Chapter 19

When Fourth Brother got married, Ye Manzhi was still in elementary school.

In her memory, Fourth Sister-in-law, like Chang Yue’e, was someone who stayed at home doing housework and didn’t need to work outside.

Recently, due to frequent contact with Zheng Dongmei and the similar names between her and Fourth Sister-in-law, Ye Manzhi suddenly realized that their situations were actually quite similar.

She had been helping others find jobs, so when it came to her own sister-in-law, she naturally wanted to lend a hand.

Thus, when she made the phone call, she asked Eldest Sister to reserve two apprentice spots for her.

If Fourth Sister-in-law also wanted to step out of the house, this would be a great opportunity.

However, after the initial excitement, Shen Liangmei quickly regained her composure and hesitantly said, “Laiya, I’ve never worn makeup before, and the only time I’ve given a haircut was just a buzz cut for Maidu. What if I can’t learn it?”

“If you can’t learn it, just come back. If everyone could learn, then everyone would be a makeup artist! Besides, it doesn’t cost you anything, so what are you afraid of?”

Shen Liangmei’s heart stirred. “Then maybe I should try?”

“Yeah, try it. If it doesn’t work, you can come back.”

Shen Liangmei had never attended school properly and had never worked outside, so the sudden opportunity to become an apprentice left her uneasy.

If she really succeeded, would she also be able to become a master later on?

She wanted to ask what things she needed to bring and what to wear.

But just then, the door outside suddenly opened, and Ye Laiya, moving more nimbly than Ye Lihua, dashed in.

“Dad, you’re finally home!”

Ye Shouxin asked, “What’s going on?”

“My Fourth Brother is acting up again! He and Fourth Sister-in-law want to move to Fifth Brother’s place! And they’re only going to pay Fifth Brother two yuan a month for rent! Dad, you need to talk to Fourth Brother! He only listens to you!”

Fourth Brother and Fourth Sister-in-law: “::::::”

Just earlier, they had been talking and laughing about job opportunities, and now, how had things turned so sour?

What kind of attitude is that?

Upon hearing this, Ye Shouxin widened his eyes and asked, “Fourth, you want to move out? Fine, then just swap with Fifth Brother. Let him come home, and you can move into his house for five yuan a month. With just you and your wife, isn’t that more spacious?”

“I was thinking, his place has two rooms, we can help him share the rent. My wife can cook, and I can take care of his chickens and pigs. Isn’t that good?”

“You think it’s good, but does Fifth Brother think so?”

“What’s wrong with it? We’re brothers who slept on the same bed for almost twenty years!”

Ye Shouxin kicked him in the butt. “What’s so good about that? Fifth Brother already has a hard time finding a partner. Finally, he got a decent place, and now you want to drag your wife there and mess things up! You’ve already married and had a child. Why don’t you think about Fifth Brother for once?”

Fourth Brother covered his rear, wanting to argue, but Ye Shouxin didn’t listen. He unbuckled his belt and swung it at his backside.

Fourth Brother ran around the room, shouting, “My son is already so big, and you’re still hitting me?”

“I think you still don’t have Maidu’s sense! You could have found a steady job, but you have high expectations and don’t want to do anything. You’re always messing around with your goldfish, crickets, and other insects! I’ll beat you to death!”

The belt whizzed through the air, making a sharp sound, and Shen Liangmei shuddered, hiding behind.

She dared not speak, pretending as if she wasn’t even there.

Ye Manzhi was also a bit scared and shrank her neck, heading back to her room to sort out the art albums.

When it came to Fourth Brother and his wife’s matters, it was up to Old Ye to sort them out. If Fourth Sister-in-law couldn’t make it as an apprentice, they would still have to think about living with Fifth Brother.

Once Old Ye gave Fourth Brother a good talking-to, they would all behave themselves.

As for the potential resentment from Fourth Brother and his wife, Ye Manzhi wasn’t worried at all.

She had always been like this.

When Third Brother and Fourth Brother acted up, she would go to Old Ye and complain.

When Eldest Sister and Fifth Brother caused trouble, she would complain to Chang Yue’e.

Second Sister was good, so she never had to complain about her.

In the past, she didn’t have the awareness of maintaining family harmony, and when she complained, it was mostly out of fear of blaming the wrong person or not being strict enough.

Her parents were fair and never took sides when dealing with their children’s misbehaviors.

Ye Manzhi had complained to Old Ye about Fourth Brother and Sister-in-law, but she couldn’t delay sending Fourth Sister-in-law to become an apprentice.

She planned to send both “sisters” to the drama troupe, so the next day at noon, she went to the Zheng family again.

This time, they weren’t so lucky. The elderly couple wasn’t resting during their midday break and were in the yard hanging up bean thread.

Ye Manzhi didn’t want to bring it up in front of them, so she used the excuse of combing her hair and called Zheng Dongmei outside.

Under the big tree at the alley entrance, she quietly explained the situation about the apprenticeship.

Zheng Dongmei first asked, “How much does the apprenticeship pay?”

“The apprentice has to buy the master cigarettes and liquor, serve tea—it’s a bonus that they don’t charge you money. Right now, they can’t offer you a salary.”

Zheng Dongmei frowned and said, “No salary? Then I’m not going.”

Chen Caixia was worried for her.

“The city drama troupe is the largest theater in the city! Others can’t even get in, and Xiao Ye used personal connections, begging and pleading, just to get you in!”

Ye Manzhi knew that Zheng Dongmei could be a bit stubborn, so she patiently broke it down for her.

“Although there’s no salary, they’ll provide you with lunch—vegetables, meat, and dry food. By going out to be an apprentice, you’ll be saving a bit of food at home. Besides, hairdressing is a job both men and women can do. If one of your nieces or nephews struggles in school, you could teach them the trade. In the future, it’s a way to make a living, and you’ll be able to walk with your head held high.”

Her last sentence struck a chord with Zheng Dongmei.

It immediately softened her stance.

She had raised her brother’s four children, and they were like her own. However, because of their mother’s less-than-respectable background, the children were often bullied in the alley, especially the two nieces, who were frequently spoken ill of by the other children.

She had never really thought about this before; life was just about getting by. But now, looking back, she realized that the future of these two children might not be as good as hers.

She clenched her teeth and said, “Alright, then I’ll go and be an apprentice! When does it start?”

“Tomorrow. The sooner you start, the sooner you can finish and start earning.”

Ye Manzhi hoped to get her out of her shell and let her see the world outside, rather than stay cooped up at home, stuck in her ways.

However, there might be some trouble with her parents at the Zheng family, so after thinking for a moment, Ye Manzhi leaned in and quietly gave Zheng Dongmei a few instructions.

…

After sending off the street officials, Zheng Dongmei quickly returned home.

As soon as she entered, she began to tell her family that she was going to join a major organization.

When the apprenticeship was mentioned, Grandpa Zheng disagreed, saying, “It doesn’t pay, and you have to travel so far every day. Isn’t it a waste of effort?”

“They provide a meal, and going will save some food for the family. Plus, once I learn the craft, I can teach Xiao Dong and the others.”

“That’s a good idea. Teaching Xiao Dong and them will be a way out for them later,” Grandma Zheng agreed, then suggested, “Why don’t you let your sister-in-law take the apprenticeship instead? She can switch to a lighter job, and you won’t have to go out to work anymore.”

Since the daughter-in-law couldn’t leave, at least the money she earned was for the family.

Zheng Dongmei was secretly surprised—she really had been right about what that Xiao Ye official had said!

The Xiao Ye official had just said that her parents might want her to give the apprenticeship opportunity to her sister-in-law!

She was dissatisfied, “The apprenticeship doesn’t pay! If Sister-in-law goes, will our family just eat the wind from the northwest? Besides, her hands are rougher than mine! The street official said that rough hands will scratch the hair and hurt the skin—such an apprentice won’t be accepted!”

Grandpa Zheng said, “If that’s the case, neither of you should go. Apprenticeships aren’t easy, do you see anyone who doesn’t get scolded while learning?”

Zheng Dongmei was once again shocked—this time, the Xiao Ye official was right again!

“You two have old-fashioned thinking, you can’t keep up with the times. The street official said, learning from the master always involves some scolding. Think of it as paying tuition. Ah, you two have no education, you’re out of date. If you don’t understand, stop giving advice. From now on, I’ll take charge of Xiao Dong’s education, and once I learn something, I’ll teach it to them. You two just focus on doing the household chores, and don’t worry about anything else.”

Grandma Zheng was frustrated with her constant mention of “the street official.” She didn’t know what kind of nonsense that official had fed her, but whatever they said, she believed it!

…

Zheng Dongmei could be quite stubborn, and once she made up her mind, she was unwavering.

She had once thought her parents were right and listened to them, but now she felt that they were out of touch with the times, and the street official’s words made more sense, so she decided to follow them instead.

Her parents tried to persuade her for half the night, but she remained unmoved. The next morning, she left with a jar of cold boiled water and met up with Ye Manzhi and Shen Liangmei.

The drama troupe was in the city center, and Ye Manzhi usually took the bus.

However, since the apprenticeship didn’t pay, adding the cost of the bus fare made it too expensive, so they would walk back and forth from now on.

“East Sister, Fourth Sister-in-law, let me emphasize again, it’s normal to get scolded if you don’t do well. I get scolded often at the street office. We can’t just get angry and start glaring at colleagues or fighting. East Sister, you’re quick-tempered, Fourth Sister-in-law, please keep an eye on her.”

Zheng Dongmei was focused on walking with her head down, while Shen Liangmei responded loudly, “Got it!”

“Also, East Sister, you already know how to comb hair, so you’ll learn quickly. If Fourth Sister-in-law says anything unpleasant to you, don’t take it to heart; she’s just jealous of you. You’re going to be apprentices together, so make sure to work well as a team.”

This time, Zheng Dongmei responded, and Shen Liangmei fell silent.

Ye Manzhi took care to explain everything she could think of, knowing how valuable these two apprenticeship spots were. The drama troupe rarely took outsiders, and even apprentices were mostly connected to the troupe.

Having her sister help secure these spots meant she owed quite a few favors.

When they arrived at the drama troupe, her sister was already waiting in the security room.

When she greeted her mother, Ye Manzhi quickly pulled her younger sister aside.

“What’s wrong with you? If I had known this spot was meant for Old Fourth’s wife, I wouldn’t have agreed to help you,” Ye Manjin complained. “You’ve wasted my favor for nothing!”

“Aiya, just think of it as doing it for Mom’s sake. Let Fourth Sister-in-law go out and apprentice. Even though Mom has a lot of work, at least she’ll get some peace,” Ye Manzhi reassured her, patting her chest. “Sis, once I get the manuscript fee, I’ll treat you to a big meal, wherever you want!”

Although her older sister was just an actress at the drama troupe, she often encountered directors and department heads during performances, which had cultivated a very high level of self-regard.

None of the family members, except for Third Brother, were worthy of her attention.

She looked down even more on Fourth Sister-in-law, who was uneducated and often made trouble for Chang Yue’e.

Ye Manjin made her stance clear, “An apprentice is just an apprentice. Once they finish their training, they’ll go back where they came from. Our drama troupe doesn’t have any openings. They won’t stay on!”

“I know!” Ye Manzhi replied, determined to get Zheng Dongmei out of the house quickly. At least the apprenticeship would last one or two months, and they would deal with the future later.

Getting Zheng Dongmei into the drama troupe really relieved Ye Manzhi’s mind.

Even though she was once again criticized by Zhang Qinjan for her clothing and appearance, she didn’t take it to heart.

To secure the apprenticeship opportunity for Zheng Dongmei, Ye Manzhi had done a big favor, and she felt she should learn more from Liu Jinbao and show the leaders her work accomplishments.

Liu Jinbao reported his work to Deputy Director Zhang seven or eight times a day. Even the tiniest things were an opportunity for him to report.

Due to the Zhao family brothers’ issue, Liu Jinbao had been punished to clean for two months. Every morning, after mopping the floor, he would make sure people knew it was him who had done the cleaning. Even though the water stains on the floor were already dry, he’d still tell Zhang Qinjan, “Director, I just mopped the floor. Please be careful, it might be slippery!”

In this regard, Ye Manzhi felt embarrassed. She didn’t feel confident reporting her work to the leaders with such small accomplishments.

But since there had been significant progress with the Zheng family’s issue, she still dragged Caixia to report the work to Director Mu.

Following Old Ye’s advice, Ye Manzhi knew that when reporting, she shouldn’t only present the positive side but also leave room for the leader to offer guidance.

So, after summarizing the situation, she added, “Director, although we sent Zheng Dongmei to learn a trade, the drama troupe doesn’t have any openings. Once she completes her training, how we arrange her work will require your help.”

This was her sincere opinion—finding a job was truly difficult.

Director Mu smiled and said, “You two are doing well! The Zheng family has been a tough nut to crack, and getting Zheng Dongmei to work outside is no easy feat! As long as she can learn the craft, I’ll figure out the job situation later!”

Ye Manzhi smiled and asked, “Director, so is the Zheng family’s problem half-solved now? What’s going on with that Xue Qiao’er case?”

“Catching a cheat red-handed is the key; if we don’t catch them in the act, it’s all just baseless. We’ve sent people to check with the transportation cooperative several times, and the drivers whose wages were reduced all said it was because they had less work, and it had nothing to do with Xue Qiao’er. Ah, forget it,” Director Mu said as he stood up from behind the desk and called out, “Xiao Ye, and Zhuang Ting, get ready. We’re going to the district office soon.”

“Director, what’s going on?” Zhuang Ting asked.

“The district is holding a mobilization meeting regarding the establishment of a subcommittee for the China-Soviet Friendship Association. We three are the representatives of the preparatory group.”

Ye Manzhi immediately responded loudly.

She really enjoyed going to meetings.

The last time she went to a city meeting, she learned a lot, and now she could go to the district to see more of the world!

The street office’s monthly budget was only two yuan, and they had to use the funds wisely, so they couldn’t reimburse the travel expenses for the district meeting. The three of them walked there on foot.

Ye Manzhi silently sighed. Since she started working at the street office, the soles of her shoes were nearly worn through!

When they arrived at the district people’s committee, about twenty to thirty people had already gathered in the meeting room.

Ye Manzhi and Zhuang Ting were both surprised. According to Director Mu’s previous words, the establishment of the China-Soviet Friendship Association subcommittee at Guangming Street was a big deal.

It must be valuable because it was so rare!

But judging by the number of people present, more than half of Zhengyang District’s nine street offices had sent people here!

Once the meeting officially started, the leaders confirmed this.

Seven subcommittees of the China-Soviet Friendship Association were to be established in Zhengyang District’s nine streets.

The reason two streets didn’t have their own subcommittees was that they had too few people and had merged with other streets to form a subcommittee.

Ye Manzhi and Zhuang Ting exchanged glances.

Director Mu had really exaggerated things!

From what she said earlier, they had thought Guangming Street was the only street with a subcommittee in the whole district!

Director Mu noticed their skeptical looks and cleared his throat. “The establishment of subcommittees for the China-Soviet Friendship Association is a major event. As the leaders mentioned earlier, the first activity of each subcommittee must make a big impact. You all should think about how to kick off our subcommittee’s first event. Let’s brainstorm together.”

Ye Manzhi, ever the good team player, said, “Yes, there are seven subcommittees in the district. We at Guangming Street must prepare well and stand out among them!”

“Exactly!” Director Mu agreed.

Zhuang Ting remained silent.

Director Mu continued, “The preparatory team for Guangming Street’s subcommittee is the first to be established, so we’ll be the first to officially set up our subcommittee. I’ve discussed it with Liu, and we’ll have the official establishment this Sunday. On that day, there will be a small opening ceremony.”

The China-Soviet Friendship Association was a mass organization, and members had to work or study during the week, so activities could only be organized on weekends.

Zhuang Ting asked, “Should we invite district leaders to attend our opening ceremony?”

“Yes, I’ll try my best to invite them. If we’re the first subcommittee, district leaders should attend,” Director Mu responded.

Ye Manzhi disliked listening to leaders’ speeches during opening ceremonies. Thinking from her own perspective, she felt the members of the China-Soviet Friendship Association wouldn’t necessarily want to hear leaders give long speeches at the ceremony.

“Director, I think we could combine the opening ceremony with our first activity. This way, people can participate and gain something from the event. My third brother is a member of the city’s friendship association, and I heard the city plans to invite comrades who have been to the Soviet Union to introduce life, the economy, factory benefits, and other topics related to the Soviet Union,” she suggested.

“Xiao Ye’s idea is good. The purpose of organizing these activities is for everyone to gain something,” Director Mu said.

Now, the national theme was “learning from the Soviet Union” and “taking the Soviet model as a guide.”

Zhuang Ting proposed, “Director, other subcommittees can only invite people who have been to the Soviet Union to introduce it, but we at Guangming Street have a natural advantage. The 656 Factory has many Soviet experts and their families, so we could invite a real Soviet person to talk about life from the Soviet perspective.”

“The life of the Soviet people!”

Mu Lan nodded thoughtfully. “Inviting a Soviet person to give a lecture should certainly make a strong impression for the opening event of the subcommittee.”

“Then let’s give it a try.”

…

However, inviting a Soviet expert or family member to participate in the first activity of the subcommittee was not an easy task.

The 656 Factory was an obstacle they couldn’t avoid.

After returning from the district that day, Mu Lan asked Deputy Director Zhang from the 656 Factory about the specific process for sending an invitation.

According to Deputy Director Zhang, they needed to send an invitation letter with the name of the invited person along with detailed event information, and the factory’s leadership would usually approve it.

However, just getting approval from the factory leadership wasn’t enough; they also needed the consent of the military liaison office.

In addition to being responsible for equipment orders and military product inspections, the military liaison office also handled internal surveillance and security.

Inviting foreign nationals to participate in activities had to be reported to the military liaison office.

Mu Lan wasn’t someone who pretended to be holier-than-thou. Maintaining relationships with various parties was part of her strategy, so she could have a say when it mattered and facilitate her work.

The four new colleagues at the street office had all gotten their positions through recommendations.

She knew exactly who had recommended whom.

So, when it was time to report to the military liaison office, she invited Ye Manzhi along.

It couldn’t hurt to have a familiar face; it was always easier that way.

“Xiao Ye, I remember it was Captain Wu who recommended you to our street office. I’ve never asked before, but how did you two meet?”

Ye Manzhi had already prepared an answer for this question.

Since her first day on the job, she had been waiting for the leader to ask.

Unfortunately, no one had asked until now.

Being suddenly asked by Director Mu, she felt a sense of relief, as if “it finally came up.”

“Director, my father and Captain Wu know each other. They have some professional connections.”

The matter of them having been introduced romantically was best left unsaid. Old Ye had instructed her to push any questions about her relationship with Wu Zhengrong onto him.

Mu Lan nodded after hearing her response. It was as she had suspected—when adults had connections, they helped their children.

She had a clear understanding and didn’t ask any further questions.

After registering at the entrance, they walked into the 656 Factory gates.

They had arranged a meeting time in advance, and when they arrived at the military liaison office, Wu Zhengrong, who had been notified by the security guard, was already waiting at the office door.

Mu Lan sensed the respect from the other side and felt at ease. She quickened her pace and warmly shook hands with Wu Zhengrong.

“Captain Wu, long time no see! It’s finally an opportunity to visit your territory!”

“Director Mu, you’re a rare guest! Welcome, welcome! Please come in!”

The two leaders shook hands and exchanged pleasantries.

Watching this scene, Ye Manzhi suddenly realized that she had been working for almost a month and had never shaken hands with anyone!

She never needed to shake hands in the office, and shaking hands with neighbors would seem overly formal, but she hadn’t shaken hands with colleagues from other units either!

She suddenly remembered that when her older sister first started working, she had mentioned once that male colleagues generally wouldn’t initiative with female colleagues. If a handshake between the sexes occurred, it was usually the woman who extended her hand first!

She had met Captain Wu several times but had never shaken hands with him. But when Mu Lan extended her hand just now, he shook it!

This kind of social etiquette is either learned from others or acquired through careful observation and practice; otherwise, it’s hard to fully grasp.

She felt a bit frustrated, unsure if her behavior over the past month had been considered impolite.

She hoped it wasn’t too late to make up for it.

Therefore, after the two leaders finished their pleasantries, Ye Manzhi also took the initiative to extend her right hand and greet, “Good day, Captain Wu!”

The two of them had never shaken hands before. Wu Zhengrong glanced at her in surprise, his slightly calloused hand gently meeting her soft palm, smiling as he said, “Good day, Comrade Xiao Ye.”

Ye Manzhi felt an inexplicable surge of excitement, not because of who she was shaking hands with, but because this was her first official handshake!

From that moment on, she felt that she had finally transformed into an adult capable of standing on her own!

As she was thinking this, she saw Wu Zhengrong turn to Director Mu, asking in a familiar tone, “How has Xiao Ye been performing at our street office? Has she caused you any trouble?”

“Haha, no, no trouble at all! Xiao Ye has been outstanding. Although she hasn’t worked for long, she has already helped the community resolve many issues, and the comrades’ feedback has been very positive!”

Dealing with such polite inquiries, Mu Lan was quite accustomed.

Liu Jinbao’s situation was similar to Xiao Ye’s; his uncle worked in the grain depot, and every time she passed near the depot, she would be asked about how Jinbao was doing at work.

It was similar to how parents inquire about their children’s performance at school.

One, to show concern; two, to ensure that the leadership would offer more attention.

They were here today on a mission, and Xiao Ye’s father had a relationship with Wu Zhengrong, so Mu Lan naturally didn’t hesitate to offer more praise.

“Our street office is about to establish the ‘Sino-Soviet Friendship Association Guangming Street Branch.’ Xiao Ye is highly enthusiastic about her work and has assisted me in the preparation of the subcommittee’s establishment.”

In just a few short sentences, Director Mu had referred to “Xiao Ye” twice.

Wu Zhengrong’s eyes showed a faint, almost imperceptible smile. He looked at Ye Manzhi, who was standing behind the leaders, her eyes downcast, and her posture alert. His expression appeared somewhat strange as he wondered how she explained their relationship to others.

But whatever explanation she used, it would likely be one or two familiar lines.

What was certain was that the girl hadn’t revealed the fact that they had once been introduced romantically.

Wu Zhengrong gave a slight smile. When he looked at Mu Lan again, he seriously agreed, “You’re right, Xiao Ye is a fine young person. In the future, we’ll have to trouble Director Mu to give her more guidance and care.”