Zhang Qinfang and Qian Aifen did want to go and see, but after what happened earlier, they didn’t have the face to do so.

While they were cleaning up, Zhang Qinfang asked, “Big sister-in-law, do you think this job was arranged by Third Brother, or did Ning Shu really find it herself?”

Although Qian Aifen also wanted the job to stay in the family, she wouldn’t say something untrue, “It should be Third Sister-in-law’s job.”

Over the years, she had some understanding of Ning Shu’s character.

She wouldn’t take credit for something that wasn’t her achievement.

Besides, Ning Shu had already gone to the brigade leader before regarding the job issue, and at that time, Third Brother hadn’t returned.

“She’s really lucky, actually finding a job,” Zhang Qinfang said somewhat enviously.

Qian Aifen smiled sarcastically, “She’s a high school graduate. No matter what, she’s much better than us illiterate folks.”

Zhang Qinfang pursed her lips, still unwilling to admit that Ning Shu was better than herself.

However, she said, “Big sister-in-law, if Ning Shu can find a job on her own, Third Brother is a military officer. He should be able to find a job too, right? Can we ask him to introduce us?”

Qian Aifen’s eyes flickered.

She replied, “I don’t know. You can try.” But in her heart, she wondered, could Third Brother really find a job? Even if he could, would he help?

Qian Aifen was somewhat afraid of Lin Guodong.

Over the years she had been married into the Lin family, but she hadn’t spent much time with Lin Guodong.

After all, in the past decade, Lin Guodong had been in military school and the army, hardly having any contact.

Even in the first two years when Lin Guodong attended high school in the county town, he stayed in the school dormitory.

So, she truly didn’t understand or know this younger brother-in-law.

However, if the head of the household and the elder brother went to him, would he help?

Meanwhile, Ning Shu and her family had also finished lunch.

They usually ate earlier than the old house, so when Lin’s father, mother, and Lin Xiaojing arrived, they were sunbathing in the yard.

“Third brother, third sister-in-law, Xiaojing is here to write that agreement you mentioned, and also about the certification,” Lin’s mother said with a smile.

Ning Shu nodded, “I’ll go get paper and pen. For the agreement, I’ll just write down what happened. Xiaojing will pay me back 200 yuan each year, and 250 yuan in the third year, making a total of 650 yuan over three years. Do you have any problems with that?”

“No problem at all,” Lin’s mother said.

“I don’t have any problems either,” Lin Xiaojing added.

Lin’s father thought to himself that there was no problem with paying back 200 yuan per year.

Lin Xiaojing would surely earn 200 yuan a year from her job, or after the household division, he and his wife could also earn income from raising pigs and chickens, which could help Lin Xiaojing repay the loan.

Ning Shu quickly wrote up the agreement and let Lin Xiaojing take a look at it.

At this moment, Lin’s father spoke up, “Xiaojing, read it to me.” Although he had sent his children to school, he himself hadn’t received an education.

“Okay.” Lin Xiaojing read the agreement aloud, which essentially mirrored what Ning Shu had just said.

After hearing it, Lin’s father said, “Third sister-in-law, add something at the end. Write that the old man will act as a guarantor. If Xiaojing doesn’t repay, I’ll step in to repay, so you won’t suffer any losses.”

It turned out Lin’s father had Lin Xiaojing read the agreement aloud just for this purpose.

Ning Shu, seeing Lin’s father’s request, didn’t refuse.

“Let’s listen to Dad,” she said. It was the old man’s insistence and self-respect.

Ning Shu had come to admire Lin’s father over these days of interaction.

She felt he was very clear-headed and not the rigid, stubborn type of person.

Indeed, Lin’s father was a clear-headed person.

Otherwise, how could he have sent all three sons and one daughter to school?

Ning Shu went back to her room, amended Lin’s father’s words, then handed it to Lin Xiaojing.

Lin Xiaojing read it again to Lin’s father, who confirmed it.

Lin Xiaojing and Ning Shu then signed the document.

Lin’s father couldn’t write, but he had a seal.

After they finished writing, he stamped it with his seal.

With the agreement done, Ning Shu said, “Now let’s go to the brigade leader’s house to get the certification. Once we have it, Xiaojing and I will go to the garment factory. Dad and Mom, do you want to come along? If you do, we can take the brigade’s ox cart.”

Lin’s father thought for a moment. “Let’s go take a look.”

After all, there was nothing to do in the afternoon.

Lin’s mother also wanted to see where her daughter would be working in the future.

If Lin’s father hadn’t mentioned it, she wouldn’t have brought it up, but since he did, she naturally wanted to go.

“Let’s go together and take the ox cart. Guodong can take the children to play in the county town.”

“I don’t want to go.” Er Bao had just been to the county town in the morning and wasn’t interested in going again in the afternoon. “I’ll play in the village.”

“I don’t want to go either.” Feeling the cold wind blowing to the county town, Yi Bao wasn’t interested either.

Lin Guodong said, “You two go ahead. I’ll stay home with the children.”

Ning Shu said, “Alright, Dad, Mom, Xiaojing, let’s go to the brigade leader’s house.”

At the Brigade Leader’s House:

The brigade leader was astonished.

Ning Shu needing a certification for work was understandable, but Xiaojing had also found a job? “Xiaojing, did you find a job?”

He knew it was difficult to find a job nowadays, so he hadn’t expected their family members to be so successful.

One after another, they had all found jobs.

Lin’s mother explained, “No, it’s because the third daughter-in-law will be accompanying the army next year, so she’s transferring the job to Xiaojing. Xiaojing needs the certification for the formalities at the factory.”

“So that’s how it is,” the brigade leader’s wife remarked. “Guodong’s wife is quite accomplished. It seems like you, Guodong, have a good eye for talent; she caught your attention right away.”

While she said this, she couldn’t help but wonder. Didn’t Guodong’s family still have Guofeng and Guoliang? Why give the job to Xiaojing, a mere girl?

A girl would eventually marry, so would she take the job to her in-laws’ home? It would be quite remarkable if a girl took a job with her when she married.

But as far as she knew, Guofeng’s wife, Qian Aifen, was shrewd, and Guoliang’s wife, Zhang Qinfang, wasn’t easy to get along with.

Would they be willing to give the job to Xiaojing?

However, these were just thoughts in the brigade leader’s wife’s mind, and it wasn’t appropriate to ask now.

“It’s because our Third Son has a good eye; he noticed our Third Daughter-in-law. And our Third Daughter-in-law is a good person, not minding that our family is from the countryside,” Lin’s mother replied.

The more she thought about it, the more she appreciated Ning Shu.

Back when she, a city-educated youth, got involved with their Third Son, wasn’t it because she didn’t mind that they were from the countryside?

Thinking about it this way, their Third Daughter-in-law was becoming better and better.

It was also fortunate that the matter hadn’t escalated.

After the incident between their Third Son and Third Daughter-in-law, their Third Son had endured it for Xiaojing’s sake.

Otherwise, they would have missed out on such a good daughter-in-law.

Ning Shu felt a bit embarrassed hearing her mother-in-law’s praise.

Clearly, she had wronged Lin Guodong, but her mother-in-law’s words made it seem like Lin Guodong was climbing up because of her.

Even with her thick skin, she couldn’t help but feel a little embarrassed.

But she did appreciate her mother-in-law’s high opinion of her, and she kept it in her heart.

With the certification obtained from the brigade leader, Lin’s father led everyone to the cattle shed to rent a cart.

It was Ning Shu’s first time at the cattle shed, and it wasn’t as smelly or dirty as she had imagined.

Though there was a distinct smell of cattle, Ning Shu didn’t find it bothersome.

“It seems like the whole family is going out. Where are you heading to in the county town?” The cart driver was Lin Lao Niu, who was responsible for taking care of the cattle in the village.

Since he was in charge of the cattle in the brigade, everyone called him Lin Lao Niu.

Going to the county town was a joyful occasion, and Lin’s mother didn’t hide it. “Our Third Daughter-in-law has transferred the job in the county town to Xiaojing. She’s taking Xiaojing to handle the formalities and is taking us elderly along for a visit.”

In this day and age, having a family member secure a stable job was like having a scholar in ancient times—it was worth celebrating.

Lin Lao Niu said, “Oh, that’s really good. What about Guodong’s wife? What is she going to do?”

“She’s going to accompany the military later on, joining our Third Son in the army. Our Third Son’s three children have all grown up, and it’s important to have their father around. Besides, our Third Son will only get busier in the future. He can’t stay away for years without coming back, can he? By then, the children wouldn’t even recognize him. So, it’s better for the two of them to go to the army together,” Lin’s mother explained.

“That makes sense…”

Amidst the conversation between Lin’s mother and Lin Lao Niu, the cart arrived at the entrance of the garment factory.

Lin’s mother, who had been composed until now, became a bit reserved. “Third Daughter-in-law, Xiaojing, would you like to handle the procedures while we wait here?”

Lin’s father added, “Yes, yes, that’s right. We’re just here to familiarize ourselves with the route. Knowing where Xiaojing will be working is enough. We won’t go in later when you’re busy. We’ll wait here for you.”

Seeing this, Ning Shu didn’t insist. “Alright, Xiaojing and I will go in first.”

Not only were Lin’s mother and Lin’s father nervous, but Xiaojing herself was also feeling anxious.

She hadn’t relaxed throughout the journey.

The closer they got to the garment factory, the more nervous she became.

“Let’s go, everything will be fine,” Ning Shu reassured her, then quietly introduced her to the gatekeeper, Uncle Wang, “This gatekeeper’s surname is Wang. Just call him Uncle Wang. He’s related to the factory director. When coming and going from work, be polite to him and speak to him with a sweet tone.”

Lin Xiaojing nodded, “Okay, I’ll remember.”