"Ha ha ha, I actually have a favor to ask of you. That child Jiabao gained quite a bit of weight last year, thanks to your good care. But after some time away at school, she's slimmed down again. She says she wants to come stay at the orchard again this year."
Boss Qian spoke while the people and vehicles he'd brought along all started helping with the work.
"Grandma Yang, I've missed you so much!"
Jiabao jumped down from the vehicle, having grown a little taller but noticeably thinner.
Qingqing followed along. Jiabao, not wanting to be lectured by her father, pulled Qingqing into the back vehicle. The driver—no, wait, Jiabao's third cousin—drove extra carefully, afraid that going too fast might make Jiabao uncomfortable. The slow and steady pace meant the two girls arrived a bit later than the others.
"Why haven't you been eating properly? Qingqing, you've grown so much taller!"
Yang Yufen observed Qingqing, who now stood noticeably taller than Jiabao.
"Grandpa Zhou's cooking is the best! We only have a month left before summer break, Grandma Yang. Can Qingqing and I come stay at the orchard again?"
"Of course you're welcome, my dears. But Li Wen and Li Wu probably won’t be able to come this year. Yaoyao and Miaomiao, though, should be able to make it."
"Yaoyao and Miaomiao are fine too."
Jiabao felt a tiny pang of disappointment, but even with fewer playmates around, they could still have fun. She was really getting tired of her cousins' overprotectiveness.
Qingqing had started to understand Jiabao’s reluctance to play with her cousins.
"Grandma Yang, my grandma asked me to tell you—someone has taken a liking to my dad."
Qingqing wasn’t just here to keep Jiabao company; she had a mission.
"Qingqing, would you like a new mom?"
Yang Yufen studied the girl carefully, worried she might not take the news well.
"I don’t know. But Auntie Liu is really nice. She was helping out at the noodle shop, and Dad seems to like her a lot. Grandma wanted me to ask when you’d have time to come back and meet her."
"Alright, alright. You two go ahead to the orchard and find Grandpa Zhou. He’s making ice pops—go take a look."
Yang Yufen nodded. Her old friend must be uncertain and wanted her opinion. This was indeed an important matter. She’d make time to visit later tonight—once the roadwork started, she wouldn’t be able to ride her tricycle for a while and would have to walk.
"Wow, Grandpa Zhou, this freezer is huge!"
Jiabao was astonished at the sight of the massive freezer. Her family was well-off and had a refrigerator, but she’d never seen a freezer this big before.
"We could make so many ice pops with this!"
Qingqing curiously placed her hand on the freezer. The outside didn’t feel cold, but when opened, a wave of chilly air rushed out.
The double-door freezer had one side stocked with frozen meats, while the other side—originally the same—had been cleared out after recent meals. Now it was being used to store ice blocks and other frozen treats.
"I made mung bean paste, but freezing it in bowls takes up too much space. We’ll need molds for proper ice pops."
Chef Zhou had already tested the method and found it impractical.
Jiabao nodded, circling the freezer several times as a new summer money-making plan formed in her mind—something fun and exciting. She’d rope Yaoyao into it too; her little cousin seemed to enjoy business ventures.
Jiabao and Qingqing ran around the orchard until dinnertime, when they learned that Grandpa Yang had been hospitalized.
"Cousin, take me to the hospital to see Grandpa Yang."
Jiabao made the demand as if it were the most natural thing.
"You’ll need to bring fruit and gifts for the patient. Do you know which hospital he’s at?"
"Of course I do."
"Alright, then I’ll take you shopping first, then to the hospital."
Jiabao’s third cousin didn’t refuse at all, smoothly arranging everything.
"Grandpa Yang, we’re here to see you!"
Jiabao and Qingqing walked into the hospital room, followed by the third cousin carrying their gifts.
"Grandpa Yang, are you feeling better? Oh, this is my third cousin. When summer break starts, we’ll stay at the orchard again. I still want to hear your stories!"
Jiabao spoke in a sweet, coaxing tone.
"Good, good. I’ll keep telling you stories then. Just seeing you is enough—why bring gifts? You’ve gotten so thin! Take these back and eat them. Don’t be afraid of gaining weight, child. You’re already plenty pretty."
Grandpa Yang smiled warmly. Though he’d lost an eye, the girls had long grown used to it and only saw kindness in his face.
Little Zhang tried to return the gifts, but Jiabao’s cousin insisted, shoving them back before speeding off in the car, leaving no chance to refuse.
"You really adore children, don’t you? Their visit made you eat so much more."
"Seeing their youthful energy makes everything feel brighter."
Shen Xianjun’s transfer request was approved, reassigning him to the mechanical repair team. He threw himself into intensive study, inspecting and even assembling fighter jets daily.
The first time he handled a welding torch, the arc flash burned his eyes, leaving him in pain all night. Yet the next day, he returned without hesitation.
Days were spent working, nights studying. The higher-ups granted him and his wife, Qin Nian, a shared dormitory. Whenever she wasn’t busy, she tutored him.
Learning was tough, but once he adapted, Shen Xianjun no longer found it unbearable.
The busyness helped him forget the agony of being grounded. The deeper he delved into aircraft mechanics, the more he realized how much he still had to learn. At just over thirty, this was the time to push himself.
Liao Yuanjie felt sorry for Shen Xianjun—during training, he’d been the best among them. No one had expected things to turn out this way.
At first, Liao Yuanjie struggled to find the right words whenever they met. But gradually, he noticed Shen Xianjun’s growing passion for aircraft repair, and it seemed… he was doing alright.
Fan Juan arrived at the airfield just as Boss Huo stepped out.
"Long time no see, Ms. Fan."
Calling her "factory director" no longer fit—her enterprise had expanded beyond appliances into multiple new electronics lines.
"Long time no see, Boss Huo. Congratulations on your company’s successful IPO. Welcome to the bidding conference—I hope you enjoy the visit."
Boss Huo’s company had gone public in April. Now, he was here for a land development bid, marking his ambitious expansion beyond Guangdong into the capital.
Of course, his firm wasn’t the only out-of-town contender. Each company had its own liaison.
"You’re as well-informed as ever, Ms. Fan. Thank you for the congratulations. Let’s hope I leave with good news."
Boss Huo smiled.
This bidding conference was open to international players too, meaning not just domestic enterprises but foreign competitors eager to carve out their share.
