Fortunately, the seedling cultivation period wasn’t long. Otherwise, Bai Jiu was afraid she wouldn’t have been able to persevere.
Moreover, the team leader wasn’t completely malicious. If he had deliberately tripped her up, her hopes of earning ten work points would have been dashed.
It was time for task reassignment again. This time, Gouwa’s mother immediately came to Bai Jiu’s side, asking Bai Jiu to go plant soybeans with her. Although it was a bit more exhausting, it yielded eight work points, making it a decent task. Furthermore, by working together, they wouldn’t have to worry about lacking company.
Bai Jiu was naturally more than happy to agree.
"We’ve finally fulfilled the country’s expectations. Mr. Gao, I heard you’re taking a leave of absence. Are you going home to visit your family?" The people in the laboratory chatted in a relaxed manner while they worked.
Hearing his name, a scruffy man looked up in a bit of a daze. He was none other than Gao Zhijun, the man who had been tackling the engine technology of Bear Country. After days and nights of endless experiments, he had finally figured out the right approach. Now, he was just waiting for the practical trials. If it passed, this engine could be put into production and use.
"Yeah, I haven’t been back for a few years." Calculating the time, it had been nearly four years since he last returned home. The last time was when she gave birth.
He wondered what the two children looked like now, and whether she had missed him. He sent his salary back every month, but he didn’t know if she could bear to spend it. In his heart, he always worried about her.
"A few years? That’s way too long. Mr. Gao, doesn’t your wife have any complaints about that?" The person asking the question was Li Zhiguo, Mr. Gao’s assistant.
He was also a married man. Since they had been so busy recently, he hadn’t been home for an entire month. The moment he returned, his wife complained endlessly, and he had suffered quite a bit for it.
Complaints? Did she have any? She probably did. They had been married for over five years, yet the number of days they had actually spent together could be counted on two hands. He owed her too much.
Fortunately, his leave this time was very long. He could go back and properly spend time with her. Furthermore, once he returned from this mission, he would likely be promoted, allowing him to finally bring her and the children to live with him.
Back home, he had always known about his parents’ blatant favoritism. He knew even better that his parents treated her poorly. But what could he do? His status hadn’t been high enough to bring her along. He could only hand over a portion of his salary to his parents, hoping that for the sake of the money, they would treat her a bit better.
He harbored a secret, one he had accidentally overheard when he was very young. If not for the changing of times that followed, he might have...
"Mr. Gao, Mr. Gao," Li Jianbang called out several times upon seeing Mr. Gao zone out. "Mr. Gao, are you alright?"
Li Jianbang was quite worried. Although he was just an assistant, if anything happened to Mr. Gao, he would inevitably be punished. If Mr. Gao was sick, he needed to be even more attentive.
Gao Zhijun snapped out of his daze. "I’m fine," he said, shaking his head before looking back down at the documents in his hands.
Seeing him like this, Li Jianbang didn’t ask any further and instead hurried to finish the work on hand. He had a date with his wife to watch a movie tonight. Thank goodness he was a local. If he had been in Mr. Gao’s shoes, he would have been miserable.
After the day’s work ended, Gao Zhijun had just stepped out of the laboratory when an older man called out to him.
"Zhijun, wait a moment." The one who spoke was the director of the mechanical institute within this research institute. He was also an old friend who had a great relationship with Gao Zhijun’s teacher.
"Is there something the He Institute needs?" Gao Zhijun was usually a cold and aloof person, but upon seeing a familiar face, the smile on his face warmed up a fraction.
"You brat, can’t I come look for you if there’s nothing going on?" Mr. He was an old man around sixty years of age. He poured his heart and soul into his work, even eating and sleeping at the institute. "Come on, your Auntie He bought pig trotters today and wants you to come over for dinner."
He knew his wife liked Zhijun, but Mr. He still felt incredibly sour that she had bought meat specifically for him.
Gao Zhijun found it hard to refuse Auntie He’s kindness. "Alright."
"You brat." Seeing him agree so readily, Mr. He flew into a jealous rage. "Are you saying you would’ve refused if I was the one inviting you?"
Gao Zhijun smiled but didn’t reply.
On the way, the director of the He Institute still couldn’t help but talk to him about the recent experiment.
"The results will be out tomorrow or the day after. Are you excited?" Mr. He’s personality was much livelier than Gao Zhijun’s.
"Since we’ve already succeeded, there’s nothing to be excited about. I’m only waiting for the results so I can go home to visit my family." He already knew about what happened last time, and he didn’t know how things were at home now.
Especially her. Raising two children all by herself, without him around, would she still stay faithful to him? Even though he had mentally prepared himself, he still hoped she was waiting for him.
"You brat." Mr. He’s mouth twitched. "Knowing you’d be worried about your family, I already prepared your leave."
How could he not approve the leave? His old friend called him every single day to rush him, acting as if he was terrified Mr. He would keep the man here permanently. Hmph. He had plenty of talent here at the institute!
Upon hearing this, Gao Zhijun smiled, as warm and refreshing as a spring breeze. "Thank you to the He Institute."
When they arrived at the compound of the He Family, Gao Zhijun immediately caught a whiff of a familiar aroma. He had eaten Aunt He’s cooking many times before, and he recognized her culinary skills the moment he smelled it. He was in for a treat tonight. However, compared to his own wife, Aunt He’s cooking skills were still a bit lacking. But he wouldn’t dare say that out loud.
"Come in. Why are you standing there like an idiot? Are you trying to get me scolded?" Mr. He had also smelled the food, and his heart was terribly sour with jealousy. Consequently, he didn’t give Gao Zhijun a good look.
Gao Zhijun was already used to this.
As soon as he entered the house, Gao Zhijun was met with the doting care of an elderly woman. This was a kind of affection he had never experienced growing up; he was deeply attached to it and reluctant to distance himself from it. This was also the main reason why he had visited so frequently during his more than half a year here.
"Thank you for your hard work, Aunt He."
"You child, why are you always so polite?"
After dinner, Gao Zhijun was asked by Aunt He to stay the night. Their children all had their own jobs and were rarely home. With just the two elders around, the house felt lonely, but having Gao Zhijun there made things lively.
"By the way, when you go back this time, you’ll be able to bring your wife and children to stay by your side, right?" Aunt He was very mindful of the wife and children Gao Zhijun always talked about. His wife was virtuous, generous, gentle, and beautiful, and his children were twins. This was a blessing that others could only envy.
"I can." Gao Zhijun thought about his teacher’s words and felt that this time, he would indeed be able to bring his wife and children to live with him while he worked. He also envied the cozy life of having a wife, children, and a warm home.
"Are you planning to stay here or go back to your teacher?" Mr. He paused for a moment, asking the question before his brain could catch up with his mouth.
Gao Zhijun looked up at the director of the He Institute, smiling as he shook his head. "I don’t know."
He genuinely didn’t know. He was officially registered at the North District Research Institute, and he had only come here because of Bear Country. He hadn’t rushed to accept either side’s offer because he wanted to go home and ask for his wife’s opinion. As for work, he could do it anywhere.
"If you ask me, you’re already thoroughly familiar with engine research, so you might as well stay here. Didn’t you propose the thirty-ton power research last time? The higher-ups had a meeting and are planning to let you lead the team." The director of the He Institute still wanted to retain this talent. Although he had many talented people under him, those with outstanding abilities in this specific field were truly rare. Those capable of leading a team were even fewer, and even if they existed, they still fell short compared to Gao Zhijun. Not to mention independent research and development, which was even more...
"I want to go back and ask for my wife’s opinion," Gao Zhijun said with complete frankness. He had owed her far too much over the years, and within the scope of his abilities, he was willing to accommodate her. Even if she asked him to retire and return home.
"You brat, what does your wife know?" Hearing his words, the director of the He Institute nearly died of anger. "Don’t you dare pull that femme fatale ruining the empire nonsense on me."
He didn’t want such an excellent talent to make the wrong decision.
"She wouldn’t do that."
He said she wouldn’t, not that she wasn’t, proving that in his heart, she was entirely worthy of being called a femme fatale. Because in his eyes, she deserved the absolute best.