No one expected the little one to try putting that thing in his mouth. Qi Fang immediately stepped forward.
Yan Xue reacted just as quickly, grabbing her son's tiny hand, but it was almost too late—the object had nearly reached his lips.
The little boy didn't get to taste it, stretching his tongue out in an eager attempt to lick it before Yan Xue swiftly snatched it away with her other hand. "You can't eat this," she chided.
Qi Fang then took it from Yan Xue's grasp, prompting the little one to let out a series of indignant "ah-ah" protests.
His protests were futile. His father was much quicker, already opening a drawer before reconsidering and retrieving a small box from the cabinet.
After placing the object inside and locking it, the man finally turned to his son, leisurely storing the box back in the cabinet.
This only fueled the little boy's protests—more incoherent babbling, accompanied by a generous amount of drool.
"I told you, you can't eat it. Are you really trying to pick a fight with your dad?" Yan Xue wiped his mouth before turning to Qi Fang. "What were you saying earlier?"
Qi Fang leaned against the desk, watching the mother and son. "Secretary Qu mentioned that you should prepare yourself. Some journalists might be coming in a couple of days."
That took Yan Xue by surprise. "Journalists?"
"Yeah," Qi Fang replied. "He arranged for coverage of the first modification training session and wants them to visit the pilot site as well."
"Sounds like Secretary Qu isn’t just good at getting things done," Yan Xue remarked with a chuckle.
People who got things done were usually great at their jobs, but that didn’t always mean they were cut out for leadership. After all, if you didn’t toot your own horn, who would know what you’d accomplished?
Qu Mingli was an interesting case—he got things done and made sure everyone knew it. Even arranging for journalists was part of his strategy. With skills like that, his rise was inevitable.
But since they were on the same side, the better Qu Mingli was at handling people and situations, the better for them. Yan Xue smiled. "I’ll make sure I’m ready then."
Truthfully, there wasn’t much to prepare. The busiest vaccination period at the pilot site had passed, and harvest season hadn’t arrived yet. Everything was already in her head, and she could answer any questions the journalists might throw at her.
Qi Fang gave a quiet "Mm" before glancing at the restless little chubster in her arms and lowering his voice. "Let’s put him to bed early tonight."
The implication was clear, but whether the little chubster would cooperate was another matter entirely.
Sure enough, when bedtime rolled around and the lights were supposed to go out, father and son locked eyes—wide awake, stubbornly refusing to surrender to sleep.
In the end, Yan Xue spent a good while babbling nonsense to him, and Qi Fang even carried him around the main room several times before the little one finally gave his parents some privacy to study the small paper packet’s instructions.
Their research concluded that it was a two-pack, slightly thick to the touch, a bit small in size, and—most notably—reusable.
To ensure thorough and comprehensive research, the dutiful couple tested both items before the man washed them, dusted them with talcum powder, and stored them away.
Since the next day was May Day—a public holiday—Yan Xue could afford to sleep in a little longer.
Worried the little chubster might disturb her rest, Qi Fang took him out early in the morning. By the time they returned, the boy had played so hard that the wolf tooth pendant around his neck had come loose.
Seeing Yan Xue still in bed, he gestured excitedly toward the outside, even tugging at her, as if urging her to join them.
Yan Xue tucked the wolf tooth back into place while Qi Fang busied himself stripping the bedsheets and hanging them out to dry in the courtyard.
The elderly woman next door couldn’t help but comment, "You only get two days off, and you spend them working as soon as you’re back."
Qi Fang shot Yan Xue a glance. "It’s fine. I’m in good shape—I can handle more chores."
Yan Xue found the phrasing oddly familiar—then it hit her. Wasn’t that what Qi Fang had said during his blind date?
Talk about a scholar’s memory—remembering every little thing, whether useful or not.
The elderly woman, unaware of the inside joke, asked Qi Fang, "You’re heading back to town for work tomorrow, right? Will you be pressed for time?"
Qi Fang immediately sensed she had something in mind. "Not at all. Just say the word, Grandma."
"Well, I’ve hatched quite a few chicks this year," she said. "I was hoping you could pass a message to Shan Qiufang—let her know they’re ready to sell."
Last year’s experiment with the incubation room had been a huge success, so the old woman had saved up more eggs this time, hatching several hundred chicks.
There was no way they could raise them all themselves. When Shan Qiufang had visited last year, they’d agreed she’d help sell them, transporting them via the small train.
Qi Fang was aware of the arrangement and didn’t hesitate. "How many do you want to sell in the first batch? I can take them directly to her."
"Would that be too much trouble?" the old woman asked hesitantly.
Qi Fang’s expression was firm. "Not at all. I start work late anyway."
It wasn’t that the repair shop had flexible hours—it was just that everyone knew he had to go home first and would arrive a little later.
Realizing he was the most reliable option, the old woman didn’t argue. She went back to select a batch of chicks for him to take.
The next day, Qi Fang boarded the small train with a large basket of chicks, delivering them straight to Shan Qiufang’s place upon arrival.
Shan Qiufang was surprised. "Weren’t they supposed to come on the train? Why did you bring them yourself?"
"I’m on temporary assignment at the repair shop. It was on the way," Qi Fang replied succinctly.
Shan Qiufang didn’t keep him long. As soon as he left, she hurried to her neighbor’s place. "Didn’t you say you wanted to buy some chicks, sis?"
"Oh? Your relative hatched them already?" The neighbor stepped out, surprised. "They’re so big!"
The basket was filled with fluffy, golden-yellow chicks, chirping and huddling together—all noticeably plump.
Shan Qiufang grinned. "She hatches them in a greenhouse. They’re well-fed, of course they’re big." She added, "So? Want some?"
Most chicks sold in those days were hatched by backyard hens and sold just days after hatching. Seeing so many at once was unusual.
But their size was reassuring—if they were smaller, she might’ve hesitated, worried they wouldn’t survive. At this size, they’d be ready to free-range in half a month.
The neighbor immediately went to fetch money. "Pick me ten, then—four roosters, six hens."
"Coming right up!" Shan Qiufang deftly selected the liveliest ones before moving on to the next house. "Auntie, I’ve got chicks for sale. Interested?"
"Not selling mushrooms this year, but chicks?" The neighbor wiped her hands as she came out, gasping at the sight. "They’re huge!"
Before the day was over, Shan Qiufang returned to the repair shop with an empty basket and handed Qi Fang the earnings. "Here’s the money from the chicks. Check if it’s right."
The old woman had agreed on a price of twenty-eight cents per chick, leaving the final sale price up to Shan Qiufang. Qi Fang barely glanced at the money. "Sold out already?"
"Every last one," Shan Qiufang confirmed. "Auntie raised them well—everyone wanted them. I actually ran out."
She asked, "Can you pass a message back? I’ve got more buyers lined up. Tell her to send another batch."
"Sure." That same day, Qi Fang wrote a letter, tucked the money inside, and sent it back with the basket.
The old woman couldn’t read, but she knew money when she saw it. Unfolding the letter, she smiled—business was good.
Upon hearing Yan Xue's words, the elderly woman, who was told there were more buyers waiting, immediately picked up little Yan Yu and said, "When Great-Grandma earns some money, I'll save it up for your future bride."
Yan Xue couldn't help but laugh. "Grandma, aren't you saving up for Jigang's wedding too?"
"I'll save for both!" The old woman grinned from ear to ear. "Soon, I'll hatch a few hundred more chicks and sell them in town."
Seeing the little one reaching for the money, she quickly pulled it away. "Oh no, you can't eat this. It's dirty."
The next day, the second batch arrived via the small train, and sales remained strong. Meanwhile, at Qi Fang's end, trainees from various town machinery repair factories began arriving for the training session.
Not only did people come from several nearby towns, but representatives from three county-level machinery factories also showed up, including their own county, which had previously sent workers for equipment modifications.
Master Hong was among them. The moment he saw Qi Fang, he asked, "I heard you’ve managed to modify a crane too? How did you do it? Will that be covered in this training?"
His interest was purely in the technical challenge, as cranes weren’t as urgently needed as bulldozers and excavators.
For this first training session, Qi Fang hadn’t planned to teach crane modifications. "No, this time we’re focusing on excavators."
Seeing Master Hong’s visible disappointment, he added, "But I can let you take a look at the modification manual."
That instantly lifted Master Hong’s spirits. "Need any help? I did watch you work on modifications last time, so I know a thing or two."
When the trainees from Liuhu Town arrived, they were stunned to find the county machinery factory’s engineer assisting Qi Fang.
With Master Hong lending credibility, the engineers from the other two county factories didn’t dare underestimate Qi Fang due to his youth, and the training atmosphere remained harmonious.
With such a large group, Qi Fang started by using a blackboard to briefly explain the theory and framework behind the modifications.
His explanations were straightforward, and when he quizzed a few attendees afterward, most could answer correctly—no blank stares in sight.
This was partly because those selected for training were already skilled technicians, but it also reflected Qi Fang’s years of hands-on experience at the grassroots level.
Perhaps when Su Changqing had sent him to Chengshui, it wasn’t just to avoid trouble but also to give him a fresh perspective on machinery and the people who worked with it.
After theory came the crucial practical session. On the day assembly began, Qu Mingli even brought along the town’s forestry bureau leadership.
Since the training was organized by their bureau, it was only proper for them to make an appearance and show their support.
Even Director Liu, usually stern, wore a smile and offered Qi Fang a few words of encouragement.
This was a first for their city—hosted right in Chengshui’s forestry bureau! What an honor.
And with three county machinery factories sending people, when had a town repair shop ever been the one teaching them?
Once Qu Mingli left, Director Liu planned to organize another session, bigger this time, and invite the city newspaper for coverage.
That would be his political achievement. After all, the newspaper wouldn’t bother mentioning that this was the second round or who had led the first.
Just as he was scheming, a guard hurried over to report that a provincial newspaper reporter had arrived to cover the modification training.
Director Liu’s smile froze. He hadn’t expected Qu Mingli to think of this—and to secure a provincial outlet, no less.
Once the article ran, even if he organized another session next year, everyone would know he was just copying someone else’s idea.
The others, after their initial surprise, quickly started rehearsing answers in case the reporter interviewed them, and their gazes toward Qu Mingli shifted once more.
This man really knew how to make waves—and had the connections to back it up. Who’d have thought their tiny town forestry bureau could attract the provincial press?
Yan Xue was also caught off guard by Qu Mingli’s direct move to invite the provincial paper, given that this first training was only city-wide.
But with the reporter here, she handled it smoothly, giving a tour of the log cultivation site and the incubation room while sharing stories about the challenges of growing fungus.
The reporter, a young man in his twenties, had only been assigned this job because no one else wanted to travel so far. Now, overwhelmed by the sheer volume of material, his mind was racing.
But green as he was, his journalistic instincts kicked in. One interview in, and he knew Chengshui Forestry Bureau had real news to offer.
First, the modified bulldozers and excavators—not only was Jiangcheng City short on construction machinery, but the entire province was too.
Then there was the artificial fungus cultivation. Who’d ever heard of growing fungus before? This might be a national first.
Who would’ve thought such a small town could pull off not one but two major breakthroughs?
With the political climate shifting lately, some topics were too sensitive to report on. But stories about improving livelihoods? Always safe.
The reporter scribbled furiously, his pen nearly a blur, and even snapped a few photos of Yan Xue and the pilot site.
On the train back to the provincial capital, he drafted his article nonstop, submitting it to his editor shortly after returning.
Seeing how quickly he’d filed, the editor assumed he’d half-hearted the assignment and skimmed the draft with a frown—only to frown harder.
"What is all this? A modification workshop, fine, but artificially grown fungus? Thousands of pounds a year?"
When he’d sent the kid out, he’d had no clue about this part. Lowering his voice, he said, "This isn’t the Great Leap Forward anymore. No exaggerating yields."
"I’m not exaggerating!" The young reporter didn’t know how to explain—he’d been just as shocked at first.
Words failing him, he pulled out the developed photos. "Here, see for yourself. I took these at their site."
Unsure which shots to use, he’d printed them all.
The editor adjusted his glasses, squinting at the black-and-white images of row upon row of log segments—an impressive sight.
"So this is their cultivated fungus?"
"They drill holes in the logs to plant it." The reporter flipped to another photo. "See? Like this."
The editor peered at the holes, which clearly held something—though not yet fungus—and after a few clarifying questions, learned it was still early in the growth cycle.
"Turning waste into treasure, actively innovating… This aligns perfectly with building socialism more efficiently. Deserves a prominent spot."
The front page was reserved for Party directives and policies, of course. But with two stories here—which to prioritize?
Both featured young pioneers: one contributing to national construction, the other transforming local livelihoods.
The editor waffled, considering whether to consult Chengshui, when the reporter suddenly added, "Oh, right—forgot to mention. Those two? They’re married."
The timing couldn’t have been more perfect. The editor-in-chief glanced at him and ultimately decided to merge the two news pieces into one prominent spread, featuring the revolutionary couple who had progressed together.
When the provincial newspaper was published that week, aside from the front page, the most eye-catching feature was the two photos placed side by side.
The man in the photo was strikingly handsome, standing proudly in front of a hulking steel beast of a machine. The woman was sweetly beautiful, positioned amidst neatly arranged rows of wooden logs.
The content read like a legendary tale. Readers had no idea a tractor could be modified into a bulldozer or excavator, let alone that one could cultivate wood ear mushrooms.
To outsiders, it seemed like fiction, but the people of Chengshui read it over and over with relish.
It was a point of immense pride for Chengshui—such a small place rarely made it into the provincial newspaper, let alone with such a positive story. They couldn’t help but feel a swell of pride.
Shan Qiufang had just finished selling chicks at the market when she ran into a neighbor on her way back. "Isn’t that pretty niece of yours at the Jinchuan Forestry Station?"
"Yeah, why?"
Shan Qiufang thought the neighbor had something to ask, but instead, the woman followed up, "Is her name Yan Xue?"
That caught her off guard. She didn’t recall ever mentioning Yan Xue’s name.
Still, she nodded. "How’d you know?"
"Your niece is in the newspaper!" the neighbor exclaimed. "Right over at the post office—the provincial daily!"
"Really?" Shan Qiufang was stunned. She hurriedly adjusted the basket in her hands and rushed toward the post office.
In those days, newspapers were the primary way ordinary folks learned about the world. While radio broadcasts were faster, not every household had a receiver.
So every organization subscribed to newspapers through the post office, which delivered them to offices and posted an extra copy on public bulletin boards for employees to read.
Every post office also had a bulletin board displaying that day’s newspapers for passersby.
By the time Shan Qiufang arrived, a crowd had already gathered in front of the board. Murmurs floated through the air: "We’ve really made it—Chengshui’s in the provincial paper!"
But the crowd was too thick, and with her basket, she couldn’t squeeze in. She was even pushed to the back by newcomers.
Frustrated, Shan Qiufang changed course and headed to her husband’s workplace, hoping it would be less crowded.
To her surprise, she ran into her husband just as he was leaving. He blinked at her. "I’m about to clock out—what are you doing here?"
"Who said I came for you?" She craned her neck toward the bulletin board. "Have you seen today’s provincial paper? Yan Xue’s in it!"
"Yan Xue’s in the paper?" Clearly, he hadn’t read it yet. Immediately, he turned back.
Here, the crowd was smaller. After waiting a bit, the couple finally got close enough to see—and sure enough, there was Yan Xue, along with her husband, Qi Fang.
"We’ve got to keep this as a memento." Shan Qiufang read the article several times with excitement before digging into her pocket to buy a copy at the post office.
As the organizations mentioned in the paper, the Machinery Repair Factory and Jinchuan Forestry Station ordered extra copies. Secretary Lang even kept one in his office.
Yan Xue hadn’t appeared alone—the Jinchuan Forestry Station was mentioned right alongside her.
For a forestry station to make it into the provincial paper was rare—some might never see it happen in their lifetime. This was a first even within the city.
Worried some workers’ families might not be literate enough to read the good news, Secretary Lang had the station’s announcer broadcast the article multiple times.
Soon, the entire station knew Technician Yan and Master Qi Fang had made the provincial paper—and the whole province now knew just how impressive they were.
One day after school, Yan Jigang secretly came back to tell Yan Xue that some of his classmates had written essays about aspiring to be technicians like her—or even like Master Qi.
Of course, while Jinchuan Forestry Station had access to the paper, so did other stations—though not everyone was thrilled about it.
Qin Ling, for one, turned ashen when she saw it. Later, while feeding the pigs, she slammed the wooden bucket against the trough so hard some feed spilled out.
A nearby worker frowned. "Do you even know how to work? Corn husks are still food!"
Another sneered, "Well, she’s not like us, is she? She used to be a full-time worker—never had to do this kind of labor."
Qin Ling had indeed been a full-time worker, measuring logs for the logging team. She’d started early and was lucky enough to join during the station’s last hiring wave.
Though the job was easy, the pay was low, and she had to stand in freezing wind and snow all winter. That’s why she’d maneuvered her way into the mushroom cultivation team.
Who could’ve guessed that because of Yan Xue, she’d lose her stable job and end up as a temp in the agricultural team—feeding pigs?
Secretary Zhao and that useless Niu Laiwan he’d sent were no better. They’d done nothing, then pinned everything on her when things went wrong, acting like they’d had no part in it.
And the people at the station were all fools, blaming them for the losses and gossiping nonstop…
Fuming, Qin Ling lay awake at night, stewing in anger. Finally, she sneaked out.
The next morning, Secretary Zhao’s wife opened her door—only to recoil in disgust. "Which bastard dumped manure water at my doorstep?!"
Even after the newspaper buzz died down, the stench lingered outside Secretary Zhao’s house. The family scrubbed it repeatedly, but the foul smell refused to fade.
Meanwhile, Qu Mingli received several calls from other cities inquiring about tractor modifications. By early June, he’d organized a second training session.
Beyond training requests, someone even asked the repair factory to modify a crane, offering to pay for the service.
The project seemed urgent, so once the training ended, Qi Fang only spent half a month at home before heading back to town for work.
By the time he wrapped up, their chubby little one could sit up on his own, and Yan Xue’s wood ear mushrooms had entered harvest season.
Last year’s yield had clearly increased, and with this year’s new batch, Yan Xue had to hire extra hands. Still, she had to wake up early every morning to oversee the harvest.
But she made time for a trip to the county commerce bureau to set prices. The moment she walked in, someone recognized her. "Aren’t you the one from the newspaper?"
It hadn’t been long, and Yan Xue’s striking looks made her hard to forget—especially since she was the first to ever approach the bureau about wood ear mushroom pricing.
Recognition aside, this year’s prices weren’t as high as before—supply had surged.
The bureau lowered retail prices by ten cents to ¥3.40 per pound and wholesale prices by nine cents to ¥3.18, though they acknowledged the quality was excellent.
Yan Xue had expected this. Even if other stations hadn’t started growing them, last year’s high sales would’ve driven prices down anyway.
To her slight surprise, when Liu Weiguo took this year's new price quotes to negotiate with the supply and marketing cooperative and the grocery store, the staff at the grocery store looked at him in astonishment and asked, "Haven't the orders already been placed? Why are you here again?"
Qi Fang: This editor knows what's up—now the whole province knows Yan Xue is my wife~
