After returning from town, Song Tian began teaching Fang Shuqin how to ride a bicycle.
Fang Shuqin learned quickly.
After only a few rounds, she was already confident and even eager to try going to the wheat mill a kilometer away to buy some flour.
Song Tian had originally wanted to accompany her, but Fang Shuqin refused.
“It’s just a kilometer. I can manage on my own, so don’t worry about it.”
Song Tian obeyed and returned to the house.
She sat in the living room and poured herself a glass of plain water.
Suddenly, the landline rang.
She picked it up politely, “Hello? May I ask who’s calling?”
“Lu Beizhen.” The man on the other end replied succinctly.
“Oh,” Song Tian responded. “Were you trying to reach Aunt Fang? She went to the wheat mill to buy flour. She should be back in about half an hour.”
“Mm.” Lu Beizhen responded coldly.
A silence fell between them.
On the other end, Lu Beizhen’s breathing sounded unusually heavy—almost as if the receiver couldn’t contain it. One breath after another transmitted through the phone line, landing squarely on Song Tian’s chest.
Strangely, she found her own breathing growing a little faster.
What was he doing?
Startled, Song Tian quickly tried to change the subject. “By the way, was there a reason you called?”
“No reason.”
After saying that, Lu Beizhen hung up immediately.
Song Tian felt utterly baffled.
He called out of the blue just to listen to each other’s breathing?
When Fang Shuqin returned, Song Tian recounted the incident.
Fang Shuqin smiled knowingly. “He probably wanted to ask if you got a new bicycle, but he was too embarrassed to say it outright.”
Song Tian suddenly understood.
So, Lu Beizhen regretted giving her that bicycle ticket?
It made sense. If combined with other tickets, the bicycle ticket could have been exchanged with someone else for a TV ticket.
He probably wanted it back, but couldn’t bring himself to ask directly.
Song Tian genuinely wanted to return the bicycle ticket.
But the supply and marketing cooperative had already registered it. If she now said she didn’t want it, they’d surely call the mechanical factory and report her as unreliable.
If the mechanical factory thought she was untrustworthy, she could be demoted—or even fired!
Sigh… she could only wait until the next payday and see if she could save enough to exchange for another bicycle ticket.
With her current salary, it would probably take two to three months to save enough.
Sigh, her wages hadn’t even hit her pocket yet, and they were already earmarked.
Would two or three months be too late?
Hopefully, it wouldn’t affect Lu Beizhen in presenting the betrothal gifts to the Jiang family.
The next day at noon, Song Tian received a call from the factory director.
His voice was extremely excited. “Song Tian, are you rested? Can you come to the mechanical factory today?”
Song Tian guessed he had just returned from the city. Without hesitation, she hopped on her bicycle and rode to the mechanical factory in a hurry.
Seeing her, the director waved warmly. “Song Tian, you’re here! Quickly, try this sesame candy I brought back from the city—it’s delicious!”
Song Tian didn’t bother with formalities and popped one into her mouth. “It’s really tasty.”
While eating, she asked, “Director, did you call me to discuss the details of the production line?”
The director chuckled and nodded. “Yes. You know the factory’s current performance—we can’t keep running at a loss. We need to get moving quickly!”
However, many workers had no experience with component production and needed guidance.
“Of course, you won’t be teaching alone. That’s too much work. There are a few master workers in the factory. You’ll teach them first, and once they’re competent, they can train apprentices themselves.”
This way, the production process could be managed in groups, producing more parts efficiently while meeting quality standards.
The factory’s performance could also turn profitable sooner.
Song Tian nodded in agreement. “I’m just doing my job—I’m getting paid for it anyway.”
Upon hearing the word “salary,” the director suddenly looked a bit awkward.
He rubbed his hands nervously over his pants and forced a smile. “About what I mentioned earlier… your salary may not increase for the time being.”
Fearing she might be upset, he quickly explained.
“I did try to apply for an increase for you, but moving up from level four requires an engineer’s certification. Don’t worry, once you get your engineer certificate, I’ll immediately promote you to level six.”
Jumping straight from level four to six showed the director’s sincerity.
Song Tian also knew that without the certification, sitting at a level six position would surely raise eyebrows.
No problem—she would just take the exam!
“I’ll look into it and register for the exam soon,” Song Tian said.
Seeing her agree so readily, the director secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
“Oh, by the way, the city authorities praised your idea to turn the production line’s waste into usable parts. They awarded you for it. Here, take this!”
He handed her a silk-covered box.
Inside was a Hero brand fountain pen, along with a dark blue ticket.
A refrigerator ticket!
Wow—the city officials were incredibly generous.
In the 1970s, most families only had electric lights.
A refrigerator was something only wealthy urban families or highly skilled professionals returning from abroad could afford.
She never expected to receive one!
“What’s wrong?” the director asked, thinking she might dislike it. “This refrigerator is very useful. I couldn’t even get one myself and only got a TV ticket.”
Song Tian should have been quietly thrilled.
Instead, she said, “Director, can we trade? I’d like the TV ticket.”
She had been thinking about who she could sell the rare refrigerator ticket to, then get a TV ticket. Now she could exchange it directly with the director and do him a favor.
“Are you really giving it to me?” The director looked a bit embarrassed. “This refrigerator is very useful and rare. Usually, only people with special contributions in the annual review can get one.”
Song Tian had stumbled into good luck, and she intended to make the most of it.
She sweet-talked, “Really, you can have it. This refrigerator uses a lot of electricity. I’d rather have a TV—then I can watch ‘Journey to the West’ after work. Please, Director, do me this favor and trade with me.”
Though it seemed like she was losing out, her words made it feel like she was giving the director a favor instead.
Relieved, the director agreed, “Alright, we’ll trade!”
Out of politeness, he then invited Song Tian to eat at the state-run restaurant after work.
Song Tian agreed. “Bring the director’s wife along, too. We can celebrate—I got the TV ticket, and you got the refrigerator ticket.”
“Okay!” the director nodded.
Before heading to the restaurant, the director first introduced Song Tian to the master workers.
Song Tian demonstrated her methods for making components.
Seeing the finished products, the master workers were impressed. There was no trace of disdain or opposition in their eyes.
Her techniques and process were something they had never seen before—efficient, saving time, effort, and materials.
Indeed, the younger generation was surpassing the older. If they didn’t learn quickly, they’d be left behind.
Song Tian taught sincerely, and before she knew it, work hours were over.
The masters, still eager, reminded her repeatedly to come early the next day to continue teaching.
Song Tian agreed and then went with the director to the restaurant.
They spent nearly an hour eating. By the time Song Tian rode her bicycle home to the staff housing, the sky had taken on a gray-blue hue, about to be swallowed by dusk.
In the twilight, Lu Beizhen stood in full military uniform at the Lu family gate, posture straight.
His dark eyes were fixed on her, deep and complex.
Song Tian hurried forward.
“Commander Lu, why are you standing at the gate? Don’t you have a key? I’ll open it for you!”
She dropped her bicycle and went to open the door.
When she turned, she noticed Lu Beizhen’s gaze locked on her bicycle, his brows tightly furrowed.