Jiang Yu remembered the location of the factory. After getting off the bus, she carried two large jars of pickled vegetables and walked down the road, attracting attention.

The luggage was quite heavy, and like rushing to the bus stop from the village, she walked and stopped frequently, finally arriving nearby after a great deal of effort. There were quite a few small shops nearby, mostly selling boxed lunches and daily necessities.

Jiang Yu looked around and saw many people staring at her, her lips twitching. Although she wasn't shy, she didn't want everyone to look at her like she was a monkey.

Helpless, she could only smile at their gaze. She thought to herself: "Wouldn't this seem more friendly? Maybe they'll hold back when they fight over my job."

It wasn't that she was being petty; after all, the factory only had so many workers, and everyone had their own job. If someone bought a meal from her, someone else would earn less money for food. However, those who would rather eat cornbread with water than buy vegetables were a different story.

She found a fairly eye-catching spot, put down the cloth bags in her hands to reveal the jar, which attracted a lot of onlookers.

"Girl, what's this good stuff you've got?"

The woman in the floral cotton-padded jacket squatted down to talk to Jiang Yu, her hands tucked into her pockets. She was the owner of a small shop next door, employing a helper to work in the shop while she strolled around on both sides of the road. She usually chased away vendors carrying goods on the street.

Jiang Yu cleared away the vegetable leaves beside the jar, then looked up and saw a woman who made her feel very uncomfortable, grinning at her with her big teeth, looking quite friendly.

However, having seen countless people in her previous life, Jiang Yu considered this kind of person a smiling tiger. They might be friendly on the surface, but who knows what malicious intent they might be harboring.

"Nothing, just bringing food to the man."

Not yet fully understanding these people's character, Jiang Yu dared not reveal her true intentions. These shop owners, though openly and covertly competing with their peers, were remarkably united in their public persona. To avoid unnecessary trouble, it was best to say as little as possible.

"Oh, your husband works in a factory? How come he eats so much?"

The woman in the floral cotton-padded jacket clearly didn't believe it. The two large jars weighed over twenty kilograms each; what man could eat that much? You're kidding me.

Jiang Yu thought to herself, "None of your business." But outwardly, she didn't rush to refute, offering the woman a slight, feigned smile. Seemingly harmless, it actually exuded a strong aura.

Although Zhang Meihua was afraid, she thought, "What can a girl in her early twenties possibly do to me? Besides, her sister is a big shot in Shenjiazhuang, and she's a tyrant around this factory area. Anyone who dares to mess with them is asking for trouble."

However, Jiang Yu didn't know she was Zhang Xinhua's older sister; the only familiar thing was her face, as if she'd seen a similar version somewhere before. She remained skeptical, waiting to see what this woman truly wanted.

"Hmm, haven't you heard, lady? A tall, burly man recently came to the factory. He looks fierce and beats people up at the drop of a hat. The local police station is used to him, and even the police turn a blind eye."

Jiang Yu deliberately moved closer to her, whispering among herself. Afraid she wouldn't believe her, she pointed to the factory in front of them.

"And when he went to the hospital a while ago, the doctor diagnosed him with bipolar disorder. He can't control himself when someone gets close to his wife. That's my husband, didn't you know?"

She stared nervously at Zhang Meihua, secretly delighted. "You little rascal, I'm sure I can scare you to death with that."

Zhang Meihua believed it. She took two steps back, her mouth trembling, and her words were indistinct:

"Sister... I just saw you were a stranger and wanted to ask if you needed any help. Since there's nothing else, I'll go and get busy."

As she explained, she turned her head and quickly ran across the street. Once she was a good distance away, she patted her chest, panting. "I'll have to ask around when I visit relatives tomorrow if there are any monsters like that around here?"

Seeing that no one was bothering her, Jiang Yu found a clean brick, leisurely placed it beside the jar, and sat down. Looking at the sun in the sky, she felt warm and cozy.

By this time, many workers had already finished their shifts. Those from wealthier families went to the shops across the street to buy boxed lunches, found a roadside spot, sat down, and started eating.

Jiang Yu looked at the people coming and going, and spoke slowly:

"Freshly pickled vegetables are delicious, inexpensive, clean, and hygienic."

Her voice was beautiful, echoing in the air and drawing everyone's attention. Jiang Yu seized the opportunity and refuted them one by one.

"Hey young man, don't just eat steamed buns, buy some of my pickled vegetables, so you don't choke."

"Comrade, would you like to buy one? It's delicious."

Although they were mostly adult men, Jiang Yu's novel way of attracting customers, coupled with her good looks, caused quite a few of them to blush.

As more and more people left work, someone recognized her.

"Comrade, you're here again? I tasted your pickled vegetables yesterday and the flavor lingered in my mind. I was wondering where I could run into you again, and here we are today."

Jiang Yu was instantly delighted to see that it was the young man who had led the way in tasting the pickled vegetables yesterday. Hearing his words, she couldn't help but lift the jar and enthusiastically said:

"Comrade, come and try today's dishes. How do you like them? If you like them, remember to recommend them to others."

The young man named Wan Qiang was a little embarrassed. He had gotten a free meal yesterday, and he couldn't possibly eat for free today. He took the pickled vegetables from Jiang Yu, took out two cents from his pocket, and handed them over.

Jiang Yu refused. In her opinion, spreading positive word-of-mouth was more important than the two cents. However, Wan Qiang stubbornly refused to accept it, and after a long argument, Jiang Yu had no choice but to give him some more pickled vegetables to eat.

Wan Qiang was an honest and helpful person with a good reputation in the factory. Many people lined up to try the pickled vegetables sold by the women at the gate after hearing his enthusiastic promotion.

Jiang Yu was busy and happy, and her pockets gradually filled up. A serving of pickled vegetables costing two cents wasn't cheap, but it was clearly not in the same league as a one- or two-dollar boxed lunch. Besides, she put in plenty of ingredients, and everyone enjoyed the meal, so two cents didn't seem expensive at all.

Zhang Meihua, standing across the street, was furious at the crowd surrounding Jiang Yu. What manic-depressive disorder? That's utter nonsense! And saying he's a factory worker? Are they trying to fool an idiot?

I have to talk to the police at the local station tomorrow about this woman operating without a license, and see if anyone is going to do anything about it.

Zhang Meihua stomped her feet and shouted in the shop, startling passersby. People who wanted to buy food dared not enter, fearing they would encounter a mentally ill person and be beaten up with no recourse.

As the crowd dispersed, she took a closer look. Had she seen this woman somewhere before?

After thinking for a while, she stood up from her chair, banging her head against the table with a loud thud. Wasn't this her younger sister's notoriously lazy old woman from the village? A few days ago, she'd made a huge scene in the village over a sent-down youth, acting like she was going to die. She'd even gone along to watch the spectacle that day.