Chapter 19: Deputy Factory Director Qin Falls from Power

After washing up, Su Yue returned to her dorm. She locked the door, turned off the light, and went straight to bed.

Once the bed curtains were drawn, she slipped into the Youlan Courtyard. Curious about what the safe might contain, she picked up a nearby long rifle and began jabbing it fiercely at the safe. Sparks flew as the barrel struck the metal. After a while, she finally pried open a crack. Su Yue wiped the sweat from her forehead with the towel around her neck and pulled the safe open with force. Inside were account books and other documents.

She randomly opened one, and her eyes narrowed instantly. A cold glint flashed across her gaze.
Well, well… This Deputy Director Qin is incredibly bold—embezzlement, bribery, and even secret dealings with foreigners? The ties are shockingly close.

Su Yue glanced at the clock—only 8 p.m.—so she got up and headed to the vegetable garden. She plucked cabbage leaves, chopped them up, mixed them with bran, and poured the mixture into the chicken trough.

By now, her chicken coop held over thirty chickens, ten of which were laying eggs.

She collected the freshly laid eggs from the hens and stored them in the warehouse. Then, picking up scissors and a basket, she returned to the garden to harvest ripe fruits and vegetables. If left on the vine too long, they’d either rot or turn tough.

Over the years, Su Yue had saved seeds from every fruit she ate, planting them along the courtyard walls.

Now, her Youlan Courtyard grew grapes, apples, oranges, pears, pomegranates, peaches, bayberries, jujubes, watermelons, and strawberries. The most magical part? The plants here regenerated exceptionally fast. As long as the roots remained, the produce would regrow after harvesting.

For leafy greens, she could simply trim the outer leaves and they would continue to grow. Even better, farming in Youlan Courtyard was easy—just plant the seeds. No weeding or pest control was needed, and only occasional watering sufficed.

After finishing all this, Su Yue washed her hands and feet, returned to the dorm, and fell asleep.

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When she next opened her eyes, it was already 3 a.m. She changed into her nightwear and leapt out the window, disappearing into the night.

An hour later, she returned silently to her dorm, took off her outfit, lay back down, and soon her steady breathing filled the room.

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At dawn, sunlight streamed through the dorm window. Su Yue got up and followed her usual routine, heading to the cafeteria for breakfast.

In the hallway of the office building, she ran into Li Shufang, greeting her warmly, “Morning, Sister Li.”

Li Shufang smiled, “Xiao Su, you’re in a good mood today?”

Su Yue nodded with a smile. Seeing the water bucket still clean from yesterday, she dropped the cleaning rag into it and began wiping things down alongside Sister Li.

After replacing the water, Su Yue sat at her desk and pulled out some yarn and long needles from her satchel, deftly beginning to knit a sweater.

Li Shufang teased, “That color—knitting it for your future sweetheart?”

Su Yue chuckled and shook her head. “It’s for my big brother.”

Li Shufang saw how practiced she was and said with a smile, “You must have knit a lot for your family.”

Su Yue nodded, “They treat me well. I just want to do what I can for them.”

While they chatted, Wu Yuxia hurried in with her bag, looking a bit flustered. She gave an embarrassed smile before explaining, “Sister Li, my kid wasn’t feeling well last night. That’s why I’m late.”

Li Shufang reassured her, “The factory understands your situation. Don’t worry.”
Seeing how tired she looked, she added, “Go rest your head for a bit. I’ll call you if anything comes up.”

Wu Yuxia nodded gratefully. “Thank you, Sister Li.”

The records room soon quieted down, and before long, the morning passed.

---

Just as Su Yue was stepping out, she saw Wang Qiuya waiting nearby, signaling that she had something to say.

Su Yue smiled, “Let’s grab lunch first.”

The two went to the third cafeteria. When Zhang Cuihua saw Su Yue, she was unusually warm, serving her a generous scoop of stir-fried green peppers and eggs.

Back in the dorm, Wang Qiuya shut the door and got straight to the point.

“Su Yue, something happened to the Qin family. The police came early this morning and took everyone away. And Qin Mingyue didn’t show up to work today either.”

Su Yue looked up, feigning surprise. “The whole Qin family was taken away?”

Wang Qiuya nodded. “My aunt asked around—Deputy Director Qin probably isn’t coming back this time.”

Su Yue simply smiled and nodded.

After a short nap, she overheard more coworkers gossiping about the Qin family while walking back to work, which lifted her spirits. A subtle smile hovered on her lips the whole time.

After work, she got her dinner from the cafeteria and walked to a nearby alley.

Just as she reached the entrance, she ran into the same girl from yesterday along with Granny Liang. The girl had a hostile glint in her eyes, and the old lady frowned faintly.

Su Yue pretended not to notice, but clearly, they’d been waiting for her on purpose.

“She’s not even married yet, and she’s already coming here every other day,” the girl muttered—not too loud, not too soft—just loud enough for Su Yue to hear.

Su Yue smiled coolly and tucked her hair behind her ear, casually showing off her wristwatch, which sparkled in the sunlight. Then she walked into the alley, the sound of the girl’s breathing growing harsher behind her.

Li Xiangbei came toward her, smiling gently. “Yueyue, you’re off work.”

Su Yue handed him the lunchbox just as the girl behind them spoke up.

“Brother Li…”

Li Xiangbei cut her off immediately, his tone serious. “You’re Granny Liang’s granddaughter, right? I just saw an older lady looking for you.”

The girl’s face turned pale and she ran off in panic. Granny Liang also left quickly after mumbling something awkward.

Li Xiangbei and Su Yue exchanged a smile and continued walking home together.

“That girl’s the eldest granddaughter of the Liang family. She was supposed to get married in half a month, but last month, her fiancé fell off the roof while fixing their house. Hit his head on a rock—still lying in the hospital. She’s not into me—she just wants a man to marry and escape her situation.”

“But the neighbors all know her story, so no one wants to marry her.”

Su Yue nodded. “Didn’t expect that backstory.”

While chatting, they arrived home.

Li Xiangbei opened his satchel and pulled out a thick wad of cash.

Su Yue raised an eyebrow. “Where did that come from?”

Li Xiangbei handed her a pair of chopsticks. “Yueyue, eat first and listen while I talk, or the food will get cold.”

Su Yue nodded and began eating as he recounted how he’d gotten the money from his mother the night before.

By the end, he was grinning like a fool.

Su Yue gave him a playful glare. “We don’t get time off for Spring Festival now, but there should be two days off for National Day. I was thinking—we might as well get married then.”

Li Xiangbei lit up with excitement. “Really?!”

“You think I don’t know what you’re up to? Buying coal, hunting for furniture—clearly just itching to get married.”

“But buying furniture is too costly. My uncle’s a carpenter. I brought paper, a pen, and a ruler. Later, I’ll sketch the room layout. On Sunday, we’ll visit his place to see what furniture he’s got.”

Li Xiangbei chimed in immediately, “I’m off Sunday too. I’ll come with you!”

Su Yue chuckled. “Eat your food.”