Lin Wan felt a weight lift off her chest.
Yu Hongmei stood up with a smile. “Let’s go, Comrade Lin Wan.”
Once they left the finance office, Yu Hongmei’s attitude became noticeably warmer. “Congratulations! Supervisor Wang rarely agrees so quickly. You really did answer well.”
“Thank you, Sister Yu.” Lin Wan said, taking out the introduction letter she had brought—delivered early that morning by Lu Guangcai, stamped with the brigade’s red seal, along with her household registration transfer certificate.
The personnel office was right next door. Yu Hongmei was clearly familiar with it and went straight to the HR officer, Old Liu.
“Section Chief Liu, this is our new accountant, Lin Wan. Supervisor Wang has already interviewed her and approved her hiring.”
Old Liu took the letter and looked it over, then glanced at Lin Wan. “So young? Can she handle it?”
“If Supervisor Wang approved her, what do you think?” Yu Hongmei replied with a smile.
Old Liu asked no further questions and handed her a stack of forms.
Lin Wan filled them out carefully—name, age, birthplace, education level, family background… each stroke written with seriousness.
After she finished, Old Liu explained the factory rules: work starts at 8 a.m., ends at 5 p.m., with a one-and-a-half-hour lunch break. Wages are paid on the 10th of each month, accounts are closed at the end of the month. Monthly salary was 40 yuan, plus grain coupons, cloth coupons, and other benefits. Occasionally, defective fabric would be sold off cheaply, and office staff had priority to buy it.
“You start officially tomorrow,” Old Liu said. “Today, just get familiar with things alongside Accountant Yu.”
After leaving HR, Yu Hongmei brought Lin Wan back to the finance office. Supervisor Wang had already left, so only the two of them remained.
“I’ll explain our work to you,” Yu Hongmei said, opening the ledger. “I mainly calculate wages. Each workshop submits attendance sheets at the end of the month. We calculate base pay based on attendance days, plus piecework bonuses. Workshop managers submit reports, we verify them, compile the payroll, send it to Supervisor Wang for approval, then withdraw the money and distribute wages.”
She flipped through the book as she spoke.
“This side is handled by Sister Li in the warehouse—tracking fabric and yarn in and out. We mainly reconcile accounts with her to ensure everything matches.”
Lin Wan listened carefully, nodding from time to time.
“You don’t need to rush at first. I’ll guide you for half a month,” Yu Hongmei said. “Ask me anytime if you don’t understand anything. Supervisor Wang is strict, but as long as you do your job well, he won’t say much.”
She glanced at the clock. “Almost eleven. Go home early today. Come at eight tomorrow morning. I’ll walk you through everything for a day, and you can start trying the work the day after.”
“Okay, thank you, Sister Yu.”
They left the finance office together. The sunlight outside was bright; young green leaves had sprouted on the poplar trees in the courtyard. The sound of machines rumbled from the workshops, faintly mixed with the smell of cotton yarn.
At the factory gate, Lin Wan suddenly remembered something and took out a red paper-wrapped bundle from her pocket—inside was 100 yuan.
“Sister Yu, here is 100 yuan. I’ll bring the remaining 400 tomorrow.”
Yu Hongmei accepted it and nodded. “Alright. Just bring it tomorrow. From now on, we’re colleagues—work hard.”
“Mm!”
..
Outside the factory gate, Lu Zhanye had been waiting for almost three hours.
He squatted against the wall across the road, eyes fixed on the gate. Every time it opened, he looked up—only to be disappointed each time.
His heart felt like it was filled with a restless rabbit.
Just as he was worrying, the gate opened again. Lin Wan walked out with Yu Hongmei.
The moment he saw the smile on her face and her light steps, his heart finally relaxed.
It was done.
Yu Hongmei said a few more words to Lin Wan before returning inside. Lin Wan turned and saw Lu Zhanye, then walked quickly toward him.
“How was it?” he asked, his voice carrying an uncharacteristic tension.
Lin Wan looked at him, eyes bright. “I passed. I start work tomorrow.”
Lu Zhanye exhaled deeply, a wide smile breaking across his face. He grabbed her hand tightly. “I knew you could do it!”
They walked side by side. The sunlight was warm, the streets lively, but Lin Wan saw only the man beside her and the joy swelling in her heart.
“Supervisor Wang said I did really well and approved me on the spot,” she said softly. “Forty yuan a month, plus ration coupons. Sometimes there’s leftover fabric for employees to buy.”
“Great,” Lu Zhanye said. “You won’t have to work in the fields anymore.”
“Mm.” She nodded, then remembered something. “I paid 100 yuan first. I’ll bring the remaining 400 tomorrow.”
“Money isn’t the issue,” he said. “Getting the job is what matters.”
They passed the supply and marketing cooperative in the town center when Lu Zhanye suddenly said, “Wait.”
He went inside and bought half a jin of candy and two packets of pastries.
When he came out, he pressed the candy into her hand. “Eat. Celebrate.”
Lin Wan peeled one and put it in her mouth. The sweetness spread from her tongue into her heart.
On the way back to the village, they walked lightly.
Passing the old courtyard, Lu Zhanye said, “Let’s tell Father and Mother first.”
Wang Xiuying was airing quilts in the yard. Seeing them return, she hurried over. “How did it go?”
“Passed!” Lu Zhanye said proudly. “Wan’er starts work tomorrow!”
“Ahh! Wonderful!” Wang Xiuying slapped her thigh, grinning ear to ear. “I said she could do it! Education really makes a difference!”
Lu Guangcai came out from the house and smiled as well. “Work hard. Don’t embarrass the Lu family.”
“Yes, Dad,” Lin Wan replied seriously.
That evening, the news had already spread. The whole family gathered for dinner, livelier than New Year’s Eve.
Wang Xiuying even slaughtered a chicken and stewed it until tender. Everyone kept serving Lin Wan food.
“You’re a worker now!” Lu Xiangjun laughed. “Sister-in-law, work hard!”
“Mm!” Lin Wan nodded firmly.
After dinner, night had fallen. Lu Zhanye and Lin Wan walked home under a bright moon and sparkling stars.
“I’ll send you to work tomorrow,” he said. “From now on, I’ll take you in the morning and pick you up in the afternoon.”
“It’s not necessary,” she said. “I can manage on my own.”
“It’s not trouble,” he said, holding her hand. “I want to.”
Lin Wan felt warmth in her heart and didn’t refuse again.
Back home, they washed up and lay down. After the lamp was blown out, the room fell into darkness.
Lin Wan lay there listening to his steady breathing, her heart full.
Tomorrow, she would begin work at the textile factory.
No longer a field laborer, but a formal worker with a real job.
A completely new beginning.
And this path had been paved by the man beside her—and this warm home they built together.
“Zhanye,” she called softly in the dark.
“Mm?”
“Thank you.”
Lu Zhanye turned and pulled her into his arms. “Between husband and wife, there’s no need to say thank you.”
Lin Wan leaned against his chest and closed her eyes.