Chapter 116: Some Rejoice, Others Sorrow

The Machinery Factory felt as though the sky had collapsed.

Having received the vacuum sealing machine just yesterday, the staff were a bit frantic. The underlying logic was completely different from what they were used to, which meant overturning everything they had done before.

When Rang Weidong arrived, he told them there was no need to be so radical. They should absorb the good aspects of the new technology. This wasn’t just about one piece of equipment; it was a system that dozens of people would need to operate simultaneously. He didn't dare mention the million-yuan large-scale equipment at the Shanghai Canned Food Factory that the food machinery plant had brought up. He only emphasized that their seals were small, just the size of half a palm, and the process was entirely manual, so there was no need for such high levels of automation. Buying this machine was primarily to broaden their horizons, though it could be used for specific, smaller tasks as well.

He then pulled a piece of paper from his pocket to design a metal heating vessel. Based on Master Liao’s description, it should be like a small boiler. The priority was to maintain a constant temperature of around 120 degrees Celsius, allowing for a final high-temperature sterilization of the vacuum-packed prepared foods in thirty-minute batches. This was a critical point many laymen overlooked: this sterilization process didn't happen while the food was being cooked, but rather after the food-grade plastic bags were vacuum-sealed. Only then could they ensure the flavor and texture remained intact while achieving maximum sterilization.

This was simple enough, and the technicians immediately found a solution. However, Rang Weidong insisted that they make it look sophisticated and high-tech. The latter requirement left the technicians and engineers scratching their heads. Rang Weidong explained that it needed to look suitable for staff in white lab coats to stand beside it, as if conducting scientific research. Only then did they grasp the concept.

Finally, Rang Weidong pulled out his most familiar possession: a train schedule. The back few dozen pages were filled with black-and-white hand-drawn advertisements, with a production quality not unlike the propaganda posters the Japanese had plastered on walls during the war. One page featured an ad for the Beijing Refrigeration Plant.

"I heard from the slaughterhouse that the machinery factory has built cold storage for them before. See if you can replicate these types of refrigeration units. We need to set up a cold storage facility on our end as well, and try to make it as advanced as possible—it needs to have that high-tech look, too."

It was an absurd request, given that the machine diagrams were likely hand-drawn using a mimeograph machine. But this was Beijing; there were plenty of skilled craftsmen, and they managed to draw something that looked reasonably like the real thing. The technicians gathered around, identifying the gate valves, motors, and piston chambers. They analyzed the nearby ad copy: "Lithium bromide absorption chiller, 500,000 to 3 million kcal/h cooling capacity—never heard of this technology."

"Ammonia centrifugal chiller, cooling capacity of 1 million to 5 million kcal—this is too dangerous. If the ammonia leaks, it will be a disaster. No, no, we can't do that."

"Fluorine centrifugal chiller, a bit expensive. A million kilocalories... that seems like it would require imported equipment."

"We’ve made this type of piston chiller before, 8,000 to 200,000 kcal—it’s their 70-series model."

Rang Weidong didn't know the first thing about what a million kilocalories meant. He just gestured that they didn't need a huge cooling capacity; they just needed enough space to hoard animal offal from the slaughterhouse.

Ding Haifeng and his wife had managed to keep their mouths shut these past few days, not spreading word about what Rang Weidong was planning for the factory. Finally, based on the size of the rented bungalow, they settled on a set of cold storage equipment installation costing over 20,000 yuan, with an emphasis on making it look suitably high-tech.

This former provincial machinery factory had many high-level technicians and engineers who had been reassigned there. Their self-development capabilities might have been lacking, but they were formidable when it came to hands-on construction. Especially when they had a model to follow, they were accustomed to "guerrilla-style" production, often in remote environments where complete sets of parts were hard to find.

Rang Weidong instructed them to adjust their multi-station equipment based on the Shanghai vacuum machine, but strictly forbade them from taking the Shanghai machine apart—it had to remain functional at all times. Satisfied, he took his family back home.

Seven or eight young men and women from Baifeng Mountain were helping out in Shangzhou, along with five or six dock workers assisting them. It felt like bringing country folk into the city to broaden their horizons, letting them work at the docks to adapt to the environment, and weeding out those who were lazy or cunning before sending them on to Jiangzhou.

Due to safety regulations, when the ferry crossed the river, everyone had to step out of the vehicle and stand on the deck. Rang Weidong spread his jacket to shield the child from the wind and sun. "I’ve started a factory in Jiangzhou. Not only do I need a large number of workers, but I also need people to help me manage the situation. Whether or not we wait for old You depends on these next few months."

The young woman didn't ask why her man had suddenly become so attentive. She just looked at the baby in her arms and whispered, "Erfeng went back a few days ago. She’s very invested in the food factory business and decided to include the cured meat trade. Rather than collecting pork everywhere, it’s better to buy directly from the slaughterhouse and smoke it there. The prices here are even cheaper than what she was paying the villagers in the county."

Rang Weidong nodded. "Exactly. At first, to avoid people talking behind my back or thinking I was making too much money, I had to pay more than the slaughterhouse. Besides, the raw pigs include the offal. Once we scale up, the cost difference becomes significant. If you can come to Jiangzhou, you can help me manage these details, which will give me a stable home base while I go out and fight for more opportunities to sell our products."

When Dong Xueying heard that his factory in Jiangzhou was producing sanitary napkins, she was so shocked she nearly fell off the side of the boat. But her test had been effective. Rang Weidong held the baby with one arm and firmly gripped her shoulder with the other, not letting go.

Rang Weidong didn't hide anything. "I can take good care of you and the child. My sister can support herself; we just need to provide a little extra help. We’re just living life together, and if you aren't willing, you can tell me now."

He didn't know if Dong Xueying noticed the word "together," but she furrowed her brow slightly. "I’m just afraid of ruining your reputation. You’re divorced and have Xiaodie with you; you should have a young maiden to help you bring honor to your ancestors. It’s enough for me to help you manage things from behind the scenes... it’s all the same anyway."

Rang Weidong could now understand subtle hints. He smiled and squeezed her shoulder firmly. "I don't have those fancy ideas. I just want a stable, warm home. I don't care what others think. Of course, in Shangzhou, I’ll protect your reputation, but we’ll see once we get to Jiangzhou. And I’m not using work to blackmail you—whether you agree or not, I’ll take care of the child."

As he spoke, he saw the ferry approaching the dock and casually let go. The young woman sensitively observed his back. Once they were back in the car and she was holding the baby, she pondered it carefully and concluded that this fellow had definitely "tasted the meat." Especially when she fed her daughter, his gaze, which used to dart away in panic, now dared to linger in a measured, steady way. The answer was as clear and simple as a college student solving a primary school math problem. The young girl would likely be furious, while the young woman could only feel puzzled and annoyed—who was this person? Was it the "Third Sister" the two little brats had mentioned? She certainly couldn't have guessed it was the female agent her sister had spoken of.

Mostly, she wondered why her sister hadn't managed to win him over, especially when she liked him so much!

Rang Weidong, as expected, didn't act like a bully. He even stopped visiting the Dong family across the street for meals, instead staying under the eaves with his group of young men, busy at work.

Since they had stopped by the food factory on the way back, Ding Haifeng’s wife had already bought a basket of offal and a pile of seasonings as instructed. Rang Weidong led everyone in preparing the ingredients according to the chef's specific instructions, and Dong Xueying led several girls into the room to follow the recipes step-by-step. They didn't need to be overly meticulous about knife work or heat control; as long as the flavor was roughly right, it would suffice.

Finally, they prepared the offal in four flavors: tangerine peel, soy sauce, five-spice, and Cantonese-style salt-baked, each in a large basin. The tea-smoked and char siu techniques were a bit too skilled for Dong Xueying to master just yet.

A dozen people sat around small tables by the roadside. The young men squatted on the side of the road with their bowls, while the girls stood around, occasionally reaching in to grab a piece of meat.

Rang Weidong held the baby, carefully chewing the most tender bits of soy-sauce-braised meat to soften them before feeding the child. The baby, just over a year old, was all smiles.

Dong Xueying sat beside him, completely relaxed. "This master chef's recipe is truly different. I never imagined adding a bit of sugar would have this effect. It's delicious!"

Shitou and Mao'er sat down as well, complaining as they ate, "The flavor isn't quite right. The tangerine peel is way off. I told you we should go to the herb market at the dock and buy that aged hawthorn peel—once you boil it in the pot, it's as fragrant as frying oil! Ow!"

"Be grateful you have something to eat, stop being so picky!" Rang Weidong rapped them on the head before putting them to work. "You're good with a knife, right? Cut this piece off, follow this angle, yes, then put it in a lunchbox and put it in the fridge. Cut this piece up too, keep them separate so the flavors don't mix."

Mao'er grinned and hurried to help his brother; his knife skills were decent, too.

Many neighbors passed by. They had already been gossiping all day, and those without boundaries or who considered themselves "social butterflies" couldn't help but come over to chat. "Oh, that looks delicious. What a happy family." They tried every trick to fish for information.

Rang Weidong laughed and cursed, "Live off the land—there's so much pork being slaughtered in Shangzhou, we might as well eat some offal. Want a taste? Mao'er, get some chopsticks."

Just then, he looked up and saw Shi Linyan standing across the street, looking surprised and heartbroken. One of the girls nudged Dong Xueying, gesturing toward the city girl. But the young woman didn't care at all and even picked up a piece of salt-baked kidney for Rang Weidong.

Rang Weidong acted as if he hadn't seen her.

Shi Linyan gritted her teeth and walked over anyway. "I know you've been busy everywhere these days. Are you doing well?"

It was the tone of a disgruntled ex-girlfriend. It took a lot of courage; there were over a dozen young men and women squatting or standing along the old street, and countless neighbors watching the dinner-time spectacle while holding their own bowls. Her voice trembled under the scrutiny of all those eyes.

Rang Weidong gestured to the other side of the table. "If you haven't eaten, sit down and have a taste. I expect our family will be moving to Jiangzhou in a few days. We'll meet again if fate allows."

Only then did Dong Xueying put on a smile and direct someone to bring a bowl, chopsticks, and a stool.

Shi Linyan couldn't sit down; she felt as if she were about to collapse. "You...?"

Dong Xueying adopted Rang Weidong's tone. "Yes, just living life together. Uncle Yang, don't just watch—try this salt-baked pork intestine. It's really good; Weidong found the recipe from out of town."

The girl, who had spent half a year in a greenhouse, finally looked as if she had been struck by lightning. She slowly shook her head, turned, and left.

The neighbors holding their bowls all felt the drama made their meal even better!

Rang Weidong whispered teasingly, "Oh, aren't you afraid of the neighbors wagging their tongues now?"

The young woman replied earnestly, "What do I have for them to wag their tongues about? I'm already divorced; what reputation do I have left? I just helped you cut off Teacher Shi's delusions. Sigh..."

Her tone, however, was filled with laughter.

Because Rang Weidong also joined her in a long, drawn-out sigh. "Who told me I was so handsome..."

A man who has tasted the fruit of life inevitably finds his tongue becomes a little more slick.