Chapter 110: Heart-chilling

The weather is getting colder and colder, and the winter wind is blowing.

Xiang Jianming arrived at the threshing floor early in the morning to arrange the delivery team. "It's dark, watch the road and walk slowly. If you encounter people from Qingshan Village on the road, don't conflict, just go your own way."

"Understood, Captain Xiang!"

Shuangshui Village originally supplied tofu and bean sprouts to the Hongqi Supply and Marketing Cooperative, and now added dried tofu, fermented soybeans,

President Fang was incredibly jealous and gave Zhang Jun a task.

After the Qingshan Team bought soybeans from a neighboring county, the vegetable tofu was made as usual and delivered to the Shengli Supply and Marketing Cooperative.

They increased the supply quantity, going from one or two hundred jin a day to three or four hundred jin, with two bull carts delivering goods daily.

Those who couldn't buy tofu while waiting in line at the Hongqi Supply and Marketing Cooperative had no choice but to come to the Shengli Supply and Marketing Cooperative to purchase it.

Winter vegetables were scarce to begin with, and it was not easy to get nutritious soy products. The competition between the two cooperatives actually made it much more convenient for the city residents to buy vegetables.

Another week passed by the time the road to the county was repaired.

The leaders of the Shuangqiao Commune announced that the brigade's tractor was completely scrapped. At the end of the year, it would depend on each village's performance; the collective that was rated as an Advanced Brigade would be awarded an extra tractor.

"That will definitely be ours!"

Xiang Jianming mentioned this during a meeting, and Xiang Shishui said with a smile.

"We must not lower our guard; the Qingshan Team is chasing us very closely!"

"Now that the factory is built, Qingyue, please tell everyone about the recruitment arrangements."

The factory had already been built and divided into several zones.

"The weighing and screening zone is the most important. All the soybeans collected, including the upcoming sweet potatoes, radishes, and cabbage, as well as future seasonal vegetables, must pass this first hurdle. We must ensure quality and weight—neither can be lacking..."

"In every zone, we team leaders will take turns on weekly duty. You must record the duty situation and ensure a proper handover with the next person on duty."

"Recruitment will be the same as before, prioritizing work point rankings and focusing on character. Everyone will vote for each position."

After Su Qingyue finished speaking, she discussed the details with everyone, and then Xiang Jianming wrote a recruitment notice and posted it—the news that the Qingyue Agricultural Products Processing Factory was hiring fifteen workers spread throughout the village in an instant.

A monthly salary of ten yuan, plus work points!

Who wouldn't be tempted? Helping to collect and pick vegetables, weighing them, calculating points and accounts, and so on.

It just required being able to read and calculate, a requirement that stumped the average person! Moreover, Su Qingyue specifically instructed that women be given priority.

Families in the village who hadn't sent their children to school, or who only sent their boys, felt a moment of regret!

Those who realized this immediately made up their minds to send the girls in their families to school after the New Year. Even if they just finished primary school, being able to write and do basic arithmetic was a good thing.

With a factory in the village in the future, would they still be afraid of not finding work?

Once the recruitment news came out, all the young people in the village who had been to school rushed to sign up. The two girls from the Educated Youth Courtyard, Dai Xiaohong and Li Yun, went to sign up directly, and Zhou Xiang went as well.

After Su Qianqian found out, she urged Shen Xunbao, "Why can't we go? We are also educated youths; educated youths should have priority for job arrangements."

Shen Xunbao pushed up his glasses. "Don't you have any self-awareness? The processing factory looks like it's run by Factory Director Xiang Jianming, but in reality, Su Qingyue calls the shots. Would she want us?"

Su Qianqian wanted to curse out loud, but thinking of her mother's letter, she endured it again and again. "Brother Shen, the past is in the past. Ever since Qingyue got married, there hasn't been any conflict between us and Sister Qingyue."

"Mom and Dad told me to get along with her, and I have done so. My conscience is clear. Since we are here to build the countryside, if she has opened a factory, I want to help out; she won't refuse. Besides, if we don't even go to sign up, in the eyes of others, we will instead appear guilty and confirm that we have a guilty conscience."

Shen Xunbao thought about it carefully and realized this made sense. During this time, because Su Qianqian was pregnant, there was a touch of gentleness on her face, and she hadn't caused any trouble for Su Qingyue.

"Alright, then you must promise not to cause trouble. We will just wait safely for two years to return to the city."

Su Qianqian liked hearing this. "Mm, I will listen to Brother Shen."

Over here, Su Qingyue didn't say anything after learning that the two of them had also signed up.

She blinked and smiled mischievously. "Let Factory Director Xiang handle the recruitment. The factory is gradually getting on the right track, so I can be lazy and focus on my pregnancy."

Xiang Jianming laughed. "You girl, alright then. You just need to come over and take a look after you eat every day. If you don't want to move around, I'll have Li Zilan bring the accounts for you to review."

"No need to send them, I'll come by for a stroll every day."

Su Qingyue turned around with a smile. Just as she walked out of the brigade office, she saw Pei Huaiye standing outside the threshing floor holding a thick pink padded jacket.

"I came back and saw you weren't wearing your padded jacket. You're a mother-to-be now, yet you're not careful at all."

Pei Huaiye grumbled, but his movements were incredibly gentle as he put the jacket on Su Qingyue and held her hand, walking slowly toward home.

Pei Huaimei watched from behind with envy; her eldest brother was so good to her sister-in-law.

Her sister-in-law was so beautiful and kind, she deserved for her brother to treat her this way.

Yesterday, Pei Huaimei was beaten by Pei Fugui again. They urged Pei Huaimei to sign up at the Qingyue Processing Factory, but Pei Huaimei had never been to school, didn't know how to do anything, and didn't want to go.

Chen Lianzhen swung her cane and hit her. "What use is there in raising a money-losing item like you? At critical moments, you can't help the family at all!"

The cold wind howled, and Pei Huaimei cried by the river on an empty stomach.

Su Qingyue passed by and brought her home. There was a fire basin in the kitchen, making it warm and cozy. Su Qingyue served her a bowl of white rice topped with a layer of radish-stewed ribs.

"Eat while it's hot."

The last time she was beaten, Su Qingyue applied medicine for her; this time, she gave her food again.

Pei Huaimei held the bowl, the fragrant ribs entering her mouth along with her tears. After she finished eating with red eyes, she wanted to help wash the dishes.

She was stopped by Su Qingyue. "You don't need to worry about it, just leave them there. If you want to leave home, come and live here. I'll find work for you and pay you a salary."

"Sister-in-law, b-but I don't know how to do anything."

Pei Huaimei's eyes were filled with gratitude and unease.

Su Qingyue's gaze was gentle and patient. "Are you willing to learn? As long as you are willing, I can help you."

Pei Huaimei's eyes widened. "Sister-in-law, let me think about it."

Pei Huaimei originally wanted to test her parents when she got home, but she ended up getting beaten again. "Money-losing item, why didn't you die outside? Don't you know how to come back and cook?"

Zhang Dongmei was about to give birth and was leaning over the fire, pretending not to see.

Pei Huaigang was peeling chestnuts. She had found them one by one on the mountain, but she hadn't eaten a single one.

Her father and mother were clearly eating, so why did they still beat and scold her?

"Father, Mother, am I your biological child?"

This sentence did not make Chen Lianzhen and Pei Fugui reflect; instead, it made them intensify their actions and strike even harder.

Pei Huaimei's leg was almost broken. She stood up by leaning on the wall, and after crying for the whole night, she packed two sets of clothes and went to the threshing floor to find Su Qingyue.

She saw her eldest brother picking up Su Qingyue to go home.

She felt embarrassed to disturb them, thinking she should wait a little longer.

This wait almost ruined her entire life.