Chapter 47 You have a wedding invitation, please check it

Everyone knows that there is no coconut water on the market today.

The blending at the second factory was also only carried out within the factory, and they were preparing to use fresh and unique coconut juice to open up new markets. No one else had seen the samples that were sent to the factory director's office last time.

It’s just that my plan to launch a new flavor of soda was rejected, and my biggest competitor recently, the Food Factory, suddenly started selling coconut water?

Everyone in the second factory office was originally worried about whether Lin Xiang would stay or go, but Yang Tian's words instantly attracted everyone's attention.

At that moment, Qiu Hongxia, who had been deeply involved in the preparation of coconut juice, was the first to get impatient and said bluntly: "Why are they suddenly selling coconut water?"

How strange! Is it such a coincidence?

If the company's proposal had not been rejected, it would have started selling coconut water in the next few days. But now, the company has been beaten to the punch by the Food and Beverages Company.

Lin Xiang also instantly pulled herself out of her reluctance and said directly to Clerk Zhou from the HR department of Factory 1, "Sister Zhou, there is an urgent matter at our factory, so we need to discuss it first. As for my work problem, let's talk about it later."

Clerk Zhou knew from Yang Tian's tone that the situation was urgent, so he didn't say much and just said, "Okay, then finish this first."

As soon as Zhou left, Director Zhao evacuated the workers outside back to the workshop. Lin Xiang hurriedly asked Yang Gong about the situation: "Yang Gong, what's going on? Did you see the coconut water they were selling?"

Yang Tian looked big and strong, but he was smart. He raised his hand and handed over the coconut water sold by the Shiwei Food Factory.

There was only a glass jar filled with almost transparent coconut water, which was slightly light in color and a little turbid. The packaging did not whet my appetite much.

"I took a leave today, so I went to pick up my nephew and his family who came to visit me. On the boat on our way back, I saw a nearby fisherman buying a bottle of this. I had never seen soda of this color before, so I asked what it was. He said it was the new coconut water from the Food and Food Factory. I bought two bottles to give to my children. I was furious when I heard this, so I tried to persuade him and finally bought him a bottle. I thought I would let you have a look."

While Yang Tian was talking, Qiu Hongxia couldn't wait to open the lid of the glass jar and pour the liquid into the enamel cup in front of Lin Xiang.

The transparent coconut water gushed out, and there seemed to be a rich sweet aroma floating around, but the aftertaste was a bit sweet.

Lin Xiang held the enamel cup and took a sip. In addition to the sweet taste of coconut water itself, it was filled with an overly sweet smell, with a distinct flavor of essence.

She frowned and swallowed, feeling a not-too-pleasant taste in her mouth, with a rough, astringent taste permeating her mouth.

"The taste and texture are not very good." Lin Xiang asked everyone to taste it.

Everyone who was a little worried at first took two sips and felt relieved instantly. This stuff was far inferior to the coconut juice they were going to sell!

If they didn't prepare fresh coconut juice made from coconut meat in advance, they might still think the coconut water tasted good, but the comparison is harmful.

If you hold something better in your hand, the ones that taste better will mostly have flaws.

......

However, at this moment, there was laughter in the office of the director of Shiwei Food Factory.

Neither Qiu Xiuping nor Zhou Hongfei had expected that the factory director would come up with such an idea to sell coconut water in soda bottles.

Although Shiwei Food Factory started late and has just established its foothold with canned shrimp sauce, and has not yet developed a soda production line, it may be a good thing that it has joined the 119 Food Factory.

Qiu Xiuping seemed to have let out a rage: "Uncle, you are well-informed. You knew that Factory 119 No. 2 was going to sell coconut water, and you rushed to sell it before them."

The 119 Factory No. 2 started out by sticking orange soda on cans of its own shrimp sauce, which really disgusted them. This time, it finally got its revenge.

It's just that they just learned the news recently, and in order to save time and meet deadlines, they hastily decided on the ratio of adding flavors to coconut water, and they were far less meticulous and thoughtful than they were when studying the shrimp sauce formula.

Zhou Hongfei asked curiously, "Uncle Qiu, do you have someone at 119? Otherwise, how could the information be so accurate?"

He had no interest in selling a few bottles of soda, but was curious about Director Qiu's connections.

Factory Director Qiu waved his hands and did not intend to talk about this matter any more: "There is no such thing as a wall that is impenetrable. Anyway, our coconut water is sold out today. I wonder what else 119 can do!"

Qiu Xiuping was happy in her heart. If they really wanted to shut down Factory 119 No. 2 first, it would be a nuisance to keep such a shabby factory. In the future, they could say that it was the Food and Flavor Factory that shut down Factory 119 No. 2. It would really enhance their prestige.

I just don't know how Captain He is doing now. Qiu Xiuping doesn't even have any acquaintances in the 119th Unit, so it's not easy for her to get over there. She has to find a time to go over and try to get to know Captain He.

Zhou Hongfei listened to Director Qiu's words without worrying about it. He just thought that this old thing still had some tricks up its sleeve. But it didn't matter. He had been at the Shiwei Food Factory for a few months. The novelty had worn off. He had also received a few compliments from his family. He had finally gotten his revenge, so there was nothing to worry about.

On the contrary, the old man in the family used the excuse of visiting the 119th unit of Langhua Island to visit his uncle's family a while ago, but in fact he was thinking about his former son.

Zhou Hongfei almost bit his back teeth to pieces. The old man still wanted to recognize his son? Pah!

Don’t even expect to call him Big Brother!

What kind of person is worthy of being a member of the Zhou family!

Thinking about his mother's instructions a few days ago, he must go to the island to visit his uncle's house. No matter what, he must act like a younger generation, otherwise he will not be able to explain to his grandfather. Zhou Hongfei scratched his hair and said irritably: "Director, I want to take a leave next week, six or seven days."

Director Qiu would never restrict this young master. He could do whatever he wanted as long as he could use the connections behind the Zhou family at the critical moment. However, he acted like an elder caring for the younger generation and asked casually, "Okay, you've been working hard recently, take a good rest. Are you going to take a walk around Phnom Penh? You probably don't have time to walk around here."

Zhou Hongfei answered casually: "There is nothing to do. I have to go to the 119th Army to visit my third uncle's family."

Qiu Xiuping was shocked when she heard this. She had only heard her uncle mention that Zhou Hongfei's father was the head of the Northwest Military Region. She had no idea that he had a third uncle in the 119th Army.

After leaving the factory director's office, Qiu Xiuping stopped Zhou Hongfei and said, "Comrade Zhou Hongfei, when are you going to go to the 119th Unit? I have something to do and I want to go there too. Let's go together."

——

After confirming that the coconut water from the Shiwei Food Factory posed no threat, the people at the 119 Food Factory No. 2 breathed a sigh of relief.

But I was also irritated.

Qiu Hongxia and Yang Tian were unwilling to accept this. Why could they sell such ordinary coconut water, but the delicious coconut juice mixed in their own factory could not be put on the market?

"We really need to go talk to the factory manager." Yang Tian had a bad temper and was going out without caring about anything.

Director Zhao stopped the man and said, "Of course you have to go, but you can't go like this."

That afternoon, Director Zhao led Lin Xiang, Qiu Hongxia and Yang Tian to the factory director's office to report the situation.

But this time I also brought with me a bottle of coconut water from the Shiwei Food Factory.

Director Zhao looked aggrieved and almost trembling with anger: "Director, don't you think the taste is too much! We were secretly preparing to sell coconut juice, but they immediately served coconut water and even said it tasted better than orange soda. Isn't this a slap in our face?"

Everyone knows that the orange soda produced by the 119 Second Factory has been selling very well in the past month.

Qiu Hongxia followed closely: "But the taste of their coconut water is not good. They added too much flavoring. It tastes like flavoring when you drink it. It is much worse than the coconut juice we mix! Factory Director, we can't stand it! We have to do them!"

Factory Director Huang was busy for a few days after the National Day, attending various meetings and welcoming inspections by city leaders. Just when he had a chance to catch his breath, four people from the second factory came to him.

Before he could say anything, Yang Tian, ​​who was strong and muscular, said, "We in the Second Factory are not afraid of anything, but we cannot swallow this humiliation. We can't let ourselves be outdone by the taste of food!"

Factory Director Huang silently complained in his heart: How often have your factory been outdone...

Lin Xiang enthusiastically poured two glasses of coconut water for Director Huang, one with food flavor and one blended by Factory 2. There was nothing else she said, she just asked Director Huang to taste it.

Factory Director Huang stared at the delicious coconut water and was initially disappointed by its appearance. Then he tasted it and found that the delicious coconut water was not that bad, but it pales in comparison to the coconut juice from Factory Two.

He was silent for a moment, remembering the last time he mentioned that the second factory had formulated a new flavor of coconut juice and wanted to try it on the market, but the other members of the leadership team directly rejected it.

The main reason is that everyone doesn’t have a good impression of the second factory and just hopes that they will quiet down. What do they know about coming up with new flavors?

The factory values ​​democracy, and Director Huang didn't have much interest in it, so he didn't try to fight for it.

Lin Xiang spoke again: "Director, last time the Food Factory caused a lot of trouble for a canned shrimp sauce factory. This time our coconut juice will definitely beat them. Don't you want to vent your anger?"

These words really touched Director Huang's heart.

He had seen how much of a threat the Shiwei Food Factory had posed to his own factory some time ago, but now, looking at the two bottles of coconut juice, he was finally tempted!

The next day, Director Huang specially called Zhao Jianjun and Lin Xiang to attend the factory leadership meeting and re-proposed to sell coconut juice from Factory 2. He also prepared coconut juice for everyone present to taste. Unlike last time when he was vague, he insisted on giving Factory 2 a chance to try.

Secretary Tang, whose administrative level and power in the factory were almost equal to that of Director Huang, did not even look at the coconut juice in front of him. He directly and firmly opposed it, with disdain written all over his serious and dignified face: "What ability do those people in the second factory have? They have never accomplished anything before. Why are they bothering with these things now? It is right for our factory to sell canned seafood well."

Factory Manager Huang was friendly: "Old Tang, Shiwei has been targeting us recently. Now that we have better coconut juice, we can't compete with their coconut water? Besides, Factory Two has been performing pretty well recently."

The desire to fight, which had been dormant for many years, once again ignited in the blood of Director Huang, a retired veteran.

Deputy Factory Director Li watched for a while, looking back and forth between the Factory Director and the Secretary, and finally made up his mind to stand on the side: "Secretary Tang, the Factory Director wants to lead us to fight back against Shiwei in order to put a damper on Shiwei's arrogance. I agree."

Seeing how determined the factory director was, most of the workshop managers changed their votes of opposition and finally agreed that the second factory should give a try to sell the new flavor of coconut juice.

Secretary Tang was dissatisfied when he saw these people change their words, and he immediately said sternly: "You can give it a try, but you can't do it recklessly. Two conditions must be added. If the products cannot be sold at the counters of major department stores, the second factory will have to pay for this part of the hole. The amount of loss will be deducted from the funds of their second factory!"

This makes it clear that if sales are not good, the funding for the second factory will be reduced and everyone's salary will be deducted.

This was not the end. Secretary Tang then dropped a bombshell: "Doesn't the Second Factory want to show off its capabilities? They really sold a lot of coconut juice. The factory will hold a commendation meeting for them. If they fail, Zhao Jianjun will be asked to make a self-criticism in front of the whole factory!"

It really makes these people look bad! They have been like that for so many years, a bunch of people who have been living a life of idleness and waiting to die. He had long wanted to close down the second factory and send away the people inside. Now they are trying to come up with some new flavors. Secretary Tang is getting very impatient.

Lin Xiang had not expected that Secretary Tang, who held the same position as Director Huang in the Food Factory, would hate the Second Factory so much. He was deliberately making things difficult for the factory, and even though he saw that the situation was irreversible, he still wanted to cause trouble for the Second Factory.

Zhao Jianjun's heart trembled when he heard what Secretary Tang said. This was too harsh! A factory making a new product shouldn't be so strict.

"What do you think, Zhao Jianjun? Do you dare to accept these two conditions? If you accept, go and sell your coconut juice." Secretary Tang frowned and stared at him.

Zhao Jianjun had rarely been humiliated like this. He stiffened his neck and said solemnly, "Secretary Tang, take it! We are confident in our coconut juice and it will definitely sell well! If we really fail, I will take the responsibility of deducting wages and writing a self-criticism! Don't deduct the workers' wages. I will work in the factory for free in the future. I don't want a penny. Just deduct my wages!"

Lin Xiang: ...Oh my god, Director Zhao looks so handsome now!

Even his bald forehead seems to be shining!

......

When the good news got back to the second factory, everyone was excited, and even the workers who originally had no interest in selling coconut juice became encouraged.

After all, the veto aroused people's rebellious psychology, especially the more pessimistic the people in Factory 1 were, the more the people in Factory 2 wanted to slap them in the face.

Yang Tian encouraged everyone with full confidence: "We must show them this time!"

Lin Xiang was happy with everyone else and saw unity on the faces of all the people in Factory 2.

But Director Zhao disappeared after returning to the factory. Lin Xiang left the workshop and found Director Zhao in a corner of the workshop, looking worried as he was picking up fresh coconuts.

"Director, what's wrong with you?" Lin Xiang hurried forward to ask.

Director Zhao smiled at Lin Xiang, but this smile was uglier than crying: "Xiao Lin... I was impulsive, I was impulsive, oh my goodness, if this really goes wrong, I will have to work in the factory for nothing for the rest of my life, how can I explain to your sister-in-law?"

Director Zhao raised his hand and touched his hairless forehead, which was shining brightly. He said bitterly, "I'll pick a few coconuts and be ready to kneel down and apologize to your sister-in-law."

Lin Xiang didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Seeing Director Zhao's frightened look, she suddenly felt familiar. This was the Director Zhao she was familiar with. He was very different from the handsome man who had just made bold statements to take all the punishment at the meeting of all the leaders in the factory.

But they are both him.

"Director Zhao, don't worry! We will definitely not let you kneel down on coconuts. The coconut juice from our factory will definitely sell well!"

Director Zhao just wanted to hear words of comfort at this time. He nodded and tried to cheer himself up: "Yes, we must sell it!"

But just as he finished speaking, he heard Lin Xianglin add mischievously before leaving: "If you really work for nothing your whole life, we will go and plead with your sister-in-law to let you kneel for two fewer days."

Director Zhao: “…”

He has become a bad student! How could Comrade Xiao Lin, who has a good family background and a handsome appearance, also become a bad student?

——

After teasing Director Zhao, Lin Xiang ran away and went to the office of the director of the first factory to find Director Huang again to inquire about the progress of the new equipment for the soda production line. After all, he solved the canned shrimp sauce dilemma last time, and the director promised to replace the equipment for the second factory.

"It's not easy to buy good equipment from abroad now. We don't have any contact with foreign countries, let alone any quotas." Factory Director Huang really didn't want to shirk this reward, but it's not easy to buy advanced large-scale equipment nowadays. Most of the quotas are for the capital or Shanghai. Other provinces and cities can get a quota by using connections, or buy 50% new equipment that they have eliminated. "I'm worried about this matter. I'll see if I can get a quota. If not, I'll ask those large soda factories if they have equipment that needs to be replaced."

Lin Xiang naturally knew that the equipment replaced by those large soft drink factories was much better than that of the second factory, with advanced technology and much newer in comparison. How could she not be satisfied?

After coming out of the factory director's office, Lin Xiang's mind was full of thoughts on how the second factory could market and sell coconut juice, and it must surpass the delicious coconut water.

As she pondered, she was surprised to find that her mind was full of the work of Factory 2, especially since the coconut juice project was the first and new one for Factory 2. Director Zhao even issued a military order, requiring all workers to unite as one and impress the people in Factory 1.

Yesterday, Lin Xiang, who was visited by a factory personnel officer to handle the job transfer procedures, suddenly came to her senses. She stopped struggling and hesitating and finally made up her mind.

Lin Xiang found a factory office and asked around to find out the workstation of Zhou, the HR department manager. However, she didn't expect that there was another "acquaintance" He Fen, who worked in the finance department next to her.

He Fen came to the factory office to do some work. Now she is an ordinary female worker in the workshop, and her salary is recorded by piecework. It is much harder than working in the factory office, and the salary is less. Today, she felt that there seemed to be some parts of her salary that were not calculated clearly last month, and she was shortchanged by 80 cents, so she came to check.

However, Lin Xiang didn't pay much attention to her and went straight to the Personnel Department.

Because of He Fen, everyone in the factory office knew Lin Xiang. They also knew that she would be back in the next two days and was their colleague, so everyone greeted her warmly.

Bai Ganshi welcomed him with two words: "Comrade Lin Xiang, welcome back. You will be a member of the factory office from now on."

Seeing Lin Xiang coming over, Shen Chunli finally breathed a sigh of relief. She no longer had to bear the burden of having "taken" her job: "Lin Xiang, are you coming over to take care of the formalities?"

Of all the people in the factory office, Lin Xiang actually only knew Shen Chunli. She smiled and nodded to the others, then replied to Shen Chunli: "No, I'll go find Secretary Zhou to explain the situation."

When the factory director Tian Guiju heard the commotion outside, she also rushed over. After all, it was not a glorious thing for Lin Xiang to be taken away by He Fen through a trick. Now that everyone can finally return to their respective positions, it is a great thing!

"Xiao Lin, welcome back." Director Tian welcomed him warmly.

Lin Xiang knew that people had misunderstood her, so she could only express her attitude directly: "Director Tian, ​​I am not here to go back to Factory 1. I plan to stay in Factory 2 and work, and I will not come back."

Factory staff: ???

Everyone was wondering in their hearts whether Lin Xiang had gone crazy!

Tian Guiju was stunned on the spot, Shen Chunli widened her eyes in surprise, and the others also looked at Lin Xiang.

Lin Xiang didn't care about other people's eyes at all, and walked straight to Secretary Zhou and said, "Secretary Zhou, you don't have to keep Sister Sun's job for me. I will continue to work in Factory 2 and will not return to Factory 1. Thank you for your help."

Lin Xiang left in a carefree manner, leaving everyone in the factory office looking at each other in bewilderment. Everyone suspected that they had heard wrongly. How could someone give up Factory 1 and be willing to stay in Factory 2!

He Fen, who had been paying close attention to what was going on here since Lin Xiang came into the factory office, was also stunned. Her hands holding the pay slip were shaking. She had tried her best to force Lin Xiang to go to Factory 2 to suffer, but now she was willing to give up and go back to Factory 1 and take the initiative to stay in Factory 2?

What did I do in the first place? I even lost my good job in the factory because of it. How could it be worth it?

The news that Lin Xiang was willing to stay and work at Factory 2 spread quickly, and the workers at Factory 2 were flattered. Qiu Hongxia was smiling from ear to ear, but she was a little worried while cracking melon seeds.

He raised his hand and touched Lin Xiang's forehead: "Girl, you don't have a fever, right? Are you still clear-headed?"

Lin Xiang, who was in tears and laughter: "..."

No one understood Lin Xiang's decision. The people in Factory 1 thought that Lin Xiang was ignorant of propriety and had a brain disease, as she did not return to Factory 1 but stayed in Factory 2. The people in Factory 2 were happy and worried, but they also thought that Lin Xiang was stupid. Rationally speaking, she really gave up a bright future. They were worried that she would regret it in the future, and they felt sorry for her.

The mood was very complicated. It seemed that he was very happy that Lin Xiang stayed here, but he was also worried that the Second Factory would delay the girl.

After Lin Xiang got off work early, she and He Hongyuan went to the new house to continue to clean up. Lin Xiang asked the man, "Do you think I'm crazy for giving up the opportunity to return to Factory 1 and staying in Factory 2?"

He Hongyuan didn't care about her being so straightforward. He raised his hand to brush away some of her naughty hair and said with a smile, "Don't say that about yourself."

He never minded these things. He had insisted on joining the army, and he made his own decisions on which branch of the military to apply for and which military academy to attend. He never cared about other people's opinions.

"You can stay wherever you like. Don't worry about what others say." He Hongyuan could also sense that Lin Xiang had been very happy in Factory 2 for the past two months. Every time she mentioned her work and life in Factory 2 to him, she was always happy, relaxed and happy.

That's enough.

Lin Xiang heard many voices of confusion on her way back today. At this moment, He Hongyuan told herself firmly that she could stay wherever she wanted.

Lin Xiang, who looked like a little cat with a few smears of dust on her face, stood on tiptoe and kissed He Hongyuan on the cheek, smiling and saying, "Wait until our second factory becomes bigger and stronger!"

He Hongyuan was shocked by the smile of the woman in front of him, relaxed, confident and charming, with bright eyes and gentleness. He leaned over and was about to return a kiss, but Lin Xiang dodged flexibly.

The woman smiled and ran a few steps to the faucet: "Oh, our bodies and faces are all dirty! No kissing~"

The officials are allowed to set fires, but the common people are not allowed to light lamps.

He Hongyuan still seemed to feel the warmth on his cheek where he had just been kissed, but he could only smile helplessly.

However, Captain He never suffers a loss. This is true in the army and on the battlefield. If he suffers a loss now, he will "retaliate" later.

After washing her face and hands, Lin Xiang was carried by the man to the only long table in the new house, and he held her waist and kissed her for a long time...

——

Lin Xiang was assigned a new task when she returned to work.

"We have now mastered the mixing ratio and production process." Director Zhao, who is ready to work for free for the rest of his life, clearly assigned tasks. "We recently tested a batch of coconut juice, and the taste of the batches produced is almost the same."

Mass production must ensure that the color, texture and taste are consistent. If the batches are different and the quality varies, it will not last long.

There is no problem with the product, and Factory 1 agrees to launch the new flavor. The next step is to send samples to the Phnom Penh Grain and Oil Company and sign a contract.

Director Zhao prepared to take Lin Xiang with him.

"Every factory has to go through the grain and oil company to sell goods to department stores and supply and marketing cooperatives. They can only go on sale after they have been reviewed and approved." In the cabin, Director Zhao talked to Lin Xiang about the inside story. "The grain and oil company is very profitable. The sales departments of many factories have to treat people to dinner every month."

Lin Xiang understood that this was similar to the thinking of later generations, especially now that private sales were banned, which further elevated the status of the grain and oil companies.

"Director Zhao, are you familiar with the people at the Grain and Oil Company?" Lin Xiang asked curiously.

Director Zhao laughed out loud and said proudly, "Of course I am familiar with it. I can get along well with anyone!"

Director Zhao's confidence is not without reason. The reason is that the current general manager of the grain and oil company is also a veteran. He once ate a meal cooked by Zhao Jianjun, who was a cook at the time, during a battle. So they have a connection to each other.

Although the two never met again, Director Zhao held on to this relationship.

Section Chief Chen, who is in charge of checking all products on the shelves of the grain and oil company, received the two people. When he heard that they wanted to sell coconut juice, he waved his hands and said, "What's so good about this?"

Lin Xiang and Director Zhao looked at each other and understood the implicit message behind it. They couldn't keep an eye on the sales of major department stores every day. In addition, the coconut water of Shiwei was only recently launched on the market and was still in the exploratory stage. 119 Food Factory didn't know the actual sales volume.

But what Section Chief Chen said was obviously not a good thing.

Director Zhao asked, "Chief Chen, look at what you said. Isn't that food taste selling coconut water? We can definitely sell it in 119 as well."

Section Chief Chen waved his hand and said, "Everyone can pick coconuts and drink them. How many people are willing to spend money to buy this? I advise your factory not to waste time."

"Hey, our coconut juice is different from the coconut water sold by Shiwei." Director Zhao and Lin Xiang cooperated, "Xiao Lin, let Section Chief Chen taste our coconut juice."

"Chief Chen." Lin Xiang placed the bottled coconut juice prepared in her factory on the tea table in front of Chief Chen and covered it herself. Then she said calmly, "We don't add any flavors to the coconut juice at 119. It's all the natural flavor of coconut. You can taste it and compare it with the taste of food. It must be different."

Lin Xiang introduced the product slowly but confidently. Section Chief Chen looked at the 119 coconut juice doubtfully. It was indeed different from the coconut water you eat, as one was milky white and the other was transparent. He held the bottle and took a sip, and was instantly conquered by the natural sweet taste.

This taste is so much better than food with a lot of flavors added!

Relying on the quality of its own products, Director Zhao boasted again that the second factory successfully signed a contract with the Grain and Oil Company for an order of 300 bottles of new products, which were supplied to several major department stores in Phnom Penh for sale.

If it sells really well, we can increase orders in the future.

After successfully settling the matter with the grain and oil company, Director Zhao breathed a sigh of relief and quickly returned with Lin Xiang.

++++

The first batch of coconut juice was picked by the workers of the second factory themselves. After all, there were only 300 bottles of coconut juice. From picking to cutting the coconuts to pour out the coconut juice, splitting the coconuts to dig out the flesh, and carrying out subsequent production, everything was carried out in an orderly manner.

The workers at the second factory knew that Lin Xiang's wedding was coming up and there were many things that needed to be prepared, especially since she was from another place. It was inevitable that a young girl would have to worry a lot here, so they tried not to let her worry about the preparations for the production of coconut juice recently.

Lin Xiang was indeed busy with her wedding.

After a thorough cleaning of the house, we are waiting for the furniture to move in.

The old master in the fishing village knew that it was the military comrades who wanted to make furniture, so he worked quickly and quickly, and soon finished the furniture and hung it out to dry.

All wood used is Huanghuali, which is abundant in Haining Province. The wood is fine, golden and moist, and is the best wood. There are many wild Huanghuali trees on the hills everywhere. Members who want to make furniture for their weddings like to go up the mountain to cut them down, and then pay someone to make them. They only need to pay the labor cost.

After being dried in the sun for nearly half a month, the completely natural Huanghuali furniture was delivered to the new house. Lin Xiang and Aunt Feng and Yuezhu who came to help were waiting at home to welcome the furniture brought back by He Hongyuan and several comrades.

The soldiers were very strong, and several of them carried everyone's things into the house one by one. Lin Xiang and Yue Zhu picked up some light tables, chairs and benches. After a short while, the originally empty small building was instantly filled.

As soon as you enter the door, you can see the rectangular living room connected to the dining room. The brown coffee table and wooden sofa are neatly placed. On the opposite wall, there is a long cabinet with vertical stripes. Lin Xiang put a brand new thermos bought from the supply and marketing cooperative and several enamel cups on it, which are printed with "Serve the People" and "Learn from Comrade Lei Feng".

Zhang Huafeng, Jiang Weijun and several comrades who had a good relationship with He Hongyuan came to help. Seeing that everyone was almost done, she went to the kitchen and picked up the freshly cooked shepherd's purse and pork dumplings and passed them over.

Shepherd's purse is the first delicacy in October. The wild vegetables growing all over the mountains and wilds were life-saving treasures in the famine years. Now, it has been a long time since the three-year famine period, but this tradition has not been lost. Many military wives calculate the time to pick shepherd's purse.

This morning, Lin Xiang went out with Aunt Feng and Yuezhu. Pointing at the freshest and tenderest parts, they took the food quota and meat coupons distributed at the end of last month, went to the food station and bought three catties and two catties of noodles and one catty of pork.

The shepherd's purse is the freshest these days. If you wait another week, its taste will be greatly reduced. The shepherd's purse and pork are chopped separately, kneaded into dough, and rolled into dumpling skins. The crescent-shaped dumplings roll in water and become plump white. When you take a bite, the aroma of pork mixed with the freshness of shepherd's purse is so delicious that it can make your tongue drop.

The comrades had worked hard along the way and were hungry. When they saw the dumplings, they were not polite. They called out to their sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law and started eating the dumplings with big mouthfuls.

"Sister-in-law, your cooking skills are great. You're worthy of working in a food factory." Jiang Weijun could only smell the sweet fragrance lingering on his lips.

"The shepherd's purse and pork filling is so delicious!" Several comrades gave Lin Xiangshu a thumbs up.

Lin Xiang looked at the honest and simple military comrades who were sweating from carrying heavy objects, as if their whole bodies were emitting heat, and hurriedly delivered the soda brought back from the second factory to them.

The orange soda and coconut juice that had been chilled in cold water for an entire afternoon, some bottles were golden in color, and some were glowing milky white.

Everyone has tried orange soda, and some people were curious and asked, "What is this white thing? It looks pretty."

"Our factory is about to start selling a new flavor of coconut juice. It's a good opportunity for you to try it and give us some suggestions." Lin Xiang said with a smile.

The soldier, who had never drunk coconut juice like this, took a few sips and was immediately attracted by the smooth and rich taste and sweet aroma: "It tastes good! It tastes quite different, even better than orange soda."

This is the highest praise.

He Hongyuan came down from the second floor. He had just put the wooden bed, wardrobe and desk in place in the bedroom. As soon as he stepped into the living room, his target held chopsticks and fed him a dumpling.

"Eat something quickly, are you tired?"

Several comrades two meters away were looking over here with squinting eyes. They had never seen He Hongyuan being fed by anyone, especially by a woman, and they all looked excited for a moment.

He Hongyuan glared at them, then lowered his eyes and ate the dumplings: "It's really delicious, did you go to pick shepherd's purse?"

"Yeah." Lin Xiang also ate a few dumplings herself, and left two small bowls for He Hongyuan. "You eat one bowl, and you can take this bowl to Political Commissar Zhang. I saw him go out to smoke after he finished his work, and he looked gloomy. I didn't want to disturb him."

He Hongyuan ate all five dumplings in a few bites and went out with the dumplings in his hands.

After the comrades finished eating and said goodbye one after another, Lin Xiang thanked them repeatedly and left. She saw Zhang Huafeng leave too, and He Hongyuan returned home with an uneaten dumpling in his hand.

"Why isn't Political Commissar Zhang eating?" Lin Xiang asked curiously.

He Hongyuan sighed and used the clean bowl and chopsticks to pick up some dumplings and feed them to Lin Xiang: "He is upset. There are too many troubles at home. He has no appetite."

Lin Xiang opened her mouth and took a bite. The two of them finished the dumplings one by one. "What's wrong?"

After all, Zhang Huafeng has always been a cheerful person with a good temperament and good interpersonal relationships. Lin Xiang thought that something was wrong with him since the day of the National Day cultural performance, but it has been more than ten days.

"His family lives deep in the mountains. His parents gave birth to six children, and he is the eldest. He is the only one who has such a promising future among the six children. He has to send half of his salary and allowance back home every month to supplement the family expenses. A while ago, Zhang Huafeng also wanted to get married, so he wrote a letter to his family saying that if he really wanted to get married, he would have to send less money back. However, Yan Min later did not agree to get married this year, so the matter was dropped. Who would have thought that his family would be so angry after receiving the letter, and asked someone to write and send letters, and also called the army, saying that Huafeng was unfilial and forgot about his parents and brothers and sisters after getting married."

Lin Xiang was surprised. This family has hands and feet, so it is impossible for them to rely on Political Commissar Zhang's salary for household expenses. Isn't this a clear case of bloodsucking?

Besides, they just suggested reducing the amount, they didn't say they wouldn't send it anymore.

He Hongyuan frowned and was worried about his brother. Unfortunately, this was a family matter, and blood relations were the hardest to sort out. "He's been upset lately, and he said he'd come over to have a good meal at our wedding banquet."

"Yeah." Lin Xiang nodded, sympathizing with Zhang Huafeng in her heart.

Ten days before the wedding date set by He Hongyuan and Lin Xiang, Aunt He boarded the train to Phnom Penh.

The newlyweds were worried about their mother going out alone, so He Hongyuan used his connections to arrange for a comrade-in-arms at the Xifeng Railway Station to help send her off, mainly because they were worried that her mother was illiterate and might get on the wrong train.

Aunt He disliked her son's nagging. She was capable of climbing mountains, swimming in water, chopping trees and fighting the Japanese. How could she get lost on a train?

But listening to the advice and instructions from my future daughter-in-law on the phone, I felt it was very thoughtful.

It's really a case of double standards.

Lin Xiang counted the days and circled the date on her calendar when her mother-in-law would arrive in Phnom Penh. Early that morning, she met He Hongyuan at Zhou's house and took a boat to the city's railway station to pick up He's mother-in-law.

At this time, there was still one week left before their wedding.