◎ Second update ◎ 

Liang Baozhen, along with Meng Ping, an older female worker in the workshop, and Wang Xin, a new employee who had just joined a few days ago, went to get their meals together. 

Meng Ping was assigned to both Liang Baozhen and Wang Xin by Yang Jianlin. Every time a new person comes to the workshop, someone is basically assigned to them to guide them. 

Meng Ping has been working in the factory for more than ten years. She is forty-one years old this year. She can’t help but feel a little envious when she sees these two young girls. 

Liang Baozhen was nineteen, while Wang Xin was even younger at eighteen. She wasn’t married and had applied for a single dormitory at the factory. 

“Baozhen, since you and Xiao Xin joined around the same time, you two will learn together from now on.” 

“Okay, thank you, Sister Meng. We will definitely learn from you.” 

“Sister Meng, you have been in the factory for so many years; you must be very capable,” Wang Xin, a cute and soft-spoken girl, said, and her words made Meng Ping blush. 

While eating the shredded potatoes in her lunch box, Meng Ping shook her head. “I’m nothing special. I am just trying to get by. There was a female worker in the spinning workshop who was more capable.” 

“Really?” 

“Then she must be even more impressive now. Which workshop in the factory is she in?” 

“Oh, she’s long gone.” Meng Ping’s tone became a bit downcast. “She passed away when she was only in her thirties, and she was very beautiful, with a fresh and lively appearance. That day we even planned to go shopping together the next day… oh, how did she end up like that.” 

As Meng Ping reminisced about her old friend, she became lost in thought. She recalled how a beautiful woman had drowned in the river for a day and was swollen all over, and she felt a little uncomfortable. It was rare for her to be in a trance in front of the two new apprentices. “Fortunately, her son was capable, and the family managed to stand on their feet, but it’s still a pity.” 

Liang Baozhen and Wang Xin didn’t say anything more when they saw Meng Ping like this. They just said a few words of comfort, ate together, packed up the lunch boxes, and went outside to wash them. 

There is a row of sinks outside the canteen of the State Cotton Factory with eight faucets on it. Workers usually wash their lunch boxes here directly after eating. 

Liang Baozhen turned on the faucet. The first stream of water that flowed out of the faucet had been heated by the sun, it was a bit hot, but gradually it became cold again. 

“Have you finished eating?” 

Xu Shengjie suddenly walked over and startled Liang Baozhen. 

“Have you finished eating too?” 

“Mm.” 

The two stood side by side and washed their lunch boxes together. Wang Xin and Meng Ping looked at them curiously. 

“Sister Meng, Xiao Xin, this is my husband, Xu Shengjie.” 

They both knew that Liang Baozhen was married. They heard that the man was also a factory worker, but they didn’t know who he was. Now that they saw him, they were somewhat amazed by his handsome appearance. 

Especially when they stood together, they looked quite well-matched. 

Meng Ping took a look at Liang Baozhen’s husband and felt that he looked familiar. But then she thought about it and couldn’t remember who he was related to. 

Xu Shengjie greeted the two of them. 

“Then you two should talk for a while; we’ll go back first.” 

“Did you become familiar so quickly in just one morning?” Xu Shengjie retracted his gaze, took the lunch box from Liang Baozhen’s hand, stacked the two aluminum lunch boxes together, and shook out the water. 

“Sister Meng and Xiao Xin are both really nice” 

Liang Baozhen had met many people in the morning and had a lot to talk about. It was still lunchtime, so the two of them went to a shade under a tree and sat on the stone steps. 

“Xiao Xin came three days earlier than me. We’re both assigned to Sister Meng” 

“Sister Meng is very good at spinning. She’s been a key worker in the workshop many times and has won awards. Last year, she was named a model worker and even got a bicycle ticket.” 

Hearing about the bicycle ticket, Xu Shengjie suddenly interrupted, “Are you hinting at something?” 

Liang Baozhen smiled and looked around to make sure no one was nearby. She poked her husband’s firm arm with her right index finger. “What are you thinking? I didn’t mean you should become a model worker and get a bicycle ticket. Maybe it will be me instead?” 

“Oh, you’re so confident?” Xu Shengjie looked at Liang Baozhen, his eyes sparkling and a smile spreading across his face as he started to daydream. “In that case, you’ll be a model worker in the future and might even make it into the factory newspaper.” 

“That’s enough; the more we talk, the less sense it makes,” Liang Baozhen smiled so hard that her eyes curved. “If others overheard, they’d definitely think we’re talking nonsense.” 

“What’s the big deal? We should do our best in everything we do.” Xu Shengjie took out a ticket from his pocket and handed it over. “This is a reward for the future model worker.” 

Liang Baozhen ignored Xu Shengjie’s joke and looked at the ticket, which read [Bicycle Ticket]. 

“Where did you get this? Bicycle tickets are so valuable! Many people can’t even save up one in a few years. Today, Wang Xin was just saying that she wanted to buy a bicycle but unfortunately didn’t have one.” 

Did Xu Shengjie just produce one? Liang Baozhen looked at the man under the sunlight. His short hair made him look tough and stylish, his face was sharply defined, and he was quite dazzling in the sun. 

Of course, Xu Shengjie, who was currently holding the bicycle ticket, was even more dazzling! 

“Just take it. We’ll go buy bicycles together on Sunday when we have a day off.” Seeing Liang Baozhen putting away the bicycle ticket like a treasure with a smile on her face, Xu Shengjie felt it was worth it. 

“I will definitely keep it safe!” Liang Baozhen carefully put the ticket away but still did not forget to ask where it came from and pestered the man. “How did you get it? Tell me quickly.” 

Xu Shengjie, who was being pestered, quietly leaned into Liang Baozhen’s ear and whispered, “Black market.” 

“Ah! Did you exchange it at the black market?” When she mentioned the word black market, she lowered her voice unconsciously. 

“Yes, don’t tell anyone. Don’t even mention it to Grandma, Xiaowei, or Xiaoya. Just say it was a reward from the factory.” 

“I know.” Liang Baozhen had always heard of the black market but had never seen it with her own eyes. Even in books, the black market was said to be the first step for many people to make a fortune. Of course, many people also fell into trouble there. 

The black market has a bad reputation outside and is often labeled as speculative and illegal but thinking that married couples should be honest with each other, Xu Shengjie decided to be straightforward. 

But seeing Liang Baozhen fall into deep thought after hearing the word “black market,” Xu Shengjie couldn’t help but worry about scaring his wife. In the eyes of most law-abiding people, going to the black market means going straight to jail or, worse, being shot. 

So he made sure to explain, “Don’t worry, I just went to exchange a bicycle ticket, nothing will happen.” 

“Mm, I understand!” Liang Baozhen’s eyes sparkled with excitement as she looked at Xu Shengjie. “Take me to the black market to have a look.” 

Xu Shengjie:? 

*** 

When they got home, Zhou Yun had already prepared dinner. Today was Liang Baozhen’s first day at work, so she went all out and cooked rice with two sweet potatoes in it. The white, soft rice paired with the steamed, soft, and sweet potatoes was so delicious that even without any vegetables, it could fill up a big bowl. 

“Grandma, it would be great if we could have rice every day! It’s so delicious.” 

The last time Liang Baozhen and Xu Shengjie went to the grain station, they bought new rice. The grains were plump, and the rice was fragrant when cooked. 

Unfortunately, no matter how good the food is, it is not enough to eat. 

“You’re dreaming,” Zhou Yun said. There were more sweet potatoes than rice in her bowl, so she had put extra rice for the other four people. 

“Baozhen, how was your first day at work today? Are you getting used to it?” 

Liang Baozhen nodded, “Everything is fine; the workers in the workshop are also kind. Grandma, you don’t have to worry.” 

After the meal, Zhou Yun always felt that something was wrong. It was not until she saw his grandson and his granddaughter-in-law standing in front of the sink washing dishes that she realized something. 

Xu Shengjie rinsed the bowl for the first time, and then handed it to Liang Baozhen to rinse it for the second time. They worked well together, but neither of them spoke a word. Xu Shengjie occasionally glanced at Baozhen, but she completely ignored him. 

When Baozhen finished her work, she went to Cheng Caili’s house, Zhou Yun secretly asked his grandson. 

“Xiaojie, did you have a fight with Baozhen?” 

Zhou Yun knew her grandson well and didn’t think he would argue with his wife, but their behavior was indeed strange. 

Xu Shengjie had grievances he couldn’t express. He couldn’t tell his grandmother that he didn’t want to take his wife to the black market and was being ignored. 

On the way back from work, Liang Baozhen had ignored him. He hadn’t expected that although his wife looked delicate and beautiful, she was actually quite brave inside. 

*** 

Liang Baozhen went to Cheng Caili’s house. Now that she had a job and could get paid, she couldn’t help but feel tempted.  

Cheng Caili is a salesperson at the supply and marketing cooperative. She heard that the supply and marketing cooperative often sells some defective products at a low price, and some even don’t require tickets. Liang Baozhen wondered if she could use Cheng Caili’s connections to get some items at internal prices. 

Cheng Caili had taken the initiative to invite her that morning, so Liang Baozhen came over after dinner. 

“Sister Cheng, have you eaten?” 

Lu Yuan was away on a business trip, and Cheng Caili was feeling bored at home alone. She was delighted to see Liang Baozhen coming over. 

Most of the people in the courtyard were elderly, so it was hard for her to find one or two female comrades her age to chat with. Some of the women were nice but too polite, like Liu Nianhua, whom she could hardly talk to. 

Liang Baozhen went to high school, so she has some common topics that she can talk about with her. Besides, she has a formal job now, so would it be a good idea for them to go shopping in the department store together in the future? 

She had invited Liu Nianhua to go with her not long after she arrived at the courtyard. At that time, Liu Nianhua, who had just gotten married, was different from how she is now. She was also a beautiful woman, wearing a floral dress. But later, she somehow changed and became less presentable. She was also unwilling to go out with other young women in the courtyard, so Cheng Caili gradually lost interest in being friends with her. 

Cheng Caili has been working for three years. After exchanging a few pleasantries with Liang Baozhen about her work, she started talking about future shopping. 

“The things in the department store are great. The light-yellow dress that I saw you wearing on your wedding day was bought there, right? You have good taste. You picked the most beautiful dress out of so many.” 

“Yes, I bought it on the day of my wedding. We can go together later.” Liang Baozhen also had a good impression of Cheng Caili, who was about the same age as her. Cheng Caili spoke straightforwardly, although she had a bit of a quick temper. However, she was polite to others. 

Probably, she’s only different towards her husband, Lu Yuan. 

“That’s great! I can’t find anyone to go shopping with in the courtyard. When I saw you wearing that dress, I felt like I could get along with you!” 

“Then let’s go on our day off. It’s a good opportunity to invite Sister Hua along.” 

“Liu Nianhua?” Cheng Caili shook her head, quite confidently. “She won’t go.” 

“Why?” 

“She is too frugal to buy anything for herself.” 

“Isn’t Brother Zhou a bus driver? He should be earning a good salary, and his family should be doing well.” 

“It’s good, but she’s just not very open-minded and doesn’t know how to have fun.” Cheng Caili, feeling a bit bored, stood up and pulled Liang Baozhen outside. “How about we make a bet? If you can get Liu Nianhua to come, you win. If not, I win.” 

Liu Nianhua, who had just finished dinner and was knitting gloves, was unaware that she had become the subject of a bet. 

“Sister Hua, are you busy?” Liang Baozhen saw her sitting in front of the house, busying herself. Zhou Guoping, Xiaolong, and Xiaohu were not at home. 

“Baozhen, you’re here? Caili…” Liu Nianhua didn’t expect Cheng Caili to come to her house. She always felt that Cheng Caili might not like her very much and felt a bit uneasy in front of her. “Hurry up and sit down.” 

“No need, Sister Hua. Baozhen has something to tell you.” Cheng Caili nudged Liang Baozhen with her elbow, motioning her to speak. 

“Sister Hua, Sister Cheng and I have agreed to go shopping in the department store on Sunday. Why don’t you come with us? It’ll be more lively.” 

When Liu Nianhua heard this, she quickly waved her hand, “No, I won’t go. You guys go.” 

“See? I told you!” Cheng Caili was a little proud that she guessed Liu Nianhua’s answer correctly. 

“We can just go for a walk,” Liang Baozhen suggested, seeing Liu Nianhua cooped up at home every day and moving around like a spinning top. She wanted to persuade her to get out a bit. “I heard the department store will have a new batch of beautiful fabric this Sunday.” 

“I’m not going. Don’t worry about me.” Liu Nianhua still refused with a smile and showed no sign of annoyance or impatience. 

“Forget it, I’ve already told you.” Cheng Caili fiddled with her nails a few times and felt that Liu Nianhua was someone she could never understand in this lifetime. Her family was not poor, but she always dressed simply. She had a good foundation and was a beautiful woman, but she somehow made herself look seven or eight years older. 

“Sister Hua, you and Brother Zhou are a good family, but don’t neglect yourself. Even with money, you should spend it.” Cheng Caili remembered seeing something a month ago. “Luckily, Brother Zhou is not as reluctant to spend money as you are. He even bought you a scarf. But why don’t you wear it?” 

A month ago, Cheng Caili went to the supply and marketing cooperative in the eastern part of the city to check the goods. As soon as she arrived, she saw Liu Nianhua’s husband, Zhou Guoping, leaving after buying a Lihua brand scarf. 

Lihua brand scarf isn’t cheap; it costs ten yuan each. She was shocked when she saw Zhou Guoping’s back as he left. She didn’t expect Liu Nianhua to be so frugal, but Zhou Guoping still knew how to cherish his wife. 

He is a good man. 

However, she had never seen Liu Nianhua wearing that scarf. No matter how frugal one is, one cannot let a good thing go unused, right? 

She couldn’t help but say a few more words today. 

Scarf? Liu Nianhua’s eyes were confused. She listened to Cheng Caili’s words with a solemn face and could only respond vaguely. 

After the two left, she lowered her head and wondered, Guoping had never given her a scarf, so where did the scarf that Cheng Caili saw him buy go?