"Don't be so sappy, you're even more vain than a woman!
You're preening first thing in the morning, anyone would think you're going on a date!"
Lin Wanwan felt like she was going to throw up. She had never met anyone so self-absorbed.
"A date? We haven't really gone on dates, have we, Comrade Lin Wanwan, would you be willing to watch a romantic movie with me?"
"Heh, not interested."
Lin Wanwan was going to find someone to wash the peaches for canning. This batch of peaches was to be sold in the county town, targeting workers from the school's convenience store, the cotton mill, the machinery factory, the meat processing plant, and the food factory. These were Xie Sui's target customers.
Once Director Gu found a suitable plastics factory and the packaging and equipment were in place, they could start making dried peaches.
Xie Sui stopped her, "No need to rush to work. Soon it will be your husband's moment to shine, and you have to be there with me. Honor is something we share as a couple; without your company, the joy would be much less."
Lin Wanwan tilted her head, looking at him as if he were an idiot, "You think filming a movie is romantic?"
"Don't you think it's romantic?"
"No, not at all, I just think you're really annoying!"
Xie Sui clutched his chest, deeply hurt. "Comrade Lin Wanwan, you have betrayed my sincere heart..."
Just as Lin Wanwan was about to lose her temper, villagers rushed in, saving Xie Sui. "Xie Sui, hurry to the village entrance! The police are here with a banner and a bonus for you."
"Xie Sui, did you really catch human traffickers? The police said you're a big hero, how could we not believe it?"
Xie Sui looked triumphantly at Lin Wanwan. "You don't have to believe me, but you have to believe the police. I risked my life to fight human traffickers, rescued kidnapped children, and turned in the stolen money. Tell me, am I a big hero?"
"Aren't you afraid? Human traffickers are so cruel. I heard they carry knives and kill people like slaughtering chickens."
The villagers were mostly convinced. If the police were here, it couldn't be fake.
"Let's go to the village entrance. In front of everyone, I'll tell you all about my brave deeds of outsmarting human traffickers."
Lin Wanwan roared, "Xie Sui, don't you have any work to do at home? Are you that idle?"
Dou Dou and Ding Ding were on Xie Sui's side this time. "Mom, Mom, Dad is a big hero! Is he like the heroes in the movies who fight Japanese devils?"
They had seen movies and admired the heroes the most, like in "Tunnel Warfare" and "Anti-Japanese War on Mines," which they watched with great enthusiasm.
Lin Wanwan was speechless. They didn't know yet that their father had almost sold them. Children's admiration for their fathers was innate. Having a hero for a dad would make the children proud and more confident.
"Go on, come back early."
Xie Sui insisted on dragging her along. A family should do everything together.
Lin Wanwan couldn't refuse him. When they finally stood before the entire village, her face turned as red as a peach. It was too embarrassing; she didn't have Xie Sui's thick skin.
Xie Sui accepted the banner and a thick red envelope, drawing more envious glances. He saluted seriously, "Thank you for the national reward. This is what I should do as a citizen."
"Comrade Xie Sui, on behalf of the nation, I thank you. Your spirit of righteous courage and honesty is worthy of everyone's emulation."
Huang Tianliang returned the salute. The two of them being so serious at that moment reduced the villagers' laughter. At this point, laughter seemed too disrespectful to a hero.
Lin Wanwan also took a deep look at him. What kind of person was he, really?
Sometimes he was flippant and lacked seriousness, and at other times he was calm, decisive, wise, and responsible, giving her a strong sense of security.
As the village head, Zhao Tiegang led the applause. "We should learn from Xie Sui's spirit of righteous courage. Thank you for your hard work, officers."
The applause thundered. Xie Sui was very excited. He would make the villagers recognize a new him step by step, becoming Wanwan's support and the children's pride.
Huang Tianliang pressed his hand, "Our mission is complete. We have to rush back to the station to work. Goodbye, Comrade Xie Sui. Come to the town police station another day, and I'll treat you to a drink."
Zhao Tiegang quickly urged them to stay, "Officers, please stay for a meal before you go. You haven't even had a sip of water, you must be exhausted."
"It's our duty. Serving the people. Goodbye, Comrade Xie Sui, we look forward to your even more brilliant performance."
"Definitely, definitely. Police-civilian cooperation to maintain a harmonious society. It's only right. Goodbye, Officer Huang, safe travels!"
Huang Tianliang and Xiao Liu had arrived by bicycle. Under the watchful eyes of the villagers, they disappeared at the village entrance.
Everyone turned to look at Xie Sui. Zhang Wenfeng sidled up to him, "You all saw it. From now on, you should all learn from Brother Xie. Brother Xie can catch thieves and make money. He's our role model."
Xie Sui said humbly, "You don't have to praise me so much. I was just doing what I should. People will get embarrassed!"
"Ugh..."
Everyone gagged. Could he please hide the smugness in his eyes?
His face was practically screaming 'Praise me quickly!'
"Let's go home, and get back to work."
Lin Wanwan didn't let him embarrass himself further. She pulled Zhang Wenfeng along with him back home to work.
However, Xie Sui's parents, Xie Dahe and Zhao Xiue, thoroughly enjoyed the villagers' praise. Their son had become successful, and they could finally hold their heads high.
Zhao Tielin's family watched from afar, their teeth grinding with envy. Why did all the good things happen to Xie Sui? Was this the same slacker and hoodlum from before?
No matter how Xie Sui had changed, the peaches still needed washing. His neatly parted hair was disheveled, his clothes were wrinkled, and he was grunting and straining as he washed them. Sudan Fiction Net
"Ah, we won't finish today. We need a cellar. As our peaches increase, we'll need to store them for a few more days."
Xie Sui frowned at the remaining peaches. Spoiled ones were money lost.
This batch was a lucky find that offset previous losses. Afterward, when they started processing dried fruit, they would need a suitable space.
"A cellar? Can we use the existing cellar for storing sweet potatoes?"
Xie Sui slapped his thigh. "Look at my brain! Of course, we can. Wanwan, you're so smart! Let's put them down there quickly. Two hundred jin today is enough. We'll do the rest tomorrow."
Wang Tie Zhu and his brother came to help again. The peaches were taken to the cellar, where they could be stored for a few more days, giving Xie Sui time to prepare.
After lunch, a hundred bottles of canned peaches were ready. He and Zhang Wenfeng, under the scorching sun, headed to the county town again. The workers would be getting off work in the afternoon, so it was the perfect time to sell them.
This time, he asked Zhang Wenfeng to deliver to the convenience store while Xie Sui stayed at the cotton mill entrance. Director Gu should have some news by now.
As he expected, Director Gu was pleased to see him. "You're finally here. If you hadn't come soon, I was thinking of coming to your house to find you. I've found a plastics factory for you. When do you have time to go discuss it?"
"Thank you so much, Sister Gu. We'll go as soon as my brother gets back."