“What level worker am I?” Song Tian held her breath, nervous enough that a thin layer of sweat formed on her palms.
The factory director deliberately drew it out, panting heavily, “Well… level four.”
Level four!
In this era, worker grades went from one to eight. Level one was an unconfirmed trainee, and level eight was the highest—reserved for skilled veterans with over twenty years of experience.
As for Song Tian being assigned level four, it was middle-tier—but still a rank that many workers could never reach in a lifetime.
The factory director was really on point!
“A level-four worker gets fifty-five yuan a month. Plus, since it’s a machinery factory, there’s a post allowance of eight yuan a month. As for food coupons and meat coupons, we’ll give them to you today so you don’t go to the canteen empty-handed. Is that okay?”
Song Tian nodded vigorously, her smile radiant.
Perfect, perfect—this is amazing.
It exceeded her expectations by far!
The factory director then led Song Tian to the personnel office to assign her work.
The personnel team leader, Tian Dali, was thin as a matchstick, wearing thick glasses that seemed to be pressing down on his nose.
Seeing Song Tian, he immediately stood up. “You must be Song Tian! Oh, I’ve heard of your… ‘great achievements.’ They said you’re very pretty—I didn’t believe it before, but now I do.”
Song Tian replied politely, “Team Leader Tian is too kind. I hope for your guidance in the future. If I don’t do well, please be forgiving.”
Capable, beautiful, and polite—Tian Dali’s impression of Song Tian improved even more.
He assigned her light work.
“Since the last accident, the factory shut down the steel coil production line. It’s still being fixed. Once it’s ready, you’ll be in charge of that line.”
For now, Song Tian was practically free, helping wherever needed.
She eagerly agreed and looked for work.
Coincidentally, the delivery team was about to go out, so Song Tian volunteered to help unload.
They joked and laughed along the way, and the truck unexpectedly drove into the military base.
“This batch of parts is for the military?” Song Tian asked in surprise, eyes wide.
The driver chuckled. “Yes. Some of the steel coils that were off-size were bought by the military for training. Helps us recover some losses too!”
As he spoke, the driver seemed to remember something.
“Song Tian, you’re sharper with words than us rough men. Go get the leader to sign the receipt, and give our thanks to the military while you’re at it!”
Go meet the leader—what if it’s Lu Beizhen?
“I like unloading, I’ll do that!” Song Tian tried to refuse.
The driver shoved the receipt at her, his dark face stern. “Unload? You’re just a girl, how could you handle it? Go, go, go, see the leader!”
Originally, they had let Song Tian come along just because she was young and cute, a lucky mascot for the truck. They never expected her to work.
The driver waved and left.
Helpless, Song Tian went to the military office building.
After asking around, she learned the officer signing wasn’t Lu Beizhen. She breathed a sigh of relief.
In no time, she got the receipt signed. Mission complete—she turned to leave.
But as she descended a flight of stairs, she saw that familiar tall figure.
It could only be Lu Beizhen.
Beside him was a young woman with a heroic air, wearing a bright red dress, looking exceptionally stunning.
The three of them were stuck at the stair landing.
Lu Beizhen’s expression darkened when he saw her, and he stepped forward, distancing himself from the woman.
Before anything could be said, Song Tian held up the receipt. “Don’t misunderstand—I’m not here for you. I’m just delivering for the factory and needed the leader to sign.”
Song Tian guessed the girl beside Lu Beizhen was Jiang Xiaoyu.
Her appearance made Lu Beizhen quickly shield her, clearly worried Song Tian might cause trouble for Jiang Xiaoyu.
Song Tian, of course, had to explain preemptively.
Lu Beizhen pursed his lips, his gaze falling on the receipt—“Machinery Factory” printed in bold, prominent letters.
When did this woman go to the machinery factory?
And get sent on a delivery?
“You must be Xiao Tiancai,” Jiang Xiaoyu stepped forward, smiling. “My mom mentioned you. She said you’re now living at Beizhen’s place.”
Song Tian nodded. “My real name is Song Tian. Just call me that.”
If Fang Shuqin knew, she’d be furious.
But to Jiang Xiaoyu, it was all an act—pretending they weren’t close, forbidding her nickname.
A country cousin coming to the Lu family, acting like she owned the place!
Once she married Lu Beizhen, the first thing Jiang Xiaoyu would do was kick Song Tian out!
For now, she had to reclaim her lost face. Jiang Xiaoyu couldn’t be outshone by this country girl.
“Song Tian, I just got back from studying out of town and brought some fruit for you to try!”
She opened a cardboard box and stuffed fruit into Song Tian’s arms.
Song Tian looked down at the mangosteens in surprise.
In the 1970s, with material shortages, seeing mangosteen was rare!
She picked one up to peel it but felt something wrong.
The shell was soft instead of hard—inside, the flesh must have spoiled.
Definitely inedible.
“This fruit must be expensive. I’ll take it home to eat,” Song Tian said.
Opening it now would reveal it was spoiled—Jiang Xiaoyu couldn’t lose face.
But Jiang Xiaoyu assumed Song Tian didn’t know how to eat it.
Country bumpkin, outclassed!
“You don’t know how to open it? I’ll help.” Jiang Xiaoyu split a mangosteen with her hands, revealing the translucent, spoiled fruit inside.
“Try it!” Jiang Xiaoyu still urged. “Imported fruit! You need foreign exchange coupons to buy it. I’ve had plenty out of town—it’s sweet.”
Song Tian held the mangosteen, silent and hesitant.
“What, afraid I poisoned it?” Jiang Xiaoyu smirked. “Beizhen, you eat the other half.”
She handed the other half to Lu Beizhen.
His dark eyes flicked toward Song Tian.
He hadn’t eaten this fruit before either, but poisoning was impossible. The woman was just overly cautious.
He opened his mouth to eat.
Smack!
Song Tian leapt forward and knocked the mangosteen to the ground.
“Comrade Song Tian, what are you doing?!” Jiang Xiaoyu’s heart sank.
She had bought the fruit herself, carefully, to impress.
The country girl not only refused to eat it but threw it on the ground.
Lu Beizhen’s expression darkened. “Song Tian, pick it up.”
She did as told, picking it up and tossing it in the trash.
Then she turned to Jiang Xiaoyu. “Comrade Jiang Xiaoyu, this mangosteen is spoiled. It can’t be eaten.”
Spoiled?
“Impossible! They looked fine outside. Where’s it spoiled?” Jiang Xiaoyu didn’t believe her. “I carried them all the way back from the coastal city. If you don’t want it, just say so—don’t waste it!”
Lu Beizhen’s gaze fell on her, full of meaning and scrutiny.
Song Tian felt a bit awkward.
How could she forget that these two were a couple?
Her crush was probably angry that she ruined the mangosteen, hence that look.
Oh no… was Lu Beizhen going to punish her?