Chapter 20 (Three-in-One) If yesterday Wan Zhenzhen was brimming with smug satisfaction, practically itching to see Qian Qing lose her composure in front of her, today she carried herself like someone already certain of victory. Those who knew better understood she was merely selling popsicles; those who didn't might have mistaken her for a general fresh from triumph. Wan Zhenzhen had purchased ten crates of popsicles, benefiting from bulk wholesale pricing on lower-grade stock. Now, armed with a tricycle, she stood nearly on equal footing with Qian Qing. The only differences were that Qian Qing operated from a fixed storefront, while Wan Zhenzhen undercut her prices. Wan Zhenzhen felt utterly delighted. If Old Lady Wang refused to give her money, wasn't Wang Hua still an option? Last night, she had deliberately waited for Wang Hua to return from work just to engage him in conversation.

"Help me out, Wang Hua. This business is practically money falling into our laps. Our mother doesn't understand these things, but you surely do, right? Even Qian Qing, just a woman, dared to order over a thousand units, and Zhou Hao isn't even home. How are we any worse than her? Besides, selling popsicles is purely seasonal; we'd only be doing this for ten days or so. In those ten days, we could earn over a thousand yuan! Truly, I saw it clearly today: just in one afternoon, she filled an entire drawer with small bills, no less than a hundred yuan. Look, she even called her mother to help. Does that look like a money-losing venture?"

Wang Hua was provoked by her words, "Even Qian Qing, just a woman, dared to order over a thousand units."

Indeed. With Zhou Hao away, she had the courage to expand her operation so boldly without anyone to consult. Could he, a grown man, possibly fear competing with her? Moreover, lately the factory had frequently organized study sessions. Since the Reform and Opening-Up, quite a few people had actually "plunged into the sea"

(started private businesses). It was simply that here, in the oilfield, where both work and life were stable, fewer individuals had become self-employed. Previously, the factory had maintained a slightly disapproving stance toward those very few workers who had gone into business, but recently this attitude seemed to be shifting. Especially yesterday, the maintenance team leader held a meeting, stating it was a task assigned by higher leadership: everyone in the oilfield should seriously study a particular newspaper article titled "How to Distinguish Between Glorious and Inglorious – New Times Require New Thinking."

In August this year, an Advanced Commendation Conference for Urban Youth Employment was held at a government guesthouse in Beijing. Over two hundred representatives, all self-employed individuals from various trades, attended. Among them were even candy figurine makers, bicycle repairmen, and vegetable vendors. National leaders received these self-employed entrepreneurs at Huaide Hall and highly praised their endeavors. When one snack vendor mentioned feeling his profession wasn't particularly glorious, a leader firmly interrupted him and delivered a speech on "How to Distinguish Between Glorious and Inglorious."

By month's end, related reports circulated, requiring Northern Oilfield to commence similar studies. Many people detected within these study sessions faint whispers signaling impending changes in the times. Coupled with recent rumors spreading through the residential compound about plans to establish morning and night markets along the riverbank outside the Second Factory, although still unconfirmed, these whispers indicated to some extent that the factory's prevailing winds had indeed shifted. Leaders had moved from initial mild disapproval to now actively encouraging such developments.

"Then let's buy one. I'll check the repair shop shortly to see if there's one ready."

Wan Zhenzhen no longer had any chance of securing a job position. Since she was becoming self-employed, she couldn't afford to hesitate over this or that. According to the factory's new direction, once the morning and night markets opened soon, self-employed vendors would naturally multiply. Better to seize the initiative early. Wang Hua accompanied Wan Zhenzhen to the repair shop to purchase a tricycle. The old master craftsman had sold the first one to Qian Qing; the second was not yet fully assembled. However, Wan Zhenzhen couldn't wait a moment longer. She urged the old master to work overtime and assemble one immediately for her, even if it meant accepting a slightly used vehicle. Ultimately, she spent 140 yuan on a semi-new, semi-old tricycle assembled from secondhand parts.Wan Zhenzhen pedaled her tricycle with a smug grin, while Wang Hua trailed far behind. Though he had anticipated changes, he still felt utterly embarrassed.

No one knew how Wang Hua had managed to persuade his mother, but he not only secured two hundred yuan from the old woman but also granted Wan Zhenzhen permission to return home late each day. If she made it back in time to cook, fine; if not, she could eat at the canteen. Wang Hua's reaction surprised Wan Zhenzhen so much that it even stirred within her a faint sensation akin to "sweetness."

So what if Zhou Hao was handsome? With heaven high and the emperor far away, wasn't it still Qian Qing, a lone woman, who had to scramble morning and night? Speaking of which, Wan Zhenzhen realized another issue: she needed to find herself a helper, just like Qian Qing. Working alone was exhausting, and since most of her customers were children, a single lapse in attention could allow them to slip something past her. This was a small-scale business; if people stole even one or two popsicles at a time, those losses would add up, and she'd never make any profit. Wan Zhenzhen rose early and sought out Song Xiaohong, who lived in the same building. She remembered this woman clearly. In her previous life, they had often chatted together. Song Xiaohong had always disliked Qian Qing, claiming she wasn't a decent person and loved gossiping about everyone from east to west.

Truly, she was a friend tailor-made for Wan Zhenzhen. Initially, Song Xiaohong seemed somewhat reluctant, but upon hearing Wan Zhenzhen generously offer thirty yuan per month, she immediately began nodding vigorously.

"Deal! Don't worry! Isn't it just helping you sell popsicles every day? Piece of cake! I've got something to handle this morning, though. Can I join you this afternoon instead?"

Wan Zhenzhen certainly wasn't pleased, but apart from Song Xiaohong, she had no one else to turn to. Qian Qing had enlisted her own mother's help; who could Wan Zhenzhen ask? Her biological mother spent all day revolving around her younger brother; even if invited, she probably wouldn't last half a day. As for her mother-in-law, forget it. Although Wang Hua had given permission for her to do business, Old Lady Wang's face had never looked less approving. Wan Zhenzhen added a few parting instructions: "Remember to come this afternoon. You'll pedal the tricycle then. Don't worry; whether or not you work the full month, I'll pay you as if you did."

Song Xiaohong saw Wan Zhenzhen off as though bidding farewell to the God of Wealth. The moment she stepped back inside, her mother-in-law asked, "It seems Wan Zhenzhen is really making quite a bit of money if she can offer you thirty yuan a month."

Song Xiaohong spat on the ground.

"Do you think she's being so kind out of goodness? She's offering me thirty yuan a month because she expects to earn even more. Did you see how fully loaded Qian Qing's tricycle was? She probably makes several dozen yuan in a single day. Offering me thirty yuan and expecting me to pedal a tricycle? Does she really think money grows on trees?"

Her mother-in-law, slightly intimidated, whispered, "Even pedaling a tricycle, thirty yuan a month is still quite a lot!"

Song Xiaohong rolled her eyes.

"There's just no talking to you. Seeing how happy she is tells you popsicles sell well. Besides, it doesn't require much physical effort and saves trouble. So why can she do it and we can't?"

Her mother-in-law's voice dropped even lower: "So does that mean…?"

"I'll help her out for a couple of days first. If she succeeds, what exactly makes me inferior to her?"

"But… wouldn't that be improper?"

Song Xiaohong shrugged indifferently.

"What's improper about it? She learned how to stock popsicles on a tricycle from Qian Qing, didn't she? She copied Qian Qing's method to steal her business. If I copy her method to steal her business, then no one can blame anyone."

"Enough. I know what I'm doing. Hurry up and prepare my meal."

Unaware of Song Xiaohong's scheme, Wan Zhenzhen proceeded directly to purchase her morning stock and headed to Zidi Primary School Number One. Seeing Wan Zhenzhen's tricycle fully loaded with goods, Qian Qing had already anticipated this. That morning, she had stocked only half her usual amount, intending to gauge the extent of Wan Zhenzhen's business before deciding her next move. Even without Zidi Primary School's orders, she still had the office building accounts. Recently, orders from the office buildings had increased significantly, thanks largely to Chen Xinran; many people now knew about her popsicle stall. Furthermore, with her mother watching the stall, by mid-morning she could hop on her bicycle and begin deliveries.Besides the office building, she sometimes made a detour to the single workers' dormitory. Several positions at the oilfield operated on three rotating shifts, so even during the day, people were present in the dorms. She planned to follow the same approach as with the office building and post a few advertisements near the dormitory as well.

Alternatively, she could strike a deal directly with the security guard stationed on the first floor. Although selling individually to children was quite profitable, wholesale wasn't a bad option either. In her mind, she would place two boxes in the guardhouse beneath the dormitory building; she would deliver popsicles there twice daily, morning and afternoon, selling them to the guard at a slightly increased wholesale price. The guard could then add a small markup and sell them to residents inside. Everyone would profit—why not do it? The only problem was lacking someone to facilitate the connection; for now, bringing up the matter wasn't feasible. There were many possible approaches. Unless absolutely necessary, Qian Qing didn't want to engage in any price wars with Wan Zhenzhen. If you lower your price by one cent, I'll lower mine by one cent too; eventually, nobody makes any profit. Then why would other vendors bother traveling all the way to the popsicle factory to restock?

They could simply come to the two of us instead, saving themselves effort. Ultimately, she wouldn't earn anything and would even lose money on labor costs. That said, by noon that day, Qian Qing's stall was practically deserted. Wan Zhenzhen shouted tirelessly without pause, her voice ringing out loudly. Upon hearing her prices, children flocked toward her. Except for a very few who still came to Qian Qing, nearly everyone was drawn away by Wan Zhenzhen. Mother Qian's face turned pale; she glanced painfully at her daughter, feeling nothing but intense annoyance toward Wan Zhenzhen. Truly, she had been blind before, mistakenly thinking Wan Zhenzhen was decent. Now, Wan Zhenzhen copied everything Qian Qing did step by step, seemingly determined to shut down Qian Qing's business entirely. Just as Mother Qian was about to say something, Qian Qing already frowned. Normally, after school, numerous children gathered at the school gate.

The No. 1 Staff and Workers' Primary School had several thousand students, both older and younger. If no one lingered, they could all disperse quickly. However, Wan Zhenzhen had set up her popsicle stall right beside one side of the school entrance, instantly blocking the pathway. On the other side stood a high wall, leaving only the narrow space where Wan Zhenzhen stood passable. Moreover, because her prices were so cheap, many children who originally hadn't intended to buy now felt tempted, drawing even larger crowds. Those wanting to buy mixed with those who didn't, creating a pushing, shoving mass of half-grown children that was genuinely frightening.

"Which bastard stepped on my shoe?"

"Ouch, ouch! Let me through, please!"

"Any mung bean ones left? Any mung bean ones?"

"My schoolbag!"

… The security guard was panicking. Alone with just two eyes, he could barely keep track of everything.

Suddenly, a sharp scream pierced the air.

"Help! Someone's been pushed down!"

"Waaah… Mommy, I want my mom!"

"Don't step on me, don't step on me…"

… Chaos erupted immediately. Those at the front rushed to buy popsicles, while those behind pushed desperately but couldn't move forward. Several children cried out loudly in distress. The guard immediately charged forward, trying to tear through the outer ring of students to reach the center. But with so many children's voices overlapping, cries seemed to come from everywhere, making it impossible to locate anyone specifically. Wan Zhenzhen remained buried in the very center of the crowd, her eyelids twitching violently. It was as though she heard something, yet heard nothing clearly. Mother Qian was terrified too, clutching her daughter's hand, trembling with retrospective fear. This situation couldn't continue. Glancing briefly at her long table, Qian Qing instantly made her decision.

"Mom, help me take down the popsicle box. Let's carry the table over there."

The guard couldn't find the fallen child because some students in the crowd were exceptionally tall; taller kids mixed with shorter ones completely obscured visibility. Following her daughter's instructions, Mother Qian lowered the popsicle box. Together, they hurriedly carried the table to the outer edge of the congested crowd. Qian Qing took a deep breath and approached several students who appeared to be in higher grades.

"Come on, give big sister a hand. You few climb up there and shout loudly, telling everyone to stop moving immediately."

"Children have strong voices, and since Qian Qing asked them for help, although they were afraid, they all agreed. Several of them stood on the table and shouted loudly, 'Don't move—stay where you are—if you keep moving, you'll step on someone!' Qian Qing instructed her mother, 'I'll go in to pull people out; you stay here and direct the students on the outer edge to move toward the courtyard wall. Once the crowd stops moving, tell these children to keep their eyes wide open. As soon as they spot someone falling, they should point to that spot and call me so I can go directly there to find the person.' As soon as everyone started moving, within less than a minute the situation eased considerably. Qian Qing pulled those on the periphery one by one, directing them toward the table, while her mother guided the arriving students toward the courtyard wall. The crowd quickly dispersed. The students standing on the high table, with their sharp eyes, called out to Qian Qing, 'Sister—on your left!' Qian Qing scanned the ground and soon found her: a little girl, about half an adult's height, lying on the ground with her eyes tightly shut, her face pale and ashen, cold sweat streaming down.

On her small, fair hand, someone had apparently stepped, leaving a dark shoe print. Her school uniform trousers were also smeared with dirt. Fortunately, since they were only children, no one had stepped very hard. Qian Qing shouted to those around, 'Everyone scatter! Move toward the courtyard wall! Don't all crowd into this single path!' It was clearly heatstroke; too many people were packed together, and the children trapped in the middle couldn't get out even though they wanted to. The immediate priority was to clear the surrounding area and then move the girl to a shady spot to rest. Given her young age, she would likely need to be taken to the factory clinic for examination to rule out any hidden injuries. Meanwhile, the gatekeeper, having struggled with great difficulty through the crowd to reach Wan Zhenzhen's tricycle cart at the very center, was furious. He nearly wanted to flip over Wan Zhenzhen's stall. 'Stop selling! Didn't you hear outside that a child has fallen?' Wan Zhenzhen flinched in fright, but once she steadied herself, she retorted stubbornly, 'So what if someone fell? So what? I didn't push her! Besides, if she fell, she can just stand up again herself. Why should I stop selling?' The gatekeeper pointed at her, almost bursting with anger.

Suddenly, he heard someone from outside shout, 'We've rescued the person!' Hurriedly pushing aside the children around him, he then pointed to those still closest inside and said, 'Quickly disperse! Missing one or two popsicles isn't a big deal, but don't cause trouble that will worry your families.' Wan Zhenzhen's heart also began to tremble. Could she really be this unlucky? She was only selling popsicles—could this possibly turn into a manslaughter case? Was she about to get implicated? The children buying popsicles nearby also grew frightened and began leaving one after another. Seeing that the person had been brought out, the children by the courtyard wall also moved along both sides of the path, afraid of being crushed. Once the pathway was cleared, people began flowing freely again. Qian Qing called out to students wearing armbands, asking them to stand by the roadside to help disperse the crowd and to summon her if anything else happened. She then carried the little girl into her small room, asked her mother to bring two boxes of popsicles and place them at a moderate distance from the girl to provide some cooling air, unbuttoned the child's school uniform, and applied essential balm to both sides of the girl's forehead, gently massaging it.

Several older boys nearby helped carry the table back and remained watching without leaving. Qian Qing asked her mother to give each of them one of the most expensive ice cream bars. 'Sister thanks you; you were all wonderful and helped save this little sister.' The boys became shy, pushing the ice cream away, hesitant to accept. 'Take them; sister still needs to ask more favors from you.' Immediately, the children patted their chests and said, 'Just tell us, sister! What do you need us to do?' Seeing that the little girl's complexion had gradually improved slightly but still showed no signs of waking, Qian Qing grew somewhat anxious. 'Go fetch the gatekeeper and the auntie selling popsicles. Then go into the Second Factory residential compound and ask whose family this little sister belongs to, and tell her parents to meet her at the clinic.' Qian Qing opened the little girl's schoolbag, noted down her name, and said, 'The little sister's name is Fang Rourou. Did you remember?' The boys nodded vigorously. 'We remembered!'Qian's mother, getting on in years, was delighted by their sturdy, lively appearance. She pressed the ice pops into their hands and told them to go fetch someone. Before long, the gatekeeper rushed in, sweating profusely. A slightly shy little boy whispered, "

That auntie who sells ice pops is gone…

" Qian Qing was utterly exasperated! Could Wan Zhenzhen possibly be any more outrageous? Knowing something had happened, she still ran off? Did she think she could escape like a monk fleeing his temple while the temple itself remained? Everyone lived in the same compound; how could anyone fail to track her down? With no other choice, Qian Qing had to step in herself. "

She hasn't woken up. Let's take her to the clinic. Mom, please take the quilt off the tricycle and put a stool on top. Oh, and untie the umbrella for me.

" Fortunately, she still had her tricycle, which would get them there faster. The gatekeeper knew this was no time for polite thanks and shot Qian Qing a grateful look. "

I'll pedal; you sit at the back, hold the umbrella, and cradle her.

" Qian Qing reassured her mother, "

Mom, don't worry. I'll take her over. Stack the ice pops inside the house and cover them directly with the quilt. I'll deal with them when I return. For now, go home and eat.

" Today's batch of ice pops was likely ruined. Qian Qing felt somewhat speechless. Could this be counted as another scheme by Wan Zhenzhen against her? Yet, truly, it wasn't that she wanted to help Wan Zhenzhen; rather, if anything serious happened, outsiders would only say, "

An incident occurred involving the ice pop vendor at the entrance of No. 1 Primary School for Children of Staff.

" Who would care which specific stall it was? Besides, with such a small child involved, could she really stand by and watch her being trampled underfoot inside? Although Qian's mother lamented the loss of the ice pops, she cared even more about the little girl. "

Alright, go ahead. Don't worry about me. I'll go find your compound's Women's Director shortly; she should know which family this child belongs to.

" Qian Qing nodded. This little girl was in first grade, and the gatekeeper had no impression of her either, so seeking out the Women's Director made sense. She gathered the little girl into her arms, held the umbrella overhead, and tucked two or three ice pops into her thermos flask. Whenever her hands felt too warm, she'd briefly press them against the flask before gently touching the child's cheek; she feared overly cold ice pops might shock the girl further. The little girl was plump, with fair, tender skin. Her hair was tied into two small braids, adorned with a tiny butterfly clip whose wings trembled slightly. Clearly, she was a precious treasure, doted upon endlessly by her family. How heartbroken her parents must be upon seeing this! Qian Qing couldn't help but imagine herself in their place; if this were her own daughter, she felt even wielding a knife against Wan Zhenzhen wouldn't suffice to quell her rage. Then again, in her dreams, she had never seen herself pregnant or giving birth. Suddenly, a shadow seemed to envelop Qian Qing's heart. Could it be that in this lifetime… The gatekeeper pedaled swiftly, and they soon arrived at the clinic. Qian Qing pushed aside those troubling thoughts and carried the child inside.

The attending doctor, seeing it was a child, hurried forward immediately. After a brief examination, he administered two doses of medicine. Only then did he remove his mask and say, "

Nothing serious. Just heatstroke. However, children's fevers are hard to bring down, so I gave some traditional Chinese patent medicine. Once she wakes up, feed her lightly salted water immediately. No cold drinks for now. Take it easy over the next few days; avoid greasy food.

" The gatekeeper instantly breathed a sigh of relief. He bore undeniable responsibility today, but thankfully, the child hadn't suffered any real harm. Qian Qing also felt reassured and was about to tell the gatekeeper she would head back, when suddenly the clinic door was shoved open with a loud "

crash.

" A tall man rushed in, nearly frantic with anxiety. "

Where's my daughter? Where's my daughter? The one just brought in!

" Li Hongmei followed close behind, panting heavily, "

Engineer Fang, please, don't be so anxious! She'll definitely be alright!

" The doctor pointed toward the examination room, "

She's in there. Nothing serious—just heatstroke, plus some minor scrapes on her hands. Her teacher is inside with her.

" Qian Qing looked young and had been bustling about attentively. Seeing the girl's father finally arrive, the doctor naturally assumed that Qian Qing, who was inside accompanying the child, was her teacher.Fang Gong rushed in and threw himself beside the hospital bed. The little girl, startled a moment earlier by the sharp click at the doorway, had just woken up. Seeing her father, she reached out pitifully: "

Daddy—boo-hoo, my hand hurts…

" Fang Gong held his daughter's hand, his heart aching so much he was close to tears. "

Let Daddy blow on it; it won't hurt anymore, my good baby. In a little while, Daddy will take you to eat something delicious and buy you whatever you want.

" After comforting his daughter for a while, Fang Gong finally noticed Qian Qing standing nearby. He immediately stood up and bowed deeply. "

Thank you, Teacher. It was hard work bringing my daughter here.

" He had just gotten off work and hadn't even reached his home when he heard several children asking everywhere whose child Fang Rourou was; the shock nearly did him in. Qian Qing couldn't help but laugh and cry: "

I'm not a teacher.

" Beside them, Li Hongmei's eyes lit up: "

Qian Qing, what are you doing here?

" Then, with some surprise: "

Didn't you set up a stall at the school gate?

" She was selling popsicles; everyone in the entire compound knew about it. Qian Qing felt somewhat embarrassed. First, boasting about her own deeds always felt awkward; second, since she too was a popsicle vendor, she wondered if the little girl's father might "

hate the house and blame the tiles, " thinking she shared some responsibility. At this critical moment, the gatekeeper stepped forward and recounted the whole incident from beginning to end: "

We really must thank Qian Qing. If she hadn't rescued the child and lent us her tricycle, we couldn't have gotten her to the clinic in time.

" Hearing that the popsicle cart responsible for his daughter's heatstroke and trampling had simply fled, Fang Gong's expression grew increasingly grim. Yet upon learning that Qian Qing had abandoned several boxes of popsicles to bring his daughter here, he felt deeply grateful. "

Thank you. Rest assured, I will cover all your losses today. We cannot let you save someone and still lose money.

" Li Hongmei, standing nearby, was also delighted. Qian Qing's actions proved she had judged her correctly; even as an individual business operator, Qian Qing was a good comrade who helped others! "

Don't worry, Comrade Fang. The factory will issue a commendation for Comrade Qian. As for the person who fled with the popsicle cart, I will definitely track them down and give you a proper explanation.

" Having been like a wallflower for quite some time, Qian Qing finally found a chance to speak: "

There's no need to compensate for the losses; I can continue selling this afternoon. And there's no need for any commendation either; it wasn't anything major. However, the few little boys who helped me today were excellent; I hope the school will commend them.

" Li Hongmei replied without hesitation: "

That's for sure! We'll announce their praise over the factory's loudspeaker!

" Qian Qing thought for a moment, then decided she might as well say it: "

About that popsicle cart…

" Li Hongmei's eyes brightened: "

You know who it belongs to?

" Qian Qing felt somewhat helpless. Strictly speaking, it did indeed relate to her somewhat. Wan Zhenzhen had insisted on challenging her, which was why she came to sell popsicles right outside the No. 1 Staff Primary School. "

It belongs to Wan Zhenzhen.

" Li Hongmei's face instantly darkened. How could this person keep causing trouble nonstop? Last time, she spread rumors the day after getting married; now, just over a week later, she was stirring up trouble again! Fang Gong's expression also turned unpleasant: "

I've just arrived at the oilfield and don't know much about local matters. I hope Director Li will look into this thoroughly for me. As an ordinary parent, I cannot accept such behavior. Accidents happen, but abandoning someone and running away—wasn't she afraid something might happen to my daughter?

" Li Hongmei quickly reassured him: "

Absolutely. Such irresponsible behavior cannot be tolerated in our factory either. I'll go to Wan Zhenzhen's home right away and make sure you receive a proper explanation.

" By now, the little girl had calmed down. Looking around nervously, she tugged her father's hand and whispered, "

Daddy, let's go back. It smells terrible here; let's go home.

" Fang Gong lifted her off the bed, pointed to Qian Qing, and said, "

Be a good girl, baby. Go thank this big sister; she's the one who saved you today.

" Fang Rourou twisted the hem of her dress, her big eyes dark and shining. Obediently and sweetly, she bowed to Qian Qing: "

Thank you, big sister.

"Qian Qing's heart trembled at the girl's cuteness; she resisted the urge to reach out and ruffle her hair. "

No need to thank me.

" Engineer Fang carried his daughter off to get medicine, pausing at the door to express his gratitude repeatedly. "

Once Rourou feels better and my wife returns, I'll invite you over for a simple meal. Please do honor us with your presence.

" Seeing his earnest expression, Qian Qing realized that unless she accepted his thanks in concrete terms, he wouldn't be at ease, so she readily agreed. "

All right. My husband is also away on a business trip. Once he's back, we can all meet up then.

" After seeing Engineer Fang off, the gatekeeper waved goodbye and headed back. With such a major incident occurring at noon, the school principal still knew nothing about it. He needed to report to the principal, though perhaps it would be best not to mention anything about setting up stalls at the school gate—not after today's events. Only Qian Qing and Li Hongmei remained. Li Hongmei, never one for excessive formality, said to Qian Qing, "

Let's go together. I still need to head to Wan Zhenzhen's place.

" Qian Qing, equally straightforward with someone who didn't put on airs, replied, "

Then why don't you sit in the back? Anyway, I'll have to pedal the tricycle back.

" Li Hongmei glanced at their combined weight and waved her hand. "

Forget it. I'll take you; you sit in the back.

" Qian Qing tried pushing back a couple of times but failed, so she reluctantly climbed onto the rear seat, clutching her small floral umbrella. One umbrella couldn't cover both of them, so they simply went without. Along the way, Li Hongmei chattered endlessly. After listening for a while, Qian Qing finally understood. Apparently, this Engineer Fang was quite an important figure. His surname was Fang, his given name Jianye, and he was an engineer specially recruited by the factory. Hence, everyone called him "

Engineer Fang.

" The factory valued him highly; he was reportedly researching natural gas and received a salary comparable to that of the factory director. "

He studied abroad. When he came to our Northern Oilfield, several factory directors fought fiercely to recruit him, and ultimately he ended up at our Second Factory. Yet within just a few days, his daughter got injured. Her mother has gone back to her natal home; if she returns and sees this, she'll be heartbroken…

" Qian Qing rarely responded, mainly because whenever Wan Zhenzhen was involved, she truly didn't know what to say. Upon arriving at the tube-style apartment building, Qian Qing moved the tricycle into the bike shed while Director Li quickly broke into a light jog. "

I'll head up first.

" Qian Qing smiled faintly. Director Li was indeed rough yet thoughtful; knowing there was tension between the two women, she deliberately avoided any direct encounter, fearing Wan Zhenzhen's convoluted mind might somehow blame Qian Qing again. By the time Qian Qing entered her own apartment upstairs, her mother had already prepared dinner: a bowl of noodles topped with stir-fried vegetarian minced toppings, along with mung bean soup simmering on the stove. As Qian Qing ate, she kept one ear tuned to noises from next door. "

What? Wan Zhenzhen still hasn't returned?

" "

She came back briefly earlier, then said she hadn't sold all her popsicles and went out again to sell more.

" "

…She still has the mind to sell popsicles!

" "

Director Li, what happened to her this time?

" "

When she returns, let her explain it to you herself!

" … Holding her bowl, Qian Qing's mother also felt utterly speechless. To think someone could still go out selling popsicles at a time like this—was she incredibly carefree or simply heartless? She whispered to Qian Qing, "

How is that little girl?

" Qian Qing lowered her voice as well. "

Nothing serious. Just heatstroke and some minor scrapes from being stepped on.

" Her mother still couldn't fully relax. "

With Wan Zhenzhen causing this trouble… how are you going to sell your popsicles?

" Qian Qing shook her head. "

I don't know. We'll sell them however we can. It depends on what the school decides.

" Engineer Fang certainly wouldn't pursue the matter, but the school's stance was uncertain; they might simply ban everything outright. They would just have to take it step by step. However, something Director Li had mentioned casually while they were on the tricycle seemed like inside information. "

Mom, our factory is about to build a morning and night market street by the riverside.

" Her mother looked somewhat blank. "

What does that have to do with us?

" Qian Qing replied, "

If I could secure one or two stalls when the time comes, that would be great.

" The oilfield's market remained largely undeveloped, yet demand here was far from small. If she could sell over a thousand popsicles in a single day, imagine how much she could earn from other necessities like clothing, food, housing, and transportation.Now that the factory has received this news, it clearly indicates the factory's support, and sooner or later, the mindset of the oilfield community will change. Relying solely on selling popsicles can only sustain them for at most a year and three months; Qian Qing wants to engage in business she excels at. "

Once this period of selling popsicles passes, I plan to take my older sister to the provincial capital to explore opportunities.

" Mother Qian knew her younger daughter shared her own concerns about her elder daughter's situation, and she was deeply moved: "

That's fine. Your sister is currently growing vegetables with her husband, earning barely enough each month. She's also overworked at her in-laws' home. It would be good for you to take her out and show her more. You're quicker-witted than your sister; helping her along would certainly benefit her.

" Qian Qing nodded. Her sister was a strong and resilient woman, yet in her previous life, she had wasted away in the countryside, depriving even her niece of a childhood with proper education. Naturally, Qian Qing wanted to bring her sister to the city so they could live well together. While mother and daughter whispered quietly, next door, Wan Zhenzhen had rushed out of the oilfield, sold off all her popsicles at the entrance of the state-run restaurant, and returned home feeling extremely uneasy. As soon as she entered, she saw Li Hongmei sitting in the main room of their house, her face grim. Wan Zhenzhen's heart skipped a beat; forcing a smile, she approached: "

Director Li, what brings you here? Have you eaten? Would you like to stay for a simple meal?

" The old Mrs. Wang nearly poked her cane into Wan Zhenzhen's face: "

Speak! What have you done again!

" Just yesterday, half the family's money had been spent buying a tricycle, and today another incident occurred. Could it be that this daughter-in-law truly carried some curse? Why had trouble never ceased since she entered their home? Wan Zhenzhen protested her innocence, claiming she knew nothing. Li Hongmei sneered: "

You claim to know nothing? You ran off so quickly, how could you possibly know anything? Comrade Wan, no one prohibited you from setting up a popsicle stall near the school gate, but you caused a blockage of students at the school entrance and even stepped on a student suffering from heatstroke. Then you turned around and fled? Weren't you worried that children, unaware of their own strength, might cause serious injury by trampling?

" Wan Zhenzhen was terrified: "

S-something happened? I didn't know, I truly didn't know!

" " The gatekeeper stated clearly that he approached you to inform you a child had fallen.

You replied that since you hadn't pushed the child, they could simply stand up themselves. When he further explained the child had fainted due to heatstroke, you immediately pushed your tricycle and ran away. Isn't that correct?!

" Wan Zhenzhen spoke incoherently: "

Th-that's not my… my fault. Why couldn't I… Leader, it truly isn't my fault. I'm just a popsicle seller; how could I possibly make them block the entrance?

" "

Others sell popsicles for ten fen, while you sell yours for eight fen. Because yours are cheaper, naturally a crowd gathered. With only one side of the school gate accessible for passage, such a blockage meant even those wishing to leave couldn't. How can you claim this matter has nothing whatsoever to do with you?

" Wan Zhenzhen dared not speak further; although she felt this way internally, she wouldn't dare say it aloud. Old Mrs. Wang glared at her: No wonder! Others charged ten fen while she charged only eight fen; no wonder she brought back ten yuan yesterday. She genuinely wished she could split open Wan Zhenzhen's skull to see whether cotton wool had been stuffed inside! How could someone be so stupid! Director Li became even more stern: "

Regarding today's incident, I will coordinate with the victim's family and the principal of Zidi No. 1 Primary School. Tomorrow morning, you must come to my office and sincerely apologize to the parents. We will then discuss disciplinary measures concerning your actions. Oh, and by the way, the child's medical expenses are currently recorded under the clinic's account; you must personally settle this bill. That is the bare minimum.

" Upon mentioning money, Old Mrs. Wang immediately felt uneasy: "

Why must we pay compensation? It was merely heatstroke, not caused by us. The child's constitution was simply weak! Tomorrow, sending her to kowtow and apologize to the parents would suffice; why must we also cover medical expenses?

" Director Li wouldn't even glance at her: "

Just like last time, Wan Zhenzhen continued making endless excuses, but Li Hongmei, unwilling to waste further breath on her, had already resolved internally to teach her a lesson.The factory was supposed to encourage individual vendors in line with directives, but individuals like this, who only stir up trouble, were better left alone. Her mind was twisted beyond measure; instead of thinking about how to earn money herself, she only plotted how to harm others. Why did Wan Zhenzhen go to sell popsicles at the No. 1 Primary School for staff children? Considering the rumors she spread recently to swindle Qian Qing out of money, it was clear her heart had long been crooked, obsessed solely with challenging Qian Qing. Li Hongmei didn't stay long; behind her, Old Lady Wang was already shouting curses at the top of her lungs. Wan Zhenzhen's tears fell like broken pearls, overwhelmed by grievance.

The child hadn't even suffered any real harm! It was just heatstroke, and it wasn't caused by her! It was all Qian Qing's fault; if she hadn't made such a loud scene there, perhaps the child would have fainted for a moment and then gotten up on their own. How could it be that serious, requiring a trip to the clinic? Wasn't that just wasting money? Now they wanted to criticize her—what mistake had she made to deserve criticism? Old Lady Wang regretted it so deeply her intestines felt ready to snap. If she had known earlier that Wan Zhenzhen was such a jinx, she would have refused her as a daughter-in-law even if it meant displeasing her son! What kind of mess was this? If the child fell, you should have helped them up, or at least given them some water! Everyone belonged to the same factory; what good did it do to run away?

Now things had worsened, and she even had to pay medical expenses. She wondered if this would ruin her son's future prospects. Hua Zi had treated her so well, buying her a tricycle and providing capital for her business, yet this hopeless case managed to cause an incident just selling popsicles! **** In the afternoon, Qian Qing took her popsicle cart outside the oilfield to sell. At the entrance of the largest supply and marketing cooperative in Y City, she sold out without much hawking. However, Qian Qing could clearly feel someone secretly sizing her up. She understood that this business attracted attention; these territories already had owners, so it would be wise for her to avoid coming here often in the future. There were no secrets within the residential compound, especially with so many children present around noon. Before the afternoon shift even ended, news had spread throughout the entire factory.

Initially, the rumor was that the cheap popsicle cart had knocked a child unconscious. Soon, it morphed into the cart selling at cost price and crushing a child to death.

Later still, it evolved into claims that unauthorized stalls set up chaotically at the gate of the No. 1 Primary School for staff children had caused a stampede resulting in the deaths of several children. The rumors grew increasingly absurd until, around six or seven in the evening, someone came looking for Qian Qing, asking her to go to the office of the No. 1 Primary School for staff children. They said they needed to gather everyone involved in the noon incident for a meeting.