Time Travel: Volume 1! Starting from a Small Mountain Village

"What"

Listening to the young girl's words, Qiu Yuansheng wondered if he had misheard. Their machinery factory, with over a hundred employees, had tried everything to turn things around.

He thought Long Zhiqing was just bragging.

If it were really that easy to solve, why would these officials be working themselves to the bone?

"Comrade Long, you saved my daughter, so I shouldn't doubt you. But I have to say, things aren't as simple as you think." After all, he was the benefactor who saved his daughter, so Qiu Yuansheng couldn't be too direct and spoke tactfully.

“Uncle Qiu, I’m not joking.” Long Lifan said seriously, “My father was a cadre at the Shanghai Machinery Factory. I’ve heard him tell me about the machinery factory since I was a child, so I know quite a bit about it.”

“However, I need to communicate with the factory director in person about this matter.” Long Lifan was afraid that Qiu Yuansheng wouldn’t believe her, so she brought up her father’s identity.

"What?! Long Zhiqing, your father works at the Shanghai Machinery Factory!"

Qiu Yuansheng was shocked when he heard the news. Shanghai was a big city; anyone who could get into the Shanghai Machinery Factory must be someone of considerable status.

Moreover, Long Zhiqing also mentioned that his father was a cadre. Could it be that Long Zhiqing wanted to use his father's connections to help their machinery factory secure orders?

Thinking about it carefully, it really is possible, after all, Shanghai is a big city. The thought made Qiu Yuansheng a little excited.

“Okay, I can introduce you, Long Zhiqing.” He figured that for the sake of the order, the factory manager might not only be willing to meet him, but might even give him a warm welcome.

This was a matter of life and death for their machinery factory.

"How long do you have time, Long Zhiqing?" Qiu Yuansheng was already getting impatient.

"The day after tomorrow!" Long Lifan thought for a moment. The brigade leader and the others had gone to deliver the grain today and wouldn't be back for a while.

If she wanted to go to the county town, she first needed to get a letter of introduction from the brigade leader.

“Okay, this is my home address. You can go to my house first when you come to the county town!” He said, taking out a pen and paper from his shirt pocket and writing down a place name.

"Then we'll take our leave now, Dongdong, see you later!" Qiu Yuansheng said goodbye to Long Lifan in high spirits. He couldn't wait to go back and tell the factory director the good news.

"Comrade Long, I'll head back now!"

Long Lifan saw them to the door and watched them leave. Then, when she returned to the house and saw the items on the table, especially the piece of cured meat, she couldn't help but swallow hard.

Because of the rush to harvest, they hadn't been to the commune, and she hadn't eaten meat for quite some time.

"I'll wipe you out today!" Long Lifan picked up the cured meat, which had been smoked to a red and yellow color, examined it, and said viciously.

When she returned to the mountain, Hu Lili spotted her immediately. She rushed over and asked curiously, "Who was looking for you?"

"Qiu Dongdong"

Long Lifan remembered that Hu Lili didn't seem to know the name Qiu Dongdong, so she continued, "Do you remember the girl I rescued last time I went to the commune?"

"Today her father brought her here specifically to thank me, and he also gave me a lot of things."

"Oh, right, there's also a piece of cured meat. Do you want to eat it together?"

"Yes, yes, yes!" Hu Lili nodded her head like a chick pecking at rice when she heard that there was meat.

She is no longer the spoiled young lady who would look down on fatty meat on the train.

"Alright, I'll take it to your place tonight and make it there. I'll also invite the Yang sisters." Long Lifan thought for a moment and realized that if she took it to Hu Lili's place, it would be like having five people.

Since that's the case, let's invite the Yang sisters as well. They cooked for them for free for a few days, so this is a way of thanking them.

"Sister Fan, you're so kind!" Hu Lili hugged her warmly, then said with some regret, "If you were a man, Sister Fan, I would definitely marry you!"

“If I were a man, I wouldn’t date someone like you either,” Long Lifan said after thinking for a moment. “I would date someone smart and capable.”

"I'm not smart enough to do this job!" Hu Lili pouted, saying indignantly.

"Okay, okay, I misspoke. You're smart and capable, alright?" Long Lifan looked at Hu Lili, who was staring at her with wide eyes, her clear eyes revealing a simple-minded look. Long Lifan decided not to tease her any further.

After finishing work in the afternoon, Hu Lili watched Lin Yue and the others busy cooking. Remembering what Sister Fan had said that morning, she didn't rest and went out to collect firewood.

Rather than steaming buns, she was determined to prove to Sister Fan how smart and capable she was.

She frantically rummaged around on the mountain, and surprisingly, she managed to collect quite a bit in no time. But it seemed a bit heavy, and she couldn't lift it after several attempts.

“Hu Zhiqing, let me help you.”

Just as she was pondering how to move the firewood back, a male voice rang out, followed by a man walking over.

"Thank you, but no need!" Hu Lili turned around and saw that the person who came was Chen Wei from the educated youth settlement. She quickly refused in a cold voice.

"It's alright, we're all educated youth, we should help each other." Chen Wei smiled and didn't seem to mind Hu Lili's attitude towards her.

He had been in the countryside for over two years, and by all accounts, he should have adapted to rural life long ago. Life at the educated youth settlement was tough, but because Chen Hongjie was his cousin, he often slacked off and relied on his cousin's support to get by. Even when he did go to work, he was lazy and unproductive.

As soon as this group of educated youth arrived in the countryside, he set his sights on Hu Lili and a few others.

Seeing the others living in new houses and eating fine food, he thought that if he were to date one of them, his good days would begin. He figured that if he just made a good impression on them, things would fall into place naturally.

However, the three were inseparable, making it difficult for him to carry out his plan. After a long period of observation, he discovered that Long, the educated youth, was too clever, and Jiang, the educated youth, was too aloof. So he set his sights on Hu Lili.

"How can a woman like you carry so much firewood? Let me help you!" He had a knowing smile on his face as he spoke, and without waiting for Hu Lili's refusal, he snatched the firewood from her hands.

"lay down!"

Hu Lili had heard the Yang sisters talk about Chen Wei and knew his character. She recalled how he would open his mouth to reveal a mouthful of yellow teeth, accompanied by that self-righteous smile.

Hu Lili felt nauseous, and even the hairs on her back stood on end. Especially since Chen Wei pretended not to understand her, it inexplicably angered her, and her tone changed from indifference to rage.

"This..." Chen Wei felt a little embarrassed when he saw Hu Lili's tone change. "I just wanted to help!"

I'll say it again, it's not necessary!

"Alright!" Chen Wei quickly said, afraid that if he continued to pester Hu Lili, she would become even more annoyed with him. He had no choice but to put down the firewood in his hand and turn to leave.

"Hmph!" Hu Lili snorted coldly. She could easily see what Chen Wei was up to.

Fan Jie even said she wasn't smart, but she's super smart, okay?

When she couldn't move it anymore, she simply dragged the firewood home.

It seems I'm not only smart but also capable. Sister Fan won't talk about me like that anymore, right?

Unbeknownst to her, Xiang Fang, a member of the educated youth community, had witnessed the entire scene. Looking at Hu Lili carrying the firewood, she seemed lost in thought.

As she passed by the new house built by Hu Lili and her friends, the aroma of meat wafting from inside made her Adam's apple bob and her mouth water.

Listening to the laughter of the female educated youth coming from inside, and recalling my own days at the educated youth settlement, it was a world of difference.

After staying in the same spot for an unknown period of time, Xiang Fang dejectedly moved towards the direction of the educated youth settlement.