After paying the fare, Lin Zhijin slowly began sorting through her belongings by herself.
Most of the things did not need to be taken out, such as the jewelry and expensive fabrics. She would not be able to use any of those for the time being.
When she opened the wardrobe, even Lin Zhijin herself was startled.
Without realizing it, had she really had this many clothes made?
She roughly counted them.
There were more than a dozen summer dresses alone, and every single one was beautiful.
Lin Zhijin took one out and held it against herself, then hung it back up again.
She needed to sort out the bed first. Otherwise, she would have nowhere to sleep tonight.
“All done.”
Lin Zhijin clapped her hands in satisfaction and prepared to go to the kitchen to boil some hot water.
She had known that sooner or later she would move here, so she had arranged for the house to be thoroughly cleaned long ago.
The kitchen was the same.
She had also purchased everything she would need, such as pots, bowls, ladles, basins, a stove, coal briquettes, and so on.
After working for half the day, Lin Zhijin covered her rumbling stomach.
The kitchen had everything, and she had even stocked rice and flour.
Unfortunately, there was no cooking oil or vegetables.
Besides, she was too tired to cook, so she simply decided to go out and make do with a meal somewhere.
Commerce in the 1950s was still flourishing. There were restaurants and eateries everywhere.
Lin Zhijin found a nearby noodle shop and ordered a bowl of shredded pork noodles with pickled vegetables.
It tasted very good.
Most importantly, the noodles themselves were delicious.
They were genuine hand-pulled noodles, and sure enough, they were much chewier than machine-made noodles.
“Oh, this female comrade looks unfamiliar.”
The proprietress chatted with Lin Zhijin while flicking the beads of an abacus.
“I just moved here. I live nearby. Proprietress, your noodles are delicious. I’ll definitely come here often in the future,” Lin Zhijin said with a smile.
“Of course they are. My family runs an old-established noodle shop. Everyone nearby loves eating here. Since this is your first time here, you probably haven’t tried our pickled cucumbers, have you? How about this—I’ll give you a small plate to taste.”
Before Lin Zhijin could answer, the proprietress had already raised her voice and told the waiter to bring over a plate of pickled cucumbers.
Since they had already been served, Lin Zhijin did not stand on ceremony.
She thanked her with a smile and took a bite.
Sure enough, they really were delicious.
“Proprietress, these pickled cucumbers are really good. How much do you sell them for?”
Lin Zhijin planned to buy some to keep at home.
“Sorry, we don’t sell them separately.”
The proprietress had been doing business for many years and had long developed a sharp eye.
Although this young woman was simply dressed, the fabric she wore was top-quality silk.
Not wanting to offend her, the proprietress hurriedly explained with a smile, “Cucumbers aren’t in season yet, and I don’t have much stock left. Once cucumbers come onto the market, you can buy as much as you want.”
“Proprietress, you really know how to do business. Looks like I’ll have to keep coming back just for these pickled cucumbers.”
Lin Zhijin smiled and did not take it to heart.
When Xiaohong had always been by her side, Lin Zhijin had never thought much of it.
Now that she was alone, however, she felt that the residence was far too empty.
Especially after dark.
With the antique-style house and bed, everything somehow felt eerie, sending chills down her back.
Fortunately, she had already had electricity wired into the house and lights installed.
Keeping the lights on made things slightly better.
But she still could not sleep.
When she lowered the bed curtains, she began imagining that a hand would suddenly reach inside.
She was so frightened that she hurriedly pulled them open again.
She tossed and turned for a long time.
It was only when dawn began to break and she heard a rooster crowing that Lin Zhijin finally relaxed enough to fall asleep.
When the alarm clock rang, Lin Zhijin was still dreaming.
She struggled to sit up, feeling dizzy and groggy.
This wouldn’t do.
She needed to raise a dog.
Or a cat would work too.
As long as there was another living creature inside the house.
Otherwise, she really would end up with nervous exhaustion.
She was going to the Women’s Federation to see Director Zhang, so she could not dress too flamboyantly.
She chose a white shirt, black trousers, black cloth shoes, and a teal knitted cardigan.
Her hair was simply tied into a low ponytail, and she wore nothing on her face.
Fresh, neat, and clean.
Before leaving, Lin Zhijin checked the time.
It was seven forty.
Taking a rickshaw from Fengye Alley to the Temporary Military Control Office took around fifteen minutes, so she would arrive at roughly eight.
That should be considered fairly early.
But when she arrived, she discovered that quite a few women were already waiting there.
Those who came here were all women whose parents had already passed away or whose families could not be relied upon.
Lin Zhijin took a quick look.
Some had been servants, some had been concubines of wealthy households, while even more were women from brothels.
Although everyone was supposedly equal, the groups were still clearly divided.
Concubines gathered with concubines.
Former servants clustered with former servants.
As for the women from brothels…
They were busy trying to get friendly with the staff.
“Which family’s concubine were you?”
A coquettish-looking woman moved closer to Lin Zhijin.
Hearing her voice, Lin Zhijin turned her head.
The woman wore a pomegranate-red qipao with a white shawl draped over her shoulders.
She was not wearing much jewelry, but every piece was exquisite.
It seemed she had been well favored.
“How did you guess I was a concubine?” Lin Zhijin asked in confusion.
The coquettish woman rolled her eyes.
“With your looks, what man wouldn’t have designs on you? You may be dressed simply, but that fabric isn’t something servants could wear. More importantly, you have a good bearing. So who was your man? You’re this beautiful—he was willing to let you leave?”
“Lin Zhijin. What’s your name?”
Lin Zhijin did not really want to mention the Chen family.
“Oh! Your surname is Lin too? Mine is also Lin. My name is Lin Shishu. Lin Zhijin? Your name sounds so nice. Did your master give it to you? Our master gave me my name too. There’s also Shiqin, Shiqi, Shihua, and Shimeng. Don’t they all sound nice?”
Lin Shishu’s eyes lit up as though she had suddenly found a long-lost sister.
Lin Zhijin tried to pull her hand back, but could not.
She shook her head.
“No. I chose it myself.”
“You can read?”
“Our master taught me how to read and write before too, but unfortunately, I’m stupid. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t learn.”
Lin Shishu pouted.
Then her eyes suddenly reddened, tears shimmering within them.
“My belly was useless too. I followed Master for seven or eight years, yet it never swelled even once. Unlike the other sisters who had children and don’t have to leave Master.”
Seeing that she was genuinely upset, Lin Zhijin could not help asking in confusion, “Isn’t it voluntary? If you don’t want to leave, you don’t have to leave your master.”
“Really? But Madam said anyone who hasn’t given birth has to leave.”
Lin Shishu seemed to realize something and immediately stomped her foot in anger.
“I knew that old woman was malicious! She wants to drive me away while Master isn’t home. Hmph! I won’t let her get her way. Younger Sister, thank you for telling me. I’ll leave first.”
Lin Zhijin blinked as she watched Lin Shishu rush away like a whirlwind.
Then she turned and went to find Director Zhang.
“Comrade Lin, come in and sit.”
Hearing the knock, Director Zhang looked up.
When she saw that it was Lin Zhijin, she happily stood up to welcome her inside and poured her a cup of tea.
“Why did you come so early?”
“It’s not early. I saw that the outside was already full of people.”
Lin Zhijin held the tea and smiled.
“Oh, they were told to gather at eight. I deliberately told you to come an hour later.”
Director Zhang was still very pleased that Lin Zhijin had arrived early.
Smiling, she handed a document on the table to her.
“Since you’re already here, let’s handle your matter ahead of time.”
“What is this?”
Lin Zhijin constantly reminded herself that she was supposed to be illiterate.
“This is a donation agreement. Since you can’t read, I’ll read it aloud to you.”
Director Zhang did not ask Lin Zhijin to sign immediately.
Instead, she read the contents of the agreement to her word by word.
The general meaning was that Lin Pandi was voluntarily donating the one hundred mu of farmland and Jinshi Mountain under her name to the country free of charge, primarily for the soldiers currently fighting in the north.
“There’s also a three-courtyard residence. Donate that to the country too.”
Keeping it felt like holding a hot potato.
She might as well donate it.
“You’re sure you want to donate it? I suggest keeping it for yourself. Once you marry and have children in the future, there’s no such thing as having too many houses,” Director Zhang advised earnestly.
“No need. I already have somewhere to live.”
Lin Zhijin insisted on donating the residence.
Director Zhang patted Lin Zhijin on the shoulder, drafted a new agreement, then had her press her fingerprint onto it.
Just like that, all the real estate under her name was donated to the country.
“Xiao Lin, do you have any plans for the future?”
Director Zhang was especially gentle toward a patriotic person like Lin Zhijin.
“I was just about to ask you. What kind of job can the state arrange for me? I hope it can be something a little more relaxed. A lower salary is fine. I never went to school, so I want to study while working.”
Lin Zhijin looked expectantly at Director Zhang.
Nancheng had only just been liberated, and everything was waiting to be rebuilt.
If they could give her an easy position like warehouse keeper, that would be perfect.
“It’s very good that you’ve thought about studying. People have to keep learning if they want to improve.”
“As it happens, my Women’s Federation is short-handed. Xiao Lin, would you like to stay here and help me?”
Director Zhang looked at her with a smile.
Lin Zhijin’s eyes widened.
She had never expected Director Zhang to ask her to stay at the Women’s Federation.
At this time, cadres working in the Women’s Federation had either fought their way up through real struggles or were the wives of cadres.
If she stayed at the Women’s Federation, she would naturally gain a protective umbrella.
If the Chen family wanted to cause trouble for her, they would have to think twice.
Secondly, Director Zhang liked her.
As long as Lin Zhijin herself did not do anything stupid, her future life should not be difficult.
“Can I really? Thank you, Director Zhang. I’ll definitely study hard and won’t hold the organization back.”
Lin Zhijin straightened her back and spoke happily.
“Good. You don’t have anything else to do today, right? If not, come out and work with me. You can learn while you’re at it and try to become capable of handling things independently as soon as possible.”
Director Zhang smiled and led Lin Zhijin outside.
The staff outside were already busy.
Their main task was verifying identities and determining whether each woman had somewhere to go.
Those who had nowhere to go would temporarily be given accommodation by the Women’s Federation.
Then, depending on each person’s situation, those who needed jobs would be assigned work, while those who wanted to marry could get married.
In any case, they could not return to their former occupations.
Former servants were the easiest to arrange.
They were obedient, hardworking, nimble with their hands and feet, and unafraid of hardship.
Former concubines were also relatively easy.
They were beautiful and had usually saved some money, so they did not have to worry about being unable to find someone to marry.
For these two groups, the Women’s Federation planned to organize a matchmaking event.
There were many unmarried men in the army.
If matches could be made, not only would their personal problems be resolved, it would also promote the country’s development.
If they did not find anyone suitable, that was fine too.
The state would be taking over some important factories and would need to recruit large numbers of workers.
These women could be arranged to work in factories.
The most difficult group consisted of women from brothels.
A large portion of them did not want to do physically demanding work.
But if they wanted to marry, it was difficult to find good families willing to accept them.
“Why are you being so stubborn? I’ve told you many times already. Prostitution is illegal, and the brothels have already been disbanded. You simply cannot go back.”
A female staff member raised her voice.
“Li Yue, what’s going on?”
Director Zhang brought Lin Zhijin over.
“Director, Comrade Sun Fengxian insists on returning to the brothel,” Li Yue said helplessly.
Director Zhang looked at Sun Fengxian, who seemed both frightened and lost.
She knew that Sun Fengxian had grown up in a brothel from childhood and had already come to regard it as her home.
Now that the brothel had suddenly disappeared, it was equivalent to her losing her home.
That was why she kept thinking about going back.
“Comrade Sun, I’m the Director of the Women’s Federation. If you have any difficulties, just tell me. I’ll do everything I can to help you.”
Director Zhang sat down beside her, took her hand, and spoke gently.
Sun Fengxian had not expected Director Zhang to hold her hand.
Her nose instantly stung.
These past two days had felt like a dream.
First, the People’s Liberation Army entered the city.
Then they said everyone was equal and that they were going to liberate women like them.
Of course it was good if she no longer had to be a brothel woman.
But she had grown up in a brothel since childhood.
Now that the brothel was gone, she felt like a child who had lost her home.
She truly had no idea where she should go or what she should do.
Moreover, after leaving the brothel, many people avoided women like them as though they were snakes or scorpions, as though they were something filthy.
Yet someone as important as Director Zhang was willing to hold her hand and gently ask what she wanted.
“I… I just don’t have anywhere to go, and I don’t know what I can do.”
Sun Fengxian felt the warmth of Director Zhang’s palm.
“Can I go back and think about it first?”
“Of course. Where are you staying now? A hotel? Oh my, that’s far too expensive. A young woman should keep some money in her hands.”
“How about this? I’ll arrange a dormitory room for you. Stay there for now. Once you’ve thought things through, come find me.”
Director Zhang assigned her a single room.
She also did not place her together with the former servants and concubines, to avoid unnecessary conflict.
After watching Director Zhang handle several cases, Lin Zhijin roughly understood the procedure.
“Xiao Lin, how much have you learned? You handle the next one.”
Director Zhang stood up and gave her the seat.
Lin Zhijin’s eyes widened.
No way.
She was already being sent into practice?
AUTHOR’S NOTE:
None.