She returned home, went into her bedroom, grabbed the phone from the bedside table, and dialed a few numbers.

"Hello, is this the switchboard? This is Dr. Jiang Yuping from the medical clinic. Please transfer me to the factory medical clinic and ask for Wei Hong."

In the 1970s, home telephones were not yet widespread, unlike later when every household had a telephone, and later still when everyone had a mobile phone.

Qiu Jingwen was given a telephone installed at home by the factory after he became the workshop director, taking into account the needs of his work. Cadres below the deputy director level were not entitled to have a telephone installed at home.

The phone call is not a direct dial; it needs to be transferred through the factory's main switchboard room.

After dialing the number, Jiang Yuping asked into the receiver:

"Is this Wei Hong? I am Jiang Yuping."

"Yes, Yuping, I can tell you need something."

“My husband just got caught in the rain. I touched his head and oh dear, it’s burning hot. Go back to the dormitory area and bring some Analgin tablets. I’ll give you the money when I go to work at the infirmary tomorrow.”

"Okay, no problem. I'll be going back to the dorm area soon, and I'll bring you the medicine tonight."

"Is your husband, Lao Xiao, home?"

"Old Xiao went to Shandong to collect debts, leaving me all alone."

"Then you don't need to cook. I'll make a few dishes, and you can come and eat with me."

"Yuping, no, no, I'll eat at the factory canteen and then come to your house tonight."

"Wei Hong, why are you being so polite with me? We've been colleagues for so many years, and we're still best friends, right? Don't go to the cafeteria. If you dare to go there today, don't blame me for turning on you. I'm hanging up now, I'll wait for you to eat together."

After Jiang Yuping finished speaking, she hung up the phone immediately, not allowing Wei Hong to delay any longer.

She's right. The two are very close colleagues and best friends, like sisters.

Although Hongqi Factory is a military factory with only 2,000 employees, its staff comes from all over the country. Most of them are veterans and cadres who have been transferred from the military, while departments such as the medical clinic, quality inspection, and research and development are staffed by people transferred from various universities and technical departments.

At that time, in response to the national call to support the construction of the Third Front, many people did not haggle, and some even voluntarily came from first-tier cities such as Beijing and Shanghai to support the development of military enterprises and came to Orange Valley deep in Dayu Mountain.

In fact, Jiang Yuping came from the metropolis of Shanghai. She studied medicine. After graduation, her uncle asked her to return to Duliang, saying that her roots were in Duliang. He also told her some scattered stories about her parents. Jiang Yuping rarely thinks about those stories about her parents anymore.

As Jiang Yuping hung up the phone and busied herself preparing the meal, Qiu Jingwen had already arrived at the factory's staff bathhouse.

He put down the two plastic bags, took off his soaking wet clothes, and walked naked into the bathroom.