conspiracy
With Xu Tangmian's help, the tape incident during the Spring Festival gave the printing factory a boost for a while.
The cassette tapes were selling extremely well, with demand exceeding supply. Since Yu Chunsheng had already signed a contract with the tape factory, they were obligated to pay him at market price, making these orders incredibly lucrative.
Furthermore, since the city printing plant was unable to deliver, which almost caused the tape factory to breach the contract, Yu Chunsheng helped them out of their immediate predicament. The other party promised to give priority to their printing plant if there were any future orders, so they were able to completely secure the tape sleeve business.
Thanks to Li Qingmang's connections and Yu Chunsheng's outstanding performance in this incident, the printing factory gained considerable visibility with the government. Even before the Lantern Festival was over, small orders from government departments had already reached the printing factory's liaison department.
Although the orders weren't numerous, government departments typically place orders with the municipal printing factory, so this could be considered a successful expansion of business channels. The main goal with these kinds of collaborations is to avoid losses; the primary benefit is building a reputation.
Because the child was about to start school, and Xu Tangmian had gradually gotten used to her pregnancy, Li Youlan and her husband and child went back to Beiping and would come back during the summer vacation, by which time Xu Tangmian would be due to give birth.
On the other hand, Song Weidong finally relented and agreed, and went to the city hospital to report for duty as soon as work resumed after the New Year.
Li Yutao got her wish, and returning to work after the Lunar New Year wasn't so troublesome anymore. She couldn't stop smiling early in the morning.
Xu Tangmian slowly stood up, supporting herself on the table, and tapped twice on her desk. "Stop laughing. Haven't you had enough of laughing for days?"
Li Yutao, however, held her head high with an arrogant expression, "You don't understand this feeling of conquest."
"I really don't understand." Xu Tangmian and Yu Chunsheng's relationship developed gradually over time, unlike their complicated feelings.
"I heard your brother got you a car before he left?" Xu Tangmian glanced at the red Santana parked on the playground, her face full of envy. "Take me for a ride?"
"I wouldn't dare." Li Yutao glanced exaggeratedly at Xu Tangmian's six-month pregnant belly. "I just got my driver's license not long ago, and I'm not very skilled yet. I'm afraid I'll scare you."
Xu Tangmian straightened her back and exhaled, glancing around to make sure no teachers were nearby before sharing her worries with her friends.
"To be honest, I only wanted a child for a short time, and now that I've been pregnant for a while, it's quite annoying."
Li Yutao smiled mysteriously, her eyes somewhat lewd: "How long is 'a while'?"
"?" Xu Tangmian paused for a moment, then snapped out of her daze. Annoyed, she picked up the exercise book on the table and lightly slapped Li Yutao, saying in a fit of embarrassment and anger, "We're not even married yet, and you're already acting like a princess?"
Li Yutao knew that she couldn't take a joke when it came to this topic, so she smiled and helped her back to her chair, saying in a good-natured tone, "I was wrong, please don't hold it against a scoundrel like me, be careful not to upset the baby."
Xu Tangmian sat down, grumbling, and muttered, "I'm talking to you about serious matters. I have so many things I want to do, but because of this child, even commuting to work is a problem."
Li Yutao also knew that since becoming pregnant, Xu Tangmian had stopped riding her bike to work and had to walk for about ten minutes every day.
Although she was generally considered dedicated to her work, she couldn't guarantee she would be on time every day if faced with Xu Tangmian's situation. Therefore, she pulled up a chair and sat down beside her, trying to comfort her.
“Actually, you’re quite far along in your pregnancy now, so you can totally apply to stay home and recuperate. You’ve already been transferred to a permanent position, so the school will pay you the minimum wage.”
"I can still manage now. We'll talk about that when my belly gets bigger. The children's homework can't be delayed."
"Just do your best," Li Yutao comforted her. "It's good enough that rural children have access to education. Whether they can get into university depends on their talent, not on the teacher's efforts."
Xu Tangmian shook her head, then suddenly thought of something else, "Aren't you going to be transferred to the Education Bureau next year?"
Li Yutao nodded somewhat shyly, "I'll take him back to Beiping to meet my parents during the summer vacation. His uncle and aunt are there too. If my parents think it's okay, then we can take advantage of my promotion next year and have the wedding."
"That's great." Xu Tangmian felt a little envious of her.
Although I'm doing alright now, being pregnant makes me miss home sometimes when I feel unwell.
Li Yutao also grew up in a privileged environment, pampered by her parents and doted on by her older brother, making her practically a Xu Tongtong of the 1980s.
When she was bored at home, Xu Tangmian would think that if she hadn't transmigrated, if she were still Xu Tongtong, she would definitely have been pampered and taken care of by her family when she was pregnant.
The more she thought about it, the more upset she became! Xu Tangmian sighed, thinking that she needed to find something to do so that she wouldn't have time to overthink things.
She raised an eyebrow and extended an invitation to Li Yutao, "Before leaving school, how about doing something big?"
"A big deal?" Li Yutao suddenly realized. "You mean a bachelor/bachelorette party? I heard they're quite popular abroad." She smiled. "You should have given birth by then, right? I'll throw a party, and you absolutely have to come!"
"What party!" Xu Tangmian rolled her eyes. "I mean, the school playground needs renovation. I suggested it to the principal last year, but he said he didn't have the money and rejected it. I almost tripped when I passed by this morning, let alone the kids who are so naughty chasing and playing around every day."
"Are you alright?" Li Yutao was startled and quickly looked Xu Tangmian up and down with a worried look.
After receiving Xu Tangmian's reply that "it's okay," Li Yutao returned to her bewildered state, asking, "But who will pay for it?"
“Yes, money is a problem.” Xu Tangmian looked out the window and sighed. “Chunsheng’s factory just started to make some money, and he took most of it to raise wages and give benefits to the workers; with the rest, he used it to fund the printing of exam papers for our school this semester.”
"Originally, I was thinking of having the factory contribute some funds, and then trying to get the principal to apply for additional funding from higher authorities. But as you know, last year we renovated all the windows in our classrooms, and later we received a reward for winning a singing competition. Now, I'm afraid it won't be approved for special funds."
"Then don't worry about it." Li Yutao didn't seem to care much. "Who would pay for the school's playground to be renovated themselves?"
She looked up and tapped Xu Tangmian's belly, "You two will have a child to raise in the future, so save some money for yourselves."
Xu Tangmian understood this principle, but whether it was because she had spent too much time with Yu Chunsheng or something else, she had become more "meddlesome." Seeing the playground overgrown with thorns and weeds, she was always worried that something might happen to the children.
Ultimately, she knew that Xiao Tao's family had connections, and besides, the printing factory's establishment was indeed due to Xiao Tao's brother's help. If the Li family could give the word, the payment would definitely come through.
But how could she possibly say that?
This was the boldest hint she could think of today, but Li Yutao didn't respond at all, probably because she was afraid of getting into trouble.
Xu Tangmian considered that Li Yutao's brother's visit had not only installed a TV and telephone for her family, but also helped the printing factory secure orders, so it was really inappropriate to trouble them again. Therefore, after her tentative conversation with Li Yutao failed, she didn't consider asking them for favors again.
Fine, let's talk about everything after she gives birth!
Just as Xu Tangmian was about to return to her workstation, Li Yutao suddenly called out to her again. Seeing that no one was around, Li Yutao quietly walked up to her, covered her mouth, and whispered, "Do you know what? I heard from my brother that the printing factory that messed with you guys is filing for bankruptcy."
"Liu Peng?" Xu Tangmian suddenly remembered that person, Zhi Meizi's stepfather.
"Yes. He's still the legal representative. If anything happens after the bankruptcy liquidation, he could go to jail."
"He deserved to go to jail!" Xu Tangmian was still angry when she thought about Zhi's matter. "He was only sentenced to a little over a year. That's too lenient on him!"
Suddenly, as if a thought flashed through her mind, Xu Tangmian abruptly stopped talking and stared intently at something.
Seeing this, Li Yutao didn't dare to disturb her. After a few seconds, she bent over and leaned forward slightly, her voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz: "What... is wrong?"
Xu Tangmian thought of the only person Zhi Meizi turned to when she was isolated and helpless—her teacher who had taught her a few words in the air-raid shelter; she thought of the scene in front of that rusty iron gate, where the two of them tumbled and crawled along the winter village road; she thought of the heavy snow covering the fields when she sent Zhi Meizi onto the train to Beiping.
But winter has only just ended this year. How could Liu Peng possibly have the opportunity to open a factory and go against them?
There was only one possibility, Xu Tangmian suddenly looked up: He was released from prison early!
Xu Tangmian's hands and feet were ice-cold, and she asked tremblingly, "Xiao Tao, is there any possibility that someone like Liu Peng, who is suspected of domestic violence and gambling, will be released from prison early?"
Li Yutao immediately understood what she meant, and frowned, saying uncertainly, "Theoretically... as long as the behavior is good, there is a possibility of a reduced sentence, right?"
Xu Tangmian, however, did not believe that someone like Liu Peng would accept reform so readily.
Although she understood that some people are cowardly outside but fierce to their wives and children at home, let alone prison, even detention center could make them behave. After all, wasn't Liu Peng so scared by Yu Chunsheng that he lost control of his bladder?
But her sixth sense told her that Liu Peng's early release from prison was not simply due to "good behavior in prison".
Liu Peng must have come prepared this time.
If her guess is correct, then was the printing plant's bankruptcy a "last resort" or a clever escape?
If he does fail, what will he do next? Who exactly got him out of prison?
Numerous questions lingered in Xu Tangmian's mind, causing her to feel uneasy.
Now that the hustle and bustle has subsided, only the two of them live in this small courtyard nestled in the fields.
Xu Tangmian clearly expressed her doubts to Yu Chunsheng, after all, they were now a family, he was her husband, and the father of her child.
They are meant to share both wealth and hardship.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
