Chapter 217: 217 ready
The steamed buns are ready, so it’s time to stew the beef. Su Yuanyuan’s cooking skills aren’t great, but as long as it’s meat, it should taste good.
On the day the meat was stewed, Tan Shaoting went to the farm office to find Feng Baoshan.
"Director Feng, the farm office should send someone to go with us."
"Also, this is my letter. I’m leaving here."
Feng Baoshan looked at the letter in his hand, along with the seal, and instantly understood everything.
"Alright, I see."
"Director Feng, I’m really worried about Su Yuanyuan after I leave here. Please take good care of her in the future, and don’t let her suffer any grievances."
Feng Baoshan nodded, "Rest assured, with me around, she won’t be wronged."
Now Tan Shaoting felt slightly at ease. This was good; he could leave with peace of mind.
Although he knew the girl didn’t really need this, his heart wouldn’t rest at ease if he didn’t do it.
"Director Feng, no matter who the farm office sends tomorrow, they should meet us at eight in the morning at our place. We can leave directly from there.
The road is very slippery, so it’s better to walk to the city."
Feng Baoshan nodded, "Alright, I understand. Let Accountant Zhang go; it will be more convenient."
Tan Shaoting nodded. He didn’t want the female accountant to go; if a male colleague goes, he would feel relieved and wouldn’t have to worry once they’re out.
After leaving the farm office, he quickly walked home.
Last night, they stewed two pots of beef, and as soon as he entered the courtyard, he could smell the aroma.
Su Yuanyuan was fishing out the beef and saw Tan Shaoting come in. "Taste it and see how it is."
"It smells delicious."
The two used the meat broth to cook noodles for lunch, adding a bit of baby bok choy. It really had the taste of beef board noodles, just without chili.
Tan Shaoting wasn’t particularly fond of chili, so Su Yuanyuan didn’t prepare any.
"The farm office will send someone over tomorrow morning."
Su Yuanyuan nodded, "I don’t know what the Zhao Family has decided. But we still need to bring back more fertilizers. I want to prepare two loads myself."
"Yuanyuan, just plant those fifty acres. There’s no need to overwork yourself."
"Your hundred acres and these dozens of acres I already set aside. The land we tidied up last year, I’m too exhausted for that piece of land now."
"We aren’t lacking; there’s no need for you to push yourself like this."
"I’m just thinking to do what I need to do. I know my limits."
After they finished cleaning up, Tan Shaoting walked around the courtyard several times. He wouldn’t come back with them this time. This would be his last time at home, so he needed to take a good look.
In the evening, he refused to return to his room and just sat aside cultivating. Su Yuanyuan, seeing this, had no choice.
She didn’t cultivate and decided to sleep instead since she would have to walk for a day and a night. Not sleeping would give her a headache.
Tan Shaoting stayed awake until Su Yuanyuan fell asleep, just watching her.
This girl... He didn’t know what would happen to her after he left. But he knew he would never give up on her and couldn’t lose her.
If anyone dared to cross the line, they couldn’t blame him for being impolite.
The next day, Su Yuanyuan got up just after five. Breakfast was pancakes, which were filling and still tasty even when cold.
After eating, they waited for Accountant Zhang.
He was supposed to arrive at eight, but he showed up at seven-forty, so the three of them set off.
The journey was quite tiring. Accountant Zhang Haisheng truly admired this young girl, Su Yuanyuan, as she never once suggested stopping for a break along the way.
All their luggage was with Tan Shaoting, while all the food was with Su Yuanyuan.
They arrived in the city by six the next morning.
They headed straight to a restaurant, exhausted and in need of a hot meal.
But what could they supply now?
They each had a bowl of corn porridge; Su Yuanyuan had one bun, while the two men each had four.
"We should head to the train station and check what time the trains leave."
Su Yuanyuan really didn’t want to continue. She knew her feet were blistered and in sharp pain, but they should board the train first.
The train was scheduled for one in the afternoon. So, they waited in the waiting hall.
Zhang Haisheng was worried, with a big bag of money, and he was also exhausted and sleepy.
Tan Shaoting had no choice. "Accountant Zhang, hold onto the bag and sleep, I’ll keep watch."
Zhang Haisheng was grateful to Tan Shaoting, as he honestly couldn’t hold on anymore.
At noon, the three went to the dining area to eat. With outsiders around, there’s no way to sneak anything, right?
Since it would only take three days, there were no sleeper tickets available at all.
"If there aren’t any, then there aren’t any." They would have to sit all the way.
The three sat together, which made things much safer.
They alternated between eating so someone was always around to watch over the luggage.
Once they got off the train, Accountant Zhang felt he was exhausted. Mainly, he was overly tense.
They disembarked in the afternoon, so the three of them asked around for the location of the fertilizer factory.
"Xiao Tan, Xiao Su, we should still head to the fertilizer factory. Otherwise, I won’t feel at ease."
Of course, the two wouldn’t object.
So the three of them didn’t eat and headed straight to the fertilizer factory.
The gatekeeper knew why they came and went inside to inform their leaders.
The three entered the fertilizer factory. Su Yuanyuan scrunched her nose. The smell was truly unbearable.
Thinking they had to stay here made her uneasy.
When they reached the factory manager’s office, Tan Shaoting took out the directive from above.
"Comrade, this directive requires reporting to the higher authorities.
Here’s the situation, there’s living quarters at the factory, you can manage here for now, and I’ll provide an update tomorrow morning."
The fact that they made it here, what could they do but wait patiently?
Truth be told, Su Yuanyuan was slightly worried the directive might not be effective, which would be awkward.
Someone guided the three of them to the dormitory. Since Su Yuanyuan was the only woman, they arranged for her to stay next door.
Honestly, it was quite cold. After entering, Su Yuanyuan sighed.
Of course, Tan Shaoting wouldn’t share a dorm with Zhang Haisheng.
Su Yuanyuan watched as Tan Shaoting followed behind her, but said nothing.
"Yuanyuan, it’s just not livable here." If it were just himself, he wouldn’t mind, but he couldn’t bear seeing this girl suffer.
Su Yuanyuan shook her head, "It’s fine, it’ll just be for one night."
"It’s way too cold."
"I’ll just stay up all night."
That evening, the three went to the canteen. The food was definitely better than outside, but it wasn’t as good as what Su Yuanyuan and the others had at home.
They ate what they could to get full. Su Yuanyuan promised herself she’d travel alone next time; it was just too inconvenient.
That night, Tan Shaoting stepped out. He returned three hours later. "Yuanyuan, even if the directive doesn’t work, I’ve found someone who can get us ten tons of fertilizer for an extra hundred bucks."