Chapter 71 Recommended

"The exhibition closed yesterday. Is your liquid soap still going well?"

When I met Principal Zeng at school on Monday morning, he asked, but his words were quite cautious and he did not directly ask Lin Qiao whether she had won the award.

Lin Qiao smiled and nodded, "It went pretty smoothly. I won a bronze medal."

This invention exhibition gives out quite a lot of awards. The bronze award is basically equivalent to a participation award and does not have much value.

However, Lin Qiao's formula was not complicated, it was just that no one had done this before. Principal Zeng did not think the award was too bad, "A bronze medal is fine. With an award, the school will be able to recommend you." He asked Lin Qiao directly: "Did you bring the certificate?"

"I brought it." Lin Qiao picked up the bag, and Principal Zeng took her to his office.

The certificate is not big, no bigger than a person's palm when unfolded, but because it was sponsored by the Invention Association, it was printed quite beautifully.

Principal Zeng took the letter and pondered for a moment, "I remember you said last time that you were planning to apply for Yandu University of Technology?"

Lin Qiao said "hmm", then took out another similar certificate from her bag.

"Anything else?" Principal Zeng was stunned for a moment, his expression becoming more serious than before.

He took it and unfolded it, and this time it actually said - "Won the Gold Award at this year's Invention and Creation Exhibition."

This is very valuable. All the selected inventions are both innovative and practical, and have great prospects for the future.

Principal Zeng looked at the award certificate, then at Lin Qiao, "It would be a waste if you went to study at a normal school."

As he was talking, Vice Principal Qi knocked on the door and came in. "I heard that Xiaolin is here with you. How is he? Did he get the award yesterday?"

"I got them." Principal Zeng raised the award certificates in his hand, "I got two at once."

"I saw Huaiwen was in a good mood yesterday, so I guessed he got it. But he refused to tell me when I asked him." Vice Principal Qi took it and was also surprised. "Gold medal?"

Last year, when they were giving a public class, they were still worried about how to get Lin Qiao an exceptional recommendation. Even though they knew that the liquid soap was made by Lin Qiao, they just wanted her to win an award. Unexpectedly, she went back to prepare for a while and submitted another project. Not only did she win two awards, one of which was a gold award.

Vice President Qi frowned and thought for a while, then asked President Zeng: "Why don't we try National Tsing Hua University? If that doesn't work, we can try Yandu University of Technology."

If you want to pursue a career in scientific research, Tsinghua University is indeed much better than Yandu University of Technology.

"Then give it a try," said Principal Zeng. "We'll prepare another set of recommendation materials. If that place doesn't work, we'll immediately recommend Yandu University of Technology."

"That's fine. It saves us from wasting time. There are only two months left until the college entrance examination."

Soon, the school prepared a thick recommendation package and submitted it to National Tsing Hua University. It included letters of recommendation from the president, vice president and other faculty members, the award records of Lin Qiao's two inventions, and the changes and contributions that Lin Qiao had made to the school and the education sector during his one year in office.

Being able to guide students is also a plus point. After all, university is a place to cultivate talents, and it also needs excellent teachers to stay and teach.

In contrast to the two principals, when the students heard that Lin Qiao had won the award, they were simply shocked and happy for their teacher Lin.

The soldiers who went to help that day were the most excited. "You didn't see it. There were more than a hundred people who went, but our teacher Lin was the youngest. And our teacher Lin won two awards. When teacher Lin went up for the second time, the people below dropped their eyes to the ground."

When he got excited, he even stood on a chair and imitated the award presenters announcing the list of winners. Everyone who heard it regretted that they didn't know about this yesterday.

The soldier was very satisfied with this conspicuous bag. "It's a pity that you didn't go. My master's wife also went yesterday. She treated us to dinner after the exhibition ended in the evening."

"Teacher's wife?" Students who had never been there were a little confused.

"It's our teacher Lin's lover. Hey - I'm coming down, I'm coming down, I'm coming down right away!"

The hem of the soldier's shirt was pulled by someone. He turned around and saw that it was Lin Qiao. He quickly jumped down from the chair and said, "Teacher Lin."

"Study hard and stop doing useless things." Lin Qiao patted him and then went back to the office with the phone number he had just memorized.

After the exhibition, a company really called her and wanted to buy the formula of the powerful oil remover from her.

Most of them are state-owned enterprises of varying sizes, and there are also private individuals who are interested in this area. She screened a few and prepared to find time for interviews.

Selling the formula directly is obviously not cost-effective. After all, prices are rising year by year, and the money earned will depreciate in less than two years.

But if you want to invest in technology, you have to carefully select the target. If the other party gets the formula, makes a slight change and claims that they developed it themselves, and doesn't give you a penny, you can't do anything. Such a lawsuit will be difficult to fight even after a few decades, let alone now in 1982, when there is not even a patent office in China.

Lin Qiao trusted Ji Duo's character, so he kept something back when giving him the recipe. However, he never expected that Ji Duo's "I have a friend" was actually someone else.

I unconsciously thought of this person again, Lin Qiao

After a pause, his expression quickly returned to normal, and he picked up the homework of the students in the class and started marking it.

Just after she approved two books, someone from the Security Department came and told her they had her phone number.

"You are really busy." Team leader Gao looked on and laughed, "When the formula is sold, remember to treat us to a meal. We are all waiting to make a fortune."

Once the award was announced, everyone in the office knew that the liquid soap was Lin Qiao's formula. However, the factory was indeed not hers, and except for Lady Bi who kept nagging about it for a long time, the others started to make a fuss and teamed up to rip Lin Qiao off, and the matter was forgotten.

After hearing what Team Leader Gao said, she smiled and agreed, "Definitely." She also said "Sorry" to the security guard shyly.

When the phone was picked up, a voice that couldn't be more familiar came in, "Hello, Comrade Lin Qiao, I am the director of Yandu Muzi Chemical Factory..."

"Ji Ze." Without waiting for the other party to finish speaking, Lin Qiao continued with a bit of speechlessness.

"Yes." The other party's tone was still serious. "I understand that one of your inventions won a gold medal at the invention exhibition that just ended. My factory is very interested in the degreasing spirit you invented. I would like to invite you to cooperate with our factory by investing in technology. Do you have time recently?"

Although he had already guessed something, Lin Qiao remained silent after hearing this.

Ji Ze also knew that they were in an awkward situation. "I am inviting you as the director of a chemical plant. You can just treat me as the director of the chemical plant. Let's just talk about business, not other things. You don't have to agree right away. Listen to my conditions, and then look at other people's conditions. It won't be too late to make a decision."

"Okay, I'll think about it." Although Ji Ze had concealed the truth from her, his accounts had always been clean, so he wasn't a bad partner.

Hearing that Lin Qiao did not refuse outright, the other party breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Then you can call me when you have made a decision."

After giving the factory number, he saw Lin Qiao was about to hang up, and suddenly said, "Actually, if I were your uncle, I wouldn't want you to know about the change of employees. You'd be upset if I told you that your wife is involved with someone else."

Lin Qiao didn't say anything. In the next few days, he took time to meet with the two companies that showed the most interest.

One is a large state-owned factory that originally made degreasers. It purchased Lin Qiao’s formula mainly to upgrade its products.

But at that time, state-owned enterprises had not been impacted by private enterprises. They were arrogant and felt that they were working for the country. They started by giving Lin Qiao a patriotic education class and asked him to contribute to the country. But when it came to the price, they were very stingy and only gave Lin Qiao 10%.

"State-owned enterprises are definitely stable, and the state's reputation in this regard is also guaranteed. They will definitely not rip you off like small factories run by individuals outside. You can rest assured."

Does this mean that Lin Qiao did not continue to cooperate with the previous manufacturer, but chose to negotiate with them? Is it because there was no negotiation, or because she had a falling out with the previous manufacturer?

Lin Qiao didn't show anything on her face. "I know your conditions. If I decide to cooperate, I will call you."

"Then you'd better hurry up," the other party said, "even though your degreasing agent won an award, there are not many people with leading technology. Our factory's technicians are also excellent."

It was almost as if Lin Qiao didn't sell it to them quickly. Once they figured it out on their own, her formula would be worthless.

Lin Qiao shook her head in her heart. She felt that after discussing this one, she didn't want to talk about the other state-owned factories anymore.

After the reform and opening up, many problems were exposed in state-owned enterprises. Workers were not very motivated, and they took kickbacks in purchasing and sales. Some even received payment for goods but did not give it to the factory, but kept it in the bank to earn interest, or the goods were clearly sold and the money was received, but they went home to make a batch of fake ones and returned them to the factory, saying that they were not sold.

It is no wonder that the business was not doing well and many of them went bankrupt. Lin Qiao did not want to give his formula to a partner who was destined to not last long.

State-owned enterprises are not particularly good at keeping secrets. Just look at how the Qin father and son took the factory's formula and made their own products. She should think about it herself.

As a result, he gave her a larger personal share, and he wanted to split it 50-50 with her right from the start. Then, as they were talking, he wanted her to invest money.

Lin Qiao asked a few questions and did some background check, and found out that the other party had only applied for a business license, and there was no factory yet. They were simply trying to get something for nothing.

It is estimated that even if she invested money, the factory might not be able to be opened, as the other party could just run away with the money and then sell the formula to someone else.

No, does her face show that she is easy to deceive?

After the conversation, Lin Qiao returned home and couldn't help but look at herself in the mirror hanging on the wall at the door. She didn't see anything clear or stupid in it.

Just as he was about to look away, the gate outside rang and Ji Duo came back.

The man walked in and looked at her face first, as if he had been looking at her face first every time he walked in these past few days, and then he said, "Dad is in the hospital."

"Dad is in the hospital?" Lin Qiao was stunned. "When did it happen? Is it serious?"

"Today, there was a letter from my hometown that had been uncollected. I helped deliver it. After my father read it, he was admitted to the hospital in the afternoon."

Ji Duo looked a little nervous, but he paused and lowered his voice when he looked at Lin Qiao, "Do you want to go with me?"

Lin Qiao glanced at him and said, "Even if we didn't have this kind of relationship, my father was also an elder who helped me. He is in the hospital, how can I just ignore him?"

"Then let's go eat first." Ji Duo helped her take the bag that had just been placed on the sofa. The two of them walked out of the cafeteria and headed straight to the hospital.

The old man was obviously not in the hospital because he was angry. He looked a little depressed. When he saw Lin Qiao, he was embarrassed again. "Qiao Qiao is here."

He initially decided to keep the secret from Lin Qiao because he truly thought it was a good thing for Lin Qiao not to know. Unfortunately, he had been the patriarch for so long that he took things for granted and forgot that there is no such thing as an impenetrable wall in the world.

Lin Qiao came to visit the patient, so naturally he would not bring up anything else at this time. He just put down his things as usual and asked about the old man's health.

Xu Li sighed, "Didn't the second brother help deliver a letter? Your uncle is gone."

Ji Duo’s uncle?

If Xu Li hadn't mentioned it, Lin Qiao would have forgotten that there was such a person in the Ji family.

In fact, if Ji Duo didn't really have such an uncle, even if the Ji family deliberately hid the fact of replacing her, she should have guessed it long ago as she knew a little about the plot.

But Ji Duo really existed, and the Ji family seldom mentioned him, and they didn't visit during the Chinese New Year. She hasn't met him until now.

I didn't expect that the first time I heard Xu Li talk about it, it was that the other person had passed away and the old man was admitted to the hospital.

Lin Qiao glanced at Ji Duo but said nothing. Instead, Ji Duo asked, "How come it's gone?" There was no fluctuation in his tone.

"It's said to be a heart disease. He's six years younger than your father." Xu Li is a soft-hearted person after all, and she couldn't help sighing.

The old man didn't look too sad. "Second brother, if you have time, go back. People are gone, and some things should be resolved."

Ji Duo did not answer directly, "I'll go back and take a look." It can be seen that his mood is not very good.

The old man and Xu Li didn't look like they wanted to talk. They sat inside for a while and then got up and left.

"Our father and uncle haven't had any contact for more than 30 years." As soon as they left the ward, Ji Duo suddenly whispered to Lin Qiao.

Lin Qiao looked up in surprise and met the man's gaze. "You looked at me just now, didn't you want to know this?"

She wanted to know. After all, she didn't realize that she had recognized the wrong person. This uncle was also a reason, but there was more than one thing about the Ji family that she didn't know...

Lin Qiao didn't say anything, but Ji Duo seemed to know what she was thinking, "Don't even mention you at home. Xiaoze and Xiaoling don't even know they have an uncle."

Lin Qiao really didn't expect this. After all, if she was considered an outsider, Ji Ze and Ji Ling were always members of the Ji family, right?

And on the wedding day, he asked the man, and the man told him directly.

Ji Duo stopped at the window on the stairwell and said, "I was born when my mother was over 30 years old. Before me, she had a daughter."

But apart from his cousin Ji Yan, Ji Duo has no sisters in the family, so this daughter should be gone.

Sure enough, Ji Duo looked out the window and said, "When the child was more than six months old, our mother's place was not safe.

We had to evacuate urgently. My mother was a pregnant woman and it was inconvenient for her to take care of my eldest brother, so she wanted to hide him in his hometown. After all, my father joined the revolution under a pseudonym, and no one knew where his hometown was.

When people first joined the revolution, many used pseudonyms. After all, another party was in power at the time, and everyone was afraid that their families would be implicated.

Xu Li sent Ji Jun back to her hometown, which was actually safer than keeping him with her.

Lin Qiao thought about it for a moment and understood why the man said this. "My uncle didn't agree?"

"No, he agreed." Ji Duo said, his voice still cold, "Then when our mother left, he secretly threw our eldest brother out."

"Throw it out secretly?"

It would be better to just disagree. Lin Qiao never thought that this could happen. "How old was Big Brother at the time?"

"Six years old, and it was winter."

That was really cruel. He was probably afraid of being implicated and didn't want to offend Master Ji, so he agreed on the surface but then threw the person out.

How long can a six-year-old child survive outside in winter? All we have to do is say that the child got lost on his own.

"Then how did you find it later, big brother?"

"He has a good memory. He remembers the way our mom took him there, and he keeps chasing after us, calling for mom."

Given Xu Li's kind-heartedness, she must be filled with regret and heartache. Even if a knife is placed on her neck, she must protect this stepson.

Ji Duo mentioned Xu Li's missing daughter, and it was estimated that she encountered some danger during this process.

But Lin Qiao still couldn't figure it out. "What about my uncle? Wasn't he at home at the time? Did he just watch my uncle do this?"

"My uncle had been in poor health since childhood. Later, to celebrate his birthday, he married my aunt. After more than ten years of marriage, they had no children and had no say at home."

No wonder Ji Yan, although she is the eldest uncle's child, is nearly ten years younger than Ji Jun and has no other brothers or sisters.

A Lin Shouyi, a Gu family member, and Ji Duo's uncle, when their own interests are endangered, their human nature cannot stand the test.

No wonder he paused when Lin Qiao asked him about it, and said that he did not dare to alarm the other party.

"Later, our family cut off contact with that place, but the letter today was still sent by someone else."

But when a person dies, it is like a light going out. Master Ji is also old, and knowing that his brother has passed away, his emotions are inevitably affected.

Ji Duo retracted his gaze from the window to Lin Qiao's face, and suddenly changed the subject, "This morning, my eldest brother has already left for Southern Province."

Something that Lin Qiao has not heard yet.

Without waiting for Lin Qiao to respond, he immediately said, "Because of that letter of accusation, and because he went back to beg our father to ask you to sell the formula to your eldest sister-in-law's eldest brother."

Lin Qiao had already guessed that the report was related to Ye Minshu, so she reminded the man and asked him to go back and deal with it.

This was the first time she had heard of the formula. She raised her eyes and looked into the man's gaze, and suddenly realized something.

Since the divorce was mentioned that day, the two parted ways unhappily, and Lin Qiao has been refusing to communicate these days. Ji Duo wanted to take advantage of her interest in her uncle's affairs and her willingness to listen to him, and said everything he didn't have time to say at once.

"I suggested separating my eldest brother and his wife so that my sister-in-law would have no one to push her around, and my father agreed."

He lowered his voice, "Dad doesn't have many relatives left, only my brother and I, so he always hopes that the family can be harmonious, so he always tries to smooth things over. But if you are really wronged, your family can't just sit there and watch. Some things are not handled well by your family, but your family doesn't want to treat you as an outsider."

Lin Qiao believed that if Master Ji really wanted to treat her as an outsider, he would never let his youngest son marry her.

If she had done that thing and Ye Minshu had been the victim, the old man would still have played the game of smoothing things over and chosen to hide it from Ye Minshu.

Ji Duo was the same. He didn't like to tell her about family matters, and he never told his family about what was going on between them either.

But she didn't want to talk, and Ji Duo saw it, and suddenly asked: "Am I disappointing you?"

From the day they met, Ji Duo gave people the impression of being calm, composed, reliable, and able to handle anything with ease.

This was the first time Lin Qiao heard him say such self-doubt, but the man did say, "I don't know how to buy you soda, I don't know how to watch a movie with you, I talk like I'm explaining work to my subordinates, even our marriage was kept secret, and I actually hope you can rely on me a little more."

Ji Duo paused, "But Qiao Qiao, if you don't understand, I can learn. If you think I did something wrong, you can also tell me. Can we not get divorced?"

Yes, he is learning everything he doesn't understand, buying her soda and watching movies with her. He used to not say anything, but now he gives her clear instructions before going out and even makes arrangements for her.

But why did she still feel angry?

Clearly, she married him in order to escape from the quagmire, and was even waiting for him to file for divorce at any time.

She was even less serious about this marriage than he was, so why was she still angry because he was hiding it from her?

Lin Qiao looked out the window, "Do you know that before this happened, I wanted to live a good life with you?"

Ji Duo's eyes were shocked.

Lin Qiao's voice was softer than the night wind outside the window. "Just when I asked you what you thought about divorce."

Ji Duo is tall and handsome, successful in his career, stable, reliable, clean, and can do housework. Although he is a bit of an old cadre and chauvinistic, he never interferes with anything she does, and often gives her support, becoming her strongest backing, which no one has ever given her before.

Lin Qiao is not a heart of stone. After realizing that he has fallen in love and is trying hard to change, she has thought about continuing to live with him.

What happened to the male protagonist in the original book?

She's married, she's slept with me, and I'm attracted to her. Why should I let others enjoy the food I'm used to eating?

That's why she asked him what he thought about divorce, thinking that if he was not ready for divorce, it would not be a bad idea for them to continue living like this. The old cadres could be quite entertaining sometimes.

But at this moment, the fact that he and his family had concealed the truth from her was exposed, which was like pouring a bucket of cold water over her head.

Lin Qiao was not only angry that he didn't respect her enough, but also angry that she wasn't cautious enough.

Outside the window there was an old willow tree that was sprouting new buds. Looking closely, it looked somewhat familiar, as if she had first come to the hospital with Ji Duo in April, in front of this stairwell window.

It's just that at that time they were just strangers testing each other, but now they are here discussing whether to divorce.

Lin Qiao gathered up her clothes and said, "It's a bit cold, let's go back."

Just as I was about to turn around, a coat with body temperature came over me, and with it, the warmth of a man's chest.

Two figures, one tall and one short, were reflected on the window glass. Lin Qiao was looking at the window, but the man was looking at her.

The shadow was too blurry, and Lin Qiao couldn't see the look in his eyes, but he could clearly hear his low, hoarse voice, "I'm sorry."

No one spoke for a long time until they heard footsteps approaching. Ji Duo helped her button her coat, picked her up, and walked downstairs without paying attention to other people's eyes.

The next day, Ji Ze received a call from Lin Qiao in the factory office.

"We can discuss cooperation, but I want to add two conditions to the contract. First, no relatives other than you can participate in the management of the factory. Second, if the factory wants to accept financing, it must obtain my consent. Otherwise, I will withdraw the formula unconditionally, and if you continue to use it, I will hold you legally responsible."