Chapter 11

Lin Guangming and Qiu Aiying were both taken aback; they hadn’t expected Lin Xiang to agree so readily.

After all, nothing had gone their way today, so Lin Xiang’s generous consent to give up her job only made them more suspicious.

“What’s the matter? You don’t want it anymore?” Lin Xiang raised her willow-leaf brows slightly, appearing indifferent as she casually remarked, “It’s fine if you don’t want the job…”

“Of course we want it!” Qiu Aiying quickly responded.

That evening, Lin Xiang accompanied Aunt He to the courtyard compound. Officially, it was to welcome her future mother-in-law, but in reality, Lin Xiang was worried that after today’s falling out, Lin Guangming and Qiu Aiying might cause trouble.

She didn’t have much money on her at the moment and would ultimately need to rely on her job to earn some.

“Xiangxiang, today was truly a close call.” In the courtyard, Aunt He still felt lingering fear as she recalled the events of the morning.

This girl, Lin Xiang, had it tough. She’d endured so much scheming and injustice but still managed to handle everything so smartly and resourcefully. It was truly heart-wrenching.

“Auntie, I’m lucky to have your help,” Lin Xiang replied. She understood how difficult life was in the 1970s and knew she couldn’t break free from her constraints alone.

That evening, Aunt He gave Lin Xiang her son’s regiment address and reminded her, “Just bring the marriage certificate with you. That boy is out on a mission, but I’ve already sent word through the operator. I’m just worried about you traveling alone by train—there are rumors about kidnappers out there.”

“It’s okay,” Lin Xiang assured her. In her previous life, she had been independent and lived alone since childhood, so she had long learned to be cautious. “I’ll be careful. Besides, groups of educated youths are being sent to the countryside right now. It’s safer traveling with the main crowd.”

The exodus of educated youths was vast and bustling, and the train stations were filled with parents and children crying over the impending separation.

Aunt He gradually felt more at ease, though she couldn’t help but marvel at how decisive this seemingly delicate girl was. If Lin Xiang didn’t have such a strong will, she couldn’t have disrupted her biological father and stepmother’s arranged marriage plans.

After chatting for a while, Lin Xiang stayed with Aunt He at her relative’s house instead of returning to the Lin household.

The next morning, before work, Lin Xiang sought out Sister Li, a coworker who was just about to leave her housing unit.

Sister Li was an active worker who had even received a model worker award two years ago. She was always the first to arrive at the workshop, so Lin Xiang made sure to catch her early.

“Sister Li, where is the buyer you mentioned last time who wanted to purchase a job? I’ve decided to sell mine,” Lin Xiang spoke honestly, given the circumstances.

Sister Li was momentarily stunned but quickly understood. After all, the drama of Lin Xiang’s family’s failed marriage proposal had been the talk of the housing compound yesterday, especially with the revelation of a childhood engagement.

She hadn’t expected Lin Guangming and Qiu Aiying, who always seemed proper, to secretly arrange such a disastrous match for their daughter. What a terrible thing to do!

“It’s good you’re selling your job. At least it won’t go to your brother!” Sister Li had heard of Lin Jianxin before. Though they didn’t live in the same building, she’d often seen him hanging around with troublemakers.

“Please keep this a secret for now—I’m worried my parents won’t agree,” Lin Xiang spoke softly. Sister Li readily agreed.

“Don’t worry, I’ll pretend I don’t know a thing!” Sister Li saw an opportunity to help her own family too; her husband’s factory supervisor could be of assistance later. “The buyer is someone from my husband’s factory, a woman named Chen Chunhua, who works at the cotton mill. She wants to buy a job for her daughter to avoid being sent to the countryside.”

With this lead, Lin Xiang, through Sister Li’s connection, soon met with Chen Chunhua and her daughter.

Chen Chunhua, a skilled fourth-level worker at the cotton mill, had excellent dexterity and high pay. However, her blunt nature had offended the deputy factory director, leaving her unable to secure a temporary position for her daughter at the mill.

Now her daughter was jobless and unmarried, and with mandatory countryside assignments looming, Chen Chunhua had resorted to matchmaking. But after meeting a series of unappealing men, both mother and daughter were fed up. Her daughter even declared that she’d rather go to the countryside than marry someone unattractive.

When Lin Xiang met the mother-daughter duo, she almost wanted to call them kindred spirits!

Still, she couldn’t help but compare. Chen Chunhua was willing to spend a hefty 700 yuan to buy a job for her daughter to stay in the city, while her own father, Lin Guangming, was worlds apart.

Their needs aligned perfectly, and they quickly agreed on the details.

Chen Chunhua would pay Lin Xiang 700 yuan for her job at the steel rolling mill.

“Comrade Lin Xiang, thank you so much! But are you married? Without a job, won’t you have to go to the countryside?” Jobs in the city were too precious, and Chen Chunhua couldn’t believe her luck in finding someone willing to sell.

“Aunt Chen, you’re just a loving mother. It’s just that I’m getting married and joining the military, so I won’t be staying in Xifeng City,” Lin Xiang explained, grateful that the transaction was proceeding smoothly. She added earnestly, “But you should be prepared—this job sale was done in secret. My father and stepmother forced me to give the job to my brother. If they find out, they might cause trouble.”

Chen Chunhua, known for her fiery temper, waved off the concern. “Don’t worry. Once the paperwork is done, let’s see who dares complain. I’ll make them regret it!”

Seeing Chen Chunhua’s confidence, Lin Xiang felt reassured. This was exactly why she’d chosen to sell her job to this family.

Lin Jianxin was ordered by Lin Guangming to stay home and not wander around after being detained at the police station for playing poker. After a few days of confinement, he was bored out of his mind.

When he got the chance to go out under the pretext of accompanying Lin Xiang to the rolling mill to process the job transfer, Lin Jianxin couldn’t have been happier.

Early in the morning, he refused his mother Qiu Aiying’s suggestion to take a leave of absence and accompany him. Instead, he grabbed his household registry and said, “I’m an adult. Do I really need you following me to handle something as simple as a job transfer?”

Qiu Aiying, initially worried about Lin Xiang, relented when her son protested. After all, taking leave meant calling in favors.

“Just make sure everything gets done properly!” she reminded him.

“I know, I know,” Lin Jianxin replied absentmindedly, his thoughts entirely on finding a chance to play poker. After giving a perfunctory answer, he left the house and met Lin Xiang at the rolling mill entrance.

Lin Jianxin wasn’t concerned at all about Lin Xiang giving up her job. After all, his older sister had always done whatever he asked. Today was just another opportunity for him to enjoy a day out.

On the way, he criticized Lin Xiang, blaming her for upsetting their parents. “Dad and Mom were so angry last night. You really don’t know what’s good for you, Lin Xiang. Marrying someone as great as Sun Yaozu and you’re still not satisfied? Going off to some island? You’ll regret it!”

Lin Xiang sneered. She glanced at her brother, the pampered darling of the Lin family, and retorted, “Sun Yaozu peeps at women bathing and beats them. Aren’t you worried your sister will get beaten if she marries him?”

“If he hits you, it’s because you deserve it,” Lin Jianxin replied nonchalantly. “If you behave, why would he hit you?”

Lin Xiang: Ha.

“Lin Jianxin,” Lin Xiang said, her gaze shifting ahead. “Aren’t those your buddies over there?”

A group of young men loitering by the roadside caught Lin Jianxin’s attention. He recognized them as his friends, waiting for him.

His fingers itched to play poker, and he found the household registry in his hand cumbersome. Glancing at Lin Xiang, he barked, “Here, you handle the paperwork. I’ve got stuff to do.”

Lin Xiang hesitated, feigning her old, timid demeanor. “But if Dad finds out—”

“Like hell Dad’s gonna find out! Just get it done!” Lin Jianxin shoved the household registry into Lin Xiang’s hands and hurried off to join his friends.

Watching him disappear, Lin Xiang smiled faintly and turned toward the rolling mill.

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At the rolling mill’s administrative office, Liu Mei, a colleague who joined the mill the same year as Lin Xiang, greeted her warmly. Liu Mei had always felt bad for Lin Xiang, knowing she was being pressured to give her job to her brother. Seeing Lin Xiang accompanied by a young woman to process the job transfer, Liu Mei smiled with relief.

The transfer process went smoothly. Liu Mei retrieved Lin Xiang’s personnel file, updated it with the new employee’s details, and completed the necessary settlement paperwork. Before long, Lin Xiang’s formal job at the rolling mill officially belonged to someone else. In return, Lin Xiang received 700 yuan.

In the 1970s, 700 yuan was no small sum. In rural areas, it was a fortune—more than a year’s earnings for many farmers. Even in the city, where the average monthly salary for a formal worker was 30-40 yuan, it was a considerable amount.

Carefully pocketing the 700 yuan, Lin Xiang returned home and, while the family was out, stitched two small pockets into the lining of her clothes. She divided the money into two parts: 300 yuan in one pocket, and 100 yuan for train tickets and essential supplies in the other.

She then sought out matchmaker Aunt Zhang, trading 10 yuan for eight catties of grain coupons, six yuan for cloth and sugar coupons, and five catties of national grain coupons—essential for meals in state-owned canteens while traveling.

After preparing her travel essentials and packing her modest belongings into a small bundle, Lin Xiang left the Lin household. She and Aunt He, who had secured the required village committee documentation, headed to the Xifeng city street office to obtain an official introduction letter.

Since Lin Xiang hadn’t yet married He Hongyuan, visiting him as a fiancée required extra paperwork. The street office reviewed the village proof, and finally issued an introduction letter allowing her to visit Langhua Island.

With the introduction letter in hand, Lin Xiang managed to buy a train ticket for 11 yuan. Her train was scheduled to depart the next morning.

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Before leaving the street office that evening, as it was about to close, Lin Xiang returned for one last errand. Remembering how much Lin Guangming and Qiu Aiying valued keeping Lin Jianxin from being sent to the countryside, she thought of how indifferent Lin Jianxin had been in the book after taking her job. At that moment, Lin Xiang made up her mind.

The street office staff recognized her, as she was too beautiful. She had just obtained a letter of introduction today to go with the troops. In this era, soldiers were the most respected, and military families were also held in high regard:
“Comrade Lin, is there a problem with the letter of introduction? Why are you back again?”

Lin Xiang smiled and replied,
“Comrade Li, there’s no problem with the letter of introduction. I’m here to help my brother sign up for voluntary service in the countryside.”