Even if the workers in Liberation Mine District didn’t buy anything, her goods wouldn’t go unsold. Feng Man suppressed her inner doubts, packed up the equipment with Dong Xiaojuan, and left. On the way, they settled on the ingredients and seasonings to replenish for tomorrow and hurried home to prepare a new batch of sauce.
In the spacious courtyard, the grapevines and peach trees that Cheng Lang had transplanted flourished with dense branches and leaves. He watered and fertilized them daily. Beside the water platform built next to the peach tree, Feng Man washed her hands clean and began mixing the braising spice packet and the sauce for the sesame flatbread meat filling.
She wrapped about a dozen spices in cheesecloth, tied them securely with thin string, and dropped one packet into each pot. That was all it took—the flavor came out perfectly balanced, neither too salty nor too bland.
As Feng Man busied herself, she heard movement at the front gate. She looked up and saw that Cheng Lang had returned.
He had set out for the mine early that morning, and Feng Man had figured he would be tied up until late at night.
But Cheng Lang’s face was grim with anger right now, his brows and eyes filled with displeasure. It didn’t quite match the image she had of her honest fiancé.
The man, who always kept his emotions hidden, said in a low voice, “You Jianyuan sabotaged your stall.”
“It really was him?” Feng Man didn’t stop mixing the sauce as she speculated, “Is he jealous of my good business, or what? It looks like he’s forcibly stopping the miners from buying food.”
“Because he resents me, he can’t stand the workers going to your stall either.”
Cheng Lang had spent six years in Liberation Mine District. Even after quitting, he still had connections there. When he heard today that You Jianyuan had issued that high-handed notice, he rarely lost his temper.
He could tolerate being targeted himself, but this time it had dragged Feng Man into it.
“Pfft.” Feng Man couldn’t help but laugh. She found it utterly ridiculous. “Is this guy in elementary school? Acting like a kid throwing a tantrum at his age.”
“You’re not angry?” Cheng Lang had endured too much malice from childhood to adulthood and could usually process it himself. But when it involved someone he cared about, his anger surged.
Feng Man brushed it off lightly. “I just find it funny. Besides, I can’t control the workers in the mine district anyway. If customers want to buy, they buy. If not, oh well.”
Her stall’s goods were never in short supply anyway. Even without customers from Liberation Mine District, demand still outstripped supply.
Feng Man even thought she could take it easy and rest more, without working so hard.
But while it didn’t affect her much, being targeted for no reason was a different story. Feng Man finished mixing all the sauces, enough to last a week smoothly. She looked up at Cheng Lang. “Of course, we still need to strike back!”
Cheng Lang’s counterattacks tended to be ruthless and underhanded, while Feng Man’s were straightforward and bright.
Over the next week, Feng Man made deliveries of food to Cheng Lang’s mine district every few days with Dong Xiaojuan. These were official purchases for the miners, but the truck always took a detour. The aromas wafted from Liberation Mine District entrance all the way past the Red Mountain excavation site led by You Jianyuan, finally reaching the Laifeng Mountain excavation site.
The rich sesame flatbread meat fragrance, the overpowering braised pork aroma, and the enticing stir-fried noodles scent competed to spread everywhere, nearly perfuming the air.
Meanwhile, the workers in Liberation Mine District grumbled as they choked down the blackened, lumpy cafeteria slop. It was impossible to swallow.
They worked ten or more hours a day, all heavy labor, and counted on these meals to fill their bellies—only to get this garbage.
Guo Da Hai had suffered for days straight. Now, unable to resist the tantalizing smells anymore, he slammed his lunchbox on the table and vented furiously, “Damn You Jianyuan! We bust our asses for the mine district, and not only does he eat well while we starve, he even controls what we spend our own money on for a decent bite! All day long, he feeds us this crap! Yours truly can’t take it anymore!”
One stone sparked a massive uproar. Long-pent-up dissatisfaction and frustration erupted in an instant. Several workers banded together, at the end of their patience, and marched to confront the excavation team leader, demanding an explanation from You Jianyuan!
“Master’s wife, this is payment for the last four deliveries—five hundred and sixty yuan total.” He Chunsheng handled settling the accounts with Feng Man and couldn’t resist gossiping about the big drama in the neighboring mine district.
Feng Man pocketed the money and asked curiously, “Things really kicked off?”
“Yeah!” He Chunsheng slapped his thigh excitedly. “I heard Liberation Mine District had a riot yesterday. Seventy or eighty miners showed up demanding answers from You Jianyuan. Why couldn’t they eat their fill? Why couldn’t they spend their own money on good food? Why had they complained so many times about the lousy cafeteria food, and nothing changed!”
Having worked in Liberation Mine District for a few years himself, He Chunsheng deeply sympathized. “That cafeteria slop is truly awful. I hear the cafeteria has plenty of oil and grease—the guy running it is a relative of You Jianyuan’s family.”
Feng Man clicked her tongue in amazement. Just how deeply had the You family infiltrated the mine district?
As the two gossiped enthusiastically about the neighbor’s scandal, familiar footsteps approached the duty room door.
“Master!” He Chunsheng called out, drawing Feng Man’s glance back.
Cheng Lang saw the two similarly aged people turn to look and simply instructed with lowered brows, “Go check if your Brother Hua needs help over there.”
“Oh! Right!” He Chunsheng dashed out promptly. It wasn’t until he was a few meters away that he realized he had just come from Brother Hua’s side—why go back again?
Feng Man hadn’t gotten her fill of gossip yet. With He Chunsheng gone, she naturally turned to Cheng Lang, her eyes glued to him as she pressed, “How’s it going with You Jianyuan? I heard the workers revolted demanding an explanation… what now…”
Cheng Lang bent slightly at the waist and yanked off his somewhat dirtied black tank top. His broad shoulders and narrow waist gleamed with a light wheat tone as he stood bare-chested before Feng Man for a moment before slipping on a clean tank top.
His robust muscles flexed vigorously with the motions of removing and donning the shirt—powerful and toned. His fit physique was on full display, especially when he spread his arms to pull on the shirt, his shoulders and back broad and firm, radiating raw masculinity.
Feng Man’s probing questions cut off for an instant. She silently averted her gaze before continuing, “Do you have any inside info?”
“Of course.” Cheng Lang finished changing and stood before Feng Man, his tone even. “Way more than that kid He Chunsheng knows.”
Feng Man’s eyes lit up. “Spill it—what’s the situation now?”
“Yesterday the workers protested. You Jianyuan thought he could suppress it, but he underestimated how long they’d endured. It wasn’t something a few words from him could dismiss. It escalated until the whole factory’s workers were protesting. You Changgui finally stepped in, scolded You Jianyuan a bit, soothed everyone, and barely settled it.”
You Jianyuan was arrogant and had never taken the workers’ voices seriously. But when over a thousand factory workers rioted, no one could bear the consequences.
The mine director was away on business out of province, so deputy director You Changgui held real power. He played both sides, then privately reprimanded his nephew afterward, telling him not to be too eager for quick gains, especially not to anger so many workers.
No matter how frustrated, You Jianyuan had to follow orders this time. He needed to make amends and win back some favor among the workers.
The root of the issue lay with Feng Man’s stall. Out of personal grudge against Cheng Lang, You Jianyuan had lashed out at his wife’s stall, forbidding miners from buying there. Now, to salvage his reputation and support, he naturally had to start with Feng Man’s stall.
You Changgui sighed and earnestly advised his nephew, “Jianyuan, nothing should be rushed. You look down on those workers, but remember: one worker has no power, but a hundred or a thousand united—that force isn’t something you or I can withstand. We must resolve this before the director returns. Properly soothe the workers.”
Before his rarely angered second uncle You Changgui, You Jianyuan made a solemn pledge. “Second Uncle, don’t worry. I’ll definitely placate the workers. It’s just about some food, right? They’re mad I wouldn’t let them buy from Cheng Lang’s wife’s stall—so I’ll have Cheng Lang’s wife make them a big feast right away.”
In front of the workers gathered outside demanding answers, You Changgui soothed them while You Jianyuan cooperated in shifting blame. “Comrades, this was all a misunderstanding. I was worried about everyone getting sick from street food, but my subordinates garbled the message. Somehow it turned into us banning you from buying sesame flatbreads and braised pork from that stall. Rest assured, nothing like that happened. I’ve docked three months’ pay from Little Liu who passed on the message. Plus, I’ll personally arrange a feast for everyone. Since you all love that stall’s sesame flatbreads and braised pork, tomorrow—every worker in the factory gets them! A thousand sesame flatbreads and five basins of braised pork!”
That very afternoon at five, as Feng Man and Dong Xiaojuan sold food at the stall, a slick young man in a suit with a slicked-back hair appeared.
Despite his fine attire, clearly expensive at a glance, Feng Man spotted a glint of sly cunning in his shrewd, calculating eyes.
You Jianyuan stood arrogantly, a flash of surprise crossing his eyes. He hadn’t expected Cheng Lang to marry such a beautiful wife…
In an instant, he lifted his chin, his peach-blossom eyes narrowed in contempt from on high. “You two—tomorrow, make us a thousand sesame flatbreads for the mine district, plus a hundred jin of braised pork. Make the taste good; this is to treat the workers, so put some effort in.”
With that, You Jianyuan turned to leave. If those bumpkin workers wanted street food, he’d toss them this petty favor.
As for Cheng Lang’s wife, handing her such a huge order was already generous.
“Did you hear me?” You Jianyuan’s voice turned icy.
“I heard.” Feng Man smiled faintly. Seeing You Jianyuan nod in satisfaction, she added, “But no dice. I’m not taking the order.”
“What did you say?” You Jianyuan couldn’t believe his ears. Such a massive order, and Feng Man refused?
“I said no dice. Not taking it.” Feng Man repeated with a smile.
“You… what do you have tomorrow? Postpone it. Turning down this much money—are you insane?”
“I’m resting tomorrow.” Feng Man shook out her rag and flicked it a few times toward You Jianyuan, shooing nonexistent mosquitoes. “So I’m not available to make money. Got a problem? Doesn’t matter if you do.”
The overbearing You Jianyuan: “…？？？”