“I’ll go organize them right away,” Group Leader Gu responded, turning to sort out the stores with stock shortages and the specific varieties that were missing.
He was very thorough. As soon as Zhang Liunian opened the report, he could tell which store was already short on stock, what was missing, and the monthly demand, eliminating the need for Zhang Liunian to calculate anything himself. Everything was clear and easy to understand.
Group Leader Gu had done an excellent job. Zhang Liunian praised him and, after carefully reviewing the reports, noticed that grain, oil, and daily necessities sold best in the provincial department store, followed by clothing.
With a plan in mind, Zhang Liunian, his wife, and Zhang Qian boarded the train to Pengcheng.
As it was close to the New Year, the train was packed. Zhang Liunian and his wife were fortunate to have a sleeper compartment; otherwise, there wouldn't even be room to stand outside.
“Time flies, doesn’t it? It’s almost the New Year. I just saw quite a few sent-down youth bringing their families along.” Jiang Qingqing, being a sent-down youth herself, was very sensitive to the identity of sent-down youth. Along their walk just now, she had seen many such individuals.
Zhang Liunian clasped her hand and said, “If you want to visit your parents, we can go after the New Year. We’ll still celebrate the New Year in our hometown this year, and you haven’t even stayed in the new house there yet.”
Hearing the word "parents," Jiang Qingqing's expression immediately soured. “No need. They never treated me as family.”
However, her mood improved somewhat when she thought of the new house in their hometown. “Going back to our hometown for New Year is good. I hope Nan Cheng will be unsealed by then so we can bring Shaohua and Yehua home to celebrate with us.”
Speaking of Nan Cheng, Jiang Qingqing began to miss their two-month-old son and a worried look appeared on her face.
Zhang Liunian, sensing her longing, stepped forward, put his arm around her shoulder, and said, “It definitely will be. Don’t worry. It’s getting late; you should get some rest. When you wake up, we’ll have arrived in Pengcheng.”
After saying this, Zhang Liunian turned to tidy the bed and let his wife lie down and rest.
He had specifically chosen sleeper berths so everyone could get good rest, hence all three of them had beds.
“Okay.” Jiang Qingqing also knew it wasn't the time to dwell on that. She had no way of knowing if Nan Cheng would be unsealed.
She glanced out the window; the sun was setting, and the sky was filled with the evening glow.
They were traveling the entire night, and there was still a long way to go, so sleeping was indeed better.
Thinking this, Jiang Qingqing turned and got into bed obediently.
Zhang Liunian helped her cover herself with the quilt. Not wanting to be separated from his wife, he turned, brought his own thin quilt over, and placed it beside hers before taking off his shoes and lying down.
Jiang Qingqing looked at him in confusion, wanting to ask why he was squeezing in with her on such a small bed, but seeing his pleading eyes, she said nothing and let him have his way.
Seeing them like this, Zhang Qian tidied himself and lay down, his back to Zhang Liunian and his wife. He thought to himself that he really needed to find a wife soon and couldn't keep eating Zhang Liunian's "dog food."
Liu Si Niu was a decent girl, but she was still young, and with her older brothers and sisters not yet married, it certainly wouldn't be their turn.
Alas, he still had a long wait to get married.
The next morning, the train arrived at the station. The three of them, refreshed, collected their luggage and walked out of the train station.
They then took a pedicab to the vicinity of the industrial residential area and got off. Looking at the towering buildings and construction sites everywhere in Pengcheng, they felt that this place was truly different, with an atmosphere of vigorous growth greeting them.
Especially the shops lining the streets, they were varied, decorated with lanterns and banners, all open for business. There were also visible individual businesses and street vendors, all showcasing the prosperity of this place.
“Brother Liunian, look! That building is so tall! How many floors do you think it has?” Zhang Qian exclaimed, pointing at a tall building not far away, marveling at the different Pengcheng.
Zhang Liunian followed his gaze and smiled, “It must have at least ten floors. In the future, these will be considered short.”
“These are still considered short? Then how many floors are considered tall? They wouldn't build a hundred-story building, would they? That would be so tall and frightening! Would such tall buildings not collapse? Even if they built them, I wouldn’t dare go up. It’s too scary.” Zhang Qian was shocked by his words.
However, as soon as he finished speaking, a mocking voice sounded from behind them, “Another bunch of bumpkins who haven’t seen the world.”
Hearing this, the three of them turned and saw a young man with his hands in his pockets, a cigarette dangling from his lips, turning and looking at them with disdain.
The next moment, the cigarette fell from his mouth, and his eyes lit up as he looked at Jiang Qingqing, who was beside Zhang Liunian. He was struck by her beauty, thinking, “Fairy sister?”
Where did such a top-tier beauty come from? So fresh and refined. He wanted to win her over.
Zhang Liunian realized the young man's unbridled gaze and stepped forward to block his view of his wife.
“Who is it, standing here blocking my sight? Get out of the way.” The young man was displeased. He hadn’t finished looking at the beauty, and someone had blocked him, so his face immediately fell.
“She’s my wife. Who are you looking at?” Zhang Liunian rolled his eyes, asserting his claim.
“A beauty paired with a hero. You, a bumpkin, are not worthy of such a beauty.” The young man, hearing that the beauty was his wife, felt indignant and was about to call him a toad wanting to eat swan meat. However, as soon as he saw Zhang Liunian’s face, the words got stuck in his throat, and he couldn't speak for a long time.
He had never seen such a handsome toad, making it difficult for him to speak.
“Whether I’m worthy or not doesn’t concern you. You’re just bored.” Zhang Liunian ignored the other's expression and rolled his eyes dramatically.
“You bumpkin, it’s just that your face is okay, what’s so great about that. Miss, why don’t you look at me? My family is prominent here, wealthy. If you’re willing to be with me, I guarantee you’ll live a life of luxury.” The young man knew he wasn’t as tall or as handsome as Zhang Liunian, but that didn’t stop him from wanting to pursue the beauty.
Jiang Qingqing heard this and immediately hid behind her husband, refusing to even look at this young man who had appeared out of nowhere.
They didn’t know each other, and he was already saying such things. It was truly annoying.
“Comrade, I’ve already told you, she’s my wife. If you say anything more like that, I won’t be polite to you.”
To dare to set his sights on his woman, this young man was truly bold. Zhang Liunian clenched his fists inwardly.
The young man was amused. Very few people dared to speak to him like this. This bumpkin who seemed to have come from nowhere dared to say such things, so he must really be tired of living.
“You’re not polite? Show me! Come on! Make a move!” the young man said, even pushing Zhang Liunian hard, causing Zhang Liunian to stumble backward.
“Scared now, aren’t you? If you have the guts, come at my face! I’ll let you know how to write the word ‘death.’” The young man saw that Zhang Liunian had been pushed back several steps but still hadn’t made a move, so he looked down on him and his words became increasingly unpleasant.