Huang Guixiang hurriedly opened the door.
Lin Wan didn’t even have time to check the newbie gift package and quickly followed her outside.
Aunt Qin and Aunt Yang from the neighborhood committee were standing at the entrance, blocked outside by Zhang Hongqiang, who had spread his arms wide.
The two women looked helpless.
There was also a trace of undisguised disdain in their eyes.
The Zhang family was quite famous in the machinery factory residential compound. Old Zhang was known for being spineless, Huang Guixiang for being sharp-tongued, unreasonable, and mean. Lin Wan was famous for being both foolish and malicious, always fighting and snatching things from others.
As for Zhang Hongqiang, he was a troublemaker hated by both cats and dogs.
Just like now.
“Hongqiang’s mother, don’t listen to Hongqiang’s nonsense. We’re just here to inform you that there’s only one week left before your two daughters have to register for the countryside assignment!”
Lin Wan rolled her eyes.
“What do you mean ‘Hongqiang’s mother’? Doesn’t my mother have a name? Is this feudal society? Married women don’t deserve names?
And the two of you work for the neighborhood committee. How come you’re taking the lead in restoring feudal customs?”
What, was Huang Guixiang’s entire value in life just giving birth to Zhang Hongqiang?
The moment she said that, both women’s faces turned green.
Neither of them dared wear the label of reviving feudalism!
See?
Lin Wan was just that annoying—a born troublemaker!
The moment she opened her mouth, she was trying to get them criticized and lose their jobs.
Someone like her should be sent to the countryside as soon as possible instead of staying in their district and causing trouble!
The two women took deep breaths and quickly apologized.
“It just slipped out. Isn’t that what everyone around here calls her?”
Lin Wan rolled her eyes again.
“Ordinary people might not have enough political awareness, and I can understand that. But you two are neighborhood committee cadres serving the people. Is this how you serve the people?”
As if she hadn’t noticed the obvious disdain in their eyes.
The two women were speechless.
They practically wanted to slap themselves.
Damn their mouths! Why argue with her?
Better get to the point!
“Well… Comrade Huang Guixiang, regarding the countryside assignment, we still hope you’ll respond positively to national policy.”
“If your daughters still don’t have jobs in a week… their names will have to be submitted directly.”
“If you ask me, it’s better to volunteer early. If you register voluntarily, you might be able to get assigned somewhere closer and with better conditions.”
“Once everything is arranged by higher authorities, you won’t be able to change anything.”
Huang Guixiang wasn’t concerned at all.
Whether it was Guo Xuyang or the regiment commander her daughter had just mentioned, her daughter was destined to become a military wife.
What did she have to fear?
Smiling, she brushed off imaginary dust from her clothes and arrogantly said to the two women,
“I can’t speak for other people, but my daughter is absolutely not going to the countryside!
She’s about to marry a military officer and become a glorious military dependent.
That’s supporting the military and responding to national policy too.”
Lin Wan: “!!!!”
No way!
How could Huang Guixiang’s mouth be so loose?
Nothing had even been confirmed yet, and she was already spreading it everywhere!
She had made the whole thing up!!!!
Where was she supposed to find a regiment commander to marry?!
Lin Wan pressed a hand to her forehead.
And Guo Xuyang?
There was no way she’d marry him even if she were beaten to death.
Forget it.
Whatever.
Let the world burn.
The two women froze upon hearing this.
After forcing themselves to praise Lin Wan a couple of times, they left.
As they walked away, they muttered among themselves about which blind military officer had actually taken a fancy to a troublemaker like Lin Wan.
What did Lin Wan have besides a pretty face?
She was lazy, gluttonous, and sharp-tongued.
When it came to marriage and family life, beauty couldn’t be eaten as food.
A hardworking and virtuous woman like Zhang Qin was the real choice for a wife.
Inside the house, Zhang Qin, who had been quietly working, turned pale.
Filled with grievance and despair, she thought:
As expected…
As expected, Lin Wan had changed her mind again!
She still wanted to steal her boyfriend.
Zhang Qin refused to believe that Lin Wan could find a regiment commander in such a short time.
The only military officer Lin Wan had access to was her own boyfriend, Guo Xuyang.
After returning inside, Huang Guixiang pulled Lin Wan into the room, shut the door, and lowered her voice.
“Tell your mother properly about this regiment commander.”
“How did you meet?”
“Bring him here for me to see.”
“What kind of family does he come from? If he has too many dependents to support, then even if he’s a regiment commander, he’s not worth it.”
“If all else fails, you’ll still have to consider Guo Xuyang.”
“Marriage really can’t wait. Those people from the neighborhood committee are hounding us every day…”
“They’re so good at urging people. Why don’t they go become the Black and White Impermanence instead?”
Huang Guixiang was deeply worried.
Jobs in the city were hard to find these days.
She had pulled countless strings and still failed to buy one.
She had even been scammed because she was so desperate to get Lin Wan a job.
As for taking employment exams?
That was even more impossible.
Most recruitment information was handled internally and never made it to the public.
Right now, marriage was the only option left.
“Okay, okay. I’ll rest today and go find him tomorrow. Then I’ll bring him to meet you.”
Lin Wan answered perfunctorily.
But Huang Guixiang refused to let her go and insisted on asking for details about this regiment commander.
“His… his name is Huo Xiao. He comes from a military compound family. His father is a high-ranking leader, his mother is a doctor, and all the brothers are in the military. The eldest brother is in the Army, the second in the Navy, and he’s in the Air Force.”
In the original novel, the male lead Guo Xuyang had a first love.
The female lead Xu Hui also had a first love.
The unattainable man Xu Hui had always loved was Huo Xiao.
Most of the time, this white moonlight figure stayed in the military and had nothing to do with their lives.
He was the perfect person to use when fooling Huang Guixiang.
Besides him, Lin Wan couldn’t think of any military officer with better qualifications than Guo Xuyang.
And honestly, the only soldier she knew was that Air Force guy she met while fishing!
Keeping a straight face, Lin Wan continued her nonsense.
“It was love at first sight.”
“He won’t marry anyone but me, and I won’t marry anyone but him.”
“He’s away on a mission right now. Once he comes back, he’ll come find me.”
“So even if you want to see him now, you can’t. Just wait.”
“Anyway, Mom, my head hurts. I want to sleep for a while. Please go out first.”
The moment Huang Guixiang heard about that family background, her eyes lit up with satisfaction. Humming a cheerful tune, she headed out.
Lin Wan finally let out a sigh of relief. After locking her door from the inside, she dared to check the newbie gift package the system had given her.
Opening the plain-looking package—one without even a flashy glowing effect—a recruitment notice from the provincial postal system floated into her hands.
Looking at the document, Lin Wan’s heart surged with excitement.
This was exactly what she needed!
She had been worrying about how to avoid being sent to the countryside, and now a job opportunity had appeared out of nowhere.
With this job, who needed to get married?
“System, you’re so thoughtful!”
The system remained cold and blunt.
If you don’t work and complete missions, how am I supposed to accumulate enough energy to leave this low-level world?
Lin Wan’s finger traced the addresses listed on the form before finally stopping at Huacheng Post Office.
Application Deadline: August 28, 1968, 5:00 PM
Holy crap!
Wasn’t that today?
Lin Wan hurriedly changed clothes, washed up, grabbed her identification documents, and rushed out like a gust of wind.
“Mom, I’ve got something to take care of!”
All Huang Guixiang saw was a blur streak past her before disappearing in the blink of an eye.
By the time she chased after her, Lin Wan was already gone.
“This damn girl! Her brain’s still recovering from that concussion, and she’s running around this fast!”
On her way home, Huang Guixiang spotted a bunch of green onions sitting on the neighboring family’s stove and casually helped herself to a few stalks.
The elderly woman next door immediately started scolding her.
Huang Guixiang rolled her eyes.
“It’s only a few onions. You’re stingier than a miserly old hag!”
The old woman was furious.
After leaving the residential compound, Lin Wan looked at the streets and buildings that were completely different from the modern world she knew.
Her emotions were impossible to describe.
Following the original owner’s memories, she squeezed onto a public bus while silently crying inside.
Waaah… I miss ride-hailing apps so much!
After transferring buses twice, she finally arrived at the Huacheng Post Office administrative building.
The gatekeeper stopped her.
“Young lady, who are you looking for? What business do you have here?”
Lin Wan discreetly handed him a pack of plain white cigarettes with no branding whatsoever.
She had specifically gone out of her way to acquire these internal-supply cigarettes for occasions exactly like this.
“Uncle, these have filters. Internal-supply cigarettes!
My aunt told me your post office is recruiting workers, so I came to apply.”
It was obvious she had arrived through unofficial channels.
Otherwise, someone familiar with the system would have escorted her directly to registration rather than leaving her to ask the gatekeeper.
The old man was delighted after receiving the cigarettes.
He inspected them carefully.
They really had filters!
Cadre-grade cigarettes!
Not only were they expensive, but they were also extremely difficult to obtain.
Feeling indebted after accepting her gift, he happily escorted her all the way to the Personnel Department and even provided first-class customer service.
The personnel staff saw that the gatekeeper himself had brought her over and immediately assumed she was connected to some leader’s recommendation.
Although the recruitment notice claimed to be open to the public, not a single word had actually been announced outside the system.
As a result, they treated Lin Wan quite politely and handed her an application form.
While she was filling it out, Sister Gao from Personnel watched her curiously.
“Little girl, who told you about this opening?”
Lin Wan put on an awkward expression and lowered her voice mysteriously.
“My aunt told me to rely on my own abilities and keep everything fair and impartial. She specifically told me not to mention her.”
She paused before adding,
“Besides, I’m not even from the postal system. I really can’t cause trouble for my aunt.”
Of course, there was no way she could cause trouble.
Her so-called aunt—Huang Guixiang’s biological younger sister—was currently raising pigs in the countryside.
The perfect blind spot.
Back in her previous life, she had used similar tactics countless times while pitching proposals to clients.
Sure enough, Sister Gao immediately assumed Lin Wan was connected to some powerful leader.
She gave her an understanding look and became even friendlier.
After completing the application form, Lin Wan reached into her military-style shoulder bag and pulled out a large bag of White Rabbit milk candies.
She handed out generous handfuls to everyone in the Personnel Department.
The staff were stunned.
These were White Rabbit candies!
Most people wouldn’t even be willing to hand out fruit candies this freely.
Instantly, they concluded that her family must be extremely wealthy.
Otherwise, how could she distribute White Rabbit candies as if they cost nothing?
Just look at her.
She didn’t even blink while giving them away, nor did she show the slightest sign of reluctance.
After the candy distribution was finished, Lin Wan turned to Sister Gao.
“Sister Gao, is the department chief around?”
Sister Gao immediately led her inside enthusiastically.
“Chief Tang, this is Xiao Lin. She just came to register!”
Seeing Sister Gao repeatedly winking at him, Chief Tang was puzzled.
Why would a simple applicant need to be brought directly to him?
After Sister Gao left, Lin Wan reached into her bag again and produced a carton of cigarettes.
“Chief Tang, my aunt asked me to bring this to you.”
“My aunt said that if there’s an opportunity, she’d like to invite you and several bureau directors out for a meal together.”
She lowered her voice.
“After all, squeezing me in at the last minute when I’m not even part of the system is a bit embarrassing for her.”
Then she pushed the cigarettes forward.
“These are specially supplied filtered cigarettes. My aunt specifically asked me to deliver them.”
“Chief Tang, I won’t disturb you any longer. I’ll be leaving now.”
After speaking, she gave the thoroughly bewildered Chief Tang a respectful bow.
Before he could respond, she turned around and ran off.
Chief Tang sat frozen.
“…”
Wait!
At least tell me who your aunt is!
Young people these days were so reckless.
Not steady at all.
Muttering to himself, he opened the carton.
Sure enough, the cigarettes had filters.
And they were completely unmarked.
That definitely meant they were special internal-supply cigarettes.
Chief Tang sucked in a sharp breath.
Someone capable of obtaining cigarettes like these certainly wasn’t an ordinary person.
Their status had to be significant.
“Xiao Gao! Bring me that girl’s application form!”
Chief Tang quickly stuffed the carton into his briefcase before raising his voice.
Meanwhile, Lin Wan left the post office building.
She had barely walked a few steps when she ran into someone she knew.
The kind of enemy you’d call a nemesis.
Pointing at the man who was approaching her through gritted teeth, she immediately issued a nervous warning.
“Don’t come any closer!”
“Take one more step and see if I don’t throw myself onto the ground and sue you into bankruptcy!”