Side Story 4: Modern Era
The alarm clock rang precisely on time in the early morning.
Jiang Ling reached out in a daze, but touched a warm chest instead.
She was stunned for two seconds before she realized what was happening.
By the way, Qin Qian time-traveled again last night.
Since the Crown Prince orchestrated Qin Qian's fake death and escape a year ago, Qin Qian has completely relinquished his status as the eldest prince and now works as Lu Qian, the owner of a restaurant in Ping'an County.
After the unspoken understanding between them was broken, Qin Qian would occasionally pass through that wooden door and enter her world.
Sometimes I stay for a few days, sometimes for a month or two. The flow of time is still not equal, but fortunately, there are some patterns to follow in coming and going.
Strangely enough, ever since Jiang Ling brought Qin Qian to her world for a visit, Qin Qian seemed to have automatically gained the authority to open the wooden door and the iron gate.
When Jiang Ling was injured last time, she carefully questioned Xiao Ran and Mo Chen. It turned out that Xiao Ran had indeed closed the wooden door. Anyone could close that wooden door, but only Jiang Ling could open it. Jiang Ling had known this for a long time.
At first, after hearing their description, she thought Xiao Ran could open the iron gate, but that was not the case.
That day, Xiao Ran did try his best to open the iron gate, but no matter how he pulled, even if he was in the right direction, he still couldn't open it.
It was Mo Chen, who was guarding outside the door, who noticed the commotion inside. He assumed it was Jiang Ling inside, and that the iron gate was rusted and couldn't be opened, so he went to help.
So it wasn't Xiao Ran who opened the iron gate, it was Mo Chen who opened it.
Therefore, the conclusion is that the people in that world cannot open the wooden doors and iron gates.
Anyone in this world can open the wooden door and the iron gate without any hindrance.
There were some minor incidents that led to Qin Qian being able to open the wooden door and the iron gate.
Ever since Qin Qian's civilian status was restored, Jiang Ling had considered bringing him into her world. And the most indispensable thing for living in the modern world is a modern person's ID card.
So Jiang Ling approached Mo Chen and, through the Mo family's connections, arranged a modern identity for Qin Qian.
The Mo family was very meticulous in their work. They lied and claimed that Qin Qian was a boy that Jiang Ling had rescued while supporting the mountainous area. Because the mountainous area was underdeveloped, the boy had no relatives or friends since childhood, so he had never obtained an ID card in more than ten years.
With the help of the Mo family, Qin Qian got all the necessary documents, fingerprints, and household registration smoothly.
From then on, Qin Qian was a modern person with a clear identity.
From that moment on, he had the authority to open the wooden door and the iron gate.
Jiang Ling turned off the alarm clock, greedily lingering in the warmth of the blankets.
"Sleep a little longer?"
A low, husky voice came from above, carrying the languor of someone just waking up.
Qin Qian's arm naturally wrapped around her waist, and his chin rested on the top of her head.
"No, the fireworks factory is testing a new formula today. Senior Xie messaged me last night saying the equipment is ready." Jiang Ling struggled to get up and rubbed her eyes.
Qin Qian also sat up.
The morning light shone through the gaps in the curtains onto his face, dispelling his usual sorrow and gloom, and adding a sense of open-mindedness and ease.
Jiang Ling had looked at this face countless times, and she was still somewhat lost in thought.
Seeing her dazed expression, Qin Qian smiled slyly: "What's wrong? Am I handsome again today?"
Jiang Ling chuckled for a moment and clicked her tongue at him, "Try to learn less about internet slang."
Qin Qian smiled and pulled her into his arms, feeling her warm breath and the rhythm of his heartbeat. "Okay, then I won't learn these things anymore. I'll learn something you like to hear."
Jiang Ling suddenly remembered: "Oh no! I had an appointment with my coach to practice driving test part 2 today, how could I forget! Coach Luo is so fierce, he's always yelling at people, I'm afraid to see him."
Jiang Ling complained in his arms, "It's all because I was too hasty back then. I should have waited longer for that nicer coach to be available. That way I wouldn't have had to suffer under Coach Luo."
Qin Qian closed his eyes and leaned against her, comforting her, "If you don't want to learn, then don't. Or you can quit this time and find a nicer instructor next time. Anyway, I already have a driver's license, so I can be your driver."
Jiang Ling's tone was somewhat concerned: "I was just worried that you were working too hard. You basically manage everything at the fireworks factory, and you also have to take care of the restaurants and shops in Ping'an County."
Qin Qian still held her, his hand stroking her back: "What can I do? I still owe Boss Jiang a debt, so I voluntarily sold myself into slavery. But I'm afraid I can't pay it off in this life, I'll have to pay it off in the next."
Upon arriving in the modern era, Jiang Ling discovered just how astonishing Qin Qian's learning ability was.
From pinyin to simplified Chinese characters, from basic mathematics to professional books, he absorbed all the knowledge in the world like a sponge.
It wasn't long before I learned how to use a mobile phone and computer, and in less than a month I learned how to shop online.
When I took my driving test, I passed all four parts on the first try.
Although Jiang Ling is still the owner of the fireworks factory, Qin Qian is now basically in charge of managing the factory.
From a country bumpkin in the mountains, in less than a year he became Manager Lu, a well-known figure in the city.
He moved between the two worlds without getting confused, handling everything in an orderly manner.
Qin Qian made breakfast.
He can now use all modern home appliances, and even a soy milk maker, although he almost drew his sword when he first heard the machine roar.
After dinner, Qin Qian drove Jiang Ling to the driving range.
We've already made an appointment, so it would be embarrassing to stand each other up.
You have to take the driving test; there's no escaping it.
As for the fireworks factory, let Qin Qian handle it. He's already got the hang of it anyway.
Before leaving, Qin Qian spoke a few words to Coach Luo privately, in a mysterious manner, and it's unclear what they discussed.
However, Jiang Ling found driving practice unusually easy that morning. Although she still made a few mistakes, Coach Luo's scolding was noticeably lighter.
After finishing her driving practice, Jiang Ling didn't ask Qin Qian to pick her up; instead, she took a taxi to the fireworks factory herself.
The factory area was orderly, and workers in uniform were loading boxes of finished products onto trucks.
Jiang Ling had just arrived at the office area and hadn't yet found Qin Qian when Old Yang, the workshop director, handed her a folder.
"President Jiang, this is the safety inspection record for the new production line. Manager Lu has already signed it."
Jiang Ling took the document, signed it, and casually asked, "Nothing special has happened lately, has anything?"
"The factory area is in good order, Mr. Jiang can rest assured. Manager Lu is really capable. The manufacturer said that the German-imported filling equipment would have to wait for the German engineer to come and adjust it, but he and Xiao Zhang and the others worked on it for two days and managed to get it working smoothly, increasing efficiency by 15%!"
Jiang Ling handed over the signed documents, a smile unconsciously curving her lips: "Where is Manager Lu now?"
"He should be in the workshop right now. He just revised the formula for the new product with Manager Xie this morning and is currently inspecting safety."
Jiang Ling got up, poured herself a cup of tea, and walked towards the workshop.
In the processing workshop, the workers have gotten used to Manager Lu.
At first, people thought he was too young and, having heard he came from a mountainous area, didn't think much of him.
But after spending time with him, I realized that this young man had an extraordinary appearance and demeanor. He didn't talk much, but every word he said was to the point. He was especially meticulous about safety procedures, to the point.
She is even better than Jiang Ling.
Jiang Ling assumed it was his first time handling such matters and that he was too nervous, so she asked him privately.
He said, "I will never let the fireworks factory explosion happen again. I cannot bear the pain of losing you. If something happens to you one day, dying for you would be a relief for me."
Jiang Ling later realized that when she was injured and on the verge of death in the Great Sheng Dynasty, Qin Qian had considered following her in death.
At that moment, Jiang Ling thought of her father.
After her father passed away, she thought that no one in the world would ever love her with their life like her father did.
How fortunate she was to have found him.
From then on, all her anger and resentment towards God dissipated.
Qin Qian's figure could be seen from afar.
Jiang Ling didn't call out to him, but quietly walked in his direction.
"Mr. Lu is here!" Engineer Liu, who was inspecting the mixing machine, looked up and greeted him with a smile.
"Engineer Liu." Qin Qian nodded in greeting and walked naturally to the equipment. "Have you replaced the inlet gasket we talked about yesterday?"
Engineer Liu pointed at the machine and said, "It's been replaced. We replaced it with the corrosion-resistant type, just like you said. You young people are so quick-witted. We're always thinking about how to make the old stuff last longer, but you're the one who looks at the safest option."
Qin Qian checked it carefully before he felt relieved: "Safety first. Jiang Ling said that this is the bottom line."
Qin Qian helped several young workers pour the raw materials into the mixer.
He was strong and agile, lifting heavy barrels of raw materials weighing several hundred pounds steadily, earning him a thumbs-up from the young men.
"Brother Lu, you've trained, haven't you?" a worker named Xiao Song asked curiously.
Qin Qian dusted off his hands and smiled faintly: "I used to do farm work in the countryside."
He practiced martial arts from a young age, wearing armor weighing dozens of kilograms, wielding weapons also weighing dozens of kilograms, and riding horses for thousands of miles. This weight was nothing to him.
Jiang Ling silently walked to a short distance behind him.
Looking at his back, I sometimes feel dazed.
The man who skillfully heats milk in the microwave in the kitchen, the Lu Dongjia who diligently harvests vegetables in Jishui Village, and the Qin Qian who strategizes in the capital—they are all the same soul, yet they live different lives in different worlds.
But she liked every single one of them.
Their relationship was no secret in the factory, and when Jiang Ling approached, the workers tactfully walked away.
As if sensing her gaze, Qin Qian turned his head, saw her, and a clear smile instantly bloomed in his eyes. He walked towards her.
"Why are you back so early? Coach Luo finally let you off the hook?" He took the cold teacup from her hand naturally. "Don't drink the cold tea. I'll go to the tea room and get you a hot one."
"It's nothing," Jiang Ling said, pulling on his sleeve and wiping his hands, which were a little dusty, with a tissue. "I heard you've secured another piece of imported equipment?"
Qin Qian smiled and said, "I can understand the blueprints, and the principles are similar, so it's not difficult."
The two walked side by side toward the office building, amidst the rhythmic hum of machinery and the faint, distinctive smell of gunpowder.
Qin Qian had gotten used to these things and could even judge whether the production process was normal from subtle differences in smell.
The afternoon trial of the formula went smoothly.
When the new product, Hua Yang, bloomed in the air at the test site, it was as dazzling as its name suggests, with color transitions even more delicate than expected.
Everyone present applauded.
When the get off work bell rang, Qin Qian changed out of his work clothes and naturally picked up Jiang Ling's coat and handbag.
"What do you want to eat tonight? There's still fresh sea bass at the market at this time."
"You decide what to do; your steamed fish tastes better than mine."
"Then let's go home."
"good."
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