for sentimental farewells.

Lin Xiang set off with Director Zhao, carrying her rattan suitcase. They planned to take the green train to the provincial capital, a journey of about two hours.

The provincial capital of Haining Province was twice the size of Jinbian City. As the most developed city in the province, it was filled with heavy industries, including steel mills, machinery factories, and cable manufacturers. Food and soda factories were also abundant, far surpassing the scale of Jinbian City’s 119 Factory.

The annual Provincial Soda Exchange Conference was usually attended by major soda manufacturers. In the past, the Factory No. 2 of 119 Food Factory had never been invited. As a subsidiary of the Factory No. 1, its soda production had never stood out.

But this year was different. In November, 119 Factory No. 2’s coconut juice had risen to prominence. The conference, which had already finalized its list of attendees, made a last-minute adjustment to include an invitation specifically for 119 Factory No. 2.

This was the third city Lin Xiang had set foot in since arriving in the 1970s. Unlike Xifeng City and Jinbian City, the provincial capital exuded development and dominance. Its infrastructure seemed years ahead of other cities.

The exchange conference was held at the largest guesthouse in the city, Red Star Guesthouse. Attendees stayed there, occupying most of the rooms on the third and fourth floors, while the conference itself took place in the grand hall on the first floor.

Numerous soda factories and food factories with soda production lines participated. Soda had become a hot commodity in recent years—after enduring famine, people craved something sweet. With Haining Province’s economic growth, the conference wasn’t limited to provincial factories; even representatives from well-known soda factories in neighboring provinces attended, making the venue bustling with activity.

As Zhao Jianjun and Lin Xiang entered the hall, many attendees took notice of them. Most people were familiar faces from previous years, but these two were new. Curious industry peers approached them, quickly discovering they were from 119 Factory No. 2.

119 Food Factory was already well-known, especially for dominating the market with its shrimp paste cans. However, its soda production had remained overshadowed—until last month when coconut juice took the market by storm.

The conference was mainly led by the province’s top soda factories, with smaller ones attending to learn and ask questions.

The city’s No. 1 Soda Factory had a long history. When foreign cola brands withdrew their production lines years ago, they managed to acquire some of the equipment, making them a leading soda brand in the South.

The discussion was lively, with various factory representatives eagerly inquiring about future trends in soda production.

Director Zhao only knew one person at the conference—a workshop director from the city’s No. 1 Soda Factory. While he exchanged pleasantries, Lin Xiang was quickly approached by curious attendees.

“Comrade, is your factory the one selling 119 Coconut Juice?”

Lin Xiang nodded. “Yes.”

A small group gathered around her, sizing her up. “Isn’t 119 mainly known for shrimp paste? Now you’re selling soda successfully too?”

There was a subtle hint of jealousy in their tone, but it wasn’t too strong.

Lin Xiang responded with a polite smile, avoiding unnecessary conversation.

On the second day, she and Director Zhao joined the group in touring the No. 1 Soda Factory’s production workshop. The scale and advanced equipment left Zhao Jianjun awestruck.

He whispered to Lin Xiang, “Look at their workshop and equipment. Ours… sigh!”

Lin Xiang chuckled. “Director, ours will be upgraded soon.”

“That’s true.” Remembering the incoming new equipment, Zhao Jianjun brightened up.

The morning was filled with factory tours and networking. Zhao Jianjun and Lin Xiang met many industry peers, most of whom were friendly and praised 119’s coconut juice.

At lunchtime in the guesthouse, Lin Xiang couldn’t help but comment, “The provincial soda factory is truly impressive. I saw so many people staring in awe.”

It wasn’t just the factory’s grandeur and advanced equipment—the workers were also highly professional. After a day of discussions, it was clear that the No. 1 Soda Factory was on a completely different level than 119.

Zhao Jianjun also learned a lot from the experienced workers. Some of the older staff had impressive backgrounds. One of them had even worked at the Shanhaiguan Soda Factory, established in 1902—the first soda factory in Huaguo (China). At that time, all soda factories were foreign-owned, and these workers had learned directly from foreign techniques.

Falling behind meant being left behind. If they were behind in production, they had no choice but to learn.

That old worker later moved to Haining Province and became one of the founding members of its first soda factory. When the factory was nationalized, he remained as a senior expert, possessing unparalleled technical knowledge and decades of experience. The factory’s various soda flavors, especially orange and lychee, were particularly outstanding.

With over sixty years of experience, he could easily analyze the pros and cons of different fruit-flavored sodas.

In the afternoon, he conducted a lecture on soda production, using orange soda as the foundational example. He meticulously explained every step of the production process, from the assembly line to common issues like bitterness in orange juice, covering all technical challenges.

Lin Xiang listened intently. Her previous understanding of juice production mainly came from modern video tutorials. Now, standing before a true master craftsman, she was filled with admiration.

After the lecture, factory representatives took turns asking questions, engaging in a lively discussion.

Then, a representative from Five Star Soda Factory in Hedong City stood up and suggested, “Master Sun, orange soda is already everywhere. Shouldn’t we start developing new flavors?”

Master Sun, with his white hair and steady demeanor, nodded. “That’s true. Experimenting with new flavors is a good approach. Nothing should remain stagnant—not even orange soda. It should be adjusted according to consumer preferences.”

“119 is selling coconut juice now, so why don’t we have them talk about how they make it? That way, it could help our province develop more soda flavors. Our factory also tried making coconut juice, but the color didn’t look right, and the taste was a bit off. Since the comrades from 119 are here, they should take the stage and share some insights with everyone.”

As soon as this was said, many eyes turned toward Zhao Jianjun and Lin Xiang from the 119 Food Factory’s second branch.

Coconut juice was a new product, and while people were naturally curious, it was a bit too forward to outright ask for the formula.

Zhao Jianjun cursed internally. This guy sure had the nerve to say that! But he couldn’t reject the request too harshly either. He had to handle it tactfully, or else rumors might spread that 119 was arrogant and unwilling to share. With a half-joking tone, he said, “Director He, this is Master Sun’s lecture. How could we interrupt? Lin and I are here to learn as well.”

Director He, however, wasn’t letting go. “Oh, come on, Director Zhao. Your coconut juice is selling so well now. You’re not planning to keep it all to yourselves, are you? If this keeps up, you might even surpass the First Soda Factory of the provincial capital. Who knows, next time this conference might be hosted at your factory instead!”

That was pure provocation—trying to turn 119 into a target.

Zhao Jianjun was the type who knew when to show off and when to keep a low profile. He immediately hated this troublemaker. If he didn’t handle it well, word might spread that 119 was getting cocky and aiming to dominate all the soda factories in Haining Province.

Lin Xiang smiled and responded, “Director He, technical exchanges are, of course, a good thing. Our factory is still young, and we have much to learn from the First Soda Factory of the provincial capital. We wouldn’t dare overstep and act like teachers here. As far as I can see, only Master Sun is qualified for that role.” Then, she subtly pushed back against the blatant attempt to get 119 to share its formula. “If your factory wants to develop coconut juice, we won’t stop you. But as for discussing production techniques, let’s wait until your factory also comes up with a signature soda flavor, and then we can exchange ideas.”

With this single statement, she defused any potential conflict with the First Soda Factory while also rejecting the Five-Star Soda Factory’s unreasonable demand. At the same time, she subtly pointed out that Five-Star had yet to produce a flagship soda flavor of its own.

The other attendees chuckled quietly, and someone even teased Director He, “Old He, 119 has already developed a hit soda flavor. Your factory better step up its game!”

Director He’s face darkened, and he huffed before finally sitting down.

The next day, after the conference ended, Zhao Jianjun and Lin Xiang both sensed something unusual.

“It looks like several other factories are already developing their own coconut juice,” Zhao Jianjun noted. Just like orange soda, which was produced by nearly every soda factory in the country, coconut juice was now drawing industry-wide interest.

119 had only recently made a name for itself with coconut juice, so it wasn’t surprising that others were following suit—but the speed of it caught Zhao Jianjun off guard.

“Director, even if the taste varies between brands, once other factories start producing it, competition for coconuts will intensify,” Lin Xiang said, suddenly feeling the pressure. If multiple brands released coconut juice, would 119 still be able to hold its leading position?

There were no major conference events planned for the third day, just factory tours and a state-funded banquet. Zhao Jianjun thought it over and decided to take Lin Xiang back early.

That night, the green train rumbled toward Jinbian City as the two of them discussed their next steps.

“It’s not just Five-Star Soda Factory—at least three other factories are working on coconut juice,” Zhao Jianjun said, feeling more and more that Lin Xiang’s earlier warning was spot on. “Your idea about collaborating with the production brigades on a coconut plantation is a good one. We need to move fast on that.”

Lin Xiang nodded. “We have a head start and experience. Over the past month, we’ve received coconuts of different types, sizes, and shell thicknesses, all of which affect the final product. Once we analyze the data, we can determine the best-quality coconuts and secure long-term supply contracts.”

Zhao Jianjun was rarely so impressed by young people, but Lin Xiang’s quick thinking and strategic planning stood out. He chuckled, “Having you in our Factory No. 2 is like striking gold.”

He then recalled Lin Xiang’s ambitious statement about growing the factory and selling coconut juice nationwide. Maybe… it wasn’t just empty talk. Could it really happen one day?

Whoa, better not think about it too much—he might start laughing in his sleep!

After taking the last ferry back to Langhua Island, Zhao Jianjun and Lin Xiang arrived at the military family compound just as night was falling. They each headed home.

Lin Xiang glanced at her watch—7:30 PM.

Her house was pitch black. After setting down her luggage, she looked around the empty room and figured He Hongyuan was still working late at the base.

Since she came back a day early, she might as well surprise him!

Meanwhile, He Hongyuan had been feeling off these past few days.

Before, whenever he was on missions, he could leave without a second thought. Even after getting married, when he was deployed, he felt reluctant to part, but once he boarded the ship, he could push everything aside and focus on work.

But this time, it was his wife who was away. It had only been three days—technically, only two so far—but he was already feeling restless.

He wasn’t used to coming home to an empty, dark house. He kept seeing Lin Xiang’s presence in every corner, but when he reached out, there was only air.

At least she’d be back tomorrow. That thought made him feel a little better. Still, he didn’t feel like going home early tonight, so he stayed at the office, keeping busy to pass the time.

Knock, knock, knock.

Even when he just wanted some peace and quiet, someone still had to come knocking.

“Who is it?” He Hongyuan’s voice was cold.

“He Regiment Commander~”

Lin Xiang’s voice came from outside the door, startling He Hongyuan so much that he abruptly stood up and strode toward the entrance.

As he opened the office door, he was met with the sight of his wife standing there.

He Hongyuan was momentarily stunned, his thin lips slightly parted. It took him a moment to find his voice. “You came back early?”

Lin Xiang held an aluminum lunchbox in her hands and flashed a sweet smile at him, effortlessly uttering honeyed words. “Yes! I missed you so much, so I came back early!”

He Hongyuan:

It felt like something had struck his chest hard.

He tried to suppress the curve of his lips, forcing himself to maintain a serious and composed demeanor. “Work comes first. You shouldn’t act on impulse.”

“Oh?” Lin Xiang narrowed her eyes playfully and turned as if to leave. “Alright then, I’ll go back and continue attending the conference. I’ll return tomorrow~”

But just as she was about to step away, a strong arm pulled her back. In an instant, she was wrapped in a firm embrace. His deep voice carried a hint of laughter. “You came back, and now you want to run away?”

Lin Xiang rubbed her head against his chest, smiling brightly. “Have you been eating properly while I was away? I ran into your orderly just now, and he told me you’ve been so busy with work that you’ve barely eaten these past few days.”

He Hongyuan looked caught red-handed, his expression guilty as he muttered under his breath, “That little Wu…”

“You better not take revenge on Xiao Wu!” Lin Xiang quickly defended her “informant.”

He Hongyuan: “…”

Where is my authority in this household?!

He had long gotten used to enduring hunger, often forgetting to eat when he was busy. These past two days, he had deliberately kept himself occupied, and tonight, he hadn’t even gone to the cafeteria for dinner.

At this moment, Lin Xiang’s corn pancakes came in handy. Neither of them had eaten yet, so they each took a pancake and began their simple meal.

The setting was humble, the food was simple, yet eating together as husband and wife made it all the more satisfying.

Once the aluminum lunchbox was emptied, He Hongyuan packed it up. As they walked home together, a sudden commotion near the single officers’ dormitory caught their attention.

They exchanged a glance, curiosity piqued, and turned to look.

It turned out to be Zhang Huafeng’s family. A group of seven or eight people had shown up, and Zhang’s father was pointing at a young girl they had brought from their hometown, insisting that his son marry her.

Lin Xiang’s heart skipped a beat. She leaned closer to He Hongyuan and whispered, “Are they really trying to force a marriage?”