Chapter 672

Li Xiuying over there was actually very tired; she really wanted to chat with Qiao more.

Because today's opportunity was too rare.

There were many things she wanted to ask Qiao, and she wanted to ask when Qiao would have time; she wanted to invite Dong Xiangqin over—not to a state-run restaurant, but to her home, where she would cook a few of her signature dishes.

They could just send the children to their grandparents, and then the three women could eat, chat, and have a little wine to strengthen their bond—of course, without bringing Zhou Shanshan along.

But now that Zhou Shanshan was right there, she certainly couldn't keep talking to Qiao.

She still had to look after Zhou Shanshan, after all, she was the host today.

But the matter of her siblings taking the college entrance exam certainly couldn't be brought up.

Anything she wanted to say would have to wait until Qin Hengzhi and Lu Qiao left.

Lu Qiao ate her food leisurely; today's Wangjiang Restaurant was headed by Chef Zhu, and Lu Qiao, who came often, could tell.

Moreover, the waiter had clearly listened to Chef Zhu and placed her favorite tomato and fish fillet sour soup in front of her.

In the 1970s, Jiangcheng, by virtue of its powerful energy, heavy equipment manufacturing, military industry, and forestry systems, was not only the undisputed heavy industrial base of the Long Kingdom but also the core pillar of national economic security and defense construction.

The titles "Eldest Son of the Republic" and "Heart of Heavy Industry" were well-deserved for Jiangcheng in the 1970s.

And Jiangcheng's agriculture was the same.

Especially now that they had developed greenhouses using materials imported from the south; the Agricultural Bureau had set up a pilot project at the Manshan Commune, and unexpectedly, it had actually succeeded.

However, tomato yields were average; it was said that bok choy, small radishes, and spinach grew the best.

Because Qin Hengzhi had ordered it in advance, Chef Zhu had managed to get a tomato to make this bowl of tomato and fish fillet sour soup for Lu Qiao.

The taste was delicious, and paired with rice, it greatly increased one's appetite.

This dish was placed right in front of Lu Qiao.

The taste was as delicious as ever.

Chef Zhu's eldest son was now the head chef at the Xiang Yang Food Factory canteen.

It could be considered following in his father's footsteps.

Lu Qiao was specially treated here even without Qin Hengzhi.

When eating, one should just eat well.

Zhou Shanshan knew what Li Xiuying and the others had ordered, and she knew there was no such thing as sour soup fish fillets.

But this bowl of soup looked particularly good.

In the boiling soup, white fish fillets and red tomatoes rolled about, and the soup was sprinkled with green scallions and cilantro.

Even though Zhou Shanshan felt she had eaten everything in Jiangcheng, she couldn't help but swallow a mouthful of saliva.

One of her hands gripped her chopsticks tightly, and in the end, she couldn't help but let out a cold snort.

Li Xiuying's heart skipped a beat.

Her face turned a bit pale; Lu Qiao couldn't bear to see it and said to everyone with a smile: "This fish fillet soup tastes very good; I used serving chopsticks and a spoon, and I haven't touched it. You can all have a taste."

Then she reached out and gently patted Li Xiuying on the back of her hand, then held it for a moment.

Such a small gesture made Li Xiuying feel warm inside; just as she was about to speak, Zhou Shanshan snatched the chance before she could, leaning close to her ear and saying to Li Xiuying in a self-righteous low tone: "Sister, you always used to say Zhang Qiaozhi was clever and skillful; I heard she's been transferred to the down jacket factory to make clothes now. Do you think this piece of clothing I'm wearing was made by her?"

Li Xiuying turned abruptly to look at the smiling Zhou Shanshan.

She was truly gritting her teeth, wishing she could slap Zhou Shanshan across the face.

The down jacket factory also had a connection to Lu Qiao, because it was invested in and built by the Xiang Yang Food Factory.

If it weren't for the investment from Xiang Yang Food Factory, there wouldn't be this down jacket factory now, and the Third Textile Factory would also be in trouble; who wouldn't say Lu Qiao was a capable person?

So, Zhou Shanshan, what the hell are you trying to do?

Can't you just keep your mouth shut?

Would you die if you didn't mention everything related to Lu Qiao!

But Zhou Shanshan spoke in a very low voice, and since they weren't in a private room but in the restaurant, although there was a certain distance between tables and everyone was speaking softly, it was still quite lively.

Plus, Zhou Shanshan was whispering right in her ear.

No one else heard it.

Li Xiuying stared fixedly at Zhou Shanshan, but Zhou Shanshan didn't take it to heart at all, instead looking at Li Xiuying provocatively, as if she were certain Li Xiuying wouldn't fall out with her.

But actually, when Zhou Shanshan was whispering to Li Xiuying, the three men opposite couldn't help but cast their gazes over.

Lu Qiao, however, didn't care at all and continued to eat her favorite dishes leisurely.

Lu Qiao had always been in awe of food; even if she were in the midst of a mountain of blades and a sea of fire, she would still savor good food carefully.

Besides, Zhou Shanshan was just a clown, and Lu Qiao didn't take her to heart at all.

Li Xiuying also immediately said to Zhou Shanshan in a low voice: "You really are something; why do you bring her up on this occasion? Is it interesting?"

Zhou Shanshan blinked her eyes; of course, she had learned to be smart, and her voice was very low now: "It's very interesting. I didn't want to mention her before because my heart would skip a beat whenever I did. But now I've let it go; I don't care at all, and thinking that this down jacket I'm wearing might have been made by her actually makes me feel quite comfortable."

She then added: "Sister, you wouldn't have an opinion of me because of this, would you?"

Li Xiuying really wanted to slap her, but she wanted to slap herself even more—why on earth did she have to bring up down jackets for no reason?

Li Xiuying glared at her and said half-jokingly, half-seriously: "Who are you now? You're Deputy Section Chief Zhou of the Education Bureau; how would I dare to have an opinion of you?"

Zhou Shanshan laughed happily.

Others hadn't heard clearly, but Lu Qiao had heard every word.

Zhang Qiaozhi... she naturally knew her; not only did she know her, she was very familiar with her.

She was a girl with great design talent.

Lu Qiao knew about her past relationship with Liu Dahui, so she suggested the factory director transfer her to the design department.

The down jacket Zhou Shanshan was wearing wasn't made by her, but it was indeed designed by Zhang Qiaozhi.

It was a short style with a belt, the hood and collar were integrated, and it was pressed with matching lace; although it was an old-fashioned green, the effect when worn was really quite good.

This garment didn't pick skin tones, and since people were basically thin now, it was sold out as soon as it hit the market.

The down jacket factory was working overtime, preparing to make a big sale during the winter.

Zhou Shanshan touched her down jacket, suddenly looked at Lu Qiao, and said: "Oh my, Factory Director Lu, you often go to the down jacket factory to inspect work; have you seen Zhang Qiaozhi?"

Zhou Shanshan didn't lower her voice when she said this.

Liu Dahui's expression changed instantly; just as he was about to tell Zhou Shanshan to shut up, Lu Qiao put down her chopsticks, knowing that this person couldn't hold it in.

She turned her head and said with a beaming smile: "There are two Zhang Qiaozhis at the down jacket factory: one is Chef Zhang, who is in charge of steaming buns in the canteen; she is forty-nine this year and is about to retire. The other Zhang Qiaozhi is twenty-four this year; she is not only virtuous and talented but also has a gift for design. I suggested she be transferred to the design department last week, and she is now Director Tian's assistant. I wonder which one you are asking about?"