Chapter 29: No Desire to Ride a Bicycle

Meanwhile, in Lin’s courtyard in Taohua Town.

“Brother Wu, thank you for your help,” Zhou Haoting said, finishing his cup of wine in one gulp.

Wu Sen adjusted his glasses. “Haoting, don’t worry, I’ll take care of your sister-in-law’s matter. Come find me tomorrow.” He had heard of Zhou Haoting’s name for a long time, but this was their first meeting.

Zhou Haoting put down his cup and casually asked, “Brother Wu, I heard from Linzi that your wife is an accountant.”

“Yes, she works as an accountant at the supply and marketing cooperative in the neighboring town,” Wu Sen nodded.

Zhou Haoting narrowed his eyes slightly. “Brother Wu, would your wife be interested in changing jobs?”

“Haoting, we’d love to change, but it’s hard to find a suitable position. I’m the manager of the Taohua Town supply and marketing cooperative, and my wife can’t leave,” Wu Sen said with a troubled expression.

His wife lived far from home, and sometimes when she was busy, she had to stay in the dormitory. There were no better accounting jobs in town than the one at the neighboring supply and marketing cooperative.

Zhou Haoting tapped his fingers on the table. “Brother Wu, a friend of mine has an accounting position available at the county textile factory. It’s a perfect match for your wife’s expertise.”

“Really?” Wu Sen exclaimed in disbelief, suspicious. If such a good job existed, why would Zhou Haoting let his sister-in-law work as a temporary worker at his supply and marketing cooperative?

Zhou Haoting nodded, calmly saying, “Yes, but it requires an upfront payment of eight hundred yuan.”

Wu Sen suppressed his elation, rubbing his fingers. “Haoting, can the price be a little lower?”

“Brother Wu, I don’t have control over the price. If you’re interested, I can connect you. You can negotiate the details yourselves,” Zhou Haoting stated frankly.

Grandma Shen was selling her job. If Xiaowan didn’t want it, he planned to connect Wu Sen and his wife. He wouldn’t interfere with the final negotiations.

Wu Sen pondered for a moment. They had about four hundred yuan saved, and they could borrow some from their parents to make up the eight hundred. They could also earn some money by transferring the accounting position at the supply and marketing cooperative.

“Haoting, please help us make the connection,” Wu Sen said with a chuckle, refilling Zhou Haoting’s wine cup.

He was grateful that he hadn’t immediately refused when Zhou Haoting’s younger brother asked for a temporary job; otherwise, he wouldn’t have encountered this opportunity.

Zhou Haoting’s lips curved into a slight smile. “Brother Wu, Linzi and I are good brothers. Don’t be so polite.”

“Hahaha… Haoting, I consider you a brother,” Wu Sen readily agreed.

Watching the two men converse happily, Wu Lin ate his rice silently, feeling like a mere extra.

~

In the morning, sunlight filtered through the clouds, casting a soft, bright glow.

“Wen Jianguo, ride carefully! Don’t let your sister fall,” Cui Yulan cautioned anxiously. If she knew how to ride a bicycle, she would have gone herself.

Wen Jianguo patted his chest reassuringly. “Mom, don’t worry. I’d rather fall myself than let my sister fall.”

He knew his younger sister had important business in town and he wouldn’t let her down.

“Alright, don’t be reckless. Take it slow,” Cui Yulan grumbled, her eyes betraying her concern.

Watching her children leave, Cui Yulan adjusted her clothes. “Xiaochao, I’m going out for a bit. I’ll be back for lunch.”

She then carried a small basket and headed towards the end of the village to deliver wedding candies to her old friends.

Forty minutes later.

The bicycle stopped at the fork in the road leading to town.

“Brother, don’t pick me up this afternoon. I’ll take the ox cart back,” Wen Wan jumped off the bicycle as soon as they arrived.

The dirt road was full of potholes, and Wen Jianguo’s unsteady cycling had made her feel like her bottom was in eight pieces.

Wen Jianguo was also sweating profusely, feeling nervous and anxious, but he refused. “No, the ox cart goes back to the village at three o’clock in the afternoon. It’s not safe for you to walk alone.”

Seeing his sister’s displeasure with the bicycle ride, Wen Jianguo scratched his head. “Little sister, don’t worry, I’ll ask Mom to figure something out.”

Before he could finish, Wen Jianguo turned the bicycle around and sped away.

Wen Wan: …No, brother, I’d rather walk.

Humph, this afternoon, she would ride the bike and let Wen Jianguo experience the same thing.

Checking the time, Wen Wan saw it was just after nine o’clock. Her eyes twinkled as she thought about where to start earning her first bucket of money.

Suddenly, she heard a familiar voice.

“Xiaowan…” Zhou Haoting’s low voice held unconcealed surprise. He checked his watch: it was 9:30.

Wen Wan stiffened, turning around with a smile. “Brother Hao, good morning.”

“Xiaowan, have you eaten breakfast? What time did you arrive? Have you been waiting long?”

Wen Wan raised her hand to interrupt, her smile both bright and helpless. “Brother Hao, don’t ask me so many questions at once.”

She knew he was concerned, but the barrage of questions left her unsure which to answer first.

Seeing the girl’s charming smile, Zhou Haoting’s heart skipped a beat, his ears slightly flushed. “Xiaowan, I’m sorry, I should have come earlier.”

“Okay, I forgive you. Let’s go to the supply and marketing cooperative now,” Wen Wan blinked, her smile leaving no room for refusal.

Zhou Haoting’s eyes were filled with smiles, his voice low. “Okay, I’ll listen to you. Let’s go now.”

They arrived at the door of the Taohua Town supply and marketing cooperative in just over ten minutes.

Wen Wan looked up. Well, it was quite different from the department store. The town’s supply and marketing cooperative was only one story high.

Following Zhou Haoting inside, Wen Wan glanced around. The cabinets were neatly arranged, and the goods on display were relatively complete, but the salespeople’s languid attitude made her uncomfortable.

Wu Sen saw Zhou Haoting and Wen Wan from afar and greeted them with a smile. “Haoting, this must be your sister-in-law. You two are a perfect match.”

“Brother Wu, this is my girlfriend, Wen Wan,” Zhou Haoting greeted, then introduced, “Xiaowan, this is Brother Wu Sen.”

Wen Wan smiled calmly. “Brother Wu, hello.”

Wu Sen nodded. “Comrade Wen Wan, welcome to our unit. Come, let’s go inside to complete the paperwork.”

He turned and led Zhou Haoting and Wen Wan inside.

As soon as they left, the three sales clerks at the counter began to whisper.

“Sister Wang, isn’t your niece supposed to start working here?” Li Yumei asked quickly.

Wang Fenglai rolled her eyes. “Humph, I think this newcomer is someone we can’t afford to offend. Our family doesn’t use backdoors.”

Li Yumei smiled without speaking, silently complaining: Who doesn’t know who? You, Wang Fenglai, also got your job through connections. Almost everyone working in this supply and marketing cooperative has some kind of connection.