Wasn’t this kind of thing—verifying someone’s identity information, understanding their strengths and weaknesses, and assessing their ability to survive—basically the same process as an HR interview?
Lin Zhijin was very familiar with this.
In her previous life, she had worked her way up to Human Resources Manager. Wouldn’t this be a piece of cake?
Considering the persona she was supposed to maintain, Lin Zhijin first timidly declined. Only after Director Zhang encouraged her did she finally sit in the seat Director Zhang had just vacated.
“First, briefly introduce yourself.”
Lin Zhijin deliberately took a deep breath, straightened her back, and looked at the woman opposite her with a slightly nervous expression.
Wu Cuihua was even more nervous than Lin Zhijin.
Her hands tightly gripped the hem of her clothes, and she kept blinking. After hearing Lin Zhijin’s question, she did not answer immediately. Instead, she first looked around. Whenever someone’s gaze met hers, she immediately shrank back.
Seeing this, Lin Zhijin looked at her file.
Wu Cuihua, sixteen years old, from Sili Village, Eighteenth Township, Yongjiang County.
At the age of five, she had been sold by her biological father to a human trafficker. The trafficker then resold her to the madam of a low-class brothel. She began receiving customers at the age of ten and continued doing so until the People’s Liberation Army entered the city.
Lin Zhijin felt a wave of cold rush from the soles of her feet straight to the top of her head.
The hairs all over her body stood on end.
She pursed her lips and suddenly found herself almost unable to look at Wu Cuihua sitting opposite her.
Ten years old.
That was the age of a third- or fourth-grade elementary school student.
Receiving customers?
Damn it.
Those people truly deserved to die!
Lin Zhijin pursed her lips again, swallowing the sourness rising in her throat, and tried to speak calmly.
“Perhaps… should we move somewhere with fewer people?”
After quite a while, Wu Cuihua timidly asked, “Can we?”
Lin Zhijin turned toward Director Zhang.
“Director, is there an empty office around here?”
Director Zhang’s eyes were filled with gratification.
People should not think Women’s Federation work was simple. The more vulnerable the group they dealt with, the more kindness and patience the staff needed to possess.
Xiao Lin had handled this very well.
She had noticed the other party’s difficulty and promptly adjusted the way she dealt with the situation.
Director Zhang had indeed not misjudged her.
“Yes. I’ll take you there.”
Director Zhang led them to a separate room.
Inside was only one desk and several chairs.
“Can you give a simple introduction now? It doesn’t need to be very detailed. We mainly want to confirm your identity.”
There were simply too many spies at present, so they needed to repeatedly verify identities to prevent hostile elements from infiltrating.
Otherwise, Lin Zhijin truly would not have wanted Wu Cuihua to expose her scars all over again.
“My name is Wu Cuihua. I’m sixteen this year, from Sili Village, Eighteenth Township, Yongjiang County. When I left home, there were eight people in my family—Grandfather, Grandmother, Father, Mother, one older sister, and two younger brothers. I don’t know how many people are in the family now. After I arrived at Chunfeng Pavilion, I never went back again. Usually, Madam wouldn’t let us go outside, but there should be quite a lot of people who recognize me.”
“Leader, am I really free now? I really don’t have to receive customers anymore?”
Wu Cuihua twisted her fingers together and asked uncertainly.
“Of course. Do you have any skills you’re good at? For example, embroidery, cooking, things like that?” Lin Zhijin asked gently.
“I only know some simple embroidery. Other than that… I don’t know how to do anything.”
Wu Cuihua shook her head, her face pale.
A low-class brothel was different from a high-class pleasure house.
The men who went there did not have much money, so the women only needed to learn how to serve customers.
The madam would never spend money hiring teachers for them, nor would she allow them to waste time learning other skills.
Lin Zhijin asked several more simple questions.
After that, she genuinely did not know what to do next.
After all, this was not a real job interview.
She called out, “Director,” and waited for Director Zhang to speak.
“Mm. Not bad.”
Director Zhang nodded, which counted as recognition of Lin Zhijin’s work.
Then she looked at Wu Cuihua.
“This is your identification document. Take the identification document and this slip, then wait outside. Someone will take all of you for a physical examination later.”
“A physical examination? I saw a doctor not long ago. I’m not sick,” Wu Cuihua hurriedly said.
“We’re not saying you’re sick. It’s only a routine health examination, and it doesn’t cost anything.”
Director Zhang handed the paper to Wu Cuihua.
“Don’t be afraid. You’re not the only one. Everyone has to undergo a physical examination.”
Wu Cuihua looked at Lin Zhijin before clutching the paper and leaving.
“What do you think? Do you think everything Wu Cuihua said was true?” Director Zhang suddenly asked Lin Zhijin.
“It should be true. But our enemies are cunning and treacherous, so we should still be more careful and observe her for a while.”
Lin Zhijin did not dare compare her own life experience with revolutionary workers like Director Zhang, so she did not dare speak too definitively.
Director Zhang smiled and nodded.
“It’s right to be cautious. Some enemy agents will do absolutely anything to conceal their identities.”
Lin Zhijin followed Director Zhang back to the main hall and discovered that the former maids and concubines had already left.
The only ones remaining were women from brothels.
“Director, what arrangements will be made for them in the future?”
Lin Zhijin saw that most of the brothel women were rolling their eyes while standing in line, looking extremely reluctant.
“Some of them were forced, some had no other choice, and some entered voluntarily. After walking this path, many have lost the ability to earn a living with their own hands. So they need labor reform and ideological education, so they can learn once again to rely on themselves.”
Director Zhang looked at them and spoke earnestly.
The brothel women were led away by Li Yue for their physical examinations.
Several who refused to go were taken away by force.
Seeing sympathy appear on Lin Zhijin’s face, Director Zhang patiently instructed her.
“Women’s work requires gentleness and patience, but when firmness is necessary, we must be firm. Otherwise, there’s no way to carry out our work. Some people’s thinking has become deeply entrenched, and communicating with them is very difficult.”
Lin Zhijin carefully committed this to memory.
This era was different from later generations.
She could not simply apply the social skills she had learned in the future to this time, nor could she become careless just because she had once been an HR manager.
She still needed to learn properly from Director Zhang.
“Come on. I’ll take you to complete the employment procedures first.”
Seeing how humbly she was learning, Director Zhang was in a very good mood.
She brought Lin Zhijin back to the office to fill out her information.
Once Director Liu approved it, she could officially begin work tomorrow.
“Director, I want to change my name.”
Lin Zhijin took the opportunity to change it.
She absolutely did not want to be called Lin Pandi.
“I chose a name for myself: Lin Zhijin. ‘Zhi’ as in knowledge, and ‘Jin’ as in hibiscus flower. There isn’t any deeper meaning. I just admire knowledgeable people, and I also like hibiscus flowers, so I chose the name Lin Zhijin for myself.”
Director Zhang glanced at the several hibiscus flowers embroidered on Lin Zhijin’s coat.
It seemed she really did like them.
She even wanted the character Jin in her name.
“The meaning is straightforward, but when it comes to a name, liking it yourself is what matters most. The meaning behind Lin Pandi really isn’t very good. We women have never been inferior to men.”
“Lin Zhijin? It sounds very nice.”
“Then, welcome to the Women’s Federation, Comrade Lin Zhijin.”
Director Zhang stood up, extended her hand, and spoke solemnly.
“Thank you to the country and Director for giving me this opportunity. I won’t let you down. I’ll study hard, work seriously, and help more women like me liberate their thinking and become new women of New Zhonghua.”
Lin Zhijin reached out and shook Director Zhang’s hand, speaking firmly and forcefully.
Nancheng had only just been liberated, so in reality, the Women’s Federation’s work had not been able to follow up this quickly.
The reason their work had begun ahead of schedule was entirely because of Lin Zhijin.
Therefore, aside from women who had been compulsorily liberated, such as maids, concubines, and brothel women, no one else had yet come to seek help.
However, Lin Zhijin was not idle.
She was currently studying from the literacy primer Director Zhang had given her.
Director Zhang had said that she had to learn at least ten characters every day.
She had to be able to recognize them and write them.
There would even be an examination later.
If she failed, there would be punishment.
As for what the punishment was, Director Zhang did not say.
Lin Zhijin did not dare ask either.
To be fair, although she had been a university graduate in her previous life, there really were not many traditional Chinese characters she could recognize.
Of course, she had a foundation, so she would definitely learn faster than others.
For example, right now, she still recognized the traditional characters for the numbers one through ten.
But she could not behave too extraordinarily, so she was pretending to study seriously.
“Xiao Lin, studying?”
Li Yue came over carrying a lunch box and asked with a smile.
“Come on. Director asked me to take you to the cafeteria for lunch.”
“Elder Sister Li Yue.”
Lin Zhijin closed the book and looked at her somewhat awkwardly.
“I didn’t bring a lunch box.”
She had never expected Director Zhang to keep her at the Women’s Federation to work.
She had certainly never expected to start working today.
Naturally, she had not brought a lunch box.
No.
She did not even own a lunch box.
Looks like she would have to buy one after work.
“It’s fine. The cafeteria has bowls and chopsticks. Just borrow a set from them. Remember to bring a lunch box next time.”
Li Yue took Lin Zhijin to the cafeteria and spoke to the cooking squad leader, borrowing a bowl and chopsticks from them.
Lin Zhijin looked around.
The cafeteria was extremely clean and orderly.
Although the food was simple, it smelled very fragrant.
Each person received two mixed-grain steamed buns, one ladle of pickled vegetables with sweet potato noodles, and one ladle of braised potatoes.
Lin Zhijin took a bite of the steamed bun.
It was somewhat rough going down her throat.
Without changing her expression, she swallowed it.
At this time, simply being able to eat until full was already good.
How could she dare complain?
Besides, everyone else ate the same thing.
Halfway through the meal, Director Liu, Director Zhang, and the others walked in while talking.
Each of them carried a lunch box.
“Is that Lin Pandi? Looks like you really like her.”
Director Yang glanced at Lin Zhijin, who was eating, and smiled.
“She’s not called Lin Pandi anymore. Her name is Lin Zhijin now. Don’t call her the wrong name later.”
Director Zhang carried her lunch box toward Lin Zhijin.
“Xiao Lin, how is it? Are you used to the food?”
Lin Zhijin hurriedly nodded.
“I’m used to it. The cafeteria chef is very skilled. It’s fragrant and delicious.”
Director Zhang looked at her with a smile.
They all knew what kind of life the Chen family lived.
After experiencing a wealthy lifestyle, Lin Zhijin could still maintain her original character.
That was truly rare.
This was also one of the things Director Zhang valued about her.
She had firm willpower and possessed the moral character of a Party member.
Lin Zhijin had no idea Director Zhang thought so highly of her.
She simply had never truly suffered before.
In her previous life, even when she lived as frugally as possible, the worst she did was eat in the company cafeteria and live in company housing.
Because she worked in HR, she had gotten a small advantage and lived in a single room with air-conditioning and a private bathroom.
Honestly speaking, even the company dormitory conditions had been better than the Chen residence.
Besides, her current house had been renovated.
It had a toilet, electric lights, and even heated flooring.
As for food, she could simply make do with lunch here and cook something better for herself at home in the evening.
There was even less to say about clothing.
She had had a pile of clothes made while living in the Chen residence and still had a considerable amount of savings.
Naturally, she could remain calm and had nothing to complain about.
“If it tastes good, eat more. If it’s not enough, go get more.”
Director Yang looked at Lin Zhijin with an incomparably kind expression as he thought of the news from Jinshi Mountain.
Lin Zhijin had actually guessed correctly.
There really might be a gold mine on Jinshi Mountain.
They had already called Jing City, and experts had already been dispatched.
No matter how much gold could ultimately be mined, Lin Zhijin had rendered great merit.
“It’s enough, it’s enough. I can’t eat that much.”
Lin Zhijin could not even finish her second mixed-grain steamed bun, so in the end, she gave it to Director Yang.
“Xiao Lin, you can’t go on like this. You’re so skinny. How will you have children in the future?”
On the way back, Li Yue could not help speaking up.
Lin Zhijin lowered her head and looked at her own body.
During her two months at the Chen residence, she had drunk Chinese medicine for two full months.
In addition to medicinal treatment, she had also received dietary nourishment, eating things like bird’s nest and cordyceps.
Her body had already been restored to health, and she had gained more than ten jin.
Her current figure was neither fat nor thin.
It was just right.
She herself was very satisfied.
“I’m not that thin.”
Besides, she was only seventeen this year.
What children was she supposed to be having?
“You call this not thin? I think a stronger gust of wind could blow you away.”
Li Yue looked at Lin Zhijin’s face.
“You really are beautiful. Where are you living now? Is it safe?”
“I live in the eastern part of the city. It’s quite safe.”
Lin Zhijin did not say much.
After all, they had only just met.
Who knew what kind of person Li Yue really was?
When work resumed in the afternoon, the Women’s Federation staff returned one after another.
Li Yue introduced them to Lin Zhijin one by one.
“This is Elder Sister Qian. Elder Sister Qian, this is our new colleague, Lin Zhijin.”
After a while, Li Yue leaned close to Lin Zhijin’s ear and whispered, “Elder Sister Qian is Deputy Director Li’s wife.”
“This is Elder Sister Wang. Elder Sister Wang, this is our new colleague, Lin Zhijin.”
After Elder Sister Wang left, Li Yue quietly told her, “Elder Sister Wang’s husband is the commander of the Twenty-Seventh Division.”
“This is Elder Sister Li. Elder Sister Li, this is our new colleague, Lin Zhijin.”
Afterward, when no one was paying attention, she added quietly, “Elder Sister Li is amazing. She fought on the battlefield and killed Japanese invaders. She withdrew to the second line because of injuries.”
Impressive.
Including herself, there were five people in the office.
Except for her, every one of them had an extraordinary background.
“So you’re Xiao Lin? Director Zhang told me about you. You were the one married into the Chen family for chongxi, right?”
“What era is this already? They were actually still practicing feudal superstition like that. Poor thing. You were so young and had to marry an old man who was about to die. Did the two of you consummate the marriage?”
Elder Sister Wang came over carrying a tea mug and asked curiously.
Lin Zhijin’s expression instantly darkened.
Did this person have no sense of boundaries at all?
They had only just met, yet she was already asking something like this.
“Wang Chunhua, if you don’t know how to speak properly, then shut your mouth.”
Elder Sister Li glared at Wang Chunhua, then turned toward Lin Zhijin and said very seriously, “The past is already past. What matters most is looking forward. You’re still young. Don’t waste these good years.”
“Thank you, Elder Sister Li.”
Lin Zhijin directly ignored Elder Sister Wang, thanked Elder Sister Li, then continued practicing her writing.
Wang Chunhua curled her lips.
She had only asked casually.
How was that not knowing how to speak?
Wasn’t that woman surnamed Li interfering far too much?
She opened her mouth, then after quite a while muttered, “I changed my name. I’m called Wang Chunhua now. ‘Hua’ as in Huaxia.”
Unfortunately, no one in the office paid attention to her.
Lin Zhijin swept her gaze around and immediately understood.
It seemed this Wang Chunhua usually liked speaking carelessly and had long since offended all her colleagues.
That was why everyone was already accustomed to it and could not be bothered with her.
“Wang Chunhua, come to my office.”
Director Zhang walked by carrying a stack of documents.
Passing Wang Chunhua’s desk, she knocked on it and spoke in a deep voice.
“Oh. Director, my name is Wang Chunhua now. ‘Hua’ as in Huaxia.”
Wang Chunhua explained as she followed Director Zhang into the office.
“Xiao Lin, don’t take it to heart. Elder Sister Wang actually isn’t a bad person. She just doesn’t know how to speak properly. She wasn’t deliberately targeting you. She talks like that to everyone.”
Once the office door closed, Li Yue dragged her chair closer to Lin Zhijin and whispered.
“Mm. It’s fine. Actually, there’s nothing that can’t be said.”
“I really was married to Master Chen for chongxi. At the time, his illness was already terminal. He even struggled to drink water, so we never even touched hands.”
Lin Zhijin took the opportunity to explain.
Li Yue looked left and right.
“Wasn’t there a bedchamber maid who became pregnant with his posthumous child?”
Lin Zhijin copied her and looked left and right before lowering her voice.
“Why do you think Master Chen suddenly died? One of his bedchamber maids drugged him with an aphrodisiac. Master Chen was already dying the very next day.”
“Hiss—an aphrodisiac? That strong? Was it the pregnant one who did it?”
Li Yue eagerly continued asking.
“No. It was another bedchamber maid. Apparently, Master Chen had forcibly taken her from an ordinary family, and she always hated him for it. When she discovered his health was starting to improve, she couldn’t accept it and directly drugged him.”
Lin Zhijin grabbed Li Yue’s arm.
“You absolutely must not tell anyone else about this.”
“Don’t worry. My mouth is extremely tight. I definitely won’t tell anyone.”
Li Yue vowed solemnly.
Lin Zhijin was not reassured at all.
The more someone said things like that, the more likely they were to be a gossip.
But Lin Zhijin’s original intention was to spread the story anyway, so that other people would not make wild guesses.
After practicing writing all afternoon, Lin Zhijin tidied up briefly and left work with everyone else.
“Um, Xiao Lin, I’m sorry about what happened at noon. I didn’t mean to ask like that. I’m just someone who speaks too quickly and doesn’t think before talking.”
After being thoroughly scolded by Director Zhang, Wang Chunhua now came over dejectedly to apologize to Lin Zhijin.
“All right. Let’s consider it over.”
Lin Zhijin could not be bothered to argue with her.
The sky outside was still bright.
Since she would be alone even if she returned home, Lin Zhijin simply walked back slowly, taking the opportunity to properly experience the current Nancheng.
All kinds of shops lined the streets.
Street vendors called out their wares.
Rickshaws sped along the roads.
Occasionally, a bicycle passed by.
Although the war had only recently ended, Nancheng had a vibrant sense of life.
On the way, she passed a restaurant that looked quite good and went directly inside.
Dining alone, she ordered one dish, one soup, and a bowl of white rice.
That was enough to fill her stomach completely.
By the time she returned home, dusk had already fallen.
Public security at this time was not as good as in later generations, so Lin Zhijin did not dare linger outside.
She boiled water and took a bath.
While there were still voices outside, she hurriedly turned off the lights and went to sleep.
But after waking in the middle of the night to use the toilet, she became too frightened to sleep again.
She had always been timid.
After experiencing transmigration and confirming that souls really did exist, she became even more afraid of such things.
Her mind would involuntarily replay horror movies she had watched and horror stories she had heard.
She even started wondering whether Master Chen might come looking for her.
“Stop thinking about it. Lin Zhijin, you can’t keep thinking about this. Don’t scare yourself.”
Lin Zhijin wrapped the blanket tightly around herself.
She did not even dare sleep with her back facing outward.
Otherwise, she always felt a chill behind her.
The next day, she arrived at the Women’s Federation looking somewhat exhausted.
Li Yue looked at her suspiciously.
“Did you go stealing last night? Why do you look like you didn’t sleep at all?”
“I changed where I live, so I’m having trouble getting used to the bed.”
The other woman was an experienced Party member.
Surely Lin Zhijin could not tell her that she could not sleep because she was afraid of ghosts.
Director Zhang also asked when she saw Lin Zhijin.
After hearing that she was simply unaccustomed to the bed, she did not continue questioning her.
Instead, she told her to get ready because they would be going out on fieldwork today.
“The households we’re going to today belong to landlords in the suburbs. These people may already have made preparations, so we may have a difficult battle ahead. Although soldiers will accompany us, all of you still need to pay attention to your safety. It’s best not to act alone.”
Director Zhang was mainly saying this for Lin Zhijin’s benefit.
“I understand, Director.”
Lin Zhijin nodded seriously.
Aside from Wang Chunhua, who remained behind, the group headed toward the suburbs accompanied by two squads of soldiers.
That’s right.
They walked.
They relied entirely on their own two legs.
There were vehicles at the office, but those lumps of iron consumed fuel.
The country was short of fuel.
Who would be willing to use them unnecessarily?
Lin Zhijin silently followed the group.
By halfway there, she was already having some difficulty continuing.
Actually, this body had been accustomed to farm labor.
But during the two months after she transmigrated, she had lived in luxury at the Chen residence.
Moreover, because Master Chen wanted her skin to become more delicate, he had specifically arranged medicinal soaks for her hands and feet.
Even her calluses had been soaked away.
“Can you keep walking? Hang in there a little longer. We’re almost there.”
Li Yue supported Lin Zhijin and asked with concern.
“I’m fine. I can walk.”
Seeing quite a few people glancing at her openly or secretly, Lin Zhijin gritted her teeth and continued walking.
She could not hold everyone back.
After walking for more than forty minutes, they finally reached the first household.
Lin Zhijin had to be grateful that the city was relatively small at present.
If this were the Nancheng of later generations, they probably would not even have covered one-third of the distance yet.
She suddenly froze and looked around.
Wasn’t this near where Yintai would be in the future?
The very land beneath her feet would later be developed into residential compounds selling for forty or fifty thousand yuan per square meter.
Who would have thought it was still considered the suburbs now?
The country really had developed quickly.
Look at the mud-brick houses, foul ditches, and muddy ponds here.
It was impossible to connect them with the future high-rise buildings.
After 1980, she could buy a piece of land here and build a large courtyard.
Once it was eventually demolished for redevelopment, three generations of her descendants could live without working.
“Xiao Lin, still haven’t recovered?”
Li Yue handed her own canteen over.
“No need. I brought water myself.”
Lin Zhijin waved her hand.
After distracting herself with those thoughts just now, she no longer felt quite as tired.
Director Zhang glanced at Lin Zhijin and gave the squad leader a look.
“Knock on the door.”
“Yes.”
The squad leader saluted, stepped forward, and knocked.
It took quite a while before the door opened.
Lin Zhijin followed Director Zhang inside and immediately discovered that the landlord’s house was completely empty.
It could almost be described as having nothing but bare walls.
Their clothing was also ragged and worn.
A family of nine huddled together, looking pitifully at them.
“Military Sirs, our family has no money and no grain. Please, spare us.”
Landlord Wang bent at the waist and spoke pitifully.
“Wang Shoucai. Your name really suits you. You value wealth as much as your life. Looks like you really do want money rather than your life.”
The squad leader spoke in a deep voice.
Wang Shoucai’s legs immediately weakened.
He wiped nonexistent cold sweat from his forehead and said nervously, “No, no. I really don’t have any money.”
Director Zhang waved her hand and had the squad leader stand aside.
“That’s enough. We are □□. We don’t want your money. But you are required to release the concubines and servants in your household. Everyone is equal now. You cannot exploit other people. That is what capitalists do, and it is illegal. Do you understand?”
“This… I don’t understand, Leader. I only have two wives. This is my first wife. We’ve been married for ten years, and she gave birth to four daughters. I had no choice but to marry a second wife, who gave birth to one son and one daughter. My son is already ten years old now and will soon grow up, marry, and have children. I can’t possibly send away his biological mother.”
Wang Shoucai looked troubled.
“For women who have already borne children, we follow the principle of voluntary choice. If she herself does not wish to leave, she may remain. But all servants must be liberated. This is an order, and there is no room for bargaining.”
“Landlord Wang, you are a clever man. You know what happens to those who oppose the state.”
Director Zhang spoke directly.
“I understand, I understand. I’ll go get the indenture contracts right away.”
Wang Shoucai painfully burned the indenture contracts.
He had bought all of these people with real silver.
If he had known earlier, he would have sold them sooner.
They had really gotten the better of him.
The first household went relatively smoothly.
The second household, however, actually had guns.
Both sides immediately opened fire, and someone on the other side was even killed.
This was the first time Lin Zhijin had ever witnessed actual fighting.
Her face turned deathly pale.
Once again, she experienced firsthand what working conditions were like during the early years after the founding of the country.
“Are you all right? You’ll get used to it after some time.”
Director Zhang patted Lin Zhijin’s arm, then glanced at her watch.
“This is too inefficient. Let’s go back. This afternoon, we’ll bring an entire company.”
“Hmph. They refuse the respect we give them.”
“Xiao Lin, you don’t need to come this afternoon. I’m giving you half a day off. Rest properly and come back to work afterward.”
“Thank you, Director.”
Lin Zhijin did not try to act tough.
After returning home, Lin Zhijin collapsed onto the arhat bed.
She could not even be bothered to worry whether it was clean.
Today had truly been exciting.
Far too exciting.
AUTHOR’S NOTE:
Sorry, I wasn’t in the right state yesterday. I made it up today. Love you all, muah muah (づ￣3￣)づ╭?～