NOVEL NEXT Chapter 216: Ancestral Secret Recipe
By the time Ye Hua finished his phone call and returned to the educated youth dormitory, he sensed something was off.
His son sat alone in the yard, eyes red, looking as if he'd been bullied.
After a careful inquiry, he learned what had happened: although Li Dahu recorded a minor infraction for Fang Peizhong regarding the incident.
No major infraction though.
After all, there wasn't enough evidence to prove who was responsible; everyone was only suspicious.
But everyone's suspicion primarily pointed to Fang Peizhong, even Li Dahu now believes Fang Peizhong was feigning innocence while being the guilty party.
Although the matter ended unresolved, its conclusion might not be so pleasant.
Ye Hua could only comfort his son for a long time.
He awaited tomorrow to visit his father's comrades in the county, hoping to find a way to get Fang Peizhong transferred back.
Jiang Xiaoxiao stayed another day at her elder sister's yard, planning to return to the forestry tomorrow, as there were still many matters requiring her attention there.
Her visit this time was primarily because Mr. Wang needed her assistance.
The foreign expert had left, but issues with the machinery and equipment kept arising, some baffling enough that engineers and technicians couldn't decipher the instruction manuals, which seemed like cryptic texts full of pure English letters that nobody could recognize.
The translators could only translate the basic stuff, but the technical terms were beyond them, leaving them puzzled.
With no other choice, Mr. Wang had to summon Jiang Xiaoxiao again, with hopes that she'd be somewhat more competent than these people. Indeed, Jiang Xiaoxiao was slightly more adept.
Mainly because she had previously helped translate such manuals, so she understood some similar terms. Without her knowledge, these materials would have been wasted on her.
She had already received a telegram from Jia Shu, who would arrive by train tomorrow. Jiang Xiaoxiao planned to return to the farm with Jia Shu once Jia Shu arrived, having already assisted engineers and technicians with quite a few county matters, the rest being their own issues. As for the machinery, she was of no further help.
Mr. Wang genuinely admired Jiang Xiaoxiao, repeatedly persuading her to stay in the county.
With her level of English, even taking a teaching position or working in the foreign trade office in the county would be better than being on the farm, but Jiang Xiaoxiao was stubborn in her refusal.
Having no alternatives, Mr. Wang had to offer Jiang Xiaoxiao a heap of gifts along with a 500-yuan red envelope.
The 500 yuan was equivalent to two years' wages for a worker, a token of appreciation of course.
Her contributions were far greater than those of the workers. Without showing any gratitude, would Jiang Xiaoxiao continue assisting them?
Mr. Wang himself would feel ashamed.
It's unreasonable to make someone work for free without giving them anything.
Since she was unwilling to work in the county, she at least had to take something back.
Jiang Xiaoxiao didn't refuse, after all, one deserves more for working more; receiving compensation was fair. This way, Mr. Wang wouldn't feel uneasy either.
Thus, early in the morning, after ensuring the final tasks at the power plant were done smoothly with Mr. Wang.
Mr. Wang specifically brought her back to his office at the county committee compound, where the gifts had been left, all above-board.
The higher-ups also stated that talents like these should be won over with utmost effort.
She was deemed even more valuable than an expert.
As their vehicle passed by the military district compound ahead, Jiang Xiaoxiao saw Ye Hua greeting the doorman, who then led him inside, through the car window.
She was intrigued, Ye Hua should have been at the farm checking on Fang Peizhong, so why was he here?
And this looked like the military district compound.
Perhaps Ye Hua was up to some mischief again.
Mr. Wang glanced over, "Hey, who's visiting our elderly now? Looks like someone from the city, quite unfamiliar to me."
Jiang Xiaoxiao chuckled, residing inside was Mr. Wang's elderly man.
"Mr. Wang, is this your father or grandfather inside? Seems like a high-ranking officer in the military district."
"That's my old man, haven't you noticed? I'm in my thirties now, lived my life through countless battles for liberation. At this age, riddled with ailments, staying home for recuperation.
The old man's leg pain has been severe lately, the rheumatism acting up particularly fierce, affecting his mood severely."
Mentioning his elderly father made Mr. Wang feel humbled.
Jiang Xiaoxiao's eyes brightened! Rheumatism?!
That's not her gloating.
The Jiang family peaches supposedly cure all ailments.
She even soaked the peaches in liquor, peach liquor!
Unique to the Jiang family.
"Mr. Wang, I have an old remedy, might alleviate your father's rheumatism, would you like to try it?"
She was curious about Ye Hua's intent.
Relentlessly targeting the infamous mother was her ultimate mission.
Perhaps in the past life, she's still held grudges, couldn't let go in this life! Regardless, she found Ye Hua unpleasant.
Initially thought this life without returning would mean no interactions.
The Fang and Jiang families could have stayed out of each other's way.
Yet Ye Hua insisted on causing trouble.
That's why she didn't hesitate to stir things up.
Let's see if Ye Hua can withstand her troubles.
It's a game of tactics between us.
Mr. Wang was a bit surprised at these words.
Jiang Xiaoxiao wasn't one for flattering or currying favor; knowing each other for a while, Mr. Wang understood Jiang Xiaoxiao quite well.
This was her first initiative in being cordial with him.
Until now, he hadn't quite figured out Jiang Xiaoxiao's thought process entirely.
In any case, the olive branch he offered had never been accepted by her.
Unexpectedly, today she showed compassion towards their elderly, which was truly great news.
"Really? Jiang Xiaoxiao, you have such ancestral secret remedies! We've got to try it, you Jiang educated youth surely have quite a few treasures. Let's not miss this opportunity now that we happen to pass by our elderly's home.
Come in for a bit, let our elderly have a taste of your peach wine's effect. Never heard of peaches being used for wine! Sounds like a fruit wine, must be sweet in taste."
Mr. Wang was tempted; even though it might sound less potent than grain alcohol, the name suggests a mild aftereffect.
Especially since his mother strictly monitored his father's alcohol intake, any sip required approval from higher authorities.
Otherwise, Mr. Wang's mother had her ways of dealing with his father.
If this alcohol could indeed be presented, their elderly would surely be pleased.
No matter how low the alcohol content, it was still alcohol; tasted sweet, but still alcohol.
Even a mosquito, however small, contains meat.
Perhaps his mother might even feel assured, moreover, knowing the wine benefits their elderly's rheumatism, might allow his mother to grant his father some reprieve.