Chapter 463 Then I Win

Chapter 463 Then I’ve Profited

Another Insects' Awakening arrived, spring thunder rumbling as a light drizzle fell over Beicheng.

Jiang Yu hated going out in the rain.

Cai Xiaole often came to visit her, passing time with casual conversation.

They mostly discussed factory business.

"The factory suddenly received a large sum of money—originally intended for purchasing polyester fiber."

"But the supplier started raising prices. It's already unreasonable."

"Our factory isn't one to be pushed around, so we refused."

Yet without buying from them, finding another supplier at the last minute was difficult.

Communication was the main issue, so Lan Raoping suggested bringing Jiang Yu back to assist in negotiations with foreign suppliers.

Cai Xiaole fumed, "You could have used this opportunity to return to the second factory, but Wu Jingyi blocked it!"

Jiang Yu raised an eyebrow. "She opposed my return?"

"Not exactly. She actually connected with a Japanese supplier! Jiang Yu, isn’t that strange? Wu Jingyi speaks Japanese—and fluently too!"

With all the historical tensions between the countries, resentment ran deep. They had only formally established relations with Japan a few years ago, so ties were still fragile.

No one expected Wu Jingyi to have connections in Japan.

Still, the factory couldn’t afford to miss such a good opportunity.

Jiang Yu arched her brows. "Price?"

"A bit higher than before, but still the cheapest option currently available."

No surprise—the factory would likely accept.

"How did she make contact with the Japanese side?"

Cai Xiaole shook her head. "I don’t know."

Since she kept close to Jiang Yu, Wu Jingyi stayed distant. Cai Xiaole could only gather limited information from the propaganda office.

"It’s fine. If I don’t go back, I’ll just continue my vacation." Jiang Yu said casually.

Cai Xiaole didn’t know whether to admire her calmness or not.

"You really should come back. You're not at the second factory—how will you get rid of Wu Jingyi?"

Jiang Yu chuckled. "Why would I want to? Let her do what she can for the factory. At the end of the day, the factory benefits."

The reason she left was to make Wu Jingyi let down her guard.

And now, after repeated setbacks and the entire Jiang Chenghuai incident, Wu Jingyi had finally revealed her hand.

That Japanese supply channel definitely had problems.

But with He Tingyue watching her back, Jiang Yu felt completely at ease.

"Xiaole, just focus on your own work. Wu Jingyi can't affect you."

She had ulterior motives, and Cai Xiaole didn’t feel personally targeted.

Cai Xiaole pouted, "Then I won’t meddle anymore. You guys are always so secretive."

Wu Jingyi had earned merit this time, gaining favor at the factory and stealing the spotlight.

The cloud over the Jiang household, brought about by Jiang Chenghuai’s troubles, finally lightened somewhat.

Jiang Yu had been wondering all week what Wu Jingyi was really up to, but couldn’t figure it out.

Time passed in waiting, and in what seemed like no time, it was mid-March. The first batch of polyester fiber ordered from the island nation arrived at the port, and He Tingyue insisted on personally escorting the transport team.

"I’ll be gone for about a week. If anything happens, go to Hui Zi—don’t try to handle things alone."

Jiang Yu knew he was worried, so she nodded meekly in agreement.

If not for her persuasion, he wouldn’t have even planned to join this operation, leaving Factory Director Zheng exasperated.

Only after he swore up and down that nothing like last time would happen again did He Tingyue reluctantly agree.

After He Tingyue left, Jiang Yu’s life became even duller.

The sole bright spot was the wedding of Tong Fang and Yuan Jiayin.

It was already spring, and though it was still cold, at least the snow had melted.

The newlyweds, Yuan Jiayin and Tong Fang, made a good pair.

Tong Yuan was old enough to follow grown-up talk.

Occasionally, someone would tease him, "Your father’s taking a new wife. Once they have a little brother, they won’t want you anymore."

He would shoot back, "Your parents don’t want you! My dad and stepmom both said they’ll treat me well and let me take care of my little siblings. They’d never abandon me."

Clearly, those White Rabbit candies Yuan Jiayin had been feeding him had worked their magic.

At the banquet, Jiang Yu met Yuan Jiayin’s adoptive parents.

They seemed like kind people, but their relationship with Yuan Jiayin wasn’t particularly close.

Besides them, there was a stranger at the family’s table.

Though unfamiliar, Jiang Yu kept getting this nagging sense she’d seen him before.

She casually probed Yuan Jiayin and learned that this person was the vice minister of education, surnamed He.

Jiang Yu then realized—he must be He Tingyue’s uncle, He Jundao.

"Your uncle absolutely adores you."

The way He Jundao looked at Yuan Jiayin was even more affectionate than her adoptive father’s gaze.

Yuan Jiayin took it in stride and explained, "Uncle He is close with my uncle. He watched me grow up, and since he doesn’t have children of his own, he pampers me rotten."

"At his age, no children? Did he never marry?"

Yuan Jiayin shook her head. "He did, but he married late. Though no one knows why, they never had kids."

Jiang Yu looked surprised. "How unusual."

After the banquet, Jiang Yu was about to leave.

Just as she reached the door, a woman called out to her.

Jiang Yu turned and saw a very gentle woman—how to describe her? Like water: gentle and all-embracing.

"You're Jiang Yu, right?"

Jiang Yu nodded. "Have we met?"

"No, we haven't met. I just got to know you today. My name is Chu Yunmei. Family-wise, I'm Tingyue's aunt-in-law, though he probably never mentioned me to you."

Jiang Yu understood now—it was He Jundao's wife.

He Jundao was very stern and rarely smiled, but his wife seemed quite easygoing.

"He never mentioned you," Jiang Yu confirmed.

Chu Yunmei walked up with a smile. "Even if he didn’t mention me, wouldn’t you be curious?"

Jiang Yu shook her head. "If he didn’t bring it up, that means he dislikes you. As his wife, why would I rub salt in his wounds?"

Chu Yunmei’s smile stiffened. She realized Jiang Yu wasn’t lying—she truly felt no curiosity at all.

"Jiang Yu, I’d like to sit down and talk with you."

"I have nothing to talk about with you," Jiang Yu declined. "And if I’m not mistaken, you didn’t come here on your own. Did Comrade Jundao send you?"

Chu Yunmei looked stunned, clearly shocked at how calmly Jiang Yu had said "He Jundao."

Jiang Yu kept her cool. "Sorry, but He Tingyue never intended to recognize you as family. Since he doesn’t acknowledge the relationship, there’s no need to stand on ceremony about titles. I hope you don’t mind me using his name?"

Chu Yunmei forced a smile. "Tingyue doesn’t care because he’s too stubborn. But as his wife, shouldn’t you help persuade him? Staying at odds with us doesn’t do him any favors."

"Let’s not get into what’s good or bad—we don’t want anything from you anyway. But one thing is worth saying: not associating with people we dislike is benefit enough."

Chu Yunmei gritted her teeth, nearly losing her composed demeanor.

"Is it worth throwing away so much over petty feelings?"

"What counts as petty, and what counts as important?" Jiang Yu shot back.

Chu Yunmei said, "Personal feelings are minor matters; losing the He family is the bigger loss. Jiang Yu, the He family has been established in Beicheng for over a century. The resources they command are beyond your wildest dreams. If Tingyue had stayed within the He family, he wouldn’t have stalled at his current level—and he certainly wouldn’t have married someone like you."

Jiang Yu said flatly, "Huh. Then I came out ahead."