A wave of disappointment washed over Yang Lihua.
How could someone like her—with no connections, no background, and no internal ties—compete with the factory employees’ children?
Forget it.
She would go home first and think of another solution.
Just as she turned to leave—
“…Yang Lihua. The comrades whose names were called, please follow me to complete your employment procedures.”
She froze.
She passed.
She really passed!
“Congratulations, Comrade Yang Lihua.”
Zhang Chunmei, who had previously registered her for the recruitment exam, sat behind the desk smiling.
“Your score was excellent.”
Otherwise she wouldn’t have managed to push out a spot originally meant for the textile factory employees’ children.
“Did you bring your household registration book and diploma?”
If she hadn’t brought them, the onboarding procedures couldn’t be completed now—and the position might end up going to someone else.
Yang Lihua hurriedly pulled out a small cloth bundle from her innermost pocket and carefully took out the two documents.
Zhang Chunmei accepted them and handed them to the Head of Personnel, Zhang Zhongchun.
“Hm… your diploma…”
Yang Lihua’s heart jumped.
Was something wrong with the diploma?
“It was issued by Principal Wang Deming?” Zhang Zhongchun raised his head and carefully looked at Yang Lihua before casually saying,
“Principal Wang is my father’s old comrade-in-arms.”
Yang Lihua felt a spark of joy inside but replied cautiously.
“Principal Wang… he’s a very good person. He took good care of me.”
Zhang Zhongchun’s expression softened, and his smile became sincere.
“If Uncle Wang personally approved it, that means you’re very capable.”
The employment procedures went surprisingly smoothly.
When the bright red official seal was stamped onto her employment registration form, the heavy stone in Yang Lihua’s heart finally fell.
She was now an official worker of Hongxing Textile Factory.
She could stay in the city openly and honestly.
She no longer had to worry about being sent to the countryside.
Nor did she need to fear her parents marrying her off casually.
“Report to work next Monday. You’ll be assigned to Workshop No. 3 as a loom operator,” Director Zhang said, handing her the work ID.
“Work hard.”
“Thank you, Director Zhang!”
Yang Lihua bowed deeply.
Seeing Zhang Zhongchun in a good mood, she pursed her lips slightly and asked softly,
“Director Zhang, does the factory still have space in the staff dormitory? My home is quite far away. I’d like to move into the factory so I can spend more time learning from the experienced workers.”
She looked at him nervously, hoping to hear the answer she wanted.
“The dormitory?”
Zhang Zhongchun tapped the desk lightly.
“There are still rooms available. I’ll have Zhang Chunmei take you there. Since you haven’t started work yet, tidy things up early so you can move in right away.”
Yang Lihua thanked him again.
“Thank you, Director Zhang!”
Now she truly had no more worries.
If she didn’t live at home anymore, she would spend far less time with the female lead in the future.
That should reduce the chances of conflict.
Yang Lihua held the cold metal dormitory key in her hand, but her heart burned with excitement.
Now she had to think about how to tell her parents.
After all, this kind of thing couldn’t be hidden forever.
Before she even entered the house, she ran into Yang Liqiang, who had just come back from outside.
“Well, well! Lihua, where have you been playing?”
Wasn’t she supposed to be helping at home? He hadn’t even seen her cooking.
Now that she had stopped going to school, was she just staying home eating for free?
He should remind their parents—she wasn’t a child anymore.
Inside the house, Yang Lishu immediately came out after hearing the noise.
She curled her lips.
“Third Sister, we’ve been waiting for you to cook. Didn’t you say you’d take care of the housework these days? Were you just saying that to please Mom and Dad—or are you planning to let Second Sister cook again?”
Yang Lijuan tugged at Yang Lishu’s sleeve.
“Stop talking. I’m free anyway—I’ll cook. Lihua just got back.”
It was just cooking. Why argue about it?
Yang Lishu snorted.
She always played the good person while letting others take the blame.
Seeing Yang Daqiang frown slightly, Su Meilan quickly pulled Yang Lihua aside and scolded her gently.
“You’re not studying or working right now. Why were you out for so long? Did something happen?”
Yang Lihua knew that if she didn’t explain her recent late returns clearly, even her mother defending her might not help.
So she immediately pulled out the work ID she had just received and handed it to Su Meilan.
“Mom, look at this.”
Su Meilan looked puzzled.
A certificate?
A work ID?
Impossible…
Seeing Yang Lihua looking at her expectantly, Su Meilan flipped it over.
A work permit with a red official seal appeared before her eyes.
It read:
Hongxing Textile Factory – Yang Lihua
She stared at Yang Lihua in disbelief.
Yang Lihua nodded firmly.
A huge smile spread across Su Meilan’s face.
“Her father! Lihua passed the exam for Hongxing Textile Factory! She’s even a formal employee!”
Yang Daqiang, sitting inside, froze for a moment.
Then he took the work ID from Su Meilan and examined it carefully.
A rare smile appeared on his usually stern face.
“Good. Good! Excellent!”
“Now your mother and I don’t have to worry about you anymore. Your future is secure.”
And perhaps she could even help support the family a little.
After all, Yang Lixin’s wedding required money, and the two younger children still needed funds for school.
Yang Lixin and Yang Lijuan were both happy to hear the news—though for different reasons.
Yang Lixin was glad that Yang Lihua hadn’t used family resources meant for him. She had found the job on her own.
As the elder brother, he should be proud.
Besides, another formal worker in the family meant extra support.
“Lihua, you’re amazing! Sit and rest—I’ll cook.”
Yang Lijuan said with a hint of envy before heading to the kitchen.
“Wow! Third Sister, you’re a formal worker now!”
Yang Lijun ran over excitedly.
“That means you’ll get paid next month, right? I want a table tennis paddle! When you get your salary, buy me one, Third Sister!”
Yang Lihua looked at her younger brother tugging her sleeve and acting cute.
Her salary hadn’t even arrived yet, and she was already being asked to spend it.
Still, some money simply had to be spent.
“Alright. When I get paid, I’ll buy you one.”
“But I just started working, so my salary isn’t high. I can only buy the cheapest one.”
“And you must study hard. If your grades are bad, I won’t buy it.”
(Hopefully he scores zero—then she’d have an excuse not to buy it.)
Su Meilan watched them playfully chatting and felt satisfied.
“Lijun, stop bothering your third sister. How can you ask someone to buy things before they’ve even received their salary?”
“Wait until next month when she gets paid.”