"He had a dream last night that his son-in-law wouldn't quit smoking," Sister-in-law Xiao Si said as she saw Qi Si leave. Qi Si just then pushed the door open and came in, and she quickly shut her mouth tightly.

"Go back to bed right after you finish eating. Your heels are sticking out of your slippers. Your feet will hurt when you get old. Don't say I didn't warn you." Qi Si slammed the door and left.

Fourth Sister-in-law dared not disobey and hurriedly got up and went back to her room.

"Oh dear, why do I suddenly think of the wedding I arranged for them? I never imagined they'd be so happy. That girl was such a stubborn mule back then, and now she's such a virtuous wife and mother?" The cousin-in-law recalled how unruly Xiao Si's wife was when she first married into the family, and everyone couldn't help but chuckle.

It turns out that marrying the right person is so important. Qi Si and his wife, after many ups and downs, have finally made their relationship work out smoothly.

“I don’t like favoritism. It’s not good to favor boys over girls, and it’s not good to favor girls over boys. Everything should be done in moderation. Look at our two children. I play with Hanhan more. It’s easier to communicate with men…” A Lei was disdainful of Qi Si and made himself sound very noble.

Qin Xiaoyu didn't expose him. Who was that person who sewed the doll for her little sister in the middle of the night? She wouldn't tell.

Some people set a high standard just to be proven wrong, and she still wants to see who will have the last laugh.

The award winners reported to the garment factory to receive their awards, and Qin Xiaoyu personally took charge of the matter.

She published the list of winners and the details of how to claim the prize in the evening paper for three consecutive days, but only gave them one full day to do so. This was deliberately arranged; she disliked procrastination. If the winner was someone who liked to procrastinate, then such a person was useless and a major taboo.

As soon as her car entered the factory gate, she saw a thin girl standing at the entrance of the building, shivering in the cold wind. She was carrying a cloth bag in her arms, which was as hard as a drawing board.

"Are you here to receive an award?" Qin Xiaoyu asked, stepping forward.

"Yes. You must be Factory Director Qin. My name is Ma Yuxiao."

Qin Xiaoyu recognized the name; it belonged to a female worker at a popsicle factory in the north. Her designs were very beautiful, possessing an ethereal quality.

"Are you an art major?" Qin Xiaoyu led her to the office and started chatting casually.

"No, I just drew it for fun." Ma Yuxiao's voice was soft and small.

"You're very talented." Qin Xiaoyu opened the door and let her in.

After entering the room, she carefully placed the things she was carrying on the table and spread them out. Sure enough, it was a sketchbook with some drafts inside, all of which were quite remarkable.

"It's really good." Qin Xiaoyu nodded repeatedly.

"Director Qin, I have a favor to ask of you," Ma Yuxiao said, mustering her courage. "Our Northern Popsicle Factory is a large collective, as is our Garment Factory. Could you transfer me here? I don't want to work there anymore."

Chapter 596 The Mysterious Prize Winner

Qin Xiaoyu was taken aback when she heard her make the request.

“Look at my hands.” Ma Yuxiao stretched out her hands, which were large and twisted, almost unlike a little girl’s hands. “Our working environment is bad, cold and damp. I have rheumatoid arthritis. Please help me.”

"I see. I can think about it. Don't rush me." Qin Xiaoyu felt sorry for her hand. She started to consider in her mind that these talents were discovered to make full use of them. Whether to train them at home or bring them to Guangzhou depended on their future development.

Seeing Ma Yuxiao's condition, it's clear she can't continue working at the popsicle factory. She might as well agree, since Wang Lingling still has a vacancy.

Ma Yuxiao had no idea what Qin Xiaoyu was thinking, but seeing her ever-changing expression, he couldn't help but worry.

Knock, knock, knock. Someone is knocking on the door.

The man who came this time was a young man in his early twenties. He looked delicate and wore black-rimmed glasses. He took out a letter of introduction, and it turned out that he was the school's art teacher.

Qin Xiaoyu glanced at him; his name was Hou Yong, and he seemed to have a good foundation. He and Ma Yuxiao were the second and third prize winners respectively, and according to the rules, each of them was entitled to one hundred yuan plus a trophy. However, they couldn't be given out now; Qin Xiaoyu had already arranged for the invited leaders to distribute them later.

Before Hou Yong could finish his three sentences, he also asked to be transferred to another job.

Qin Xiaoyu couldn't understand why Ma Yuxiao left the popsicle factory—the working environment was too harmful to her health. But being a school art teacher, in most people's eyes, was practically a cushy job. Only two classes a week, often taken over by the homeroom teacher, two two-month vacations a year, and full pay—it couldn't be better.

"I don't want to live such a mediocre life; I want to make something of myself. I've heard about some of Director Qin's achievements and think you're a daring person. I want to follow in your footsteps," Hou Yong said quite readily.

The first prize winner is a vocational school student majoring in early childhood education. Needless to say, before even starting work, he already doesn't want to be a teacher anymore and wants to work in a garment factory.

Qin Xiaoyu suddenly realized that these people weren't participating for the 100 yuan; they were all waiting for her to help them change their fate.

After agreeing on the next steps with the three people and sending them away, Qin Xiaoyu was now just waiting for the grand prize winner.

This guy is really composed; his entry identifies him as a freelancer, and his name is just a single character, "Qilin," which doesn't seem like his real name. He designed an evening gown, and the style is undeniably bold. The other three contestants' works all seem geographically limited, somewhat conservative and restrained.

But this evening gown was different; it was practically walking hormones, flamboyant yet sexy, possessing a powerful allure that was irresistible. For some reason, Qin Xiaoyu felt a sense of déjà vu with this style.

Qilin remained silent, leaving Qin Xiaoyu to wait in vain. A Lei came up twice to urge her to go home early, but she refused.

Around 4 PM, Qin Xiaoyu was almost in despair. Qilin's entry showed dedication, indicating he wanted to win. In the 1980s, without smartphones, people's leisure activities were incredibly dull, making newspapers indispensable. Evening newspapers, with their diverse content and entertainment, were almost universally subscribed to.

Qilin could see the list of winners from the newspaper if he saw there was a competition, but he didn't come; he just didn't dare to.

"Let's go." Qin Xiaoyu glanced at the time; it was almost five o'clock, the deadline she had agreed upon. It seemed hopeless; she felt a little disappointed.

They chatted as they went downstairs. The female workers finished work at 5:30, and Qin Xiaoyu deliberately left at a slightly different time, otherwise she wouldn't even be able to drive her car out of the factory gate.

A familiar figure flashed by at the gate of the courtyard. It was someone from the advertising studio, Xu Jingye, whom Qin Xiaoyu had recruited last time.

A sudden inspiration struck Qin Xiaoyu. She jumped out of the car, chased after the car, and shouted, "Qilin!"

Xu Jingye was frozen in place; it really was him.