Chapter 27: The Test

Jiang An’an seemed a bit bashful, her long lashes lowered. “My former brother-in-law values his reputation, so I turned their divorce into a story and threatened to have it published in the newspaper.”

She deliberately paused after speaking, setting the stage for the request she was about to make. To leave an even better impression on Gao Xiuhua, she continued praising Jiang Shulan.

“Of course, that was just a small trick. The key was my elder sister’s resolute attitude. She wasn’t afraid of gossip and dared to defend her rights and dignity.”

Gao Xiuhua couldn’t help clapping. On one hand, she admired Jiang An’an’s quick thinking in coming up with the newspaper plan; on the other, she was impressed by the Jiang sisters’ high level of awareness, which she believed stemmed from the teachings of their mother, who must have lived by the principle, “Women must be self-reliant.”

Moved by this thought, Gao Xiuhua sighed with admiration. “You have an incredible mother. When I visit the countryside in a few days, I must personally thank her and ask how she raised such outstanding daughters.”

“???”

To be honest, Jiang An’an was dumbfounded.

Did she say something that caused Director Gao to misunderstand?

Strangely, though, she hadn’t mentioned Lin Meiru at all.

While she was puzzling over this, Gao Xiuhua retrieved a kraft paper envelope from her drawer and handed it to her.

“After our last meeting, I felt that you’re a natural fit for work in the Women’s Federation. So, I went out of my way to secure you an internship position. Although it’s not a formal job, it pays ten yuan a month and comes with 15 pounds of grain coupons. On holidays, you’ll also receive meat, fabric, and oil coupons like the regular staff.”

Afraid that Jiang An’an might refuse, Gao Xiuhua added, “Once you’ve proven yourself, I’ll immediately recommend you for a permanent position.”

Her tone conveyed absolute confidence that Jiang An’an was made for this work.

“This opportunity is far too precious. How could I possibly deserve it?”

Jiang An’an waved her hand modestly and smiled. “I only have a middle school education. If people assume you’re bending the rules to help me, wouldn’t that harm your reputation? Besides, commuting to the county every day isn’t practical for me. I’m more used to life in the brigade.”

Her earlier words were mere polite refusals, but the final sentence revealed her true concern.

That afternoon, the two-hour bike ride to the county had left her sore. With a daily round-trip commute of four hours, no matter how much she loved the job, she had to decline.

Unexpectedly, Gao Xiuhua wasn’t angry at her polite refusal. On the contrary, Jiang An’an’s thoughtfulness—worrying about the impact her appointment might have on Gao—only made her admiration grow stronger.

This girl was so sincere and kind. How could anyone not like her?

Gao Xiuhua straightened her expression. “An’an, I’m sincerely recruiting you as the director of the Women’s Federation. To be honest, you’ve rekindled my original passion for this work.”

Once upon a time, Gao Xiuhua had been filled with enthusiasm, genuinely hoping to make a difference for her fellow women. However, the work of the Women’s Federation hadn’t been smooth—on the contrary, it had been an uphill battle every day.

First, many women lacked awareness of their own rights. They endured domestic violence in silence, accepted being labeled as burdens to their families, and, influenced by societal norms, grew accustomed to being subservient, oppressed, and treated unfairly.

They never considered the idea of women being self-reliant or using the Women’s Federation to fight for their rights. In fact, some women were even more adamant than men in believing that women were inherently inferior.

Second, the Women’s Federation held a low status, with inadequate outreach efforts. Many of the staff were apathetic, spending their days gossiping or stitching soles for shoes. Over time, the organization became widely known as a retirement haven.

Finally, there were radicals who viewed the Federation’s efforts to advocate for women’s rights as Western influence, labeling it as shameful capitalist behavior and suppressing their work at every turn.

These challenges had nearly beaten Gao Xiuhua into complacency, making her like the other indifferent staff. But Jiang An’an’s relentless fight for her elder sister’s rights, and Jiang Shulan’s courageous decision to divorce her intellectual husband, deeply inspired her.

Even if the Women’s Federation could only achieve small victories—helping a few women at a time—Gao Xiuhua believed that with persistence and hard work, one day those tiny sparks would ignite into a roaring fire of change.

Her eyes gleamed with determination as she said from the heart, “Achieving true gender equality will be a long journey. It requires all women to work together to break down biases and close the gaps. And we, the Women’s Federation, are their guides on the path to progress!”

Her powerful words echoed like thunder, reverberating in the hearts of everyone present.

Even Jiang An’an was moved, deeply impressed by the sincerity and passion behind Gao Xiuhua’s words.

“Well said! Bravo!”

She clapped enthusiastically, and the other two staff members, equally inspired, joined in.

“Both my husband and I work, but somehow all the housework falls on me. I wash clothes for the whole family, and if I come home late after working in the fields, my mother-in-law scolds me for not cooking. Just because I’m a woman, no one ever shows me any understanding.”

“If we can uproot these deeply ingrained feudal ideas, even if the Women’s Federation doesn’t make history, at least we can improve women’s standing within their families!”

These heartfelt words gave the entire Women’s Federation a renewed sense of purpose and energy.

Gao Xiuhua extended her invitation once more. “Comrade Jiang An’an, would you be willing to join the Women’s Federation? Considering your circumstances, the office can be based in Hongqi Brigade, and you’d only need to come to the county for meetings on Mondays.”

This was an unexpected surprise!

At this point, refusing would seem ungrateful. Jiang An’an solemnly accepted the letter of appointment handed to her and bowed deeply. “I will work twice as hard to live up to the organization’s expectations of me.”

The other two staff members didn’t feel envious at all about Jiang An’an joining the Women’s Federation. Their families were based in the county, and they particularly disliked going to the countryside for work. The Hongqi Commune was rather remote, so with Jiang An’an helping to share the workload, they actually felt relieved.

“Welcome, Comrade Jiang An’an, to join the Women’s Federation.”

“From now on, we’ll be colleagues.”

Jiang An’an bent down again to thank them, maintaining a humble posture. “I look forward to your guidance in the future.”

The pretty, soft-spoken young girl was humble and easily won their favor.

The two staff members became even more enthusiastic in their attitude.

Gao Xiuhua, seeing this, was extremely satisfied. “In addition to handling petitions and requests for help, our daily work in the Women’s Federation mainly involves publicity. The end of the year is approaching, so please draft a publicity plan for next year and submit it to me.”

The first task wasn’t difficult, just a routine test.

How should the plan be written? What format should it take? How should publicity be conducted… Newcomers often feel at a loss in their first job, and this task tests their organizational skills, interpersonal relationships, and writing ability.

So, if Jiang An’an was clever enough to seek advice from other colleagues, the task would actually be easy to complete.

In her previous life, Jiang An’an had rich experience in the Women’s Federation, so a mere planning proposal wouldn’t be difficult for her. She readily agreed, “I’ll bring it to you at the meeting next Monday.”

Gao Xiuhua shook her head. “How can you complete a publicity plan in just three days? You’re too honest and hardworking, child. Today is November 5th, so just give it to me by the end of the month. No need to rush.”

Jiang An’an, being sincere, was momentarily speechless.

She wasn’t used to not being overly competitive in her work.

But she absolutely loved it!