Chapter 587: Independent in Her Own Right

Yin Le led the family through different production sections, then returned to the cafeteria to start working.

Before mealtime, the cafeteria was mostly empty, and the members of the Yin Family sat in vacant seats watching her busy at work.

Since Yin Le might be called away by Qin Yao at any time for tasks, a new worker was added to the cafeteria. The four women divided the work clearly and soon produced a lunch that looked very decent.

With the cold weather, the cafeteria had a charcoal brazier burning, making the spacious area warm, so working didn’t feel cold at all.

Country women often do farm work, their strength no less than that of ordinary men. The heavier tasks in the cafeteria were generally completed with two people working together.

He was talkative, while Mrs. Qiu was more reserved but responsive to every word. The newcomer was a young lady-in-law, lively and chatty, who got along well with Yin Le. With laughter and chatter, the work was done.

Seeing that the hour was approaching, the four placed the food on the tables, prepared bowls and chopsticks, and stood at their positions, waiting for the workers to come for lunch after work.

As the sound of a bell came, the neighboring factory became immediately noisy, and the workers rushed to the cafeteria, eager to grab a good spot near the charcoal brazier and enjoy their meal.

When people arrived, Yin Le and the other three did not stop serving rice and dishes, and along the way, they also served a meal to each of the three guests, including Mr. Yin, who came to experience the food line.

Today’s meal was mixed grain porridge with coarse steamed buns, two side dishes: tofu soup and minced meat stir-fried with pickled cabbage.

Of course, there was much more pickled cabbage than minced meat, but tasting meat flavor in ordinary households was already considered excellent.

Moreover, here you could eat until full, and if one bowl was not enough, you could have another, as long as there was no waste.

If one was wasteful, their wage would be deducted.

Of course, to prevent anyone taking advantage, the cafeteria’s items were not allowed to be taken out.

As for those who only had one meal and voluntarily saved it, the factory turned a blind eye.

Nowadays, very few families could eat their fill for every meal. The factory’s meals were something many households might not have all year round; it was natural for everyone to want to take some home to improve their families’ conditions.

Overall, the stationery factory’s management was flexible, with a balance of firm and lenient policies.

After midday, the cafeteria became idle, Yin Le finished cleaning, and along with He prepared the dough for the next day. It wasn’t until before 3 p.m. they finished work.

Mr. Yin and the other two were no longer sitting in the cafeteria. Yin Le looked for them and found them at the vacant lot at the new factory gate, watching Liu Bai and others cut wood.

Yin Le approached with joy, "Liu Bai, you guys are back?!"

Liu Bai nodded at her, finishing instructing the drivers to handle things gently before asking her, "Is Manager Qin at home?"

Yin Le nodded, "He is, is there a letter again?"

Liu Bai smiled, asking her to wait a moment, stood up to fetch a letter, and asked Yin Le to bring it back to Qin Yao, "It’ll be a bit late after this delivery, you help me hand this letter to Manager Qin, it’s from Fourth in the Capital City."

Yin Le kept the letter safe, exchanged a few words with the drivers about their hard work, and called her family who were observing to leave.

Entering the village, Yin Le proudly said, "Dad, didn’t I say it? There are no wolves or tigers eating people here, only dedicated workers busy making a living."

"Here, there’s food, drink, and lodging, you don’t have to worry about me anymore, feel free to go home."

The three members of the Yin Family exchanged a glance, Mr. Yin and Eldest Brother Yin relaxed their expressions. This place felt like a paradise, whether male or female, as long as they were willing to work, they could find a place here.

They saw that people here didn’t react to Ah Le’s scar on her face, even the children smiled at her, not afraid at all.

If it were back home, let alone the scar, just seeing a woman talking to a man beyond a teacup time would draw fingers pointing and gossip.

"Dad?" Eldest Brother Yin looked at their father, "Why not let little sister be?"

Eldest Sister-in-law Yin nodded to agree, after seeing the place this morning, she no longer worried about the little sister-in-law going hungry or cold.

Just...

"Ah Le, you’re not young anymore, if you keep waiting, you’ll become a spinster. What do you think about marriage?"

Yin Le raised her hand to touch her scar. Her master had bought medicine, the wound healed, but the scar couldn’t be removed, only darker in color than it originally was, still quite frightening.

Faced with this scar, others would definitely care, and she didn’t feel like explaining it to anyone.

Yin Le spread her hands and said lightly, "Let’s leave it to fate, if there’s someone then there is, if not then there’s not, I won’t force it."

At least now she didn’t feel that she had nothing to do besides getting married, she still practiced martial arts and worked, exhausting herself daily like a dog, no energy left for romance.

Eldest Sister-in-law Yin gently patted her back with affection, smiling bitterly, "Let it be your way then."

Mr. Yin: "Eldest, go get the cart, we won’t disturb anymore."

Yin Le felt joy in listening to her brother and sister-in-law’s intention.

But upon hearing her father’s decision to leave, she felt a twinge of sadness.

Yet where in the world is there a feast that doesn’t end?

Now she had found a place to settle, relationships with her family also improved, she should be content.

Yin Le led the family to bid farewell to Qin Yao and his wife, noticing the inner and outer ease in her expression, Qin Yao felt genuinely happy for his disciple, tagging along a reluctant Liu Ji to see them off.

"Ah Le." Mr. Yin called the daughter sternly over to the side of the cart.

Yin Le saw her father extending his hand, guessed his intention immediately, and pushed back his hand.

Through the fingers, a glint of silver could be seen, Mr. Yin holding onto several broken pieces of silver, having rushed here without preparation, all adding up to five taels.

"Take it," Mr. Yin extended his hand again, trying to give the silver to Yin Le.

Yin Le blocked her father’s hand, "Dad, I don’t lack silver here."

Mr. Yin glared at her, his face stern, with this kind of expression, no younger member of the family dared to refuse.

But today, his delicate little daughter didn’t flinch, looked straight at him, speaking firmly:

"Dad, no need to feel guilty for anything, it has already happened, I’ve gotten through my own hardship by myself."

"You and mom must take good care of yourselves, I’ll visit when I have the chance."

Yin Le gave her father a bright smile, pushed his hand back, and stepped aside, to allow the carriage to depart.

Eldest Brother Yin shouted, "Dad, get on the cart!"

Mr. Yin suddenly came to his senses, gazed at his self-reliant little daughter, feelings surging, ultimately forming a proud, faint smile.

The cart slowly moved out, picking up speed after crossing the bridge, soon disappearing in Liu Family Village.

Yin Le stood on the bank watching, after a long while she turned with a smile, heading back into the courtyard.

Inside, Da Lang Brothers and Sisters foursome aligned and raised an eyebrow, Senior Sister Le seemed very happy.

Ah Wang drew out a sharp sound with a bamboo stick, coolly warning, "Focus!"

The four siblings straightened their backs, no longer dared to be distracted.

Little Lai Fu, helping his mother stoke the fire in the kitchen, couldn’t help but chuckle.