Wang Daqiang knew that since Xie Changning was aware of Qiao Tiantian’s identity, she would definitely let her stay.

Just as Xie Changning had said, Qiao Tiantian was the one blacklisted overseas. What did that have to do with their daily chemical factory in Anong County?

Their factory was in desperate need of a talented person like her!

However—

"How on earth did you get back?" Xie Changning asked, at a loss for words as she looked at the person before her, who was practically indistinguishable from a refugee.

’This woman didn’t sneak back into the country and then beg all the way here, did she?’

"Oh, after I snuck back into the country, I begged my way over to find you."

Qiao Tiantian confirmed Xie Changning’s suspicion.

Her words left everyone present staring at her in silence. Even Xie Changning had to admit, ’This woman is really something else...’

’To think she begged her way from the south all the way to the north!’

"Our country is full of good people!" Qiao Tiantian proclaimed.

In any case, Xie Changning was grateful she had made it. "Come on, I’ll take you to get cleaned up first, then you can meet your new colleagues in R&D."

Qiao Tiantian’s eyes lit up.

"How much are you going to pay me?"

"The same as everyone else. 200 a month, a bonus if a new product is a big hit, and one team-building event each month..." Xie Changning briefly outlined the benefits for the R&D team.

Hearing about the R&D team’s benefits, Wang Daqiang felt a pang of jealousy.

’See? No matter the era, you have to get an education!’

’A good education means more money!’

"That’s fine, that’s fine. It’s enough for me to feed myself."

"The factory has a cafeteria. Room and board are included," Xie Changning corrected. She wanted Qiao Tiantian to understand that their factory provided food and lodging for every position, no matter what!

’Don’t think that just because the pay is high, we skimp on room and board!’

’She had to defend her factory’s honor!’

"Director! I’m willing to work at this factory for a hundred years!" Hearing that room and board were included, Qiao Tiantian was overjoyed.

Just as she was about to lavish Xie Changning with praise, Xie Changning pulled out an employment contract and handed it to her. "If you don’t have any objections, how about signing this?"

Qiao Tiantian froze. She glanced down at the employment contract in Xie Changning’s hand.

She took the contract and, after looking through it carefully, said to Xie Changning, "Every move you make tells me one thing: if I follow you, we can crush those damn foreigners!"

Qiao Tiantian signed her name with a flourish.

Xie Changning said, "...Alright, that’s enough. Any more of that fighting talk and it won’t be just you and me losing face, it’ll be this whole book."

In response to Xie Changning’s words, Qiao Tiantian made a face at her.

With the contract signed, Xie Changning led Qiao Tiantian away.

Their county didn’t have any public bathhouses, so Xie Changning took her home and let her use the dedicated bathing room there.

Xie Changning had rigged up the bathing setup in her home herself.

The simple bathing setup earned a thumbs-up from Qiao Tiantian.

While Qiao Tiantian was bathing, the aunties specially asked Xie Changning where she had found the girl, commenting that it seemed her family wasn’t well-off.

Xie Changning didn’t say much, only that Qiao Tiantian’s current predicament was of her own choosing and not because she was genuinely destitute.

After learning that she was a top student who had been blacklisted overseas, both Aunt Wang and Aunt Zhao felt the girl had guts. She absolutely shouldn’t give in to those foreigners!

And so, Qiao Tiantian found herself being showered with food by the two aunties.

After tasting the food from Aunt Wang, a moved Qiao Tiantian kept giving thumbs-ups. Don’t ask why she wasn’t speaking—she hadn’t eaten such delicious food in a very long time!

’This is so touching! My mouth isn’t for talking right now, it’s for eating!’

"Slow down, slow down, no one’s going to steal it from you," Aunt Zhao said, her heart aching as she watched Qiao Tiantian wolfing down her food. ’How much must this child have suffered to be like this?’

At that moment, Aunt Zhao was still unaware of the sheer size of Qiao Tiantian’s appetite.

After hearing Aunt Zhao’s words, Qiao Tiantian really let loose. By the time she finished her fifth bowl of rice, the expressions on Aunt Wang and Aunt Zhao had finally changed.

They were no longer looking at a poor, pitiful child, but at a glutton who seemed to have been kicked out of her home.

They shot a pleading look at Xie Changning, their eyes asking: ’Should we let her keep eating?’

Xie Changning nodded.

’How much she ate wasn’t important. What mattered was how much profit Qiao Tiantian could bring in.’

In the end, Qiao Tiantian stopped after her seventh bowl of rice.

"Thank you for the meal."

Qiao Tiantian was now wearing Xie Changning’s clothes. Since they had similar figures, Xie Changning had lent her some to wear for the time being.

After she finished eating, Xie Changning took her out to buy some clothes.

The salesclerks in the department store’s clothing section were known for ignoring customers. But there are always exceptions, and Xie Changning was one such exception.

Everyone knew Xie Changning was a hero to Anong County, so wherever she went, people treated her with special consideration.

"Director Xie, here to buy some clothes?" a salesclerk asked, approaching Xie Changning as soon as she walked in.

Xie Changning nodded and glanced at Qiao Tiantian beside her. "Help her pick out two outfits." 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

The salesclerk sized her up for a moment, then nodded. "This way, comrade."

Qiao Tiantian was already well-acquainted with the typical attitude of salesclerks in the country and never expected to meet one so friendly. She turned to Xie Changning in surprise.

"Actually, most people are very nice."

Even before she had managed to sell the printers, people had been quite kind to her, thoughtfully recommending different items.

There were dismissive ones, too, but Xie Changning felt she’d been lucky enough not to run into any.

Qiao Tiantian shrugged, noncommittal.

"Comrade, just tell me what you’re looking for, and I’ll make some recommendations." In the salesclerk’s eyes, anyone accompanying Xie Changning had to be a person of talent.

And since they were a talent helping to build the nation, she ought to show them respect.

Hence, her excellent attitude.

Qiao Tiantian was a little surprised but said nothing, simply stating her requirements: "Lightweight, flexible, and stain-resistant."

In the end, Qiao Tiantian left the department store carrying two sets of work clothes.

She figured she’d be spending most of her time in the lab and wouldn’t be going out much, so these two outfits would be plenty.

Xie Changning also got her some daily necessities before taking her, along with a bed, to the R&D studio at the daily chemical factory.

Sheng Jiaojiao was stunned when she saw Qiao Tiantian.

"What are you doing back here?"

"I got deported."

Qiao Tiantian wasn’t the least bit embarrassed. She didn’t think getting deported was a big deal. ’As long as I reach great heights in the future, those foreigners will be begging me to come back!’

Seeing that Sheng Jiaojiao knew Qiao Tiantian, Xie Changning was completely at ease.

"Since you know her, you can show her the ropes. But she’ll mainly be in charge of perfume formulation," Xie Changning explained, outlining Qiao Tiantian’s role.

Sheng Jiaojiao nodded.

"Her talent for fragrance development is truly exceptional. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have been sent abroad for advanced training," Sheng Jiaojiao said, her tone a mixture of frustration and disappointment.

’Our mentor invested so many resources in her, and she just had to go and get deported!’