Chapter 1770: Progress

Ye Ye Xiaoxi said she was going to play, but she still secretly went to find Ye Ye Chengjiang.

After the games ended, the male comrades who had just been paired up all went to chat with their partners, and there were also four or five male comrades gathered around two female comrades talking together.

In any case, not a single female comrade was alone—by her side there were either one or two male comrades, or a whole bunch of them, everywhere in the corners of the factory.

The male comrades were like peacocks fanning their tails, each one of them, gathering around the female comrades to chat and ask for contact information.

Although they weren't locals, settling down locally wasn't a difficult matter for them. After all, they were all working here, so putting down roots here was only natural.

Besides, the factory had a family compound available for internal rental. Right now, apart from self-built houses in the countryside, there wasn't really anywhere to buy a house, so nobody was too hung up on housing.

Ye Ye Xiaoxi came out of the canteen, stood at the doorway looking at this pair, then at that group, feeling especially curious. It was clearly winter, yet it felt like spring had arrived—everyone was bursting with energy.

Ye Ye Chengyang came out behind her. "Why are you just standing there?"

"Nothing, just curious. Come on, let's sneakily go check on Ajiang-ge or Biao-ge, see where they are."

"They've definitely taken some female comrades to stroll around."

The siblings wandered all over the factory but didn't see Ye Ye Chengjiang. They did, however, see Lin Guangming and Lin Lin Guangwen, the two brothers, chatting and laughing around a female comrade.

"Ye Erge, Ye Erge, I remember what she's called—she's called Wang Xiaofen."

"Biao-ge Awen has no sense of tact at all…"

"Right? Biao-ge Aming is talking to the female comrade, what's he butting in for?"

"Exactly, they're having their own chat, what's it got to do with him? No sense of tact at all. No wonder both of them are still bachelors."

"Biao-ge Aming's about to be held back, I'm going to call Biao-ge Awen away." Ye Ye Xiaoxi finished speaking and quickly ran a few steps to shout, "Biao-ge Awen, my mom is looking for you."

"Huh? Looking for me? What does Little Aunt want me for?"

All three of them stopped in their tracks.

"I don't know, my mom told me to come out and call you."

Ye Ye Xiaoxi's face didn't flush and she wasn't out of breath, and while speaking she didn't forget to secretly size up Wang Xiaofen.

When she'd seen her inside the canteen, she'd only thought this older sister looked pretty ordinary—ear-length short hair and blunt bangs, making her face look round and youthful.

Now up close, she felt the older sister was really good-looking the more she looked. Her red cotton jacket set off her super fair skin, her pink, tender cheeks full of color.

She couldn't tell if it was the cold of the evening weather, or if her cheeks were flushed from shyness.

When Ye Ye Xiaoxi stared at her, her cheeks seemed to turn even redder.

"Jiejie, you're so pretty, your skin is so fair. I wish I could be as fair as you when I grow up."

Wang Xiaofen was amused by her. "You're also very fair and pretty."

"No way, I go to school every day, my mom says my face and neck are dark as can be."

"Once you grow up, you'll be fair."

"Mm-hmm, Jiejie, you have a nice chat with my Biao-ge, okay? My Biao-ge is super rich, he buys me tasty treats every day. You should get him to buy you stuff to eat."

Wang Xiaofen glanced at Lin Guangming, pressing her lips together as she secretly smiled.

Ye Ye Xiaoxi put her hands on her hips and glared ferociously at Lin Lin Guangwen. "Why are you still standing here? My mom already called you, let's go."

Lin Lin Guangwen responded blankly, then followed the siblings.

"What does your mom want me for?"

The siblings didn't answer him. After walking back a few steps, they stopped and secretly watched from behind.

Lin Lin Guangwen watched their strange behavior and scratched his head. "Are you trying to get rid of me?"

"Obviously!"

Ye Ye Chengyang explained, "We want to give Biao-ge Aming a chance to be alone. If you're beside him, how is he supposed to sweet-talk the female comrade and get her contact info?"

Ye Ye Xiaoxi was exasperated with him. "No wonder Biao-ge Aming is about to find a partner, and you don't even have a shadow of one."

"Damn! It was clearly him alone feeling awkward facing a female comrade, so he dragged me along to keep him company!"

"Then you should have some sense! Once you see them hitting it off, you should have left right away."

Lin Lin Guangwen looked at Ye Ye Chengyang. "You little punk, you know quite a lot, huh?"

"Even if I haven't eaten pork, haven't I seen a pig run?"

Ye Ye Xiaoxi added, "After we helped Big Brother arrange to meet his classmate, we very consciously left."

Only after she finished speaking did she realize she'd just exposed Big Brother's secret, and she quickly covered her mouth.

Lin Lin Guangwen's eyebrows shot straight up. "Oh wow! Your Big Brother is in a puppy love! Is he trying to copy Ye Chenghe?"

"Keep your voice down, don't disturb Biao-ge."

The three of them sneakily followed behind Lin Guangming, watching him make the female comrade laugh like a flower in bloom, and even pull out the pen clipped to his chest and have her write her contact info on his palm.

When the two of them pressed close together, all three of them widened their eyes, wishing they could gouge out their eyeballs and stick them on top of their heads to see what was being written.

Ye Ye Xiaoxi's mouth dropped open into an O shape. "Biao-ge is amazing! They're already pressed up against each other?"

Ye Ye Chengyang got excited too. "They're touching hands!"

"Big Brother has been courting his female classmate for two months and still hasn't held her hand! Biao-ge is amazing!"

"Your Big Brother is too useless, huh? Courting for two months and still hasn't held her hand?" Lin Lin Guangwen said mockingly.

"That's still better than you—you haven't held a female comrade's hand in twenty years, have you?"

Ye Ye Xiaoxi firmly defended her Big Brother!

"You little brat, who are you mocking?"

"I'm mocking you!"

Ye Ye Chengyang changed the subject. "Should we go find out where Ajiang-ge went?"

"It's already dark, how would we find him? There are so many people."

They looked around—all they could see was a sea of heads, and the sky had already gone completely dark.

When they'd come out of the canteen earlier, it had only just been dusk; in just a little while it had gone pitch black.

Lin Lin Guangwen said, "We should eat now, let's go inside the cafeteria? It's dark and the wind is even stronger out here, don't let you two catch a cold. Let's go line up to get food first, otherwise it'll be packed later."

Ye Ye Chengyang quickly chimed in, "Right, right, right, let's go get food first, otherwise there'll be several hundred people later and the line will be murder."

Ye Ye Xiaoxi figured that made sense. Although she was still curious and wanted to see if they'd hold hands or kiss, she didn't want to go hungry standing in line.

"Let's grab food for Cousin Aming and the short-haired sister too, so when they come in later there's food waiting for them."

"Let's go inside and wait first. As soon as they open the food line, we'll be first to get our meals, and let those still wandering outside line up till they drop!"

Ye Ye Chengyang said with a grin, "Cousin Awen, I think you're jealous."

"Jealous my ass. I deliberately didn't sign up. I'm not in a hurry, I don't want to find a partner…"

Ye Ye Xiaoxi: "I think you're just making excuses…"

The three of them bickered as they walked back to the cafeteria.

Once they stepped inside, it felt warm. The tables and chairs had already been put back in place, and the whole cafeteria was filled with the aroma of food.

More than half the dishes had already been laid out, and some people had already gotten their food and were eating. Anyway, today's meals were free, sponsored by the factory.

Their parents and the factory leaders were currently hosting the textile factory's leaders, sitting at a separate round table drinking. They didn't go over to disturb them. They got several plates of food and took a round table for themselves.

When the cafeteria's loudspeaker sounded, the people outside braving the wind hurried in to eat, and a long line instantly formed in the cafeteria.

Ye Ye Xiaoxi's sharp eyes finally spotted Ye Ye Chengjiang.

"Brother Ajiang~ over here, over here~"

"We got food for you guys in advance, just waiting for you. Come quick."

Ye Ye Chengjiang came over with his female comrade. In a while, Lin Guangming also came over with his female comrade, along with Ye Chenghe and his wife with their son.

Their table was also packed full. Everyone's eyes kept drifting toward the two female comrades, and they greeted them warmly.

Because of the time, after they finished eating they only chatted for a little while. At 7:30 their bus had to head back, so they had to send people onto the bus early.

The souvenirs arranged by the factory had all been carried to the main gate, so that when they got on the bus, they wouldn't forget to take one back.

Ye Yaodong and the whole factory had given them a warm reception. When they left, the other side's leader gripped his hand tightly and wouldn't let go, repeatedly saying words of thanks, and saying they should hold another mixer next time.

Once the doors of both buses were tightly shut and the vehicles started moving, they also breathed a sigh of relief.

Lin Lin Xiuqing said with a smile, "We've been running the factory for several years now, and today was quite a lively one."

"You don't know, Boss's Wife. Last year on New Year's Eve we were lively too, because most of the factory workers stayed behind to work overtime, and the boss arranged a New Year's Eve dinner for everyone. But that was all men, nothing as fancy as today."

"So today was more fun, right? So many female comrades from other factories, every one of them young, pretty, and beautiful."

"Definitely. From the moment these female comrades got off the bus at noon, every one of them had wolfish gleam in their eyes. Some even asked me when the next mixer would be. A lot of them didn't get to sign up this time and now want to sign up for the next one."

Ye Yaodong said with a smile, "Tell them the next one will be scheduled after the New Year. You all worked hard today, and thanks also to the staff who planned this event."

"What's so hard about it? We even got half a day off today, no work!"

"Haha, everyone disperse. Except for those on duty, everyone go home early and rest tonight. We'll start work again tomorrow morning."

The workers had already drifted off in twos and threes. No night shift tonight, and it wasn't even 8 o'clock yet. Many of them were walking out arm in arm, shoulder to shoulder, to wander around.

Ye Yaodong had been busy all afternoon and was exhausted long ago. He went straight back to the dormitory with Lin Lin Xiuqing. He didn't bother with the kids—anyway, they were all grown up, and the older ones would naturally look after the younger ones.

Lin Lin Xiuqing said as they walked, "After this event, I wonder how many will actually pair up."

"We'll just wait and see. Didn't our factory also prepare a wedding gift package? If they get together, they'll naturally come claim one."

"Maybe we can change it. It doesn't have to be only for those who paired up at the mixer. From now on, as long as a factory employee gets married, they can go to logistics to claim a wedding gift package."

"That works too, it's a happy occasion."

"Right, it's also a factory benefit."

……

The three Ye Ye Xiaoxi siblings instead went straight to join Ye Ye Chengjiang and the others, wanting to gossip about how those two had managed to get dates with the female comrades.

Especially Ye Ye Chengjiang, who had never managed to find anyone!

But Ye Ye Xiaoxi also hadn't forgotten about her big brother.

"Big Brother, where did you go after the mixer ended? Why didn't I see you? We were all outside watching Brother Aming's date."

Lin Guangming's eyes went wide, "Holy crap, you guys were following behind and sneaking peeks the whole time?"

"I was with Dad and Mom accompanying the leaders the whole time. Who's as nosy as you guys?"

"Oh, too bad then, you missed it. Brother Aming even held the female comrade's hand."

"Don't talk nonsense!"

"We all saw it!" Lin Lin Guangwen, Ye Ye Chengyang, and Ye Ye Xiaoxi said in unison.

Ye Ye Chengjiang clicked his tongue, "Badass. Single for 21 years and finally got to hold a hand. Was it soft? Was it tender?"

Ye Chenghe jumped up and cursed, "Beast! Holding a girl's hand on the first meeting, you pervert!"

"That's not true, listen to their nonsense!"

Ye Ye Xiaoxi said matter-of-factly, "It clearly happened! You two were standing really close too, hand gripping hand. If you didn't look closely, you'd think you were hugging!"

"Oh my god…" Ye Ye Chengjiang was grinding his back teeth to dust, "You shameless beast! Pervert!"

Lin Guangming suddenly realized—they had only seen him exchanging contact information and misunderstood. But seeing Ye Ye Chengjiang's envious, jealous look, he didn't rush to explain.

"That's just my charm!"

After saying that, he attacked Ye Chenghe again, "Who's like you, chasing after someone's butt for several years before you got to hold hands."

Ye Chenghe let out a stream of filthy curses.

"Watch yourself, don't curse too filthily. There are kids here, and your son is right here too."

After saying that, he attacked Ye Ye Chengjiang again, "Anyone can tell you didn't make any progress! Laozi not only held her hand, I also smelled the fragrance of her hair, and I even got her contact info!"

This time it was Ye Ye Chengjiang's turn to let out a stream of filthy curses.

Ye Chenghu said, "Don't lead us astray. Next time if I curse and my mom hears it, I'll say you guys taught me."

Lin Guangming looked at the younger ones, and the one being held in arms, and said to Ye Chenghe, "I'm only a little better than Ajiang, and the old you. You don't need to be jealous of me. Don't you already have a wife and kid now? It's dark and cold, hurry up and take them home, don't let the kid catch cold."

Ye Ye Chengjiang and Ye Chenghe clenched their teeth in fury, realizing for the first time how adept he was at drawing hatred.

But it was truly dark and windy now; Ye Chenghe had to take his wife and children home first and couldn't join their gossip.

What a shame!

I miss living in the dormitory—I really want to go back and live there.

"Fuck, I'll take them home first."

"Don't see us off."

It was cold now; they too had to head back to the dormitory.

Ye Ye Xiaoxi squeezed beside Ye Ye Chengjiang. "Big Brother Ajiang, where did you hide before dinner? I couldn't find you—there were too many people."

Ye Ye Chengyang quickly followed up. "Big Brother Ajiang, you didn't make any progress at all, did you? You're such a loser!"

"You two are too nosy!"

"Someone else should've gone—I should've taken the chance!" Lin Lin Guangwen joined in teasing.

Lin Lin Guangwen proudly extended his large palm, covered in writing—he'd carefully kept it from smudging.

Ye Ye Chengjiang snapped, "Who says I made no progress? I got her contact information."

As he spoke, he grabbed Lin Lin Guangwen's hand, pretending to wipe off the writing on his palm—but luckily he'd anticipated this and clenched his fist.

"Hehe... I even touched her little hand—we were so close..."

Ps: No update at midnight—I'm adjusting my schedule, no more patchwork. Next chapter before midnight tomorrow; I don't want to stay up late and become mentally foggy.

Return to 1958: Starting with the Grind Profession Panel

? 1958, the fiery era.

? Chen Zhuo, possessing a career system, arrived at the foot of Changbai Mountain.

? As a food connoisseur, eating well and drinking well in this era was clearly no easy task.

? Fortunately, by grinding his career panel, he could infinitely reassign his profession and obtain special careers.

? 【Home Cooking (Beginner 50/50)】

? 【Reassign → Big Pot Meal Expert】

? 【When preparing big pot meals for ten or more people, cooking speed increases by 20%, flavor by 10%, and ingredient utilization by 15%】

? 【Hunting (Beginner 50/50)】

? 【Reassign → Old Hunter】

? 【While hunting in the mountains, damage dealt increases by an additional 20%, with a small chance of extra harvest】

? 【Reassign → Herbalist】

? 【While hunting, increase the chance of discovering herbs by 25%, and increase excavation integrity by 10%】

? 【Reassign → Mountain Patrol】

? 【While walking in the mountains, there is a chance of discovering precious treasures, mineral veins, etc.】 Also 【Fisherman】, 【Boatman】, 【Shrimp Woman】, 【Fertile Field Worker】, 【Breeder】, 【Master of a Hundred Grains】...

? At first, when he came to this era, he only wanted to eat something good.

? Later, he accidentally fed an entire era.