Gao Guihua’s face twisted into an ugly mask as Director Hong’s words stung. How even the director protect that girl? What kind of airs did that wretched girl put on? But Xu Ying couldn’t care less about Gao Guihua’s simmering resentment; she was almost bursting with joy. The wages in a food factory’s R&D department weren’t low. A regular worker earned over fifty yuan a month, not to mention the numerous benefits. Add to that the commission and bonus from the duck products, and wouldn’t she be raking in at least a hundred yuan next month?
As Xu Ying reveled in her burgeoning success, Third Uncle Xu appeared at the restaurant’s door, a wide grin stretching across his face. “Yingying, Third Uncle found that Tong Yingzi!” he announced, his voice tinged with lingering exasperation. He recalled his initial search, starting with the village next to Zhang Baogui’s, only to be told there was no Tong Yingzi there. He had expanded his search, spending precious money with no success. But his niece had insisted Tong Yingzi was in a village near Zhang Baogui’s. His niece wouldn’t lie to him, so Uncle Xu had persisted, painstakingly searching village after village near Zhang Baogui’s. His perseverance finally paid off. In Tonggouzi, next to Zhangjiacun, there indeed lived a Tong Yingzi, though her family was so poor that the villagers barely registered their existence. Uncle Xu hadn’t given up, going from house to house until he found her.
“Yingying, what do you need to do with that girl? Has she ever offended you?” Uncle Xu asked, his curiosity evident. The girl was dark, thin, and looked malnourished—hardly the sort to befriend his beautiful, fair-skinned niece, who resembled a city girl. How could his refined niece befriend such a rustic, dark-skinned girl?
“No, Third Uncle, please don’t jump to conclusions. That girl helped me before, but I was careless. I just thought of helping her now,” Xu Ying said casually, sidestepping the full truth.
Uncle Xu, swelling with importance, patted his chest. “If you want to help her, just tell Uncle Xu, and he’ll take care of it!”
Xu Ying suppressed a sigh. How could she simply march over and tell the girl she was her future aunt? The girl would surely think her a lunatic. “Third Uncle, I’ll handle this myself. Don’t you want to work in a textile factory? Just get ready, and I can get you in next month.” Xu Ying deftly changed the subject, hoping to soothe her third uncle’s restless energy.
Uncle Xu’s eyes widened, a mixture of surprise and delight. “Is that true?”
“Of course! You don’t know, your niece has another job now!” Xu Ying declared proudly.
Uncle Xu, however, remained skeptical. “You must be bragging!”
Director Hong, overhearing their conversation, looked at Third Uncle Xu with disdain. He had just heard Xu Ying call this man “Third Uncle.” This man, despite being an elder, seemed so coarse, his language so uncouth. Director Hong couldn’t stand it. He stepped forward to vouch for Xu Ying. “I can testify for Xu Ying! She is now an employee of the R&D department of a food factory.”
“Who are you?” Third Uncle Xu asked, unaware of the director’s identity.
Director Hong was so exasperated he nearly choked. He had to explain himself. “I am the director of a state-owned restaurant.”
Uncle Xu immediately regretted his bluntness. He noticed the badge on the man’s chest. “Oh, you’re the director! Our Yingying is so lucky to have your care!” Uncle Xu’s demeanor instantly shifted to one of playful deference.
Director Hong, thoroughly disgusted, still managed to say, “Well, it’s her own ability.” And once he started talking about Xu Ying, he couldn’t stop. “You have no idea how capable your niece is. She cooks delicious food and can develop recipes. Since she came to our restaurant, our business has been booming. Oh, tell me, how are your brother and sister-in-law so good? They gave birth to such an outstanding daughter!” Director Hong’s envy was palpable.
Uncle Xu, swelling with pride, puffed out his chest. “That’s because our Xu family’s genes are very strong! My niece is as smart as our Xu family!”
Director Hong’s face twitched with disgust. This Third Uncle Xu not only looked dishonest but was utterly shameless. He didn’t know if they resembled the Xu family, but this man certainly bore no resemblance to the capable Xu Ying.
Director Hong still had tasks to attend to, so after a brief chat, he departed. Once he was gone, Uncle Xu looked at his niece, admiration shining in his eyes. “Yingying, you’re so capable! Working in a restaurant and part-time in a food factory? I’ve never heard of such a thing in my life!” Jobs were scarce, which was why so many city dwellers were sent to the countryside. Yet, his niece, it seemed, wasn’t content with just one job; she had two!
“Well, now you’ve seen it,” Xu Ying said, a hint of amusement in her voice. She hadn’t expected it to work out quite like this; she had just tried her luck.
Uncle Xu now felt even more confident about his textile factory job. If that didn’t work out, he could always try the food factory. At least he’d regain some face by finding a job there. “Yingying, Third Uncle is going back first. When I get back, I’ll tell your parents the good news and make them happy!”
Xu Ying nodded. “Okay.”
Because she had achieved such a great success and saved the restaurant a lot of money, Director Hong had specially rewarded her with a week’s rest. So, she wouldn’t have to go to work tomorrow. She planned to go home after work that afternoon. Now that her third uncle would go back first to tell her parents the good news, she wouldn’t have to say anything more.
When Gao Guihua heard that Xu Ying had been granted a week’s leave by the director, her face contorted with disgust, a series of winks almost causing a facial cramp. “Tell me, how is Xu Ying so capable? She sweet-talked the director into a daze and even got a week off! Didn’t she just make a fool of herself?”
Sun Lifang smiled proudly, as if she herself had been rewarded. “If you have the ability, then you make one! If you don’t have the skills, you just keep fooling around!”
“What does this have to do with you? You are Xu Ying’s lackey!” Gao Guihua snapped, her anger boiling over into a curse.
Sun Lifang simply shook her head. “That’s what I am. What’s wrong with that?”
Gao Guihua trembled with fury, pointing a shaking finger at Sun Lifang. “You, you, you!” she stammered, unable to form coherent words.
“Humph!” Sun Lifang snorted, turning away.
“Lifang, I’ll make you some braised food later to take home. See you next week!” Xu Ying said with a smile. A week’s paid vacation felt incredibly liberating. This was the true joy of being a worker.
Sun Lifang, hearing that Xu Ying would make her braised meat, was overjoyed. She reached out to hug Xu Ying. “Yingying, you’re so good! I can’t bear to have you leave!”
Xu Ying curled her lips. “Are you reluctant to leave me, or are you reluctant to leave the person who makes braised food for you?”
Sun Lifang giggled. “I can’t bear to part with either of you!”
Xu Ying, feigning anger, turned to leave, knowing Sun Lifang’s playful nature. Sun Lifang immediately grew anxious, running over to act coyly and sweetly towards Xu Ying. “Okay, Yingying, just forgive me!”
Xu Ying was amused by her friend’s comical grimace. Seeing her smile, Sun Lifang immediately chimed in, “If you’re laughing, then you’re not angry anymore!”