Even though she did not have high hopes, Su Man still followed the process Wang Tao had mentioned and went to register for recruitment at the food factory.
On Aunt Xu’s side, since she had not received any feedback from Wang Tao regarding the blind date, she became a little puzzled and asked Su Man about how things went on that day.
Su Man was briefly confused but soon let it go. Although Wang Tao should have been quite satisfied with her, perhaps his family did not like her.
In blind dates, external conditions were always the most important factor, and she was not a local, nor did she have a job. She indeed was not the type elders tended to prefer.
What they did not know was that Wang Tao, who they were discussing, had already been sent by Qi Xiaoyuan to carry out a mission. He had been in such a hurry that he did not even have time to leave detailed instructions for his family.
Deep in the mountains and old forests, in a place so remote that not even birds bothered to fly over, there was no way to even make a phone call back to the military unit.
Wang Tao looked at the endless forest with despair. By the time he returned, everything would already be too late, and Su Man would definitely have been taken by someone else.
After hearing Su Man’s response, Aunt Xu still felt it was a pity and wanted to introduce other people to her.
Su Man repeatedly refused and instead asked about the bakery she had seen last time.
Aunt Xu said: “That one? I heard it was opened by a commander’s wife in the past. But at that time, everyone was poor, so business wasn’t good. Later, the commander’s wife moved away with the senior commander to another place, and the bakery was abandoned.”
“Xiao Man, why are you suddenly asking about this?”
“Auntie, I was thinking… could that bakery be reopened? Conditions are much better now than before. People should be willing to buy pastries.”
Aunt Xu asked in surprise: “Xiao Man, you know how to make bread?”
Su Man nodded seriously.
Aunt Xu did not doubt her. Although she did not know how Su Man had learned it, she believed Su Man would not speak carelessly, so she started giving her advice.
“If that’s the case, you should ask Regiment Commander Qi about it. His family’s old master holds a high position. If he steps in, this matter shouldn’t be difficult to arrange.”
Su Man fell into thought.
Qi Xiaoyuan only learned that Su Man had gone to apply for the food factory recruitment after hearing others mention her name.
Thinking about it, he had not seen Su Man for several days. He had gone to find her a few times, but each time he came up empty, as if she was deliberately avoiding him.
After inquiring about the recruitment results, Qi Xiaoyuan went to the guesthouse again.
This time, Su Man was still not there, but the receptionist Ye Aihua left him a message: “Su Man said that if you come to find her and she is not here, she is probably at Aunt Xu’s house.”
For a moment, Qi Xiaoyuan did not react. Ye Aihua kindly reminded him: “It’s the mother-in-law of Qin Dajun.”
Qi Xiaoyuan thought to himself that she really had been avoiding him these past few days. Otherwise, why had she not left him a message during the previous visits?
In Aunt Xu’s courtyard, Su Man was chatting with Aunt Xu and her daughter Li Qingqing.
Ever since the blind date encounter with Qi Xiaoyuan that day, Su Man had been coming to Aunt Xu’s house every day. She was good with words and diligent in helping with chores, so Aunt Xu’s family welcomed her warmly.
Su Man also became familiar with Li Qingqing. Li Qingqing’s two-year-old daughter was named Tang Tang, a soft little bundle. Like her mother, she was shy, and now she affectionately called Su Man “Auntie”.
When Qi Xiaoyuan arrived, Aunt Xu and Li Qingqing understood that Su Man had matters to discuss, so they took the child into the house.
“Why are you here?” Su Man asked calmly.
Qi Xiaoyuan sat down opposite her. “Are you avoiding me these past few days?”
Su Man did not expect him to ask so directly. Although it was indeed true, she would not admit it. She raised her eyebrows slightly in surprise. “Why would you think that?”
After a pause, she continued: “We’ve already broken off the engagement, and there’s nothing special between us. Of course we won’t see each other often.”
Qi Xiaoyuan looked at her for a moment. It was unclear whether he believed her or not. Suddenly, he changed the subject. “Why didn’t you tell me you applied for the food factory recruitment?”
“What was the use of telling you? Would you help me pull strings?” Su Man looked at his stunned expression and continued: “I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want to put you in a difficult position.”
Qi Xiaoyuan sighed. “I really can’t help much with this recruitment, but if you’re looking for work, you can tell me. I can help keep an eye out.”
Thinking of something, he added: “It doesn’t have to be limited to the military unit. When the old master returns to Ha City, I can also help introduce jobs elsewhere. You have a high school education, so it shouldn’t be difficult.”
“I actually do have something I need your help with.“ Su Man said, bringing up the bakery.
Qi Xiaoyuan was also surprised. “You know how to make bread?”
Su Man said: “Yes. Do you believe me?”
If he asked further about who she learned it from, she would have to make up another explanation, and she was afraid she might forget the details later and not be able to fill in the gaps.
Fortunately, Qi Xiaoyuan only looked at her steadily and said: “I believe you.”
His low, magnetic voice carried certainty. In his deep, narrow eyes, Su Man saw a small reflection of herself.
Su Man touched her ear, which suddenly felt a little itchy.
The next day, Aunt Xu came to inform Su Man of the recruitment results.
“Xiao Man, my Qingqing passed! She can start work on Monday!”
Aunt Xu was very happy. Her daughter had not had a job for a long time, and as the mother-in-law, she had come to help take care of the child. The whole family had been relying on her son-in-law Qin Dajun’s salary. Aunt Xu had been worried that over time, the son-in-law might become unhappy and it would affect the couple’s relationship.
Qin Dajun’s mother had previously made snide remarks, and although Aunt Xu had held back for her son-in-law’s sake, she had been holding in her frustration.
Now that her daughter had a job, she finally felt more confident.
Only then did Aunt Xu realize that Su Man had not passed the recruitment, and she felt a little awkward.
“Uh, Xiao Man, Auntie didn’t mean to show off. Don’t overthink it. You will definitely find a job.”
Su Man smiled. “Auntie, I’m not that petty. I already knew yesterday that I wasn’t selected. I didn’t have high expectations when I signed up in the first place. I’m happy for Qingqing!”
What she said was the truth. When Qi Xiaoyuan came yesterday, his attitude already made it clear that he knew the recruitment results. If she had passed, he would not have said he could help her find a job.
In fact, Su Man had always been thinking about that bakery. Compared to working on a food factory assembly line, she preferred doing something she liked and was good at.
Aunt Xu sighed in relief and smiled again. “No wonder I like you so much.”
“Oh, there’s something else. Didn’t you want to rent a place? There’s news.”
In the Military Barracks Management Office.
Qi Xiaoyuan had already completed the housing allocation application process. Division Commander Liu, hearing that he had applied for housing, came over immediately to take a look.
“Xiao Yuan, are you getting married?”
Qi Xiaoyuan replied: “No.”
“Then why are you applying for housing? And that fiancée of yours has already come to the military unit, right? I’ve heard quite a few rumors.”
Qi Xiaoyuan said: “Division Commander, don’t listen to outside gossip. Su Man doesn’t have a place to stay right now. The house I applied for is for her. I’ll stay in the dormitory.”
Division Commander Liu looked at his attitude and restrained his teasing expression. “Xiao Yuan, back then so many people introduced girls to you, and you rejected every single one. You never said what kind you liked. I thought you were waiting for this fiancée.”
“I almost called your father just now to ask why he kept your engagement from me. So it turns out you don’t even like this one either. Do you plan to stay single forever?”
“I heard that girl is very beautiful. If you don’t want her, I might introduce her to my grandson Xie Wei. He likes beautiful girls.”
Xie Wei was Division Commander Liu’s grandson. He had grown up with Qi Xiaoyuan and was already of marriageable age but still unmarried—his reason being that he only liked beautiful women.
His family had long been worried about his marriage.
At this moment, Division Commander Liu’s words were half a test of Qi Xiaoyuan’s attitude and half a genuine intention to matchmake.