Chapter 123

Chapter 123

He spoke casually, and Xu Yuqing responded with a tired nod, leaning against his back. "Yes, a new colleague. Luckily I rested for a bit at noon; otherwise, I wouldn't have been able to make it."

Hearing her nonchalant attitude, the tension in Xie Junli's eyes finally dissipated.

The two walked on the snowy ground, which was pitch-black. Thankfully, Xie Junli had brought a flashlight, but he didn't let Xu Yuqing carry it. He held it himself, controlling the bicycle handlebar with one hand, carefully riding back home.

When they arrived home, Xu Yuqing looked at the dim yellow light and felt an overwhelming sense of longing. She had only been away for a day, yet she missed it so much.

At this moment, Xie Junli also parked the bicycle. Xu Yuqing ran over and playfully hugged his arm. "What do you want to eat tonight?"

She said boldly, as if she would immediately start cooking whatever Xie Junli suggested.

But Xie Junli remained unperturbed by her enthusiasm and took off her hat. "No need to cook. I packed some food from the canteen when I left."

This man! How could he understand her so well!

Xu Yuqing had already prepared herself for the possibility of having to cook since there might be no food at home. But this man told her that wasn't necessary; they could just eat!

Overwhelmed with joy, she threw herself at Xie Junli. "You really understand me too well!"

Xie Junli didn't understand why she was so excited, but he gladly accepted her embrace, wrapping his arms around her tightly.

"Hey! Put me down!" Startled by being lifted off the ground, Xu Yuqing cried out. Xie Junli glanced at her calmly and teasingly jostled her.

He strode into the kitchen, where the pot still had some warmth. With one hand holding Xu Yuqing's waist, he used the other to open the pot lid and retrieved two lunch boxes.

Xu Yuqing tried to kick him but realized it would hurt her own stomach. Taking a deep breath, she finally gave up resisting and allowed Xie Junli to place her on a stool.

Angrily grabbing the lunch box, Xu Yuqing ignored him and opened it, only to realize she had no chopsticks...

And she wasn't even wearing shoes, having just been put down.

Xie Junli watched her series of actions calmly. Just before Xu Yuqing exploded, he turned to fetch chopsticks, a clear smile visible on his face.

Handing her the chopsticks, they finally ate dinner at eight o'clock. Although the food had lost its color due to being kept warm, it still tasted delicious.

Xu Yuqing savored the eggplant rice, her favorite dish. Despite the large pot not being stirred evenly and lacking oil, it was made according to her own recipe.

How could it not taste good?

Apart from the braised eggplant, there was also minced meat with potatoes. The diced potatoes were cooked and fried before being mixed with pre-cooked minced meat and seasonings, making it both tasty and filling.

Soon, Xu Yuqing's small bowl of mixed grains was empty. Beside her, Xie Junli, who was eating slowly, noticed her burp and put down his chopsticks, finishing his meal quickly.

After dinner, Xie Junli washed the dishes as usual, while Xu Yuqing changed her clothes and lay on the bed, feeling rejuvenated.

She had planned to bring the unfinished sweater from the living room, but before she could move, Xie Junli returned.

"How did you finish so fast?"

"Just the lunch boxes." Xie Junli replied calmly, looking at her. Xu Yuqing was engrossed in the book Xie Junli had picked up last night.

"Yuqing."

"Hmm?" Xu Yuqing's attention shifted slightly toward Xie Junli. "What is it?"

Xie Junli took off his sweater, revealing a dark blue shirt he had worn for a long time, with frayed edges at the corners.

As he approached, the familiar sense of pressure came over Xu Yuqing. She put down the book, stepped back cautiously, and looked at him warily. "What are you doing?"

Xie Junli didn't speak but lifted his pillow, revealing a small box that caught Xu Yuqing's attention. Her face flushed red. "You actually went to get it? No, even if you did, we can't! I have work tomorrow!"

She anxiously refused. Xie Junli stood by the bed, lowering his gaze. "It will be quick."

With that, he gently leaned closer. Not sensing any resistance, Xie Junli grew bolder, his hand moving toward the hem of her shirt.

That night, Xie Junli indeed kept his word, stopping after one time. Seeing him still excited but hesitant to continue, Xu Yuqing felt a pang of sympathy and slowly reached out her hand. "I'll help you."

The next morning, Xu Yuqing woke up without any soreness in her waist, but her wrists were quite sore. She weakly propped herself up, shaking her hand in pain. The culprit was already gone, probably to fetch breakfast. Xu Yuqing quickly got dressed and had a simple breakfast with Xie Junli before heading to the canning factory.

"You don't need to come pick me up tonight. I brought a change of clothes and will stay in the dormitory."

Xu Yuqing leaned against him, shouting into his ear over the wind. Despite the noise, her words reached Xie Junli clearly, causing his heart to tighten. "Can I come pick you up earlier?"

Xu Yuqing carried a small bag containing her undergarments. Hearing Xie Junli's suggestion, she lightly hit his shoulder. "Do your job properly. It's dangerous to travel so far in the snow. Wait until the weekend to come home."

Xie Junli frowned, regretting agreeing to let her work. Living alone again was something he had grown tired of. "Is the dormitory big? Can I come stay with you?"

Xu Yuqing slapped his waist in exasperation. "It's a temporary arrangement. I'm staying in the women's dormitory, where everyone shares a room. I only have one bed. Is it appropriate for you to stay with me?"

Xu Yuqing said irritably.

Xie Junli fell silent, both options blocked, but he still didn't want to give up. "Is one bed enough to keep warm? Why don't I rent a place for us outside?"

Looking at the man in front of her, Xu Yuqing understood his concern and softened a bit. She also missed him, especially without the warmth of the stove at night. However, traveling twice a day was too tiring, especially since he was the one riding the bike. She moved closer, wrapping her arms around his waist. "It's just for this snowy period. Soon it will be the New Year, and then I can come home every day."

The New Year was less than a month away, and the canning factory offered excellent benefits. According to Little He yesterday, other factories only closed on the 29th of the lunar year, but the canning factory closed on the 25th.

However, the days leading up to the New Year were the busiest, serving as a form of compensation.

She spoke softly, soothing Xie Junli into a daze. By the time he regained his senses, his wife had already gone inside. He had promised to pick her up on Friday evening, provided the snow wasn't too heavy.

Standing at the factory gate, Xie Junli wondered about his self-control and composure. No wonder heroes find it hard to resist beauties. He turned his bicycle around and rode back home, his hunched back making him look particularly pitiful.

On the other side, Xu Yuqing watched Xie Junli's back as he walked away before turning to enter the experimental factory. She was the last to arrive; it was already 8:40. She wondered if Xie Junli would be criticized for arriving so late these past two days. But he was the team leader, so there shouldn't be any problem, right?

Xu Yuqing entered the experimental factory with some doubt. Everyone had already gathered and stood up upon seeing her. "Comrade Xu."

Huh? Xu Yuqing paused for a moment. What was going on? Why did this title sound even more formal? She nodded and silently walked forward.

"Why are you all looking at me like that?" She felt uneasy.

Little Ma and Little He exchanged glances and chuckled, though their smiles seemed forced. "Nothing, nothing. Let's get to work. The factory is waiting for us."

"Alright."

It was another busy morning. Xu Yuqing finally saw the large factory of the canning plant. In the hundreds-of-square-meter space, countless workers and many machines were present, along with a lot of pig intestines.

To be honest, the smell almost suffocated Xu Yuqing. Buckets of pig intestines were neatly arranged in the open spaces. Not just her, but many workers also stepped back, covering their noses and looking in disgust.

Factory Director Xu knew that this sudden change was significant. To set an example, he had all the clerical staff, including himself, change into work clothes and join in the labor. Now, he stood closest to the intestines. If not for the delicious taste from yesterday, he wouldn't have been able to stand it either.

Goodness, it was too stinky! But once cooked, it was truly delicious. Last night, he took one jar home, and his wife and two children had a few bites. Even his eighty-five-year-old mother had a piece.

In the end, he only got two pieces.

Factory Director Xu hadn't had enough and was looking forward to today. "Little Ma, you three go adjust the machines. Little Xu, you'll need to teach everyone how to assist during the washing process. Everyone, thank you for your hard work. After we finish this, there will be great benefits from the canning plant!"

Factory Director Xu spoke enthusiastically, but the smell was overwhelming, like a cesspool. Everyone wore masks but still covered their noses, complaining loudly. "Director, what is this stuff? How can it be made into canned food?"

"Exactly! It's so stinky. Who would want to eat it? It's ruining the machines!"

The complaints grew louder, and Factory Director Xu's face turned dark. He angrily slapped the wall. "Quiet! Who's the director here, you or me? I'll take responsibility for any issues. Please follow the organizational arrangements! Those who receive salaries should do their jobs!"

He said sternly.

This outburst silenced everyone. No one dared to lose their iron rice bowl, especially since they hoped to receive some oil and grains for the New Year.

Everyone worked with resentment, and Xu Yuqing kept quiet, grateful no one knew she had come up with this idea.

They threw the pig intestines into the washing tub, which resembled a washing machine, and it spun. Workers used a wooden stick to ensure everything was thoroughly cleaned.

However, washing intestines required a different approach.

Factory Director Xu asked her to demonstrate. Xu Yuqing had already tested it yesterday. She threw in about a dozen intestines, filling half the tub, then added salt and flour.

The machine started running, and soon the thick slurry was discharged. The spectators felt nauseous, and some unmarried comrades, both male and female, were dry-heaving.

Xu Yuqing looked at them helplessly. "Hang in there; it's only ten minutes."