“Hey, Xiao Xu, get us more orders? From Foreign you say , what, two million eight hundred thousand?” Director Niu’s voice was a shaky whisper, as if he’d heard something straight out of a science fiction film. He felt his knees buckle. Xiao Xu hadn’t just found orders; they were from foreigners, each one exceeding two million yuan—almost a year’s worth of orders for their entire factory!
“It’s done. I’m so busy!” Director Niu’s emotions were a tumultuous mix. Joy swelled in his chest at the factory’s newfound prosperity, yet a wave of anxiety quickly followed. Could his employees handle such a monumental task? Even with batch shipments, production time was a formidable concern. What if they couldn’t finish?
“Secretary Yang, go quickly and tell Captain Xu of Xujiacun—Xu Ying’s father—that I’m sending sewing machines over immediately. Tell them to recruit people, fast!”
“Okay, I’ll go now,” Secretary Yang responded with alacrity, already rushing towards his car. The bumpy ride to Xujiacun was swift, and he disembarked in a hurry. Spotting a villager, he asked, “Excuse me, where is Captain Xu’s home?”
Chen Yanran, her eyes flashing with a peculiar light, asked, “What do you want with Captain Xu?”
Secretary Yang, beaming, spoke of the good news. “Captain Xu’s daughter has brought us foreign exchange orders, and our factory is swamped right now! We’re looking for your captain to recruit staff. Where is his home?” He noted the girl’s haggard appearance but thought little of it.
“Are you from a food factory?” Chen Yanran’s question was laced with an uncanny knowing.
Secretary Yang’s gaze sharpened, a strange look in his eyes. How did this girl know so much?
Sensing his suspicion, Chen Yanran quickly smiled, pointing down the road. “Go straight, take the first intersection, turn right, and then it’s the third house.”
Secretary Yang, without another word, hurried off towards Captain Xu’s home.
Chen Yanran watched his retreating figure, a flicker of raw hatred in her eyes. Her fists clenched, knuckles turning white as she gritted her teeth. “Xu Ying, you forced me to do this. Don’t blame me for being ruthless.” With that, she spun around and strode purposefully towards the most dilapidated house in the village.
Dong Wenzhong and Xu Qingqing were engaged right now , their future seemingly set. The promise of Dong Wenzhong’s return to the city had been the bedrock of their union. But fate, ever fickle, had intervened. The village party secretary, a crucial link to his city return, had faced an unexpected setback, crushing Dong Wenzhong’s hopes.
Yet, the marriage plans had already been finalized. Xu Qingqing’s parents, unwilling to see their daughter remain unmarried and living at home, had an early agreement with Dong Wenzhong: after the wedding, they would find their own place.
Dong Wenzhong, seething with anger over his thwarted return to the city, initially considered breaking off the engagement. But doing so would tarnish Xu Qingqing’s family’s reputation. Xu Qingqing herself, recognizing that Dong Wenzhong’s rural plight meant no city life for her, also contemplated ending it, believing she had other options.
Upon hearing her willingness to break off the engagement, Dong Wenzhong’s anger shifted. After all, he was stuck in the countryside, miserable and adrift. Marrying Xu Qingqing, however, would grant him favor with her family, ensuring he was cared for. So, with cunning words, he persuaded Xu Qingqing to proceed with the marriage. The engagement stood, and now, a home was needed.
Being their own flesh and blood, Xu Qingqing’s parents couldn’t simply abandon her. They found Dong Wenzhong a house, dilapidated though it was, at least it offered shelter.
Dong Wenzhong was cleaning the yard when Chen Yanran arrived. He looked up, clearly surprised. “Why are you here?”
“Dong Wenzhong, let’s talk about cooperation!” Chen Yanran’s voice held a frantic edge, her eyes gleaming with a mad intensity.
Dong Wenzhong frowned, observing her agitated state. “What do you even have now? What could you possibly cooperate with me on?” He had, by now, resigned himself to his fate, his feelings for Xu Ying long since extinguished.
“The county’s textile and food factories are coming to our village to produce. At this time…” Chen Yanran’s words trailed off, a chillingly evil smile curving her lips, making her look like a demon.
Dong Wenzhong’s eyes widened in horror. “Are you insane? I won’t help you. If we fail, we’ll end up in jail!”
Chen Yanran burst into laughter, her eyes filled with scorn. “Why are you so scared? We will definitely succeed in this matter. As long as we succeed, Xu Ying will be ruined! Do you truly like your life now? Oh, by the way, I forgot you’re getting married. Marrying a country woman means you’ll never be able to hold your head high for the rest of your life. I remember your cousin married a girl from the same county, and now he’s become a phoenix! It’s such a pity. People with different destinies have different fates. Your cousin is far more powerful than you.”
Chen Yanran’s words ignited a furious spark in Dong Wenzhong. “You shut your damn mouth! I won’t stay in this ungrateful place for the rest of my life! I’ll return to the city, sooner or later. I can’t do what you’re suggesting, and I wouldn’t dare.”
Chen Yanran, surprised by his cowardice, sneered. “Do you know why you can’t go back to the city? Those anonymous letters from the Female Educated Youth Institute were all written by Xu Ying! And your cousin was bribed by Xu Ying ages ago. The person he married is the cousin of Xu Ying’s ‘good sister’! Poor you, you’re even dumber than I am. You’ve been played by Xu Ying all this time, haven’t you noticed? Xu Ying just wants to destroy both you and me. If you don’t resist, you’ll only perish.”
Dong Wenzhong stared at Chen Yanran, his head reeling in disbelief. His fingers trembled slightly, and with anger blazing in his eyes, he strode towards her. “You dare to swear that everything you just said is true?”
Chen Yanran let out a bitter, almost theatrical laugh, then swore an oath. “I swear, if I, Chen Yanran, utter any lies, I will be struck down by lightning.”
Dong Wenzhong’s face twisted with agony. Xu Ying… how dare she? How dare she do this? He had yearned for his return to the city for so long, only for this bitch, Xu Ying, to ruin everything. He had toiled, he had waited, he had finally seen a glimmer of hope, only to be plunged back into darkness by her. A murderous rage consumed Dong Wenzhong. He wanted to kill Xu Ying himself.
“Then, let’s wait until the goods arrive,” Dong Wenzhong finally muttered, his voice hoarse with suppressed fury.
A faint smile touched Chen Yanran’s lips, and she transformed instantly, reverting to her seemingly pure and pitiful demeanor, as if the earlier madness had never existed. “Then we’ll take action the day after tomorrow. I’ll notify the people in Lijiacun.”
“Why are you involving them? So many people will make too much noise!” Dong Wenzhong protested, disapproval etched on his face.
Chen Yanran’s smile widened faintly. “Who said they were allowed to cooperate with us? We’ll just make a fool of them.”
A sudden realization dawned on Dong Wenzhong. He looked at Chen Yanran, a flicker of sympathy in his eyes. If Xu Ying truly was responsible for Chen Yanran’s suffering, then Xu Ying was indeed a cruel woman. It was truly pitiful that someone as seemingly kind as Yanran could be so thoroughly plotted against.
As he considered Xu Qingqing’s appearance and then glanced at Chen Yanran’s, a fleeting trace of both disgust and desire crossed Dong Wenzhong’s features.
Chen Yanran, oblivious to the complexity of his expression, walked directly into his embrace. Dong Wenzhong, without a hint of rejection, held her close. No one was around to witness them anyway. And so, he simply held her, and they spent that night together in the quiet of the yard.