Jiang Yiran's face paled noticeably, but she forced a smile and said, "Sister Rou Rou, what do you mean by all this? I don't understand. I didn't..."

Jiang Rou looked at her and snorted coldly.

Before she could finish speaking, he stood up and ignored her.

Just then, Bai Yuzhu finished changing her clothes, and Jiang Rou naturally went into Bai Yuzhu's room to help her choose jewelry and get dressed.

*

Jiang Qiaoqiao had arranged things at the shop and the garment factory. She originally planned to go home and draw a few more clothing design sketches, since the garment factory would need clothes to make once it was up and running.

But before she could leave the store, a familiar figure appeared inside.

"Aunt Yan, what brings you here? Are you here to buy clothes?" Jiang Qiaoqiao greeted Yan Suhua warmly.

A hint of unease flashed across Yan Suhua's face. "Qiaoqiao, Auntie isn't buying clothes today. Auntie just heard that you're going to start a garment factory and recruit workers, so Auntie came to sign up."

Jiang Qiaoqiao was somewhat puzzled.

She remembered that Yan Suhua was a cannery worker, and her husband was a cement factory worker. The family had two working parents and only one son and one daughter. The Xie family was considered to be living a very good life in the family compound.

Yan Suhua noticed Jiang Qiaoqiao's confusion and quickly said, "Qiaoqiao, I'm not registering for myself, I'm registering for Fengxia, is that alright?"

Jiang Qiaoqiao's doubts deepened. Before Xie Fengxia got married, she worked in a textile factory, and the man she married also worked in a textile factory.

How can you get married and lose your job at the same time?

When she was registering Xie Fengxia's information, she still subtly mentioned Xie Fengxia's work at the textile factory.

In those days, as long as a factory was still a state-owned factory, working there was like having a secure job. Unless you quit voluntarily, you would only be dismissed if you committed a very serious disciplinary offense.

When Yan Suhua mentioned this, her expression became somewhat unnatural, and she said vaguely, "A while ago, Fengxia got pregnant and wanted to take care of herself during the pregnancy, so she gave her job to her sister-in-law."

Upon hearing this and seeing Yan Suhua's expression, Jiang Qiaoqiao could guess that Xie Fengxia's reason for transferring the work to her sister-in-law was probably not so simple.

But as long as Xie Fengxia wasn't fired from a state-owned factory, and she voluntarily lost her job, whether she didn't want it or gave it to someone else, that was her private matter and none of her business, so she shouldn't ask too many questions.

Jiang Qiaoqiao went home after registering Xie Fengxia's registration.

After arriving home, she had just drawn a few design sketches when she heard a knock on the door.

Ever since word spread that the garment factory was hiring, people have been flocking to the factory every day.

Jiang Qiaoqiao didn't find anything strange and got up to open the door.

But when she saw the person outside the door, all her muscles tensed up instinctively.

Her beautiful eyes were filled with a sharp light as she stared intently at the people outside, her hand unconsciously reaching for a fruit knife.

But before she could even touch the fruit knife, the person outside the door suddenly put on a fawning expression, bowing and scraping as they handed her a bag of gifts. "Sister-in-law, hello sister-in-law. This is a small token of my appreciation for you and my brother. It's just a small gift, please don't find it offensive."

Jiang Qiaoqiao was a little taken aback by Ou Gang's pretentious words.

Is this the same thug who was smoking a cigarette in the movie theater that day, yelling at Huo Beixiao to wait?

Before Jiang Qiaoqiao could speak, Ou Gang's smile became even more ingratiating and flattering. "Sister-in-law, I was wrong last time. Please don't take it to heart, my brother and I."

I came here today specifically to apologize to you and my brother. My brother is here…”

Just as Jiang Qiaoqiao was about to speak, Huo Beixiao returned.

Huo Beixiao saw Ou Gang standing at his door from afar and, fearing that his wife might be bullied, hurried over in a few steps.

He instinctively shielded Jiang Qiaoqiao behind him, his sharp, hawk-like gaze falling on Ou Gang.

Ou Gang felt a chill rise from the soles of his feet, and the muscles on his face seemed to freeze, making his smile stiffen.

Before Huo Beixiao could make a move against him, he quickly said, "Brother, please don't misunderstand. I came here today specifically to apologize to you and sister-in-law."

I was blind to your greatness before; I didn't know you were such a renowned entrepreneur. I offended you and your wife; I'm truly sorry.

After that day, he made many inquiries and finally learned all about Huo Beixiao's deeds.

But after figuring it out, he was dumbfounded.

Huo Beixiao actually came from the black market years ago.

He was younger and had never been involved in the black market.

But even if you've never eaten pork, you've seen pigs run.

He used to be involved in the black market, but now he's laundered his money and runs a legitimate business. To be able to build a business as big as Huo Beixiao's is at least the mark of a local bigwig.

He's just a small-time hoodlum; you can't mess with people like that. He has that much self-awareness.

Huo Beixiao's gaze remained sharp as he looked at him. "So you've come to apologize? Fine, come with me and let me see your sincerity."

"Huh?" Upon hearing Huo Beixiao's words, Ou Gang's already stiff face turned into a bitter expression.

Huo Beixiao turned around and said gently to Jiang Qiaoqiao, "Wife, you go back and do your work first. I'll come back and cook dinner later."

Jiang Qiaoqiao nodded, without asking what he was taking Ou Gang to do. After watching him leave, she went back to her room.

Jiang Qiaoqiao was hanging her completed design drawings one by one on the wall in a row for easy comparison when she heard the sound of a door opening outside.

She knew from the sound of footsteps that Huo Beixiao had returned.

The man entered the room, embraced her slender waist, and gently pecked her cheek. She responded to him.

The man's Adam's apple bobbed uncontrollably a few times, and he said in a deep, somewhat suppressed voice, "Wife, I'll go cook first."

Jiang Qiaoqiao chuckled softly as she watched the man's retreating figure, then gently shook her head. This man was really easy to flirt with.

Huo Beixiao brought the food to the table, and Jiang Qiaoqiao had just put down what she was doing and sat down at the table.

Lin Xiaohui arrived in a hurry.

Seeing Lin Xiaohui's anxious look, Jiang Qiaoqiao quickly put down the chopsticks she had just picked up. "Mom, what happened? Why are you in such a hurry?"

As soon as Jiang Qiaoqiao finished speaking, Lin Xiaohui didn't even glance at her, and knelt down in front of Huo Beixiao with a "thud".

"Beixiao, Mom begs you, please sell that cement factory, okay?"