Yang Jianlin’s thoughts were simple. Director Wu clearly intended to promote Tang Momo, and since they’d be working together from now on, he didn’t mind showing goodwill early. 

Moreover, after his short observation, he felt that Tang Momo was quite capable and will definitely develop greatly in the future. 

Tang Momo hadn’t expected such a coincidence either. Since they’d be working together from now on, she didn’t reject Yang Jianlin’s kindness. 

“Brother Yang knows someone; that would be great.” 

Tang Momo showed a troubled expression.  

Then she told Yang Jianlin roughly what happened at the shoe factory. 

After hearing this, Yang Jianlin looked at Tang Momo with sympathy in his eyes. “Your aunt and her family are really despicable. I’ll tell my aunt tonight and ask them to investigate this matter and try to resolve it as soon as possible.” 

“Then I’ll thank you in advance, Brother Yang.”  

Tang Momo couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief. With this connection, the issue should be resolved soon. 

And with Yang Jianlin’s aunt involved, Tang Xiaoxue had to be cautious about whatever she wanted to do. 

“If you’re unsure about anything since you’re new here, feel free to ask me.”  

Yang Jianlin understood that the mooncake production was tied to Director Wu’s achievements. He was Director Wu’s secretary, so he knew their fates were connected. 

When Tang Momo returned to the dormitory, the other workers had already come back. They were all from the workshop, and seeing Tang Momo, they were a bit confused since the workshop hadn’t hired any new workers. 

“I’m Tang Momo, the new publicity officer. You can just call me Momo.” 

Tang Momo said this and gave them the snacks she had just bought at the supply and marketing cooperative. 

When everyone saw Tang Momo going to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy snacks, they started to “educate” her. 

“Why did you still go to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy snacks? They are so expensive. Those with mislabeled and misprinted errors in the factory are much cheaper. Next time, don’t go to the supply and marketing cooperative.” 

Tang Momo was startled. “You can do that?”  

“Of course! My cousin works at a textile factory, and they have fabrics with small flaws that are very cheap. Every factory has this kind of situation, and it’s considered an employee benefit.” 

The one speaking was named Wang Qian.  

After chatting for a while, Tang Momo found that almost all of their families were workers, and they were all in different factories. Tang Momo couldn’t help but nod. It seemed that there would be a way to buy things next time. 

At night, Tang Momo was a little unaccustomed to the new place and couldn’t sleep. But the moonlight from outside slipped through the window and gave the originally dark room a glimmer of light. 

Her ears were also filled with the sound of breathing one after another, which made Tang Momo feel like she was back in her student days. If she could finalize the mooncakes tomorrow, she would ask for leave and go back. 

Thinking like this, sleepiness slowly came over, and Tang Momo didn’t know when she fell asleep. 

Zhang Xiaoli walked back from the city with her three children for more than two hours. At this time, she didn’t know that Tang Momo’s visit to the food factory had spread widely. 

She thought that it would be too late to go to work now, so she might as well take advantage of the free time to tidy up the house. 

When the issue with the shoe factory was resolved, they’d be able to move out more easily.  

At this thought, Zhang Xiaoli paused. She realized she had so much trust in Momo. When her daughter said she would get the job back at the shoe factory, Zhang Xiaoli subconsciously believed it would happen. 

Meanwhile, the people in the front yard were still a little reluctant to believe that the news was true. 

How could Tang Momo suddenly go to work in a food factory when she had no skills? This is definitely a mistake. 

Chen Lanying had the biggest reaction. “The captain must have misunderstood. That girl is just a junior high school student. How can she enter a food factory?” 

Subconsciously, they didn’t want to believe it was true. After all, in their eyes, Tang Momo’s family were nothing but burdens. Yet suddenly, the one they considered a burden had become a food factory worker. Of course, they didn’t want to believe it. 

“I heard that the captain said it himself. Did the captain introduce this to her?” 

Xie Xiuhua spoke with some uncertainty. 

The captain couldn’t just say some nonsense, right? Thinking that Tang Momo, a junior high school graduate, could go to a food factory, Xie Xiuhua felt it’s unfair. Her own daughter Qingqing had even attended high school. 

“It must be. Otherwise, with that girl and her mother, how could they possibly have connections to get into the food factory?” 

Chen Lanying nodded, thinking that must be the case. 

Chen Lanying remembered that Tang Dajun had to hand in her monthly salary before. If they hadn’t severe their ties, that girl’s salary would have been handed over too. 

It’s a pity that the two families have severed ties now, so naturally she can’t talk about it anymore. 

“Could it be that the girl knew all this and deliberately caused trouble to sever the relationship that day?” 

Tang Erjun and his wife, Wu Haiying, speculated. If that were true, the girl was quite clever for her age. 

“That girl is just like her ungrateful mother,” Chen Lanying’s face was filled with disgust when she mentioned Tang Momo. 

“Are we just going to let this go?” 

Xie Xiuhua’s were so jealous that her eyes almost bled. 

While they were talking, they saw Zhang Xiaoli coming back with her children. As expected, Tang Momo was nowhere to be seen. It seemed that she had really gone to the food factory. 

Now that Tang Momo was at the food factory, she was a worker. Workers have an iron rice bowl and get paid every month. Also, the man she plans to marry from now on will probably be a worker as well. How can this be compared to Qingqing? 

Thinking of this, Xie Xiuhua couldn’t help but say, “Sister-in-law, you didn’t tell your family about such a big thing. Do you still have our parents in your eyes?” 

As if Zhang Xiaoli didn’t hear her words, she continued lead the two little ones to the backyard and told Tang Jianan to slow down and not to rush. 

When Xie Xiuhua saw this, she couldn’t help but feel resentful. Back when the Tang family’s three brothers were getting married, only Tang Dajun had a job. Zhang Xiaoli, was so proud that she completely outshone her and her second sister-in-law. Fortunately, she soon discovered that even though Tang Dajun had a job, her parents-in-law did not like Zhang Xiaoli. 

Xie Xiuhua, who was still a little jealous at first, suddenly regained her balance. Even if Tang Dajun had a job, so what? His monthly salary still had to be handed over to his in-laws. 

For many years, Xie Xiuhua had secretly competed with Zhang Xiaoli. Now, seeing her act as if she didn’t exist, she couldn’t help but raise her voice. “Zhang Xiaoli, I’m talking to you! Are you deaf?” 

Zhang Xiaoli glanced back at her, clearly annoyed, “Do I need to remind you that we’ve severed ties? The Tang family has nothing to do with us anymore.”  

After saying that, Zhang Xiaoli didn’t even bother to look at her and directly led the twins back to the backyard. 

Momo was right; the Tang family would not agree to sever the ties once they learned she was working. Moving away early would be the wisest choice. 

As Zhang Xiaoli and the others disappeared from view, Xie Xiuhua opened her mouth to say something else but noticed Chen Lanying’s displeased expression and decided to stay silent.  

Chen Lanying wore a dark expression, likely because she hadn’t expected Zhang Xiaoli, who usually acted so inconspicuously, to be so tough this time. 

*** 

When Xu Xiaoyun returned home, her mother called her over, “Why didn’t you wash the clothes I asked you to? Just because you’re about to get a match, I didn’t let you work those hard jobs, but you still need to handle things at home, right?” 

Mother Xu looked dissatisfied. She felt that Xu Xiaoyun had become less obedient during this period. Could it be that she was still unhappy about the previous betrothal money? 

“That reminds me, it’s been two days, and there’s still no news from the Gu family. Why don’t we go there in person and see what the old lady thinks? There are so many people waiting to propose with you.” 

Her last sentence was filled with pride; in every family with a daughter, many would seek them out, and her Xiaoyun was first in the team. 

“Go if you want; if someone sees me, they might think I can’t get married.”  

Though she had previously convinced herself that it wouldn’t hurt to take the initiative, she felt differently now. 

But at this point, Xu Xiaoyun still felt a little aggrieved. It was clearly Zhao Xiuli who had this idea first, so why should she take the initiative now? 

“You girl, can your pride compare to your happiness for the rest of your life? Gu Chengze not only has a monthly allowance but, more importantly, he doesn’t have a proper mother-in-law, and you would have the final say in that household. Look at our entire Qingshui Brigade—how many have conditions like this?” 

Although Mother Xu loves her son, her daughter is also a piece of flesh she has shed, so how could she not consider her? 

Xu Xiaoyun thought of her previous life when the Gu family came to propose to her, and her mother said the same thing. Her mother was absolutely right. After she got married, people from the Gu family rarely interfered with her affairs. After all, there were only Gu Chengze’s aunt and his grandmother, and there was no proper mother-in-law.  

If she missed this opportunity, there wouldn’t be another. Maybe she should go find Zhao Xiuli in the afternoon to ask indirectly?  

Bai Lu came in from the main room and said casually, “If the man doesn’t come, we can also find a matchmaker to go to the man’s place to set a time.”  

“That won’t work; everyone in the brigade will definitely laugh at me.”  

Xu Xiaoyun rejected this idea without a second thought.  

Bai Lu snorted softly. What kind of pretense is she putting on now? When the time comes and someone else snatches her match, there’s nothing she can do but cry.  

On the Gu family’s side, the sisters-in-law were also guessing when they would send Aunt Xi to the Xu family to arrange the match. 

Xu Xiaoyun had a good reputation in the brigade; she was gentle and hardworking, which made them feel relieved. If it were someone who was always critical, the house would never be peaceful. 

Gu Chengze continued to help Zhao Xiuli with her work, and while working, he heard everyone discussing the Tang family. They all said that Tang Momo and her mother were finally reaping the rewards after their hardships, and good days were ahead. 

As soon as he returned to the yard, she was caught by Zhao Xiuli, who lowered her voice, “What do you think about what I told you yesterday?” 

Gu Chengze was a bit confused. “What’s the matter?” 

Zhao Xiuli rolled her eyes at him. “The matter of the match. You said you and Xu Xiaoyun aren’t suitable, so what about that girl from the Tang family? If you think it’s good, we can ask Aunt Xi to talk to the Tang family.”  

Tang Momo was now a worker at the food factory, and more people would definitely want to propose to her in the future, so they needed to seize the current opportunity.  

“But what if they don’t agree?”  

Gu Chengze felt he didn’t mind considering Tang Momo as a match, but what about her? At the very least, they needed her consent. 

“If they don’t agree, we can just keep looking.”  

There’s no rule that says a match has to be successful right away.  

“Okay, since you don’t object, I’ll go tell your Aunt Xi.” 

After Zhao Xiuli finished speaking, she walked toward the entrance of the yard. 

No wonder Zhao Xiuli was so anxious; this was the first time Gu Chengze hadn’t refused the idea of a match.  

Seeing Zhao Xiuli’s hurried figure, Gu Chengze felt a mix of amusement and exasperation—there was no need to be this proactive. 

Early the next morning, Tang Momo followed Director Wu and Yang Jianlin to the workshop. Yesterday, Tang Momo wrote several flavors of mooncakes, and the required materials were already prepared in the workshop. 

Tang Momo only needed to provide the recipe and some notes, and the masters in the workshop would make them. 

When the workshop master saw the recipe written by Tang Momo, he was actually a little hesitant. “Will anyone really buy mooncakes that are so fancy?” 

“If we stick to the same old products, we can only expect to have unsold items until they expire.”  

Factory Director Wu had checked last year’s records and found that almost half of the mooncakes were unsold. They had only distributed them to the workers before they expired as a benefit for the factory.  

But everyone knew this was no real benefit; it was just the unsold mooncakes from the factory. 

Director Wu’s words left the workshop masters silent. They realized that if they kept insisting on traditional mooncake flavors, it would indeed get tiring, and some change wouldn’t be a bad thing. 

Surprisingly, the recipe this little girl provided actually included salted egg yolk filling. This would be the first one ever made. 

Tang Momo looked at the changing expressions on the faces of these workshop masters and couldn’t help but think that it was a good thing she didn’t write down the spicy beef recipe; otherwise, they would have doubted life even more. 

“You mentioned yesterday about appropriately adding some new molds. Do you have any ideas?” 

Regardless of whether the mooncake flavor is changed or not, it does not conflict with the new mold. 

Tang Momo nodded and took out the molds she had drawn last night. They were of various shapes and had different four-character auspicious words engraved on them. 

Director Wu glanced at them and praised, “These are well drawn. It seems sending you to the publicity department was indeed the right choice.” 

Compared to the average person, Tang Momo’s drawing skills were quite good. She had a close friend majoring in art, and under her influence, her own drawing skills gradually improved. 

“Xiao Yang, please take these to the machinery factory later and ask them to help us with the processing.” 

Although the meeting has not yet been held, Director Wu has already made a decision in her mind. 

The fruit-flavored mooncakes will use the jam that Tang Momo brought this time and have the dried fruits cut into small pieces and put inside. In short, these two things are now in use. 

Snowskin mooncakes are the most beautiful, but Tang Momo didn’t bring them up this time. Reform must be done step by step. If the leap is too big, she’s afraid that everyone won’t be able to accept it. 

They temporarily decided to make three flavors today: fruit, salted egg yolk, and mixed nuts.  

After the mooncakes were made, the next step was Director Wu’s battlefield. Tang Momo proposed that she needed to go home, and Director Wu quickly agreed. 

Knowing that she was going back, Yang Jianlin took the initiative to lend her his bicycle. “Since you can ride a bicycle, just borrow mine. It will be more convenient.” 

“Thank you, Brother Yang.” 

Tang Momo’s face was filled with gratitude. Yang Jianlin had taken great care of her in the past two days. 

Through these two days of getting along, Tang Momo also discovered that Yang Jianlin’s family background was good; otherwise, he would not have become the factory director’s secretary at such a young age. 

His aunt is the vice chairman of the shoe factory union, and his parents seem to be some kind of leaders at the steel factory. He was definitely a second-generation official, and getting to know someone like him was beneficial for her. 

After thanking Yang Jianlin, Tang Momo didn’t waste any more time and rode directly back to the Qingshui Brigade. 

After reaching the village entrance, Tang Momo remembered that the original owner did not know how to ride a bicycle. It seemed that she would have to explain it to her family later. 

Tang Momo rode all the way straight to her home. It was time to go to work, so there were no people on the road. 

The twins didn’t go to pick up wheat today. The two little guys were catching earthworms in the backyard vegetable patch. When they saw Tang Momo on the bicycle, they immediately became excited. “Sister, you’re back?” 

“Yes, I’m done with my work today, so I just wanted to come back and to take a look.” 

When she said this, the two little ones had already gathered around the bicycle. 

“Sister, is this yours?” 

The two little ones wanted to reach out and touch it, but they didn’t dare. 

“I borrowed this. When you grow up, I will teach you how to ride a bicycle.” 

After saying this, Tang Momo realized she seemed to have made a lot of promises to them.  

Sure enough, after hearing this, the two little ones happily jump around her. 

Thinking of the purpose of her return today, Tang Momo knelt down and looked at the twins. “Do you know where Mother and Jianan are assigned right now? Let’s send them some water.” 

Tang Momo carried the water bottle and pulled the twins to the fields to deliver water to Zhang Xiaoli. On the way there, she heard someone say that they saw Zhao Xiuli going to Aunt Xi’s house today. Tomorrow happened to be an auspicious date. It seemed that she was arranging Gu Chengze’s match tomorrow. 

Hearing this, Tang Momo’s steps became lighter. It looked like her timing for coming back was just right.