The manager agreed and led Xie Changning’s group to see the various classrooms.

Since classes were in session, they didn’t go inside. Instead, they peeked in from the doorway for a moment. Xie Changning thought the environment was quite nice.

She nodded to the manager, walked over to the front desk, and scheduled the courses the two of them needed.

With the courses scheduled, Xie Changning left the language school to find a nearby place to rent. Since they were both young women, she ended up renting a room in a house owned by an older woman.

The neighbors were all good people, and with a police station just a short distance away, it felt very safe.

Xie Changning felt at ease with the two of them living there.

"I’ll come by once a month to check on your studies. Make sure you study hard."

"Don’t worry, Sister Changning!"

After Xie Changning and Xie Changyi left, the two girls stayed behind, finding comfort in each other’s company. They returned to their rented room and began to clean.

While they were cleaning, the landlady brought them some hot water.

"It hasn’t warmed up yet, so don’t use cold water. Here’s some hot water. If you run out, just let me know, and I’ll boil some more for you." The landlady was very kind, which put the two girls completely at ease.

After leaving the rental, Xie Changyi took Xie Changning back to the Bureau of Foreign Trade building.

"Sister, thank you so much for helping me find a place to live and a school."

"What’s there to thank me for?"

Xie Changning was impressed by how efficient Xie Changyi was. She’d only contacted her that morning before leaving, and Changyi had everything arranged by noon.

’Clearly, she gets along well with people and has a good network.’

"Next time I come over, I’ll bring you some of Aunt Wang’s dumplings."

"You know, after all the times you’ve praised them, I’ve been dying to try some."

Chatting, the two made their way back to the Bureau of Foreign Trade building. Xie Changning got in her car to head home, while Xie Changyi went upstairs to work.

When Xie Changyi got upstairs, she saw an unwelcome guest sitting in her office.

She frowned slightly. "What are you doing here?"

"I’m here to talk about your sister, of course." The man’s sinister smile filled Xie Changyi with disgust. She threw the door open. "Get out!"

-

「Back in Anong County.」

Xie Changning entered the research and development phase.

With the small printer successfully developed, Xie Changning gave the machinery factory’s R&D team a break. She then headed over to the wood products factory to check on things.

There was no denying the skill of master craftsmen.

When Xie Changning arrived, they had already finished sanding the children’s high chair. They had even followed the illustration on her blueprints, buying fabric and cotton to add a cushion. It looked both exquisite and adorable.

Best of all, it was highly mobile.

Xie Changning had thought the caster wheels for the high chair would be a major hurdle for the factory. She never expected the carpenters to have actually figured them out!

"Director, we carved the wheels by hand, so they aren’t very sturdy. The joints need to be replaced with metal screws, and the wheels themselves should be made of metal too. That way, it will last longer."

Xie Changning tilted her head, looking at the two Level 5 carpenters. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

"You two are incredibly skilled. From now on, I’m putting you in charge of R&D for our wood products." ’They’re so talented!’

Xie Changning handed them another stack of blueprints. "These are all for the upcoming Spring Trade Fair. I need you to make them in advance. I have to take samples with me."

"Yes, Director!"

The mere mention of the Spring Trade Fair got the craftsmen fired up, as if they’d been shot with adrenaline. Far from seeing it as a challenge, they were thrilled.

The wood products factory had been idle recently, so Xie Changning found the Level 4 workers and had them produce some wooden keyboard bases, as well as various wooden bowls and chopsticks.

These weren’t for sale, but for giveaways.

As for who to give them to, she would decide after she finalized her plan.

After leaving the wood products factory, Xie Changning went to the daily chemical factory. The chemical factory was small, but it was highly efficient, and its output was much higher than she had anticipated.

Xie Changning didn’t delay payment. She had Wang Daqiang take the goods to the machinery factory to settle the bill.

Of course, that was all work for later.

The current task was for the factory to take a three-day break and wait for the chemical engineer to arrive.

Everyone was saddened to hear they were getting time off. ’The factory has only been running for two days, and now we’re taking another break. Is it really this hard for us to survive?’

Time ticked by. On the third day, her phone rang. She needed to go to Chuncheng to meet a train.

Without a second thought, Xie Changning went to Changchun to meet them.

The train station was bustling with people. Xie Changning stared intently at the exit until she saw a familiar girl appear, followed by two young men wearing glasses.

Xie Changning’s eyes lit up instantly.

"Senior Sister!" Just as Changning’s eyes lit up, the group spotted her and eagerly waved a greeting.

Xie Changning strode forward. "Why didn’t you tell me you were coming?"

"We wanted to surprise you!"

The newcomers were none other than Teacher Qin’s daughter, Sheng Jiaojiao, and two of her junior classmates, Wang Congran and Lin Zhou.

Xie Changning reached for their luggage to help.

But they all refused, carrying their own bags to the car. They loaded their things and then got in for the drive to Anong County.

Xie Changning had planned to take the three of them to the state-run restaurant for a meal.

But Sheng Jiaojiao said, "We’re here to help build up the country, not for a feast. A simple meal at your place is all we need."

In reality, she was just sleepy.

Sheng Jiaojiao slept the whole way in the car, only waking up when they arrived.

When she saw Xie Changning’s small courtyard house, Sheng Jiaojiao’s face lit up. "I love it here!" ’It’s so spacious!’

’Unlike my family’s place, where so many of us are crammed into a tiny house. This courtyard is huge!’

The three of them rested for a while, only waking up around dinnertime.

The moment they were up, they were eager to discuss the development of the daily chemical factory with Xie Changning.

Sheng Jiaojiao handed Xie Changning some notes she had compiled on foreign products. "I saw these in the newspaper. They’re some products from overseas that I think would be a great fit for the chemical factory’s future!"

She had been looking for a factory that was open to reform.

But everyone was content with just making different kinds of scented soaps; no one wanted to change the status quo.

It caused her internship to be postponed indefinitely. Just as she was about to give up, ready to find a normal job and resign herself to a boring life, her Senior Sister had appeared.

Her Senior Sister said she wanted new blood.

’And that’s me!’

’A chemical factory on the brink of collapse needs something completely new, something that will totally change people’s perceptions, to be revived!’

’And a factory like that needs me! It needs me!’

And so, Sheng Jiaojiao had come.

The ones who came with her were classmates who shared her vision.