The only sound in the room was Lu Fangfang brushing the cordyceps.

Mrs. Zhuang sat at the table, expressionless, quietly watching Lu Fangfang work; she was very composed.

Time passed slowly, and soon it was 11 p.m.

At this time, most people in the family compound were already asleep, but their lights were still on.

Lu Fangfang yawned and finally finished brushing all the cordyceps.

With Xiaohua's help today, she dug up quite a lot, probably almost a pound. Once she sells it to the state-run pharmacy in the city, it will fetch another twenty yuan.

In a good mood, she picked up the sleeping snow leopard cub in her arms and turned around to see Zhuang's mother.

Lu Fangfang: "..."

It's clear this person is in good health; they've stayed up this long and aren't even that sleepy.

"Comrade Lu, are you done with your work now?"

"Um."

Lu Fangfang nodded, picked up Xiaohua, gently placed her on the chair, and then turned and walked over.

She pulled out a chair and solemnly sat down opposite Zhuang's mother.

"Auntie, please just say what you want to say."

Mrs. Zhuang adjusted her large glasses. "Comrade Lu, I can tell you are a very hardworking person, but you and Mingcheng are not a good match."

"Auntie, I..."

"Don't interrupt me. Let me finish speaking before you make a decision."

Mrs. Zhuang got up, walked to her suitcase, bent down, and took out a file folder.

She sat down at the table again, opened the file bag, took out a piece of paper, and placed it on the table in front of Lu Fangfang.

"This is a letter of introduction from Beijing Red Star Textile Factory. If you agree, you can write your name on it, and from then on, you will be an employee of Beijing Red Star Textile Factory."

Lu Fangfang was stunned for a moment. Why did this scene seem so familiar? It was as if she had seen it somewhere before.

Curious, she picked up the letter of introduction from the table and looked at it carefully.

"Red Star Textile Factory, hiss..."

Looking at the bright red seal on the letter of introduction, Lu Fangfang was certain that Mrs. Zhuang was not joking.

"Auntie, what do I do after I start working at the factory?"

A smile appeared on Zhuang's mother's face. She said calmly, "It depends on the specific allocation. But don't worry, Hongxing Textile Factory is a large factory with more than 20,000 employees, and the benefits are very good."

Lu Fangfang took the letter of introduction, shook her head slightly, and put it back on the table.

Workers were indeed well-treated back then...

Let alone workers, as long as one can enter the city and become a city dweller, one can eat commercial grain, which is the dream of many people, but she still doesn't want to go.

She didn't want to work regular hours at the factory every day; she didn't want to be managed by others all the time.

She would rather cultivate more wasteland in the family compound, raise more poultry, and dig for more caterpillar fungus in the snowy mountains...

"Auntie, thank you for your kindness, but I'm perfectly fine here."

The smile on Mrs. Zhuang's face immediately vanished. She glanced at the letter of introduction on the table and then at Lu Fangfang.

"This is the Red Star Textile Factory in Beijing. Little girl, do you know Beijing? Do you know how prosperous Beijing is?"

Before Lu Fangfang could reply, Zhuang's mother excitedly said, "Beijing, the capital of our country, has the largest department store in the country in Wangfujing."

"Bicycles, radios, sewing machines, leather shoes, beautiful clothes, delicious food—you can find all kinds of goods in the department store."

"And there's the Forbidden City, the Great Wall, the Temple of Heaven, and..."

As she spoke, Mrs. Zhuang glanced at Lu Fangfang.

"By the way, as long as you go, the factory will arrange housing and household registration for you, and you will be a Beijing resident from now on."

"In the capital, you don't need coupons to buy meat, eggs, pastries, chicken, duck, or fish..."

Lu Fangfang listened quietly.

To be honest, she really wanted to go and see what the capital city was like in this era.

At this time, many sections of the city wall must still be standing, right? It must have been quite a sight.

Seeing that Mrs. Zhuang continued to introduce the capital, Lu Fangfang politely did not interrupt.

It was already late at night, and after a while, she couldn't help but yawn, covering her mouth.

She wiped away her tears; she really wanted to sleep.

Zhuang’s mother: “…”

She picked up the enamel mug on the table, took a small sip, then looked at Lu Fangfang and asked, "Comrade Lu, what's your decision?"

Lu Fangfang said sincerely, "Auntie, I still don't want to go. I just want to stay in this small place right now."

"Auntie, it's getting late. Why don't you get some rest?"

After saying that, Lu Fangfang yawned again.

She got up at six o'clock this morning and is really sleepy now.

Zhuang’s mother: “…”

She took a deep breath, reached for the letter of introduction on the table, and slowly put it into the file bag.

Even a Beijing residency permit didn't tempt the young girl; she felt this was quite a problem and realized she needed to find another way.

"It seems you're quite infatuated with my son, but I still don't think it's a good match for you, Comrade Lu. You should think it over carefully. Staying here won't be good for either you or Mingcheng."

Hearing this, Lu Fangfang couldn't help but say, "Auntie, I'm really happy with this place and don't want to leave."

Mrs. Zhuang shook her head, not believing it at all.

Compared to Beijing, no normal person would say they are satisfied with this place.

“Auntie, let me be frank. If you’re really not satisfied with me, talk to Mingcheng. If he thinks I’m not suitable, I’ll leave immediately and I won’t cling to your son.”

Lu Fangfang was really sleepy and didn't want to beat around the bush anymore.

She stood up, looked at Mrs. Zhuang, and said with a smile, "But if you force me to leave on my own, that's impossible. Mingcheng and I are already like this, I have to take responsibility, right? Otherwise people will say I'm being a scoundrel, and that's not a good reputation."

Zhuang's mother was so angry that her liver ached.

Being a hooligan? Who's being a hooligan? She's not stupid; of course she understood the implication.

Well, this little brat is actually threatening her with Mingcheng.

But for the time being, she really had no other choice.

Lu Fangfang couldn't help but yawn again.

Seeing that her mother was glaring at her, she simply called out, "Mom, it's getting late, you should get some rest."

She walked to the double bed on the west side, straightened the blankets, and changed the pillowcase.

As for bed sheets and duvet covers, her family doesn't have those.

"Mom, this is where I used to sleep. Please don't mind, you can sleep here tonight."

"Shameless! Don't call me Mom!"

Lu Fangfang pursed her lips, really wanting to just call her "Auntie," no, "meddlesome mom."

...