Chapter 12: Had She Known She Was Coming, She Wouldn't Have Come

The commotion at the main gate was significant. Even with the sound of machinery operating throughout the mine, Gao Qinghe’s splash of blue stood out starkly against the dark, coal-dusted yard.

It was hard for anyone not to notice her.

Curious, appraising, and stunned gazes swept toward her.

Gao Qinghe remained calm and composed, asking everyone she saw.

"Excuse me, where can I find Boss Jiang?"

"Yes, that’s right, I’m here specifically to see him."

"We made an appointment in advance."

Before long, a large group of workers who had just come up from the mine for a shift change was trailing behind the siblings.

They were eager to lead the way for them.

Surrounded by a large group of men, Gao Qingmiao was so nervous his palms were slick with sweat.

But then he remembered the mission he carried for the whole family.

He immediately puffed out his chest, raised his chin, and stiffened his face.

With him here, not even a male mosquito would be allowed within a meter of his eldest sister.

The miners were surprisingly well-behaved, contrary to Gao Qinghe’s expectations.

She observed carefully and realized that the troublemakers and old hands she remembered from her past life were nowhere to be seen.

This batch of workers who had just come up consisted of a small group of young men in their twenties, and a majority of middle-aged men with families of their own.

Gao Qinghe had never met a twenty-five-year-old Jiang Baohai in her previous life.

She mused that perhaps at this point in time, those troublemakers hadn't arrived at the mine yet.

Just as the unsuspecting miners were about to lead the siblings to the boss’s office, a young man in a hard hat, looking like a supervisor, hurried over.

As soon as he arrived, the boisterous workers fell silent.

One by one, they respectfully called out, "Director Fang."

Director Fang waved his hand, dismissing the miners.

Once they were gone, he put on an overly exaggerated smile and asked

"You must be the girl from the Gao family in the Shanghe Village second detachment, right?"

Hearing this, the siblings felt a surge of joy.

They had finally found the right person.

Director Fang said Boss Jiang was still busy with something and led them to a small cubicle next to the canteen, telling them to sit and wait for a while.

Up to this point, the siblings felt everything was within the realm of normalcy, and the atmosphere was quite harmonious.

Seeing Director Fang being hurriedly called away, Gao Qingmiao immediately began to excitedly examine the dark coal mine.

The mining site was on the other side; this area was mainly for the workers' canteen and dormitories.

There were also two rows of small, grey-brick bungalows that looked like offices for the leadership.

Coal is the kind of thing that stains everything it touches.

With so many people and vehicles moving about, there wasn't a single clean patch of ground.

The workers' canteen clearly followed the old-fashioned state-run communal dining model, with a tiny serving window.

There weren't many seats in the canteen, just a few long tables paired with long benches. As it was almost mealtime, the head cook began stir-frying.

Waves of rich, meaty aromas drifted out.

Gao Qingmiao took a deep sniff and said in surprise, "Sis, the food here looks pretty good!"

Gao Qinghe replied absentmindedly, "Take a good look, look around more."

Who knows, she might be working here in the future.

With her sharp eyes, she scanned toward the main gate of the mine.

A neatly dressed middle-aged woman was following behind a shy girl of seventeen or eighteen.

The two were following Director Fang, heading toward the canteen.

Gao Qinghe narrowed her eyes dangerously, calculating rapidly in her heart.

Soon, she conjured up a smile.

As voices approached, Gao Qingmiao turned his head toward the door.

He hurriedly nudged his eldest sister to warn her.

"Sis, I think we got this household registration book out too early."

Gao Qinghe: "Did you eat manure this morning?"

Your mouth is so foul!

"If you can't speak properly, then don't speak. Stop boosting others' morale and go wander off somewhere else if you have nothing to do."

Gao Qinghe shot him a glance.

Gao Qingmiao quickly covered his own mouth and shrank to the side.

He went back to watching the canteen cook stir-fry.

Director Fang brought the others in.

Not expecting anyone to be inside, the middle-aged woman was startled.

When she saw Gao Qinghe sitting on the chair, beyond being stunned, her expression gradually turned ugly.

She grabbed the shy girl behind her, who was walking in with her head down, and stopped her.

Frowning, she whispered a question to Director Fang, who was smiling like a Maitreya Buddha

"Who is this in the room?"

Director Fang’s eyes darted around, his brain spinning rapidly, trying to figure out how to answer without getting scolded.

He cursed the boss in his heart!

But before he could speak, Gao Qinghe stood up first.

She was beautiful, and her smile was a sight to behold.

She asked generously, "Auntie, are you here for a blind date too?"

"I am too. It’s fine, it’s just right that we’re all here together."

She pointed to the empty chair beside her and gestured, "Come in and sit."

You don't hit a smiling person, especially when the other party wasn't an enemy.

The middle-aged woman glared fiercely at Director Fang and pulled the girl to sit down.

Just as she was about to open her mouth to probe Gao Qinghe, Gao Qinghe’s concerned gaze had already landed on the shy girl.

"Little sister, do you want to go first, or should I?"

The girl grabbed the middle-aged woman’s hand in distress.

The thought of having to answer whether she wanted to go on a blind date with Boss Jiang first or after her—

Saying such things felt like something only those "open" women who talked about kissing and dating every day would do.

She was so ashamed and annoyed she felt like she was burning up.

Yet, Gao Qinghe’s eyes were full of concern, like a caring older neighbor.

The girl glanced at her quickly and felt even more ashamed for having lumped her in with those other women earlier.

She wanted to leave. No, she wanted to run!

If she had known she was coming, she wouldn't have come at all.

Gao Qinghe said understandingly, "It’s okay. Even though you came later, you can go first if you want. We’re just competing fairly, after all."

"Competing?" the girl asked blankly.

She had to compete?

Wasn't it supposed to be the man who takes the initiative?

She was expected to show favor to a man she had never met, who was seven or eight years her senior?

Oh my god!

The girl stood up abruptly. "Auntie, I don't want to see him anymore! I'm not doing it!"

She waved at Gao Qinghe and said, "You go ahead with the date, I’m not doing it."

She retreated so quickly that she knocked over her chair.

There was a loud "clatter" in the small cubicle; anyone outside would have thought a great battle had taken place.

Gao Qinghe helped her up helplessly. "Be careful."

The girl was so embarrassed she forgot to even say thank you.

"Wait a second."

Gao Qinghe took a clean handkerchief from her pocket, handed it to the girl, and whispered in her ear, "You have a piece of vegetable in your teeth."

Although Gao Qinghe could guarantee that no one else could have heard that besides the two of them, the girl’s face turned bright red instantly. She clutched the handkerchief to cover her mouth and turned to bolt out like she was fleeing.

A tall figure appeared out of nowhere.

The girl, rushing out blindly, hurriedly stepped aside and glanced up inadvertently.

She froze.

Guessing who this person might be, she had a total internal breakdown.

Not only did her face turn redder, but her eyes welled up with tears.

Covering her face with the handkerchief, she ran away crying.

Jiang Baohai raised an eyebrow, his narrow phoenix eyes filled with suspicion.

Was he really that scary?

The middle-aged woman hurried out after her, thinking to herself: *How utterly spineless.*

But, gone was gone. Even if she stayed, she wouldn't be a match for the girl in the room.

Besides, she had noticed that ever since Boss Jiang appeared, his eyes had been glued to that girl inside, unable to look away.

"Sigh~" The middle-aged woman looked at Boss Jiang, whose gaze was still fixed on the woman in the room, and let out a deep sigh.

Jiang Baohai spoke: "Fang Xiaoyu."

Director Fang, who had been acting as background scenery, looked over in confusion.

Seeing no reaction, Jiang Baohai reminded him in a low voice: "The red envelopes."

"Ah? Oh, right!" Fang Xiaoyu finally remembered.

He hurriedly took out the two red envelopes the boss had told him to prepare earlier and handed them to the middle-aged woman.

There were 200 yuan in each envelope.

One for her and one for the girl, as compensation for their travel expenses.