Chapter 54 Deliberate

Chapter 54: Intentional

The factory leadership had been deliberating for a long time over Xie Xinyi’s evaluation for the Outstanding Employee award, but no decision had been reached.

When Director Ou asked her son about Xie Xinyi’s recipe modification, Shorty initially thought there was a problem with the sandwich ice cream.

“There’s nothing wrong with the ice cream. I’m asking if Xie Xinyi really wrote that improved recipe.”

Shorty breathed a sigh of relief. “Yes, she was the one who suggested making the sandwich ice cream.”

“The idea for the new ice cream was hers?”

This time, Director Ou was even more surprised.

She stood there, watching her naive son enthusiastically recount how Xie Xinyi had proposed the idea, convinced everyone with her actions, and, after two failures, identified the flaws in the recipe with her sensitive palate.

“...Mom, you have no idea, I was completely stunned at the time,” Shorty said, gesturing excitedly. “She could even pinpoint measurements to the gram. I’ve never admired anyone so much in my life—Xie Xinyi is the first.”

Her son had grown up by her side, seen and experienced much, and it wasn't easy for just anyone to impress him.

Knowing her son’s personality and seeing how certain he was, Director Ou didn’t say much more.

But as she left, her usually confident expression seemed preoccupied. Even when Shorty called out to her several times, she didn’t respond.

“Hey, Xiao Xie, I heard your team was rated as an Advanced Team this year. Is that true?”

Ever since Cui Mama and Xiao Jiang’s new product was sent for pricing, and Big Chen’s new product was approved by Old Liu for mass production, Xie Xinyi was asked this question every day on her way to work.

“I’m not sure either. The notice hasn’t come down yet. If we really get it, I’ll make sure Monitor Cui treats everyone to candy.”

Unlike Cui Mama, Xie Xinyi didn’t go around boasting about something that wasn’t yet confirmed. Although Xiao Jiang had told her that their team might be rated as an Advanced Team this year, since it was just a possibility and nothing was certain, she wouldn’t take it seriously or make definitive statements.

She gave a vague, joking response, even pushing Cui Mama forward as a "scapegoat"—neither confirming nor denying, and avoiding giving the impression that their team was arrogant.

“No wonder Old Liu strongly recommended her as an Outstanding Employee.”

Fang Mingan, pushing his bicycle behind her, couldn’t help but sigh to Yuan Kang after hearing this.

The young girl was not only able to detect the exact measurements in a recipe but also handled the conversation so skillfully.

After Old Liu had listed Xie Xinyi’s contributions since joining the factory, aside from Director Ou checking with those who had worked with Xiao Xie on the recipe, Fang Mingan and Yuan Kang had also visited the team a few times to observe.

It wasn’t that they didn’t trust Old Liu’s words; they just wanted to see the girl’s daily work performance firsthand. If anyone questioned her abilities in the future, they would have grounds to defend her.

However, when they arrived at the team, they didn’t see much of her work performance. Instead, they saw a constant stream of people bringing things to the girl, just as Old Liu had described. Xie Xinyi had become the factory’s go-to taster.

Whenever anyone developed a new product, the first person they thought of was Xie Xinyi. If she found no issues with the taste, they would then bring the product to Old Liu for final approval.

Having been the factory director for so many years, Fang Mingan had never seen such a sight. He even witnessed firsthand how Xie Xinyi could taste a batch of recipes and identify which ingredients needed to be reduced or increased.

This time, the two were completely convinced. They returned to the office and immediately added Xie Xinyi’s name to the evaluation form.

Due to the decentralization of R&D decisions, Guohui Food Factory’s annual company party was postponed by half a month. After the new product quotas were used up, Cui Mama and others began rounding up performers for the event, while the entire factory started discussing which team would be rated as an Advanced Team and who would win the Progress Award and Outstanding Employee Award.

Having been a background performer last year, when Cui Mama suggested that Xie Xinyi join the choir, she agreed without hesitation.

In the afternoon, she took the part of the song she planned to lip-sync and went home to practice. Just as she reached the entrance of the residential compound, she saw Zhang Xin returning from the train station.

“Zhang Juan’s back!”

She smiled and greeted the siblings, but only as she approached did she notice a man holding luggage standing beside Zhang Xin.

"Oh, right, I almost forgot to introduce him."

Noticing Xie Xinyi's gaze, Zhang Xin pointed to the man standing next to Zhang Juan and introduced, "This is the guy my parents set Juan up with—Ma Dakui."

"Ma Dakui, this is my childhood buddy Gu Yu’s wife, Xie Xinyi."

"Hello, Comrade Xie."

After Zhang Xin finished the introduction, the man took a small step forward and gave her a crisp military salute.

Xie Xinyi: "!!!"

Whoa, so formal?

She smiled and nodded, responding with equal warmth, "Hello, Comrade Ma."

Throughout the interaction, Zhang Juan stood by Ma Dakui’s side with a gentle smile, appearing all sweet and demure. Only after the two had exchanged greetings did she softly say to Xie Xinyi, "Sis-in-law, thank you for taking care of my brother all this time."

Xie Xinyi didn’t beat around the bush either. "It has been a bit of work, and your brother hasn’t even thought to bring any rice to our place."

She said it jokingly, trying to keep the tone light so the Zhang family wouldn’t feel overly burdened. However, some people didn’t appreciate the gesture. On the way home, Zhang Xin kept emphasizing how important his presence was at the Gu family’s meals.

"...You know how his family is, especially Gu Yu—always cold-faced, never smiling. Me going to their place is like bringing warmth. Have you ever seen a helpful fairy needing to bring her own rice when she visits someone’s home?"

Xie Xinyi couldn’t be bothered to engage with him. Even Zhang Juan rolled her eyes at her brother. Only Ma Dakui seemed confused, glancing back and forth between Zhang Juan and Zhang Xin, unsure what was happening.

Amid the lively chatter, the group went their separate ways at the Gu family’s doorstep. But before Xie Xinyi had even finished dinner, Zhang Xin tagged along after Gu Ying back to the Gu residence.

"Hey, Zhang, don’t you have anything better to do? Are you that free? You’re always sniffing around our house."

Gu Ying had long had enough of this hanger-on. She complained while taking the bowl of rice from Wang Ma, not even bothering to look at him.

"I’ve already eaten. I’m not sniffing around—what would I be sniffing for? I just came to ask your brother something."

Faced with Gu Ying’s cold shoulder, Zhang Xin first made a show of being proper. But despite claiming he had already eaten, he still accepted the bowl Wang Ma handed him. Ignoring the disapproving looks, he turned cheerfully to Grandma Gu and Wen Shuhua, gabbing about Zhang Juan’s new beau.

"...Oh, you’ve seen him? I was going to bring a photo to show you. So, doesn’t he seem much better than that Gao guy?"

"He does look more pleasant than that Gao fellow."

Earlier, while helping Grandma Gu steady the vegetable rack at the courtyard gate, Wen Shuhua had run into Zhang Juan and Ma Dakui, who were returning after fetching some things. She had pulled Grandma Gu aside to take a closer look.

The man had a classic square jaw, thick eyebrows, and large eyes. He had an energetic bearing and wore his clothes neatly, giving off a very upright and proper first impression.

Moreover, as he walked alongside Zhang Juan, he kept a respectful distance, never overstepping, and his demeanor was respectful, not flirtatious.

Carrying loads of items while Zhang Juan only had a small bag, Wen Shuhua could tell right away that he was intentionally adjusting his pace to hers.

"This young man is quite good."

She made her judgment immediately, knowing that if a man is willing to slow his steps for a woman, it either means he is down-to-earth and practical, or he is attentive to her comfort—a sign of his affection.

Wen Shuhua hadn’t understood the significance of a man slowing down to walk beside a woman until she met Gu Haoyi, the man who, even after decades of marriage, always walked ahead of her.

She highly approved of the match the Zhang family had arranged for their daughter. And after Xie Xinyi returned and recounted the scene of their meeting at the gate, Wen Shuhua was so excited she didn't even bother washing her hands before immediately calling Luo Jinxia.

And now, as Zhang Xin swallowed a mouthful of food and eagerly told her the details, it was exactly the same as what Luo Jinxia had said on the phone.

"...The match was introduced by the wife of my dad’s army buddy. They say he has no parents or other family and has worked his way up to the rank of company commander through sheer hard work. He’s a dependable, honest guy, doesn’t talk much—but he is a bit older."

"How much older?" Grandma Gu asked.

"A full seven years older than my sister."

Zhang Juan was turning twenty-five after the New Year, so if Ma Dakui was seven years older, that would make him thirty-two.

"That is a bit older," Wen Shuhua remarked.

Luo Jinxia had only given her a general idea about him earlier; she hadn’t gotten to things like age before Zhang Xin showed up.

Now, hearing that the man was seven years older than Zhang Juan, she was both surprised and a little puzzled.

"Your mom and dad are such shrewd people—how did they end up picking someone so much older for your sister?"

At thirty-two—back when Gu Yu was twenty-five and still unmarried, Wen Shuhua had been worried sick.

If Ma Dakui is thirty-two and still dating, could there be something wrong with him?

She was doubtful, and Zhang Xin wasn’t sure either. "They say he’s well-liked with a good reputation in the military district."

It seemed they were still spooked by what happened with Gao He and had made sure to check his character out.

Wen Shuhua had nothing more to say, but Grandma Gu wasn’t bothered by the age difference. "As long as he’s a good man, sincere, and treats Juan well, that’s what matters."

"Right. Older men know how to treat someone right."

Xie Xinyi also chimed in, though as she spoke, Gu Yu beside her shot her a subtle, almost imperceptible glance.

"My mom said the same thing," Zhang Xin continued, oblivious, explaining further. "She said that when marrying a man, it's about having someone to rely on for clothing and food. When looking for a partner, you should find someone who is practical and hardworking—looks and appearances are superficial; what truly matters is a person’s reliability and diligence."

Luo Jinxia had said this in front of others at least ten times, and even Xie Xinyi had heard people in the courtyard mention it.

At the time, everyone speculated that she couldn't get over her daughter being jilted, deliberately emphasizing qualities that Gu Yu lacked.

But who would have thought that in the end, Luo Jinxia actually found such a person for Zhang Juan.

Ma Dakui might not be as good-looking as Gu Yu, but he is hardworking and capable. Despite his youth, he relied on neither family nor others, and managed to make his way from a small mountain village to Shanghai and even becoming a company commander.

To be honest, when Zhang Xin first described the man’s general situation, Xie Xinyi was quite impressed with Ma Dakui.

A person with no support, step by step, relying solely on himself to get to where he is today, fully dedicated to his work—which is why he hadn’t found a partner even at thirty-two.

From this perspective, it aligns well with his reputation for being diligent and hardworking.

Xie Xinyi suddenly recalled the scene from their meeting earlier that afternoon.

The man carried a bundle in his left hand and luggage in his right. Even working up a sweat in the dead of winter, he still didn’t let Zhang Juan carry a single thing.

Moreover, the way he greeted her was with a formal, respectful military salute.

It was exactly the kind of gesture one would expect from someone who had come up from the bottom.

Such a person, compared to the former Regimental Commander Gao...

If the two were to be compared, it’s true that, on the surface, Ma Dakui doesn't hold a candle to him. Whether in terms of appearance or family background, Gao He could outclass Ma Dakui by several measures. But when it comes to character?

An irresponsible playboy who fools around everywhere, and an honest man wholly devoted to his career who hasn’t even dated before—they're not even in the same league.

When sizing people up, look at their inner qualities; when marrying, marry someone reliable and responsible.

So this time, Xie Xinyi chose to side with Luo Jinxia, as did the other Gu family members, including Gu Yu.

“But just regarding the man’s family, your parents should still check things out.”

Although he also felt that Ma Dakui was much better than that Gao guy from before, it was still necessary to do your homework. After all, this matchmaking was crucial for Zhang Juan and could very well lead to marriage.

It wasn’t that he looked down on the man’s family, but having seen many such people and situations, he naturally understood better than others that you can't be too careful.

Zhang Xin also thought it would be better to get more details. Putting down his chopsticks, he said he would call his father as soon as he returned.

They talked a while longer about Zhang Juan’s situation. After Zhang Xin left, Xie Xinyi noticed that Gu Yu had hardly spoken from earlier until now.

She looked at the man half-leaning against the balcony, smoking.

His brows slightly furrowed, head lowered in deep thought...

Was he bothered by something?

But since Gu Yu often kept a cold expression and remained silent, Xie Xinyi didn’t think much of it. She simply sat in front of the dressing table and slathered on some face cream.

By the time the man finished his cigarette and returned, she had already tidied up and was lying in bed, looking through a playlist.

Gu Yu glanced at her but still said nothing.

Xie Xinyi pretended not to notice, waiting to see how long he'd keep quiet.

“I’m turning in first.”

She closed the playlist, completely ignoring Gu Yu, who was about to go wash up, pulled the covers over herself, and went to sleep.

Gu Yu stood at the doorway, his lips parting and closing several times, but in the end, he said nothing and turned to go wash up.

But after taking just two steps, the girl turned over, got up, and turned off the bedroom light, leaving only his bedside lamp flickering weakly.

Gu Yu froze in place. He wanted to pretend he hadn’t noticed, but he couldn’t help glancing at the petite figure on the bed.

“Older men are more attentive.”

He recalled the girl’s earlier words, glanced down at himself, then looked up at her. After a moment, he went to the mirror to take a good look at himself, then glanced at the girl again...

He walked over, lifted the covers, and got into bed. “Have you been very tired lately?”

“Dead tired,” Xie Xinyi turned over and mumbled in response. “Between rehearsals and work, it’s exhausting. Good thing I’m young and tough.”

The man’s movement to lie down stiffened slightly, but he said nothing.

Xie Xinyi turned over again. “You should go to sleep early too. Late nights are bad for you. Eldest Brother Chen from our class is only a few years older than you, but since his last injury, he still hasn’t fully recovered. When you’re older, you need to take good care of your health. Your health is everything.”

The man stiffened again. “I’m only twenty-six.”

“I know you’re twenty-six.”

Xie Xinyi hadn’t expected Gu Yu to emphasize his age. She just wanted him to sleep early so he could recover properly and avoid ending up like Big Chen, whose health declined after an injury.

She had the man's best interests at heart (which, indirectly, was also for her own happiness). Xie Xinyi was confused, but the man’s expression grew even darker. “Did you agree to come to Beijing because of my mom back then because I’m older than you?”

He's older than her?

Xie Xinyi was even more confused—what did age have to do with it?

Wait, something was off. Earlier, when Grandma and the others mentioned that Ma Dakui was older than Zhang Juan, she did say something about older people being more considerate.

But that was meant as praising Ma Dakui—how did it suddenly become about her and Gu Yu?

Xie Xinyi was speechless. Just as she was thinking of explaining, the man spoke again in a sullen tone, "Did you agree back then because you thought I was older and would be more considerate than those younger guys?"

What younger guys? What being considerate? What nonsense was this!

She looked up at the man sitting half-upright by the bed—still the same stern face, still frowning slightly...

So, he had been silent all this time because he thought she came to Beijing to fulfill the marriage arrangement just because he was older?

What kind of madness was this in the middle of the night!

Xie Xinyi was utterly exasperated. She had half a mind to retort, "If you know you’re older, why aren’t you sleeping earlier?" But since the man had barely said a word earlier, she decided to say nothing now.

Not only did she say nothing, she pretended to be asleep—just to spite him.

Gu Yu was indeed furious, even more so than when he first heard his family had set him up on a blind date.

Seeing that Xie Xinyi offered no explanation and had turned her back to him as if asleep, Gu Yu felt his breath catch, and his entire body turned cold as ice. He threw himself onto the bed with a thud.

He tossed and turned in bed, unable to fall asleep. He turned again, still wide awake.

So, did Xie Xinyi agree to come to Beijing back then because he was older?

Gu Yu couldn’t figure it out and wondered if he should ask again, but the next moment, the girl’s sleepy voice came from behind.

"Turn off the light!" Xie Xinyi didn’t want to deal with him at all—if it weren’t for the lamp bothering her, she wouldn’t have said anything. "Didn’t you say we should sleep early?"

Acting like a child at his age.

But she kept that last part to herself. She just wanted to sleep early and didn’t want to provoke the man into disturbing her.

Surprisingly, the man listened. Hearing the laziness in her tone, he didn’t argue, just got up to turn off the light, then lay back down heavily, still fuming.

The night was quiet. Xie Xinyi could clearly hear the pufferfish-like breathing from the other side.

The "pufferfish" slowly shifted from anger to calmness. Just as she thought the man had gotten over it, he suddenly turned over, moved closer, and muttered gruffly in her ear, "Do you really think I’m old?"

Xie Xinyi didn’t dare move. And then... she really couldn’t move anymore.

Xie Xinyi spent much of the night discussing with Gu Yu what exactly counted as "old," and she had to get up early for work the next morning, too tired even to lip-sync properly.

"What’s wrong? Is it that time again?"

Ms. Liu, accustomed to Xie Xinyi having a few difficult days each month, saw her looking listless and low-energy, so she let her rest in the back and skip the lip-syncing.

Xie Xinyi couldn’t explain what she’d been up to the night before, so she took the advice and slowly moved to hide in the back.

With the gala just a few days away, everyone was rehearsing intently. As a lip-sync team member, Xie Xinyi’s effort didn’t matter much to Cui Mama—she was just there to make up the numbers, as long as she stood in place.

On the day of the performance, Zhou Qing, who was organizing the gala, borrowed some powder and lipstick from elsewhere.

Although such things were generally not permitted, it was only once a year, and the leaders turned a blind eye, only advising Zhou Qing not to make it too obvious.

So, Zhou Qing applied just a light touch of powder and lipstick to the girls.

She moved mechanically from one person to the next until she reached Xie Xinyi, then suddenly paused mid-air.

"Skip her. Next."

Zhou Qing couldn’t believe her eyes—the face before her was naturally fair with a rosy glow.

Under the sunlight, her skin looked smooth, delicate, and radiant, far more natural and healthy than those who’d been powdered.

She had considered adding a touch of lipstick to Xie Xinyi’s lips, but after seeing those cherry-red lips...

Better to just move on.

After makeup, it was time for Xie Xinyi’s workshop to take the stage.

With her previous experience as a background performer, Xie Xinyi was much more relaxed this time.

Less nervous, she stood calmly at the back. As the music started, she lip-synced along to the songs she’d memorized during her late-night practices.

Of course, it was all silent mouthing.

Soon, the performance ended, and the host took the stage. Next came the highlight of the annual gala—awards for Advanced Collective, Outstanding Employee, Model Worker, and others.

As everyone had guessed, the Ice Pop Team, which hadn’t been recognized for ten years, was finally awarded Advanced Collective this year.

When Cui Mama went on stage to accept the award, his face beamed even brighter than if he’d won Model Worker himself, smiling from ear to ear.

Ms. Liu pointed at Cui Jun on stage and asked Xie Xinyi if she noticed any difference from usual.

Difference? Xie Xinyi looked closely.

He did seem different—his hair was specially styled, slicked back and shiny, and his face looked noticeably lighter, perhaps powdered?

And then there was the suit, the pointed leather shoes...

"Could this be the outfit he wore at his wedding?"

Xie Xinyi almost laughed. From the time she’d joined the factory until now, this was the first time she’d seen Cui Jun dressed so formally.

"He took this awards ceremony very seriously," Ms. Liu said, covering her mouth with a smile. "He asked me a few days ago what he should wear."

Xiao Jiang chimed in, "He also asked me whether round-toe or pointed-toe shoes would be better."

"He asked me too," Big Chen sighed helplessly.

Amid their laughter, the auditorium broke into warm applause as the Model Worker awards began.

Cui Mama walked toward them, holding the award certificate and prizes, while the winners filed onto the stage one group after another.

Every face glowed with joy, and everyone applauded to celebrate their achievements.

The Ice Pop Team members passed the freshly awarded certificate around, excited and thrilled.

"There was a time when our team won awards until our hands were tired, and prizes piled up beyond storage. Now we’ve finally regained our pride."

Cui Jun held the prize tightly in his arms and couldn’t help but sigh with emotion.

"That's all thanks to our colleague Xie Xinyi," Ms. Liu drew Xie Xinyi in, jokingly telling Cui Mama to properly thank the star player of their team.

"It's the result of everyone's hard work; I just did what I should," Xie Xinyi replied modestly, feeling too embarrassed to take credit for the flattering words from Ms. Liu, Xiao Jiang, and the others.

The group argued back and forth about whether Cui Jun should treat everyone to a meal when, in a daze, they heard an achingly familiar name.

"Frozen Products Workshop, Ice Pop Team, Xie Xinyi."