The iron pillar had been dead for less than two months at this time.
As for Ya Ba, he was a young man from Zhangjia Village, orphaned, with only an elder brother ten years his senior.
But the elder brother who was supposed to be his support had squeezed him dry, causing him to die with regrets.
Alas, one still had to make money. If one had money, one could help more people.
"Little sister's situation isn't easy, I have no objections." As for Ya Ba being a fated soul, Jiang Qingqing understood her man's intentions and looked at Zhang Liunian with admiration.
Zhang Liunian narrowed his starry eyes, reached out with a long arm, and pulled her into his embrace.
Jiang Qingqing, already accustomed to Zhang Liunian hugging her at every turn, blushed and tilted her head up to look at him.
Jiang Qingqing had once been a beauty with fair skin, a melon seed face, and large eyes. Although her skin was sallow now, it did not conceal her delicacy in the slightest.
Zhang Liunian looked at her beautiful little face and suddenly smiled. He wrapped his arms around his wife's body, his large hand gently stroking her six-month pregnant belly, wondering if it was a boy or a girl, and whether it was healthy.
Never mind, he would take his wife and daughter to the health clinic for a check-up tomorrow.
"Qingqing, you've been pregnant for so long without going to the hospital for a check-up.
Let's go tomorrow and see how you and the baby are doing.
Also, Huabao is too thin, we need to have him checked too."
Jiang Qingqing's body stiffened. She buried her head in Zhang Liunian's embrace, and tears then dampened his chest.
These tears were of emotion, and also of joy.
Having been pregnant for so long, no one worried more about the child in her womb than Jiang Qingqing, but due to the family's circumstances, she had never dared to go to the hospital.
She was a girl from the city and knew these checks were essential, but because she had no money, she had endured it.
Now, hearing her man care about the child in her womb, she was truly overjoyed.
Zhang Liunian understood her tears. He reached out and gently embraced his wife's body, tilting his head to avoid revealing his emotions.
She had suffered too much!
"Qingqing, things will get better," Zhang Liunian said, seeing that his wife had not calmed down for a long time. He reached out and gently stroked her hair on the top of her head.
Under his touch, Jiang Qingqing quickly regained her composure. "You still have to set up your stall this afternoon, I'll go make you food."
Jiang Qingqing struggled to get out of Zhang Liunian's embrace, but his large hand pressed down, rendering her immobile.
"I'll do it, you just need to rest well with your big belly." Releasing his wife, Zhang Liunian strode towards the kitchen.
Jiang Qingqing looked at such a man, and a radiant smile spread across her face.
In the afternoon, Zhang Liunian set out again with seventy jin of shrimp meat.
When he arrived, the construction workers had not yet finished work. Zhang Liunian stood beside the elderly man selling noodles and began to carefully plan his next money-making moves.
He definitely needed to increase his manpower, but he could also be flexible with his sales methods. Just as he was thinking, he heard the voices of a group of aunts behind him.
"It's him, it's him, everyone attack."
Zhang Liunian was bewildered. A group of aunts suddenly appeared, pointing at him and chattering incessantly, "It's him."
What did this mean?
He didn't seem to have done anything that would incur public wrath!
"Young man, is it you selling 'Flying Dragon in the Sky'?"
The leading aunt held a large bowl, her face full of excitement.
Zhang Liunian glanced at these aunts. Seeing that each of them carried a bowl, his heart grew uneasy. Could it be that these people were all here to buy shrimp meat?
"It's me, what's wrong?"
Zhang Liunian slightly lowered his body, ready to react in time if they did anything.
"It's you, that's right. Give me a bowl. My child said your 'Flying Dragon in the Sky' was delicious this morning and asked me to bring him another portion this afternoon."
"My old couple also tried it and have been remembering the taste."
"Quickly, quickly, give me a bowl first."
"..."
It turned out that all these aunts were here because their family members had tasted the shrimp meat and wanted more.
Zhang Liunian put away his defensive stance, opened the lid of the iron bucket, and immediately a fragrant aroma spread out.
The owners of the six stalls set up at the construction site couldn't help but swallow their saliva when they smelled the aroma.
These food vendors were all attracted by the aroma of Zhang Liunian's food, let alone the aunts who had gathered around.
They squeezed in one after another. Originally, they only wanted to buy one bowl, but after smelling the aroma, many gritted their teeth and bought two bowls.
It was only two mao, which wasn't considered very expensive.
However, this 'Flying Dragon in the Sky' was indeed delicious, more delicious than fish or meat. This price was truly worth it.
"Little comrade, we'll come again tomorrow."
"Alright!" After seeing off the last aunt, Zhang Liunian was greeted by the rush of workers finishing their shift.
The first to rush over was still the middle-aged uncle wearing a five-pointed star hat. This time, he also brought a friend. "Old Lu, smell this aroma. Isn't it a hundred times better than our canteen's?
Let me tell you, after eating this young man's dish, I realized our canteen's food is like pig swill."
"It smells really good, let me have some to try." The middle-aged man called Old Lu, dressed in a blue Lenin suit, looked like a leader.
Zhang Liunian heard their conversation and proactively offered the shrimp meat, "Comrade, I'll treat you to a free taste."
Old Lu smiled at Zhang Liunian's generosity. He wanted to reach out to take it but felt it was unhygienic.
"I didn't bring chopsticks either, so you can just take it like this!" Who had time to be particular about hygiene at this moment? Filling one's stomach was the priority.
"Then I'll try." Old Lu picked up a piece of shrimp meat coated in flour and put it into his mouth. He chewed it a couple of times, and his expression gradually improved.
Clearly, he also found the taste to be good.
Zhang Liunian smiled at the uncle with the five-pointed star hat, and the latter also smiled back at Zhang Liunian.
"It's good. Give me two portions so the factory director and the others can try it too."
After tasting it, Old Lu decisively decided to pack some for the factory director and the others.
The uncle with the five-pointed star hat nodded, then took out a large aluminum lunchbox and instructed Zhang Liunian, "Two portions."
Zhang Liunian quickly served the food. With two bowls, the aluminum lunchbox was completely overflowing.
"This is two mao," the uncle with the five-pointed star hat said as he handed the money to Zhang Liunian. He then gave Zhang Liunian a meaningful glance before leaving with his friend.
As soon as they left, the workers who had been hesitant to come forward immediately surged forward.
"Boss, give me a bowl."
"Boss, why is today's 'Flying Dragon in the Sky' even more delicious than yesterday's?"
Of course, it was delicious. Zhang Liunian now had the ingredients, and he had started to increase the seasonings.
Today, he had used five types of seasonings for the crayfish. It would be strange if the taste wasn't good.
"Isn't my skill getting better and better? It can't be helped," Zhang Liunian joked as he stir-fried the crayfish.
But the workers, being simple and honest, took his words to heart and scrambled to buy a portion.
"Quick, give me one too."
"Me, me, I want one too."
"..."
After a bout of busyness, all of Zhang Liunian's shrimp meat was sold out.
After the workers had all left, Zhang Liunian suddenly asked the elderly man selling clear noodles beside him, "Grandpa, were those two people leaders from the machinery factory?"
Zhang Liunian was referring to the two men with the five-pointed star hats.
The elderly man did not react at first. Only when Zhang Liunian pointed out who they were did he realize.