Chapter 70: This Place is for Me

It was the female comrade surnamed Xiao, Xiao Yuling, who knocked on the door.

She had taken Bai Ruojiao to the canteen for lunch. They were both easygoing people, and after a meal of chatting, their relationship had become closer.

Through her, Bai Ruojiao had learned a lot about the factory, especially about the sales situation, which was clearer now.

Bai Ruojiao was slightly stunned. She subconsciously raised her hand to check the time, only to remember that she hadn’t gotten a watch yet.

She pinched her brow and put down her pen, smiling, “It’s already off-work time? So fast?”

Xiao Yuling chuckled, “You’re too focused. It’s a good thing I came to take a look. It was so dark, you didn’t even feel uncomfortable.”

She said, pulling down the light switch cord at the door. The room, which had been a little dim, was now lit up with warm yellow light.

Bai Ruojiao didn’t plan to continue working overtime. She stood up and stretched, “It’s a good thing you came to call me.” She quickly packed up her things, picked up her shoulder bag, locked the door, and walked out with her.

The Sales Department was already empty. The sky outside was getting dark. Xiao Yuling had stayed late, and there weren’t many people outside.

The two of them went to the bicycle shed to get their bikes and left together.

Xiao Yuling wasn’t from the county, but because of her work, she was temporarily staying at her aunt’s house.

It was a coincidence that their houses were quite close, just separated by a small alley.

When they got home, the lights were already on, and they could faintly smell the aroma of stir-fried dishes.

An’an was squatting by the stone stool in the courtyard, using a small stick to poke at the ants in the flowerpot.

Hearing the sound, he immediately dropped the stick and ran to the door, shouting, “Mom!”

Today was Bai Ruojiao’s first day at work, so An’an had gone to the machinery factory with Zhao Sihai.

She had to wait for the temporary dormitory and daycare center applications to be approved before she could bring her child to the factory.

“An’an, don’t come over. Mom will push the bike into the house first.”

After pushing the bike into the courtyard and putting it away, she turned around and picked up An’an with a smile.

“How was your day, An’an? Did you make any friends?”

An’an’s eyes immediately lit up, and his face was full of pride, “Mom, today the teacher praised me for telling a good story. She asked me to tell everyone a story. Everyone liked it.”

“Really?” Seeing that he seemed to have had a good day, she felt relieved.

Before, An’an was mostly alone, at most with Fang Jingguo.

Now, she was worried that he would be uneasy in a new environment without his parents around.

It seemed she had underestimated An’an’s adaptability.

“Yes, but Tongtong said my story was childish.” An’an pouted and complained.

The system immediately let out a curse.

It yelled and tried to defend itself, but Bai Ruojiao couldn’t hear it.

An’an was also mischievous and deliberately ignored the bad Tongtong. After all, it had been making fun of him all day.

Bai Ruojiao raised an eyebrow, “What story did you tell, An’an?”

“I told the story of Sun Wukong raising horses in the sky. Many people asked me if there really are gods in the sky.”

“What did you say?” This story was probably from the animated film she had watched in the villa.

But since the teacher had asked him to tell other children, it should be fine.

“Of course not!” An’an answered confidently.

Bai Ruojiao raised an eyebrow in surprise. She thought he would say yes, because she had used the existence of gods to explain the system’s existence.

An’an winked playfully and whispered, “There are no gods. It’s just a story.”

Bai Ruojiao paused for a second. When she understood, she was amused by his mischievous look.

“Right, it’s just a story. Did you like it there, An’an?”

“Dad’s factory? I liked it. Dad is so amazing. The machines are so big, taller than people. And there are so many uncles and grandpas who are also amazing. The teacher showed us a picture book. It had big cars in it. The teacher said they were made by Dad’s factory. Dad said when I grow up and learn to drive, he’ll make a big car for me.”

“Really!”

The two chatted as they entered the house.

Zhao Sihai had already brought the food out from the kitchen.

“You’re back. Come wash your hands and we can eat.”

“I’ll help.” She put An’an down, hung her shoulder bag on the wall, and followed him into the kitchen.

“How was it today? Did you adapt well?” Zhao Sihai asked with a smile as he ladled soup.

Bai Ruojiao washed her hands, opened the cabinet, and took out bowls and chopsticks. “It’s been good. Everyone is easy to get along with, and the work is going smoothly. I’ve already submitted applications for a temporary dormitory and daycare center. I should be able to bring An’an to work with me the day after tomorrow.”

“No rush. You have things to do first. An’an is adapting well at the machinery factory. Anyway, there’s nothing much going on at the machinery factory recently.”

Bai Ruojiao just nodded with a smile, not saying anything.

Seeing four dishes and a soup on the table, she couldn’t help but chide, “Why did you make so many dishes again?”

“Well, it’s your first day at work. We have to celebrate, right, An’an?”

“Yeah, yeah. Mom worked hard at work. Mom, eat shrimp. This is what An’an chose. Dad said this shrimp is delicious.”

An’an nodded vigorously, clumsily picking up a big red shrimp and putting it in her bowl.

She smiled, her eyes crinkling. She took the shrimp and skillfully peeled it, putting it in An’an’s bowl. “An’an, eat this.”

She then picked up another one for herself.

Seeing that Mom also had one, An’an immediately felt relieved and scooped up the shrimp to eat.

“Mmm, mmm, mmm. Delicious. Mom, this shrimp is really delicious!”

“If it’s delicious, eat more.” She smiled and put another shrimp in his bowl.

When she lowered her head, she saw another peeled shrimp in her bowl.

She smiled and picked it up to eat.

She hadn’t expected to be able to buy such fresh shrimp in the evening.

Speaking of which, she had everything in her space, except for fresh seafood. She had overlooked that.

After dinner, the family of three took turns showering and then huddled in bed.

Bai Ruojiao listened to An’an excitedly chattering about the fun things at the daycare center today.

Zhao Sihai leaned against her, listening and reading a book.

When An’an was tired and fell asleep, Bai Ruojiao sighed softly and covered him with a blanket.

Zhao Sihai turned his head, “Going to sleep? I’ll turn off the lights.”

“Hey, wait. I have something for you.”

Zhao Sihai paused his movement of lifting the blanket and looked at her in confusion.

Bai Ruojiao smiled with pursed lips and took out a brand new Shanghai watch from the drawer of the bedside table.

She wanted to give him something, but considering their current financial situation, it was better not to be too high-profile.

She had also prepared a ladies’ Shanghai watch for herself.

“Before, in the team, everyone was watching. We had a bicycle and a sewing machine. This watch wouldn’t be good to take out and attract attention.”

Zhao Sihai looked down at the silver watch, his eyes softening instantly.

He didn’t refuse, nor did he say anything like “thank you.” He just said in a low voice, reaching out, “Help me put it on.”

Bai Ruojiao looked at him, her lips curving slightly. She picked up the watch and put it on him.

“What about you? Give it to me. I’ll put it on you.”

Bai Ruojiao glanced at him, turned around, and handed him a ladies’ Shanghai watch.

Zhao Sihai happily put it on her, then took her hand and kissed her ring finger, “This place, it’s for me.”

Bai Ruojiao was stunned, then she understood what he meant. Her cheeks flushed.

She pulled her hand back, slipped into the covers, “Go to sleep.”

Zhao Sihai looked at her, half of her face hidden under the covers, only her watery black eyes showing. He couldn’t help but chuckle softly. He lifted the covers, got out of bed, and turned off the lights.

The two of them were sweet and loving, but they didn’t know that Bai’s father, who was far away in the north, was furious. It was all related to them.