Chapter 2 Becoming the most beautiful girl in the factory?

Fang Yingyue returned to her seat, and Sister Liu immediately leaned over. “Director Fang, your presentation was amazing! Look, even the factory manager can’t stop smiling!” Fang Yingyue’s lips curled into a slight smile, revealing a touch of confidence.

Afterward, everyone took turns speaking on stage, and the meeting finally concluded successfully. At that moment, Sister Liu’s stomach suddenly growled. She scratched her head, feeling a little embarrassed.

“I didn’t eat much this morning. I’m hungry, but it’s almost lunchtime anyway.”

“Then let’s go to the cafeteria.”

The two of them walked out together. At a fork in the road, they each went back to get their lunch boxes. On the way, Fang Yingyue ran into Li Wei, the niece of Deputy Factory Director Li. As they brushed past each other, Li Wei snorted and muttered sarcastically, “Hmph, what’s so great about a college graduate?” She then swayed her hips arrogantly and walked away. Fang Yingyue ignored her, took her lunch box, and headed to the cafeteria.

Once inside, Fang Yingyue quickly got her food and found an empty seat. Soon, Sister Liu came over with her lunch box. Li Wei and a group of her friends sat not far away, chatting as they ate, occasionally glancing at Fang Yingyue. Fang Yingyue noticed the stares, and when she looked up, they quickly looked down at their food as if caught doing something wrong.

Sister Liu followed her gaze and immediately understood. “Li Wei must be talking bad about you. When you weren’t here, she was the factory belle, always so proud. Now that you’re here, she’s been jealous for several days.”

Fang Yingyue shook her head helplessly. “I’m married.”

“Director Fang, you just graduated from college, how come you’re married already?”

“I got married right after graduation.”

Sister Liu, curious, pressed on. “Why haven’t we ever seen your husband come pick you up?”

“He’s in the military, not around here, so he rarely has time to come back.”

Sister Liu chewed her food and nodded. “Oh, I see. Long-distance living isn’t easy.”

Fang Yingyue lowered her head and continued eating quietly, murmuring to herself, “Yes, long-distance living is indeed not easy.”

Jiang Qingzhou treated her very well. Every month, he would send money and tickets on time, and his care never waned despite the distance. Jiang Qingzhou was five years older than her, and to Fang Yingyue, he was even more reliable than a brother, always protecting her and giving her a sense of security.

She remembered their wedding day clearly. Jiang Qingzhou handed her a passbook. At first, she didn’t think much of it, but when she opened it and saw the numbers, she was shocked—over six thousand yuan in savings. In a time when material resources were not abundant and people had to carefully manage basic necessities, this was a substantial amount.

Besides the money, he had also organized ration coupons for essential items, placing them neatly aside. He even prepared the symbolic “Three Transfers and One Sound”—a sewing machine, a bicycle, a watch, and a radio—everything in place. Notably, the betrothal gift of 888 yuan, a lucky number, showed the Jiang family’s emphasis on their marriage, especially when typical gifts at the time were only around 180 yuan.

Among these gifts, one item left a lasting impression on her. It was a ladies’ Meihua watch, with a softly shimmering metal strap and a delicate dial. When Jiang Qingzhou fastened it onto her slender wrist, it wasn’t just a gift—it was an expression of his wholehearted love.

Fang Yingyue came back to the present. Her lunch was finished, and she went to the sink outside the cafeteria to wash her tray. She then returned to the office and focused entirely on her afternoon work.

After work, she went home and immediately immersed herself in her clothing design sketches. Having graduated in fashion design, with solid skills and a keen aesthetic sense, especially in clothing coordination, she was assigned as a director at the Dongcheng State-owned Clothing Factory right after graduation.

By evening, she finally put down her pen, rubbed her sore eyes, and sat in the living room, lost in thought. Just then, her mother came home from work.

As soon as her mother entered, her gaze fell on Fang Yingyue. She quickly approached and touched her forehead.

“Yue’er, how are you feeling today? No more fever, right?”

Fang Yingyue held her mother’s hand to her forehead. “Mom, I’m fine. Feel for yourself, it’s nothing.”

“Hmm, indeed no fever. You really had me worried.”

She pulled her daughter to sit on the sofa and hesitated for a moment. “Mom, I want to go join the military with him.”

“Why so suddenly?”

“I married Jiang Qingzhou. As his wife, I should fulfill my responsibilities. This long-distance living, over time, will inevitably affect our relationship.”

Her mother wanted to say something to dissuade her but swallowed the words. “Alright, let’s wait until your father comes back to tell him.”

When her father came home, the aroma of food hit him as soon as he stepped in. He took a deep breath.

“Oh, dinner’s ready so early today!”

Her mother poked her head out from the kitchen. “Yue’er, there’s something to tell you.”

Just as she finished speaking, light footsteps came down the stairs.

“Dad, you’re finally back!”

He sat on the sofa and patted the seat next to him. “Come, sit here.”

“Dad, I want to go join the military with him.”

Her father was initially stunned but then felt a sense of pride. “My Yue’er has grown up. Good! If your mother agrees, that’s fine.”

“Since you’ve made up your mind, I support you! But have you talked to Qingzhou about this?”

Fang Yingyue lowered her head shyly. “Not yet. I wanted to hear your thoughts first. I plan to call him tomorrow.”

Her father nodded and advised, “Make sure to have a proper talk with him tomorrow. Qingzhou must be looking forward to you joining him, but he probably hesitates because he knows you’re attached to home.”

Her mother sniffled and added, “After discussing with Qingzhou, don’t forget to inform his family too, so everyone is aware of your plan.”

“Okay, I’ll tell them tomorrow and put everyone at ease.”

Her mother looked at the freshly served dishes. “Let’s eat first, or it’ll get cold.”

The family gathered around the table, enjoying the delicious meal together.