Lin Wan seemed able to predict that Fu Xiuhuai would definitely guess her thoughts. In her life she had never seen anyone who could guess what she was thinking every single time.
“I always feel it is a bit strange. Taking money out proactively looks generous, and it dispelled everyone’s doubts, but it actually seems a little deliberate.” Lin Wan had just come out of university and had not met many big bosses in society, but she still had her own judgment. “If he really were a big boss, and still preparing to invest in the garment factory, he should not be so deliberately drawing a clear line and insisting on reimbursing the money.”
At the end, as if possessed, Lin Wan paused. Her gentle voice seemed even more misty in the dim yellow light: “Boss Fu, would you do that?”
In the night, the man rarely gave a soft laugh. His originally deep voice carried a somewhat laughing hoarseness: “The ‘Boss Fu’ you say seems a little nicer than when others say it.”
Lin Wan: ( ω )
The Jiangcheng Garment Factory was busy from top to bottom with production. While all the major workshops were bustling, Hong Kong businessman Wang Yuanzhong promised Deputy Factory Director Wang that he was willing to invest ten million yuan to help the garment factory expand production, and also provide raw materials and design technical support from Hong Kong City.
The major good news spread like wildfire, instantly sweeping through every corner of the garment factory.
In the factory office, warm sunlight slanted in, leaving faint light and shadow on the blue-green desktop. Lin Wan held a fountain pen and listened to everyone excitedly share the good news, then again thought of Fu Xiuhuai’s answer last night.
Having entered society early and seen all kinds of people, Fu Xiuhuai, after teasing her with the words “Boss Fu,” had become serious and said he would not.
When doing business away from home, giving others face was very important. Even if one meant to be considerate, making up for it in other aspects was enough, such as being more generous when investing.
And Wang Yuanzhong’s behavior was very much like trying to dispel everyone’s doubts.
Based on this, Lin Wan was now the calmest person in the factory office. Her fair face held only a shallow smile, treating it as fitting the occasion.
As soon as Hong Kong businessman Wang Yuanzhong spoke, the garment factory leadership attached importance to it and busily discussed various details. The factory director met with the two deputy directors and the Party secretary, personally setting the tone that the Hong Kong businessman must be well entertained. The previous suspicion, even making him proactively take out two thousand yuan to pay himself, must not happen again.
Not only that, before long, word spread that Wang Yuanzhong was not only preparing to invest in the garment factory, but was even simultaneously inspecting other places. These past days he had also gone to the city First Steel Plant and the soda factory for inspections. It looked as if his wallet was too full and he was too free with money.
Among the garment factory’s thousands of employees, it spread: Hong Kong businessman Wang Yuanzhong had the mainland’s construction at heart. He was both rich and kind-hearted, a good man.
As for the follow-up discussions on cooperation details, Lin Wan, a newcomer who had been in the factory less than half a year, naturally would not participate again. But when she heard that Wang Yuanzhong had also gone to the steel plant, she immediately got the information at the Fu family dinner table.
Fu Xiutong had lately been glowing with good spirits because of happy events.
Once the backlogged payment arrived, most of the factory’s crisis was resolved, so he remitted the two hundred thousand to Fu Xiuhuai’s account, finally clearing the debt.
“This time, thanks to Xiuhuai helping us get through the difficulty. Otherwise wages could not be paid, and the workers would be panicked.” Fu Xiutong had been factory director for many years, and only this year encountered such difficulty. “Although we are all one family, Meiying and I still must show some expression. We should also call Mingjun and formally invite you two to a restaurant for a meal, and then…”
“Cough cough.” Hearing this, Zhang Meiying nearly choked on scrambled eggs.
At the dinner table, Lin Wan’s heart also jumped. Fortunately, there were plenty of people more uncomfortable than herself, and Zhang Meiying was the first to refuse.
“Isn’t going out to eat as a family just changing locations? It is meaningless and makes us seem like outsiders.” Zhang Meiying racked her brains while inwardly complaining that her husband was always causing trouble for her. “I happened to see a good thing at the mall last time. I will give it to Lin Wan as a gift and also express thanks. I see Xiuhuai is not interested in anything. Giving a thank-you gift to his wife, he might be even happier.”
Fu Xiutong was just considering the feasibility when he heard his second brother across the table speak.
Fu Xiuhuai: “Elder sister-in-law’s words make sense. I will agree on Wanwan’s behalf first.”
Lin Wan: QAQ
The next day, Lin Wan received a jadeite bracelet sent by Zhang Meiying.
The jadeite bracelet of excellent quality was clear, moist, and translucent. Between its light green were faint glowing lights. Elegant and delicate, one look showed it was not cheap.
Zhang Meiying had chosen the gift carefully, purchasing it at Jiangcheng’s time-honored jade shop for one thousand two hundred yuan.
Fu Xiuhuai’s gaze lightly swept over it. Hearing this, he praised: “Elder sister-in-law was thoughtful. This color and texture suit you perfectly. It is just that your wrist is a little slender. I do not know if wearing it will be too big.”
Hearing the man evaluate her wrist as slender, Lin Wan suddenly remembered the temperature and strength of his hands holding her wrist the previous two times. In an instant, her wrist was again held by Fu Xiuhuai, and the cool, translucent jade bracelet was put on bit by bit.
Her fair, white wrist paired with the clear, moist jade bracelet further set off a plain, pure beauty.
“Your elder brother and sister-in-law gave such a heavy gift. We just accept it like this?” Lin Wan thought of the good relations among the Fu family, helping each other to the point that two hundred thousand could be lent casually. How could Fu Xiuhuai be someone who minded a gift?
“Of course.” Fu Xiuhuai’s fingertip gently rubbed the jade bracelet on Lin Wan’s wrist. A smile leaped to the corners of his eyes. “The money I gave you, you also have not spent much. Then accept theirs. Something worth more than a thousand, elder brother and sister-in-law still have no pressure.”
Lin Wan: “…”
It seemed she had again seen a different side of the man. Lin Wan could not help being surprised. What about the promised brotherly respect and loving family?
Lin Wan had no choice. The jadeite bracelet was accepted, but in the blink of an eye she took it off her wrist.
During morning breakfast, Fu Xiuhuai happened to run into Lin Wan coming downstairs after tidying up a little later. Seeing her wrist bare, he reminded her: “The bracelet you only put on last night, why are you not wearing it now?”
Lin Wan was quite honest: “More than a thousand. I am worried I will knock it and break it. It is safer kept in the box.”
For Lin Wan, who had been poor since childhood, a bracelet worth more than a thousand was undoubtedly an astronomical price. Even though she now worked, this bracelet was still three or four months of her wages.
If it got knocked and damaged, who would not feel heartache?
The man’s deep eyes brightened slightly. He leaned close to Lin Wan, his brows moving slightly, carrying a bit of temptation as if about to do something bad: “It’s fine. If it really breaks, we’ll buy another…”
Seeing Lin Wan’s lips move slightly, certainly feeling heartache over the money, Fu Xiuhuai held a bit of a smile at the corners of his mouth. On his mature face suddenly appeared the wickedness of his younger days: “We won’t spend our money.”
Lin Wan: QAQ
++++
Fu Xiuhuai always made Lin Wan feel familiar bit by bit. Every time this happened, he seemed to gradually reveal another somewhat different side, fleeting and impossible to fathom.
Beneath this Jiangcheng wealthy man’s gentle, refined exterior, there seemed to be some hidden face.
But Lin Wan had no time to capture that vague, ethereal thread. In the blink of an eye, payday arrived.
The garment factory paid wages in the latter part of each month. The current month had not yet ended, yet the wages were already in hand. It was truly delightful.
Lin Wan’s wages had increased slightly every month. This month she received 388 yuan, 7 jiao, and 3 fen.
Getting paid was always pleasant. Plus the previous bonus, Lin Wan’s little treasury had grown plumper again.
Meanwhile, at the other end of Jiangcheng, the steel plant also paid wages. Lin Hong, who had worked almost a full month by rough count, also received full wages: 201 yuan, 5 jiao, and 6 fen.
Temporary workers compared with regular workers had a lower wage, and could not get various excellent evaluations and awards. Even so, Lin Hong was already more than satisfied.
Also being a temporary worker, earning a few dozen in town could not compare with earning two hundred in the city.
Determined to fulfill her promise of thanks, Lin Hong returned to Lincun Village and divided the money into several portions. One portion for her parents at home for household expenses, one portion for treating Lin Wan and Fu Xiuhuai to a meal. Finally, for the gift to Fu Xiuhuai’s elder brother, in order to avoid suspicion of currying favor with the factory director, she prepared things from home, so that even if spoken of, it would not cause trouble for the honest factory director.
The family’s chickens and ducks were lively and jumping. She also prepared some sausages and cured meat, and additionally bought some nutritional supplements, biscuits, and candy at the store. This made it complete.
In a small restaurant deep in an alley near the Jiangcheng Steel Plant, smoke and fire curled, people coming and going. Lin Hong hosted here, carrying enough money when going out: “Wanwan, Brother Huai, see what you like to eat.”
Although he was her younger sister’s husband, he was older than her and had a very imposing aura. Lin Hong could only follow her elder brother in calling him Brother Huai.
Lin Wan did not stand on ceremony with second sister. Likewise treating herself as host, she urged Fu Xiuhuai to look at the small blackboard on the wall and order: “See what you like to eat. Order whatever. Today is mainly to treat you to a meal as thanks.”
Seeing Lin Hong somewhat restrained, Fu Xiuhuai did not decline much: “Second sister, like Wanwan, has no particular food restrictions?”
Hearing this “second sister,” Lin Hong always felt as if her lifespan would be shortened: “Mm. I can eat anything. Order whatever.”
Fu Xiuhuai then did not stand on ceremony and directly named five dishes.
“They are all your favorites.” Lin Hong knew her younger sister’s tastes perfectly. Hearing the dish names, while Fu Xiuhuai went up front to tell the boss a few things, she lowered her voice and whispered to her younger sister: “Your man really is quite attentive.”
Lin Wan smiled. She was just about to speak when she felt someone sit down in the seat beside her. She thought the newcomer was Fu Xiuhuai returning from ordering, but heard second sister across the table exclaim.
“Who are you? There is someone here.”
Lin Wan suspiciously turned sideways. The man sitting beside her was not Fu Xiuhuai at all, but clearly Fu Mingjun, whose brows and eyes resembled his by four or five parts.
Zhang Meiying had mentioned some days ago that Fu Mingjun went to his maternal grandparents’ home, and after that there was no trace of him. How was he appearing here now?
“I know her.” Fu Mingjun decisively glanced at Lin Wan beside him, not caring at all about the uncle who had returned from ordering and was now standing behind him.
Behind him a cold wind suddenly rose, frightening enough to make one’s liver and gallbladder tremble. Fu Mingjun tried hard to straighten his back and absolutely would not admit defeat.