Chapter 108: The Silhouette by the Factory Gate

Before even reaching the entrance of the textile factory, Xiao Weiguo spotted a solitary figure standing there from a distance, as if waiting for someone.

Drawing closer, he realized it was Liu Yanran. She had changed out of her work uniform and was now dressed in her own clothes.

She still looked so simple—probably just because she didn’t have many fancy clothes—but neat nonetheless.

Yet, even in such plain attire, nothing could conceal her youthful and radiant silhouette.

At that moment, a breeze swept by, and Liu Yanran’s flowing hair fluttered like a gentle caress, stirring something deep within Xiao Weiguo’s heart.

The blue sky above, the solemn factory gate, the scattered trees around, and that beautiful figure formed a breathtaking scene that imprinted itself vividly in Xiao Weiguo’s mind.

“Yanran, sorry I’m late. Why are you here all alone? Where are the others?” Xiao Weiguo asked as he stopped his bicycle by the gate.

Liu Yanran glanced up at him briefly, then quickly lowered her head and replied, “The three of them went ahead first. I’m just waiting here to go in with you.”

Xiao Weiguo nodded. He wasn’t keen on going in with those three anyway. Just the two of them was much better. Perfect, just the way he wanted it. He continued, “Let’s take these supplies to hand over first, then we’ll go over together. No rush.”

“Okay,” Liu Yanran agreed, naturally following behind his bicycle as they headed toward the factory canteen.

As they neared the factory, Xiao Weiguo took out a cage of chickens and strapped it to the back of his bike. Unfortunately, this meant Liu Yanran couldn’t ride with him, which was a bit of a shame.

So, Xiao Weiguo pushed the bike while Liu Yanran walked quietly behind him. Without exchanging a word, they arrived at the warehouse of the First Canteen.

Xiao Weiguo had heard from Sister Ling and others about the procedure: when you have procured supplies, you find the warehouse keeper and the canteen manager to verify the goods together, then hand the receipt over to Sister Ling.

“Is anyone here? I’m from the procurement department. I’ve got some supplies to hand over. Could someone come out to handle this?” Xiao Weiguo called out as he entered the kitchen area.

He was unfamiliar with this place, as it was his first time handling this.

The canteen manager, Zhou Da, who was stout enough to have a waist twice the size of Xiao Weiguo’s, came out and asked, “Which team in procurement are you from? What’s your name? You look unfamiliar.”

“Hello, comrade. I’m Xiao Weiguo from Procurement Team Three. I just joined recently, and this is my first time handing over supplies, so I’m a bit unfamiliar. Please bear with me,” Xiao Weiguo replied.

Upon hearing his name, Zhou Da’s face instantly lit up with enthusiasm. “Ah, Brother Weiguo! I’ve heard about you. Your probation was the fastest in our factory. We all look up to you. So these are the supplies you purchased today? Hand them over to me. Also, tell me how much you spent.”

Xiao Weiguo knew there was a chance to exploit the situation—declaring a higher price so the difference could end up in his pocket.

However, this particular order wasn’t suitable for that, especially since many people knew the actual purchase amount. He preferred to keep everything aboveboard. So he said to Zhou Da, “I bought them for two yuan each, six in total.”

Zhou Da nodded. The price was reasonable—not too high, not too low. Then he said, “Brother Weiguo, your timing is perfect. There’s a banquet tonight, and a hen soup would be just right to nourish the leaders.”

He glanced at Liu Yanran standing behind Xiao Weiguo and added, “Is this your sister-in-law? She’s beautiful. Is she from our factory too? She should come to the canteen often. I’ll make sure they serve her generously.”

Liu Yanran blushed deeply and lowered her head even further, embarrassed by his words.

Xiao Weiguo quickly smiled and said, “She’s not my sister-in-law yet, but when it comes to serving food, it definitely has to be generous. Thanks in advance, brother.”

Zhou Da gave them a knowing look and said, “Naturally. Brother Weiguo, wait a moment. The warehouse keeper is processing the inventory. I’ll bring you the receipt shortly. By the way, I’m Zhou Da. If you need anything, just come to the First Canteen.”

After a short wait, Xiao Weiguo took the receipt and said goodbye to Zhou Da.

“Couldn’t wait, huh? Let’s head over now,” Xiao Weiguo said to Liu Yanran.

He got on the bike, intending to take Liu Yanran quickly to Red Scarf Park. But then he remembered the chicken cage on the back seat, which was still a bit dirty.

He said, “Yanran, you ride for me. I need to change these pants anyway.”

Liu Yanran was taken aback by the request—how could a small girl be expected to ride a bicycle with a grown man? She hesitated and said weakly, “I... I don’t know how to ride a bike.”

Quickly adding, “I’m not afraid of dirt. I can just sit on the back.”

She moved to sit on the back seat.

Xiao Weiguo immediately stopped her, took a small handkerchief from his pocket—actually retrieved from his space—and wiped the seat clean. Then he pressed his own seat down too, making sure it was clean.

He placed the handkerchief on the back seat and gestured for Liu Yanran to get on.

Seeing his careful gesture, Liu Yanran felt a warm sense of being cared for.

And so, Xiao Weiguo rode the bike with Liu Yanran behind him, leisurely pedaling toward Red Scarf Park.

It was shift change time, and many female workers filled the streets. Seeing this handsome couple, they all glanced over.

Some from Liu Yanran’s workshop were astonished, mouths agape.

One whispered to another, “Isn’t that Liu Yanran? She found a boyfriend so quickly—and from our factory too. So beauty really does matter.”

Liu Yanran shyly lowered her head, trying not to be noticed.

Xiao Weiguo felt indifferent, just focused on getting there—riding a bike together was no big deal.

Before long, they arrived at Red Scarf Park. After a quick discussion, they decided to walk inside to enjoy a stroll.

They parked the bike in the designated area at the park entrance. A woman who looked after the bikes charged one cent for parking. She clipped a card onto the bike and gave an identical card to Xiao Weiguo, who could use it to retrieve the bike later.

Inside the park, they walked together. Since the park was newly built, the greenery was still sparse, giving it a somewhat bare appearance.

But it was clear the park was vast. Once the trees matured, it would become a natural oxygen reservoir.

Liu Yanran trailed a step behind Xiao Weiguo, needing to turn her head whenever he spoke.

She seemed a bit sensitive, self-conscious, and introverted.

Xiao Weiguo was patient, chatting along with her.

With a girl like her, one must maintain steady emotions to avoid startling her.

Gradually, step by step, one could enter the heart of such a girl. And once inside, there would be no leaving.

If you startled her, she would be like a wounded kitten—always avoiding you from then on, never to come near again.