Chapter 623 How Much Manners Do You Have?

Chapter 623: Where Are Your Manners?

Jiang Yu wasn’t in a hurry to return to work. Instead, she spent a few days at home observing Aunt Lan.

It wasn’t that she was overly cautious, but the incident with Auntie Zou had left her wary.

After a few days, she found that Aunt Lan was indeed reliable—hardworking and efficient. She would pitch in to help Yao Xiangling but never touched the child without permission.

Perhaps Lan Raoping had warned her beforehand, as she clearly understood boundaries.

“You should hurry back to work. The factory is waiting for you,” urged Yao Xiangling.

Hearing this, Aunt Lan glanced over her shoulder.

“Raoping told me that Jiang Yu is very capable for her age and is already part of the factory leadership.”

Yao Xiangling smiled proudly and nodded.

“She’s got talent and luck.”

That’s a rare combination.

Considering that Yao Xiangling was at home to keep an eye on things, Jiang Yu decided to return to work the next day.

After her maternity leave, aside from being a little curvier, she was back to normal—her complexion even looked better.

Thanks to Jiang Yu’s strong recommendation, Wu Jinshun was filling in as Deputy Section Chief, but the factory had yet to issue an official notice confirming his promotion.

While reporting back to the factory office, Jiang Yu brought up the matter again with Factory Director Zheng.

Factory Director Zheng said, “Too many folks are gunning for this position. I’d like to follow your suggestion and promote Wu Jinshun directly, but he lacks enough standout wins to justify it.”

Jiang Yu replied, “He’s been in the promotions department for years and has contributed a lot, though his efforts aren’t always showy enough to get noticed. No matter what, Wu-ge is still better than an outsider parachuting in, isn’t he?”

Factory Director Zheng sighed. “It’s complicated. After your return, I discussed with Director Qian about transferring you to Factory Three. If you leave, your position would naturally be filled by the deputy section chief.”

Thus, if Wu Jinshun were promoted, he would soon rise to section chief, which would inevitably make people jealous.

Jiang Yu felt frustrated. “So, even if Wu-ge gets promoted, he’d have to wait until someone else is assigned to take my position first?”

Factory Director Zheng shook his head. “It’d be delayed further.”

Because no one entering the promotions department could immediately become section chief—they’d first need to serve as deputy. Jiang Yu herself would also need time before moving up further.

Jiang Yu sighed. “Alright, I’ll go then.”

Just as she was about to leave, Factory Director Zheng stopped her.

“Wait a moment.”

He pulled out a stack of letters from his drawer—correspondence between Jiang Yu and Qin Yunan that Jiao Zongyao had previously intercepted.

“I’ve read these letters. There’s nothing inappropriate, but I noticed you and Mr. Qin were discussing synthetic fiber production?”

Jiang Yu nodded. She was an open book with Factory Director Zheng.

"My senior brother mentioned earlier that he could come and set up factories inland. He has the capital and technology and is willing to help us establish a chemical base. However, there don't seem to be any policies allowing foreign investment in the country recently."

So they could only consider it but couldn’t put it into practice.

Factory Director Zheng clapped his hands excitedly and said, "First, discuss it with Comrade Qin, and wait a little longer. It'll happen eventually!"

Given his senior position, he was more sensitive to national policies in various fields and had already sensed policy relaxations across the board since the end of last year.

He had a premonition that big changes were coming.

"Jiang Yu, if the chemical base can be established, it will be a major step forward for the domestic textile industry!"

Jiang Yu understood this very well—otherwise, she wouldn’t have spent so much effort going back and forth on this with Qin Yunan.

After all, sending these letters to Hong Kong and then to Qin Yunan’s hands required so much effort and time.

Yet, so many of them had been intercepted by Jiao Zongyao.

Not slapping Jiao Zongyao a few times earlier really let him off easy.

"Alright, I was just asking casually. You can go back to work now."

Jiang Yu acknowledged and stood up to leave.

Returning to the Propaganda Department, Cai Xiaole perked up.

"Jiang Yu, you’re back at work today!"

Jiang Yu smiled. "Yes, I'm back at work today."

She glanced around the office. With only three people in the Propaganda Department, it seemed we're seriously understaffed.

"Xiaole, inform the Personnel Department later that our Propaganda Department needs to recruit two more staff members."

Cai Xiaole nodded repeatedly. "I agree. It’s been just me and Wu-ge these past few days—so boring."

Jiang Yu gave her a look. "If you’re bored, read more books and enrich your knowledge."

Cai Xiaole had been mentored by Teacher Lu Bing for a while and had real talent behind the mic.

If she had the chance to further her studies at university in the future, she might have a bright future.

Cai Xiaole stuck her tongue out playfully and followed her into the office with a grin.

"My mom won't stop bugging me to have a baby. It’s driving me crazy."

She enjoyed married life without kids and feared losing peace once a child arrived.

Jiang Yu said, "You just got married—there’s no rush."

Cai Xiaole latched onto that. "Right? You also think I don’t need to hurry, don’t you?"

"You and Sixie are still young. Take a couple more years and think it through before having a child. A child isn’t a pet—they're not pets you can just feed and forget. Once you have one, you must be prepared to take responsibility."

Cai Xiaole deeply agreed. Sixie didn't mind and always followed her lead.

If she wanted to wait, he would naturally cooperate.

"How is He Xing doing now?"

Cai Xiaole had always resented how Cai Huifang treated her before, and felt deeply guilty.

"She was in school before, but now she's on winter break."

Cai Xiaole paused and asked, "Where is she spending the New Year? If she has nowhere to go, she’s welcome to come over for dinner."

She wanted to make amends to He Xing but was afraid her approach could backfire and hurt her again.

Jiang Yu chuckled at how careful she was being.

"I never held it against you, and neither would He Xing. I understand Aunt Cai’s actions—that’s just how people are. Besides, she’ll likely be spending the New Year with her own family this year."

Cai Xiaole was stunned. "What family?"

Jiang Yu said casually, "Director Lan has been searching for his daughter, right? Turns out He Xing might be her. It’s not confirmed yet—we’re waiting for the police results—but it’s almost certain. Keep it under wraps for now."

Cai Xiaole exclaimed, "That’s so dramatic! But wasn’t it supposed to be Ding He?"

"Ding He was a mix-up. She isn’t the one, but Director Lan is still paying for her schooling since she has no home. Life’s funny like that—that’s just how it is."

Jiang Yu was also moved. This proved that Lan Raoping and Nini were truly destined to be mother and daughter.

Cai Xiaole sighed. "How wonderful. After so many years apart, they’ve finally reunited."

Lan Raoping officially acknowledged He Xing as her daughter the day before New Year’s Eve.

The police station had dug deep into the case, confirming the location and time He Xing was found by her adoptive parents, even matching the clothes she wore when she went missing as a child.

After comparison, the probability that He Xing was Nini exceeded ninety percent.

When He Xing heard the news, she stood frozen, like she’d been struck dumb.

She had resigned herself to being alone, never imagining that one day she would reunite with her real mother.

Helpless, she looked at Jiang Yu, looking to her for support.

"Sister Jiang Yu..."

Jiang Yu held her hand and comforted her. "Don’t be afraid. You already knew you had other family, didn’t you? Xing Er, your birth parents never abandoned you. You were lost by accident. All these years, Ping Jie has been searching for you."

He Xing’s heart was in turmoil—she couldn’t tell whether joy or shock weighed more.

Though Lan Raoping was overwhelmed, she tried hard to keep it together.

"It’s okay. I know this is hard to accept right now. Let’s take this slow, okay?"

He Xing glanced at her timidly.

Lan Raoping reached out, her voice breaking. "My name is Lan Raoping. I work at the Second State Cotton Mill. I’m your... mother. I’ve been looking for you for so many years. I never knew you were this close to me! If only I had wandered around more, maybe I would’ve found you sooner."

He Xing pressed a hand to her chest, unsure if it was Lan Raoping’s emotions affecting her, but her eyes grew hot, and her heart ached.

Slowly, she reached out and placed her hand in Lan Raoping’s palm.

"My name is He Xing."

Lan Raoping covered her mouth, sobbing uncontrollably, and couldn’t stop herself from pulling He Xing into a tight embrace.

She squeezed her so tight it almost hurt.

Lan Raoping's embrace made her feel deeply secure.

She barely knew this "mother" figure before her, yet He Xing could sense the genuine emotions she was showing now.

After they had cried for a while, Jiang Yu finally spoke up: "Ping Jie, maybe we should head back now."

Lan Raoping came back to herself and released He Xing, hastily wiping her tears.

"Nini... no, you're called Xing Er now, right? Would you like to keep staying at Jiang Yu's place, or come home with me?"

He Xing froze. "Can I really choose?"

Lan Raoping gave a pained smile. "Of course I want you to come home with me, but we're still getting to know each other. I respect your decision."

After a moment's thought, He Xing said, "I'd like to spend this New Year with Jiang Yu first. After the holidays, I'll move in with you. Is that okay?"

This decision alone made Lan Raoping cry again.

"You're willing to live with me?"

He Xing nodded. "You are my mother, aren't you? Before she died, my grandmother always hoped I'd find my family. Now I have."

Seeing Lan Raoping about to cry again, Jiang Yu handed her a handkerchief.

"Ping Jie, if you cry any more, you'll scare He Xing."

Lan Raoping managed to hold back her tears. "I'm sorry, I'm just so overjoyed."

Noticing it was still early, Jiang Yu suggested, "He Xing hasn't bought any new clothes for the New Year yet. Ping Jie, why don't you take her shopping?"

He Xing quickly declined. "Jiang Yu-jie has already bought me plenty of clothes. I don't need more."

At this moment, Lan Raoping would have given He Xing anything if she could—let alone clothes, she'd have bought out the entire department store if possible.

"What Jiang Yu bought you is her way of caring. Give me the chance to express my love too, okay?"

Unable to refuse, He Xing nodded.

Jiang Yu was free and joined them for the shopping trip.

Lan Raoping held He Xing's hand tightly, her happiness plain to see, as if she wanted to announce to the whole world that this was her daughter.

He Xing had no memory of a "mother" in her life. However loving her grandmother had been, it wasn't quite the same.

Lan Raoping's palm was warm and strong, like a great tree offering shelter and support.

At the department store, Lan Raoping first picked out fabrics to make clothes for He Xing.

Jiang Yu also selected some, planning to make little clothes for Ning Ning.

When she went to pay, Lan Raoping stopped her.

"Let me. I haven't given Ning Ning anything yet."

Understanding this was her way of showing gratitude, Jiang Yu didn't argue.

"Alright, thanks then."

Not satisfied with just fabrics, Lan Raoping then took He Xing to the clothing department.

He Xing was taken aback by her enthusiasm, as if she wanted her to try on every piece of clothing in the store.

Just for padded jackets alone, she bought three for her.

He Xing was genuinely surprised, feeling somewhat uneasy.

Jiang Yu held her hand and whispered, "You don’t know this, but she really went through hell searching for you. Now that she’s finally found you, let her have this. Her salary is high—this is nothing to her."

He Xing nodded. "I understand."

While Lan Raoping was busy picking clothes for He Xing, Jiang Yu spotted Cai Huifang.

Cai Huifang walked over with a blank expression—she had been watching from the sidelines for a while.

Seeing Lan Raoping buy clothes for He Xing while Jiang Yu stood by without stopping her, even seeming pleased, Cai Huifang felt that as an elder, she ought to set these young ones straight.

"What a coincidence, you’re here shopping too?"

Jiang Yu didn’t want to talk to her, but out of respect for Lai Liuzi and Cai Xiaole, she couldn’t ignore her.

"Aunt Cai, why aren’t you at home preparing for tomorrow’s New Year’s Eve dinner?"

Cai Huifang smiled. "With Sixie around, I can finally relax a bit this year."

Her eyes moved to He Xing.

"Jiang Yu, He Xing is still a child, but you’re several years older than her. You ought to know better."

Jiang Yu was confused. "Aunt Cai, what do you mean?"

Cai Huifang’s expression turned stern. "I know you pity He Xing—she is indeed pitiable—but you shouldn’t take her around begging for handouts and fish for sympathy. Always looking for freebies will only lead her astray later."

He Xing’s face fell. She had heard such lecturing many times before when she lived at Lai Liuzi’s place.

Cai Huifang truly despised her, her eyes filled with disdain as she spoke, making it especially humiliating.

Jiang Yu glanced at He Xing’s hand and pretended not to understand.

"Aunt Cai, I really don’t understand. How are we pretending to be pitiable for sympathy? And how are we being greedy for petty gains?"

Cai Huifang frowned and glanced at Lan Raoping.

"I just saw with my own eyes—Director Lan buying clothes for He Xing, and quite a few at that. You can’t say I’m mistaken, can you?"

Jiang Yu shook her head. "No, you’re not mistaken. Ping Jie is indeed buying clothes for He Xing."

"Then there you have it. Taking advantage of Director Lan—you really have no shame. He Xing, as your elder, I have to set you straight. You’re probably from the countryside and think you can just take whatever handouts come your way. Any well-bred child would never do such a thing."

Cai Huifang said self-righteously, convinced she was standing on the right side as she was criticizing He Xing.

Now, she only felt relieved that Jiang Yu had taken He Xing away.

If someone like her had really stayed in their home, she might have ended up living off us forever.

He Xing bit her lip and retorted, "I grew up without a father or mother, so of course I have no manners. But Aunt Cai, you know nothing about me, yet here you are, lecturing me like you're so perfect. How much manners do you really have?"