Chapter 12: Selling a Job, Getting Another Job

Liu Xinghe had already sensed Director Wu’s strong intentions, so she didn’t waste time and went straight to the point.

“Director Wu, the job my mother got for me, I no longer need it. I’m looking for a suitable candidate, and I thought of you since you’re a good person, so I wanted to ask you first.”

“Xiao Liu, thank you for thinking of me. Honestly, I was just about to shamelessly come to talk to you about this. My niece hasn’t gotten a job yet and has been struggling—on behalf of my whole family, thank you!”

Director Wu was overjoyed. She moved a stool next to Liu Xinghe, held her hand, thanked her profusely, and then quietly asked, “Xiao Liu, how much are you expecting for it?”

“One thousand.” Liu Xinghe held up a finger, showing a ‘one.’

Hearing the price, Director Wu frowned in thought.

“Auntie, as you know, this job is an official cashier position in the steel factory’s finance office. The job is respectable, easy, and comes with excellent pay and benefits. There’s no position more suitable for a young woman—it’s a rare opportunity. Right now, finding a job this good is nearly impossible. Many people are eyeing the position I hold. If it weren’t for my injury and the police keeping things in check, I don’t know how many people would have trampled over our doorstep.”

Liu Xinghe’s price was non-negotiable. This was her minimum requirement. The job she held was in high demand; selling it would not be a problem.

“Besides, if your niece takes this job, she could earn back the money in under three years. It’s truly a job that could support an entire family.”

Director Wu considered the words, calculated in her mind, and with a determined nod, said, “Alright, let’s do it this way. Wait here while I get the money. We’ll settle this today.”

As she said this, Director Wu was about to leave. She was already feeling a sense of urgency from Liu Xinghe’s words and wanted to finalize things quickly.

The more Director Wu thought about it, the more she realized how good the job was—high pay, excellent benefits, and hard to come by. Every job has a spot; this one was highly sought after. Miss it, and it would be hard to encounter again.

Liu Xinghe grabbed Director Wu’s hand. “Auntie, don’t rush. I have one more matter to handle. Let’s settle that first before the transaction. Don’t worry, the job isn’t going anywhere.”

She was anxious, though—the job was secure, but whether it would go to her niece was another matter.

Liu Xinghe’s insistence calmed Director Wu’s urgency, and she had no choice but to restrain herself. Sitting down again, she said, “Xiao Liu, what else do you need to do? Tell me quickly so we can finish early. It’s already past one in the afternoon; after this, you can come home with me for dinner.”

Director Wu didn’t realize just how rushed Liu Xinghe actually was—it was only just past lunch. But Liu Xinghe was determined to finish everything at the steel factory before leaving today.

“I heard the factory director has returned. I have something to discuss with him. Could you take me to see him, Director Wu?”

Director Wu knew that the factory director had a good relationship with the Liú family. Considering the job situation in Liu Xinghe’s hands, she didn’t hesitate and agreed:

“Xiao Liu, you came at the perfect time. The director just returned from a trip and is now in his office.”

Director Wu hurriedly led Liu Xinghe to the director’s office.

Upon arriving, she first briefed the director on Liu Xinghe’s recent situation, expressing some indignation on her behalf, then politely closed the door, leaving Liu Xinghe and the director alone.

Director Qián was angered by the news but kept his composure. Smiling kindly at Liu Xinghe, he asked after her health and chatted for a bit before turning to business. “You came to see me about the job, right? Tell me your thoughts.”

“Uncle, to be honest, I came today to handle the job my grandfather had arranged.”

Calm and composed, Liu Xinghe took out a written agreement from her bag and handed it over.

“Shēn Qiáng’s position was taken over from my grandfather. At the time, my grandfather and you agreed that even if Shēn Qiáng took over, the job should eventually return to the Liú family. The job’s ownership belongs only to us.”

Pausing to gauge Director Qián’s reaction, she then handed over a public announcement as well:

“Now that Shēn Qiáng has met with misfortune, I have publicly severed the father-daughter relationship with him. This job should return to the Liú family. Currently, I am the only remaining descendant, so this job rightfully belongs to me. I’m here to reclaim the position and collect Shēn Qiáng’s salary from last month.”

Director Qián looked at the aged document, reminiscing about his younger years, and sighed:

“At that time, our steel factory suffered a retaliatory attack and a fire. Thanks to your grandfather protecting the important documents, I rewarded him. He asked for nothing—just this signed agreement witnessed in the assembly. Your grandfather truly was far-sighted.”

Director Qián’s expression darkened as he continued:

“Shēn Qiáng was recognized as a good man and father, always attentive to your mother. I even joked that your grandfather overthought things. Who knew? I was blind. That man is black-hearted, a real scum among men.”

Fuming, he said, “I was gone only a few days, less than a month, and so much happened! Your great niece, do you need Uncle Qián to help? I’ll make sure that brat Shēn Qiáng doesn’t escape punishment.”

“Uncle, it’s settled—death penalty. It should be carried out soon,” Liu Xinghe said, checking the time and hinting why she needed urgency: “Because they’ve tried to send me to the countryside again, I want to settle this quickly.”

“All right, this position belongs to the Liú family. I’ll handle it. Shēn Qiáng was just a purchasing team leader, a position gained through promotion. I can only give you a general clerk position in the purchasing department. What you do after getting it is up to you,” Director Qián said.

He continued with instructions:

“But since you’ll be going to the countryside and can’t take it up yourself, many are watching this job. You must act fast. Find a good candidate and come to me to handle it. I don’t want complications or trouble.”

“Understood, Uncle. Thank you.”

Director Qián took a blank official letterhead and drafted the necessary documents, transferring Shēn Qiáng’s job to Liu Xinghe. After stamping it, he handed it over:

“Let’s go. I’ll take you to the finance office to collect the money before you proceed.”

“Thank you, Uncle.”

Liu Xinghe thanked him with a bow, followed him to the finance office, and calculated Shēn Qiáng’s pay for the previous month and the two days of this month’s work.

The total came to forty-nine yuan fifty cents, four industrial coupons, a five-foot cloth ticket, a one-pound meat ticket, a two-pound tofu ticket, a one-pound brown sugar ticket, plus a monthly benefit: one pound of fresh oranges per person.

Liu Xinghe was both envious and jealous of such great benefits.

Damn Shěn Xī, if she hadn’t registered her for the countryside assignment, she could have stayed at the steel factory until the layoffs of the 1990s.

Now, a good job could only be observed but not done—she had to go to the countryside and work in the fields in wind and rain.

Grudgingly, Liu Xinghe signed for everything and collected it.

She had to think carefully about how to maximize this job’s value and profit.

After leaving the finance office and bidding Director Qián farewell, Liu Xinghe was taken home by Director Wu, who had been observing her movements at the office door.