Chapter 4

“Right, I have grain tickets, meat tickets, and money. I can definitely go eat braised pork.”

Lin Shu Yin decided to do it right away. She first went to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy a lunch box, then went to the state-owned restaurant. She ordered three big steamed buns, a dish of braised pork, and a bottle of soda.

She hadn’t eaten meat in months and was starving. When the food arrived, she devoured it like a starving ghost. She finished all three steamed buns and the braised pork.

Lin Shu Yin patted her stomach in satisfaction. She had thought that there would be some leftover food and buns, so she could pack them in her lunch box and store them in her space. She could eat them secretly when she was hungry. But there was nothing left.

After leaving the state-owned restaurant, she walked around outside for a while to digest her food before going back home.

Before entering the house, she took out the small mirror she always carried with her and carefully checked her face. She made sure there was no oil around her lips and no food in her teeth.

It was one o’clock, lunchtime. Lin’s father and mother weren’t in the living room. They were in their room taking a nap. Her elder brother and younger sister were also out.

Her elder brother was probably on a date, and her younger sister, she didn’t know.

Lin Shu Yin went back to her room to change clothes.

Zhang Lao Tai had given her a set of military uniform. In this era, young people all longed to wear a green military uniform.

Green military uniforms were a popular trend in this era, and it was a unique aesthetic of the time.

Her younger sister, Lin Shu Yi, had a set like that. She had begged her mother to get it for her last year for her birthday.

Lin Shu Yin put the clothes she had changed out of into her space. She planned to return them to Zhang Lao Tai later.

……….

Time flew by, and it was December.

Lin Shu Yin received her enlistment notice. She was going to the army in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia.

Lin Shu Yin’s previous home was in Inner Mongolia, in the Korqin region.

She had been to Hohhot before and was familiar with the capital of Inner Mongolia. But this was the 1970s, fifty years ago. The two places were probably very different.

Lin Shu Yin was a little excited.

Her family didn’t know about her going to the military art troupe. She didn’t tell them. She transferred her household registration to the army. After finishing all the paperwork, she had one day left before she left. Then she told her family.

Lin’s mother was shocked. “What? You’re going to the military art troupe?”

Lin Shu Yin smiled and nodded. “Yes, Mom.”

Lin’s father said, “When did this happen? Why didn’t you tell us?”

Lin Shu Yin laughed. “I wanted to give you a surprise.”

Lin Shu Yi mumbled, “What surprise? More like a fright.”

“Ah? Why is it a fright? Shu Yi, it’s good that I’m joining the army. I’m bringing glory to our Lin family!” Lin Shu Yin said with a smile.

Joining the army is glorious. No matter what you do in the army, even if you cook in the canteen, it’s still glorious.

Lin Jian Ye, her elder brother, said, “Little sister, you’re a silent achiever. Why didn’t you tell us anything before?”

“I said I wanted to give you a surprise. Besides, I wasn’t sure if I would be selected.” Lin Shu Yin said with a smile.

“You’re such a child. You didn’t tell us beforehand. You saved their grandson. You saved his life. Such a great favor. Did their Zhang family just give you a job and that’s it?” Lin’s mother blamed Lin Shu Yin.

Lin Shu Yin directly exposed her mother’s thoughts. “What else, Mom? Do you want them to introduce a job for your son too?”

Lin’s mother pouted. “Their family is so powerful, it wouldn’t be impossible.”

“Mom, don’t be so greedy. I saved him, not Lin Jian She.”

“Why would they introduce a job for him? According to you, saving someone’s life is such a great favor. One job can’t repay it. Give me one, give Jian She one, give Shu Yi one, and money for my elder brother to get married, and money for my elder sister and brother-in-law to have children and raise them. Should they pay for everything?”

She was really speechless. Her mother was so shameless! How could she be so shameless?

Lin’s mother didn’t expect her usually gentle second daughter to actually dare to contradict her. Not only did she contradict her, she even scolded and mocked her. She was instantly furious.

“Okay, okay, okay. Lin Shu Yin, you’ve grown wings, haven’t you? I say one thing, and you answer me ten times. What did I say? I just wanted your brother to have a job too. Otherwise, with your brother’s physique, can he go to the countryside to work?”

Lin Shu Yin rolled her eyes. “Alright, Mom, I was born to you. How could I not know what you’re thinking?”

“If you really feel sorry for Jian She, then you should withdraw and give him the job. Your elder brother is about to get married, so you can stay at home and take care of the grandchildren, cook, and do other things.”

Lin Shu Yi immediately objected. “What about me?”

“Let Dad withdraw and give you the job. Isn’t that simple?”

“That way, you two don’t have to go to the countryside, and Mom and Dad can rest after working hard for a lifetime.”

“Right, Mom and Dad?” Lin Shu Yin said sweetly.

Lin Shu Yi looked at her father. Lin’s father and mother were already as angry as pufferfish. Lin’s mother said, “No way. Our jobs are ours. You guys don’t even think about them.”

They loved their son, but they weren’t stupid. If they lost their jobs, they would have no income. They would have to rely on their son and daughter-in-law to live.

Could they live a good life relying on someone else?

Lin Shu Yin said, “I didn’t have any thoughts about your jobs. It’s your two precious sons who want them.”

Lin Jian She weakly raised his hand. “Can I say something?”

Everyone said, “Go ahead.”

Lin Jian She said, “Actually, I can go to the countryside. You don’t have to argue about my job.”

Although he didn’t want to go to the countryside, there was no solution. He would just go.

“Alright, alright. Let’s take things one step at a time. Shu Yin is leaving tomorrow. Don’t argue.”

“Give me some money. I’ll go buy some groceries. Let’s have a good meal as a family. Such a happy occasion. We must celebrate.” Lin’s father said to his wife.

Although his youngest son’s job hadn’t been settled yet, joining the army was indeed glorious. His second daughter was going to the army. He had something to brag about.

Lin’s mother thought the same way. Although it was a bit of a pity that she couldn’t ask the Zhang family for two jobs, her second daughter was joining the army. She could brag to her colleagues.

She stood up. “Wait.”

She went into the room, took some money, and gave it to Lin’s father. “Buy a fish, two jin of meat, and buy a few bottles of soda with the rest.”

“Alright.”

The Lin family lived in the mechanical factory compound. When Lin’s father went out to buy groceries, he met many acquaintances and colleagues. Seeing how happy he was, they asked him, “Your Shu Yin is going to the military art troupe?”

“Yes, yes. She joined the army, haha.”

He told everyone he met. Even if they didn’t ask, he would go over and tell them. This made him half an hour late coming back.

He bought a fish, stewed it with sauerkraut, stir-fried a big plate of pork belly, and also fried eggs and made some cold dishes, making four dishes in total.

The staple food was steamed buns made with a mixture of cornmeal and white flour.

While cooking, Lin’s mother thought, “Husband, should we call the eldest couple over?”

Logically, they should call them, but their eldest son-in-law ate a lot. If the eldest couple came, the food wouldn’t be enough.

Lin’s father thought for a moment. “Nah, don’t call them. We can finish it as a family.”

“Okay.”