Oh my—today was actually the last day to register.
If she hadn’t managed to sell her mushrooms yesterday, if she hadn’t made up her mind to come to Mingfeng City today to look for work, she would have missed the cannery’s recruitment!
Baolan broke out in a cold sweat.
Luckily… luckily. Heaven was still looking out for her. Everything had lined up just right. She had earned just enough money to travel into the city, happened to hear the recruitment news on the boat, and still made it in time to register today.
Some people in the crowd who wanted to sign up for their children had already rushed out to fetch them.
Baolan and Dingqing lined up to collect and fill out the registration forms.
“Only one position per person,” Baolan said. “I’m planning to apply for a production line worker. Dingqing, why don’t you try warehouse management? It’s easier than line work. If we could apply for two, I’d definitely pick that—but since we can only choose one, I need to play it safe.”
Dingqing sighed. “I don’t know how to do that!”
Baolan poked her. “Didn’t they teach bookkeeping in the literacy class? Were you even listening?”
Dingqing looked away guiltily. “You know me—I just wanted to recognize characters. What’s the point of learning bookkeeping? But I do know herbs, haha.”
Baolan patted her arm. “It’s fine. Mingfeng has a pharmaceutical factory. Let’s first try for a production line spot here, then go check if the pharmaceutical factory is hiring.”
Dingqing nodded eagerly. “Okay, okay!”
When it was Baolan’s turn, a female staff member handed her a form and pointed to some stools in the middle. “Fill it out there, then submit it to Comrade Ding.”
Baolan sat down and began writing.
Thankfully, she had treasured her time in the literacy class and studied hard, earning a certificate recognizing her knowledge of 1,200 Chinese characters. Reading newspapers and books wasn’t a problem for her—filling out a form was even easier.
Only after watching Comrade Ding personally collect their forms did Baolan finally feel at ease.
The exam would be held the day after tomorrow at 8 a.m. If they went home and came back, they’d definitely miss it.
“Let’s go,” Baolan said. “We’ll find an inn and stay there.”
Staying at an inn! Dingqing was thrilled. “Let’s go, let’s go!”
They didn’t take the boat again. Instead, they walked out from Baoshi Bridge, passed the dock where they had disembarked earlier, and followed Binjiang Avenue toward the eastern side of Xiufeng District.
Baolan checked the map as they walked. Spotting something, she pointed excitedly. “Look—this is Dashiba. There’s an instrument factory and a gear factory here.”
Dingqing leaned over. “Let me see… where’s the cotton mill?”
Baolan scanned both banks of the Gaoliang River. “Here—Huzi Kou, in Anping District. I heard there are many old factories there.”
“Let’s go check the cotton mill this afternoon and see if they’re hiring statisticians.”
As they discussed their plans, they walked for nearly half an hour before finally reaching the busiest part of Xiufeng District.
Without realizing it, both of them gradually shed their nervousness and awkwardness from entering a big city for the first time, and began to take in the lively surroundings.
Dingqing pointed across the street. “Baolan, look! There’s a park—and a teahouse. City people really live leisurely lives.”
Baolan followed her gaze. Then her eyes shifted slightly—and she spotted a sign next to the teahouse: “Donghong Inn.” Her eyes lit up.
“Come on, let’s ask how much it costs to stay.”
They crossed the street and entered Donghong Inn. The receptionist, a middle-aged woman, looked them up and down—baskets slung over their arms, blue homespun tops, black cloth pants, cloth shoes, and braided hair.
Country girls.
“Young ladies,” the woman said, “our second-class twin room is 5.4 yuan per night.” First-class rooms were even more expensive.
“5.4 yuan?!” Dingqing blurted. “That’s so expensive!”
Baolan calculated quickly. At least two nights—10.8 yuan total. That would take half their savings. No way they could afford it.
The woman didn’t look down on them and patiently explained, “Our inn is right next to Xiufeng Park, facing the Yangtze River. Open the door and you get a river view. Of course it’s expensive.”
Seeing that she was approachable, Baolan stepped forward. “Big sister, it’s our first time in the city, we don’t know much. Could you tell us where we might find cheaper lodging? Here—have an egg.”
She took out two eggs from her basket and placed them on the counter.
The woman waved her off. “No need, no need, why be so polite?”
“They were just boiled this morning—eggs from our own chickens, very fragrant.”
The woman couldn’t refuse anymore. “I’ll just take one,” she said, handing the other back.
After accepting the egg, she warmly advised them, “The cheapest place would be near the big dock. Lots of laborers stay there, and there are several inns catering to them. But it’s not suitable for young girls—not safe.
I’d suggest you go to Xinxing Inn on Zhonghuan Road. Their second-class twin room is 3.6 yuan a day. There’s a bath, hot water, meals included, and the neighborhood is full of long-time Mingfeng residents—very safe.”
“3.6 yuan…”
Baolan took a deep breath. City lodging was so expensive. If it weren’t unsafe—and if they didn’t need to stay two nights—she might’ve considered sleeping under a bridge.
But meals were included… grit her teeth—it was manageable.
She looked at Dingqing, who didn’t mind where they stayed.
“Alright, we’ll go to Xinxing Inn. Big sister, could you show us the way?”
The woman beamed, pleased that they trusted her recommendation. She stepped out and pointed the way.
“Just walk straight along the road until you see a big staircase—you won’t miss it. Go up the stairs. At the first road, keep going. Continue up, and the second wide road is Zhonghuan Road. Turn right, walk about a hundred meters, and you’ll see the inn sign.”
After thanking her, they soon found the staircase. It was wide, paved with stone slabs—just as she had said.
Dingqing panted as she climbed. “Why… does a big city… still have mountains to climb?!”
Baolan asked, “Have you counted how many steps we’ve climbed?”
“No—how many?”
“Over a hundred, at least.”
“Ah! This is tough!”
There were vendors selling watermelons and plums along the stairs. They had plums back home, but Baolan wanted a watermelon. “If there’s still someone selling at the top, we’ll buy one.”
Dingqing clasped her hands and muttered, “Come, watermelon, come—float up to the top of the stairs…”
When they reached Zhonghuan Road, there really was a watermelon vendor.
Baolan picked a small mottled watermelon—three cents per jin—and bought it for eighteen cents.
Carrying the melon, they turned right and walked about a hundred meters, finally reaching Xinxing Inn.
Along the way, they passed stalls selling shredded radish pancakes, noodle shops, roast duck shops, photo studios, and barbershops. The two country girls were dazzled.
Dingqing stopped in front of the roast duck shop, swallowing hard. “When I get my salary, this will be the first thing I eat!”
Baolan laughed. “Deal!”
Their young faces were filled with identical dreams.
“Let’s go, let’s go,” Dingqing urged. “I can’t take it—the smell is too good!”
At Xinxing Inn, the receptionist auntie checked their introduction letter. “How many days?”
“Two days,” Baolan replied. “Auntie, we were referred here by the lady from Donghong Inn near Xiufeng Park. She said your place is clean and well-managed—and it really is, everything looks spotless.”
Hearing it was a referral—and their praise—the auntie’s stern expression softened. After a moment, she said, “Since you were introduced by Donghong, I’ll lend you a thermos later. I don’t usually do that—you mustn’t break it.”
Baolan hadn’t expected this bonus and quickly said, “Thank you, Auntie! We’ll be very careful.”
The auntie smiled and calculated on her abacus. “Two days is 7.2 yuan, plus a 1 yuan deposit—8.2 yuan total.”
Baolan counted out the money. Their savings shrank instantly.
The auntie took it and handed over a key and meal tickets. “Meals are served in the dining hall—breakfast at 7, lunch at 12, dinner at 6. Miss the time, no food.
Hot water for bathing is from 8 to 9 p.m. only. Return the key when you check out to get your deposit back. Room 202 upstairs. Take this thermos and go on.”
And just like that, the two of them officially settled into their first stay in the big city.