Back to the 80s Machinery Factory

Chapter 590 Are you two still together or not?
Seeing that a young man was heading straight for Jiang Xiaohua,
The companions around them, unaware of the situation, assumed the two had a past relationship and cast inquiring glances at them.

Jiang Xiaohua sensed that something was wrong. Following everyone's gaze, she turned around and saw Chen Luyang's familiar figure walking towards her.

"Xiaohua, what a coincidence! You're here too!"

"Chen Luyang? What are you doing here?!"

Jiang Xiaohua looked at Chen Luyang with surprise and delight, and subconsciously stood up.

"This is the conference organizing committee's canteen, how did you get in?"

Chen Luyang proudly declared, "Excellent gold shines wherever it is!"

“I’m here as a technical advisor and translator for the Canton Fair, sent by the Ministry of Industry and the Machinery & Electronics Import & Export Corporation. Why can’t I come in?”

next moment,
Jiang Xiaohua suddenly shifted her gaze to Chen Luyang's chest.

After seeing the badge pinned to Chen Luyang's chest that read "Representative of the Ministry of Industry at the Import and Export Pre-Exhibition, Technical Advisor and Translator for the Export Prototype Project"
Jiang Xiaohua breathed a sigh of relief, as if the tension that had been pressing on her chest had finally eased in that instant.

"You're really something, Chen Luyang. You get better with each passing year," Jiang Xiaohua said with a smile, her eyes crinkling.

Chen Luyang smiled in response, shifting his gaze from the name tag on her chest that read "State Administration of Government Offices - Conference Affairs Staff," his tone half-serious and half-joking:
"I'm just a lowly translator, how can I compare to a big boss like you!"

"Now that you're a cadre who came from Tiananmen Square, I'll have to rely on you for guidance in the future."

Jiang Xiaohua spat at him: "Go away! Talk nonsense, who's your boss?"

It has to be said that Chen Luyang is particularly eye-catching when she is in a serious public setting.

Despite his flamboyant and confident personality, the crisp formal attire concealed his sharp edge, yet added a touch of youthful exuberance to his appearance.

Seeing this, and then taking the initiative to greet Jiang Xiaohua in the cafeteria...

Immediately, the expressions on the faces of the people at the table became quite interesting.

Chen Luyang observed the expressions on everyone's faces and said to Jiang Xiaohua:
"I've been in the Industrial Machinery Department these past few days. Which department are you in?"

Jiang Xiaohua smiled and said, "I work in textiles."

Chen Luyang laughed: "That's great! Our translation team is running out of paper. When it's convenient for you, I'll come and get some more."

Jiang Xiaohua, in a businesslike manner, smiled and said, "It's no use asking me for paper. You need to fill out an application form and get it stamped by the logistics department."

Chen Luyang laughed even more genuinely: "That's great! I was just worried about not having anyone to give me directions. I'll come find you after I get the stamps."

Jiang Xiaohua didn't believe it: "Come on, your Industrial Machinery Department can collect it themselves, why would you come to the Textile Department to collect it?"

A glint of light flashed in Chen Luyang's eyes as she smiled and said:
"Don't worry about that. I'll come to you to borrow some paper later, and you can't refuse."

Jiang Xiaohua chuckled, but maintained her businesslike tone: "Alright. Bring your letter of introduction and transfer slip, and go to office number three at the Textile Machinery Hall to register."

Chen Luyang nodded: "I'll remember. Office number three. Go find Comrade Jiang to get the paper."

As soon as Chen Luyang left, the table erupted in chaos.

"Xiaohua, is that person your friend?"

"He looks quite young, I didn't expect him to be a translation technology consultant!"

Jiang Xiaohua was unwilling to say more, and simply nodded.

At this moment, a colleague who worked in the Industrial Machinery Hall suddenly interjected:

"I saw him at the Machinery Hall today. He followed the expert review team, going from one venue to another to conduct technical reviews, and he spoke very eloquently."

The group chatted amongst themselves, and the atmosphere grew increasingly lively.

"Xiaohua, this young man is quite good!"

A girl nudged her with a smile, "Well-mannered, spirited, and promising young man."

"If you ask me, he's the only young man in this exhibition who's worth mentioning."

"Besides, I saw him come to you on his own initiative, why don't you think about it?"

The words, though seemingly harmless, elicited a burst of good-natured laughter from those around the table.

Jiang Xiaohua's smile vanished instantly, and she slammed her chopsticks against the lunchbox.
"Stop talking nonsense!"

"Go eat your food and stop gossiping!"

Seeing that Jiang Xiaohua was angry, everyone exchanged glances.
Gradually, the topic shifted to other things.

Jiang Xiaohua initially thought Chen Luyang was joking with her.

But what she didn't expect was that...

As the day drew to a close and the exhibition neared its end,
Chen Luyang actually took a stack of application forms stamped with the logistics department's seal and went to the Textile Industry Department.

Seeing Jiang Xiaohua's wide-eyed expression, Chen Luyang said with a serious attitude:
"Comrade Xiaohua, our department can last for two more days with regular paper, but we are short of mimeograph paper and red-lined foreign trade form paper."

"These two items are not under the jurisdiction of this department; they are allocated by the General Affairs Department of the conference, and the distribution point is in your Textile Machinery Department office."

"The logistics stamp is here, give me some paper~"

After saying that, Chen Luyang stretched out his hand with a mischievous grin, looking like he was asking for something.

Jiang Xiaohua sighed helplessly, "Chen Luyang, you're really something!"

"Where do you get all these crazy ideas from!"

"You really managed to persuade the logistics department to stamp it. Come here and get the paper!"

Besides, the Industrial Machinery Hall also has conference staff.

Chen Luyang is a technical translator. He can just ask for help and the meeting organizers will take care of it. He doesn't need to come over in person at all.

Chen Luyang tossed her head casually, "I just wanted to see you!"

"We have to dig tunnels and come up with all sorts of ways to do this!"

By this time, the second day of the exhibition was drawing to a close.

The hall was bustling with people, and many conference staff were dismantling display boards and rolling up blueprints, preparing to pack up and leave.

Seeing the chaotic scene, Chen Luyang cut to the chase and got straight to the point:

“Jiang Xiaohua, you’re my sister, and Engineer Cao is my brother. I’ve always treated your business as my own.”

"So, don't think I'm being nosy,"

"What's going on between you and Engineer Cao? Are you two no longer dating?"

Jiang Xiaohua's smile froze, and she remained silent for a long while.

Chen Luyang got anxious: "What do you mean? Give me some kind of response!"

Jiang Xiaohua said sadly, "I can't associate with him now."

Chen Luyang nodded, somewhat regretfully: "So you're not going to date anymore?"

Jiang Xiaohua got anxious and glared at him fiercely: "I didn't say we couldn't be together."

Chen Luyang had a headache: "Then what do you mean? You're dating but you don't contact each other or have any interaction. What are you talking about?!"

Jiang Xiaohua looked conflicted and distressed: "I haven't been officially hired yet, so I have to follow all the rules. Otherwise, it will not only affect my parents, but also Qinghang. I can't let him down."

Chen Luyang frowned as she listened.

It's not convenient to ask Jiang Xiaohua about her family background.
However, families that can get their children into government agencies are certainly not ordinary cadre families.

"I'm not saying this to be mean... Jiang Xiaohua, you really are no good old woman!" Chen Luyang couldn't help but curse.

"Since you knew you'd eventually have to go back to Pian'ercheng and couldn't take responsibility, why did you even bother with Engineer Cao in the first place?"

Before meeting Jiang Xiaohua, Cao Qinghang was a carefree young engineer whose mind was solely focused on cars.
But he was still one of the four most handsome men in the machine factory.

With Chairwoman Sui of the Women's Federation tirelessly introducing him to potential partners every day, it's hard to say he might meet a girl he likes someday.
The two of them have a sweet little romance, and then have a few little arguments where they say things like "You're so bad, you're so bad, you're really bad."

Maybe for a year or two,

Just like Xiao Wu, he could have applied to the factory for a house, gotten married, had kids, and started a family. It's unacceptable that they've ruined such a good, honest engineering student like this!

Jiang Xiaohua whispered, "It's because he didn't come when we went on the blind date."

Chen Luyang: ? ? ? ?
"No... sis, what does his not going on the blind date have to do with you messing with him?"

"Cao Qinghang isn't targeting you personally. He won't go on blind dates with anyone, not just you!"

Jiang Xiaohua also regretted it.

"It's because I heard from the girls at the machine factory that he's arrogant, and then he stood me up. That's why I got angry and came to your workshop to see what kind of person he is, and why he wouldn't come on a blind date with me. That's how I got into this mess..."

Chen Luyang was speechless.

"Hey!"

Chen Luyang tapped the table and said seriously:
"I'm talking to you about serious matters, not about reminiscing about sweet times. What are you laughing at?!"

"Take your smile away!!!"

Jiang Xiaohua stopped smiling, then sighed softly, her expression showing great distress.

"I didn't expect to be back so soon..."

Jiang Xiaohua tore off a piece of paper.

“I was planning to go home for the Chinese New Year to tell my parents about Qinghang and me. If we got married, I would stay in the provincial capital.”

"But before I could even say anything, my family brought my personnel file back."

"Everything happened so suddenly."

Jiang Xiaohua was very depressed.

"So what do you want to do now?"

Chen Luyang didn't care why Jiang Xiaohua and Cao Qinghang fell in love in the first place; all he wanted to know was what would happen between them later.

"I'll have to wait until I'm officially hired," Jiang Xiaohua replied.

“I’m still in my probationary period, so I have to be careful with everything. If people find out that I’m getting too close to outsiders, not only will I be ruined, but my parents will also be criticized, and it won’t be good for Qinghang either.”

She paused, then said with a firm gaze, "Once I'm officially hired, my personnel file will be permanently registered in the ministry and no longer under the family affairs section. Then I won't have to report everything anymore."

"As long as my parents aren't involved, I can make my own decisions."

Chen Luyang frowned: "Are you sure that after you get a permanent position, you can be with Engineer Cao?"

Jiang Xiaohua bit her lip: "I don't know either."

If you can truly make your own decisions, that would be the best.

But what if it's still the same old story: 'Family values ​​must be upright, influence must be positive, and children of cadres must be discreet'...

Even if you get a permanent position, it's just like changing from one set of shackles to another.

Speaking of last,
She looked up, her eyes slightly red.

“I don’t want to drag this out either, but I can’t tell him that even writing a letter could harm my parents.”

for a long time,

Jiang Xiaohua asked softly, "Is he alright?"

Chen Luyang said irritably, "Fine, he's doing very well."

“When I went home for winter break, I heard at the dinner table that you had stayed at the repair shop for a few days. Knowing that you were still alive and had nice clothes to wear, I was so happy that I vomited blood and was hospitalized.”

“I went back around 10 p.m. last night and saw him standing outside smoking. There were cigarette butts all over the ground. He was about to set himself on fire.”

Jiang Xiaohua stared wide-eyed, listening to Chen Luyang's words in disbelief.

Then, thinking of the needle marks and bruises on the back of Cao Qinghang's hands,
Unable to contain himself, Jiang Xiaohua punched Chen Luyang hard in the arm.

Why aren't you doing anything about him?!

Chen Luyang was caught off guard and gasped in pain.

"Comrade Jiang Xiaohua, can't you be reasonable?"

"He's in the provincial capital, and I'm in a small town, a huge distance apart. How can I possibly take care of him?"

"Besides, he's not my boyfriend, why should I care about him?!"

"I can't even see my own partner..."

Chen Luyang glared at Jiang Xiaohua, annoyed: "Who cares whose boyfriend is!"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Xiaohua's beautiful face showed pain, and her voice was choked with sobs.

"If I could manage, I wouldn't need you!!"

hiss……

Chen Luyang originally wanted to scold Jiang Xiaohua, but looking at Jiang Xiaohua's appearance, he couldn't bear to do it.

"What can we do?"

"No, you two will have to wait two years. Once you're officially hired, then you can talk about the future."

Although this may sound like empty talk, it has to be admitted that it is indeed the only option available now.

However, the pressure and pain that Jiang Xiaohua has been enduring are no less than that of Cao Qinghang.

She had suppressed her feelings for a long time, and finally met Chen Luyang, someone she could confide in. Her pent-up grievances and worries finally found an outlet, and she couldn't help but throw a small tantrum:

"You made me wait two years... why didn't you wait?"

Chen Luyang was almost sighing and looking up at the sky.

"I don't want to wait either, but the problem is... if I don't wait, I'll be breaking the law!"

Who would want to leave a beautiful and stunning woman single in their hometown?
The creatures around them were neither jackals nor tigers or leopards.
He was worried that one day he would wake up and find that his wife had been kidnapped again.

But now is not the time to miss Chen Jinyue.
Chen Luyang looked at Jiang Xiaohua and asked, "Is there anything I could pass on for you?"

Jiang Xiaohua glanced at him, a hint of distress showing between her brows:
“Tell him to wait for me for two years. Once my file is finalized within two years, I will go to him.”

Before Jiang Xiaohua could finish speaking, Chen Luyang frowned:
"No... I'd like to chime in."

"Even though your personnel file will be left in Pian'er City, Cao Gongren is in the provincial capital. How are you going to find him?"

"Where will you settle down when you turn back?"

How is the child's household registration calculated?

What will happen when I go to school?

Where will you spend the Lunar New Year?

Jiang Xiaohua's previously sorrowful gaze instantly changed as she was confronted with Chen Luyang's probing questions.

"Chen Luyang, how come I never realized you were so annoying before!"

Chen Luyang was speechless.

"Ancestor, regardless of whether you're gay or not, if you want to have a good relationship with someone, you should at least give them a future first, right?"

"If you can't give me a future, can't you at least offer me a guarantee?"

To put it bluntly, when birds are looking for a mate, they know to first find a sturdy tree branch and build a thick, solid nest.

If it weren't for the "reconciliation over separation" mentality flowing in his blood, Chen Luyang would have preferred to simply let them break up.

What nonsense!
One is in the east and one is in the west.
If you can't come, I can't go.

What about Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai?

(End of this chapter)