Jiang Cheng furrowed his brows.

"Face, ruined?"

Grandma Shen nodded, with a slightly troubled expression, "Living alone, no family of her own, no in-laws, and somehow there’s this rumor that the Yang family left Lin Jiaojiao a lot of money before going in."

As Jiang Cheng listened, he suddenly recalled himself having just left the Lin family.

"So, someone..."

"A forty-something old bachelor sneaked in at night to steal, with intentions to do something bad."

"He thought if it worked, he could threaten Lin Jiaojiao to marry him."

Grandma Shen’s expression was clear to Jiang Cheng.

"But Lin Jiaojiao escaped?"

Jiang Cheng asked, and Grandma Shen nodded.

"Lin Jiaojiao really surprised me this time, she stabbed the man with scissors, and during the fight, the scissors jabbed her face."

"Later, neighbors heard the noise and called the police, the old beast was taken away, probably just a scoundrel."

After Lin Jiaojiao got hurt, she packed up and went back to the Lin family.

Listening to this, Jiang Cheng began to admire Lin Jiaojiao a bit more over this incident.

But only for this incident.

"Will the troublesome Lin family be willing to let Lin Jiaojiao come back?"

Grandma Shen’s mouth almost curved two miles away, full of disdain, "With Lin family’s wicked nature, they’d never willingly agree to anything!"

"But this time Lin Jiaojiao risked her life to make a fuss, the Lin family had no choice, and now the Lin family is in chaos daily."

Jiang Cheng nodded in understanding.

Grandma Shen continued making cotton trousers, her mouth never stopping as she shared the courtyard gossip with Jiang Cheng.

"The opportunistic family next door got a good thrashing from Li Chunxiang’s mom a few days ago."

Jiang Cheng instantly became interested, leaned closer, raising an eyebrow.

"Tell me!"

"Ge Dahua’s son stole from the Li family and was caught by Li Chunxiang’s mother!"

"Aunt Li called a bunch of men from her family to give Ge Dahua’s husband a beating!"

"That wasn’t the end, Aunt Li also gathered a bunch of boys about the same age to consistently block Ge Dahua’s chubby son, beating the little fatty to tears."

Jiang Cheng listened with a chuckle, feeling a sense of delight, giving Aunt Li a thumbs up!

Grandma Shen and Jiang Cheng continued chatting, hands never idle while making cotton trousers.

The kettle on the stove started whistling, Jiang Cheng got up and poured the boiling water into the thermos.

Then, thinking the stove was idle anyway, he sliced some potatoes to roast on it.

The day lazily slipped by half like this.

Grandma Shen, quick with her hands and feet, after nearly finishing up, took it to the Sun family to borrow a sewing machine and hemmed the edges.

And thus, a pair of old-fashioned small floral cotton trousers with double straps and front buttons was completed.

"Quickly, try it on!"

Grandma Shen urged, and Jiang Cheng changed into the cotton trousers.

Soft and warm, those were its advantages.

The downside was walking made her appear more rounded, and squatting caused some discomfort.

Grandma Shen examined Jiang Cheng, nodding.

"Not bad, not bad! This young lady looks even prettier!"

Jiang Cheng struck a pose cooperatively, "Indeed!"

After admiring herself, Jiang Cheng took off the cotton trousers, switching back to her wool pants, feeling lighter.

Grandma Shen checked the time; it was already noon.

She turned to Jiang Cheng and asked, "Are you still eating for lunch?"

Jiang Cheng glanced at two apple cores, three orange peels, and a single potato slice remaining.

"No, I’m going to check on Shen Que and will eat dinner at his place before coming back."

Grandma Shen smiled, "That’s great, I wasn’t really keen on cooking anyway."

Jiang Cheng: "..."

*

After chatting with Grandma Shen, Jiang Cheng dressed in a military coat, hat, neck warmer, and gloves, and pushed her bicycle out.

Heading out with the wind against her, Jiang Cheng exhaled white steam from her head.

From a distance, many people were like her.

If one could ignore the coat edges caught in the wheels, it might actually be fun.

Cycling in winter compared to summer is truly exhausting, not just a little bit.

Upon reaching the mechanical factory residential compound, Jiang Cheng felt like collapsing.

She parked the bicycle in front of Shen Que’s small courtyard and took out the key.

This key Shen Que had slipped to her the night before.

Jiang Cheng unlocked the door, pushed the bike inside, and heard the sound of a door opening next door.

The neighbor peeked out.

"Oh, Mr. Jiang, I wondered who it was; no one usually comes to the factory director’s house at this time."

The neighboring household belonged to the master technician from the mechanical factory.

"Aunt Zhu."

"Oh... there’s definitely no fire in there now, let me fetch you a briquette, it’ll catch fire quickly!"

Jiang Cheng thought to decline, but Aunt Zhu turned and went inside.

Less than two minutes later, Aunt Zhu returned with a glowing briquette and helped Jiang Cheng light the stove.

"Thank you, Aunt Zhu."

"No need to thank, we’re neighbors."

Aunt Zhu didn’t linger, Jiang Cheng saw her out.

Back inside, Jiang Cheng gazed at the clean surroundings, feeling unsure of where to sit.

Because it was so clean.

Was this what military-style cleanliness is?

With nothing much else to do, Jiang Cheng simply grabbed a book to read.

A little after one in the afternoon, the door suddenly moved.

Jiang Cheng got up to open it, just in time to see Shen Que wheeling himself in.

Several lunch boxes were resting on Shen Que’s legs.

Jiang Cheng trotted over, picked up the lunch boxes.

"Don’t crush your legs."

"I won’t, I’m avoiding them."

Jiang Cheng first placed the lunch boxes inside, then came out to push Shen Que.

As for the front door... let it remain open.

To prevent any unpleasant gossip.

Inside, Jiang Cheng set the table while Shen Que went to wash his hands.

"Why are you eating so late?"

Shen Que came back after washing his hands, "I was a bit busy in the morning and not too hungry."

Besides, he guessed and hoped that Jiang Cheng would come looking for him.

"Oh—I thought you were waiting to have lunch with me."

"That’s exactly what I intended, I was just being subtle earlier, I’ll be more direct next time!"

Shen Que quickly explained, Jiang Cheng chuckled, "Alright then!"

The two started eating, sharing the events during their time apart.

Jiang Cheng’s vivid storytelling made everything seem so real.

Whereas Shen Que said with brevity, "The factory is operating normally, the initial design for small-scale machinery is completed."

That’s it.

Like a work report.

"The initial design for small-scale machinery is completed? What type?"

Jiang Cheng seized on the key point, asking, "Is there a chance to participate in this year’s Yangcheng Trade Fair?"

Shen Que shook his head.

"Trade fair slots are limited, usually only large provincial factories get one."

"Also, it’s just an initial design, not yet trial-produced, can’t present it for now."

Jiang Cheng felt a bit disappointed and asked further questions.

She learned that the neighbor, Master Zhu, was indeed the designer for small-scale machinery.

Seeing Jiang Cheng’s expression, Shen Que knew what she intended to do.

"In that cabinet, there are some pastries, Taotou, and sunflower seeds, you can grab some if you’re visiting next door."

"Master Zhu is off today."

Jiang Cheng looked over where Shen Que pointed, curiously asking, "Why did you stock up on these snacks?"

"I bought them yesterday, thinking of you."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Cheng smiled brightly.

"Nice, worthy of praise!"

Feeling praised, Shen Que ate quite a bit more.

After lunch, Shen Que went back to work, and Jiang Cheng took the items next door.