Aunt Li was still as enthusiastic as ever.
Learning that Hua Qingqing was about to return to her hometown, she gave her a whole bunch of delicious food, saying that she could eat them on the way.
Hua Qingqing took a peek into the glass jar. It was full of marinated food.
This stuff was extremely popular in the later generations.
Well, it was a good way to make money.
After bidding farewell to Aunt Li, Hua Qingqing left.
She could still faintly hear Li Xing whispering behind her.
"She's really lucky to get such freshly made stuff. Others can't even buy it if they want to!"
"Tsk, if you keep blabbering, I'll beat you up!"
"I'm your own younger brother!"
"Even my own younger brother will get a beating if he doesn't shut up."
...
On the day she returned to Nan County, Hua Qingqing wore the dress that Wu Yunhua had bought for her in the big shopping mall. She carried a schoolbag with several books in it. Dressed like this, she looked just like a student from the later generations.
After getting on the train, Hua Qingqing saw Hua Miaomiao's red - rimmed crying eyes outside the window and couldn't help smiling. It was good that the girl understood the meaning of parting.
Among all the people in this family, Granny Lin was the one who most hoped that she would leave.
After Hua Qingqing had paid back the two thousand yuan last time, Granny Lin had fallen ill and stayed in bed for several days. She only got up when she heard the news that Hua Qingqing was leaving.
After this lesson, that old woman should not have the guts to embezzle money anymore.
However, it seemed that she had been resented.
This old woman was really vindictive.
Hua Qingqing hoped that after Hua Miaomiao started school, Aunt Wu could also return to school to teach as soon as possible.
The next time she came, it would probably be next year.
It was freezing cold in winter, which was not suitable for traveling. So Hua Qingqing decided not to come again during the winter vacation.
She had a lot of things to do next, with a packed schedule. She had to go to school and set up a factory. She didn't have time to care about other trivial matters.
Compared with the twists and turns when she set off for the capital, this journey back was smooth and calm. She didn't encounter any strange things.
Two and a half days later, she arrived in Nan County safely.
Nan County was just a small county town, in sharp contrast to the prosperity of the capital. The capital had tall buildings and perfect infrastructure, and was more advanced. But Hua Qingqing felt more at home in Nan County. Habit was really a scary thing.
After getting out of the railway station, she headed straight for the Zhou family to find her second business partner.
The Zhou family lived near the cadres' building. Hua Qingqing carried the snacks she had bought outside the railway station and came to this familiar place.
The sun was blazing, and the dazzling sunlight shone down from the sky.
By the time she reached the Zhou family, her back was already soaked. She had walked under the trees all the way, feeling hot and tired.
The gate of the Zhou family was not closed. She didn't go straight in but poked her head inside. She saw one of Zhou Cai's twin sons washing clothes by the well.
She couldn't tell the twins apart. The names Zhou Ping and Zhou An circled on her lips for a while, and finally she decided to use the simplest way to say hello.
"Hey, is your dad at home?"
The teenage boy doing the laundry turned his head and was surprised to see her. He got up to greet her.
"Sister Qingqing, you're back from the capital?"
Hua Qingqing nodded and smiled, then handed over the snacks.
She had stayed in the capital for nearly two months. When she came back, she found that there were still some small changes in Nan County. For example, there were more people setting up stalls and opening shops on the streets.
She had bought these snacks outside the railway station.
The boy took the things and scratched his head shyly.
"Sister Qingqing, come in and sit down first. My dad has gone out to take measurements for making clothes. He won't be back for a while."
Hua Qingqing went in to wait. Seeing the boy pour water for her and stand obediently beside her, someone who didn't know better might think he was afraid that the guest would be bored.
"... Cough, cough. Go and do your own thing. I'll just sit here and read. Don't worry about me. By the way, are you Zhou Ping or Zhou An?"
The boy pointed to the mole on his head. "I'm the younger brother, Zhou An."
Hua Qingqing took a look and nodded seriously, indicating that she had remembered.
Fortunately, there was a mole. Otherwise, she really couldn't tell them apart.
Zhou An didn't go back to do the laundry. Instead, he sat down and asked her about the capital and how the schoolbags were selling.
Seeing that the boy was really curious, Hua Qingqing simply told him. They chatted for quite a while. Then Zhou Cai and his son Zhou Ping came back. As soon as they saw her, they didn't even have time to put down their tools and rushed straight towards her.
"How's it going? How's the sales?"
Hua Qingqing: ... It had to be said that they were really father and son.
But seeing the expectant looks on their three faces, Hua Qingqing still straightened her face. "The sales were very good. I'm here to give you the money this time. It's 136 yuan. You can decide how much each person's wage is."
"Uncle Zhou, I have something else to talk to you about. Is it convenient?"
In the main hall, Hua Qingqing directly stated her purpose without saying a single unnecessary word.
After hearing this, Zhou Cai was really stunned for a while.
"You want to cooperate with me to set up a factory?"
"Yes. Is there any problem? You have the ability, the strength, and the unique skills. It would be the biggest loss if I didn't cooperate with you to set up a factory! As long as you join our team, you'll be the deputy factory director!"
When Hua Qingqing said this, there was two - parts excitement, three - parts seriousness, and five - parts sincerity in her eyes.
Zhou Cai was shocked. He never thought that he had so many advantages. Then he nodded and agreed in a daze.
"We have two other partners, but they're in the capital. They said they'll come to have a look after the factory is set up. I'll introduce them to you then. But Uncle, you can just trust my judgment. I won't be wrong. They're as excellent as you."
After having lunch at the Zhou family and painting a few "big cakes" for them.
Hua Qingqing set off on her way back to the Wuxing Production Brigade.
She originally planned to go to the supply and marketing cooperative and the state - run restaurant, but the sun was really too hot. She didn't have a bicycle and was carrying things. She really didn't have the mood to rush around in the sun.
In just two months, there were also some other changes in the Wuxing Production Brigade. For example, the fields had changed from green to golden.
The wheat was ripe. It was the harvest season.
Hua Qingqing walked on the small path. The people working in the fields looked up and greeted her.
"Qingqing's back?"
"Was the capital fun?"
"You've become more beautiful. It really is the big cities that can nurture people!"
"There are guests at your home today..."
Hua Qingqing answered them one by one.
There were several people standing in the small courtyard of the Yu family.
At this moment, the atmosphere in the courtyard was extremely tense. The small low table had been overturned to the ground. The scene was quite messy and embarrassing, as if it had been ransacked by thieves.
"How many times do I have to say it? I've said I don't need you to pay for my school fees! I want to study!"
"Go on a blind date? It's really ridiculous. How old am I? I'm still studying, and you can't wait to sell me off?!"
"Auntie, if she were really such a good person, how could she introduce such a person to my elder sister! Don't harm me. If you force me, I'll do anything!"
Yu Linyun was almost driven crazy.
She thought that as long as she solved the problem of school fees, she could go to school smoothly. But she didn't expect that her relatives could be so cruel to her.
Without even saying a word to her, they directly brought the "blind - date partner" to the door and asked her to get along with him first and then get married in a couple of years.
It was so ridiculous.
Didn't she even have the right to choose now?
What on earth had she done wrong to have such a family!