B5SB -Chapter 199 Business Trip

“Knock, knock, knock.”

A low voice called out, “Please come in.”

Hearing Secretary Jiang’s voice, Gu Yihan pushed open the office door.

She smiled at him. “Secretary Jiang, were you looking for me?”

Secretary Jiang’s lips curved slightly as he stood and walked to the seat across from her, gesturing for her to sit.

Gu Yihan didn’t hesitate and sat down on the sofa.

Secretary Jiang took a seat opposite her.

“Officer Gu, the day after tomorrow we’ll be heading to the provincial city’s garment factory. Do you have any scheduling conflicts?”

Gu Yihan’s brow furrowed slightly at his question.

Seeing her frown, Secretary Jiang looked puzzled. “Officer Gu, do you already have plans for the day after tomorrow?”

Truthfully, Gu Yihan didn’t want to go to the provincial city at all.

“What does it matter to me whether the textile and garment factories cooperate, whether I go or not?”

Hearing this, Secretary Jiang smiled and began explaining slowly.

The textile factory was using plant-dyed fabrics, which came in various vibrant colors. These fabrics couldn’t be sold domestically, but foreigners liked them very much.

The only requirement was to turn them into ready-made clothing according to the foreigners’ preferred styles.

The designers at the garment factory couldn’t understand their language, so communication between the two sides was like “chickens talking to ducks.”

The only solution was to get someone who knew English to translate.

Secretary Jiang paused for a moment. “During this special period, those with good English skills have all been reassigned.”

After checking all the workers at the Kun City Textile Factory and the provincial garment factory, it turned out that Gu Yihan was the only one who understood English.

So for this provincial city business trip, she was indispensable.

“Of course, Officer Gu won’t be helping without reward,” Secretary Jiang said with a slight smile.

Gu Yihan gave him a side-eye and said sarcastically, “Let me guess—some cloth as a reward?”

Secretary Jiang chuckled lightly and shook his head. “We’ll raise your salary to level 22!”

Gu Yihan’s eyes widened. “Really?”

She was a bit skeptical. She had worked at the textile factory for nearly two years and knew very well how frugal both the factory director and Secretary Jiang could be.

Seeing her doubtful look, Secretary Jiang quickly toned down his smile and said seriously, “Level 22 salary is 58 yuan. That, I can authorize myself.”

Gu Yihan nodded, silent, thinking that her salary combined with Lu Huailin’s would already total 200 yuan.

And that didn’t even include his bonuses, plus there were plenty of large yellow croakers at home.

The family’s living expenses weren’t high, the pressure was low, and when their child grew up, they could just get him married and kick him out—life would be wonderful.

Seeing Gu Yihan so composed and silent, Secretary Jiang raised his voice slightly. “Officer Gu, what are you thinking about?”

“Have fewer children and plant more trees!” Gu Yihan blurted out instinctively.

Secretary Jiang: “……”

Realizing her slip, Gu Yihan smiled awkwardly. “Don’t worry, Secretary Jiang. I’ll be at the train station on time the day after tomorrow.”

Secretary Jiang nodded, pulling out the train ticket he had purchased in advance from his pocket and handing it to her.

“Don’t miss the train,” he reminded.

After confirming the meeting time for the day after tomorrow, Gu Yihan turned and left the secretary’s office.

The morning of departure, Lu Huailin held his wife with a guilty look. “Honey, I’m sorry I can’t take you to the train station.”

Gu Yihan smiled lightly. “It’s nothing. Your work is more important.”

Since taking on the role of the independent regiment commander, Lu Huailin had been leaving early and returning late, always busy.

Even someone like her, who didn’t usually have access to news, knew he had been busy organizing the district’s major competitions, selecting outstanding soldiers from each battalion to join the independent regiment.

He held his wife tightly, eyes full of reluctance, and kissed her cheek.

“Don’t worry. He Shengli will take you to the Kun City train station.”

Gu Yihan paused and looked up at him. “Not Xiao Wu?”

Lu Huailin shook his head with a smile. “He Shengli will take over Xiao Wu’s duties from now on.”

Gu Yihan nodded, finally remembering that since giving birth, she hadn’t seen Xiao Wu at all.

Grandma Gu, holding the little one, came over worriedly. “When you leave, will Haohao have to stop breastfeeding?”

Gu Yihan first pushed Lu Huailin out, letting him go handle his own affairs.

Outside the courtyard, a few soldiers had already been waiting for a while.

Back in the bedroom, Gu Yihan kissed the little one’s cheek with a smile. “Mommy will bring you a present when I come back, okay?”

Lu Chenhao grinned, showing his four upper and lower teeth, and pronounced with puckered lips: “Ba~ ma~”

He laughed and said to Grandma Gu, “Grandma, there’s no shortage of milk at home, and I eat plenty of complementary foods too.”

Grandma Gu nodded knowingly. “Those things aren’t very nutritious anyway.”

Gu Yihan laughed. “Haohao doesn’t drink milk much anymore—only when he really wants it.”

After saying that, she began packing her handbag for the trip.

On the way to Kun City, Gu Yihan and He Shengli didn’t talk much.

At the train station entrance, Gu Yihan looked at her watch after waiting for a while, frowning.

Worried she might be cold, He Shengli asked, “Sister-in-law, do you want to get on the train and rest for a bit?”

“Officer Gu.”

Before Gu Yihan could reply, Secretary Jiang’s voice called out. She looked in that direction.

Coming into view was Cheng Bo, carrying a large package in each hand and a big backpack on his back.

Seeing that Gu Yihan only had a single shoulder bag, Secretary Jiang asked in puzzlement, “Officer Gu, are you bringing just this?”

Gu Yihan smiled and nodded, exchanged a few polite words with He Shengli, and then sent him off.

The station staff shouted loudly, “Hold on to your belongings!”

The three of them moved along with the crowd carrying large and small packages toward the platform.

Gu Yihan deftly weaved through the crowded passengers with her shoulder bag, found her seat according to the train ticket number, and sat down.

Secretary Jiang pushed through the crowd behind her and, seeing her seated, checked his ticket, smoothed his wrinkled clothes, and tucked his luggage under the seat.

Sitting opposite Gu Yihan, he asked, “Why did you walk so fast?”

Gu Yihan smiled, patting her bag beside her. “I didn’t bring much.”

Secretary Jiang glanced at Cheng Bo, who was still some distance away, and nodded. “Officer Gu makes a good point.”

Cheng Bo, carrying large and small packages, had already moved the backpack to his chest.

Rubbing against left and right, he finally reached Gu Yihan and Secretary Jiang, flopped down next to Secretary Jiang, and panted, complaining, “Why are there still so many people?”

Secretary Jiang gave him a sidelong glance, not indulging him. “Why is it only you who can take the train? Can’t the others?”

Cheng Bo’s expression darkened, and he snorted. “It’s because it’s your cousin; she insisted on bringing so many things for the family.”

Her family lacked nothing, yet she went through all this trouble making him bring these things back from Kun City.

Gu Yihan casually glanced at Secretary Jiang, who quickly rubbed his eyes.

Just now, she thought she had seen a flicker of annoyance in his eyes when he looked at Cheng Bo.

What was going on?

After waiting a while, seeing no interaction between the two, Gu Yihan’s gaze wandered idly over the other passengers.