The ideas that Lin Jiayi instilled in her in the previous life were too deeply rooted.
A husband who does not return home all year round, from the moment Qin Yang boarded the train, was locked in a small dark room in her mind.
The person locked in the small dark room by someone, at this moment, just returned to his office, washed up at the tap, and then went to the cafeteria.
He had arrived yesterday evening, and although he had handed over the work with his colleagues, he naturally had to check on it in person once he was back.
There aren’t many people in the cafeteria right now. Qin Yang got a meal for himself, today’s dishes are eggplant and tofu, with a bit of minced meat in the eggplant. Even though the minced meat is pitifully little, today’s meal is considered quite good.
They are located in a very remote area, and the roads are also difficult to traverse, often resulting in supply shortages.
Taking a canned jar out of his pocket, a touch of warmth flashed through Qin Yang’s eyes.
Lin Chuxia brought him five jars of canned beef sauce. Yesterday, when he returned to report the end of his leave, he gave Minister Wang a jar along with some wedding candies, and also gave one jar to his old partner Bai Xiaoming, planning to slowly enjoy the remaining three jars by himself.
As for the two jars of chili paste, he had no intention of sharing them, as they were specially prepared for him by his wife.
Even giving away two jars of beef sauce made him feel quite distressed.
Just as he opened the jar, he heard a familiar voice behind him, “Why are you sitting here alone?”
The lid that had just been opened was silently screwed back on, and he looked expressionlessly at Bai Xiaoming, “It’s quieter here.”
Qin Yang was a cool and quiet person by nature, and as his old partner, Bai Xiaoming naturally understood him.
What really surprised him was that Qin Yang had taken leave to get married this time.
His old partner had solid theoretical knowledge, strong abilities, and a sharp mind. He was known for his meticulous work, having prevented accidents on multiple occasions. Despite his young age, he had made a name for himself among their engineers and was also very handsome.
Being seen as a good employee and a key training target by the leadership, his personal life naturally also drew everyone’s attention.
Yet this man was indifferent and cold, and it seemed that aside from work, there was nothing that could catch his eye.
Many wives of his colleagues asked him about Qin Yang’s personal matters, hoping to marry their daughters or nieces to him, asking him to be the matchmaker.
But the responses they got from Qin Yang were almost always the same – he didn’t want to delay these girls.
For a while, everyone even suspected there was something wrong with his old partner.
Such a person suddenly went back home to get married.
Honestly, when Qin Yang asked him to help with the marriage certification, Bai Xiaoming thought he was joking.
So many eligible girls he did not consider, and yet he just married a woman from his hometown whom he had never met before. Who could have such an attitude towards marriage?
Indeed, a man who only has eyes for work can’t even seem to offer a trace of warmth to his wife.
Bai Xiaoming had felt sorry for that wife from his hometown.
However, when this man returned from his hometown yesterday, Bai Xiaoming felt that something was different about him.
Bai Xiaoming sat directly across Qin Yang, reaching out his hand toward the canned jar.
Qin Yang quickly pressed down on the jar, his sharp eyes looking over.
Bai Xiaoming let out a dry chuckle, “The jar you gave me yesterday, before it could even make it to the table, my two little rascals gobbled up most of it. You know, your sister-in-law’s culinary skills are truly exceptional.”
Hearing his last sentence, Qin Yang’s expression softened somewhat, and he then released his hand.
Bai Xiaoming raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised to detect a hint of tenderness in the man’s eyes.
He had finally gotten hold of the beef sauce, and upon unscrewing the lid, he took a deep whiff. “This flavor is just divine. With such cooking skills, your little sister-in-law can’t be wrong. It’s no wonder even you, the iron tree, have blossomed at last.”
Qin Yang, with his eyes downcast, murmured faintly, “She is indeed very good.”
Caught off guard by his words, Bai Xiaoming leaned in with a mischievous smirk, “How about it? It feels great to have a woman, doesn’t it? I’ve always told you, man and woman together, yin and yang in harmony; lacking anything, it’s not perfect.”
Bai Xiaoming was only three years older than Qin Yang but was already the father of two children, with his eldest son being nine years old.
It was said when he was recommended for university, his family rushed to find him a suitable match, worried he’d fly away after starting school. They even got him married two days before the semester began, just to leave a child behind as a tie to him.
Qin Yang glanced at him; working in their environment, which was predominantly male, he hadn’t shied away from raunchy jokes with colleagues. But now hearing Bai Xiaoming’s words, his ears slowly turned red as he grunted an acknowledgment, “Hm.”
Bai Xiaoming’s smile grew broader; no matter what, he was happy for his old partner getting married.
“When are you going to consider bringing your spouse over? I can help you apply for housing.”
Their jobs were unstable, hardly allowing them to return home throughout the year. To take care of these technical staff, once reaching a certain level, they could bring their families along, which was considered a job benefit.
Qin Yang had just reached this level.
Hearing about the possibility of bringing his spouse along, Qin Yang’s brows quivered slightly, “I have not discussed it with her yet.”
He had never thought about living with a woman before, let alone bringing one over, always feeling it would be troublesome and interrupt his work.
But if that person were Lin Chuxia, perhaps it wouldn’t be out of the question.
“Alright then, you should discuss it with your sister-in-law quickly. Although our living conditions here are tough, having someone who knows your comforts by your side is much better than living apart.”
Bai Xiaoming scooped up another bite of beef sauce, thinking to himself that he must get his wife to learn cooking from his sister-in-law so he could also enjoy some good food.
Qin Yang, upon hearing about the hardships, pondered as well. Although his hometown was a rural area, Ancheng County was more developed than the average county, especially the Qin Family Village, which essentially had solved the problem of food and clothing.
Their location was far worse, situated in the Northwest with dreadful weather and frequent sandstorms. People generally struggled with food and clothing, often relying more on cornmeal and mixed grains throughout the year. Even they were affected sometimes, with supplies unable to keep up. It might be better to wait.
Looking up, he noticed that half of the canned beef sauce was already gone, so he didn’t bother with other concerns, “Leave some for me.”
Zhang Dawei, carrying a tray, looked for a seat and saw from a distance Qin Yang and Bai Xiaoming vying for something.
If it had been just Qin Yang, he wouldn’t have dared to approach, but Bai Xiaoming was famously kind-hearted.
“Mr. Qin, Mr. Bai.”
Bai Xiaoming greeted him with a smile, while Qin Yang also gave a nod, noticing Zhang Dawei joining them at the long table without any hint of discretion, which darkened his mood a bit.
Zhang Dawei had no such awareness; in his view, Qin Yang’s expression was always like this.
Observing the beef sauce on Bai Xiaoming’s meal, he inquired, “Mr. Bai, where did you get this sauce? I didn’t see it when I was getting my food.”
“It’s not from our canteen. It’s from Mrs. Qin, who brought it for him,” Bai Xiaoming said with a look of amusement as he turned toward Qin Yang.
This Zhang Dawei was somewhat obtuse, and Bai Xiaoming wanted to see how Qin Yang, with his ironclad fairness, would handle his subordinates.
Sure enough, Zhang Dawei grinned, flashing his big white teeth at Qin Yang, “Is that so, Mr. Qin? No kidding, I could smell the scent of the sauce from afar, and it’s spot on. I’ve only ever smelled something similar outside the State-Owned Restaurant, never tasted it though. Just the smell let me know how delicious it was. Who would have thought your wife was such a good cook, Mr. Qin? You’re truly lucky.”