Qin Yanzhou was assigned to the maintenance team. Qin Shanhai wanted him to learn some skills from the experienced workers.
Since he was the factory director’s son, everyone treated him politely, and the senior worker was willing to guide him.
But…
After a while, Qin Yanzhou clutched his stomach.
“Master Li, my stomach hurts.”
Master Li: “Go ahead. You know where the toilet is?”
“Yeah, yeah.”
A while later, Qin Yanzhou held an empty kettle.
“Master Li, I’m going to get some water.”
Master Li: “Go.”
Soon after, Qin Yanzhou said, “Master Li, I’m hungry…”
Master Li: “Get lost!”
In just one morning, Qin Yanzhou had become the most disliked person in the maintenance team.
He couldn’t do any work, but when it came to eating, he ranked first.
As soon as the bell rang for the end of work, Qin Yanzhou ran off faster than anyone.
Qin Shanhai specifically came to ask Master Li about Qin Yanzhou’s performance that morning.
Master Li, about the same age as Qin Shanhai, had worked at the textile factory for decades and was always full of energy. But after just one morning, he felt like he had aged several years.
“Director Qin… I really can’t teach your son at all…”
…
Qin Yanzhou, who was devouring food in the cafeteria, got his head smacked straight into his lunchbox by his father. When he lifted his head again, his handsome face was covered in rice grains.
“Dad! I did great this morning. Why are you hitting me?”
“You did great? I might as well give you the first prize for slacking off!”
Seeing his son, who was useless and couldn’t even handle work, Qin Shanhai felt a headache coming on.
Mianbao had been playing all morning, and Xie Yulan didn’t feel like going home to cook, so she brought her to the cafeteria.
The Qin family sat together. As Qin Shanhai scolded Qin Yanzhou, everyone around looked over curiously.
“Dad, there are so many people here. Can you give me some face?”
“You still care about face? You’ve already made me lose all of mine!”
Qin Yanzhou pouted.
“Brother Yanzhou.”
A familiar soft female voice sounded.
They turned and saw Tao Xiaohong approaching with an aluminum lunchbox.
There happened to be an empty seat, so she sat down directly.
“Uncle, Auntie,” she greeted.
Qin Shanhai frowned slightly. “Didn’t you take a week off?”
“I heard the factory is rushing orders. Production is important, so I canceled my leave and came back to work.”
Qin Shanhai nodded slightly and said nothing more.
Xie Yulan’s attention was on Mianbao. The moment Mianbao saw Tao Xiaohong, she immediately hid beside her.
Xie Yulan glanced at Tao Xiaohong strangely. She still looked gentle and weak as usual—why was Mianbao suddenly so afraid of her?
“Grandma, I’m full,” Mianbao said softly, tugging at her clothes.
She didn’t want to stay with the bad woman.
The bad woman would sell her.
Tao Xiaohong looked at Mianbao, and thinking about what happened that day, a trace of viciousness flashed in her eyes.
She picked up the egg from her lunchbox and placed it into Mianbao’s.
“Mianbao, be good. You haven’t finished your meal. Have my egg.”
Mianbao shook her head. “I don’t want it… Grandma, let’s go.”
She jumped off the chair, grabbed Xie Yulan’s hand, and tried to pull her away.
Qin Shanhai also found it strange—why was Mianbao becoming more and more afraid of Tao Xiaohong?
“Alright, alright, Grandma will take you away.” Xie Yulan pushed Mianbao’s unfinished food toward Qin Yanzhou. “Finish this. Don’t waste it.”
Qin Yanzhou glanced at Mianbao. “Got it.”
Xie Yulan left with Mianbao, and Qin Shanhai followed. Only Qin Yanzhou and Tao Xiaohong remained at the table.
With a soft, aggrieved tone, Tao Xiaohong said, “Brother Yanzhou, did I do something wrong? Why doesn’t Mianbao like me?”
Qin Yanzhou pushed the lunchbox toward her. “Eat your own egg.”
Tao Xiaohong felt a surge of joy—so he still cared about her.
She took the egg back.
Qin Yanzhou dumped all of Mianbao’s leftover food into his own lunchbox.
He had no intention of continuing the conversation.
Noticing several people nearby watching them, Tao Xiaohong shifted to sit directly across from him and smiled brightly.
“Brother Yanzhou, we can go to work together from now on.”
She deliberately raised her voice so others could hear.
Qin Yanzhou responded casually, “Mm.”
After finishing his food quickly, he stood up.
“I’m done. I’m leaving.”
Without waiting for her reply, he took his lunchbox and left.
As soon as he left, someone sat beside Tao Xiaohong.
“Xiaohong, what’s your relationship with Director Qin’s son?”
“Is he your boyfriend?”
Tao Xiaohong blushed and lowered her head shyly. “Oh, don’t talk nonsense…”
Seeing this, some people showed envious expressions.
After leaving the cafeteria, Mianbao refused to let go of Xie Yulan no matter how they coaxed her.
Xie Yulan carried her to Qin Shanhai’s office for a nap, then took her to play at the factory kindergarten in the afternoon.
As evening approached and workers got off work, Xie Yulan prepared to take Mianbao home.
“I don’t want to go home, I still want to play,” Mianbao said, blinking her eyes mischievously while tugging at her hand.
“Grandma, I still want to play.”
Xie Yulan thought she just hadn’t had enough fun and affectionately pinched her cheek.
“Alright, alright, we’ll play a bit longer.”
Mianbao jumped happily and pulled her around.
Qin Yanzhou stretched as he came out of the workshop, planning to go to the dance hall later.
“Uncle, Uncle…” Mianbao ran over and grabbed him.
“What is it, little radish?”
“Uncle, play with me.”
Qin Yanzhou was about to refuse when Xie Yulan grabbed his ear.
“If she says play, then play. Hurry up.”
The two followed Mianbao to the warehouse area. It was dark and deserted.
“Mianbao, what are you doing here? There’s nothing fun here. Come on, Grandma will take you home.”
Xie Yulan picked her up.
“No, no, I don’t want to go home. I want to play hide-and-seek over there,” Mianbao said, pointing toward the warehouse.
“Let’s come tomorrow, okay?”
“No, no, take me now…” Her lips trembled, and her voice turned tearful.
Mianbao was usually very obedient. Xie Yulan assumed she was just overly excited from being in the factory for the first time.
“Alright, alright, Grandma will play hide-and-seek with you.”
They walked toward the warehouse.
It was eerily quiet. A cold wind blew, sending chills down their spines.
Afraid Mianbao might get scared, Xie Yulan stopped, about to persuade her to go home—when suddenly, faint rustling sounds came from inside the warehouse.
What was that?
At this hour, was someone still inside?
Qin Yanzhou frowned and quietly moved closer. He saw beams of flashlight moving inside—and more than one person.
“Mom, there are thieves!”
Hearing this, Xie Yulan held Mianbao tightly. Her foot stepped on a dry branch with a crack.
“Who’s there?!” someone inside shouted sharply.
The next second, the warehouse door was pulled open from the inside.
Xie Yulan’s face changed—she panicked.