CHAPTER 441: CHAPTER 247: SCAMMER (PART 5)_2

"Dad’s fault, dad’s fault, I shouldn’t have sighed." Mr. Gong apologized repeatedly, looking much more cheerful than the last time Qin Huai saw him, half-dead-like in bed in his memory.

"But Xiao Liang, are the doctors in Jinling reliable? I haven’t heard of anyone in our factory who had a stroke being able to walk again. I hope we aren’t wasting money for no results."

"You finally landed a big deal at the trade fair, and the factory granted you an 800-yuan bonus, with an additional 400-yuan subsidy from the sales department. This money was supposed to be saved for your wedding, considering there’s been nothing new at home for years, and you don’t even have a watch though you’ve been made permanent."

"Running around with no watch all year, the leaders of the procurement department might look down on you."

"Moreover, you finally won Xiao Guo back, and her parents agreed to the marriage plan for next year. We need to furnish the house with new furniture, and a bicycle and radio are must-buys. If you don’t want a watch, you must at least buy one for Xiao Guo. And there’s the betrothal gift; everything costs money." Mr. Gong started to ramble.

Gong Liang sighed and said, "Dad, I landed that deal at the trade fair without a watch."

"You just focus on your treatment and stop overthinking. Didn’t the doctor say that overthinking will slow recovery? If you recover well, you will be able to walk again, and that’s more important than anything."

"When mom and I went to Mingzhu’s house with gifts, mom assured Mingzhu’s parents that your illness could be cured, and you would definitely be able to walk again later. You can’t let mom break her promise, or else people might say we tricked someone into marriage, right?" Gong Liang switched to full persuasion mode.

Mr. Gong was startled and quickly said, "That can’t happen, that can’t happen."

"What did the last doctor say I needed to practice? Exercise, practice more. Dad will definitely treat this seriously, not overthink, and stand up before you and Xiao Guo get married."

Mrs. Gong, who was still cooking porridge, helplessly smiled and shook her head listening to Mr. Gong.

The aunt from next door heard the commotion, came out with a basin of clothes, and laughed, "Brother Gong, now who in the Silk Factory doesn’t envy you for having such a good son like Xiao Liang? Xiao Liang landed so many deals alone, benefitting the whole factory. The previously owed wages, bonuses, and allowances have all been paid, and there was an extra bonus. When my Old Xia got paid, he went crazy, telling me he had never seen so much money."

"A few days ago, I heard people saying the director was asking around for doctors who could treat strokes. Many people thought someone in the director’s family had a stroke."

"Your good fortune is yet to come."

Mr. Gong laughed heartily at this.

The aunt smiled at Gong Liang, "Xiao Liang, you focus on work. If it gets sunny later, I’ll have my two boys take your dad downstairs to enjoy the sun."

"Thank you, Aunt Xia."

"No need for thanks. Now our Silk Factory relies on you; I’ve heard about it. In a while, you need to go to Jinling to negotiate a deal. Do it well; my Old Xia’s bonus depends on your sales department."

Gong Liang smiled, grabbed his bag, and headed to work. Mrs. Gong slipped a boiled egg into his hand as he left. Gong Liang strolled leisurely, eating as he walked.

The closer he got to the Silk Factory, the more people recognized Gong Liang.

Along the way, everyone greeted him, calling him all sorts of names: Xiao Gong, Xiao Liang, Gong the sales guy, Gong the clerk. Someone even stopped their bicycle to offer him a ride, but he declined.

It was evident that Gong Liang wasn’t boasting; he did land a huge deal at the trade fair, saving the Silk Factory from dire straits.

Gong Liang now was no longer the ordinary Xiao Gong who just got permanent in the sales department; he was the renowned top salesman in the Silk Factory.

They say people are jubilant when experiencing good news. Gong Liang, after hitting rock bottom and climbing out, naturally was springing with joy, walking with a straightened back.

Gong Liang had his breakfast in the Silk Factory’s canteen. Although the Silk Factory was doing well, the canteen was still as stingy as ever, offering whole grain buns with too much rye flour mixed in and thin rice porridge for breakfast.

Thanks to his familiarity with the servers, he managed to get a hidden batch: whole grain buns mixed with corn and white flour.

The bun’s appearance was worse than his family’s pickled cucumbers. Whether it was because of too much corn flour or not, the buns had a pitted surface.

After breakfast, Gong Liang went to work in the sales department.

In the sales department, Mr. Chen was leisurely drinking tea and reading the newspaper, all calm and serene.

Seeing Gong Liang, Mr. Chen got up with a smile as if seeing a treasure and handed Gong Liang a boiled egg, asking, "Xiao Gong, you don’t need to run around these days. Take a good rest, replenish your energy, and prepare for the deal in Jinling in August."

"I know, sir. Last time at the trade fair, I made it a point to get in touch with colleagues from big factories in Jinling, Shanghai, Beiping, and Shenzhen. I’ve been corresponding with them by letter."

"I just need some funding from the factory. I plan to visit Jinling soon."

"Sure, sure." Mr. Chen nodded repeatedly, "Approved, everything can be approved. If anyone doesn’t approve your funding, I’ll deal with them."

Gong Liang started working.

The tasks were the same as Qin Huai saw last time: reading newspapers, collecting information, and writing letters.

What was different now was that while he was working, no one would disturb him without reason, and colleagues passing by would tiptoe to avoid disrupting him.

During lunch at the canteen, colleagues from the sales department would gather around him to get some perks from him so the servers would give them extra good dishes.

After work, as usual, Gong Liang went to the canteen to eat first. Upon leaving the office, he ran into Guo Mingzhu waiting for him in the corridor.

Qin Huai was stunned when he saw Guo Mingzhu.

Guo Mingzhu was truly a stunning beauty in her youth, with an oval face, big eyes, tall stature, slim figure, and fair, translucent skin. She was a dancer in the cultural troupe, and with her hair tied up, even in ordinary long pants and sleeves, she stood out in a crowd with her presence.

The kind you could spot immediately.

At this moment, Qin Huai felt a bit jealous of Gong Liang.

Buddy, aren’t you supposed to be going through a tribulation? You seem to be living the life of a novel protagonist.

"We have braised pork in the canteen today, so I brought you a meal." Guo Mingzhu said with a smile, revealing two dimples.

The pair walked together to the canteen.

"How is uncle’s recovery?" Guo Mingzhu asked.

"Quite good." Gong Liang smiled, "His hands are stronger than before, but he still can’t move below the waist. The doctor said it can’t be rushed, it has to progress slowly. My dad just keeps thinking going to Jinling for treatment is too costly, so he mentions it every now and then."

"This morning, I scared him by saying that last time mom and I went to your house, we promised your parents that he would definitely be able to walk before our wedding, and that was why they agreed to it. I figure after this, my dad won’t mention it for some months."

Guo Mingzhu laughed, covering her mouth, "Why do you scare uncle like that?"

"My mom can’t stay home with him all day, and he stays home alone overthinking. Scaring him gives him something to do."

"By the way, it’s my birthday tomorrow, and Master..."

"I know, I know, as if I wouldn’t remember your birthday; I’ve bought movie tickets. After work, I’ll take you to a movie!" Guo Mingzhu thought he was reminding her not to forget their date tomorrow.

Gong Liang paused, "The movie might not happen; tomorrow Master Jing is having us for a meal at the State owned Restaurant."

Guo Mingzhu was thrilled, "What a nice surprise!"

"Do we need food tickets for eating at the State owned Restaurant? I don’t have many left; I’ll get some from my parents tonight."

"What’s on the menu tomorrow? Braised pork? Soy sauce elbows? If I had known, I wouldn’t have bought a bit of braised pork today, and saved the food tickets for tomorrow."

Gong Liang was amused by Guo Mingzhu’s way of thinking, "Master Jing is buying the ingredients and cooking himself, no food tickets needed. He said tomorrow is my first birthday after tough times, and it should be properly celebrated."

"Yes, it should be properly celebrated." Guo Mingzhu nodded emphatically, exchanged a glance with Gong Liang, and they both smiled.

Standing on the side, Qin Huai:...

This is like the life of a protagonist in a feel-good novel.

Successful career, smooth love life, beautiful wife, and a big meal tomorrow.

Watching this, he was grinding his teeth.