“You silly girl, I tried to persuade you back then not to go to the countryside, but you wouldn’t listen, acting as if I meant you harm! If you had listened to me and stayed in the city, you would have had both a job and a place to live. Why would you have had to suffer like that in the countryside?”
Zhang Wei’s tone was filled with frustration, as if disappointed by her lack of progress.
“I’m sorry, I must have been blinded back then, and with the Zheng family sweet-talking me, I ended up making the wrong decision.”
“Does your husband and his family treat you well?”
“Quite well.”
Hearing her affirmative reply, Zhang Wei breathed a sigh of relief.
“Since they treat you well, don’t be as immature as you used to be. Live your life properly. Since the Zheng family has cut ties with you, you should see them for who they are. In my opinion, having no contact with them is only beneficial, not harmful—they really aren’t good people. And don’t blame Uncle Zhang for being blunt. Your grandfather was kind to me, and I only wish the best for you.”
“Uncle Zhang, I understand. I was immature before and failed to recognize good intentions. This time I’ve returned, I don’t plan to reconnect with them. Instead, I want to completely sever ties.”
“It’s good that you’ve come to realize this. If there’s anything you need help with, don’t hesitate to ask.”
“Uncle Zhang, to be honest, I came here specifically to ask for your help.”
“Speak freely.”
Wen Nianxin took a piece of paper from her pocket, unfolded it, and handed it to Zhang Wei.
“Uncle Zhang, I suddenly found this agreement at home. According to what’s written here, does it prove that my stepmother Ding Lan’s job actually belongs to me?”
Zhang Wei looked at the familiar agreement in his hands—he had drafted it himself back then, and the red seal on it was one he had personally stamped.
“To be precise, this job originally belonged to your mother. After she passed away, your grandfather registered it under your name, intending for you to take over the factory job once you grew up. Who would have thought you’d somehow find out about it, argue fiercely with your grandfather, and insist on giving the job to Ding Lan? Left with no choice, and to prevent them from taking advantage of your job, this agreement was signed. However, not long after you went to the countryside, Ding Lan transferred the job to Zheng Ming. Now, it’s Zheng Ming who works at the factory.”
“Regardless of who’s working there now, if the job was originally mine, can I take it back and sell it?”
“That’s correct.”
“In that case, Uncle Zhang, could I trouble you to help me sell the job? As long as the price is reasonable, it can be sold to anyone except the Zheng family.”
She had found this agreement while cleaning, inside a metal box in the wardrobe. At the time, she was puzzled about why such a document, which was unfavorable to the Zheng family, was still in the original owner’s possession. Based on what she knew from the book about the original owner and the Zheng family, if they had signed such an agreement, they would have surely tried every means to trick her into handing it over and destroying it. It seemed Director Zhang must have intervened, which now gave her the chance to sell the job and earn some money.
“Excuse me, may I interrupt?”
Huang Cuie, who had been listening to their conversation, spoke up apologetically.
“Xiao Wen, since you’re considering selling the job, could you sell it to me?”
“The going rate for a position at our textile factory through private transactions is around eight hundred yuan. If you’re willing, I can offer an extra hundred to purchase it.
To be honest, I’ve never gotten along well with your stepmother, Ding Lan. If I buy the position, she’ll probably be even more furious.”
Recently, Huang Cuie had been asking around if anyone was selling their job. Her daughter was about to graduate from high school, and her grades weren’t great, so college was likely out of the picture. If they could work in the same factory, Huang Cuie could look out for her.
“Of course, I have no objections.”
Selling it to someone who didn’t get along with Ding Lan was something she was more than willing to do. Moreover, to spite Ding Lan, Huang Cuie would surely keep it quiet. Once they’d privately transferred the job, it would catch the Zheng family off guard.
“Thank you so much! I’ll go home after work to get the money and bring it to you at the guest house later.”
“Alright.”
…
After leaving the factory director’s office, Wen Nianxin pulled her scarf up to cover half her face.
“Xiao Wen, haven’t you had lunch yet?”
“I wasn’t hungry earlier, but now I’m thinking of going to the state-run restaurant for a bite. Uncle Ma, are you hungry? Would you like to join me?”
“I’ll pass. I ate lunch already and need to get back to my shift.”
Old Ma told her the location of the state-run restaurant and headed back to the guest house alone.
With the job matter settled, Wen Nianxin was in high spirits. She strolled leisurely toward the state-run restaurant, pondering what to eat along the way.
In stark contrast to her calm demeanor, Zhou Mu back at the Fu Yi Production Team was pacing anxiously in the main room.
Her third son had said the person he arranged successfully picked up Nian Xin and took her to the guest house, but several hours had passed with no call from her.
“Mom, stop pacing and sit down for a while. She’s probably sleeping. She’ll call once she wakes up.”
“How can I not worry? She’s a young woman alone out there, and she can’t even find her way home. I should have ignored her objections and gone with her.”
Zhou Mu had assumed she would return to her parents’ home, but who would have thought she’d stay at a guest house? Clearly, she didn’t remember where her family lived! Regret washed over her, but it was too late now.
“Can you call your comrade again and ask if there are any vehicles heading that way in the next couple of days?”
“Really, there aren’t. If there were, my comrade would have called to let me know. Don’t worry just yet. Let’s wait another hour. If she still hasn’t called by then, I’ll send someone to the guest house to check on her, alright?”
Unaware of her mother-in-law’s anxiety, Wen Nianxin was happily sitting in the restaurant, slurping noodles.
She had read in novels that the food at state-run restaurants in this era was excellent but thought it might be exaggerated. Now, having the chance to taste it herself, she realized the novels didn’t lie—the flavor was outstanding.
She had initially planned to eat less to lose weight, but the temptation was too strong. She devoured the entire large bowl of noodles and even drank much of the broth.
Weight loss could wait until after she was full.