Chapter 66 : Fun

There are so many troubles, but time is merciless and before I know it, it’s almost the end of the month.

As time passed, Liang Junqiang gradually came around, his temperament returning to its usual straightforwardness. However, he would occasionally seem lost in thought, not revealing what was on his mind, though it was certain that it wasn’t Huang Shumin.

After that day, Huang Shumin had secretly come to see Liang Junqiang once, crying and begging for reconciliation but she was firmly rejected and had to return to the Huang family with her tail between her legs.

The commotion in the Liang family only caused a small stir in the village and after a few days of discussion, it was overshadowed by another major event, the village’s new broadcasting station was starting to recruit staff ahead of schedule!

“Qingqing, where are you?” As soon as Ma Xiuzhi entered the courtyard, she looked around for Liang Qingqing. Her eyes soon landed on Liang Qingqing, who was sitting on a bamboo chair under the tree, reading a manuscript.

“What’s wrong?” Liang Qingqing asked.

“The broadcasting station is recruiting announcers! Everyone is gathered in the square to check the notice. Hurry up and come with me.”

This news hit Liang Qingqing’s heart like a sledgehammer. She blinked, feeling both expected and unexpected. After initially hearing the news from Huang Yali, she had thought the recruitment would definitely start early, but she hadn’t expected the village to remain quiet until now.

Even though she felt somewhat assured, she couldn’t help but feel a sense of urgency, worried that there might be changes in the plans. After many anxious days, the news had finally been confirmed, though a bit later than expected.

As Liang Qingqing thought about this, she followed Ma Xiuzhi, who was tugging her along and they jogged towards the square. Upon arrival, they found the place packed with people, three layers deep. Getting to the front was as difficult as reaching the sky.

Fortunately, the team leader was already there maintaining order. Holding a loudspeaker, he managed to calm everyone down and said, “Don’t rush. I’ll read out what’s going on, so please stop pushing forward.”

Xie Qingbao had high prestige and as he spoke, the surroundings gradually quieted down. Many villagers were semi-literate, unable to read the notice posted on the wall, so they were eager to hear it read aloud.

Liang Qingqing and Ma Xiuzhi stopped pushing forward and took a spot further back. They stood there, ears straining, as Xie Qingbao read the announcement from start to finish. Although his Mandarin was accented, he read the notice quite smoothly.

Everyone retained only a few key details: Announcers and technicians were needed: two women and two men. The salary was twenty-five yuan per month. Local residents were preferred. No meals or lodging were provided, but various tickets would be given out at the end of the month as allowances.

The crowd immediately erupted with excitement. Every face lit up with eager smiles, wishing they could rush to the commune for the interview right away. Being hired would be like hitting the jackpot!

While the announcer’s salary wasn’t as high as urban workers’, it was a significant income in the countryside. Knowing that an ordinary rural family could barely save a few dozen yuan a year, earning twenty-five yuan a month for just one person was a substantial sum, not to mention the additional ticket allowances!

One person’s salary could support a whole family.

“Don’t get too excited just yet,” someone said. “Didn’t the team leader mention that the requirements are strict? Not only must you look presentable, but you also need to be able to read and write, draft scripts and have excellent Mandarin. With your inability to even complete the literacy class, how could they possibly hire you?”

“And with your heavy accent, you definitely won’t be hired.”

“There aren’t many in the village who can meet the requirements. I think this job will most likely go to the educated youths.”

Some were elated, while others were worried. The villagers all had long faces, while the educated youths were thrilled. After so many years in the village, this job seemed tailor-made for them.

Those with quick minds had already quietly left the crowd to practice their skills, while others, still basking in joy, lingered in the square discussing the news and reluctant to leave.

“Qingqing, you were right about everything,” Ma Xiuzhi said, her face glowing with excitement as she grasped Liang Qingqing’s hand. “You’re amazing! You’ll definitely get an interview.”

Liang Qingqing let out a slow breath. There’s no such thing as predicting the future; she had just heard the news early from others. Smiling, she said, “The official recruitment starts in three days. We’ll know then.”

Thinking of something, Liang Qingqing turned to Ma Xiuzhi and said, “They’re also hiring two technicians. Why don’t we have your brother give it a try? He’s well-educated, so who knows, he might get the job!”

They had been focusing on the announcer positions and didn’t know much about the technician roles. However, when Xie Qingbao read the announcement earlier, he hadn’t elaborated much on the technician requirements. He only mentioned two points: they needed to have at least a junior high school education, and it was preferable if they were male.

These simple requirements fit Liang Shuqiang, so it was worth a try.

“Do you really think your brother, that reserved fellow, can handle it?” Ma Xiuzhi was a bit hesitant, thinking of Liang Shuqiang’s taciturn nature.

“A technician deals with machines and doesn’t need to speak much. Why wouldn’t he be able to do it? Mom, how can you have so little faith in him?” Liang Qingqing teased Ma Xiuzhi.

Hearing this, Ma Xiuzhi gave a sheepish smile and rubbed her nose. “I’ll talk to him about it when we get back.”

The mother and daughter walked home arm in arm and ran into Liang Shuqiang and his wife, Wang Xiaomei, in the courtyard. They quickly took the opportunity to explain the situation. Wang Xiaomei’s eyes widened in support, urging her husband to go for the interview, but Liang Shuqiang himself was having second thoughts.

“I think I’d better pass.”

He had spent years working in the fields and was accustomed to that lifestyle. Transitioning to an office job was indeed a new challenge. Although he hadn’t wasted his spare time and had continued learning, he had still forgotten some knowledge over the years.

He couldn’t imagine how awkward it would be if he couldn’t answer a question during the interview.

“Pass? How can you know you can’t do it if you haven’t even tried? I really want a man with a government job,” Wang Xiaomei said, her usual calm demeanor replaced by a heightened tone. She almost jumped up and poked Liang Shuqiang’s head, wondering what he was thinking.

Seeing this, Liang Qingqing and Ma Xiuzhi exchanged surprised glances, suddenly realizing they didn’t know their sister-in-law/daughter-in-law as well as they thought. Even Liang Shuqiang’s mouth fell open slightly, unable to believe that the person in front of him was his wife.

Noticing everyone staring at her in disbelief, Wang Xiaomei’s face turned red. Feeling a bit awkward, she said, “Everyone wants to climb higher. Didn’t Shuqiang always want to contribute to the country when he was studying? Don’t miss this great opportunity now.”

Hearing this, everyone finally understood why Wang Xiaomei was so excited, it was all for Liang Shuqiang.

Liang Qingqing and Ma Xiuzhi covered their mouths, stifling their laughter. They chose not to reveal their amusement and enjoyed their secret gossips.

Liang Shuqiang felt his heartbeat quicken as he looked at Wang Xiaomei’s flushed profile. He suddenly felt his ears growing warm and quickly averted his gaze, clearing his throat. “Then I’ll give it a try.”

“I’ve prepared some common interview questions. Sister-in-law, you can use them to practice with Brother. It’ll give you both a better idea of what to expect,” Liang Qingqing said as she returned to the room and handed a sheet of paper to Wang Xiaomei, winking cryptically. “From now on, you’re the interviewer.”

The meaning behind her words was lost on Wang Xiaomei and Liang Shuqiang, who were both rather straightforward people, as well as on Ma Xiuzhi. The three of them, however, were quite impressed by Liang Qingqing’s thoughtfulness.

Liang Qingqing, feeling a bit embarrassed by her own actions, tried to find an excuse to escape. She turned around and saw Fan Yanxing standing at the entrance of the courtyard, a faint smile on his lips and a serious look in his eyes that seemed to carry a deeper meaning.

Strangely, Liang Qingqing felt that Fan Yanxing had definitely understood the meaning behind her words!

“I’ll go back to my room now,” Liang Qingqing said as she hurriedly left, touching her face to check its temperature. It was indeed burning hot. Sometimes, it seemed that even thinking about doing something wrong could lead to trouble, and she was the one who suffered.

After fanning herself with a newspaper for a while, the heat slowly dissipated.

As the saying goes, you can avoid the first day of the lunar new year, but you can’t avoid the fifteenth.

Soon after dinner, Ma Xiuzhi called Liang Qingqing over, her face full of mystery as she winked at her. Liang Qingqing felt an inexplicable sense of foreboding, and before she could speak, Ma Xiuzhi cheerfully said, “I think your idea of having someone play the role of the interviewer is really great.”

“Really?” Liang Qingqing swallowed nervously and asked reflexively.

“Yes! So, I’ve been thinking that you need someone to practice with, not just practice on your own. But there aren’t many educated people in our family…”

That unsettling feeling grew stronger.

“So, I just asked Comrade Fan to be your interviewer, and he agreed. You two can practice in the main room. Your father and I will take your second brother to visit your uncle, and I promise no one will disturb you.”

Liang Qingqing’s vision darkened. Before she could refuse, she saw Fan Yanxing leaning against the kitchen door, holding a newspaper she often read, rhythmically tapping his other hand. It was as if his presence had settled on her heart, making her breathe a bit lighter.

His eyelids were thin, his lashes long and dense, and his thin lips curved into a smile. “Let’s go.”

His tone was calm and composed, seemingly waiting for her to accept willingly.

Liang Qingqing forced a laugh, then turned to Ma Xiuzhi with a serious expression. “Mom, I think I’m fine practicing on my own. There’s no need to trouble Comrade Fan.”

“Don’t be shy. Comrade Fan said he has plenty of free time recently otherwise, I wouldn’t have asked him.” Ma Xiuzhi patted Liang Qingqing’s arm and nudged her forward. “Hurry up, before it gets dark and you can’t see the text. Reading by candlelight will ruin your eyes.”

Liang Qingqing stumbled forward, ending up right in front of Fan Yanxing. As she looked up, she saw his smile deepen and his features soften even more.

“I have plenty of time.”

After a brief pause, his gaze grew darker, and his deep, sensual voice slowly filled her ears.

“Comrade Liang, from now on, I’ll be your interviewer.”

Liang Qingqing’s throat tightened, and a tingling sensation spread from her ears throughout her body.

Oh dear mother, you’re sending the precious cabbage from our home right into the pigsty!