The next evening, after finishing work, Li Guizhi came straight to Lu Zhanye’s home.
“Zhanye, Xiaowan,” she stood in the courtyard with a smile, “the job is settled. Tomorrow I’ll take you to the textile factory for an exam. Results come out the same day. If you pass, you start work the day after tomorrow. Sister Yu will train you for half a month, and then she’ll resign.”
Lin Wan was hanging laundry in the yard. At the words, her hands paused, and her heartbeat quickened.
Lu Zhanye came out of the house. “What time tomorrow?”
“Early morning. Be at the village entrance by 7:30,” Li Guizhi said. “I’ll take Xiaowan there. Sister Yu and her younger brother will be waiting at the factory gate.”
“When do we pay?” Lu Zhanye asked directly.
“Bring 100 yuan tomorrow first,” Li Guizhi said. “If she passes the exam, then pay the remaining 400. If she doesn’t pass… the 100 won’t be refunded. It’s compensation for wasting their time.”
Lin Wan felt a tightness in her chest. One hundred yuan was not a small amount.
“Alright,” Lu Zhanye nodded. “I’ll take Xiaowan tomorrow. I’ll wait outside.”
Li Guizhi reminded them of a few more details before rushing home—Tiedan was still waiting for her at the old house.
That night, Lin Wan lay in bed, tossing and turning. Her mind was full of tomorrow’s exam.
She had graduated from high school, but that was years ago. What exactly did an accounting position in a textile factory involve? She had no idea.
“Stop thinking about it,” Lu Zhanye’s voice came from the darkness as his arm wrapped around her waist. “You’ll definitely pass.”
“How do you know?” Lin Wan turned to face him.
“I just know,” Lu Zhanye said firmly. “You’ve got a good head on your shoulders, and you’re careful with your work. A textile factory’s accounts won’t be difficult for you.”
His words warmed Lin Wan’s heart, easing her anxiety.
“Sleep,” Lu Zhanye patted her back gently. “We have to get up early tomorrow.”
Before dawn the next day, Lin Wan was already up.
She made a simple breakfast—corn porridge, steamed corn buns, and pickles. During the meal, neither of them spoke, but the atmosphere wasn’t tense, only quietly in sync.
After eating, Lin Wan changed into the deep blue outfit she had made when they got married. The fabric was thick and structured, making her look more composed and spirited. She carefully braided her hair into two plaits, tying them with red ribbons. She even applied a bit of snow cream on her face—the kind Lu Zhanye had traded from the black market before, which she had never been willing to use.
Lu Zhanye also changed into clean clothes—dark trousers and a slightly worn Zhongshan suit. Just as they were about to leave, the courtyard gate opened.
“I was just about to call you!” Li Guizhi stood at the door holding a cloth bag. “Hurry, don’t keep them waiting.”
The three of them walked quickly toward the village entrance. The village was still half asleep, with only a few households already showing smoke from their chimneys. On the way, they met early-rising villagers who asked curiously, “Where are you going so early?”
“To town for some business,” Lu Zhanye replied simply.
At the old elm tree at the village entrance, a production team cart was heading to town to deliver goods. The driver, a close friend of Lu Xiangjun, greeted them. “Heading to town? I’ll give you a ride!”
“Thanks, Brother Zhang!” Lu Zhanye helped Lin Wan onto the cart, then jumped up himself.
The cart rattled along the dirt road, much faster than walking. Lin Wan sat on the wooden board, gripping the edge tightly. Li Guizhi chatted casually with the driver, while Lu Zhanye remained silent, staring ahead.
Lin Wan knew he was actually nervous too.
They arrived in town at 7:20. The textile factory was at the east end of town, not far from the center. When the three arrived at the gate, a man and a woman were already waiting.
“Sister Yu!” Li Guizhi walked forward quickly. “This is my sister-in-law Lin Wan, and my younger brother Lu Zhanye.”
Yu Hongmei looked to be in her mid-30s, with ear-length hair and a gray work uniform, giving her a capable appearance. She studied Lin Wan for a moment and nodded. “Let’s go in and talk.”
Her younger brother Yu Haitao, also a colleague of Li Guizhi and the one who made the connection, nodded at Lu Zhanye without saying much.
“Comrade Lin Wan, let me briefly explain,” Yu Hongmei said as they walked. “The factory isn’t large—two workshops: spinning and weaving. The finance office only has three people: Supervisor Wang, me, and Sister Li. I handle payroll and benefits, and Sister Li manages warehouse accounts.”
Lin Wan listened carefully, remembering every word.
“The interviewer today is Supervisor Wang. He’s strict but reasonable. As long as your skills are solid, he won’t make things difficult. Relax and just do your best,” Yu Hongmei added.
As they spoke, they reached the finance office.
Yu Hongmei knocked on the door.
“Come in.”
Inside was a small office. Three desks stood by the window, and two metal filing cabinets were in the corner. A man in his forties wearing glasses sat behind the central desk, reading documents.
“Supervisor Wang, this is Comrade Lin Wan,” Yu Hongmei introduced.
Wang raised his head, his sharp gaze assessing Lin Wan. Lin Wan stood straight, meeting his eyes without flinching.
“You’re Lin Wan?” he asked, taking out a sheet of paper. “High school graduate?”
“Yes.”
“This is the test paper. Take a look and answer it. One hour time limit.” He pushed it forward. “If you pass, we’ll process your onboarding immediately. If not…”
He didn’t finish, but the meaning was clear.
Lin Wan took the paper and sat at the empty desk beside her. Yu Hongmei handed her a pen and poured a glass of water beside her before returning to her seat.
The test was not difficult. The first half consisted of basic arithmetic—addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, percentage calculations, and simple account balancing. The second half contained application problems simulating factory payroll and cost accounting.
Lin Wan took a deep breath and began.
The pen scratched softly across the paper. Sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating the test sheet. The office was quiet except for the sound of Supervisor Wang flipping documents and Sister Li tapping an abacus.
Lin Wan became fully immersed. The problems were indeed not difficult for her. In her past life, she had handled far more complex reports. But in this era, a high school graduate who could complete this smoothly was already considered excellent.
Forty minutes later, she put down her pen.
“Supervisor Wang, I’m finished.”
He looked up, slightly surprised. “So fast?”
He walked over and carefully reviewed the paper. His initially serious expression gradually relaxed, and he finally nodded.
“Not bad,” he said. “Handwriting is neat, calculations are accurate, thinking is clear. Especially these application problems—you did very well.”
He turned to Yu Hongmei. “Take her to handle the onboarding. I’ll notify HR. This month, you and she will share a full-month salary. Next month, she officially takes your place.”