Chapter 168: The Ideal Work Life

The current birth policy is “late, sparse, and few,” with “few” meaning that a couple can have a maximum of two children, without a forced one-child policy.

Since there is no mandatory requirement, although units promote the policy, people don’t listen.

They have their own rhythm.

The idea of “more children, more blessings” is deeply ingrained in the minds of the Chinese people. Lin Xiangnan’s family of three siblings is not considered many in this era.

Most families have several children.

In the past, the infant mortality rate was too high, and having fewer children made most people feel insecure. Having more children increased the probability of raising at least one child.

It’s just that the government hasn’t gotten serious yet. Later, when children are linked to work, fanatics like Hu Meili will disappear by half.

Two children already make Lin Xiangnan overwhelmed. She doesn’t plan to have any more, so she glanced at the slogan and didn’t pay much attention. She followed Hu Meili and the others forward.

Lin Xiangxi sent them to the station entrance, looking reluctant. “When you’re not busy, bring the kids back to see me. Don’t be afraid to bother, sister. I’ll watch the kids after work.”

“Okay, okay, I’ll definitely come back. Read the book, you hear me?” Lin Xiangnan instructed anxiously.

Hu Meili also chimed in, “While I’m not home, you listen to your older brother, you know?”

“Mom, don’t worry, I’ll take good care of my younger brother.” Lin Xiangdong assured her calmly. He seemed very reliable.

But Hu Meili didn’t believe him. “I worry? The one I worry about the most is you. Xiao Xi, keep an eye on your brother. If anything happens, write me a letter, and if it’s urgent, send me a telegram.”

“Okay, okay.” Lin Xiangxi nodded happily. At that moment, he felt like he was the older brother.

“I’m entrusting this to you.” Hu Meili said seriously. “If your brother has any problems, I’ll hold you accountable!”

“Huh?” Lin Xiangxi’s smile froze on his face. He said with a long face, “I’m the youngest, the one with the lowest status in the family. How can I manage my brother?”

Lin Xiangdong patted his shoulder. “Don’t worry. Big brother won’t cheat you, even if he cheats himself.”

Lin Xiangxi was speechless. If Lin Xiangdong was going to cheat himself, how could he, the younger brother, get a good deal?

“Alright, alright, the train is about to leave. Go back to work quickly, don’t be late.” Hu Meili was worried about their wages. Seeing that the time was almost up, she started to hurry them along.

She was also worried. She was worried about Lin Xiangnan and her two grandsons back home, and she was worried about her two sons in the family compound.

The only thing worth being happy about was that she could eat and drink well following Lin Xiangnan. So when she followed Lin Xiangnan, she didn’t hesitate at all.

For the first meal back at the family compound, Lin Xiangnan treated herself to a roasted chicken and bread.

She had built a bread oven in the courtyard here. It wasn’t available back home, so making this dish was inconvenient.

Hu Meili gnawed on a chicken leg and muttered, “The chicken is roasted so well today, tender and fragrant. I wonder what Xiao Dong is eating at home. Probably cabbage again to save money.”

Although she felt sorry for her children eating rough food, it didn’t affect Hu Meili’s enjoyment of meat.

She had worked hard to raise her children. Now she was retired, and it was time for her to enjoy herself. Her children were all working and earning money. They should learn to live their own lives. As long as they didn’t go too far, Hu Meili didn’t plan to intervene.

“Xiao Nan, your bread is so fragrant. Give me another one.”

Lin Xiangnan was busy gnawing on a chicken wing. “My hands are dirty, Mom, you take it yourself.”

After eating and drinking their fill, Hu Meili patted her stomach and asked, “Xiao Gu is reporting to the unit tomorrow. What about you? When are you going to work?”

Lin Xiangnan had taken a month’s leave before the New Year and another month’s leave after the New Year. There are only twelve months in a year, and she had taken two months of leave.

“No rush. I’ll rest for two more days and then go.” Lin Xiangnan said leisurely. “Anyway, I’m not busy these days.”

They had been busy for half a year last year. Sun Yi and the others worked overtime almost every day, finally completing the task before the end of the year.

After the New Year, they would definitely relax for two or three months before taking on new tasks. Otherwise, no one could handle such a high workload all the time.

During this period of rest, Chief Engineer Zhang didn’t force Lin Xiangnan to go to work.

So Lin Xiangnan wandered around for a few more days before going to the office to report.

“Oh, you’re finally here. You took two months of leave, you’re really quite carefree.”

“Xiao Lin’s complexion is now rosy, she’s really well-nourished.”

“Our class is getting older and older, but Xiao Lin’s class is getting younger and younger. It makes me want to take a leave and rest well.”

As soon as Lin Xiangnan entered the office, she was teased by everyone.

She didn’t mind. While wiping the dust with a handkerchief, she laughed and encouraged them, “Working is not as relaxing as taking a leave. You can go to Chief Engineer Zhang and ask for leave now, he will definitely approve it.”

You could tell how much work there was by the atmosphere in the office.

Last year, most of the people in the office had dark circles under their eyes and messy hair. As soon as you entered the office, you saw everyone working hard. Sun Yi even worked while receiving an intravenous drip.

It made Lin Xiangnan feel a little embarrassed.

Now, everyone in the office was lazy and relaxed, each with a newspaper and a cup of health tea.

Lin Xiangnan tidied up her workstation and made herself a cup of goji berries. She asked, “Is Chief Engineer Zhang in his office? I’ll go see him.”

“He’s not here. He went on a business trip to give a report.”

Lin Xiangnan was happy that she didn’t have to go there again. She continued to ask, “What is our department busy with these days?”

“Nothing much. Just things on the production line and follow-up issues with the helicopter. It’s not difficult.”

They had overcome the most difficult hurdle last year, and the rest were just minor issues.

At this time, no one gave Lin Xiangnan any tasks.

Her skills were obvious, and no one would bother her with something too simple. If college students did addition and subtraction, elementary school students would have nothing to do. The employees in their department also needed to be trained.

Lin Xiangnan rummaged through her drawers, but couldn’t find a book. She was about to get up and borrow one from the library when Sun Yi handed her a few newspapers.

“Your desk is too empty. Here are some newspapers to decorate it.”

After saying that, Sun Yi continued to sit with his legs crossed, reading the newspaper and occasionally taking a sip of tea.

After a while, Lin Xiangnan finished reading a page of the newspaper and looked up. She saw Sun Yi lying on his chair with the newspaper covering his face, motionless.

She took the newspaper away and found that Sun Yi was asleep, leaning against the back of the chair.

Seeing this, Lin Xiangnan quickly and gently covered him with the newspaper again.

“Ah? What’s wrong? Did Chief Engineer Zhang come back?” Sun Yi hadn’t slept well and was easily awakened by the slightest noise.

“No one came.”

“Oh.” Sun Yi bent down, rummaged in his drawer, took out a small pillow, stuffed it under his neck, and continued to cover his face with the newspaper.

Lin Xiangnan watched his actions and couldn’t help but widen her eyes. Was this still the workaholic she knew?