But the Zhang family had also promised today that once Song Fanghua went over, they would find a way to transfer the job to their own youngest son.
Song Fanghua noticed his hesitation and tempted him, saying, "Director Li, think it over carefully. This deal is a sure win for you. If you agree, I can transfer the job to you tomorrow after we finish the procedures at the factory today. The day after tomorrow is when the departure for the countryside begins. Once your youngest son goes down to the countryside, it won’t be so easy to transfer him back."
After saying this, Song Fanghua fell silent.
Li Youde thought for a few minutes and then nodded. "Alright, I agree to your condition."
"Thank you, Director Li." After the two reached an agreement, Song Fanghua smiled with satisfaction.
With the matter of his youngest son taking precedence, Li Youde’s heart ultimately leaned toward Song Fanghua.
As for the Zhang family causing trouble after Song Fanghua went to the countryside? That was beyond Song Fanghua’s consideration.
"Zhang family, the Song girl has agreed to go to your household, but she has one request: the procedures for the factory job and the compensation must be completed today. Do you agree?" Li Youde was also afraid of complications, especially since the departure for the countryside was scheduled for the day after tomorrow.
Upon hearing Li Youde’s words, Wang Cuifen nodded smugly and said, "Agreed."
But in her heart, she thought, You little wretch, once you finish all this and fall into my hands, you’ll have a hard time.
"Alright, then I’ll go with you today." Director Li spoke up.
Song Fanghua and Wang Cuifen followed Director Li out.
Song Weiguo and Zhao Guilan exchanged glances and also followed.
With Director Li from the neighborhood office accompanying them, the matter was handled quickly. Song Fanghua processed her job position at the personnel department of the dye factory, then went to the finance department to collect five hundred yuan in compensation, along with a thick stack of industrial coupons, cloth coupons, and grain coupons.
"Now that everything’s settled, come back to the Zhang household with me." Seeing that the matter was resolved, Wang Cuifen reached out to pull Song Fanghua home.
Song Fanghua sidestepped her and said to Li Youde, "Director Li, I haven’t packed my things or handled my household registration. How about I come to you tomorrow to finish the registration, pack my belongings, and go over the day after tomorrow?"
Wang Cuifen immediately objected. "No, you must come with us now."
Song Fanghua didn’t say a word, her eyes fixed intently on Li Youde.
Li Youde instantly understood her meaning and nodded. "The Song girl makes a good point. Zhang family, you should go back and handle Zhang Yong’s affairs first. Let her finish up tomorrow and go over the day after tomorrow."
After saying this, Li Youde gave Wang Cuifen a reassuring look.
Wang Cuifen wanted to argue but didn’t want to embarrass Li Youde, so she reluctantly nodded.
After thanking Director Li, Song Fanghua returned directly to the Song household.
Zhao Guilan and Song Weiguo followed closely behind Song Fanghua, whispering to each other the entire way. It wasn’t until they reached home that Zhao Guilan spoke up. "Fanghua… this money… you see, our family isn’t well-off, and a girl like you doesn’t need so much money. Why don’t you…"
Before she could finish, Song Fanghua cut her off. "This is blood money. Do you want it too?"
Song Fanghua turned around, walked into the dilapidated storage room, and slammed the door shut with a loud bang.
"Old Song, what, what should we do? That little liar was just pretending to be meek and obedient before. Now she's got five hundred yuan in her hands, plus all those ration coupons. My heart aches just thinking about it." Zhao Guilan still hadn't given up on that compensation money.
Song Weiguo took a slow drag of his cigarette and said, "No rush. She's just a girl fresh from the countryside, hasn't seen the world, hasn't experienced much. The way she talked today was only because she thought the neighborhood committee's Director Li could back her up."
"Let's treat her better for now. Get her some good food and drinks, and don't give her any attitude. Doesn't she think we're not close? We'll show her what real parents are like. Once she lets her guard down a bit, won't everything be easier to talk about?"
Song Weiguo stopped there, but Zhao Guilan, having lived with him for decades, understood immediately—they were going to play the emotional card.
Inside the room, Song Fanghua listened to the hushed conversation outside and curled her lips into a cold smile.
Playing the emotional card? With these two top-notch parents, could their acting skills even compare to Song Lili, the reborn woman?
Still trying to swindle her money? Maybe in the next life.
Song Fanghua couldn't be bothered to listen to their muttering any longer. She needed to take stock of her spoils.
Five hundred yuan in cash—in an era where the average worker's monthly wage was only twenty or thirty yuan—was absolutely a huge sum.
For an ordinary working-class family to save up five hundred yuan, it would take years of scrimping and saving, even if they didn't eat or drink.
And then there was that stack of cloth coupons, grain coupons, industrial coupons, meat coupons, oil coupons… all sorts, each one a scarce commodity.
【Well, with these things as cover, it'll be easier to explain if I take more things out of Kongjian in the future.】 Song Fanghua thought.
With that in mind, Song Fanghua focused her thoughts and directly entered Kongjian.
Looking at the shelves piled high with all kinds of goods in Kongjian, Song Fanghua felt delighted.
"Modern things are still the best," Song Fanghua mused as she wandered around Kongjian, making a preliminary plan for her future life.
First and foremost, eat well and drink well. The original host's body was too weak from long-term malnutrition and needed to be nursed back to health as soon as possible.
Second, hurry up and take care of the matter of going to the countryside tomorrow. She didn't want to spend another day in this storage room of the Song family.
Lastly, and most importantly, make money.
As a strong woman who had thrived even in the 21st century, with Kongjian as her cheat, she could surely make a comeback in the 1970s.
As for the Song family, they were nothing but clowns.
The next morning, Song Fanghua was woken up by the tempting aroma of meat.
She opened the door and saw Zhao Guilan coming out of the kitchen, holding a bowl of something steaming hot.
A loving smile was plastered on her face.
Song Fanghua raised an eyebrow. Was the act starting already?
Zhao Guilan was taken aback when she saw Song Fanghua. With a hint of reluctance, she said, "Fanghua, come quickly. I made you a poached egg and added a few drops of sesame oil. Have this to tide you over. There's also pork bones stewing in the pot. Once they're ready, have some more to nourish your body."
Actually, this bowl of poached egg was originally made by Zhao Guilan for Song Lili. Who would have thought that just as she brought it over, Song Fanghua would wake up?
Thinking of what Old Song had said, and then considering the five hundred yuan in Song Fanghua's hands, Zhao Guilan looked at the poached egg in the bowl and didn't feel so heartbroken anymore.
Well, well, they were really going all out.
Just two days ago, it was shredded black potatoes with cornbread buns, and today they’re serving eggs. This "warmth and affection" tactic is really… straightforward and blunt.
Song Fanghua thought to herself.
Right then, Song Lili also walked out of her room. Seeing the fried eggs on the table, she headed straight for them.
Zhao Guilan saw this and hurriedly stopped her, saying, "Lili, your sister is weak, and after what happened yesterday, she needs nourishment. Wait a bit—there’s still meat in the pot."
After speaking, Zhao Guilan even gave Song Fanghua an ingratiating glance.
"What? This is for her? I haven’t even eaten yet. Why should this husband-cursing jinx get to eat first?" Song Lili was unwilling. She couldn’t stand to see Song Fanghua have even a little bit of good, and Zhao Guilan’s words just now had also made her uncomfortable.
Seeing that things were about to escalate, Zhao Guilan pulled Song Lili straight into the room. The two whispered inside for quite a while before Zhao Guilan came out.
"Fanghua, Lili just couldn’t see reason earlier. In your condition, it really is necessary to nourish yourself more." Zhao Guilan pretended to be deeply sincere. Song Fanghua didn’t stand on ceremony with her either—she picked up the bowl on the table and began eating heartily.