Chapter 11: If All Else Fails, Advise Divorce

After watching Lin Xiangxi leave, Lin Xiangnan also peeled a milk candy and put it in her mouth.

“It’s so hard, even eating something has to be done in secret. If the source of the things isn’t made clear, you can’t even help your family.”

So this job, really had to be found.

Everyone wanted to find a job, but without connections, they would only hit a wall.

Last year, Liu Hongshan was lucky and got a job at a scrap recycling station.

This year, the policy tightened, and the authorities strictly controlled the number of employees, with most factories not hiring.

Hu Meili and Liu Laoblack worked at the steel mill. The steel mill was a large factory with many workers, including temporary workers, but the factory hadn’t hired anyone this year. Hu Meili’s two brothers worked at the pharmaceutical factory, and she had inquired, but they weren’t hiring either.

This year, it wasn’t just their family that was worried, everyone else was worried too.

Lin Xiangnan’s graduating class was even more gloomy, with classmates discussing work instead of studies.

Her deskmate was a girl with round eyes and a round face, named Du Ai’hong. She was particularly relaxed because she had a job lined up.

“My family has pretty much decided. My mom is not well and is planning to retire on medical grounds, giving me her job. What about you, Nanjie, what are your plans?”

Lin Xiangnan shook her head, “My mom probably won’t give me her job. It wouldn’t be worth it.”

Hu Meili had worked hard until now, and her salary was finally 38 yuan, but new apprentices only earned 18 yuan a month, which wasn’t even enough for household expenses. Hu Meili wouldn’t do such a losing business.

“Then what will you do after graduation? Go to the countryside?” Du Ai’hong’s eyes were filled with sympathy.

The classmate in front of them heard Du Ai’hong’s tone and turned around to interject, “What’s wrong with going to the countryside? Building the countryside is our young people’s duty.”

Du Ai’hong smiled, “Yes, you’re right, that’s what I think too.”

The current atmosphere was fickle. People could talk about certain things at home, but they were cautious outside, and wouldn’t say a word more than necessary.

Not only the students in the class, but also the teachers. The teachers’ treatment hadn’t been good in the past few years, and now they talked about sacrifice and dedication in class.

Everyone said going to the countryside was good on the surface, and those students who had no choice but to go to the countryside weren’t so anxious.

Lin Xiangnan had already been to the countryside and had long lost her illusions about the life of an educated youth. She quietly asked Du Ai’hong, “Does your unit still hire people?”

Du Ai’hong looked helpless, “No. If they did, my mom wouldn’t have to give me her job. Taking over my mom’s position, the salary has to be given to the family, and I only get one yuan a month for pocket money.”

Every unit hiring would prioritize their own employees’ children. China was a society based on personal connections. With the steel mill and pharmaceutical factory not hiring, it was even more difficult for Lin Xiangnan to find a job elsewhere.

After all, every unit had to take care of their own children first. If China had so many job openings, there wouldn’t be educated youth going to the countryside.

Lin Xiangnan continued to ask, “Then do you have any relatives who are selling their jobs?”

“How is that possible? Every family has several children. They wouldn’t give their jobs to their own children, let alone sell them to relatives, why would they sell them to outsiders?”

“Alright, I’ll think of other ways.” Lin Xiangnan gave up, “If all else fails, I’ll listen to my mom and go on a blind date.”

If she didn’t meet a handsome guy she liked on a blind date, she would go back and advise Hu Meili to get a divorce.

Finding a good job was difficult, but finding a man was still easy. Hu Meili quickly arranged a blind date for Lin Xiangnan.

“This young man works at the power plant, both his parents are employees, and he’s an only child. Life will be comfortable if you marry him.” Hu Meili said directly at the dinner table, “You are off on the weekend, dress up nicely and go meet him.”

Hearing this, Liu Hongying’s face didn’t look good, and she forced a smile, praising, “This family’s conditions sound really good.”

Hu Meili smiled triumphantly, “My little Nan has big eyes and a high nose bridge, not only is she beautiful, but she’s also a high school graduate, of course, she has to pick the best.”

Lin Xiangnan didn’t care about the family’s conditions. Even if they lived well, their standard of living wouldn’t be better than hers. She only cared about one question.

“Is he good-looking?”

“He’s good-looking. Your Aunt Liu said he’s very handsome. He’s just picky and likes beautiful women.” Hu Meili said confidently, “You’re so pretty, he’ll definitely fall for you at first sight.”

Lin Xiangnan nodded, “Alright, I’ll see him first.”

Seeing the mother and daughter talking about blind dates, Liu Laoblack also said to Hu Meili, “Ask around more, see if there’s anyone suitable for Hongying. She’s so old, she should be married. Don’t let the older sister stay at home while the younger sister gets married first, it’ll be a laughingstock.”

Hu Meili rolled her eyes and said recklessly, “It’s not my fault. I don’t know how many I’ve introduced to her, but she doesn’t like any of them. She wants to climb high, but she should also look at herself.”

Liu Hongying lowered her head and ate her rice, not daring to refute..

Liu Laoblack was just trying to criticize her, but he wasn’t so easily let go. He directly issued an ultimatum, “Last year, we bought a job for Hongshan and borrowed a lot of money. Our family has been struggling ever since. If you don’t marry this year, I won’t care about you anymore.”

Hearing her own father say this, Liu Hongying’s tears fell into her bowl, and her sobs were audible to everyone at the table.

Liu Honghe looked at her strangely, “Big Sister, why are you crying? It’s just getting married. Second Sister is about to get married, why aren’t you?”

Thinking about how Lin Xiangnan didn’t compete with him for the job, Liu Honghe even smiled friendly at Lin Xiangnan in a friendly manner and felt that the incident of spraying pepper spray in his eyes was not unforgivable.

Liu Hongying was so angry with her silly younger brother that her heart ached. The blind dates Hu Meili introduced her to were completely different from the ones she introduced to Lin Xiangnan.

But she had no say in the family and could only silently continue to cry.

“Big Sister, what’s the use of just crying? If you have something to say, say it.” Liu Honghe was a little confused.

Liu Hongying wiped away her tears, looked at Liu Laoblack’s expression, and whispered, “Nothing.”