Read Novel Full Chapter 107
Chapter 107 : A Beautiful Woman Came to the Factory
Seeing the man saving her spot in line to please her, Yuan Lihua couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride. She walked gracefully to the front of the line and said with mock annoyance, “Who asked you to do this? Honestly.”
The man, Qin Jun, smiled brightly and replied, “I volunteered. I just didn’t want you to have to wait out in the cold after getting off work late. It’s freezing today, and the line’s so long. Come stand here with me.”
However, as soon as Yuan Lihua cut the line, complaints began to rise from the people waiting behind.
“What’s this? You’re just arriving and standing at the front? Do you even know the rules?”
Qin Jun, who was straightforward and not particularly sharp, retorted, “She’s with me. I’ve been here a long time. Who are you to comment?”
“How many people are you saving spots for? Why not just save a spot for your whole workshop while you’re at it? Shameless!”
The grumbling grew louder, and Yuan Lihua’s earlier pride faded. Her face flushed with embarrassment. She turned to Qin Jun in frustration. “Qin Jun, what kind of nonsense is this? Go to the back of the line, now!”
But Qin Jun, undeterred, tried to placate her. “Lihua, ignore them. It’ll be our turn soon anyway. After i get the paycheck, I’ll treat you to a nice dinner. Maybe we can go to the movies afterward and grab some soda. What do you think?”
Yuan Lihua, now thoroughly annoyed, stamped her foot. Qin Jun’s clumsy attempts to please her had only made her lose face. “Who said I wanted to go to the movies with you? Ridiculous.”
“Lihua, are you mad? What did I do?” Qin Jun asked, genuinely puzzled.
His persistence only irritated Yuan Lihua further. She had initially found him diligent and dependable, someone to run errands for her. But now, his inability to pick up on social cues and his knack for offending people made her regret ever being friendly with him.
“Just leave me alone and don’t talk to me again!”
At that moment, murmurs began spreading through the crowd.
“Hey, look! When did such a beauty join our factory?”
“Where? Where?”
“The one at the back of the line, with long hair and the red cotton jacket. Do you see her?”
“Oh, I see her now. Wow, she’s stunning! Is she a new propaganda officer or a member of some performing arts troupe?”
“How does she compare to Yuan Lihua from Workshop 2?”
“Are you kidding? One is a goddess, the other… not even close.”
He Cuicui overheard the chatter and couldn’t hide her grin. She proudly took Jiang Li’s arm and gazed at her with growing satisfaction. Jiang Li’s radiant complexion and delicate features were winning hearts effortlessly.
Though they’d been standing at the back of the line, a group of eager men quickly offered to let them move forward. It seemed beauty could indeed open doors.
Meanwhile, Yuan Lihua, catching sight of Jiang Li, felt an unexpected surge of hostility. ‘Who is this woman? And why does she command all the attention the moment she arrives?’
Yuan Lihua squinted at Jiang Li, trying to assess her rival. When He Cuicui noticed, she deliberately greeted her. “Lihua, here to pick up your paycheck too?”
Qin Jun, standing nearby, couldn’t take his eyes off Jiang Li. Her grace and beauty captivated him instantly.
Noticing Qin Jun’s reaction, Yuan Lihua’s frustration deepened. ‘What an unreliable man. He can’t even keep his eyes to himself. And to think I ever considered him! Not anymore!’
“Sister He, who’s this next to you? I don’t think I’ve seen her around before,” Yuan Lihua asked, her tone suspicious.
“Oh, this is Jiang Li, the wife of our deputy factory director,” He Cuicui replied with an air of triumph.
Jiang Li gave a polite smile and nodded. “Hello, I’m Jiang Li.”
Qin Jun, flustered by her beauty, extended his hand awkwardly. “H-Hello. Nice to meet you.”
His mind reeled. ‘She’s married? And she’s the so-called ‘country bumpkin’ wife of the deputy director? That doesn’t match the rumors at all.’
When Qin Jun finally processed what had just happened, it felt as though he had an egg stuffed in his mouth, he was so stunned he couldn’t even speak.
“That’s impossible!” Yuan Lihua exclaimed sharply, her voice filled with disbelief. She turned to He Cuicui and accused her hurriedly, “You didn’t just find someone random to fool everyone, did you? Is this some kind of joke because of what I said at the factory today? Sister He, your tricks are so cheap. Be careful, or you’ll embarrass yourself when you’re exposed.”
Jiang Li frowned, her patience wearing thin. She didn’t see any need to prove herself to irrelevant people.
“The deputy director is here!” someone in the crowd suddenly shouted.
Jiang Li turned around and saw Qi Shaoqiang walking towards her, carrying a lunchbox in one hand and gloves in the other.
“Why did you leave your gloves at home?” Qi Shaoqiang asked gently as he took her hands, slipping the gloves onto them before affectionately patting her head.
Jiang Li’s initial irritation melted away as soon as she saw him. “I was in a hurry and forgot,” she explained.
Qi Shaoqiang immediately noticed her earlier frustration. Lifting the lunchbox, he said, “I bought two servings of your favorite braised pork.”
Jiang Li’s expression softened into a smile.
“Why did you come to pick up the salary today? It’s freezing out here. Be careful not to catch a cold. I’ll take care of this kind of thing from now on,” Qi Shaoqiang said.
“It’s been too stuffy staying indoors. I just wanted to get out for some fresh air,” Jiang Li replied.
Qi Shaoqiang nodded. “You’re right. It’s good to let your eyes relax a bit.”
“What do you feel like eating for dinner, besides the braised pork?” he asked.
“I’m craving bamboo shoots. Let’s stir-fry some,” Jiang Li replied.
“Sounds good,” he agreed.
The easy intimacy between the two, completely oblivious to the stares of others, was a sight to behold. Many men in the crowd, who moments earlier had been smitten by Jiang Li’s beauty, now felt their hearts sink. All their hopes of impressing her were dashed, she was clearly already taken.
Yuan Lihua was utterly stunned. To her dismay, what He Cuicui said turned out to be true.
After Qi Shaoqiang received his salary, he called out to He Cuicui, “Sister He, we’ll head out first.”
He Cuicui, feeling victorious, waved them off with a smile. “Go ahead.” Then, turning to Yuan Lihua, whose face was flushed with a mix of embarrassment and anger, she said with a sly grin, “The deputy director and his wife really do have such a great relationship. Don’t you think so, Lihua?”
Yuan Lihua clutched her freshly paid salary tightly, but she wasn’t in a celebratory mood. She could tell He Cuicui was intentionally rubbing salt in her wound.
Meanwhile, Qin Jun, scratching the back of his head, remarked with a sheepish grin, “Wow, I didn’t expect the deputy director’s wife to be so stunning.”
“If I get married one day, I hope I can marry someone as beautiful as her. I’d treat her like a queen,” he added, casting a glance at Yuan Lihua.
Yuan Lihua’s face darkened instantly, as black as the bottom of a pot. With a furious stomp of her foot, she turned and stormed off in anger.