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◎Day 11 of the control group◎

I'd like to try it too.

After they finished speaking in unison, they both laughed, their eyes glistening with tears.

Jiang Wanzhou stopped stirring the pork rib soup with her spoon, the steam rising from her face: "Actually, I have a lot of modern snack recipes in my head, as well as how to make ordinary woven items more exquisite, and hair clips. If I could teach them to the women in the family compound, maybe they could really make something of it."

Shen Xinglian put down the sweet potato in her hand, her eyes lighting up: "I can also help. Improve the rice cooker design, and the canned food packaging."

"But we're afraid of being exposed." Jiang Wanzhou hesitated again. "Those methods and tricks are different from what we have now. How will we explain it if people keep asking us questions?"

"That Jun Yanghong seems to be reborn. I wonder when she came back."

Shen Xinglian was silent for a moment, then looked at the lighthouse outside the window: "Director Liu said that having faith is the first step."

“We don’t need to tell you everything. Just say that we saw it in a book or heard it from a relative. Let’s take it slow.”

"Even if there are risks in the future, at least we tried, and we didn't let down the enthusiasm we had at this moment."

Jiang Wanzhou nodded, her concerns gradually dissipating.

The surge of emotion I feel right now is simply the desire to accompany a group of sincere people and plant some hope in barren land. This feeling is long gone and burning hot.

“Then let’s start with a tasting.” Jiang Wanzhou gripped the spoon tightly. “Tomorrow, take the banana chips I made to the warehouse and let the sisters-in-law try them. If they like them, we’ll teach them how to make them.”

“If it’s knitting, you can draw a few simple new patterns first, let everyone try to knit them, and then gradually improve them.” Shen Xinglian also suggested, “I’ll go and take a look at the surrounding factories.”

"Okay," Jiang Wanzhou replied with a smile.

Shen Xinglian continued, "Also, you're good at English, so if there's an opportunity to interact with people from outside in the future, you can help introduce them. I'll be in charge of technical improvements, and we'll divide the work and cooperate, just like we agreed in the beginning."

The two got more and more excited as they talked, and didn't even notice that the pork rib soup had gone cold.

Jiang Wanzhou suddenly remembered something, and smiled as she nudged Shen Xinglian: "You're really something, deliberately getting pregnant with Mingmei and wanting to have three more. You'll be busy from now on, so don't back out halfway through."

“You’re the same. How’s your review going? You’re slacking off.” Shen Xinglian retorted, her eyes full of laughter. “I really’m not having any more children now.”

"It's a deal, no one can go back on their word." Jiang Wanzhou held out her hand.

"I will never go back on my word." Shen Xinglian held her hand, their palms were warm.

The next morning, Jiang Wanzhou and Shen Xinglian carried insulated containers, preparing not to go back for lunch.

Shen Xinglian was still carrying Mingmei on her back.

Mingyuan was sent to a daycare center.

Liu Hongying had already arrived and was cleaning with several of her sisters-in-law. When she saw them coming, she greeted them with a smile.

"You've finally arrived! I thought you were going to back out."

“Sister Hongying, we want to try it.” Jiang Wanzhou opened the thermos, and the rich fragrance of osmanthus wafted out. “This is the osmanthus cake I made. Let everyone try it. If you like it, I will teach you how to make it. Xingxing drew a few clothing designs. We can wear them to show our own ethnic characteristics.”

Liu Hongying's eyes lit up. She picked up a piece of osmanthus cake and tasted it. It was sweet but not greasy, with a faint osmanthus fragrance. She immediately gave it a thumbs up.

"Delicious! Even better than what the supply and marketing cooperative sells!"

"Why are there osmanthus flowers in this season?"

“I like to pick osmanthus flowers, seal them up, and sprinkle some out when I need them,” Jiang Wanzhou explained.

The other women also gathered around, tasted the osmanthus cake, and praised it highly: "Comrade Jiang, your skills are amazing!"

Jiang Wanzhou and Shen Xinglian exchanged a glance, both seeing confidence in each other's eyes.

Jiang Wanzhou began explaining to her sisters-in-law how to make osmanthus cake, from the proportions of ingredients to the control of the heat, she explained it in great detail.

Shen Xinglian and Liu Hongying went out to look for factories.

The warehouse gradually became lively.

The sisters-in-law studied diligently and asked questions from time to time, which Jiang Wanzhou answered patiently.

One of my sisters-in-law exclaimed, "I used to think that women couldn't do anything except take care of children and do housework. Now I realize that our hands can make such wonderful things."

“Yes,” Jiang Wanzhou said with a smile, “As long as we work together, there’s nothing we can’t do. In the future, our woven products and delicacies can not only be sold on the island, but also sold outside through the boats at the dock, letting more people know the skills of us island women!”

Jiang Wanzhou felt a warmth in her heart as she looked at the busy yet sincere figure before her.

She recalled her conversation with Shen Xinglian last night and suddenly realized...

They are no longer bystanders, but participants, people who have truly taken root in this land and are striving to grow.

Just as they saw the convenience of the future, they also became accustomed to the hardships around them.

In the days that followed, they were as if they had been swept into a torrent that suddenly accelerated.

The warehouse was cleaned up bit by bit by Director Liu and a dozen military dependents.

At first, the men thought it was a pointless fuss, but seeing their wives beaming with joy, some of them quietly stepped in to help, moving heavy objects and repairing the roof.

Jiang Wanzhou's food display area needs ingredients.

Due to the shortage of supplies on the island, she and several skillful wives figured out how to make various dishes from oysters, seaweed, sweet potatoes, and fruits.

Even failed attempts are not wasted; they are either consumed at home or given to those who helped.

The women gradually shed their shyness and began sharing their secret tips and tricks with each other.

In addition to refining the rice cooker's presentation plan, Shen Xinglian insisted on using both her own name and Zhou Qingyu's name.

Actually, she felt sorry for that real person too.

He even used his limited science background to help plan the simple circuitry for the warehouse.

I figured out how to use scrap wood to build a stable decoration and started setting it up.

She discovered that the people here had a pure thirst for and respect for technologists, which made her feel the long-lost satisfaction of creating things with her own hands.

The changes are subtle.

People started asking, "Wanzhou, do you think my pickling method is suitable for public display?"

Someone whispered to Shen Xinglian, "Xinglian, my radio is broken. Could you take a look at it for me?"

Director Liu's divorce didn't go through, but the atmosphere at home changed.

Commander Liu would sometimes stroll around the warehouse with his hands behind his back, leaving food for Liu Hongying.

Three days before the exhibition, everything was ready.

The warehouse has been completely renovated.

Bamboo weaving, fishing nets, embroidery, pickles, and all kinds of dried goods.

There were also some veteran craftsmen. Shen Xinglian and others discovered the inheritors of the bamboo mat craft. There were also several military wives who were from ethnic minorities and sent letters home to call for help.

Director Liu stood at the door, looking at the scene before him, and remained silent for a long time.

Finally, she murmured only, "It's so good."

Jiang Wanzhou and Shen Xinglian were exhausted, their backs aching, but their hearts were filled with a strange emotion.

It's not just a sense of accomplishment, it's more like a connection—with this land.

They are now deeply connected with this era and with these people who were originally just background figures.

They were transformed from sophisticated egoists into the folds of history by a pair of calloused yet incredibly warm hands.

They felt the real, tangible warmth of the collective and the ideal.

Jiang Wanzhou and Shen Xinglian returned home. As soon as they stepped out of the warehouse, they saw two familiar figures in the distance.

It's Zhou Qingyu and Jiang Renzhou!

They're back!

Zhou Qingyu and Jiang Renzhou quickened their pace, their faces full of smiles.

Zhou Qingyu hugged Jiang Wanzhou tightly and looked her over carefully: "I heard you've been busy with women's entrepreneurship lately, and I was worried you were overworked. It seems Director Liu is taking good care of you."

Jiang Renzhou walked over to Shen Xinglian and took her hand, saying, "Thank you for your hard work, leading Wanzhou to do such a big thing."

"How did you know?" Jiang Wanzhou asked curiously.

“The leader told us on the phone that you wanted to do something with the women in the family compound, and we all thought it was a great idea.”

Zhou Qingyu said with a smile, "I brought back some new technology information from outside this time, which might help you improve your products. My brother also said that he will fully support you, so please let me know if you need any help."

"The cotton planted by the Red Star Brigade has ripened, and we'll send it to you as well. Winter is coming soon, and those foreigners will need it too."

Jiang Wanzhou was moved for a long time, and said to Jiang Renzhou, "Brother, how long is your vacation? You can't get any darker."

Jiang Renzhou glared at him.

Shen Xinglian told Jiang Renzhou about Mingmei, pinching his waist: "Wanzhou is right."

Jiang Renzhou grinned and said, "Wife, you said before that you didn't like pretty boys."

Shen Xinglian rolled her eyes at him: "I don't like a big black face either."

Zhou Qingyu coughed lightly.

Jiang Wanzhou looked at him strangely: "Why have you become so pale?"

Jiang Renzhou patted Zhou Qingyu on the shoulder: "I have some tips on how to get a tan, do you want some?"

"Big brother, I prefer someone with fairer skin," Jiang Wanzhou quickly stopped him.

"What's the use of a man being fair-skinned!" Jiang Renzhou tried to salvage Jiang Wanzhou's aesthetic sense.

Shen Xinglian pulled her back: "To each their own. Are you satisfied with what you're saying?"

Jiang Renzhou sensed something was wrong and followed Shen Xinglian with Mingmei in his arms.

He asked cautiously, "Wife, what advice do you have?"

Jiang Wanzhou said to Zhou Qingyu from behind, "Have you not left the house at all?"

"Yes." Zhou Qingyu looked at Jiang Wanzhou and said honestly, "I exercise every day."

Jiang Wanzhou was afraid of people who did experiments; once they got into it, they would stay immersed for days and nights, eating a little and then falling asleep as soon as they lay down.

Liu Hongying watched the two couples bickering and shaking her head.

She turned to close the door, sensing that someone had gone inside.

But nothing has changed; she thinks she's probably just been too busy and tired lately.

After she left, someone came out through the back door.

The next day, Liu Hongying came in to check again and found that the back door was open.

The back door is closed from the inside.

—

The Jiang family.

Jiang Wanzhou paced back and forth. Her temper was clearly very volatile: "Mother, why did she come here?"

Jiang Renzhou, holding Mingmei, also frowned.

"Someone must be up to something." Shen Xinglian glanced at the next room.

Jiang Wanzhou didn't understand: "Xingxing, you mean Jun Yanghong?"

"Isn't she going to marry Officer Wei soon? Isn't she afraid of getting her comeuppance?"

"The letter has arrived, so it seems the person must be arriving soon. Is Second Brother coming along too?"