Chapter 874: Oh, child—what am I supposed to say to you

Because it was decided on short notice, she had to leave with the truck first thing the next morning.

Right—this business trip wasn't by train; she would be going along with the steel mill's delivery truck.

Besides delivering goods and collecting payment, this trip had one more task: to purchase beef and mutton to bring back as New Year welfare benefits.

The section chief had originally wanted the few male comrades in the section to go along with the truck, but the moment those men heard it was Inner Mongolia, each of them came up with his own excuse.

Actually, the section chief didn't pin much hope on Liu Chuxue either; he figured if she refused, he'd just force Zheng Jiangtao to go.

After all, although he had refused, he had also said that if no one in the section was willing to go, he would go along.

Liu Chuxue composed her expression: "Section Chief, don't worry. I'll get the work done properly and won't let you down."

Section Chief Li turned and went into his office, took some national grain coupons out of his desk: "Here, here, here—since Liu Chuxue is the one going on this trip, everyone has to chip in something."

Once Section Chief Li took the lead, the others contributed some national grain coupons and meat coupons, more or less: "Go home and pack your things right now. You have to be at the factory by five-thirty tomorrow morning."

Once the section chief reported it up, the factory naturally figured it wasn't appropriate for a young girl to be traveling with a bunch of grown men.

Xiao Mu saw Liu Chuxue come in: "Why are you back so early today?"

Liu Chuxue set down the things in her hands: "I have to go on a business trip tomorrow, came back to pack."

Xiao Mu stopped what she was doing: "Where are you going?"

Liu Chuxue took out the things she'd brought back as she spoke: "I have to make a trip to Inner Mongolia."

Xiao Mu hadn't expected it was somewhere so far: "How many days will you be gone?"

Liu Chuxue shook her head: "Hard to say. After all, besides delivering the goods, I still have to do the purchasing."

Xiao Mu's face was full of worry: "There are so many people in your section—how could they let a young girl like you go alone?"

Deep down she felt her own daughter was being pushed around: "Why don't we have your uncle step in and see if they can swap someone else in?"

Liu Chuxue laughed: "Mom, no one's bullying me. I wanted to go myself."

Xiao Mu looked completely baffled: "In weather this cold, a girl like you traveling out there—how much suffering will you have to endure? I really don't know what you're thinking."

Liu Chuxue said with a smile: "I've never been to Inner Mongolia. Taking this chance to travel on the company's tab—what could be better? Besides, don't worry. This time it's not just our finance side sending someone; the logistics section and the purchasing section have to send people too. There definitely won't be just me as the only female comrade.

And you know perfectly well how strong I am. Fu Yan Cheng even taught me military boxing—I've got no problem protecting myself now. Other people don't want to go and suffer, but I'm not afraid. When I get there, I'll see if I can get some powdered milk for you and sis to put aside."

Xiao Mu heard this and felt a complicated ache: "Oh, child—what am I supposed to say to you."

Liu Chuxue laughed: "You know my temperament. Ever since I went to the Northeast, I've thought that whenever there's a chance to travel on business, I'll fight for it. Seeing all the beautiful scenery of the motherland without spending my own money—such a good thing, and others don't even get the chance. Isn't that right?"

Seeing she was dead set on going, and knowing she couldn't be stopped: "There's still a piece of meat at home. Let me make you some meat paste to take along."

But Liu Chuxue stopped her: "Mom, it's too cold to carry meat paste around. You keep it for yourself. Just prepare me some mushroom chili paste—that'll warm me up when I eat it."

Xiao Mu thought that made sense and got up to go to the kitchen.