CHAPTER 104: CHAPTER 104: I ALSO LIKE MYSELF THIS WAY

Although everyone is a city resident, people are not the same.

Secretary Hu apparently hasn’t met such enthusiastic aunts before. He pushed up his glasses on his nose, ready to speak, when Lin Xiang chimed in, "Oh, you all misunderstood. This gentleman is Secretary Hu from the cotton spinning factory’s Director Chen. His surname is Hu. Secretary Hu already has a partner; he’s just helping me to carry back the fabrics Director Chen rewarded me with today."

"Comrade Lin, I didn’t..."

"Aunt Li, please do not say anything in front of my mom. If she hears about it, she’ll set me up with someone. Secretary Hu already has a partner; it wouldn’t be good to affect their relationship."

Aunt Li showed an "I understand" expression, leaned closer to Lin Xiang, and whispered, "Girl, could you spare some fabric for your aunt? Don’t worry, I’ve got plenty of eggs!"

Lin Xiang smiled, "Of course I can. I’ll sort them out when I get home. You can come over this afternoon to choose the fabrics."

"Great! You’re always so generous, my girl!"

After the cohorts of aunts dispersed, Secretary Hu finally spoke: "Comrade Lin, I think you misunderstood. I don’t have a partner, actually I..."

"Ah?" Lin Xiang pretended to be surprised, "Secretary Hu, you’re so excellent, and yet haven’t found a partner? That’s just wasting talent!"

Secretary Hu: Is "wasting talent" used like that?

"Comrade Lin, actually I..."

"So, what kind do you like? If you don’t mind, you can tell me, and I’ll introduce someone to you?"

Secretary Hu raised his hand to adjust his glasses, his cheeks and ears flushed red, "I happen to like someone like you."

Lin Xiang clapped her hands, "What a coincidence, isn’t it?"

"You also like..."

"I also like someone like myself!"

Secretary Hu’s delighted smile stiffened on his face but quickly became relieved.

Being a secretary proves he’s not someone foolish enough not to catch Lin Xiang’s indirect meaning.

She does not like him.

She even sensed his affection, choosing this indirect way to turn him down.

Secretary Hu was immensely grateful that Lin Xiang interrupted the words he was about to say, otherwise the awkwardness would have led to future silence between them!

He couldn’t help but glance at Lin Xiang again.

Comrade Lin was always so understanding, who wouldn’t like her?

Just as he finished speaking, they arrived at the Lin Family doorway. After Lin Xiang opened the door, Secretary Hu handed her the trolley, "I won’t go in. With no one else at your home, let’s avoid gossip."

"Alright." Lin Xiang dragged the trolley into the courtyard, unloaded the fabrics, then pulled the trolley back out to Secretary Hu, "Secretary Hu, I really appreciate your help today."

Secretary Hu smiled, "You brought in over ten million in foreign exchange orders for the cotton spinning factory; my bonus has significantly increased. It’s just a bit of help, not worth mentioning, don’t keep it in mind."

"I’ll head back then. If you need anything, you can call the cotton spinning factory."

"Okay."

After watching him leave, Lin Xiang went inside.

She picked out a few rolls of fabric she liked, kept two for making autumn clothes, and placed the remaining pieces in the living room.

Aunt Li was famously talkative; shortly she’d surely bring a fair amount of aunts over for fabric exchanges.

The ones kept were more than adequate, so Lin Xiang wasn’t stingy.

She had just sorted out the fabrics when Mrs. Lin returned.

Unlike yesterday, she was evidently in a good mood today, even humming a tune absentmindedly.

"Why are there more fabrics again? From the cotton spinning factory?"

"Yes. Did Yu Fang’s matter get resolved? Otherwise, such happiness from Mrs. Lin is unlikely."

Mrs. Lin proudly grunted, "They said Yu Fang is just a village girl, hasn’t studied, and her family conditions aren’t good, and she doesn’t have a stable job either. They refused, no matter what."

Although Lin Xiang doesn’t have a stable job, she’s Mianyang Town’s sole translator and brought orders for the cotton spinning factory; if she wants, she can definitely join the factory as a worker.

What’s more, she’s shown her face in front of the Township Party Secretary, that’s networking, her confidence!

This is why someone preferred Lin Xiang.

Lin Xiang looked at Mrs. Lin puzzled, "Yu Fang’s marriage didn’t work out, so why are you so happy?"

Mrs. Lin huffed, "Are you foolish? Your Aunt loves to compete with me. If Yu Fang’s marriage was successful, wouldn’t her tail fly to the sky? She likes to snatch my things, huh? Let her snatch, anyway, they don’t belong to her once taken."

Lin Xiang indeed couldn’t fathom Mrs. Lin’s mindset.

She cautiously asked Mrs. Lin, "You wouldn’t still want me to date that person, would you?"

She decided, if Mrs. Lin dared to utter a single ’yes,’ she’d overturn the table today!

Mrs. Lin curled her lip, "That guy’s immature, easily led away by Yu Fang, not firm at all. His family is realistic and snobby; how could I let you marry into such a household?"

"But this matter has made me realize: a girl’s looks mean nothing. She needs practical skills to show. I’ve decided, until you get into college, I won’t introduce anyone to you. Focus on your studies."

Lin Xiang decided to temporarily forgive Mrs. Lin for last night’s antics that annoyed her.

"Later, Aunt Li and others will come to exchange fabrics, you handle that, I’ll go cook. Are we having braised pork or twice-cooked pork tonight?"

"Can’t we have both?"

Lin Xiang: ...

"Okay, since I bought two pounds of meat."

"Then let’s have braised pork today, there’s no such thing as sharing the good fortune."

Lin Xiang swiftly divided the meat into two, "Hold on, didn’t you have a meal at the state-owned restaurant today?"

Speaking of this worsened Mrs. Lin’s mood, "I gave meat and grain tickets, but your Aunt was so generous, gave me a bowl of plain noodles, even without a slice of meat! The table had braised pork, but she wouldn’t let me have a bite!"

She was even more certain about what Lin Xiang said — Aunt Lin simply treated her as a blood pack to drain anytime!

Lin Xiang raised an eyebrow, "Did you spend any money today?"

"How could I! I’m not stupid. She was meeting a potential husband, why should I pay? Plus, if I spent money and wasn’t allowed to eat, I would overturn the table!"

Lin Xiang felt assured.

That’s genuinely Mrs. Lin’s style, allowing slight compromises elsewhere.

Robbing her food? Impossible!

After dinner, Lin Xiang urged Mrs. Lin to rest.

"Tomorrow is Saturday, a big market day; we need to go and set up a stall selling sweet potato starch."

"Alright. Just because you have a bonus doesn’t mean we stop earning. Eating away at wealth isn’t sensible! But since Lin Yun isn’t home, how will we two manage at the big market?"

Although they have trolleys, two big tubs with all the firewood would require quite an effort.