On the second day, Wang Cheng arrived at the Qin Family Village agricultural shop on time early in the morning. Lin Chuxia did a double-take, almost not recognizing him.
Yesterday, he was a greasy mechanic, but today heās tidied up, even shaved his beard and combed his hair.
Though his skin was rough from being battered by wind and sun, his spirit was clearly different from the day before.
"Brother Wang, you are looking sharp."
Lin Chuxia couldnāt help teasing him.
Wang Cheng chuckled, "Of course, starting a job canāt be the same as setting up a stall on the roadside."
Besides, he was a recruit brought over to the Qin Family Village by Lin Chuxia. Today was his first time meeting the village cadres and the folks of the Qin Family Village, and he certainly didnāt want to let Lin Chuxia down.
Lin Chuxia knew Wang Cheng was reliable. She took him to meet with the village chief and some others in charge of the vegetable greenhouses, including four technicians.
After that, all the people except the technicians held a small meeting, mainly to arrange for future vegetable sales.
Some people at the meeting knew Wang Cheng as the in-charge of the vegetable distribution station and held him in high regard.
With that foundation, the rest of the proceedings became much easier.
At the meeting, Wang Cheng learned about the current vegetable output and sales channels of the Qin Family Village greenhouses. Considering the current situation, he also offered some suggestions of his own.
Lin Chuxia did not intervene in this part. The vegetable greenhouses of the Qin Family Village had to be managed and vitalized by the villagers themselves.
With the finance, technicians, and even the sales handled by Wang Cheng already in place, the path was laid out. The next steps had to be taken by them.
After the meeting, both the villagers of the Qin Family Village and Wang Cheng were full of confidence in the future.
Wang Cheng, suppressing his excitement, said to Lin Chuxia, "I heard from the village chief that a truckload of vegetables is going out this afternoon; Iād like to tag along and check on the situation."
"Brother Wang, feel free to dive in. If thereās any issue, just give me a call. I might have to head back to the city in a couple of days, so Iām counting on you for the vegetable sales of the Qin Family Village."
Wang Cheng didnāt expect Lin Chuxia to leave so soon, trusting him to handle everything?
But then, with a face full of resolve, "Mr. Lin, rest assured, I, Wang Cheng, will put my skills to the test and make sure to sell out all of the Qin Family Villageās vegetables."
He couldnāt let Lin Chuxia think he had misjudged him.
Of course, Lin Chuxia believed in him. She trusted Wang Chengās character and even more in his ability to handle money.
On one hand, there was a vegetable station that might not pay wages, and on the other, there was Qin Family Village with a high salary and commissions. As long as Wang Cheng didnāt want to go back to roadside bicycle repair, he would do his utmost in this activity.
Who would want to repair bicycles in the Northwest wind on the roadside?
"Brother Wang, if you need more staff on your end, just let me know," the staff at the vegetable station were all experienced workers waiting hungrily for a new job.
Wang Cheng smiled knowingly, "Donāt worry, Mr. Lin, Iāll consider this."
After sorting out the matters of the Qin Family Village, Lin Chuxia hurried back to the city without delay.
Just as she arrived at the entrance of the residential compound, she ran into Sister-in-law Fu coming back from buying groceries.
It had been a while since they had seen each other, and Sister-in-law Fu greeted Lin Chuxia with warm enthusiasm, "Lin, youāve finally come back. While you werenāt home these days, I saw Mr. Qin going to the cafeteria every day, standing at the door and gazing out like heās turning into the āWife Waiting Rockā."
Sister-in-law Fu, knowing about Lin Chuxia and Qin Yangās close relationship, was making a joke in jest.
Lin Chuxia smiled and exchanged pleasantries with Sister-in-law Fu, knowing that she had come back especially for Li Weiās sonās one-month celebration. Chuxia continued with a smile, "Li Weiās family has that chubby little boy whoās been well nurtured by his wife. Heās so white and plump, you have no idea how adorable he is. Wait until you see him, youāll definitely want to have a chubby little boy of your own as soon as possible."
Chuxia was somewhat embarrassed by her teasing but replied earnestly, "Hearing Sister-in-law say that, I can hardly wait. Iāll go have a look after lunch."
"Go ahead, I should also get back to making lunch."
Lin Chuxia opened the courtyard gate, and Yuan Bao couldnāt wait any longer, jumping up and down in excitement.
First, Chuxia calmed her old companion, then she went to the kitchen to prepare lunch.
Having just heard from Sister-in-law Fu that Qin Yang had been eating at the cafeteria lately, Chuxia felt genuinely distressed; she knew that Qin Yang didnāt like to eat there.
But that guy could cook himself, yet heād rather eat at the cafeteria than lift a finger.
This time, she had brought back plenty of fresh vegetables from the Qin Family Village greenhouses. Before she returned, Mrs. Qin had Mr. Qin slaughter two old hens for her to take and eat at her leisure. Also, the local pig farm had sent off some fat pigs, and the village chief had given her some ribs and pork.
Chuxia knew that she didnāt lack for food and drink, but it was their way of showing care.
So much so that the trunk of Chuxiaās Jeep was completely filled.
Lin Chuxia placed the pork and ribs into the storage space, stewed one of the old hens, stir-fried two green vegetables, and before the rice was even done, Qin Yang had come home from work.
Hearing the noise behind her, Chuxia spoke with a smile, "I thought youād still be eating at the cafeteria today. I didnāt say I was coming back today. Did you follow the scent home like a dog with a keen nose?"
Qin Yang immediately embraced her from behind, kissing her small face contentedly before smelling the scent on her and replying.
"Even if itās by scent, itās the fragrance of my wife."
Tomorrow was Li Weiās sonās full-month party. His wife and Li Weiās wife got along well, so surely she would come back to attend.
Qin Yang thought it would be either today or tomorrow that his wife would definitely return.
He didnāt expect her to arrive this morning, and contemplating cafeteria food at noon had made him lose his appetite. Missing his wifeās cooking, he decided to head home, only to find the Jeep parked at the front door from afar.
Chuxia turned and kissed him, "Go wash your hands and serve the rice; itās almost ready. I stewed chicken soup to make up for what youāve missed these days. Sister-in-law Fu told me youāve been eating at the cafeteria every day."
"You are not at home, and Iām too lazy to cook," Qin Yang responded frankly.
He wasnāt picky about food; as long as it filled his stomach, it was fine.
It was just the difference between having a wife at home and not. Even with her absent, he missed her terribly.
Lin Chuxia saw right through Qin Yangās thoughts.
When she was home, she never noticed him being too lazy to cook. He often made breakfast, and when she came home late, he would also prepare the meals.
Thinking of this, Chuxia felt even more guilty.
"From now on, Iāll try not to be away from home for so long. I didnāt think this through this time."
"Me too. Even on business trips, I will try to finish the work quickly and come back to be with you."
The couple had a delightful lunch together.
Qin Yangās recent work had been anything but easy, or else he wouldnāt have been able to take a break to go to his old home and pick up Lin Chuxia only once a month.
After a short rest, he went back to work.
Chuxia cleaned the room and took some green vegetables and ribs to Jiang Hongās house.