As a former reader, Lin Yingxian now witnessed the paper-thin characters from the novel come vividly to life here, each with their own joys and sorrows. This drama was fascinating to watch, yet she felt a subtle unease.
Lin Yingxian suddenly recalled a line of poetry: "My heart has always been that of a spectator, yet fate has made me a player in the drama." Though the verse spoke of love and longing, Lin Yingxian found it fitting for her current predicament.
Another scene was unfolding in the kitchen.
Yan Yingshu’s eyes were moist, her tone despondent. "Mom, I shouldn’t have stayed here shamelessly. I should return to where I came from. My presence makes everyone uncomfortable."
Aunt Yan’s heart ached. "What do you mean, where you came from? This is your home. Your aunt has always been careless with her words—don’t take it to heart."
Yan Qing felt uncomfortable seeing the deep mother-daughter bond between Yan Yingshu and Aunt Yan. Pretending to be magnanimous, she comforted Yan Yingshu. Yan Yingshu responded, expressing her guilt and apologies to Yan Qing.
The display of sisterly affection between the two brought a sense of relief to Aunt Yan.
When it was time to eat, Father Lin and Uncle Yan returned indoors after playing chess in the yard, unaware of the incident that had taken place in their absence.
At the dinner table, everyone praised Yan Qing’s cooking profusely. Yan Qing blushed shyly at the compliments.
Aunt Yan, delighted to see her daughter praised, said, "Qingqing loves cooking. She says seeing everyone enjoy her food makes her happy too."
Zhou Donghong smiled. "Auntie, you’re so fortunate to have two thoughtful and capable daughters by your side."
Pleased by Zhou Donghong’s words, Aunt Yan asked about her pregnancy. Zhou Donghong had been waiting for this opportunity, hoping Aunt Yan could offer some advice. Though not a gynecologist, Aunt Yan understood general medical principles.
After returning home in the evening, Lin Yingwan and Zhou Donghong argued over the candied kumquats. Father Lin, embarrassed by their pettiness, snatched the paper bag containing the candied kumquats in a fit of anger and threw it into the public restroom.
When Father Lin returned and saw the two of them crying over the matter, he grew even more frustrated. "One is about to become a mother, and the other has been working for nearly two years, yet they act like three-year-olds, squabbling and weeping over a few candied kumquats—no improvement at all. If you keep crying, get out and don’t stay in my house."
Lin Yingwan and Zhou Donghong immediately stopped crying. Despite their usual discord, they inexplicably felt a sense of shared misery.
Lin Yingwei couldn’t understand why a simple snack had sparked such a heated argument between them, so he didn’t step in to mediate. He hadn’t eaten the candied kumquats because he didn’t like such things.
Mother Lin and Father Lin always presented a united front in front of their children, so she naturally didn’t try to reconcile them either.
Lin Yingxian ate two candied kumquats and some other candied snacks Aunt Min had bought outside. She found the candied kumquats far superior to the store-bought ones. After eating them, she felt an intense craving to keep eating, unable to stop. Once Lin Yingxian realized the candied kumquats were addictive, her fondness for them vanished.
Lin Yingxian had thought the novel’s description of people’s fervor for Yan Qing’s culinary creations was an exaggeration. It turned out to be true. Those who lacked self-control could easily become addicted to Yan Qing’s delicacies.
………
Zhao Yijun, the chairman of the trade union at the Pharmaceutical Factory, picked up the Workers' Daily delivered by his secretary as usual. An article caught his interest. Using the tablet workshop of Jiangcheng Pharmaceutical Factory as an example, the author described how, during the spring when diseases were rampant, the factory employees worked tirelessly and fought hard, making selfless contributions to the battle of safeguarding people's lives and health.
The leaders of Jiangcheng Pharmaceutical Factory and the employees of the tablet workshop were both mentioned, their images of facing difficulties head-on and bravely taking responsibility vividly portrayed on paper. Zhao Yijun felt thoroughly pleased reading it.
The article was both substantial in content and resonant with readers, its writing style polished. Zhao Yijun thought it was likely written by an experienced veteran worker from the tablet workshop who had worked on the front lines. In the few words, Zhao Yijun could sense the author's deep familiarity with the tablet workshop's processes, as if the author had personally participated in them.
Zhao Yijun checked the byline and saw it was a female comrade. He asked Secretary Li to check if there was an employee named Lin Yingxian at the Pharmaceutical Factory. An article written by a factory employee published in the nationally distributed Workers' Daily had promoted Jiangcheng Pharmaceutical Factory and helped establish a better image of the factory in the public's mind. He certainly wanted to commend this employee.
Secretary Li quickly found Lin Yingxian and reported to Zhao Yijun, "She is a packaging female worker in the tablet workshop, not yet nineteen years old. She came to the Pharmaceutical Factory at the beginning of last year, so it hasn't even been two years."
Zhao Yijun looked surprised—it was actually a young comrade who had only joined the factory last year. He began to suspect whether someone else had ghostwritten the article for her. Zhao Yijun instructed Secretary Li to go to the tablet workshop to inquire and investigate.
When Secretary Li arrived at the tablet workshop, he didn't see the workshop director. He randomly selected one worker from each team to ask about Lin Yingxian.
Secretary Li found that several of the workers he asked knew Lin Yingxian and had worked with her. They all said that during periods of heavy production tasks, Lin Yingxian had been assigned to their teams. She was described as a very hardworking and responsible female comrade who even persisted at her post while ill.
Secretary Li couldn't help but ask one worker, "Why wasn't she included in the list of candidates submitted by the tablet workshop for the factory's Model Worker selection this time?"
The worker looked troubled, hesitating and unwilling to answer Secretary Li's question.
An older worker nearby, who had overheard their conversation, said vaguely, "What else could it be? She just didn't have the ability to satisfy the director."
Secretary Li understood the implied meaning behind the older worker's words. He gave up on waiting for the workshop director to return and asked the two workers to keep his questions confidential.
Secretary Li then went to the area where the packaging female workers were stationed. "May I ask which one is Comrade Lin Yingxian?"
All the packaging female workers stopped their work and looked toward Lin Yingxian, who was sitting in the corner.
Hearing this, Lin Yingxian looked up. "I am Lin Yingxian."
Secretary Li was surprised to find that Lin Yingxian was a delicate-looking young girl with a soft voice. Based on the workers' descriptions, he had expected her to be a robust, strong, and spirited female comrade. Secretary Li cleared his throat. "Comrade Lin, please come out with me. I have something to discuss with you."
"Alright," Lin Yingxian replied, standing up and following Secretary Li out of the workshop.
At the entrance of the workshop, Secretary Li stopped and turned to Lin Yingxian. "Comrade Lin, Chairman Zhao noticed your article published in the Workers' Daily. He sent me to ask you for more details. Please answer my questions truthfully."
"Secretary Li, I will answer your questions truthfully."
Secretary Li asked Lin Yingxian about the original intention behind writing this article, how the material was selected, whether any difficulties were encountered during the writing process, and insights gained from the experience… Lin Yingxian answered each question with clear reasoning and solid evidence.
Finally, Secretary Li asked, "You were not included in the list for this year's Model Worker selection. Do you feel it is unfair or frustrating, especially considering the tremendous effort you have put in?"