Qian Yuanyuan returned to her office, the anger still simmering within her. “Is there a new female colleague in the R&D department?” she demanded of the person beside her.
Her colleague looked up, smiling. “You don’t know yet? There’s a new female director in the R&D department. She’s about your age, but she’s pretty and already a director . Very capable, too. You know the braised duck and fried goods our factory relies on? She developed them.”
Of course, Qian Yuanyuan knew. Those two products had sent their factory’s performance soaring in the latter half of the year. Hearing the woman praised for both her beauty and ability, Qian Yuanyuan’s fury intensified. Her grip on her pen tightened, her phoenix eyes blazing with fire. So what if she was a director ? Once her father became the factory director, she would be the head of the personnel department, certainly no less than this woman. She still refused to believe anyone could steal a man from her.
Xu Ying stepped out of the factory, a flicker of surprise in her eyes as she saw the figure waiting. She walked towards Huo Chen, unable to suppress the smile playing on her lips. “You’re here.”
“I heard something happened at your factory,” Huo Chen began, his gaze fixed on her the moment she appeared. “I happen to know someone at the duck meat factory who could help you out.”
“No,” Xu Ying replied, “the crisis is over. Thanks to my sister-in-law’s father, we’re now starting to sell braised pig products.” She then looked at Huo Chen, a mischievous glint in her eye. “You make so much money in business. Why don’t you bring me in?”
Huo Chen immediately refused. His life was dangerous enough; he wouldn’t drag Yingying into it. “No. You just go to work; I’ll take care of the money.”
Xu Ying’s face fell.
Huo Chen chuckled. “I’ll give all the money I earn to you.”
At this, Xu Ying’s eyes gleamed with the love of money. “Please pay attention to your safety also ,” she said, now genuinely concerned.
Huo Chen nodded. His frequent business travels had revealed certain signs. “Business has started in the south. I feel like it will be widespread soon.”
Xu Ying hadn’t expected him to be so well-informed. It was 1976; the college entrance examination would resume next year. Canteens had appeared in 1975, and by mid-1976, many people were setting up stalls. Though they were still subject to arrest, it signaled a loosening of policy. By 1977, business would largely be conducted openly, though some still faced obstacles. But once the policy fully opened, doing business would no longer be a crime. The man she loved possessed a talent for business. Perhaps, together, they could amass a fortune for future generations.
“Huo Chen,” Xu Ying asked, “are you good at studying ?”
Huo Chen felt as if he’d been struck by lightning. What did she mean? That he couldn’t be with her if he didn’t study well? He was well aware of Xu Ying’s impressive academic record in the village. He shook his head. “I only went to elementary school and didn’t finish junior high.”
Xu Ying frowned upon hearing this. She patted Huo Chen seriously on the shoulder. “Knowledge is an ocean, and we should strive to explore it. Huo Chen, let’s work hard together and study diligently.”
Huo Chen’s mouth twitched. Was it difficult to get into university by studying now? But with no universities currently, studying was a better path than simply making money. Still, when his little wife spoke, he had no choice but to agree. “Okay.” Xu Ying, however, couldn’t shake the feeling that his agreement was reluctant.
Time, a relentless current, flowed quickly. Days blurred into weeks. In a rural area of Xiang County, Factory Director Wu sat in his office, tethered to the phone. Days had passed, yet no call had come from the food factory for the negotiation . The delivery deadline for the duck products loomed. Was the food factory truly planning to breach the contract?
The thought ignited a furious rage within Director Wu. He immediately summoned Yang Dezhen. “Why hasn’t the food factory called us for help? Have they found a new partner?”
Yang Dezhen was at a loss. This whole scheme had been his idea. If it backfired now, he would not only incur the wrath of the food factory but also Director Wu, guaranteeing a miserable outcome. Yang Dezhen was filled with regret.
“Head Director,” he stammered, sweat beading on his forehead, though he desperately feigned calm, “that’s probably not the case. The food factory needs so much duck meat. All duck meat factories have long-term partners. Where would they find so much duck meat for the food factory in such a short period of time ?”
But Head Director Wu could no longer contain himself. He picked up the phone, hesitated for a moment, then dialed the food factory.
Director Sun had just returned from a meeting when the phone rang. When he answered, hearing Director Wu of the duck meat factory on the line, his face instantly contorted with displeasure. “What’s wrong, Director Wu?”
Director Wu detected the displeasure in Director Sun’s tone, but the absence of any desperate plea for help piqued his curiosity. “Director Sun, I didn’t mean to break our contract before,but t the demand in your factory suddenly increased, which caught us off guard!”
Director Sun snorted coldly. If the previous Director Yang hadn’t assured him of sufficient supply, he might have believed Director Wu’s words. But now, knowing the truth, Director Wu’s excuses sounded particularly ironic. “Oh, if it’s not enough, it’s not enough. Our food factory doesn’t just rely on you. There are many people willing to make money. If you don’t want to, just give us the liquidated damages. We have other candidates.” Director Sun’s voice was remarkably calm.
Director Wu’s heart sank, a sense of dread washing over him. He knew something had gone terribly wrong. “Director Sun, what do you mean by this? Haven’t you always only cooperated with our factory?”
Lao Sun sneered. “Director Wu, our food factory is a large enterprise, after all, and we have many partners. How could you be our only supplier ? At first, Xiao Xu saw your factory was in trouble, so she helped you. But we didn’t expect to foster a viper in our bosom. However, we have learned our lesson from this matter. Please prepare for liquidated damages as soon as possible, Director Wu. Our cooperation ends here.”
Head Director Wu felt dizzy, his whole body trembling, his palms slick with sweat. At this moment, panic finally seized him. When Yang Dezhen heard this, his legs gave way, and he could no longer stand steadily . He had brought about a major disaster upon his work and boss .
“Director Sun, we didn’t intentionally break the contract. It’s really because we have insufficient supply,” Director Wu pleaded, humbling himself. “Director Sun, it’s our factory’s fault, but we truly have insufficient supply. Please spare us this time.”
Director Sun, seething with anger, immediately cut him off. “Don’t spout nonsense here! Director Yang, who was in contact with us before, said the supply of goods was sufficient. But when you first arrived, suddenly the supply wasn’t enough? Don’t think I don’t know your little schemes! You’re just taking this opportunity to pressure us and demand higher prices. You’re profiting from a national crisis! Get your liquidated damages ready quickly, or we’ll meet in court!” Director Sun hung up immediately after speaking. Thinking of Director Wu’s current panic, Director Sun felt the frustrations of the past few days vanish instantly. This, he thought, felt incredibly good.