Chapter 45

In those days, the logistics department’s work was very divided. Office workers sat in the office, while others, like those who cleaned restrooms, workshops, and factory buildings, also belonged to the logistics department.

Although they were all part of the logistics department, their wages and benefits varied significantly.

Experienced workers in the factory received seniority bonuses. After the liberation, the state had increased benefits for workers, so an old worker cleaning lathes at the textile factory could earn around thirty-five to thirty-six yuan a month, including bonuses.

Moreover, the more senior a worker was, the higher their status. Even the factory leaders treated these senior workers with respect. They wouldn’t boss them around or be disrespectful. At least, their attitude had to be proper. A nod or a greeting couldn’t be missed, or they’d face harsh criticism from others, making future promotions more difficult.

On Lin Yao’s first day at work, she was unfamiliar with the new environment and the ways of the factory. Zhang Cuilan was very worried. If she didn’t have to go to the pig farm, she would have accompanied her daughter-in-law to the textile factory.

Fortunately, the logistics department’s work wasn’t too complicated. From what Gu Mancang had found out, the textile factory’s logistics department was a small unit with only five or six people, including the leaders.

As long as Lin Yao handled the social etiquette properly and performed her job diligently without any shortcuts, no one would find fault with her.

Last night, Zhang Cuilan had given Lin Yao countless reminders and advice, covering everything she could think of.

Lin Yao nodded repeatedly, listening carefully.

It was almost eight o’clock. The factory started work at eight-thirty, and it took twenty minutes by bicycle to get from the courtyard to the textile factory.

The family got ready and went out.

Gu Shi’an brought out the family’s old bicycle. To avoid a bumpy ride, he had prepared a thick cloth cushion for Lin Yao on the back seat.

Lin Yao tried it out and found it quite comfortable.

Gu Chunmei sent them off and handed Lin Yao a bag of fruit candies, asking her to distribute them to everyone in the office. It was said that a soft touch on the lips could make people less likely to find fault.

The fruit candies didn’t seem like much, but sharing them would sweeten people’s opinions and make it less likely for Lin Yao to be troubled.

Lin Yao smiled, put the candies into her small shoulder bag, and thanked Gu Chunmei.

Gu Chunmei gave her a playful pat and said, “Alright, no need to thank me. Hurry up and go. Don’t be late on your first day.”

Lin Yao glanced at her watch, it was seven fifty-five. She quickly hopped onto the bicycle and urged Gu Shi’an, “Hurry up, hurry up!”

Gu Shi’an mounted the bike, and the cheerful ringing of the bicycle bell mixed with the chirping of birds in the autumn morning.

In Yunshui County’s autumn streets, the air was filled with the fragrance of blooming osmanthus flowers on either side of the road.

Lin Yao inhaled the sweet scent of the osmanthus and eagerly planned to buy some osmanthus candy from Wuxiangzhai after work.

Wuxiangzhai was an old pastry shop in the county before the liberation. Their osmanthus candy was exceptional, with a clear, sweet taste and a rich osmanthus fragrance without the cloying sweetness typical of modern candies.

Lin Yao, who was usually picky about food, quickly became addicted after just one taste.

When Gu Shi’an heard Lin Yao talking about the osmanthus candy from Wuxiangzhai, he smiled and said, “You really want to eat it that badly?”

“Of course! Osmanthus candy is so delicious.”

In life, it’s best to enjoy good food while you can. Otherwise, it would be a shame if you missed out. Lin Yao said this matter-of-factly and poked Gu Shi’an.

“Do you want some too?”

Gu Shi’an, being considerate, said he would also like to have some and promised to stop by Wuxiangzhai to buy a few packs after work.

Lin Yao’s face lit up with joy, and she immediately showered him with compliments.

“Oh, our Deputy Director Gu is really thoughtful. You’re the best!”

She finished with an enthusiastic clap.

Although Gu Shi’an’s expression didn’t change much, the smile at the corners of his mouth was quite evident.

At eight fifteen in the morning, Lin Yao arrived punctually at the textile factory.

Lin Yao dismounted the bicycle, adjusted her small shoulder bag, and noticed that the factory work uniform was oversized and uncomfortable, especially around the waist, making her look like a child wearing adult clothes.

Lin Yao grumbled about how the clothes were too big and uncomfortable, looking like a puffed-up kitten.

Gu Shi’an patted her on the head and reassured her that he would help adjust the clothes when they got home.

Lin Yao acknowledged this with a “Hmm,” and they parted ways to start their workday.

Before leaving, Gu Shi’an also gave Lin Yao a bag of milk candies.

Lin Yao was amused to receive candies from everyone—Gu Chunmei, Gu Shi’an, and even Gu Shidong had stuffed some orange candies into her bag. It was clear that family members had similar habits.

With a pocket full of candies, Lin Yao entered the textile factory confidently.

In those days, starting a job at a large factory required an introduction letter from the street committee. The security guard at the factory looked at her introduction letter with surprise, realizing that this pretty young girl was a new employee in the logistics department and had attended high school. It seemed that appearances could be deceiving; not all good-looking people were shallow.

The guard’s attitude softened, and he gave Lin Yao directions to the logistics department.

Lin Yao thanked him politely and handed him two milk candies.

Even the serious old man’s face softened into a smile. Though he was old and didn’t care much for sweets himself, his two little grandsons would enjoy the candies, and it was a small treat for them.

The logistics department was located in a two-story red brick building with a row of old locust trees along the road, their leaves scattered on the ground.

Lin Yao ran into Zhou Xiaoxue, who was also reporting for duty, at the entrance of the building.

Zhou Xiaoxue, dressed in a similarly oversized work uniform but fits her better, with rolled-up trouser legs and a new pair of small leather shoes, looked neat and lively.

“Lin Yao, you’re here too!”

Zhou Xiaoxue cheerfully greeted her.

The two girls went up to the second-floor office together.

The office doors and windows were wide open, and Director He was reading a newspaper while occasionally sipping from a enamel mug of strong tea.

Usually, Director He seldom spent much time in the office, often running around different large factories. Today, if not for the arrival of new employees, he wouldn’t have been seen at all.

When Director He saw Lin Yao and Zhou Xiaoxue arrive, his demeanor was quite approachable.

In the eyes of the other office workers, this triggered various speculations and thoughts.

These days, working in a large factory office requires some skill and ability. No one could survive there without competence.

Everyone knew about Zhou Xiaoxue’s background. She was the daughter of the deputy factory director, a genuine cadre’s child. She was here to experience life at the factory, and with such a background, she was likely to marry into another prominent family and eventually leave the workforce to become a wealthy housewife.

As for Lin Yao…

She didn’t seem like an ordinary person either. Not only was she beautiful, with bright eyes and a sweet smile, but her Plum Blossom watch was also a sign of a well-off background.

A Plum Blossom watch from Yunshui County’s department store cost at least a hundred yuan!

Who would be willing to spend several months’ wages on a watch unless they came from a well-off family?

Lin Yao didn’t expect her watch to spark so much speculation.

The watch was a gift from Gu Shi’an.

Previously, she had kept it in a wicker box at home since it was inconvenient to wear while doing chores. She only took it out to wear for work to keep track of time.

Despite what her new colleagues might be thinking, their thoughts were not visible on their faces. Moreover, Lin Yao was cheerfully distributing candies and chatting, creating a pleasant and harmonious atmosphere in the office.

Compared to Zhou Xiaoxue, who was so excited she couldn’t even eat lunch on her first day, Lin Yao, accustomed to taking things easy, seemed much more composed. She worked when it was time to work, ate when it was time to eat, and drank when it was time to drink.

The day passed quickly as she flipped through books and reviewed materials. At five-thirty in the afternoon, the sound of the closing bell signaled the end of work.

Lin Yao’s first day at the factory ended successfully.

In October, the evening in Yunshui County was cool and breezy. The streets were free of the summer’s heat, and a gentle breeze blew.

Lin Yao enjoyed the osmanthus candy bought by Gu Shi’an and was quite well-behaved on the way home.

As soon as she entered the house, Lin Yao eagerly clung to Deputy Director Gu, saying she was exhausted and needed a hug.

*

On Lin Hongna’s side, she had managed to get Lin Daguo and Li Aifeng out of the soap factory and took them to a remote little teahouse.

Originally, she had hoped to spend a few dimes to send her difficult parents back to the countryside.

She had already been embarrassed enough at the factory today.

But Lin Daguo didn’t even glance at the few yuan bills on the table. He boldly demanded five hundred yuan.

Lin Hongna was so angry she almost laughed. She was a temporary worker at the soap factory, earning only a few yuan a month, and she didn’t even have ten yuan on her. How could she come up with five hundred yuan?

She sneered, “I don’t have any money, just my life. Dad, do you even see what kind of life I’m leading now? I live in a dormitory and haven’t even entered the Sun family’s door. Sun Jialiang ignores me, and you’re still causing trouble. Are you trying to drive me to death?”

Lin Daguo didn’t care about anything else but was enraged by the mention of not having money. He slammed his hand on the table, causing the water in the teacup to ripple, attracting the attention of the teahouse’s patrons.

He shouted at Lin Hongna, “It’s all your fault for coming up with this ridiculous idea, thinking that Yao Yao’s soft personality would make it easy to get money. What nonsense! You didn’t want to marry into the Gu family, but instead, you tried to hook up with Sun Jialiang. Is the Sun family’s door so easy to enter? The Gu family’s life is much better. If you had married into them, I’d be the father-in-law of a deputy director of a public security bureau. How much money wouldn’t I have had? No wonder the fortune teller said you’re destined to be poor!”

Li Aifeng, also crying and wailing, added, “That’s right, Hongna, out of our family of four, your father and I love you the most. Even though your elder brother was so smart from a young age, we didn’t let him go to middle school. All our money was spent on your education. How can you be so ungrateful and ignore us?”

Lin Daguo and his wife were both raising a ruckus, drawing increasingly strange looks from the teahouse’s patrons.

Lin Hongna was at a loss for words, her face flushed with anger and unable to speak.