Chapter 43

Chapter 43

Thankfully, Qian Yufeng didn’t disappoint Jin Xiuzhu. That very evening, Jin Xiuzhu saw her at the literacy class, with paper and pen spread out on the table in front of her, taking notes diligently. The teacher on the podium taught each word slowly, and at first, she was a bit embarrassed to read along. But seeing everyone else doing it, she joined in quietly. After repeating the words a few times, she felt much more at ease.

However, she only managed to stay focused for one class. During the second session, she started fidgeting, nodding off, and feeling drowsy. She turned to see Jin Xiuzhu listening attentively beside her. With determination, she slapped herself lightly and struggled to keep her eyes wide open, staring at the blackboard.

Perhaps this time, she had seen a glimmer of hope for change, and she wanted to seize it firmly.

On her way home that day, Qian Yufeng thought deeply. Throughout her life, she had never received anything truly hers from either her natal or marital family. Anything good always belonged to her younger brother, or was reserved for her husband and two children.

When Jin Xiuzhu mentioned finding work for her, Qian Yufeng couldn’t believe it for a long while, as she had never imagined such a fortunate opportunity would come her way.

She knew her own worth well. In the past, she had been envious of Jin Xiuzhu, but as Jin Xiuzhu’s fortunes improved, Qian Yufeng extinguished those feelings, telling herself she wasn’t destined for such luck.

The journey home felt like the longest walk she had ever taken. She laughed and cried like a madwoman, holding her daughter’s hand tightly and repeatedly saying, "Mom will be able to earn money now. I’ll support your education for as long as you want to study..."

As she said these words, her heart ached even more. It wasn’t that she didn’t love her daughter; rather, she lacked the means to provide for her. If she had the money, she would have gladly spent it on her daughter.

During this period, Qian Yufeng attended the literacy classes as Jin Xiuzhu advised. She found that attending classes was indeed beneficial, and she began to feel her days becoming more fulfilling. Before, when she stayed at home, her days were filled with nothing but cooking and sleeping, or aimlessly chatting with others. Her mother-in-law’s disapproving glances made her feel guilty. Now, things were different. Whenever she had free time, she picked up her notebook filled with scribbles and studied. Even when her mother-in-law criticized her, she no longer cared, feeling that she was engaged in meaningful activities.

The only thing was that Jin Xiuzhu hadn’t given any concrete news about the job yet. Qian Yufeng wondered if it was because she still needed to learn more, so she redoubled her efforts to improve her literacy.

In early April, as everyone switched to lighter jackets and shirts, Wang Ling sought out Jin Xiuzhu again to discuss matters at her factory.

After a month or two, Wang Ling seemed more composed and spoke more calmly.

Holding several scraps of fabric, she proudly showed them to Jin Xiuzhu, explaining, "Thanks to your reminder earlier, I discussed it with Old Yan. Since we had already assigned someone to find yarn, we continued with that plan and ignored the rest. Some of the older employees in the factory probably thought that was the extent of my abilities. After a brief period of quiet, they started forming cliques. As you said, I replaced the ringleaders causing trouble, then held meetings for two consecutive days. Once the factory stabilized, I promoted those who deserved it and dismissed those who needed to go. Now, even the veterans don’t dare to act superior anymore; they all focus on their own tasks."

Wang Ling’s explanation was simple, but Jin Xiuzhu sensed the turmoil beneath the surface. Wang Ling wanted to develop the factory, which meant she needed a workforce that would follow her lead. This inevitably involved touching on some people’s interests, and power transitions without conflict were unlikely.

Noticing Wang Ling’s slightly haggard appearance, Jin Xiuzhu got up to brew her a bowl of malted milk. The malted milk powder came from Fang Min next door. Initially, Jin Xiuzhu thought it was just a polite gesture from Fang Min, but later realized that Fang Min preferred plain water over the drink.

Neither Jiang Mingchuan nor their daughter liked it either, leaving only Jin Xiuzhu and He Yan as the drinkers in the household.

Wang Ling didn’t hesitate to accept the offer and slowly sipped the malted milk. She had some at home too, but she never drank it herself, reserving it for her son.

While Wang Ling enjoyed her drink, Jin Xiuzhu examined the fabric samples, sorting them into categories, placing the better ones together and the inferior ones separately.

Wang Ling gave Jin Xiuzhu a thumbs-up. "Good eye."

Then, she frowned. "I want to send these high-quality fabrics to big cities, where they can fetch higher prices. Unfortunately, I don’t have the connections. I don’t want to send them to the city’s textile factory; they lack the capability, and I’d end up getting swindled."

She had previously worked at the city’s textile factory and knew the situation there inside out. That was why the provincial government had sent someone down to manage it.

Jin Xiuzhu nodded. "These fabrics are indeed of high quality. When I visited the capital and the department stores in S City, similar fabrics sold for dozens of yuan per bolt, with many people vying to buy them."

Wang Ling’s eyes lit up. "Really?"

Jin Xiuzhu nodded. "We should definitely find a way to get these fine fabrics out there. If we could supply the department stores in big cities, your factory would surely see significant profits."

With Jin Xiuzhu’s encouragement, Wang Ling felt more confident.

She continued, "These lower-quality fabrics will remain our factory’s main product for the next few years. What do you think of these fabrics? I still want you to help us design patterns. Recently, I’ve been visiting various textile factories. To be honest, I don’t like the designs much. They’re mostly large floral prints, which can look tacky after a while."

Jin Xiuzhu nodded and readily agreed. "Sure, since you trust me so much, I won’t let you down. I’ll draw more patterns soon, and you can pick the ones you like."

Wang Ling’s eyes crinkled with pleasure. "That’s great. Don’t worry, your salary won’t be low."

Jin Xiuzhu smiled. "The amount doesn’t matter. What’s important is being able to help you."

Pausing for a moment, Jin Xiuzhu’s expression turned hesitant.

Wang Ling, pleased by Jin Xiuzhu’s kind words, asked, "What’s on your mind? No need to be formal with me."

Taking a deep breath, Jin Xiuzhu recounted what had happened at Qian Yufeng’s home recently. Then, she sighed. "She must have noticed that I’m working at the newspaper now and developed similar aspirations. But honestly, this sort of thing requires talent. Take you, for example. You weren’t particularly outstanding among the employees for years, but after serving as the factory director for a few months, your capabilities became evident. It seems your talent lies in managing people. On the other hand, I put in a lot of effort to learn to read and write and submitted hundreds of articles to the newspaper, none of which were accepted. Yet, a casual painting I did earned praise from Fang Min for its artistic flair."

Wang Ling found Jin Xiuzhu’s reasoning sound and nodded in agreement.

"I’ve observed that despite her efforts to study, Qian Yufeng hasn’t made much progress. She’s learned only a few characters, and further improvements might be limited. So, I was wondering if, now that you’re the factory director, you could arrange for her to work as a temporary employee in the factory canteen."

"I know this request may be difficult for you. If you grant this favor for her, other military spouses might approach you as well. Times are tough for everyone these days. This is purely a personal favor. When we first arrived here, I didn’t know anyone, and Sister Qian helped me a lot. I’ve always remembered her kindness, which is why I’m bringing this up. If it’s not possible, it’s okay. I’ll think of another solution."

Wang Ling fell silent for a moment. Jin Xiuzhu had presented both the good and bad aspects, leaving her without an easy way to refuse.

If Wang Ling had brought up the idea of arranging work for Qian Yufeng, she would have hesitated and said she needed to think about it. However, Jin Xiuzhu had praised her first, hitting a sensitive spot by acknowledging her talent for managing people. Wang Ling enjoyed hearing that.

Jin Xiuzhu also voiced her concerns, but Wang Ling admired Jin Xiuzhu’s loyalty and gratitude more than her worries. Jin Xiuzhu’s kindness towards Qian Yufeng, who had once helped her, suggested that their relationship would only grow stronger.

People are inherently self-interested, and Wang Ling was no exception. One reason she had distanced herself from Zhao Yun was due to disliking Zhao Yun’s behavior. Meanwhile, she had grown closer to Jin Xiuzhu partly because their husbands were close and partly because Jin Xiuzhu had sought to please her. Wang Ling had intentionally distanced herself from Zhao Yun, and as she found Jin Xiuzhu likable, their interactions increased.

After weighing the pros and cons, Wang Ling decided to give Qian Yufeng a chance. However, she phrased her response tactfully. "I’m agreeing to this solely because of you. You know that I’ve only recently become the factory director, and even minor mistakes can be blown out of proportion. Arranging for someone to work in the canteen could cause trouble both within the factory and among the military spouses. But we’re women, and we understand the challenges we face. I hope this works out well for her and, ultimately, for you."

Actually, handling the high-quality fabrics wouldn’t be a problem for the factory. Wang Ling could simply say that she had gone through great lengths to find this talented pattern designer and that she wouldn’t come on board unless her family member was given a job. If others had the same skills, they could try to do the same. The real concern was the potential backlash from other military spouses, so she added, "Don’t tell anyone else about this."

Jin Xiuzhu was touched. "Don’t worry, only the few of us will know about this."

Wang Ling nodded. "If anyone finds out, I’ll drag you into it."

Jin Xiuzhu chuckled. "Alright, alright. I’ll have Qian Yufeng contact you soon."

Wang Ling hummed in acknowledgment. "Let me make the arrangements first. I’ll notify you in a couple of days."

"Sure, thank you so much, Sister."

In reality, Jin Xiuzhu had already thought of a way to connect Wang Ling with buyers for the high-quality fabrics. However, mentioning it now would offset the favor she was asking for Qian Yufeng, making it less advantageous. For most people, arranging a canteen job for Qian Yufeng would be considered a huge favor. However, Jin Xiuzhu had once been in a position of authority and understood that such a request was merely a matter of a single word. Despite Wang Ling’s claims of difficulty, she likely wanted Jin Xiuzhu to remember the favor.

Jin Xiuzhu gauged Wang Ling’s mindset accurately, deliberately mentioning her gratitude towards Qian Yufeng. This prompted Wang Ling to want Jin Xiuzhu to remember her kindness as well.

Of course, the key factor was Jin Xiuzhu’s value to Wang Ling.

After seeing the guests off, Jin Xiuzhu washed the bowls and made herself a cup of malted milk, sipping it slowly while examining the fabric in her hands.

Not far away, Fu Yanyan reminded her, "Mom, you can ask Aunt Zhong Xue for help."

Last time, Aunt Zhong Xue wrote that both her parents had returned to the capital and resumed their former positions. Zhong Xue used to work for an agency but quit when she got pregnant. Now, the Zhang family had arranged for her to work at the department store, seemingly in a managerial position. The letter didn't go into specifics, but they were certainly more knowledgeable than them.

Jin Xiuzhu gave her daughter a satisfied glance. "No rush. Let's find out more first."

Fu Yanyan nodded, assuming Jin Xiuzhu was being cautious, not wanting to disappoint Aunt Wang if things didn't work out. She didn't say anything further.

That evening, when Jiang Mingchuan came home, he brought a large bag with him.

The two children opened it and found many dried goods inside, half of which were beef and mutton jerky, while the other half consisted of bags filled with white lumps and flour. Jiang Mingchuan explained that these were cheese and milk powder.

Curious, Jin Xiuzhu asked, "Who sent these? How do we eat them?"

"They're from my comrade. The milk powder can be mixed with water and is very fragrant. The lumps are eaten as is."

Jin Xiuzhu curiously took a cheese lump and ate it. As soon as it touched her tongue, she frowned. The two children looked up at her curiously, and Jin Xiuzhu commented, "It has a very unique taste."

Jiang Mingchuan chuckled. "Some people aren't used to it."

"How about the meat jerky?"

"He said it needs to be cooked."

Jin Xiuzhu nodded, thinking that his comrade was quite thoughtful to send so much. "Tomorrow, buy something to send back."

"Alright."

During dinner, Jiang Mingchuan mentioned, "In a while, Qi Min will be leaving. His job has been arranged; he'll be working at the local police station back home. I didn't ask for details."

Hearing this, Jin Xiuzhu looked up at him. "Will you retire someday?"

"It depends on the circumstances."

Jin Xiuzhu didn't fully understand these matters and simply responded with an "oh." She then said, "Going back home isn't bad either."

Jiang Mingchuan's hometown was in the capital, where there were many department stores. Jin Xiuzhu thought it was better than where they currently lived.

Jiang Mingchuan remained silent. In truth, he didn't really want to return. Recently, his adoptive mother secretly wrote to him, asking him to help Pan Shenglin and Pan Jun. Since Pan Shenglin and Pan Jun had broken the law, he wouldn't assist them. Later, Tao Qianyun wrote to scold him. According to Zhong Xue, Tao Qianyun hadn't been involved in those matters. Likely frightened, she reported many of the father and son's misdeeds and was now being sent back to her hometown, where her situation wasn't ideal.

The only regret was that a person named Li Yanzi had passed away a few years ago, childless.

Jiang Mingchuan didn't share these details with Jin Xiuzhu. It was better for her not to know some things.

That night, as Jin Xiuzhu and Jiang Mingchuan lay in bed, Jiang Mingchuan, having a rare moment of leisure, began to think about other matters. He reached out to pull her into his embrace, but as soon as his hand touched her, Jin Xiuzhu slapped it away.

He was taken aback and looked at her in surprise. "What's wrong?"

Jin Xiuzhu kindly explained, "You don't understand. We should be more restrained lately."

Jiang Mingchuan felt both amused and annoyed. Not long ago, she had been the one constantly seeking his attention, and now she wanted restraint.

Jin Xiuzhu could tell what he was thinking and didn't want to explain too much. She couldn't exactly tell him that she had secretly asked Fang Min about it and learned that Fang Min and the Political Commissar rarely engaged in such activities. Perhaps their frequency was too high, which was why she wasn't getting pregnant.

Seeing her reluctance, Jiang Mingchuan relented. "Can I at least hold you?"

This time, Jin Xiuzhu agreed and snuggled closer. Jiang Mingchuan wrapped his arms around her.

However, when she heard soft snores above her, Jin Xiuzhu quickly rolled over and put some distance between them, afraid that being too close might harm her belly.

Compared to men, she preferred children.

---

The next day, Jin Xiuzhu went to the Wu family and specifically called out Qian Yufeng.

When Qian Yufeng heard that Jin Xiuzhu wanted her to come along to check out their plot of land, she assumed there must have been some issue and brought along a hoe from home.

As they walked, Jin Xiuzhu told her about Wang Ling's offer, which left Qian Yufeng so excited that she dropped the hoe and grabbed Jin Xiuzhu's hand. "R-really?"

She could barely speak.

Jin Xiuzhu returned the grip. "How could it be false? If nothing unexpected happens, it's almost certain. Sister Wang said she would make the arrangements, and I'm giving you a heads-up to remind you that you should show your appreciation. We need to demonstrate our gratitude."

Qian Yufeng nodded vigorously. "Of course, I understand."

They couldn't let others help them without showing thanks—not just Wang Ling, but Jin Xiuzhu as well. She wasn't stingy.

"But what should I buy? I don't have much money on me."

Unlike Jin Xiuzhu, who could make various pastries, she didn't have any special skills. Thinking about this, she became worried. "My cooking is average. Will they look down on me?"

"It won't come to that. They're not hiring you as a chef. At most, you'll be helping out. Just be diligent and keep your head down. When you get there, listen more than you speak."

"I understand that. I wouldn't dare talk recklessly since I'm not familiar with them. What if they gossip behind my back?"

"If you're unsure what to buy, just get some meat to give them, but make sure no one sees you. I promised Sister that this matter would remain confidential. Apart from us, no one else knows, especially not Little Jun. If anyone asks, just say your family found you a job or that you're helping out at home."

Qian Yufeng nodded continuously. "I won't say a word. That child has been spoiled by us. He's still upset with us now. I'm not favoring him anymore and am dividing everything equally between him and his sister. Even his grandmother doesn't interfere anymore."

Previously, when she scolded the child, his grandmother would intervene, but now she didn't.

Ever since the incident where he ran away from home, Zhu had beaten him severely with a stick, and he had lain in bed for a week. Although she felt sorry for him, she was now focusing more on her studies and paying less attention to her son.

She had come to terms with the fact that she couldn't rely on her son to support her in old age. She believed she could study hard and earn more money, and in her old age, she would give her savings to whoever treated her well.

Of course, she dared not share these dangerous thoughts with anyone, fearing they would mock her.

She asked again, "Can I buy two jin of meat instead?"

Jin Xiuzhu looked at her with displeasure.

Qian Yufeng, pained, said, "Ten jin, I'll buy ten jin."

Jin Xiuzhu hummed in acknowledgment, "Gifts must be expensive. Go back and discuss it properly with your mother-in-law; she knows better than you do."

In terms of social etiquette, Old Lady Wu was indeed more astute.

Qian Yufeng hurriedly nodded. "Okay, okay."

Then, eager, she said, "If there's any problem with your family's plot of land, let me fix it first."

Seeing her urgency, Jin Xiuzhu said, "There's no problem. I just wanted to talk to you about this. You go back to your work. I have things to do too. Remember, don't tell anyone about this."

Qian Yufeng vigorously nodded, assuring her, "Rest assured, I won't tell a soul."

After saying that, she turned around and rushed home. After a few steps, she remembered leaving Jin Xiuzhu behind and quickly turned back. "I'm going now."

Jin Xiuzhu nodded, telling her to walk slowly.

Qian Yufeng chuckled, her face radiant.

Jin Xiuzhu couldn't help but smile as well. She even told her daughter beside her, "I wonder if it's just my imagination, but I feel like Aunt Qian has become more spirited."

Fu Yanyan watched as Aunt Qian's happy figure ran further away. She wanted to say that it wasn't an illusion and that Aunt Qian had indeed changed. Perhaps Jin Xiuzhu didn't notice much, but she remembered. In her previous life, Aunt Qian focused all her thoughts on trivial matters, always looking for ways to gain small advantages from others.

But now, she often brought them vegetables, attended literacy classes every night and learned to read many words, and even offered to give ten jin of meat to someone else.

She might still be a bit stingy and gossipy, but she was also generous, grateful, and striving to improve...

The next evening, Wang Ling came over again, holding a two-jin piece of meat. As soon as she entered, she pointed at Jin Xiuzhu and said angrily, "They say I can handle things, yet you still don't trust me. You actually sent someone with such a huge basket of meat. What if someone saw? How could we possibly finish so much meat?"

Despite her words, the smile on her face couldn't be hidden.

Jin Xiuzhu laughed. "You really did send it? When she asked me what to send, I told her that Sister loves meat, so she should send meat."

Wang Ling pretended to pinch her, laughing and scolding, "You naughty girl, giving such ideas."

Jin Xiuzhu dodged to the side. "Sending meat is great. Sister has been so busy lately, she should eat more meat to replenish herself. You've helped her so much; why shouldn't she buy something nice to honor you? If it were me, I'd be thrilled."

Wang Ling placed the meat on the table. "I'm too lazy to argue with you. Rest assured, the canteen job is settled. Even if she hadn't come to me, I would have sought you out. I've already told her she can start next week. A temporary worker at the canteen earns twenty a month, but if she does well, I'll try to make her position permanent next year."

Jin Xiuzhu hurriedly flattered her. "Wang Factory Director is truly reliable. You arranged everything so smoothly. Qian Yufeng is lucky to have met you."

Wang Ling glared at her. "Stop flattering me. Where's the painting?"

"I painted it, I painted it."

With that, she went into the room and took out a dozen or so sheets of paper to give her.

As Wang Ling looked through them, her eyes lit up. She glanced at Jin Xiuzhu, then sat down and slowly examined each one, growing increasingly delighted. "These paintings are too beautiful."

The patterns were colorful, with flowers that exuded a unique charm she couldn't describe—she simply found them appealing. Besides flowers, there were lively little animals, auspicious clouds, cross patterns... anything imaginable, and nothing beyond Jin Xiuzhu's ability to paint.

She liked every single one, envisioning how they would look printed on fabric.

Jin Xiuzhu, slightly embarrassed, took a sip of water. In truth, only a few of these patterns were her original creations. Most were based on the designs of the clothes she used to wear in the Marquis Mansion.

Forget a dozen; she could create hundreds without repeating a design. After all, she used to commission dozens of outfits each season, and the embroidery artisans would present her with the latest pattern books, none of which had unattractive designs.

After finishing, Wang Ling stuffed all the papers into her pocket. "Alright, think of more patterns. I'll take these. Once the fabrics are made, I'll show them to you."

Jin Xiuzhu nodded. "These patterns are best suited for silk. They might not stand out as much on ordinary fabric."

Wang Ling agreed, having worked in the textile factory long enough to understand these nuances.

After Wang Ling left, Jiang Mingchuan dared to speak up, asking Jin Xiuzhu what had happened and why it seemed related to Qian Yufeng?

Jin Xiuzhu recounted the events involving Qian Yufeng to him. Jiang Mingchuan frowned. "Who did Little Jun learn that from? Why did he run away from home?"

He Yan chimed in, reminding his father, "From Yang Yingxiong."

Jiang Mingchuan recalled Yang Yingxiong not coming home last year, but Yang Yingxiong's situation was special; his family treated him poorly.

However, Wu Xiaojun ran away because of a schoolbag.

His frown deepened. "Erzhu needs to step up. Children shouldn't be taught like this."

Jin Xiuzhu agreed. Teaching children well wasn't solely the responsibility of the mother; Wu Erzhu was also negligent.

She didn't fully understand the customs here, where men seemed to distance themselves after providing for their families. In the Great Jing Dynasty, men also worked outside to support their households but never neglected the education of their children. Wealthy families hired tutors to teach their children from around age three and regularly tested their progress. Those less fortunate personally instructed their children, while only the poorest ignored their kids' education, focusing solely on survival.

Here, regardless of wealth, children were often left to fend for themselves. When problems arose, mothers were blamed, despite many being illiterate and unable to impart valuable lessons to their offspring.

Thinking about this, she couldn't resist saying, "You're not much better. I rarely see you taking care of the children."

Jiang Mingchuan rubbed his nose. "I'm just busy."

Feeling that Jin Xiuzhu underestimated their children, he believed his kids were better than Wu Xiaojun, no matter how mediocre they might seem.

Jin Xiuzhu huffed. "Being busy isn't an excuse. From now on, spend some time with the children every day, whether reading or playing with them."

Previously, he would teach the children to read, but now that they didn't need his help, he seemed to have stopped caring.

Jiang Mingchuan hummed in agreement.

He had one good quality: he listened when he heard reasonable advice. So, while Jin Xiuzhu painted in the evening, Jiang Mingchuan exercised with the children. He did push-ups on the floor, with his daughter sitting on his back, and his son mimicking him beside them. Even so, He Yan could barely manage two or three before collapsing on the floor, unable to get up.

Mocked in turn by father and daughter.

Jin Xiuzhu saw this and couldn't help but curl the corners of her lips.

By mid-April, Jin Xiuzhu suddenly realized that her period seemed to have not arrived, causing a jolt in her heart. However, at this time, her pulse was faint, so she wasn't too sure. She simply waited a few more days to see.

It wasn't until early May that Jin Xiuzhu detected a slippery pulse.