"Huo Chen~" Xu Ying saw him with a face full of joy, "Did you come to see me for something?"
Huo Chen was holding a wild chicken in his hand, his hair somewhat messy, clearly having just come down from the mountain and not having had time to tidy up.
"I just went up the mountain and caught a wild chicken, you can take it back and have it for dinner tonight."
Xu Ying nodded, taking the wild chicken.
Huo Chen looked at her curiously, "Are you riding your bike to the county?"
Xu Ying responded with a hum, and Huo Chen’s face suddenly darkened a bit, "Are you in such a hurry to get to work?
The roads are all muddy now, what if the bike slips and you fall?
I’ll take you there later." Ever since Xu Ying started working, it had become increasingly difficult for him to see her.
Xu Ying thought about it and immediately nodded in agreement.
After all, she was just going there to inquire about a quota, and to see how the factory was doing, "Okay then."
Seeing her agree, a slight smile appeared on Huo Chen’s face, "I want to go to the county to buy some things, and propose marriage at your house tomorrow?"
He asked the last sentence.
Upon hearing about proposing marriage, Xu Ying was instantly stunned, her face quickly flushing red.
Huo Chen looked down and saw the young woman’s somewhat panicked and somewhat shy expression, his gaze flickered, and a smile spilled from his lips.
Xu Ying lowered her head, "Mmm, I’ll listen to you."
Hearing this, his brows moved faintly, and endless joy spread across his eyes.
He had been waiting since the New Year to propose marriage, over a month, each moment agonizing.
Now hearing her response, Huo Chen’s heart couldn’t help but soften, he touched Xu Ying’s hair and entered the Xu Family home carrying the wild chicken.
"Uncle, Aunt, this is the wild chicken I caught in the mountains, have it for dinner tonight."
Mrs. Xu, seeing Huo Chen, was now looking more satisfied as she looked at her future son-in-law.
"You should also come and have dinner at our house tonight." Thinking of Granny Huo, she added, "Bring your grandmother with you.
We have fish at home recently, both of you come and eat."
Huo Chen was also there to discuss the engagement that evening, and nodded.
Ma Yiguo saw Huo Chen and looked puzzled, watching him leave with Xu Ying, feeling a twinge of envy.
Out of the Xu Family home, Huo Chen rode his bike with Xu Ying towards the county.
As the two arrived at the entrance of the food factory, the gatekeeper immediately smiled seeing Xu Ying.
"Xiao Xu, you’re here, if Mr. Sun knew you came, he would definitely be thrilled.
Our factory has barely survived this ordeal, thankfully Director Wu of the Machinery Factory was kind and helped us fix the machines, otherwise, more than half would have been completely scrapped."
Right at the factory entrance, the gatekeeper began chattering non-stop about the recent changes in the factory.
Xu Ying had barely arrived at the factory gate when she had already gotten all the recent gossip.
After saying all this, the gatekeeper turned and only then noticed Huo Chen standing beside her, surprisingly asking with curiosity, "Minister Xu, is this your boyfriend?"
Xu Ying nodded without hesitation.
The gatekeeper watched the two nodding frequently, good, a couple both talented and beautiful, their looks matched, they’re well-suited together.
As the two walked away, the gatekeeper continued to watch their backs: one beautiful, one handsome, who knows how good-looking their children might be.
Xu Ying took Huo Chen straight to the factory director’s office door, asking him to wait outside while she entered the office.
Secretary Zhang, seeing her, was immediately overjoyed, rushing into the office, "Director, Director, Minister Xu is here."
Mr. Sun burst into laughter when he heard Xiao Xu had arrived, his face crinkling with joy, "Oh, Xiao Xu, finally get to see you. I’ve been missing you like crazy these days.
You wouldn’t know, our factory has been through a real ordeal this time. Every single machine in the factory was waterlogged. If it hadn’t been for Director Wu from the machinery factory helping us repair the machines, we would have bled cash."
Xu Ying nodded—she had already heard about this.
Seeing no surprise on her face, Mr. Sun felt puzzled, "Could it be you already knew?"
Xu Ying nodded again, "Yes, Director Wu is indeed a good person."
Hearing this, Mr. Sun, who was standing in front of Xu Ying, smiled obsequiously, and to the uninformed, it might have seemed he was the subordinate and Xu Ying the leader.
"Xiao Xu, with Director Wu being so kind, we surely mustn’t fail to show gratitude," Mr. Sun made his point clear with an underlying message.
Xu Ying watched him, waiting for him to continue on his own.
Mr. Sun, feeling uneasy under her stare, shifted aside and said, "Director Wu has been so good, I was thinking of helping out his factory too."
Xu Ying nodded, Alright, so just help them, why involve me?
Mr. Sun continued to look at Xu Ying without speaking.
Xu Ying was suddenly puzzled, wondering why he was looking at her—could he be thinking of asking her to help the machinery factory?
Oh my, she had merely lived a few extra years and witnessed the future development of Hua Country, but that didn’t mean she understood machinery.
"Director, why are you looking at me? I’m just a girl and definitely don’t know a thing about machinery."
Secretary Zhang muttered softly on the side, "Exactly, Minister Xu is just a girl, how could she understand stuff about big chunks of metal.
Besides, she’s so young, even if she’s smart, she’s not an ’immortal’ perfect in every way!"
Their director relied too heavily on Minister Xu, always thinking she was omnipotent, knowing everything.
Mr. Sun gave Secretary Zhang a sharp glance, this kid was deliberately undermining him, wasn’t he.
"Xiao Xu, I know you’re a girl and don’t understand machines, but don’t you have a mouth capable of persuasion?"
Xu Ying’s eyes widened, looking at Mr. Sun as if she had been struck by lightning, alright, she was a bit brazen, but everything she said was true.
And now before the director, it turned into her being capable of deception!
Xu Ying felt hurt and turned to leave.
Realizing his mistake, Mr. Sun quickly called after her, "No, no, no, that was just my poor word choice, Xiao Xu, don’t take my nonsense seriously.
What I meant was, you are eloquent and smart, and anything that passes through your hands surely rises a notch.
Could you possibly mention the machinery factory’s products and put in a few good words at the international meeting?"
Xu Ying paused in her stride, quite surprised, "Our quota is decided already?"
Mr. Sun chuckled softly, "Pretty much, it’s been internally confirmed."
"Oh~" Xu Ying coldly sat down with a stony face, not saying a word.
Mr. Sun looked on, feeling quite anxious, looking left and right.
After some thought, he suddenly smacked the table, "Xiao Xu, there’s been some progress on that traitor matter from before."
Mr. Sun then took out a few lists and placed them in front of Xiao Xu, "Take a look, these people just started resigning these past few days.
I had Secretary Zhang investigate, and turns out these individuals were closely associated with Deputy Factory Director Qian.
Further investigation revealed that Deputy Factory Director Qian had contacts with Director Li from the previous food factory.
I even found out he’s been contacting other food factories in different places."
Xu Ying’s brows furrowed tightly upon hearing this, her expression as cold as frost, "A traitor indeed."
Mr. Sun quickly nodded in agreement, "Exactly, right?"