Chapter 71: First Day on the Job

That night, Zhou Jun arrived home at almost ten o’clock, riding his bicycle under the stars and moon.

“Why did you come back so late?” Xia Yue’e couldn’t help asking when she opened the door for him.

“After I sent Accountant Peng home, I boiled water for him and helped him wash up before coming back.” Zhou Jun replied.

“Oh.” Xia Yue’e obviously approved of Zhou Jun’s actions, “I heard from Mother that Accountant Peng is alone, he’s a respectable old comrade.

He drank too much wine at Yubai’s house with Dad and Uncle Shen today, Yubai isn’t home, it’s only right for you, as his brother, to take care of him before coming back.”

While saying this, Xia Yue’e poured some warm water from the pot for Zhou Jun to wash his face and feet.

Zhou Jun said happily, “I took the initiative to send Accountant Peng back and took care of him, not just to help Yubai.”

Xia Yue’e was puzzled, “Then why?”

Zhou Jun smiled and analyzed it with Xia Yue’e.

His analysis was exactly the same as Sun Fengjiao’s.

After analyzing, he said, “When I sent Accountant Peng back today, I inquired indirectly.

It seems that Accountant Peng took our third sister-in-law as his student, and his job will probably be given to our third sister-in-law.

In the future, go to our third sister-in-law’s place more often, she’s alone at home, if we make something delicious, take some to her.

Don’t be stingy, there are people in the commune, it will be much easier for us to do things in the future.”

After listening, Xia Yue’e was surprised.

She knew her husband best, Zhou Jun was very stingy, he could be described as miserly.

It was rare for him to say such things today.

After seeing Zhou Jun off, Shen Chuning was still very excited.

She felt that she had to share this happiness.

She took out paper and pen and wrote a letter to Zhou Yubai under the dim light of the kerosene lamp.

First, she told him that everything was fine at home recently, and then she told him that she had become a teacher’s student, and after learning accounting from her teacher, she could take over her teacher’s job.

Finally, she wanted to express her longing for her husband but was embarrassed to write it directly, so she added a small, cute heart after her name at the end.

After writing the letter, she put the letter and the finished scarf together, thinking that she could go to the post office to mail them to her husband during her lunch break tomorrow.

The next day, Shen Chuning got up early.

She didn’t eat much rice yesterday because she had cooked a lot of dishes.

In the morning, she cooked tomato and egg drop soup, added the leftover rice from yesterday and cooked it into rice porridge, and ate it.

After eating, she pushed her bicycle and prepared to go to the commune.

Unexpectedly, as soon as she opened the courtyard door, a figure stood up at the door.

It was only 6:30 now, the sky was just dawning, Shen Chuning was caught off guard and was so startled that she didn’t even see the person clearly.

Just before she was about to cry, Shen Qingsong saw that his daughter was scared and quickly said, “Good girl, don’t be afraid, it’s Dad.”

Hearing this, Shen Chuning quickly wiped the tears she had been scared into, “Dad, why are you here so early? Is there something wrong?”

Seeing that he had scared his daughter, Shen Qingsong rubbed his hands awkwardly, “Good girl, aren’t you going to the commune today? It’s not even bright yet, Dad is worried about you going to the commune alone, so I came to see you off.”

Shen Chuning: “Dad, I’m married…”

Although when she went out just now, it was still a little dark, and she felt a little apprehensive.

But she was twenty years old and married, she should learn to be more independent.

Hearing this, Shen Qingsong pretended to be angry, “So what if you’re married? Good girl, as long as Dad is here, even if you become a grandmother, you’re still a little girl.”

Shen Chuning’s eyes curved into a sweet smile, “Thank you, Dad.”

Shen Qingsong took the bicycle from his daughter’s hand, got on it, “Daughter, get on.”

“Let’s go!”

Sitting on her father’s bicycle, Shen Chuning felt particularly at ease.

It took about an hour to ride from Ci Hang Brigade to the commune, and Shen Chuning arrived at the commune gate at 7:30.

The sky was already bright, and Shen Qingsong had to hurry back to work.

“Good girl, go inside the commune courtyard.”

Shen Chuning was originally standing at the gate of the commune.

She reluctantly stepped back into the gate.

Shen Qingsong said with satisfaction, “Mm, wait for your teacher inside, don’t come out before your teacher arrives. There are bad people outside.”

“Dad has to go back to work, I’ll go first, Dad will pick you up after work.”

After instructing her, Shen Qingsong rode his bicycle away.

Shen Chuning was also helpless, her father was exactly the same as when he sent her to school.

Except that at that time, they didn’t ride a bicycle, but she rode on her father’s neck, and her father carried her to school.

Sure enough, no matter how old she was, she was still a child in her father’s eyes.

“Oh, aren’t you the comrade who saved Accountant Peng with a cup of herbal water last time?”

Shen Chuning had only been waiting in the commune courtyard for a while when someone came riding a bicycle.

Although bicycles were in short supply now, half of the people working in the commune rode bicycles to and from work.

“Comrade, Accountant Peng was asking around for your information yesterday! Please wait here, I’ll go call Accountant Peng, he’ll be very happy to know you’re here.”

Yin Linjiang enthusiastically went to call Peng Kaiyuan.

Shen Chuning was about to stop him when Peng Kaiyuan’s cheerful voice came from behind, “Haha, Little Yin, you don’t need to call me.

I know Comrade Shen will come today, I asked her to come.

Little Shen will be my student from now on, please take care of her.”

Yin Linjiang looked at Shen Chuning and was surprised.

This woman was beautiful, but she looked delicate and didn’t look like she had read books, how could she be able to handle the accountant’s job?

Did Accountant Peng give the job to such an incompetent comrade just to repay her?

Although this was reasonable and legal, giving the job of a commune accountant, which was related to the livelihood of the entire commune, to someone incompetent was irresponsible.

Although Yin Linjiang had some doubts about Shen Chuning’s work ability, he didn’t show much dissatisfaction.

Although this Comrade Shen Chuning might not be able to do the job well, she was really pleasing to the eye.

He could just help her more when working.

Peng Kaiyuan introduced Yin Linjiang to Shen Chuning, “Ningning, this is our commune’s cashier, Comrade Yin Linjiang.

He’s also the comrade you’ll work most closely with.”

The cashier and accountant were both among the “eight major officials” of the commune, and they were the most sought-after jobs.

Yin Linjiang was assigned to Hongyang Commune this year and was only twenty-two years old.

It was said that his family had a strong background, and he came to the commune to gild himself.

After shaking hands with Yin Linjiang, Shen Chuning went into the office with Peng Kaiyuan and Yin Linjiang.

The last time Shen Chuning saved Peng Kaiyuan, there were too many people in the office, and she didn’t see the office clearly.

Only now did she see it clearly.

A large office with two rows of eight desks.

A bookcase was placed in the corner of the office, containing some work-related books.

Each desk had kraft paper notebooks, obviously used by the staff for daily work records.

There were photos of great leaders on the white walls, and the words “Serve the People” were written.

After entering the door, Peng Kaiyuan told Shen Chuning about the daily work of an accountant.

The busiest time for an accountant was when each brigade handed over public grain, and there was less work at other times.

But no matter how much work there was, a plan had to be made early and a report had to be made late.

Around eight o’clock, the commune staff came to work one after another.

Around nine o’clock, the commune secretary called everyone to a meeting.

The main content of the meeting was that the time to hand over public grain was approaching, and everyone should be prepared and organize the brigades.

They had to be busy but not chaotic, orderly.

After the meeting, Peng Kaiyuan took Shen Chuning to meet the commune secretary.

The commune secretary was called Ma Guosheng, he was in his forties, with a square face, and looked serious.

After Peng Kaiyuan explained his purpose, Ma Guosheng carefully looked at Shen Chuning’s information.

He asked, “Comrade Shen has a junior high school education and is a military family member?”

Shen Chuning nodded, “Yes.”

Ma Guosheng’s face softened, “I believe Comrade Shen’s ability and ideological awareness are sufficient to handle the work of our commune’s accountant.”

“Comrade Shen, you’ll follow Old Peng to learn for a month, and then take an assessment after a month. No problem?” Ma Guosheng affirmed Shen Chuning before saying this.

Shen Chuning hadn’t systematically studied accounting, but she had good math grades and was quick at calculations.

Moreover, she had the habit of keeping accounts, and she believed she was fine.

She straightened her back and answered loudly, “No problem.”

Ma Guosheng nodded with satisfaction, “Old Peng, take Comrade Shen to work.”