Chapter 48

The department store Xu Mei went to wasn’t the one where Xu Di worked.

There were several department stores in Beijing, scattered across different districts.

The department store where Xu Di worked was the headquarters, it not only had a warehouse and a sales floor, but also an administrative building.

The department store’s leaders at all levels worked here, as well as the finance and accounting department, the trade union, the Women’s Federation…

Xu Di and her colleagues’ office building belonged to the logistics department, the administrative departments at all levels were in another building.

So, Liang’s job was quite valuable.

The New Year was coming soon, everywhere was filled with festive atmosphere, it seemed like they were going to give out benefits today, even the old man at the gate was smiling with wrinkles all over his face.

“Xu Di, there’s a lottery draw this year, I wonder who’s lucky enough to win the grand prize.”

As soon as Sister Tang saw Xu Di come in, she excitedly shared her joy with her.

“Lottery draw?”

Xu Di didn’t understand, wasn’t it about giving out benefits?

“You’re new here, you don’t know. Our department store has always had this kind of activity.

All the departments participate in the lottery draw, the prizes are very rich. It was stopped for a few years, but it’s back this year.”

What Sister Tang didn’t say was that during the most intense years of the movement, many activities were stopped.

“Really, I’m lucky then, what kind of prizes are there usually?”

Xu Di was also excited, she had never won anything in her previous life when she bought lottery tickets.

“They’re all kinds of tickets, from big ones like television sets, bicycles, radios, those rare ones, to small ones like soap tickets, match tickets.

I wish I could win a bicycle ticket, when I got married, I only bought a radio and a watch because I didn’t have a bicycle ticket.

Xu Di, what ticket do you want?”

“I want a watch ticket, it’s really inconvenient without a watch.”

Xu Di stretched out her arm, revealing her bare wrist.

“That’s true, it’s not convenient without a watch. Wang Wei, what about you, what do you want?”

“Sister Tang, I just want to sleep now.”

Wang Wei’s wife had recently given birth to a big, fat boy, and their whole family was happy.

But, a few days later, Wang Wei came to work with two big dark circles under his eyes.

His fat son was sleeping day and night, he slept soundly during the day and was fussy at night.

Wang Wei felt sorry for his wife who had just given birth, he and his mother took turns watching the child, he had lost a lot of hair from exhaustion.

“Wang Wei, you can’t feel sorry for the child, you have to get him back on track.

If he wants to sleep during the day, don’t let him sleep, he’ll be back on track in a few days.”

Xu Di was also puzzled, newborn babies usually sleep almost all day, she didn’t know what was wrong with Wang Wei’s child.

“Yeah, we’re trying to get him back on track, now my mom and my mother-in-law are taking turns watching him, he’s better now.”

Wang Wei yawned again, he hadn’t slept well since his wife’s late pregnancy.

Sister Tang and Xu Di exchanged glances, they both felt that Wang Wei was a good man, he knew how to care for his wife.

“Everyone is here, just in time, let’s go to the big meeting room, our whole logistics department’s lottery draw will be held there.”

As soon as the team leader came in, she called everyone over, they had to go to the big meeting room.

After the lottery draw, they would also be given benefits, they were all looking forward to it.

Xu Di followed Sister Tang, she didn’t know the process, she had to find someone who knew, she would learn by doing, she didn’t want to make a fool of herself.

When they arrived, there were already quite a few people in the big meeting room.

They were usually busy with their own things, this was the first time Xu Di realized that there were so many people in their logistics department.

“Xu Di, Wang Wei, Meng Jiao, let’s sit together, and save a seat for Sister Zhao.”

Sister Tang called them over from their office, they could chat later.

Gradually, everyone from each team arrived.

The director of the logistics department gave a passionate speech, thanking the Party, thanking the leaders, etc., and also quoted some sayings.

“Finally, I declare that the lottery draw activity officially begins!”

Thunderous applause erupted, everyone’s hearts probably had the same thought, they could finally draw!

The woman in front who was hosting, Xu Di didn’t recognize her, Sister Tang said she was the most serious person in their logistics department, even more serious than their logistics director, no one dared to provoke her.

Xu Di secretly memorized her appearance, she would pay attention in the future.

With this woman in charge, the lottery draw went smoothly.

Soon, it was their team’s turn.

“Heaven bless me, let me win a bicycle ticket.”

Xu Di heard the woman in front of her, Sister Tang, whispering a prayer, it seemed like she really wanted a bicycle ticket, she wasn’t afraid of being heard and being labeled as a superstitious person.

The lottery box was just a regular cardboard box, each side was sealed, only a square opening was left on top.

It was truly a simple time, the cardboard box wasn’t even decorated, it was just placed on the table as it was.

Think about it, in the previous life, a lottery box would have a lot of decorations, at least the outside would be covered with colorful paper.

“Xu Di, it’s your turn, what are you thinking about?”

“Oh, I’m coming.”

While she was dazed, Sister Tang had already drawn, she was holding it in her hand, she hadn’t opened it.

Xu Di stepped forward, reached in, took a random piece of paper, and pulled her hand out.

Those who had drawn went back to their posts, Xu Di and Sister Tang went back to their office.

“Xu Di, take a look first, did you draw the ticket you want?”

Sister Tang was nervous, she wanted to see what Xu Di had drawn.

“Okay, I’ll take a look.”

Xu Di unfolded the square piece of paper and took a look.

“What?”

Sister Tang was even more nervous than Xu Di.

“A watch ticket!”

Xu Di showed it to Sister Tang, she was incredibly lucky this year, her wish came true.

“Xu Di, why don’t you open it for me?”

“Sister Tang, it’s already decided, it’s the same result whether Xu Di opens it or you open it. Why don’t I open it for you?”

Meng Jiao, who had just come in, saw Sister Tang still hesitating, she couldn’t help but say something.

She thought to herself, it’s just a bicycle ticket, what’s the big deal?

“That’s right, Meng is right.”

Sister Tang was also tired of being indecisive, she unfolded the paper and took a look, her face full of disappointment.

“A soap ticket!”

Sister Tang sighed, she sat back down at her desk and didn’t want to talk.

Wang Wei looked at his radio ticket, he didn’t even dare to show his happiness.

Meng Jiao had a snack ticket, which was perfect for her, she would use it tomorrow at noon, in the building across the street.

The team leader didn’t come back until it was time to get off work, they didn’t know what she had won.

Xu Di was very happy, she put the watch ticket in her space and waited for her brother to pick her up at the office, they had agreed in the morning, she was afraid that she wouldn’t be able to carry all the things alone.

Their benefits this year were pretty good, five pounds of rice, two pounds of cooking oil, a pack of toilet paper, two bottles of wine, two packs of peach cakes, five pounds of oranges and apples each.

Xu Di was a cadre, her salary was thirty-two yuan a month, and she also had some tickets every month.

She was really lucky, it was said that last year’s benefits weren’t this good.

“Xu Di, where are the things, I’ll carry them.”

Xu’s brother came out half an hour early, just in time for Xu Di to get off work.

“Big Brother, they’re all here.”

Xu Di called her brother over, the two of them should be able to carry everything.

“Why are there so many, more than mine.”

“It’s said that this year’s benefits are better than last year’s, I don’t know why.”

It took both of them to carry everything.

They squeezed onto the bus with difficulty, and when the brother and sister carried the things into the family compound, they met some aunts and grandmothers, they knew that these were the benefits Xu Di’s unit had given out, and they were envious again.

Those who had eligible sons or nephews were excited, they would go and talk to Mrs. Xu after the New Year, asking her what kind of partner Xu Di wanted to find.

Xu Di, who had already gone upstairs, didn’t know that she had been noticed again, a wave of matchmakers was about to come.