Chapter 14: Director Zhou of the Grocery Store—I’m Xiaomei’s Classmate

The two sales clerks were deep in conversation, completely unaware that Liu Xinghe was eavesdropping. They assumed their voices were low enough that only the two of them could hear.

As expected, Sales Clerk No. 2, looking envious, chimed in:

“Wow, she really lives well. I’ve never seen a sent-down youth live this comfortably. Last New Year, the girl from next door who went down to the countryside came back to visit. She was so fair and pretty back then, and now she’s all yellowish and frighteningly thin—she even looks older than her mom.”

“Exactly. Doing all that hard labor in the fields every day, doing all the dirty work—it’s normal to age quickly,” said Sales Clerk No. 1, steering the slightly off-topic conversation back while pointing at her chin, her tone tinged with envy:

“But that doesn’t include Director Zhou’s daughter. I heard that recently she’s been asking around to find which factories are hiring, or who has a job to sell, trying to secure a position for her daughter so she can return to the city.”

Sales Clerk No. 2 shook her head in admiration:

“Jobs in our city aren’t that easy to find. Hundreds, even thousands, are chasing after a single public recruitment opening. And the internal job positions? By the time the word gets out, the job is already filled. It’s tough. Her daughter will probably still have to stay in the countryside for a long time.”

Liu Xinghe, however, thought to herself that whether others knew or not, she herself just happened to have a job opening in hand.

Sales Clerk No. 1, giving her the “you’re too young to understand” look, said:

“It’s not that hard. If nothing else works, there’s a way. I heard Director Zhou’s wife is preparing to retire early, letting her daughter take over her position. That way, her daughter can return to the city with a ready-made job.”

Hearing this, Liu Xinghe’s mind lit up with ideas. Her job opening could be very useful—maximum benefit, definitely doable!

At that moment, the two clerks switched to another topic. Liu Xinghe lost interest in their gossip, picked a piece of blue-patterned cotton fabric, paid for it along with her receipt, and, seeing that it was almost closing time, quickly left the department store.

Of course, Liu Xinghe first found a secluded spot to store the items in her spatial pocket, then made her way straight to the neighboring grocery store the sales clerks had mentioned.

Inside the grocery store were also two sales clerks, though a bit aloof—one kept her chin raised while watching people, the other ignored everyone.

So Liu Xinghe didn’t rush to business. Instead, she bought some era-specific canned goods, pastries, and snacks. When paying, she looked around and asked with curiosity:

“Huh? Where’s Uncle Zhou today? Comrade, is Director Zhou still here? Could you call him for me?”

“You know our Director Zhou?” The sales clerk finally lifted her aloof face, lowered her ‘noble’ chin, and scrutinized Liu Xinghe suspiciously from head to toe.

“Yes, I’m Xiaomei’s classmate. Xiaomei asked me to help her look into some job opportunities, and things are starting to take shape. I wanted to talk to Uncle Zhou about it.”

Liu Xinghe spoke calmly; they were indeed classmates—same school, same title.

Hearing this, the sales clerk completely believed Liu Xinghe. Her cold expression and raised chin vanished, and she gaped in surprise:

“What? You have job news? From where?”

“Comrade, sorry, this matter I can only tell Uncle Zhou. It concerns a major issue for Xiaomei, and I can’t share it with you yet.”

Liu Xinghe shook her head apologetically and fell silent.

The sales clerk didn’t respond.

“Director Zhou is doing inventory in the warehouse. I’ll go get him for you.”

The middle-aged clerk, who had been slowly counting sunflower seeds by the shelf, stopped her task and finally moved to help, nodding understandingly at Liu Xinghe.

She turned to the other clerk:

“Xiao Liu, after this young lady checks out, make her a cup of tea and let her wait in the break room.”

With that, the middle-aged clerk hurried down the employee passage at the back.

Although Xiao Liu was curious about the job news, she knew the woman in front of her wouldn’t reveal it. Moreover, it concerned the personal matters of their superior, so she had to keep her thoughts in check and follow the departing clerk’s instructions.

Director Zhou arrived quickly. As soon as Liu Xinghe sat down, he hurried over, extremely excited, grabbing her hands and asking, “Young comrade, you really have job news?”

“Yes, Uncle Zhou, and it’s the kind that can be confirmed immediately.” Liu Xinghe smiled, nodding firmly. “Let’s find somewhere to talk in detail.”

“That’s wonderful.”

Director Zhou’s eyes glistened with tears; he clenched his fists and waved them in excitement.

Looking around at the staff and the busy store, he said to Liu Xinghe:

“Wait here, young lady. I’ll take care of a few things, then we’ll go home. I’ll have your aunt prepare a proper meal, and we can talk while sitting.”

“All right, Uncle, go ahead. I’ll wait here. No rush.” Liu Xinghe agreed and picked up a cup of tea, signaling she wasn’t in a hurry.

After quickly giving instructions to the staff, Director Zhou personally paid the clerks to bring Liu Xinghe a plate of red bean cake and a plate of sunflower seeds.

Ten minutes later, he returned in a rush with his briefcase. He packed up the unfinished snacks for Liu Xinghe and went with her to fetch his wife, Aunt Zhang Hong, from the textile factory to discuss matters at home.

The enthusiastic Director Zhou even went to a state-run restaurant to pack several specialty dishes, while Aunt Zhang got dumplings and rice from the factory canteen. Back home, she also fried eggs and boiled cured meat.

Liu Xinghe hadn’t said a word about her matter, yet she ate quite a lot of the food, and both of them kept serving her without worrying she might be there just to freeload.

After the meal, Aunt Zhang brought a plate of chopped apples. Only then did the couple get serious and sit beside Liu Xinghe to ask about the job matter.