Of course, Sheng Jiaojiao didn’t tell Xie Changning that she had poached these two from other factories. She felt that developing their careers at her senior’s factory would surely come with fewer restrictions.

The two of them also felt that they would undoubtedly be held back working in a large factory.

But here, with no one to hold them back, they would be the first chemical specialists.

"The notes are very well done, but I think you might be more interested in seeing this." Xie Changning rummaged through her room and brought out several bottles and jars, placing them in front of the group.

They were all top students and recognized the English letters on the labels.

When she saw these items, Sheng Jiaojiao was ecstatic. "I’ve been dying to have someone bring these back from abroad for me to experiment with, but it never happened! Whenever people went overseas, they always brought back other things, never these!"

She had wanted to experiment with things like this for so long!

"I brought them back by ship. The goal is to produce these. I’ve already found a Xiang Bi Zi, but it will probably take them about a year to learn the basics. You all..."

"Don’t worry, Senior. The few of us will be enough for now. There aren’t many fragrance types available domestically at the moment, and as it happens, we know how to make these."

Hearing Xie Changning mention a Perfumer, Sheng Jiaojiao knew that her senior was even more ambitious than she had imagined.

The group was thrilled. They carefully sniffed the fragrances of the different toiletries and sighed with emotion.

"There are so many more types of fragrances overseas..."

"It’s okay. We’re just getting started."

"Right!"

The three of them had great confidence in their country’s development. They felt that with Xie Changning’s support, they would definitely secure a spot at the Autumn Trade Fair!

They were thinking about the Autumn Trade Fair, but Xie Changning was already planning to bring two soap samples to the upcoming Spring Trade Fair.

"I have some other types of fragrances that I’ll bring you tomorrow. For now, get some sleep. I’ll take you to your workshop in the morning."

"Okay!"

The three of them verbally agreed to go to bed early, but in reality, they were all too excited to get a wink of sleep.

Their salaries might be low, but their research and development would represent a milestone breakthrough for the domestic personal care products industry!

The thought that they might one day appear in textbooks made them too excited to sleep!

As a result, the next morning, all three of them emerged from their rooms with dark circles under their eyes.

Xie Changning was speechless.

’Ah, youth. So young.’

Xie Changning had a driver take them to a small warehouse next to the personal care products factory. "I’ve already acquired this warehouse. Later on, we’ll knock through this wall to connect it to the main factory. This place will be your dedicated dormitory and workshop."

Xie Changning explained to the three of them.

The warehouse was over two hundred square meters and had an attached storage building, which Xie Changning had converted into three bedrooms and a kitchen a few days prior.

The masons these days were highly efficient. They got right to work and never slacked off.

As a result, the work got done very quickly.

Even with chiseling the wall, they had started this morning and already made significant progress.

The noise outside was loud, but it was only the sound of chiseling. With so many workers, it would likely be finished by the end of the day.

The three of them were thrilled to have such a large laboratory!

"So, you need to write down a list of all the research equipment you need, and I’ll go get it for you."

Hearing this, Sheng Jiaojiao looked at her senior in confusion. "Huh? Doesn’t the factory have anything?" ’A personal care products factory ought to have its own R&D team, shouldn’t it?’

Xie Changning shook her head.

"The factory is small. It can’t afford to support an R&D team."

Sheng Jiaojiao nodded in understanding. After putting their belongings in their rooms, the three of them went to the workshop to write down a list of things they needed.

At first, the list was perfectly normal, consisting of beakers and equipment needed for experiments.

But by the end, she saw requests for—

Two lab assistants (experience optional), to serve as apprentices.

One cook, as experiments would be too busy to leave time for cooking.

Two security guards, to protect the warehouse’s contents.

Xie Changning wondered if they had studied so much their brains had turned to mush. "Fine. I’ll arrange all of this for you."

The three of them would be living here, and the factory right behind them was the new site for the Anong County Machinery Factory, so it was actually quite safe. Still, she agreed to find two security guards as they requested.

This was to ensure their research results wouldn’t be lost.

Once the scope of work was settled, Xie Changning led them back to their rooms.

The rooms had been cleaned spotless. They could put their belongings away as soon as they entered, spread out their quilts, and heat the kang to drive out the dampness. Then they could get ready to write up their research and development notes.

After making sure the three of them were settling in comfortably, Xie Changning left them to it and went to check on the personal care products factory.

With most of the work arranged, Xie Changning took a day off. It happened to be Yue Yihan’s day off as well, so the two of them took their children to Chuncheng to pay a visit to He Liuzhang and Liu Changyou.

He Jiao had been accepted into a military academy and was studying there, so she couldn’t come back.

So this time, the meal was just for He Liuzhang and his wife, and Xie Changning and her husband.

And the two babies.

Seeing the two babies, the sharp, capable look in Liu Changyou’s eyes softened. She held a rattle drum, waving it constantly in front of the babies. "Zhenbao, Yubao, look here! Where’s Grandma?"

"Where’s Grandma?"

Liu Changyou not only looked young but actually wasn’t very old—only in her forties. So when the word "Grandma" came out of her mouth, Xie Changning couldn’t help but stare at her.

Sensing Xie Changning’s gaze, Liu Changyou put on a stern face.

"What, you don’t want the babies to acknowledge me as their grandma?"

"No... it’s just that... this grandma seems a little too young."

"Hmph! You sure know the right thing to say!"

Both Liu Changyou and He Liuzhang adored the two babies. As they went downstairs for dinner, they held them tight and wouldn’t let go, showing them off to everyone they saw.

It was only when they reached the bottom of the stairs that they saw Xie Changyu and Chen Weisheng.

Seeing Xie Changning’s two children held in the arms of He Liuzhang and his wife, Chen Weisheng’s expression twisted for a moment. Then, he smiled and stepped forward to greet them. "Brigade Commander, ma’am, Regiment Commander, Changning."

Xie Changning’s gaze fell upon Xie Changyu, and she noticed Xie Changyu was staring at her with resentment.

Xie Changning knew she was holding a grudge over the time Xie Changning had called the police on her.

Xie Changning wasn’t afraid of Xie Changyu’s hatred. ’What danger could her resentment possibly pose? This is a society ruled by law, and her husband is a soldier. He would never let her do anything too outrageous.’

’Otherwise, not only would she lose her future, but her husband would also lose his job.’

"Hm? Where are you two off to?"

Seeing Chen Weisheng, He Liuzhang’s expression grew colder. He asked the question in a cool, indifferent tone.

As if he hadn’t noticed He Liuzhang’s displeasure, Chen Weisheng replied with a cheerful smile, "Changyu hasn’t been feeling well, so I’m taking her for a check-up."