Chapter 376: Scheming for Benefit

"Director Kang is an honest man, so it’s normal for him not to come."

Director Kang was a soldier in his youth and has been on the battlefield, his nature is that of a great warrior.

The two of them chatted while drinking tea, with most of the conversation being led by Qiao Lan, Lin Chuxia chiming in and occasionally expressing her own views.

Inadvertently, more than an hour had passed.

Lin Chuxia figured it was about time for the cotton mill to finish work and stood up to take her leave.

"With good tea, time flies. I should head back now, I’ll visit you again for tea next time."

Qiao Lan of course welcomed this and reluctantly escorted her out, only turning back after watching her walk away. As she turned around, she saw her husband returning from work.

"You’re quite punctual getting off work today."

Qiao Lan took his briefcase from his hands, and they walked home together.

Kang Yong glanced at her, puzzled, "Why are you out in such cold weather? You’re not here to welcome me off work, are you?"

Qiao Lan hated the cold and would hole up at home at the slightest drop of temperature.

"Not really," Qiao Lan smiled wryly, "Lin just came over, and we spent quite a while drinking tea together, she just left. That girl Lin is really talented, even her knowledge on tea is profound."

"It’s rare for you to find someone you can talk to," Kang Yong replied with a smile, then suddenly, his smile froze, "Why did she come? It wasn’t to fish for information about the factory, was it?"

"What are you talking about?" Qiao Lan glared at him disapprovingly, "Don’t think so poorly of people. Lin didn’t even bring up anything about your factory. These days, she’s living in the city, and just recently when the department store got imported cosmetics, she thought of me."

Seeing the gift box of cosmetics on the table, Kang Yong snorted coldly: "If it didn’t benefit her, why would Lin Chuxia give you, Qiao Lan, cosmetics for no reason?"

"Alright, alright, you make sense."

Qiao Lan couldn’t win against him, and she knew Lin Chuxia kept in touch with her for the sake of her husband.

"But on another note, if the assets of the cotton mill need to be dealt with, isn’t the storefront in the night market also going to be sold? I think Lin plans to buy that set of storefronts, it’s not a big deal, just sell it to her."

Whoever it’s sold to doesn’t matter since the cotton mill can’t be saved anyway.

Kang Yong unbuttoned his coat, his tone indifferent, "You don’t need to worry about this. Since she didn’t mention it to you, just act unaware. Besides, even if you knew, what could you do? Your husband isn’t the factory manager, and can’t make decisions on his behalf."

Qiao Lan sensed the hidden meaning in his words and looked at him, "What do you mean? Are you planning to sell that storefront to someone else?"

"It’s the factory manager’s brother-in-law who likes that storefront, thinking of buying it and opening a Bun Shop for a small business."

Hearing this, Qiao Lan scornfully curled her lips, "Is he really trying to run a small business? He’s merely eyeing Qin’s Buns Shop because it’s doing well, wanting to pick up an easy success. I remember there was a contract before, and you mentioned Lin is shrewd; it’s already clearly written in the contract that if the property is sold, they have the first right to buy."

Back then, Kang Yong didn’t take this suggestion seriously, thinking it impossible to sell state property.

Unexpectedly, it didn’t even take two years to reach this point.

It seems that woman had a clearer vision than him.

"The factory manager is aware of this and is planning to compensate her with some money."

What was the penalty mentioned in the contract again? Kang Yong couldn’t quite recall.

But Qiao Lan didn’t take it lightly, "You better advise the factory manager, don’t forget what happened to the Old Food Factory. I don’t think Lin is someone who would suffer a loss. Liu Guoyi not only lost his position but is still held up in that mess."

Kang Yong looked at her and suddenly smiled, "Look, you said Lin didn’t come for the property matter, and here you are speaking up for her. It seems Comrade Qiao Lan’s resolve isn’t strong enough—a coffee pot, a set of cosmetics, and you’re already corrupted."

"I’m just speaking to the facts here."

Seeing Kang Yong’s skeptical look, Qiao Lan decisively gave up any pretense.

"Fine, just pretend it’s for the coffee pot and cosmetics. Lin knows exactly what to send that strikes a chord, so you have to help say a word for me."

"Alright, I know, madam."

Kang Yong sat in the chair, drinking directly from the teapot mouth to mouth, his eyes catching sight of the letter beside him, covered in English letters.

"Did you get another letter from there?"

In the past, when communications were cut off, there were no letters exchanged, but these two years, it’s become more frequent.

"Yes, my cousin hasn’t been well recently, which makes her miss home even more. She’s thinking about coming back for a visit if there’s a chance. Now that the situation is better, it would be good for her to come and look around."

Kang Yong nodded, "I heard that it takes over ten hours for a flight from her place to return home, including layovers. Can her health handle all that travel?"

"I worry about that too and have been advising her. I’m just afraid she’s thinking of returning to her roots."

.........

Lin Chuxia planned to visit the Bun Shop and also talk about the house with Qin Han, spotting a familiar figure from a distance.

Her lips curved into a smile instantly, "How come you’re back too?"

Seeing his wife, Qin Yang couldn’t help but smile too, "I have the weekend off tomorrow, just came to see my parents."

Lin Chuxia looked at him, clearly not believing.

Caught under her gaze, Qin Yang felt embarrassed and gently turned her head in another direction with his hand.

Of course, seeing his parents was one of the reasons for coming back, but primarily, it was to see his wife.

Back in the Northwest, when they lived apart, he got used to the solitude.

Even when Lin Chuxia occasionally visited him in the Northwest, and they lived together for a couple of days, it never felt quite like this.

The first night after his wife left, he felt the entire home was cold and lifeless, even Yuan Bao looked listless.

The next day, missing his wife intensely, he couldn’t even enjoy the food in the cafeteria.

Finally, the weekend came, and he left work early to ride his motorcycle back.

He didn’t see his wife at home, knowing she’d either be at the factory or the Bun Shop, he sat with his parents for a while, then left again.

But it seemed a bit shameful to admit all these, better not to let his wife know.

Even without Qin Yang’s words, Lin Chuxia guessed it, her smile never fading, feeling a sweetness in her heart.

Being constantly on someone’s mind, whom you like, is such a blissful thing.

"Let’s not go to the Bun Shop, let’s go to the grocery store and buy some meat, I’ll cook braised pork for you at home."

The matter at the Bun Shop can wait till Qin Han gets back.

"Okay," as long as he was with his wife, anywhere would do.

The couple walked to the grocery store, not riding bikes; besides meat, they also bought canned goods and luncheon meat.

At this time in winter, vegetables were sparse; mostly cabbages, potatoes, and radishes for sale. Seeing that the grocery store had celery and garlic shoots, rare fresh vegetables these days, Lin Chuxia also bought some.