Chapter 1490: Secured

"Eat up, don't just stare at me and smile foolishly."

Wang Yan looked with amusement at Zhou Xiaobai sitting opposite him, her chin propped in her hands.

"I've already eaten; you eat more," Zhou Xiaobai said, then asked, "Was it easy for you to get leave?"

"Very easy. I applied for leave over a month in advance, saying I was coming to visit my betrothed; the leaders were all very supportive."

"I remember you previously said you were going to the Canton Fair, and afterward you were going to Hong Kong; did you come straight here from Hong Kong?"

Wang Yan nodded with a smile: "That's why they say you're smart; yes, I came directly, and I even brought you some foreign goods."

"Those things you mailed me last time clearly cost quite a bit. They were too expensive; life isn't easy for you over in Lin County, so don't spend money recklessly; save every bit you can."

"Just tell me if you're happy or not."

"I'm happy!" Zhou Xiaobai nodded sweetly, "but we still must save where we can. My mother called me and said you sent them quite a lot of things too; she told me to tell you not to be so extravagant, that they lack for nothing. I wrote you a letter, but it was sent to Lin County, so you probably haven't received it yet."

"What I bought for you and for your family didn't cost me a single cent. It was all given to me by patriots over in Hong Kong."

Zhou Xiaobai was completely unaware that Wang Yan had become the 'Tiger Who Cleans the Streets' in Hong Kong; she asked in surprise, "Do the patriots in Hong Kong even give away things like skincare products?"

"That is their way of thanking me for my help to them," Wang Yan said seriously. "Such a small amount of money is nothing more than a single hair from nine oxen to them; they even sent us over two million in foreign exchange, plus several dozen small sedans and minibuses, things I haven't told you about yet."

"Additionally, on this trip to Hong Kong, I had some friendly exchanges with them; they were deeply moved by the poverty in Lin County and the hardships of its people; to improve transportation for the people of Lin County, they decided to donate several dozen large buses to build a public bus system there; they are truly good people with the motherland at heart."

"I never expected they could go to such lengths," Zhou Xiaobai said, taking him at his word. "So what are your plans for the future? Are you going to put down roots in Lin County?"

"I haven't really thought about that problem yet; we'll see later; we're both still young, no need to rush," Wang Yan shook his head, then changed the subject: "Let me tell you some good news: I've been selected as an Outstanding Party Member at the provincial, municipal, and county levels, and I've been recommended to attend Northwestern Polytechnical University."

"Really? That's wonderful! So what major will you study?"

"Marxist-Leninist Theory. The leaders said my reports were well-written and that I have a deep understanding of theory and practice, so they want me to specialize in researching and organizing the theory. Once I've organized the theory, I'll graduate smoothly."

"Then I think you'd be better off learning a technical skill; you're so smart, you'd surely excel at it; then you could build machines or something, better improving productivity, wouldn't that benefit the people even more?"

"Look at this level of awareness," Wang Yan laughed heartily. "But this major is also excellent; after all, this is the very foundation upon which our nation stands; ideological theory guides practical development; we must attend to both the abstract and the concrete; the harmony of the void and the real is the correct path for development. We need scientists doing research just as much as we need scholars working on theory; if done well, both are equally valuable."

"You have so many arguments," Zhou Xiaobai pouted and retorted.

"They're all the truth," Wang Yan said, taking a couple of bites of food. "A while ago, I was drinking mutton soup in the county with Zhong Yuemin and the others, and we talked about what we'd do in the future. Dayong's betrothed said that since I can take photos, I could go to the Film Academy or a film studio to make movies, contributing to the spiritual and cultural needs of our masses; I think that sounds quite good."

"Since you think it's good, let me have my father make some contacts for you and get you transferred directly to... I recall there's a film studio in Shaanxi Province?"

"The Xi'an Film Studio."

Wang Yan shook his head and smiled: "You're thoughtful, but for such a small matter, I shouldn't trouble my future father-in-law. Not to brag, Comrade Xiaobai, if I wanted to transfer jobs now, going to Jingcheng might require some effort, but here in Shaanxi Province it's no big issue; whichever unit I want to go to basically poses no major problem."

"A while ago, the leaders in Yan'an City had a talk with me, asking my opinion, wanting to assign me to work in Lin County; that would mean becoming a cadre, and the major I'm studying at university matches perfectly. However, I didn't agree; I remember mentioning this in a letter to you last year when we were setting up the furniture factory."

"At that time, the county's intention was for me to hold a position in the commune, work there for a while, and then promote me to the county level, giving me a larger stage to display my talents and lead Lin County's development. I didn't agree even then; if one wants to drive development, I can do it anywhere; what matters most is the support of the leaders."

"What you say is right," Zhou Xiaobai said, acknowledging Wang Yan's capabilities.

Because from the time she met Wang Yan until now, he had never really suffered any hardships; in Jingcheng he lived in luxury, and even when he reached northern Shaanxi, he managed to create a significant situation for himself.

"So, since I can develop anywhere, and I happen to have some skills—I can write, I can paint, I know a bit of foreign languages, and I can do carpentry—I'll never worry about food or drink in this life; plus you have a good unit, and my future father-in-law, mother-in-law, elder brother-in-law, and elder sister-in-law are all capable people; what do I have to worry about?"

Zhou Xiaobai was very happy with Wang Yan's statement, because the words revealed that he did not treat her as an outsider, nor did he have any other thoughts due to her family's high status.

She picked up her chopsticks to serve him food: "Eat more; no matter how good the conditions are, you surely can't eat or drink like this over in Lin County, right?"

"I've told you, but you just don't believe me, and you keep sending me money. Lin County is actually quite good; everything is available in the county, and there's basically food and drink for everyone. In the past few months, our shops have expanded into the city, so the supply of goods is even more sufficient."

"Didn't I tell you about the mutton soup shop? Before I came, the commune was discussing opening the mutton soup shop in the city. Since I taught the commune how to make it, do you think I would eat less meat or drink less soup?"

"Besides, I just returned from Hong Kong; our side guaranteed all the food and drink there, everything was available, and I never spent a penny on meals while I was there."

"Yes, yes, yes, you're the most amazing."

And so they finished the meal; mostly Wang Yan ate, while Zhou Xiaobai only took a few simple bites, keeping her eyes fixed on Wang Yan as he ate, as if she could never get enough of looking at him, as if he would disappear the moment she blinked.

This attachment, once the two of them reached the guesthouse, transformed into endless tenderness.

As soon as the room door closed, Zhou Xiaobai leaped onto Wang Yan, initiating a kiss.

Although there was heating in the room, it couldn't be called particularly warm; it was merely not cold. Yet Zhou Xiaobai's fiery passion for Wang Yan seemed to melt the winter of the north, causing spring to arrive early.

"Things fall into place when conditions are ripe" is a very good phrase, making everything seem so natural.

Naturally, Zhou Xiaobai lay in Wang Yan's embrace with flushed cheeks; her hair had clumped together from sweat, and beads of perspiration on her smooth skin sparkled crystal-clear in the sunlight filtering through the window.

Naturally, Wang Yan smoked a cigarette, playing with his precious treasure as he had done without change for over a thousand years.

Zhou Xiaobai lifted her head, watching Wang Yan exhale a puff of smoke that danced upward in a column of light—a beautiful Darwin effect...

Moved, she said: "Wang Yan, when I return, I will immediately submit a report to the organization applying for marriage."

"Alright," Wang Yan agreed readily. "Let's get our certificate first; whether we hold a ceremony or not doesn't really matter; revolutionary love, revolutionary marriage—we don't care about those forms. Anyway, we're young, so let's stay separated for now and see how things look in a few years."

"My mother said that after I finish university, she'll have me transferred back to Jingcheng," Zhou Xiaobai said, blinking her big eyes.

"That's good; your mother works at 301 Hospital, so life will be convenient once you're back, and your future will be secure," Wang Yan said. Knowing she wanted clarity regarding their future arrangements, he continued, "As for my own future arrangements, I truly can't decide anything definite yet, Xiaobai; regardless, I must see through the development of Lin County properly; one must have a beginning and an end. Once that place no longer needs me, I won't care where I go."

"Just like I told you while we were eating earlier, your whole family is more impressive than the next; you'll go work as a doctor at 301 Hospital with excellent benefits; even if I do nothing at all, I certainly won't starve."

"I just want the two of us to be together, to see each other every day."

"In another four or five years, that should be about right."

Wang Yan stroked her hair; the two of them spoke nonsense filled with affection, very warm.

By afternoon, Wang Yan climbed out of the covers; Zhou Xiaobai asked, "Where are you going?"

"Don't you always want to eat the old hen stew I make? I'm going out to find one; you've lost some vital energy today, so let me nourish you."

"Forget it; you're unfamiliar with the people and the place," Zhou Xiaobai said. Though somewhat tempted, she still refused.

"Just spend money; why would I need to be familiar? I'll ask the guesthouse staff, and they'll bring an old hen over shortly; you just wait to eat."

While speaking, Wang Yan got dressed and went out to find an old hen to prepare his signature dish...

The taste needs no elaboration; Zhou Xiaobai ate with great relish.

"In my whole life, I've never drunk soup this delicious," Zhou Xiaobai said, slurping the chicken soup, her face full of satisfaction.

Wang Yan ate the chicken meat: "If it's delicious, drink more; once you're full and satisfied, sleep deeply, and when you wake up tomorrow, you'll feel refreshed and comfortable everywhere."

Zhou Xiaobai gave him a coquettish glare, then sighed "Ai," and asked, "How long can you stay this time?"

"Four days," Wang Yan said. "Although those apprentices are progressing quite fast, their foundation is still insufficient; they cannot handle tasks of high difficulty. All such work remains mine. This year, several hundred more sets of high-end furniture sold well at the Canton Fair, so there is much busyness ahead."

Having operated for two years already, many excellent apprentices have emerged among the crowd; their technical skill is actually very superb, capable of completing the vast majority of the work. However, when it comes to high-end products, they fall somewhat short.

They can produce fairly good furniture, but regarding the level of technical skill required for high-end furniture that pursues perfection, there remain many deficiencies; they need Wang Yan, this factory director, to lead them, teaching while working alongside them.

It is estimated that in another year or so, those few outstanding individuals will be able to handle things independently. Yet this batch still cannot shoulder great responsibilities, because they have only mechanically learned the craftsmanship taught by the Seeing Wang Yan Sect, reaching a very high level—they are already geniuses. But it is not enough.

When it comes to high-end furniture and home furnishings, what is needed even more is creativity, an aesthetic mindset and perspective; so far, Wang Yan has not encountered a single high-level apprentice possessing these qualities.

Perhaps they inherently lack them, perhaps their spirituality was stifled by Wang Yan's assembly line, or perhaps they have not yet awakened; in any case, truly handing over the furniture factory will still take a very long time.

After all, the furniture factory produces goods, so naturally there must be someone capable standing behind those products, ensuring continuous optimization and constant innovation; this is the key to the furniture factory's continued operation.

Of course, the leaders of other furniture factories must not be too useless; not only are they incapable of accomplishing anything, but they also recklessly stuff money into their own pockets. If one is saddled with such a furniture factory, no matter how superb the technology, it is all in vain; no matter how one works, one loses money, and it can never last long...

"Then next year I will take leave and go over there to have a look." Zhou Xiaobai sighed softly again, "Ai... When will the two of us finally be together?"

"Didn't I just say? In another four or five years, it will be about right. By then, the situation in Lin County will have stabilized; the overall foundation is quite good, and future development space is large. Once I leave that place, I can rest assured. Let's eat."

"Just thinking that you will leave in a few days makes me lose my appetite."

"Then think again: if you do not eat your fill, how will you have the strength to enjoy yourself?"

Zhou Xiaobai cast him a coquettish glare, yet indeed she ate with great appetite...

Thus, Wang Yan stayed here for four days, and Zhou Xiaobai did not return home for four nights; the two truly gave full expression to the longing they had accumulated over the past few years.

After seeing Wang Yan off on the vehicle heading to the nearby train station, Zhou Xiaobai turned and left, went to the guesthouse to retrieve the large bundle of things Wang Yan had brought for her, returned to the dormitory at the health center, tidied up, and only then went to the hospital director to cancel her leave.

Scolded thoroughly by the director, Zhou Xiaobai did not mind in the least; she returned to her office with a giggling smile.

"Aiyo-wei, if it isn't Comrade Zhou Xiaobai! Have you finally finished meeting your lover?" Luo Yun said in a strange, mocking tone, speaking strange words.

Zhou Xiaobai naturally understood the meaning; her face flushed slightly, and she glared at her displeasedly: "Is it any of your business..."

"Do your parents know? Such a big matter..."

"Originally, my choices were never their concern; moreover, they are extremely satisfied with Wang Yan. Haven't I told you? Wang Yan has always been corresponding with my father."

"Alright, you are impressive." Luo Yun gave a thumbs-up, then said, "Why didn't you bring him to tour our division headquarters?"

"Wang Yan would not come; he said one should rarely do things that violate discipline and must maintain such awareness." Zhou Xiaobai waved her hand, showing no interest in further conversation.

"Hey, how did you feel about that matter? Was it comfortable?"

"Aiya, why are you acting like a female hooligan? Have you no shame!"

"Watch your words, Comrade Xiaobai; I am asking. You really did it..."

"What 'did it' or 'didn't do it'? Why speak so uglily? If you want to know, go ask Yuan Jun!"

Zhou Xiaobai shot her a sideways glance, fell silent, and lay prone on the desk by herself, alternating between sorrowful sighs and foolish grins.

Watching her made Luo Yun shake her head repeatedly...

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