◎ Second update ◎ 

Secretary Fang received the order and just opened the door of the factory director’s office to go out when he saw a female comrade standing outside. It was actually Liang Baozhen, the person the director wanted to see. 

“Director, Comrade Liang Baozhen is outside and wants to see you.” 

Chen Yong was a little surprised and put down the enamel cup in his hand, “Let her in.” 

Secretary Fang closed the door and stood silently beside the factory director. 

Chen Yong looked at the young female comrade standing in front of him. She was indeed a beautiful girl. It was no wonder that his son was so fascinated by her. But if this person was scheming or plotting something… 

Without mentioning Chen Siming’s issues at the broadcast station, Chen Yong changed his expression and looked at Liang Baozhen, “Comrade Liang, what brings you here?” 

With a calm tone and sharp eyes, Chen Yong used both soft and hard tactics to observe the young woman. 

Liang Baozhen tried to calm down and act as if nothing had happened. “Director, I’m here to resign.” 

Chen Yong raised his eyebrows and scrutinized Liang Baozhen. Seeing her troubled expression, he put on the attitude of a kind and caring factory director and asked, “Why? Comrade Xiao Liang, you are doing a good job now. I often hear Xue Lijun praise you.” 

“Moreover, if you really wanted to resign, you should have approached Director Xue. Why come to me?”

Chen Yong was naturally suspicious and only trusted his own judgment. Liang Baozhen’s sudden resignation was quite strange. 

Liang Baozhen’s long eyelashes lowered, hiding the slight panic in her almond-shaped eyes, but Chen Yong noticed it. 

“Director.” Liang Baozhen mustered up the courage to look at Chen Yong, her face looking as though she was about to cry. “Since I came to the factory, Comrade Chen Siming has pestered me several times. In my heart, I have nothing to do with him and naturally don’t need to meet him again, but he is too stubborn. Because of this, I thought about resigning a few months ago, but in the end, I couldn’t bear to leave my job in the state-owned factory.” 

The last sentence was said in a low voice, which made Chen Yong nod slightly. 

“Then why do you want to resign now? Comrade Chen Siming has already left the State Cotton Factory and is about to be sent down to labor reform. You should know this very well. You will have no more worries in the future.” 

This is exactly what Chen Yong is most suspicious about. Chen Siming told everything in front of Liang Baozhen at the radio station, and Liang Baozhen once had some entanglement with Chen Siming, so it is hard for Chen Yong not to suspect that she was behind it. 

“Yes, it’s precisely because Comrade Chen Siming has left that I feel I can no longer stay. Everyone knows he made a scene at the broadcast station, but no one knows if he was speaking nonsense and accidentally hit the switch. This matter even if I jump into the Yellow River, I can’t clear myself.” 

“You mean, you’re worried that someone might suspect you of plotting against Chen Siming?” 

“Maybe some people think so.” Liang Baozhen looked at Chen Yong and just went all out, not caring about being decent or being reserved in front of the factory director, and complained, “Director, to be honest, I was relieved that Comrade Chen Siming left the State Cotton Factory. Maybe you will be very angry when you hear this, but I have to say, his repeated harassment had a very bad impact on me. If people see it and make accusations, it will be a matter of conduct. I can’t bear that.” 

“But he just happened to make a scene at the broadcast station. I know clearly that some people will think it was me who caused him trouble. But he’s a grown man; how could I stop him from saying whatever he wanted to say? Everything he shouldn’t have said, he said it all!” 

“So, rather than being suspected, I might as well resign and leave.” 

The last sentence was spoken angrily, as if it was spoken out of frustration. 

Chen Yong did not speak after listening to Liang Baozhen’s words. He tapped his fingers on the desk. After a while, he chuckled softly, “Comrade Xiao Liang, I understand your situation. It was indeed Siming who made a mistake. As for his behavior of going to the radio station, it was also his own fault. I know my son. Sometimes he just speaks without thinking and no one can stop him. You don’t have to feel burdened. Just work as you should.” 

“But, Director…” 

Liang Baozhen was about to speak again but was interrupted by Chen Yong. 

“This matter ends here. The factory has been having a lot of issues lately. For now, focus on selecting some light and positive content for the broadcast to improve everyone’s mindset.” 

“I understand, Director.” Liang Baozhen spoke in a low voice; obviously, she hadn’t figured it out yet, but she could only leave as she was powerless. 

Watching Liang Baozhen’s departing figure, Secretary Fang couldn’t help but ask, “Director, are you just letting her go like that? This person…” 

Chen Yong waved his hand. “She obviously doesn’t know. An ordinary female comrade would easily get flustered when encountering Siming’s troublesome behavior.” 

“But she chose to come to you today to talk about her resignation…” 

“Yes, she just wanted to explain herself to me and was afraid that I would suspect and retaliate against her. If she really didn’t have that intention, I would be more suspicious. The way she’s so quick to think of resignation as a solution when wrongfully accused. Listen to what she said; it’s all the impulsiveness of young people. Let’s just forget about it and don’t mention it again!” 

*** 

Liang Baozhen left the factory director’s office, breaking out in a cold sweat even though it was the end of winter. Chen Yong was suspicious by nature, and he would not be able to get through without doing this. 

After all, the information from the book said that the smarter and more thoughtful others act in front of Chen Yong, the more suspicious he will be. He is such a conceited and competitive person. 

The more stupid and thoughtless you act in front of him, and the more loopholes you create, the greater his sense of superiority will be. He’ll feel he’s only wasting time bothering with you. 

After all the trouble, Liang Baozhen went back to the factory to pack up her things and prepare to go home. She had already wasted more than ten minutes. The group of people leaving work started to leave one after another. When she heard that Chen Yong had returned to the factory, she went straight there, so she didn’t have time to let Xu Shengjie know in advance that she would be delayed. 

Liang Baozhen run all the way, her running steps was filled with a bit of excitement. Her two braids bounced like lively swallows, as if they might take off at any moment. 

When she ran to the factory gate, she saw a tall and handsome man standing beside his bicycle, waiting for her. 

“I’m late!” Liang Baozhen rushed directly to Xu Shengjie and spoke breathlessly. 

“Why are you running? Be careful not to catch a cold.” Xu Shengjie noticed his wife’s flushed face and the sweat on her forehead. With many people around, he could only say, “Wipe your sweat.” 

“Hmm!” Liang Baozhen’s words seemed to float in the air. She sat on the back seat of the bicycle and took out a handkerchief to wipe off the sweat. A gust of wind brought a slight chill to her body. 

“Did you hear my broadcast today?” 

As Xu Shengjie pedaled his bicycle, he recalled the announcement about Chen Siming’s incident that he had heard this afternoon. He curled his lips, “Did you read it three times on purpose?” 

Moreover, her wife read it with such seriousness, as if she’s a news anchor reporting about national affairs. 

Xu Shengjie knows his wife and knows that she did this on purpose. 

“I am promoting positive thoughts and severely criticizing bribery. How can people remember it if I don’t read it a few times?” Liang Baozhen said with some pride and felt like a sense of relief washed over her. 

“Chen Siming won’t be able to hang around the factory anymore. Serves him right!” 

The two rode their bicycles all the way home. The ice and snow had melted, and the houses along the way looked lively. Even the willow trees on the roadside had sprouted new buds, and the green dots on the dark branches were full of vitality. 

Liang Baozhen put one arm around Xu Shengjie’s waist, looking at the houses and trees along the road, she saw the spring scenery in the city for the first time. 

Early spring is coming with light steps. Everyone takes off their heavy cotton coats, puts on spring clothes, stretches their arms, and feels much more flexible. 

“Sister-in-law, does my hair look good?” 

“It looks good!” Liang Baozhen taught Xu Shengya how to braid a four-strand pigtail. The little girl was very smart and became proficient after practicing twice. 

With two shiny black braids draped over her shoulders, Xu Shengya wore a yellow short-sleeved coat, which made her look like a bunch of spring jasmine flowers, bright and beautiful. 

“Sister-in-law, what about me? I look handsome, right?” Xu Shengwei also changed his clothes, wearing all black and a short haircut. 

Liang Baozhen couldn’t help but sigh; they are indeed brothers; they both look so handsome! 

“You are so handsome! You are the most handsome child in our courtyard!” 

“Hehe!” Xu Shengwei patted his clothes with satisfaction and prepared to go out. 

Today the two of them are going to the photo studio to take pictures. 

Spring was almost coming and it’s a perfect time for the two to learn how to swim. Liang Baozhen went to the Youth Palace to inquire and found out that one had to submit a photo to enroll in a swimming class, which they naturally didn’t have. So they decided to go to the photo studio on their day off. 

It’s a rare occasion for the whole family to travel together. 

As soon as Xu Shengwei and Xu Shengya went to the street, they pestered their elder brother to buy candied haws. 

“Four strings of candied haws.” Xu Shengjie was ready to pay, one string per person; he wouldn’t eat any of them. 

“Xiao Jie, I don’t want to eat it. Grandma can’t bite it.” 

“Try it.” Xu Shengjie just saw his grandmother staring at the candied haws and was unable to move her eyes away. He remembered that he had eaten it once when he was a child, and his grandmother also said that she didn’t want to eat it, but his mother said that his grandmother liked to eat sweet and sour things. “Eat as much as you can.” 

“Grandma, please chew it slowly and let it melt in your mouth.” Liang Baozhen knew that her grandma had bad teeth, so she reminded her. 

Zhou Yun took a string of red candied haws with a smile, remembering that the last time she ate candied haws was more than twenty years ago. The hawthorns were sour and sweet, sprinkled with a lot of sugar. She took a bite; it was sour and sweet, and made her lips and teeth salivate. Although she had lost a few teeth and it was difficult to digest, she bit it slowly, holding it in her mouth to savor the taste. The sour and sweet taste seemed to take her back to her youth. 

There weren’t many photo studios in the city, and they are all state-owned. Liang Baozhen and her group walked into one, but there were not many people in the studio. Photos are expensive these days, and no one would easily come to take pictures. Xu Shengwei and Xu Shengya each took a one-inch photo with a white background, which they had to pick up a week later. 

Zhou Yun looked at the brand new photo studio and recalled a photo she had taken thirty years ago. It was a family portrait taken when the third child was three years old. Time had passed in a flash, and today the whole family was here, and it seemed unreasonable not to take a photo. 

“Since we’re here, let’s take a photo as well.” Zhou Yun invited her grandchildren and her daughter in law and also wanted to add a new family photo for the family.

A family of five stood neatly in front of a gray and white backdrop. Zhou Yun, Xiaowei, and Xiaoya sat on the benches in the front row, Xu Shengjie and Liang Baozhen stood in the back row. The five of them looked in the same direction. Then the photographer pressed the shutter button and recorded the family’s harmony with a click. 

“Photographer, let’s take another one.” Zhou Yun, leading the two younger ones away and pointed to the older ones, “Take a photo of my grandson and granddaughter-in-law.” 

Liang Baozhen was suddenly stunned by her grandmother request. She looked at Xu Shengjie reflexively. The two of them sat down on the bench in front of them. The photographer gestured with the camera and smiled at the couple who were quite a distance apart. “Come closer.” 

Xu Shengjie glanced towards the middle, then shifted slightly, leaving only a small distance between himself and his wife’s shoulder. He looked at the camera and smiled unconsciously, marking the first photo of him and Liang Baozhen together.

A week later, Liang Baozhen finally got the photo to appreciate it. It was a five-inch photo with an inscription by the leaders written on the blank space on the left—’Read the big leader’s book, listen to the big leader’s words, and act according to the big leader’s instructions①’. In the photo next to it, Xu Shengjie stood upright, with a handsome face, sharp eyebrows, and an exceptional appearance. 

“Xu Shengjie, you look so handsome in this photo!” Liang Baozhen said, noticing Xu Shengjie’s hand stop while arranging the furniture. She glanced at his face again and felt a bit disappointed. “Sigh, this photo doesn’t do justice to how handsome you are in person.” 

Xu Shengjie’s ears felt hot, and he couldn’t help but remind his wife, “Please pay attention to your ideological awareness.” 

It’s better not to say such things. If others hear them, they might be misinterpreted and seem unrefined. For example, he thought his wife was beautiful, but he kept it quietly in his heart.