The livelihood of the whole family would be upended, so there was no way she would back down.
Lu Lichun’s stance was even firmer.
She relied entirely on this job to make a living in the city. If she lost it, she’d be out of work entirely.
Rumours about urban youth being sent down to the countryside were growing stronger by the day. Without a job to fall back on, she’d almost certainly be next on the list.
If she were sent to the countryside, her future would be anyone’s guess. There was no way she was giving up her job, no matter what.
As for Lu Jinxia, there was even less room for discussion.
That job at the printing factory was something she’d found entirely on her own.
Why on earth would she hand it over?
Lu Jianguo and Wang Xiulan knew full well how things stood, and they were too embarrassed to ask her to give up her job.
There was no easy solution to the matter. Everyone in the family looked at one another, equally stumped.
The marriage proposal had hit a dead end over the job issue. Both sides stood their ground, leaving the house enveloped in gloom for days on end.
Lu Weidong was caught in the middle, torn two ways.
On one side was the woman he’d been seeing for a long time; on the other, his own flesh and blood. He wore a frown from morning till night.
Lu Jianguo could barely contain his frustration. He reached out to neighbours and old colleagues at the factory, asking around to get to the bottom of things—why had the Zhao family suddenly become so insistent on securing one of the Lu family’s jobs?
After days of asking, he finally got to the truth.
It turned out Zhao Guixiang had changed her mind at the urging of her parents. They intended to secure the job for her younger brother.
He was due to graduate from secondary school later that year, and under current policy, all graduates were to be sent down to the countryside.
Unwilling to let their youngest son endure hardship in the countryside, the Zhaos had set their sights on the Lu family’s jobs. They’d decided to use the marriage as leverage: if the Lu family refused to hand over a job, the engagement was off.
It was clear they meant business.
Once the truth came to light, the entire Lu family was seething with indignation. Yet there was no way they could give up any of their jobs. The only option left was to try and find a temporary position somewhere—anything rather than watch their eldest son’s relationship fall apart.
After all, Lu Weidong was already in his mid-twenties. Most young men his age already had children of their own. He’d worked hard to find someone he cared for and got along with so well. They weren’t prepared to let the relationship end unless absolutely necessary.
And yet handing over a job was out of the question. If the Zhao family remained unyielding, then the only option left would be to ask Lu Lichun to give up hers.
After all, a daughter could not compare to a son—especially the eldest son. For now, they could only keep looking.
Lu Jianguo searched for nearly half a month, exhausting every lead he had.
The factory’s hiring manager, Old Zhou, waved him away: “Old Lu, it’s not that I’m unwilling to help. Given the current climate, permanent positions are out of the question, and even temporary posts have long waiting lists. I can’t even secure spots for my own relatives—how could I arrange one for you?”
Every acquaintance gave the same reply: there was simply nothing they could do. Lu Jianguo returned home empty-handed.
When he explained the situation, Wang Xiulan sat in silence for a long time, her expression growing darker by the minute. She knew their last hope had vanished.
Over the next few days, Wang Xiulan turned the matter over in her mind. Lu Weidong was the eldest child, twenty-four years old already. Most men his age had children running about the house. He and Zhao Guixiang had been together for a year, well-suited in every way. If they parted over this, who knew when he’d find someone else?
After much deliberation, her gaze settled on Lu Lichun. Lichun was a daughter—and daughters were meant to marry and leave home. A married daughter was like water spilled on the ground; wouldn’t it only be right that her job stayed with her family?
So one evening after dinner, as Wang Xiulan cleared the bowls and plates, she brought up the matter casually.
“Lichun, your mother wants to talk something over with you.”
Lu Lichun was wiping down the table, not even looking up. “What is it?”
“It’s about your elder brother’s marriage… As you know, the Zhao family won’t budge on this job. I was thinking—if it really comes down to it—would you be willing to step down from your position? I wouldn’t ask it of you for nothing. When you marry, I’ll make sure you have a handsome dowry. You won’t lose out in the least…”
Before she could finish, Lu Lichun slammed her cloth down on the table.
“Excuse me?” She looked up, her eyes blazing with anger.
Wang Xiulan was startled by her reaction, but pressed on anyway. “I’m merely discussing it with you. Your brother isn’t getting any younger, and he’s finally found someone—”
“What does his relationship have to do with me?” Lu Lichun’s voice rose sharply.
“Why should my job be sacrificed for his fiancée? I work myself to the bone at that factory day in and day out. I’ve handed over a portion of every wage I’ve earned to this family. And now you ask me to give up my job? What would become of me? Would I be sent to the countryside instead?”
“That’s not what I meant at all. As I said, you’ll receive a generous dowry—”
“A dowry?” Lu Lichun let out a cold laugh.
“What dowry could ever be worth a permanent job? Mother, do you take me for a fool? If I give up this job, what standing will I have in this family? Am I expected to survive on thin air?”
Lu Jianguo, unable to stand by in silence any longer, spoke up frowning. “Lichun, watch your tone. There’s no need to be so sharp.”
“Watch my tone?” Lu Lichun turned toward him.
“Father, do you also believe I should surrender my job? Why don’t you give up yours? Or Lu Jinxia hers? Oh, I see—yours pays well, so you’re reluctant to part with it. Jinxia found hers on her own, so you haven’t the heart to ask her. I’m the middle daughter, so I’m the easiest to bully—is that it?”
Lu Lichun poured out her grievances like fire from a cannon, leaving Lu Jianguo lost for words.
Wang Xiulan’s face darkened. “How can you speak to us like that? That job was secured for you through your father’s and my connections! Besides—we’re merely asking!”
“Merely asking?” Lu Lichun’s voice grew louder still.
“You call this asking? When every other avenue has failed, you come after what’s mine. Let me make myself clear: the answer is no! Whoever wishes to yield can yield—I will not!”
Tears welled in her eyes, yet she refused to let them fall. She held her head high, unyielding and unafraid.
“If you try to force me, I’ll go straight to the factory and make this known. You shall never have my job—not a chance!”
She tossed her rag into the basin, marched into her room, and slammed the door shut with a deafening crack.
Lu Lichun knew only too well: once she gave up her job, she’d be left with nothing—and then the countryside would be her fate. She could never yield.
Wang Xiulan stood rooted to the spot, her face flushing red then pale. She murmured to herself, “Children are a burden… Once they grow up, they become nothing but worry.”
Lu Jianguo sighed, lit a cigarette, and smoked in gloomy silence.
From his doorway, Lu Weidong peered out at the scene, then quietly withdrew, saying nothing at all.