Chapter 69 - 24: "I Can

Chapter 69: Chapter 24: "I Can

The brigade leader had seen all sorts of people. How could he not see what they were thinking? He raised his voice and said, "Let the old educated youth tell you why."

Leaving them with that, he ignored the troublesome bunch and went to see to the double-rush harvest.

As the brigade leader was heading to the fields, he ran into Father Gu.

"Old Gu, I never thought your family would produce another person with an iron rice bowl. My father always said you were a man of great fortune, and he wasn’t wrong at all!"

Father Gu was taken aback. "Are you talking to me?"

"Who else?" The brigade leader saw his utterly baffled expression and asked in surprise, "You mean you don’t know?"

"What should I know?"

The brigade leader said, "Chenghuai’s wife is about to become a salesperson at the supply and marketing cooperative. You haven’t heard?!"

Father Gu felt as if his head had been struck by something; he was completely stunned. Just as he was about to speak, Mother Gu beat him to it. "Brigade Leader, what did you just say? Da Zai’s mother is becoming a salesperson at the supply and marketing cooperative?"

"She came to me for a letter of introduction. She’s already left for the county seat," the brigade leader said.

"Oh, my goodness!" Mother Gu slapped her thigh in excitement. "She didn’t breathe a word about this to us."

This was a huge deal. Mother Gu was beside herself, trotting off to find Da Zai and Er Zai.

Father Gu was curious too. A job, after all! He mumbled a word to the brigade leader and ran after his wife.

The brigade leader understood. For country folk, opportunities to change one’s fate were few and far between.

Such a wonderful event was certainly cause for celebration!

A fire lit up inside Zhao Liuniang. She looked at Huang Xiulan and asked, "Eldest Sister-in-law, what do you think... is it true, or just a rumor?"

"It’s probably true," Huang Xiulan said.

"The third son’s wife cares a lot about her reputation. She wouldn’t make a big scene over something uncertain. If she got the letter of introduction, it means she’s almost certain she’s got it."

"So that means our family is going to have a formal worker! And a salesperson at the supply and marketing cooperative, no less! This brings so much honor to the family!" Zhao Liuniang said joyfully.

Huang Xiulan wrung her hands, her heart a tangle of emotions.

’The third son’s wife is so incredibly lucky!’

"It’s a shame the family’s already been divided."

’They won’t see a single benefit from this. Not a one.’

The joy on Zhao Liuniang’s face faded for a moment, but she brightened up again almost instantly. "Even though the family’s divided, we’re still one family deep down. With the third son’s wife working at the cooperative, it’ll be more convenient for us to buy things."

"I heard the cooperative sometimes has defective goods they sell without needing ration coupons. We can ask our third sister-in-law to help us out, and maybe we can get some nice things for the house."

A thermos, for example, or something of the sort.

Huang Xiulan composed herself and said with a smile, "That’s true. The third branch’s good fortune is theirs. We won’t be envious."

Zhao Liuniang said, "Oh, I’m envious. It’s a great job—who wouldn’t be? But I’m envious, not bitter. Bangbang’s father and I are able-bodied and hardworking. Our lives will keep getting better."

Huang Xiulan nodded. "That’s true."

Mother Gu ran to the children’s usual play spot and bellowed, "Da Zai! Er Zai!"

Hearing their grandma’s voice, the two boys looked up, their little faces—now half a shade fairer—splattered with mud.

When they saw their grandparents, they wiped their faces with the backs of their hands and scampered over to Mother Gu.

"Grandpa, Grandma, why were you calling for me and my brother?" Fearing a scolding, Er Zai flashed a grin, looking utterly adorable.

"Your mother is going to be a salesperson at the supply and marketing cooperative, isn’t she?" Mother Gu asked impatiently.

Er Zai blinked his big eyes and asked back, "How did you know, Grandma?"

"How else would I know? Your mother went to get a letter of introduction, and the brigade leader told your grandpa and me." After a brief explanation, Mother Gu asked impatiently, "So, is your mother really becoming a salesperson at the cooperative? Is this what you sorted out in the county seat yesterday? What’s going on? Spit it out, the suspense is killing me!"

Da Zai, who was calmer and more articulate, explained logically, "Dad helped find the job, but Mom only got the chance because she’s a high school graduate. She went for a test this morning and was worried she wouldn’t pass, so she didn’t tell you, Grandma."

He even knew to make excuses for his mother.

"So there was a test," Mother Gu said nervously.

Da Zai nodded. "Yes. She can only become a salesperson if she passes the test."

Mother Gu pressed her palms together, silently murmuring a prayer.

’Jade Emperor, Queen Mother, please, please let my third daughter-in-law pass!’

She didn’t make a sound, but Father Gu could guess what she was thinking. He glanced around, and seeing that no one was watching, decided not to spoil her moment.

Only after she finished her muttering did Father Gu remind her, "It’s time to get to work."

Mother Gu snapped back to reality. She rubbed her face, waking herself up completely. "Right, right. Time to get to work."

When they got to the fields, she was too distracted to focus on her work.

Huang Xiulan and Zhao Liuniang wanted to ask about it but didn’t dare.

Meanwhile, Gu Xing’er had gone out early to gather firewood. As she was returning to the village, a bundle of wood on her back, she overheard someone say that Lin Zhao was about to become a salesperson at the supply and marketing cooperative. The firewood bundle dropped from her back. She lunged toward the gossiping villagers, her eyes blazing with fury.