Chapter 174

Chapter 174

Wu Qin?

Xu Yuqing looked at Xie Junli in confusion, wondering who this person was.

Xie Junli looked at her. "That's the military doctor Wu."

Military Doctor Wu... Wu Qin. Distant memories slowly resurfaced, and Xu Yuqing finally recalled that chaotic time, along with his grandfather. Her eyes widened in shock, and she couldn't hide her surprise. "How could it be him?"

Why would a military doctor come here? Or is he planning something again? No wonder she felt something was off about him this afternoon, but couldn't quite pinpoint it.

Thinking about it, his attitude towards her had been too friendly.

Xu Yuqing didn't understand. Xie Junli gently stroked her head with clean hands. "Don't worry; I'll handle everything. Just stay away from him in the future."

Xie Junli whispered softly.

"Okay, I understand." Xu Yuqing responded obediently, though still puzzled, she didn't ask further.

Xie Junli began to massage the bruise on her back.

He had to apply pressure to disperse the bruise, but he chose to gradually increase the force so Xu Yuqing could better tolerate it.

Still, when he applied more pressure, Xu Yuqing couldn't help but cry out, "Ah—"

She buried her head in the blanket, muffled sounds escaping, but the pain was evident. Xie Junli steeled his heart and continued applying pressure.

One minute? Two minutes? How long had it been?

Xu Yuqing lost track of time, feeling only numbness and heat in her waist.

Xie Junli released his grip, looking at her waist with concern. He washed his hands and then lifted her onto the dining table. "Can you hold chopsticks?" he asked.

Xu Yuqing gripped the chopsticks tightly, making an effort. "I can."

Tonight's meal at the canteen was particularly simple: a few coarse grain buns, shredded potatoes, stewed eggplant, and the classic dish of cabbage and meat slices.

It was clear they were running low on meat. Fortunately, Xu Yuqing had eaten at the canteen for over two years and was used to such simple fare. She was genuinely hungry, and despite the lack of sensation in her waist, it did not affect her appetite.

She ate the shredded potatoes in large bites, which paired well with the buns. The canteen had added plenty of vinegar, and as she ate, Xu Yuqing suddenly felt very thirsty.

Clearing her throat, Xu Yuqing looked at Xie Junli, who immediately understood her need. He set down his chopsticks, grabbed the hot water bottle, and quickly poured her a cup.

Xu Yuqing thanked him and drank deeply.

After finishing the meal, Xu Yuqing patted her belly contentedly. The sensation in her lower back slowly returned, slightly sore.

"I'll clean up," Xie Junli said gently, urging her to lie down on the bed while he tidied up.

Xie Junli worked swiftly. Before Xu Yuqing finished reading a newspaper article, he had already cleaned everything. Only a seasoned hand could work so efficiently.

Xie Junli approached and said, "The water is warming up. You should take a bath later."

"Okay," Xu Yuqing nodded, continuing to read the newspaper.

But lying on her stomach to read was uncomfortable, pressing against her chest and causing some numbness. Xu Yuqing frowned and shifted positions, but moving her lower back made it hurt even more.

Seeing this, Xie Junli quickly came over and lifted her into his arms. "Lean on me."

Xu Yuqing hesitated for a moment before smiling. "Do you mind the medicine smell?"

Without any hesitation, Xie Junli looked at her calmly. "I applied the medicine myself."

He then pulled her close, holding her in his arms, and they continued reading the newspaper together.

Feeling his acceptance, Xu Yuqing found a comfortable position in his embrace and leaned against him, reading the newspaper.

"The situation seems to be changing recently," Xu Yuqing murmured, looking at the newspaper.

Lately, the news on the paper was her primary concern, closely following current events. Any slight shift in direction could be sensed in the day's headlines.

Xu Yuqing's eyes flickered. As someone who knew the history, she understood that her opportunity was coming.

This chance had been long awaited, and she couldn't help but look up at Xie Junli. "I have a question to ask you."

"What is it?" Xie Junli looked at her, sensing unease.

Xu Yuqing's eyes flickered, torn between hesitation and urgency. Should she wait? Was now too early?

But she wanted to know his stance.

"I think the policies will change," she said firmly. In the past, whenever she showed this determination, Xie Junli understood her resolve.

Xie Junli released her, turning her around so they faced each other. But when their eyes met, Xu Yuqing couldn't help but look away, feeling guilty.

"What policy?" Xie Junli's demeanor remained calm, but a hint of concern was visible in his eyes.

Xu Yuqing looked at him intently. "I think there might be free trade allowed soon. So, I want to resign, maybe after the New Year or a bit later."

Xie Junli looked at her, understanding her intention. Resignation was definite?

His questioning gaze conveyed his disbelief. "This is a job, not a game. Moreover, the policies may not change."

Surprise filled his eyes, and he spoke sternly.

But it's not necessarily so.

Xu Yuqing pursed her lips and looked at him. "I know, I've thought it through." Her tone was still resolute.

Her usually smiling phoenix eyes were now coldly drooping, revealing a hint of disappointment beneath the lowered eyelids.

She knew that work was a big deal to Xie Junli, but from her perspective, she hoped for unconditional support from her partner.

But it still wasn't enough...

She lifted her gaze again. "I know you think I'm being irrational, but I've made up my mind. If the policy changes and allows it, I will definitely resign."

...

After a brief silence, there was an unexpected laugh.

Xu Yuqing looked over, her eyes red and her lips pale. He gave a cold laugh, his gaze instantly turning icy. "You've already made your decision. What good does telling me do?"

His attitude didn't anger Xu Yuqing or provoke any other reaction. She simply looked at him with a shallow gaze.

There seemed to be an unmeasurable distance between them, which they could ignore when trying desperately to get closer.

But once a conflict erupted, despite their closeness, it felt like they were worlds apart.

Xu Yuqing lowered her eyes, feeling lost. From Xie Junli's perspective, he hadn't done anything wrong.

In fact, he was a perfect lover.

But from her own perspective, Xu Yuqing always hoped he would trust her unconditionally.

She had too many secrets she couldn't reveal.

Perhaps these secrets were what had widened the gap between them.

"Let's calm down for a bit, okay..." she said softly.

Xie Junli didn't respond. He stood just an inch away from Xu Yuqing. Just as she reached out to hold him, Xie Junli moved abruptly, getting off the bed with a cold face. "I'm going out."

As soon as he spoke, he disappeared.

Xu Yuqing watched his retreating back, stunned in place.

On the other side, Xie Junli felt lost after stepping outside. He hadn't taken the key and hadn't locked the door; he couldn't leave without securing it.

Thinking about this, he couldn't help but bitterly smile, doubting himself for the first time: Did his wife truly love him?

His long legs bent, and he squatted at the door, staring blankly into the night.

The deep darkness mirrored his current mood.

He suppressed his panic and closed his eyes.

He still couldn't understand why his wife could devote so much energy and time to her work—not for money, but because she enjoyed it.

Why would she suddenly want to resign?

This casual attitude reminded him of himself.

Would he be next?

Divorce?

A bitter smile spread across his face as he lowered his head, a tear falling from his eye.

He didn't bother to wipe it away, letting it be in the dark.

Separated by a door, both gazed into the night, but neither was willing to take the first step. The cold war continued until the next day.

Xu Yuqing sat up, her eyes ringed with dark circles. She hadn't slept well last night, repeatedly opening her eyes to check if the man who should have been beside her had returned, but the pillow remained cold.

Having barely slept, she immediately sat up upon hearing a noise outside, got off the bed, and quietly approached the door to listen.

She hadn't washed up last night either, perhaps out of sullenness, refusing to go out. Xie Junli hadn't come in either, and she wondered if he had slept on the small door.

Crouching by the door, she strained to hear some sounds, but they were too faint to discern what he was doing.

Glancing at her watch, she realized it was quite late.

Suddenly, a door closing sound startled her, and she quickly opened the door.

Outside was empty. Xu Yuqing stood there, stunned, looking at the breakfast laid out on the table.

He hadn't eaten; there were two portions on the table.

Feeling both angry and helpless, she gazed at everything before her, unsure of who was at fault or what to do.

In the end, Xu Yuqing didn't eat the breakfast either.

After washing up, she got on her bicycle and left, her face sullen with pent-up frustration.

"Little Xu! The factory manager wants you to stop by his office!" the gatekeeper shouted, waving at Xu Yuqing. But seeing her clearly upset demeanor, he dropped his hand limply.

What happened?

Watching her nod dismissively and stride in, the gatekeeper felt uneasy. "When did I offend Little Xu?"

In the factory manager's office, Xu Yuqing knocked casually and walked in without waiting for permission.

After all, the worst thing he did was pick his nose.

It's not like they haven't seen it before.

"Director Xu, you called for me?"

Director Xu's eyes lit up, and he quickly put down his teacup. "Ah, Little Xu, you're finally here! I had the fish delivered! Take a look and see how to arrange them." With that, he handed the list directly to Xu Yuqing.

"Here, our fish aren't commonly eaten; they have local names, some of which I don't even recognize. You can identify them first."

He said expectantly.

Xu Yuqing took the paper, which meticulously listed the names and characteristics of the fish. Even if one didn't know the fish, they could still identify them. Xu Yuqing nodded and read on carefully.

"Let's go ahead and experiment with them," Xu Yuqing said, looking up at Director Xu.

Since Xu Yuqing had taken the initiative, Director Xu was more than happy to agree. He nodded eagerly, "Sure, sure, let's go!"

The two hurried out. Director Xu was genuinely excited about Xu Yuqing's results. The thought of creating something like the pork intestine canned food made him thrilled.

He could already imagine the praise he would receive.

Thinking this, his gaze towards Xu Yuqing became even more enthusiastic.

Upon arriving at the experimental facility, Xu Yuqing was stunned. The previously empty space was now filled with large and small buckets, each containing different types of fish.

Xu Yuqing circled around, observing the fish. Some were large, some small, densely packed in the buckets, almost suffocating.

She hadn't seen so many fish in a long time and marveled at their efforts to catch them. "Did you catch all these fish last night?"

"Yes, thankfully it hasn't frozen over yet. If it had, it would be much harder to catch them. These fish have little meat and many bones, so no one really eats them, making them easy to catch."

As for the tasty fish, they weren't there.

Because Director Xu knew they were expensive.

Even if they could make something out of them, it might not sell well.

Therefore, his gaze towards Xu Yuqing was filled with great anticipation. If she could achieve what she claimed—making the fish bones edible—it would be incredible.

Thinking about the abundance of fish in North City, with its numerous rivers, Director Xu's eyes sparkled.

Xu Yuqing looked at the fish on the ground, pondering for a moment. "Director Xu, I'll need about two hours. Could you take everyone out for now?"

Director Xu's smiling face froze. He looked at Xu Yuqing. "Why don't we leave Little Ma and others here to help you?"

Xu Yuqing shook her head. "No, it's simple enough. I can manage on my own."

The recipe needed to be kept confidential.

Seeing no way to dissuade her, Director Xu reluctantly agreed to Xu Yuqing's request. He gritted his teeth and gave Little Ma and the others a meaningful look. "Let's go."

Little Lin nodded, about to follow, but Little Ma stepped forward. "Little Xu, as a female comrade, it wouldn't be easy for you to handle all these fish. Let us help you clean them first."

Little He also nodded vigorously. "Yes, yes, it's such a messy job. As a lady, you'll end up smelling like fish."

Xu Yuqing looked at them, her eyes flickering. At that moment, Little Lin stepped forward, frowning. "She only needs to kill a couple of fish; she won't smell that bad. Come on, it's getting late."

Saying this, Little Lin pushed the two out.

Before leaving, he glanced back at Xu Yuqing. Their eyes met briefly before Little Lin walked out.

Standing there, Director Xu saw this and had no choice but to follow, glaring at Little Lin as he left.

What an oblivious fool!

A hopeless case.

For the next two hours, Director Xu couldn't focus on anything else and paced anxiously outside the experimental facility. He regretted not having installed a few small windows in the building.

So tightly sealed.

Now he couldn't see anything. Thinking about what was to come, Director Xu's expression grew somber, lost in thought.

Two hours passed quickly, and Xu Yuqing opened the door. "Everyone, come in."

Everyone's eyes lit up, and they rushed in. A rich aroma greeted them, tangy and sweet, with a hint of meat.

All eyes turned to a pot on the stove, emitting a red, aromatic steam.

Director Xu approached first, his mouth watering. "Is there fish in there?"

"Yes," Xu Yuqing nodded, retrieving bowls and chopsticks from a nearby cabinet and rinsing them under water. "Everyone, try it."

Little Lin was the first to grab a bowl, causing Director Xu's outstretched hand to freeze. But Little Lin didn't notice and headed straight for the pot, curious about the red sauce inside.

Little He noticed Director Xu's awkwardness and immediately offered his bowl and chopsticks. "Director, here."

"Thank you," Director Xu accepted, walking over to the pot.

There was a large ladle nearby, and Director Xu scooped up a ladleful.

The fish pieces inside finally came into view, dyed red. Director Xu asked, puzzled, "Why are they in chunks?"

"For easier eating," Xu Yuqing explained, taking the ladle from Director Xu and serving everyone.

The pot contained several types of fish, all cut into similar sizes but with slightly different shapes. Only Xu Yuqing could distinguish them.

Each bowl received three pieces of fish. Xu Yuqing carefully served everyone. "Here, taste it."

Seeing the bright red contents in the bowl, Little Lin hesitated for a moment before asking, "Is this persimmon?"

"Yes, it's soup made from simmered persimmons."

Everyone nodded and eagerly took a sip of the thick soup.

Sour and sweet! It was especially appetizing. Little Lin's eyes lit up, and he immediately started gulping it down in large mouthfuls.

Although the soup was a bit heavy, its deliciousness made everyone ignore that and drink it straight down. Then came the fish pieces; everyone simultaneously reached for their chopsticks to pick up a piece.

Director Xu looked at the fish pieces and suddenly asked, "Was this fried?"

"Mm." Xu Yuqing nodded candidly. It was very easy to spot, and there was no need to hide it.

A hint of smugness flashed in Director Xu's eyes as he carefully bit into a small piece, clearly worried about fish bones.

But—his careful chewing revealed that the fish bones crumbled instantly upon contact with his teeth. Director Xu was astonished and turned to look at the others, who were already eating the fish pieces whole without any hesitation.

Their eager expressions suggested they feared the food would disappear if they didn't eat quickly.

Seeing this, Director Xu hurriedly stuffed a piece into his mouth. The fish bones shattered effortlessly, and they were not only harmless but also incredibly fragrant.

The more he ate, the brighter Director Xu's eyes became. If this could be made into canned food, it would definitely make money.

It could even help alleviate poverty. Thinking about the bright future ahead, Director Xu's eyes sparkled with anticipation.

"Little Xu, you've really outdone yourself! What kind of fish is this? You guys should study it further, and I'll go arrange for people to catch more fish!"

Director Xu said excitedly.

Xu Yuqing smiled faintly and looked at Director Xu. "Director, shall we discuss this in the office?"

Director Xu stiffened, remembering the matter at hand. "Alright, let's talk."

Seeing his agreement, Xu Yuqing nodded, put down her spoon, and told Little Lin and the others to help themselves. She then followed Director Xu out of the experimental factory's entrance.

They sat opposite each other. Xu Yuqing sat upright, while Director Xu leaned back comfortably.

"Director Xu, I'm here to discuss something with you," Xu Yuqing said seriously.

Director Xu straightened up reluctantly. "Alright, what do you want to discuss?"

Xu Yuqing looked at him. In the past, Director Xu had always initiated these conversations, but over the past six months, Xu Yuqing had noticed his regret.

He was no longer satisfied with how easily Xu Yuqing earned her share of the profits. He believed that the hard work of his factory workers and his own efforts earned the money, yet he had to share it with the seemingly relaxed Xu Yuqing. She could sense his dissatisfaction.

Facing his occasional pretense of kindness, she silently accepted it without being moved.

This was one reason why she wanted to resign.

Looking at Director Xu, she lowered her head, and a slight smile formed on her lips. "Director Xu, you know why I'm here. Let's get straight to the point, shall we?"

Director Xu stiffened. "Sure, go ahead."

Xu Yuqing sat up straight. "I have full confidence in this recipe. Even without the Beicheng Canning Factory, I can succeed and make money anywhere with this formula."

She said confidently, giving Director Xu a clear warning.

Director Xu gritted his teeth, knowing Xu Yuqing spoke the truth. He realized she might think ten percent was too little and wanted twenty percent. This thought made him feel even worse.

He couldn't agree, preferring to stick with the profitable tripe canned goods that would sustain the factory for years. But thinking of the pressure from above, he couldn't truly refuse.

Feeling frustrated, he knew he had no choice but to compromise.

Xu Yuqing ignored his reaction. They were both businesspeople, though Director Xu had a more official title.

"For this recipe, I still want ten percent of the profits, but since I will be going to school soon, I request that the money be sent to me monthly, along with the monthly sales figures."

Xu Yuqing said calmly, her eyes showing no emotion.

Director Xu looked at her in disbelief. "Monthly payments?"

"Yes," she confirmed firmly.

Previously, the canned lunch meat and tripe recipes provided by her were paid quarterly, based on the season's profits. Now, if monthly payments were required, Director Xu gritted his teeth, knowing he had no choice but to agree.

He didn't consider cheating, knowing that Xu Yuqing was a cash cow and needed to be treated well. He reluctantly agreed, "Fine, give me your address, and I'll have someone send the money every month."

Xu Yuqing nodded. There was one more thing she hadn't mentioned, which might make Director Xu regret his words. However, it didn't matter anymore. She looked at him. "I also plan to resign."

Resign?!

Director Xu stood up abruptly. He had considered various scenarios but never imagined her resignation. "This is an iron rice bowl! Little Xu, you must think carefully!"

He said anxiously, looking genuinely concerned.

Xu Yuqing nodded. "When I start school, I won't be able to manage both places, so I'll resign. But even after resigning, I'll remember my time at the Beicheng Canning Factory."

In other words, she would remember this job and the opportunity it gave her.

Director Xu looked at Xu Yuqing, worried, feeling deeply regretful. Although he thought she earned her money too easily, he knew she was the factory's cash cow!

He tried to persuade her, pulling her to sit down and speaking earnestly. But seeing her calm expression, Director Xu suddenly realized he couldn't stop her.

If that was the case, he might as well leave a good impression. He knew she had been dedicated and hardworking.

"Since you're so persistent, Little Xu, I definitely can't stop you. But rest assured, the canning factory will always be here for you whenever you want to come back!" Factory Director Xu said with difficulty.

The reluctance in his words was evident.

Xu Yuqing nodded, still grateful to Factory Director Xu. If it weren't for his unconditional trust at the beginning, she wouldn't have had the life she has now. Everything is difficult at the start.

They had reached an agreement. Xu Yuqing would finish handling the current batch of fish cans before resigning and going back to school.

The money would be sent monthly, and Xu Yuqing pressed her fingerprint on the document, one copy for each person, carefully placed in her bag. She then looked at Factory Director Xu and said, "I'll be off now."

"Alright." Factory Director Xu nodded, watching as Xu Yuqing walked out with large strides, a tinge of melancholy in his eyes.

Truly...

Sighing, he couldn't help but shake his head. Looking at the empty seat in front of him, Factory Director Xu felt deep regret.