Before Xu Ying could utter a single word, Uncle Xu had already launched into a dramatic retelling of their journey. He spoke eloquently, describing every detail: from boarding the train, to being ridiculed, to fighting back, meeting reporters, and finally, Xu Ying’s encounter with the foreigners. His narration was vivid and embellished, even including the terrifying incident where he was held hostage by robbers.
Directors Sun and Niu, hearing of the hostage situation, immediately grew concerned. When they saw the faint knife mark on Uncle Xu’s neck, their anger flared. “Jianshe, take a good rest at home these days. We will truthfully inform the leaders about everything you and Xiao Xu have endured. I’m trying to get some subsidies for you. It’s truly a blessing for our factory to have employees like you!”
After expressing their concern, the two factory directors turned to Xu Ying, their faces alight with curiosity. They desperately wanted to know the full story of her interaction with the foreigners and how she had managed to secure such massive orders. Xu Ying, seeing their eager anticipation, recounted every detail, word for word.
Upon hearing her tale, Director Sun’s jaw dropped in shock. “Xiao Xu, you actually understand English?”
Uncle Xu, brimming with pride, interjected, “That’s right! My niece is a high school student. She studied exceptionally well! If college hadn’t been canceled, she might have passed the entrance exam years ago.” He reminisced, “Back then, my niece wasn’t good at much, but she excelled at studying. She was so clever, she even skipped a grade!”
Directors Sun and Niu exchanged surprised glances. Even among high school graduates, there were few in their country who could converse so fluently with foreigners.
“Xiao Xu, I knew you were a bright girl!” Director Sun declared, his chest swelling with pride. “You managed to bring in foreign orders for our factory! You have no idea how thrilled the boss was when he found out!” He knew that while the leader had showered him with praise, it was mostly superficial. The true significance lay in Xiao Xu’s ability to develop foreign business, proving that such opportunities could arise again. If their food factory gained renown and garnered favor with provincial leaders, they might even be included in annual foreign exchanges. Such trips promised far greater profits than their current earnings. Once their factory’s reputation was established and it could consistently generate more revenue, the welfare of its employees would significantly improve, and the employment problems in Yu County would also find a solution. The thought filled Factory Manager Sun with eager anticipation.
“Xiao Xu, you and your third uncle, quickly come to my place to get your New Year’s benefits!” Director Sun urged.
Director Niu, abandoning his competitive streak for the moment, added, “After you go to Old Sun’s place, come to mine too to pick up your things.”
Xu Ying nodded, acknowledging both directors.
The textile and food factories had truly prospered this year, and the benefits provided to their employees were exceptionally generous. From the food factory, workers received a bucket of peanut oil, along with special food products, and an additional ten-yuan bonus. The textile factory provided various fabrics and cotton. Both Xu Ying and Uncle Xu received substantial year-end salaries, then mounted their bicycles and began their journey home.
Uncle Xu had not stopped smiling since receiving his bounty, his grin stretching almost to his ears. “Yingying, can we take a detour?” he asked, pressing his hands together over his chest, his large, pleading eyes, a characteristic of the Xu family, fixed on Xu Ying.
“Third Uncle, don’t you miss your third aunt? Why don’t you hurry home and see what else you’re going to do?” Xu Ying inquired.
Uncle Xu chuckled mysteriously. “Go and do something big.”
Xu Ying, resigned, took the long detour with Uncle Xu. Only then did she realize the “big deal” her uncle was so excited about. The man had actually gone to his ex-girlfriend’s in-laws’ house, and then—
“Hey, tell me how generous our Factory Manager Niu is! He gave us so much fabric and old cotton! When I get home, I’ll make new clothes for my wife and children! He also gave out two barrels of oil—how long will that last us? Oh, and I’ll get a hundred yuan salary this month, and I’ve been running so many orders this week! I’ll have to wait until next month to get another two hundred yuan. By the way, Factory Manager Niu said he’ll promote me to sales department director! By then, with all the miscellaneous things, my salary will be more than two hundred yuan!” Uncle Xu, like a human loudspeaker, halted outside someone’s house and bellowed, ensuring everyone within earshot heard his pronouncements.
Fan Qingqing and her husband, Qian Baokun, were busy packing things in their yard. When they heard Uncle Xu’s taunting voice, a wave of misery washed over them, knowing how popular he now was with the factory director. Fan Qingqing merely looked up, but Qian Baokun instantly flared in anger, striking Fan Qingqing’s head with the porridge bowl he held. He stopped pasting the couplet he was working on. “Fan Qingqing, what are you looking at? Do you think you’re suffering by being with me? Why didn’t you just marry Xu Jianshe?”
Fan Qingqing felt a surge of injustice. When had she ever said such a thing? “Qian Baokun, don’t stir up trouble! That happened years ago! I never had such thoughts then, and I don’t have it now,” Fan Qingqing retorted angrily. Besides, her children were already grown. There was no way she would ever do such a thing.
Hearing the quarrel from the yard, Uncle Xu was delighted. He raised his voice and continued his monologue. “Oh, it’s a pity some people aren’t so lucky. Tell me, one shouldn’t be too greedy. She looked down on me at first, but now I’ve reached heights she can’t even dream of.” Uncle Xu had finally settled the grievances he had harbored for years.
Xu Ying looked at her third uncle and twitched her lips. So, he had deliberately taken such a long detour just to vent his anger. It was truly heartwarming. But if it were her, she’d probably be furious too. To have one’s partner cheat and then be humiliated by their new lover—it would be a miracle not to die of anger. She hadn’t realized her third uncle had such a dramatic past. How pitiful.
After Uncle Xu had thoroughly vented, Xu Ying quickly steered him towards the village. As they entered, the usual bustling groups of women chatting and gossiping were gone. Except for a few barking dogs and the chirping of birds, the village was eerily quiet. Uncle Xu’s face registered surprise. “If this were before, the village would definitely be swarming with people!”
“Aunty!”
“Aunty is back!” Shitou and Huzi ran out, their voices bright with excitement. Huzi lunged, hugging Xu Ying’s legs tightly. He looked up, his face round and earnest like a tiger’s cub, and cried out, “Aunty, you’re finally back! Our home was burned down!”
Xu Ying’s lips curled into a faint sneer. Chen Yanran was still as vicious as ever. It was a pity her conspiracy wouldn’t succeed this time. Xu Ying gently touched Huzi’s head and picked him up.
Shitou, relieved to share the news, added, “Aunty, Chen Zhiqing and Dong Zhiqing were trying to poison our workshop, but Grandma caught them red-handed! Now they’ve been sent to the police, and Grandma said they’ll be locked up and imprisoned. Our family is going to build a new house now! Grandma said it should be bigger, so Huzi and I can have our own room. And when Second Uncle and Third Uncle get married, they’ll have children and need rooms too!”
Xu Ying felt a warmth spread through her heart as she looked at the two little boys. “Okay, I got it. Where’s your mother?”
“My mother is in the workshop, and Grandma is there too!”