Chapter 114: Eyesore

The heavy snow fell for four or five days. Su Qingyue's body felt heavy, so she rested at home for several days.

This day, when Su Qingyue got up, she saw the vast white snow outside the window, and two clumsy big snowmen leaning against each other in the middle of the courtyard.

The snowmen's noses were made of carrots. The snow was still heavy in the morning, and only a tiny tip of the carrot remained.

"It's too cold, hurry back to bed and stay there."

Every time Pei Huaiye spoke, he exhaled a lot of cold air. He carried the fire basin and led Su Qingyue back to the bedroom.

"It's too cold, just stay in the room and don't go out. For breakfast, I steamed egg custard and heated up some buns."

Pei Huaiye carefully helped Su Qingyue back to bed, then went to the kitchen to bring the breakfast over.

He placed a small square table on the bed, then put the food on it, and the two of them ate breakfast with their heads together.

The egg custard was drizzled with a layer of sesame oil, the buns were piping hot and full of filling, and they drank red date and mixed grain porridge.

Pei Huaiye picked out all the red dates in the bowl for Su Qingyue.

"I went to the processing factory for a turn this morning, everything is fine."

Su Qingyue scooped a large spoonful of egg custard for Pei Huaiye. She looked out the window, "It's snowing, the winter vegetables need to be dug into cellars to be stored."

"Captain Xiang has already arranged it. There aren't many left to dig, everyone has already sent the radishes and cabbage from the fields to the processing factory."

Shuangshui Village had a good winter relying on the Qingyue Processing Factory. The factory collected cabbage, radishes, and sweet potatoes, and now they could even make bean sprouts. As long as every household was diligent, they could earn at least three to five yuan a month.

Not to mention those who earned more; they were all saving money, waiting to send their children to school.

"That's good. How are the fermented soybeans and bean paste selling?" A while ago, the Hongqi Supply and Marketing Cooperative started stocking fermented soybeans and bean paste. When the city people saw that a small bottle cost several mao, they didn't dare to buy it, complaining it was expensive.

It wasn't until several master chefs from state-run restaurants bought it back to cook with, and everyone praised the food for being fragrant, that Master Liu and Master Wang said this was a product of the Qingyue Processing Factory and that it was sold at the Hongqi Supply and Marketing Cooperative.

Many wealthy families then went to the Hongqi Supply and Marketing Cooperative to purchase it, which suddenly boosted the sales of fermented soybeans and bean paste.

Su Qingyue smiled upon hearing this, "Let's stir-fry meat for lunch and add some fermented soybeans."

She was pregnant and had an unusually good appetite; everything she ate was delicious, and she wanted to eat everything.

Pei Huaiye looked at her little pig-like greedy appearance and couldn't help but smile and pinch her little face, "I'll make it for you in a bit."

"Qingxi and Zhuangzhuang should be on vacation, right?"

"Mm, they'll be on vacation after the exams. I'm going to the county to pick them up today. By the way, I'll send a letter to Master."

Speaking of writing letters, Su Qingyue thought of her foster mother's family in the Capital.

"I'll write a letter, you help me mail it to my foster mother. No, I want to write three letters, also to Old Madam Yan and Uncle Shen."

When she got married, they all sent generous gifts. With the New Year approaching, she also wanted to return the favor, "Go to the factory and pack four portions of soy products: fermented soybeans, bean paste, bean curd skin, and dried bean curd. These things can be stored. I want to send them to Master, foster mother, Old Madam Yan, and Uncle Shen."

"Mm, I'll see what other easy-to-carry local specialties there are in the city and bring some along." Pei Huaiye added a thick cotton-padded jacket and filled a hot water bag for Su Qingyue before leaving.

"You take a nap. If you're hungry, there are buns and flower rolls in the steamer. Brew some malted milk to drink yourself."

"Mm, be careful on the slippery road."

Pei Huaiye smiled and kissed Su Qingyue before leaving.

In the afternoon, Su Qingyue still got up and went to the processing factory. She didn't expect to run into Su Qianqian drying fermented soybeans.

"Qingyue, you're here."

Su Qianqian supported her belly while bending over to gently turn the fermented soybeans with a tool. Her movements were quite skilled, not at all like someone who had just arrived.

She hadn't been to the processing factory for four or five days, and they had already hired Su Qianqian?

Su Qingyue felt uncomfortable, but she didn't show it on her face. She smiled faintly and continued strolling around.

Kong Shan and Zheng Hui felt very guilty, their eyes drifting around, not daring to look at Su Qingyue.

Su Qingyue saw it all but didn't say anything. No wonder her brother and sister-in-law had been saying all sorts of things at home these past two days, and even told her she must keep an open mind.

The newly hired people all worked efficiently and treated every task carefully. Everyone greeted Su Qingyue with a smile when they saw her.

Su Qingyue went straight to Xiang Jianming's office.

"Qingyue?"

Xiang Jianming was staring at the report in his hand, writing something. When he saw it was Su Qingyue, he stood up immediately.

"Sit down quickly, I have something to tell you."

Su Qingyue's eyes were a bit cold and also a bit aggrieved. It was one thing that outsiders didn't know about the conflict between her and Su Qianqian, but the village head knew.

Since he knew, why did he still let her into the factory? Wasn't this just being an eyesore?

When Xiang Jianming saw that Su Qingyue's eyes were red, he became nervous and his voice grew tense.

"Qingyue, girl, listen to your uncle first. I've been worried about this for the past few days and haven't been able to sleep well."

"Let me ask you, do you know that your foster mother knows the County Magistrate's wife?"

Facing Xiang Jianming's inquiry, Su Qingyue shook her head, feeling a bit dazed.

Xiang Jianming explained it in detail.

Four or five days ago, he and the team leader went to deliver goods to the Hongqi Supply and Marketing Cooperative. Zhang Dongfeng kept him there, saying that the cooperative's efficiency was largely due to the Qingyue Processing Factory, and he wanted to treat him, the factory director, to a meal, and also said he wanted to introduce some big shots to him.

Xiang Jianming went happily and really met the big shots: County Magistrate Jiang and the County Magistrate's wife, Ding Shuiqin. Sitting beside Ding Shuiqin were Su Qianqian and Shen Xunbao.

During the meal, everyone praised Su Qingyue's intelligence and courage, and the topic naturally turned to the advanced collective and the processing factory's recruitment.

"At that time, Su Qianqian smiled and said she wanted to work at the processing factory to contribute her strength to the village, and also said she wasn't afraid of hardship or fatigue, and asked me if I was hiring."

"Qingyue, at that time, Ding Shuiqin kept staring at me. I really couldn't say no in front of the County Magistrate."

Moreover, the selection of the advanced brigade depended on the County Magistrate's attitude.

How could he offend people at a time like this?

Su Qingyue understood completely in her heart, but she didn't expect her foster mother to have this connection and leave it for her own biological daughter.

After all, blood is thicker than water.

Su Qingyue still felt a bit uncomfortable in her heart.

"So that's how it is. Captain Xiang, I don't blame you."

Xiang Jianming frowned, "I've arranged for Su Qianqian to do light work. I've asked Kong Shan and Zheng Hui to keep an eye on her. The fermented soybeans she dries will be checked again in the front and back stages. Don't worry."

"From now on, just pretend she doesn't exist, as long as you keep up appearances."

Xiang Jianming was giving Su Qingyue a heads-up in advance. After all, Su Qianqian had connected with the County Magistrate's wife, so if she really wanted to do something in the future, there would be someone to back her up.

"Mm, she'd better not cause trouble, otherwise I won't be polite either!"

Outside, the heavy snow was still howling. When Su Qingyue came out of the office, it was already late.

Su Qianqian had also finished work, "Qingyue, I'm going to Auntie Ding's house as a guest tomorrow, let's go together?"

She smiled and invited Su Qingyue, her tone innocent, "Auntie Ding is my mother's college classmate. Oh, look at me, I probably forgot that you might not know about this?"

She knew clearly that Su Qingyue had just come out of Xiang Jianming's office and already knew everything. ===== CHAPTER 115 =====