Rebirth of the 1980s: The Military Industry Empire

The sound of firecrackers crackled and popped, signaling the arrival of Lunar New Year's Eve, a time to bid farewell to the old year with joyous explosions.

Inside the Qin family's house, the atmosphere was lively and bustling.

Nie Cuilian's right hand wielded a rolling pin, while her left hand deftly manipulated dumpling wrappers. With swift movements, round dumpling skins appeared in her hand, and she tossed them onto a round tray made of sorghum stalks.

Next, a pair of delicate, jade-like fingers picked up the dumpling skins, filled them with meat stuffing, and transformed them into dumplings.

"Xiaoqian, from now on, treat this place as your own home. Come whenever you like," Nie Cuilian said to Nie Xiaoqian, who was wrapping dumplings, her face beaming with smiles.

Wang Fang was recognized as the most beautiful girl in the factory, and Nie Cuilian had often imagined her becoming her daughter-in-law. However, Wang Fang preferred soldiers and married Lin Heping. This made Nie Cuilian somewhat dissatisfied. Being in such close proximity, how could Qin Yang not make a move? Was her son clueless when it came to matters of the heart?

However, Nie Cuilian had now come to terms with it. Wang Fang was just a girl who grew up in the factory. Yangzi had high standards and simply didn't fancy her.

This Nie Xiaoqian was a much better prospect. Her every gesture exuded the air of a well-bred lady, someone who had grown up in a high-ranking cadre family with strict upbringing, possessing an outstanding temperament!

Qin Yang walked out of the bedroom, looking utterly despondent.

"Yangzi, go and rest. You hardly get to be home for a few days out of the year. I'll call you when the dumplings are cooked," Nie Cuilian said.

"It's okay, I'll help you start the fire and boil the water." Qin Yang was idle anyway, so he might as well help with the Lunar New Year's Eve dinner.

The steaming dumplings came out of the pot, and Qin Baoguo also returned. When he saw Nie Xiaoqian at home, he was first surprised, then his old face bloomed into a flower.

"Teacher Nie, don't bother with the work, let's eat together."

"Uncle Qin, why are you calling me Teacher Nie? It's too formal. This is home, just like with Auntie, call me Xiaoqian."

"Okay."

"Yangzi, you're being too outrageous." Qin Baoguo exchanged a few pleasantries with Nie Xiaoqian, then turned to Qin Yang, "I know you young people are energetic, but there's a limit to everything. You're a company general manager now, you need to be more mature. If today's incident gets out, what will people say about you?"

"Dad, what are you talking about? I'm completely confused."

"The stuff in the noodle bowl, that was your doing, wasn't it? Hmph, thankfully Xiaoqian was watching you. If you had gone out to cause trouble at the wedding night, who knows what kind of nonsense you would have stirred up."

"One sausage and two eggs, what's wrong with that? Dad, don't be so narrow-minded."

"Um, what exactly happened?" Nie Xiaoqian was also curious.

"Forget it, let's not talk about it anymore. After we finish eating, Yangzi, you drive the factory's car and take Xiaoqian home. Consider it a formal introduction. Tomorrow is Lunar New Year's Day, Yangzi, aren't you going to pay New Year's visits? You know a lot of important leaders, you have to visit them one by one during this New Year. Oh, if you're too busy on the first day, visit Xiaoqian's house on the second day."

The second day of Lunar New Year, that's the Northern Son-in-law Day! It seemed that his old man also supported him being with Nie Xiaoqian.

Nie Xiaoqian lowered her head and slowly ate dumplings, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

Bang!

Just then, the door was opened, and Zhang Chao rushed in anxiously, "The higher-ups called, specifically asking for Yangzi. Go answer the phone quickly!"

"Okay, I'll go right away!" Qin Yang replied, "Alas, I said a long time ago, pull a telephone line to the house. Our rank is high enough to have a phone installed. Now, I still have to run to the office to answer the phone, what a waste of time."

Nie Xiaoqian's eyes darted around, "I'll go with you."

Clearly, Nie Xiaoqian suspected that this was a tactic by Zhang Chao to trick Qin Yang away so he could go and cause trouble at the wedding night.

Nie Xiaoqian was keeping a close eye on Qin Yang for many reasons. An immature general manager would attract gossip. Lin Heping and Wang Fang's wedding couldn't be ruined by Qin Yang. And, most importantly, she worried about what would happen if others came to make trouble in the future.

Qin Yang glanced at Zhang Chao and then at Nie Xiaoqian, "Well, you should stay home and eat. You've been wrapping dumplings for half the day and haven't eaten many yet. After I answer the phone, I'll drive you back."

"It's okay, I'm already full. Let's go, calling on Lunar New Year's Eve must be very important. I'm your secretary, maybe there will be work, right?"

Nie Xiaoqian looked at Zhang Chao's awkward face, feeling smug. When they got to the office and there was no phone call, let's see how you explain it!

Zhang Chao was indeed dumbfounded. What to do, what to do?

Who knew that Teacher Nie was constantly watching Yangzi, not letting him go and cause trouble at the wedding night? After all, they were both not even twenty years old, the age when they loved to prank others' wedding nights. Zhang Chao was thoroughly entertained by the daytime's program, and he was sure the evening's program would be even more exciting.

Qin Yang failed several times to escape, so Zhang Chao came up with this idea. Never would he have thought that Teacher Nie would actually come along.

"Chaozi, hurry up, can you not rush to answer the phone from the higher-ups?" Qin Yang acted as if he didn't know anything and strode forward. His hesitation clearly showed that he had something to hide.

Zhang Chao knew that Qin Yang was determined to make him take the blame. Well, so be it.

Nie Xiaoqian followed behind, wondering how Qin Yang and the others would try to shirk responsibility later, and how she should expose them. He promised her that he wouldn't go and cause trouble at the wedding night tonight, but he still hadn't given up!

The three of them arrived at the office building. Before they even entered the room with the telephone, they heard the ringing of the telephone in the hallway, one ring more urgent than the other.

There really was a phone call? Zhang Chao was very surprised.

"After I hung up the phone just now, I asked the leader to call back in a few minutes. This leader is really anxious, he called back so quickly." Zhang Chao was finally able to make up a lie.

Nie Xiaoqian became suspicious. Could there be a third person involved?

Seeing Qin Yang stride into the room, wanting to pick up the phone, Nie Xiaoqian quickly stepped past Qin Yang and grabbed the phone.

"Hello?"

"Why is it a young girl? Is General Qin there?"

"Yes."

"Give him the phone, I have something important to ask him!"

Nie Xiaoqian obediently handed the phone to Qin Yang.

Qin Yang took it with satisfaction, "Hello, this is Qin Yang."

"Factory 616 is in an uproar. This matter is inextricably linked to you. Come over here now!"

"Who are you?" Qin Yang suppressed his anger. Factory 616 was in an uproar, what did it have to do with him?

"I am Secretary Song."

Qin Yang's face instantly changed.