Chapter 9: The Gold Ring in the Swallow's Nest

Meng Xia was on the verge of tears.

Could she say that she had originally wanted Qiao Ge to have a job so she could marry into a decent family?

Regardless, Old Liang was the vice-chairman of the labor union; if she spoke to him, he should have been able to arrange an apprenticeship for Qiao Ling.

But now that the engagement was broken, none of those plans would work.

Lu Qiao Ge looked at the heartbroken Lu Qiao Ling and couldn't help but clarify in a soft tone: "The job at the neighborhood office isn't guaranteed. Thirty people are taking the exam, and only two will be kept. Twenty-eight people are going to be cut."

Lu Qiao Ling was stunned for a moment. Just as she was about to say something, Meng Xia stood up and said to Lu Qiao Ge, "I'll explain it to them. You hurry to the factory and find your father; tell him to come home at noon."

She then shoved a lunchbox into Lu Qiao Ge's hands. "And have your father bring back a meat dish while you're at it."

Everyone just stood there talking without feeling the weight of the situation.

Was she not anxious?

Her third daughter was in the countryside; she felt the pain more than anyone.

The family housing compound was a half-hour walk from the military factory.

Lu Qiao Ge stood in front of the main gate of the 516 Military Factory holding the lunchbox. Access here was restricted; one needed a pass to enter or leave.

After registering at the guard booth and setting down the lunchbox, she thanked the young guard. Just as Lu Qiao Ge was about to turn and head home, she suddenly heard the roar of a car engine in the distance.

The low, deep hum grew from far to near, as if stirring a faint ripple in the air.

Lu Qiao Ge was slightly startled and instinctively looked back, only to see a military-green jeep speeding along the factory's main road.

She stepped back neatly, her heels hitting the concrete steps of the guard booth. In her peripheral vision, she saw the guards straighten their backs.

The jeep stopped steadily in front of the gate. After a short screech of brakes, the driver's side window slowly rolled down, revealing a sharp-featured profile.

The man wore a crisp military uniform, his shoulder boards gleaming with a cold metallic luster under the sun. His deep eyes shifted slightly from behind the window, his gaze sweeping over the guard booth and lingering on Lu Qiao Ge for a fleeting moment.

Lu Qiao Ge raised an eyebrow, thinking to herself, *What a coincidence, it’s actually Qin Hengzhi.*

She observed him discreetly with a subtle gaze.

Her sparkling peach-blossom eyes flashed with admiration. *My, he really is the number one handsome man of the military factory.*

He was truly good-looking!

"Representative Qin!" The guards immediately stood at attention and saluted.

The guard nearby also quickly stepped forward, skillfully pulling open the large iron gate.

Qin Hengzhi nodded slightly, then his gaze fell back onto Lu Qiao Ge, his eyes calm and bottomless.

The guard hurriedly said, "Reporting to Representative Qin, this is the daughter of Master Lu Da from Workshop One. She is here to inform Master Lu that there is an emergency at home and to ask him to return home at noon."

Lu Qiao Ge hadn't expected to run into him, and it didn't seem right to pretend she didn't know him.

She took the opportunity to smile, her eyes curving into crescents as she thanked him: "Representative Qin, thank you for saving me."

The two guards were stunned.

Could this beautiful young woman be the person the leader saved yesterday?

Qin Hengzhi’s expression shifted slightly. His deep voice sounded like snow falling softly on pine needles, polite yet distant: "You're welcome."

He had seen the girl’s subtle observation of him just now.

But her eyes were clean and bright, which prevented him from feeling any resentment.

Qin Hengzhi glanced at Lu Qiao Ge and gave her an almost imperceptible nod.

He then shifted gears, the jeep’s engine roared with a low rumble, and the tires crunched over the ground as it slowly drove into the factory area.

Lu Qiao Ge withdrew her gaze, her smile fading bit by bit. She smacked her lips—Representative Qin seemed to be a cold beauty?

Lu Qiao Ge turned to leave.

Jobs were hard to find these days; she still had to put in some effort with the neighborhood office.

In this era, having a stable job was extremely important.

Lu Qiao Ge estimated the distance and decided to check on Qi Shuang’s place first.

Meanwhile, in the Workshop One breakroom.

Master Lu, his colleagues, and several apprentices had just come off the production line.

After wiping away his sweat, he sat down with his large tea mug to drink some water. Old Dong’s eyes flickered, and he sat down next to him with a grin.

Remembering his nephew’s request, he asked, "Old Lu, did your Qiao Ge really break off the engagement with Liang Aishu?"

Old Lu was firm: "Broken off. There is no relationship anymore. Don't mention him to me again; it's bad luck."

Old Dong nodded immediately: "Fine, we won't mention him. Then, what do you think of my nephew?"

Old Lu frowned: "Which nephew?"

Old Dong: "My eldest nephew, Dong Jianguo. He has his eye on your second daughter. Why don't we become in-laws..."

Old Lu was instantly furious.

Dong Jianguo was from Workshop Five, divorced, thin and small, had a bad temper, and already had two children.

He gritted his teeth and cursed: "Old Dong, you really are a piece of trash. Even if my daughter broke off her engagement, she would never become a stepmother to someone else's kids!"

Old Dong was unhappy at being scolded and spoke without thinking: "Your daughter is already a reject; you're dreaming if you think she'll find a good young man. She should be lucky anyone wants her at all. Even then, my sister-in-law might not even agree to it."

Old Lu was a veteran worker and very restrained; he couldn't hit someone in the workshop. He suppressed his anger and stared at Old Dong with a sinister look: "You just wait."

Old Dong regretted his words, but he said huffily: "If you don't agree, then you don't agree. Why are you acting so tough with me?"

Old Lu was incredibly stifled and walked out in a huff.

So what if the engagement was broken? She was still his second daughter, and he would never settle for less even if she couldn't find a good match.

What if she didn't marry?

Just then, Old Lu looked up and saw the handsome Representative Qin not far away, holding documents and reading as he walked.

He was followed by several factory leaders.

Old Lu thought of an idiom: *A crane in a flock of chickens.*

He thought with some regret, *If only his family background were a bit more ordinary, I would do anything to introduce my second daughter to him.*

They were both good-looking; their future children would be beautiful too.

What a pity, this young man’s background was too good.

He wondered which girl would be worthy of such an outstanding young man.

At this moment, Qin Hengzhi walked over. He had always been kind to the veteran workers of the factory.

Seeing Master Lu Da, he stopped in his tracks.

He set aside his cold demeanor and said gently: "Master Lu, I ran into your second daughter at the main gate just now. She said to tell you to go home at noon. Oh, and there is a lunchbox left at the guard booth."

Old Lu looked at the sharp-browed, bright-eyed Qin Hengzhi, a bit slow to react, but he still responded with a full smile.

After the factory leaders left, Old Lu finally processed what happened, his heart thumping.

They usually ate at the factory canteen at noon. He had only taken leave to go home yesterday because his daughter had fallen into the water.

It had only been a day—had something happened at home again?

—

Qi Shuang didn't go to work today. She had been beaten by her mother-in-law yesterday. Although she had fought back, the old hag was elderly, so she hadn't dared to truly retaliate.

She waited for the swelling on her face to go down before pushing the door open to go out.

She wasn't in a good mood. When she and Yao Kai married, they were supposed to be allocated a house, but Yao Kai had given it to his older brother.

The place they were renting from the housing authority wasn't large.

But as she pushed open her door, she saw a young girl standing at her doorstep, staring blankly at a swallow's nest under the eaves.

She wore a blue and white checkered short-sleeved shirt and overalls with straps. Her two dark braids hung over her chest. She was as pretty as a picture, standing tall and graceful.

Qi Shuang frowned. She didn't think she had ever seen such a beautiful girl before.

It was almost noon, and the sounds of pots and pans clattering from the neighbors were growing louder.

But amidst those sounds, there was also the sound of swallows.

【The Li family is still looking for that gold ring. That human brought several people and even dug out the rat's nest, but they didn't find it. They don't know that Old Mrs. Li's gold ring is in our nest.】

【That human even told her mother that she might as well spend money to buy a new one for Old Mrs. Li so she can finish the task. I'll wait until she buys it, then I'll snatch the gold ring over.】

Lu Qiao Ge glanced at the house next door. That was the Li family's home.