Without wasting any time, Shen Zhouzhou tucked the household registration booklet into her space. She planned to secretly return it after registering Shen Fangfang for the “down to the countryside” program.
Beneath it was a thick stack of various ration coupons. There were even two bicycle purchase coupons.
They always acted so poor in public.
These were all the money and coupons that Li Hongxia and Shen Yong kept openly. Shen Zhouzhou refused to believe that Li Hongxia hadn’t hidden away a private stash of her own.
She continued searching the wardrobe.
“She really hid them well.”
With a cold smile, Shen Zhouzhou walked over to the clothes rack where Li Hongxia’s old work uniform hung.
The original owner had once mentioned that Li Hongxia always hid her “important belongings” inside her clothing pockets.
Sure enough, when Shen Zhouzhou reached into the inner pocket of the faded blue Zhongshan jacket, her fingers touched a thick bundle of paper.
She pulled it out. It was five bundles of ten yuan notes wrapped in kraft paper.
Each bundle contained ten bills.
A total of five hundred yuan.
Beneath the money was another stack of coupons.
Fifty jin of nationwide grain coupons.
Three zhang of cloth coupons.
Ten industrial coupons.
There was even a sewing machine purchase coupon.
What was the point of hiding all this? She wouldn’t live long enough to spend it anyway.
Before Shen Fangfang had the chance to find it, Shen Zhouzhou stuffed all the money and coupons into a cloth bag. It became so heavy that it pulled painfully against her hand.
Her gaze suddenly landed on the wooden box on top of the wardrobe.
It was her mother Song Yuan’s dowry box, which Li Hongxia had locked away after marrying into the family.
Dragging over a stool, Shen Zhouzhou climbed up and pried open the brass lock with a hairpin.
Inside, the box was lined with red velvet.
Her mother’s jewelry rested neatly within.
A silver hairpin inlaid with tiny blue gemstones.
A pair of gold earrings, the hooks still bearing the faint signs of her mother’s years of wear.
At the very bottom lay a jade bracelet with a warm, translucent luster.
It was the “Peace Bracelet” her mother had brought with her as part of her dowry.
Shen Zhouzhou couldn’t be bothered to think about whether Li Hongxia had secretly kept these items for herself or whether her scumbag father had simply handed them over.
“These should have belonged to me from the beginning.”
She carefully placed each piece of jewelry into the cloth bag.
When the jade bracelet touched her palm, it carried a faint trace of coolness.
She suddenly remembered something the original owner had written in her diary.
“Mother’s bracelet glows.”
So it hadn’t been an illusion after all.
Bathed in the moonlight, the bracelet emitted a gentle glow that resembled the warm, tender gaze of her mother.
As she turned around, she accidentally bumped into the headboard.
A hidden compartment suddenly sprang open.
Leaning over to look inside, Shen Zhouzhou’s eyes widened.
Good heavens!
Inside were five small gold bars.
Li Hongxia had truly accumulated quite a secret fortune over the years.
Leaving the house, Shen Zhouzhou headed straight for the neighborhood committee office.
In those days, responding to the nation’s call and participating in the “down to the countryside” program was considered a glorious mission for countless young people from the cities.
“Hello, Comrade. I’m here to register my younger sister for the program.”
Her voice was crisp and respectful.
The staff member looked up and adjusted his glasses.
“Did you bring the household registration booklet?”
“Yes.”
Shen Zhouzhou handed over the prepared documents.
The official carefully checked the information.
“Comrade, are you certain she’s going to the Great Northwest?”
Everyone else tried their hardest to stay as close to home as possible.
Was this young woman out of her mind? Why send someone to the Great Northwest?
“Yes.”
“My stepsister has an exceptionally high level of political awareness. She said she wants to go wherever the country needs her most. The harsher the conditions, the stronger they will temper her revolutionary spirit.”
Shen Zhouzhou spoke with complete conviction, wearing an expression that practically declared how proud she was of her younger sister.
She almost convinced herself.
The staff member was so moved that tears welled up in his eyes.
“Excellent! That’s true revolutionary spirit! With young people like you, our nation will only grow stronger!”
Picking up the bright red official seal from the desk, he stamped the application form with a loud thump.
The matter was settled.
“The paperwork is complete. Everyone will gather in three days before departing, so make sure she prepares herself. The relocation allowance is three hundred yuan. You can collect it for her now.”
“Thank you, Comrade.”
Taking the document that would determine Shen Fangfang’s fate, Shen Zhouzhou curled her lips into a cold smile.
“Shen Fangfang… good luck.”
Her next stop was the Machinery Factory.
Carrying the original owner’s cloth bag, Shen Zhouzhou asked for directions until she finally arrived at the factory.
A bright red banner reading “Grasp Revolution, Promote Production” hung over the entrance.
Several workers dressed in blue uniforms hurried past while pushing handcarts.
The air smelled strongly of machine oil and metal shavings.
Taking a deep breath, she walked to the reception window.
“Hello, Comrade. I’m looking for Section Chief Zhang from the Personnel Department.”
The elderly gatekeeper looked her up and down.
Seeing her patched clothing, he regarded her with obvious suspicion.
“What business do you have with Section Chief Zhang? Do you have a letter of introduction?”
“My name is Shen Zhouzhou. I passed last week’s recruitment examination and was accepted. I’ve come today to complete the onboarding procedures.”
The old man nodded in understanding before picking up the telephone.
“Section Chief Zhang? There’s a young lady named Shen Zhouzhou at the gate. She says she’s here to complete her employment paperwork.”
After hanging up, he said, “Section Chief Zhang told you to come in. Third floor, second office on the left.”
“Thank you.”
Shen Zhouzhou entered the factory grounds.
The deafening roar of machinery echoed throughout the workshops, causing even the floor beneath her feet to vibrate.
She climbed to the third floor and found the Personnel Department.
Knocking gently on the door, she heard a slightly hoarse male voice from inside.
“Come in.”
Section Chief Zhang was a middle aged man in his forties wearing black framed glasses.
He had been reading documents when he looked up and froze slightly upon seeing her.
“So you’re Shen Zhouzhou?”
“Yes, Section Chief Zhang.”
He set down his pen and pulled a personnel file from the drawer.
“You ranked first in the examination, so your position was never in question. However, yesterday Comrade Shen Fangfang came here claiming that you had voluntarily given up this job and asked to take your place.”
Shen Zhouzhou sneered inwardly.
Just as she had expected.
Shen Fangfang had indeed been behind it.
Remaining perfectly calm, she explained, “Section Chief Zhang, I never gave up this position. My vicious stepmother and stepsister conspired to drug me. They wanted to ruin my reputation and steal my job. Yesterday my stepmother was arrested by the police. This is the official certificate issued by the police station.”
She took out the certificate from her cloth bag and handed it over.
After carefully reading it, Section Chief Zhang’s expression immediately turned serious.
“So something like this actually happened?”
He set the document down and looked at Shen Zhouzhou.
“Comrade Shen Zhouzhou, I’m truly sorry. We were completely deceived as well. We’ve been holding your position for you the entire time. You may report for work whenever you’re ready.”
“Thank you, Section Chief Zhang.”
Shen Zhouzhou finally breathed a sigh of relief.
“However, I’m afraid I won’t be able to start work after all. I’ll be getting married soon and following the army to J Province.”
“Following the army?”
Section Chief Zhang looked surprised.
“What a pity. Your examination results were excellent. You’re a very promising candidate.”
“It’s alright.”
Shen Zhouzhou smiled.
“I wanted to ask whether I could transfer this job to someone else.”
During this era, work assignments could indeed be transferred, provided both parties agreed and the factory completed the necessary paperwork.
After thinking it over, Section Chief Zhang nodded.
“It’s possible. However, the person has to be reliable. As you know, our factory only accepts people with genuine ability. That’s why we require entrance examinations in the first place. Do you already have someone in mind?”
Li Xiaoning immediately came to Shen Zhouzhou’s mind.
“I do. Her name is Li Xiaoning. She also passed this examination, but her ranking was just a little too low to be accepted. She’s very capable and truly needs this job.”
“Li Xiaoning?”
Section Chief Zhang flipped through the files on his desk.
“Oh, I remember her. Her results were quite good too. She just happened to rank eleventh.”
“Alright. Tell her to come complete the paperwork today or tomorrow if she’s available.”
“Thank you, Section Chief Zhang!”
Shen Zhouzhou said gratefully.
With the matter of the job finally resolved, a huge weight was lifted from her shoulders.