Lin Shiyao ignored the unfriendly look. When Zhang Qiang saw that both of them had arrived, he led them to the broadcasting room.
The broadcasting room was one floor up. When they reached upstairs, there was an older sister inside. Lin Shiyao immediately recognized her as one of the interviewers from yesterday.
Zhang Qiang introduced them, “This is Comrade Wang Lin, who is in charge of arranging the broadcasting room schedule. From now on, the two of you will follow the shifts she assigns.”
“Okay, Brother Zhang,” Lin Shiyao replied.
“Okay, Brother Zhang,” Li Qingqing quickly echoed.
After finishing the introduction, Zhang Qiang left. Wang Lin then explained what content should be broadcast during each time slot and how their shifts would be arranged.
“You can just call me Sister Wang. From now on, you’ll work one day each, alternating daily. Today Comrade Lin will broadcast. Comrade Li, you watch first. Tomorrow it’ll be your turn,” Wang Lin said.
“Sister Wang, does that mean I don’t need to come to the factory tomorrow?” Lin Shiyao quickly asked. Work one day, rest one day? There’s such a good deal? She had to confirm.
“That’s right,” Sister Wang answered.
Lin Shiyao was delighted. She loved it—she absolutely loved it. This was the kind of job every modern corporate slave dreamed of. She had actually achieved it here. From now on, she would have time to do other things. Although she hadn’t figured out what yet—after all, under the collective economy she couldn’t do business—she would have to think about it.
“Okay, Sister Wang,” Li Qingqing responded as well.
It was actually good that she wouldn’t have to work with Li Qingqing every day. Otherwise, with all those eye rolls, she might end up cross-eyed herself.
Since it wasn’t broadcast time yet, Wang Lin gave them a manuscript to practice with and said that once they were ready, they should read it to her. After all, they were newcomers. It wouldn’t be good if they made mistakes on air.
Lin Shiyao glanced over the job content. The main duties were to play songs like “The East Is Red” at scheduled times to remind workers of starting work, ending shifts, and shift changes.
Every day they would broadcast slogans like “Grasp revolution, promote production,” as well as safety reminders—fire prevention, operational precautions, and so on.
Li Qingqing picked up her script and sat at the far end of the table, a little distance away from Lin Shiyao.
Lin Shiyao didn’t bother with her. As long as Li Qingqing didn’t provoke her again, that was fine. She didn’t want to waste time scheming and fighting every day.
And just like that, Li Qingqing didn’t cause any more trouble. Since it was Lin Shiyao’s turn to broadcast today, Li Qingqing was told to go back first and return tomorrow.
Li Qingqing glanced at Lin Shiyao, her eyes carrying an unreadable meaning. Seeing that Lin Shiyao wasn’t looking at her, she picked up her things and left.
She planned to ask her father whether Lin Shiyao had gotten in through connections. As for that slap today, she wouldn’t just let it go.
Lin Shiyao had no idea what she was thinking. Even if she did, she wouldn’t be afraid.
At noon, Sister Wang let Lin Shiyao do a trial broadcast.
Her voice was like velvet wrapped in morning dew. Her pronunciation was clear, her tone gentle yet crisp, each syllable flowing into the ears like melting spring snowwater.
When her voice came through the factory loudspeakers, workers who were heading to the cafeteria after their shift stopped to listen.
Sister Wang hadn’t expected her to be so professional. She didn’t seem like a newcomer at all—more like someone with three to five years of experience.
“Whose voice is that? It sounds so nice. I’ve never heard it before.”
“Yeah, I heard they recruited a new announcer yesterday.”
“Really? …” People chatted as they walked.
Lin Shiyao didn’t know that her voice had stirred up quite a buzz in the factory.
At noon, she took her lunchbox to the cafeteria, which was already packed.
When she reached the serving window, the lunch lady saw that she was a new face and warmly asked, “Miss, you just started today, right? What would you like to eat?”
“Yes, Auntie. I’ll have this and this…” Lin Shiyao pointed to the potatoes and braised pork, along with a bowl of rice.
“Alright!” The auntie smiled and gave her a heaping portion.
Wasn’t it said that cafeteria ladies always had shaky hands when serving food? Why wasn’t this auntie’s hand shaking at all? She even gave her a full bowl.
“Miss, there’s an empty seat over there. Hurry before someone takes it,” the auntie even pointed out a vacant table for her.
“Thank you, Auntie,” Lin Shiyao said quickly, carrying her lunchbox over.
The aroma rising from her food made her already starving stomach growl.
She quickly lowered her head and started eating. A young man sitting beside her couldn’t help but blush. Such a pretty comrade was sitting next to him. He straightened his back unconsciously.
Lin Shiyao was focused only on filling her stomach and didn’t notice the person beside her at all.
It wasn’t until she finished eating and left that the young man snapped out of it. Why hadn’t he said hello just now? He felt a wave of regret, wondering if he would ever run into her again.
After work that afternoon, Lin Shiyao waited for her father at the factory gate. It was rush hour, and many people noticed the pretty girl standing there, unable to resist taking a second look.
After about twenty minutes, she finally saw her father riding over on his bicycle.
“Yaoyao, Dad got held up at the factory. You haven’t been waiting long, have you?” her father asked as he stopped in front of her.
“It’s okay, Dad. I just came out. Take your time, no rush,” Lin Shiyao quickly replied, afraid he would feel guilty.
She climbed onto the bicycle, and father and daughter headed home.
Meanwhile, downstairs in the family residential compound, two men in public security uniforms were asking a passing auntie, “Comrade, hello. Is this the Steel Factory family compound?”
The auntie was startled at the sight of the uniformed officers. Whose family had gotten into trouble? Why were the police here?
Oh my, this was serious. What about the reputation of their compound?
She had no choice but to answer, “Y-yes, this is the Steel Factory family compound. What’s going on? Who are you two looking for?”
“Auntie, we’re looking for Lin Shiyao. Do you know where she lives?”
Upon hearing that, the auntie recognized the name—it was the Lin family’s girl. What had she done outside to break the law? The police had come looking for her. She knew girls shouldn’t be spoiled too much.
“Oh, her. She lives right here. See that building ahead? Third floor, go right, second door. But at this hour, her family probably hasn’t come back yet.”
“Alright, Auntie. We’ll wait here for a while,” the two officers said, relieved to confirm they had the right place. At this hour, she should be getting off work soon.
“Um… officers, did the Lin family’s girl do something wrong?” By now, more and more people had gathered to watch the commotion.
They began whispering about Lin Shiyao, assuming that since the police had come to her door, it couldn’t be anything good.
Hearing the discussion veer off track, one of the officers spoke up, “Everyone…”
He had only said two words when an auntie shouted loudly, “Look, Director Lin is back…”