"Thank you, Director Jiang, thank you so much." Tears couldn’t be held back and fell down.
"Sister-in-law, don’t cry, you need to be strong."
Dong Wenhua nodded and wiped away her tears. "I will, Director Jiang, I’m leaving now."
"Okay, I have to go on a business trip. When I return in the twelfth lunar month, I’ll find a way to help you."
Dong Wenhua’s tears fell even more fiercely. She wiped them away messily and left, nodding.
Jiang Xinyu watched her back and sighed. It’s hard for women.
At noon, Jiang Xinyu saw Wang Ailing in the cafeteria. "Sis, I still have to go to Russia."
"Xinyu, didn’t you say it’s dangerous there? Can’t you avoid going?"
"It’s fine, this time Mr. Qian is with us."
"He’s just a factory director, what more can he do?"
"You dare say anything." But she felt a bit touched inside.
"Sis, I’m leaving the day after tomorrow. Make time to go home. If the family needs food, write it down. I’ll set it aside when I return."
"Alright, don’t worry. My mom told me that our family still has 300 yuan, and I have another 100 with me. I’m going to exchange it all for food; I don’t want my family to go hungry."
"Okay, I understand. I’ll set it aside for you."
"Xinyu, I’m biking home tonight and will be back tomorrow night to bring you money."
"Sis, I have some with me."
"That’s not good enough; I’ll go and get it for you."
"It’s too dangerous for you to go back alone."
"It’s fine, what’s so dangerous? I’ll go back and talk to everyone. If anyone wants to contribute, they can give me money, and I’ll bring it back."
"Alright, don’t worry, I’ll bring back more."
"Xinyu, I heard that yesterday Director Huang’s wife came and caused a scene?"
"Stop gossiping. Why don’t you take a leave this afternoon? I won’t be at ease at night."
"Okay, I’ll go take leave right away. Let me borrow your bicycle."
"Alright, come find me for the keys after you get leave. I didn’t bring them with me."
Wang Ailing hurriedly went to find her superior to ask for leave after finishing her meal.
Jiang Xinyu went straight to the entrance to wait for She Xiaoyun. It must be her coming here, as the male colleagues wouldn’t come to find her for their own good. But this time, she guessed wrong—it was Lv Beiguang who came.
"Secretary Lv, why is it you? Where’s Sister She?"
"There’s more money this time, so I came. Jiang Xinyu, this is 15,000 yuan, gathered together. You must be careful. If you run into trouble, treat this money as lost."
"Alright, I’ll be careful. Our Mr. Qian agreed for me to bring private goods."
"Okay, still, be cautious. Bring warm clothes and don’t tire yourself out."
"Understood. Secretary Lv, do you have any personal needs?"
"No, nothing. Alright, I’m leaving. The guards here have been looking at me several times."
"Haha, alright. Just wait for me to come back."
This 15,000 yuan was quite a large package. She carried it into the factory, exchanged a few laughs with the guard, and returned to the office.
At the entrance, she ran into Qian Jun, "Mr. Qian."
"I have something to discuss with you."
"Please come in." Jiang Xinyu made Qian Jun a cup of malt drink.
"Jiang Xinyu, there’s been a change in plans. We’ll need a lot of food this time."
"Mr. Qian, I’m prepared for it."
Qian Jun felt a bit uncomfortable inside, unsure about the young girl standing in front of him.
"Alright, the train leaves the afternoon after tomorrow. You don’t need to come to work the day after tomorrow; I’ll pick you up in the afternoon."
"Okay, I understand. I also have quite a bit of private goods to bring this time."
Qian Jun nodded, "Would three freight cars be enough?" He glanced at the bag on the table.
Qian Jun left, and Jiang Xinyu drank the malt drink she had made for him. After washing the cup, she waited for Wang Ailing to arrive.
"Xinyu, I’m leaving. Give me the keys."
"No hurry, have a cup of malt drink first."
"Alright, Xinyu, is that bag full of money?"
"I’m leaving now; you must take good care of all this money."
Qian Jun happened to see Wang Ailing pushing Jiang Xinyu’s bicycle away.
After work in the afternoon, Qian Jun called out to Jiang Xinyu, "I’ll take you home."
"Thank you, Mr. Qian."
After returning home, Jiang Xinyu said, "Are you picking me up tomorrow morning?"
"No need, I’ll walk over by myself in the morning."
Qian Jun nodded and drove away. Jiang Xinyu opened the door and entered the house, casually putting the money away.
She lit the stove, boiled water, and used a sand pot to make a pot of seafood porridge. She definitely wouldn’t let herself suffer.
As for Huang Hongwei, who went to work in the morning, he looked at the despondent Kong Mengjie and knew she had found out.
He really wanted to tell her right now that he had taken care of the matter, but she was avoiding him.
It wasn’t until the evening after the shift change meeting ended that Huang Hongwei found an opportunity.
"Come find me later."
"Then I’ll say it here, as long as you can endure it."
Kong Mengjie gave him a calm look but eventually nodded.
"Mengjie, are you heading out?" the girls in the dorm asked her.
"Yes, going to a relative’s place."
Kong Mengjie didn’t go directly to Huang Hongwei’s house. She stayed outside for two hours; it was already quite dark before she knocked on the door.
Huang Hongwei was already very anxious. She still hadn’t come at this late hour.
Hearing the knock, he opened the door, grabbed Kong Mengjie’s hand, and pulled her inside.
He picked her up and carried her into the room. Ignoring her struggles, they ended up together.
Afterwards, Kong Mengjie despised herself inside, thinking that she was probably naturally despicable?
Huang Hongwei held her, his hands not idle.
"Mengjie, I explained things to her yesterday. She won’t come over again. I’ll give them living expenses every month."
Kong Mengjie said nothing, her mind in turmoil. She didn’t know how to face this man with any kind of feeling.
"Mengjie, this won’t happen again in the future. Please don’t ignore me."
"What do you want me to do? I’m only eighteen, and your eldest son is just four years younger than me."
"Mengjie, I’ll treat you well in the future." He said, starting to take action again.
"Will I get pregnant?"
This was like a club over the head, freezing Huang Hongwei. Yet he still went through with it once more.
As a man with a wife and children, how could he not be aware of this situation?
"Let’s not meet in private anymore. If you really care for me and want what’s best, then let me go."
Huang Hongwei held her tightly, unwilling to let go.
"I know you can have a contraceptive ring inserted. I have connections at the hospital. Will you do it? I’ll buy you a house in some distant place, and you can live there. We can live together, okay?"
Kong Mengjie remained silent, feeling tempted but telling herself not to agree. Her feelings for this man were very complex, perhaps there was still love in her heart?
"You don’t truly love me. You want me to follow you without status or title for my whole life?"
"Mengjie, Mengjie, how about I divorce her and marry you? I can’t live without you."
"But you’re so much older. How will I explain that to my family?"