Chen Ke went inside, put his things down, and sat down at the dining table. Chen Zhi groggily opened his eyes and glanced at him. He instinctively tried to get up, but then he thought that he had to go to work too, so what was there to be afraid of? He then lay back down on the bed with a clear conscience.

Chen Yu entered the house with a unease in her heart and stood silently to the side.

Two days ago, he was all boss and boss, but now he's all anxious and uneasy, like a little animal that's always worried about being abandoned.

"Did you hear what I just said?" Chen Ke asked.

Chen Yu kept her head down. After listening to Chen Ke's words, a tear fell to the ground, leaving a small dot on the dry cement.

She was very anxious, wondering if her brother would listen to Aunt Liu.

Chen Yu had never felt so afraid and uneasy before, not even when she learned of her parents' death. At that time, her older brother held her tightly, making her feel safe and warm. She thought that she still had her older brother, so there was nothing to be afraid of.

From then on, her older brother doted on her every day. At that time, she felt that even if she lost her parents, her life would not change. She had her older brother's love, she had everything that others had, and she also had things that others did not have.

As she grew older, what she wanted was no longer just candy and hair clips, but pretty dresses and a movie ticket that everyone envied. Even then, her older brother would hesitate.

Whenever this happens, she only needs to cry and say that she has never had a father or mother since she was a child, while everyone else has one, and her older brother will hug her with heartache and agree to anything she asks.

Two days ago, her older brother suddenly seemed like a different person. He no longer went along with her in everything and stopped spoiling her.

Chen Yucai suddenly realized that when her older brother was no longer threatened by those words, she would be nothing. It was her excessive demands that had worn away the bond between them, which was why her older brother was now treating her so coldly and ruthlessly.

Now, maybe my older brother will listen to others' advice, drop out of school early, come back to learn housework, and just marry anyone when he reaches a certain age...

Chen Yu, who was thinking this, heard Chen Ke say, "As long as you still want to study seriously, continue, and study as far as you can."

!!

Chen Yu suddenly looked up, her red-rimmed eyes filled with shock. "Really? I can continue my studies?"

Chen Ke nodded. "Unless you don't want to study."

"I want to continue my studies!" Chen Yu said excitedly.

Chen Zhi, lying on the bed, rolled his eyes. "Silly little sister, what's so fun about studying? Besides, isn't this just giving your older brother another weakness? Now she has to do whatever her older brother says."

Chen Ke picked up his lunchbox bag and said, "If you want to study, you have to work hard. High school isn't easy to get into."

Watching Chen Ke's departing figure, Chen Yu clenched her fists. "Don't worry, big brother, I'll try my best!" Even if it's just to avoid getting married too early, she will try her best!

There was a girl in their school who was forced to marry someone by her parents. I heard that she married a man who was more than ten years older than her for the sake of food. Once, I accidentally saw her on the street with my classmates. She no longer had the youthful vitality she once had. Her eyes were lifeless and her face was haggard.

His gaunt and haggard appearance left a deep impression on Chen Yu. She didn't want to get married so early, and she didn't want to be forced to get married for any other reason.

"Idiot!" Chen Zhi sat up abruptly and sneered.

Chen Yu glared at him and said angrily, "You're the one who's stupid!" Then she went to the kitchen to cook.

While waiting for his meal on the bed, Chen Zhi thought to himself that he should visit his old buddies who had dropped out of school today and also try to find out if there were any easy jobs he could do.

As soon as Chen Ke stepped into the textile factory gate, Gao Jin, who had been waiting for him, called out, "Chen Ke, over here."

Chen Ke walked over. "Officer Gao? Is something the matter?"

Gao Jin smiled mysteriously, "Yes, guess what it is?"

As Chen Ke walked towards the canteen, he added, "The director went to the chairman of the steel plant's union to discuss the grain exchange, and they readily agreed?"

Gao Jin looked astonished. "You're amazing! How could you guess that?"

"I was lucky," Chen Ke said with a smile.

"This isn't luck at all. It's clearly because you're smart. I really think you're very smart, so why didn't you continue your studies? Instead, you became a textile worker. I'm not saying textile workers are bad, it's just that it doesn't seem to fit you at all."

"Life has a million possibilities. Is there anything else, Officer Gao? If not, I'm going to the cafeteria for lunch."

"That's all, that's all. I was just trying to make you happy. The director and the others took your advice. If we really get the grain back, we'll definitely give you a reward for such a great achievement. But you're so indifferent."

"You can be happy once you get it back. Goodbye then."

Gao Jin waved and walked towards the union office.

Chen Ke ate his usual bowl of porridge and a cornbread, counting the remaining food coupons in his bag. He began to look forward to payday…

He thought it would be another morning of listening to Wang Jingjiang nag about work, but Gao Jin actually came to the workshop to find him around 11 o'clock.

"Why is the union representative looking for Chen Ke again?"

"I don't know. Last time, another staff member came to ask for leave for Chen Ke. When did Chen Ke get such a good relationship with the union?"

"Phew, is Chen Ke going to be transferred to work at the labor union?"

"No way, Chen Ke didn't even finish high school, how could he go to the union? The union members are all at least high school graduates."

······

Hearing the whispers around him, Chen Ke walked out with a calm expression.

"What happened, Officer Gao?"

"It's like this, Chen Ke—" Gao Jin was about to speak when he noticed out of the corner of his eye that a group of women in the workshop were craning their necks to look in their direction. Helpless, Gao Jin could only pull Chen Ke away from the workshop.

"Here's the thing, National Day is coming soon, and the factory has a number of outstanding employee slots. Director Feng gave one to you, and also wants to report on your deeds to encourage workers to be more proactive."

Originally, Director Feng was supposed to write this article himself, but he was busy with the grain exchange matter, so he entrusted it to me.

"So now you...?"

"That's why I'm here to interview you now. Although Director Feng gave me some notes, they're not comprehensive. To better write your story, Comrade Chen, you'll have to cooperate."

Chen Ke: "Then let's wait until after get off work. We're leaving get off work soon."

Gao Jin shook his head, "No need, no need. I've already informed your factory. Let's talk in our office."

Chen Ke was pulled away by Gao Jin, and only when he got to the office did he realize why Gao Jin insisted on interviewing him right then and there.

There was a radio on the table. Gao Jin, like a thief, closed the door and pulled Chen Ke aside, saying, "Chen Ke, take a look, can you fix this?"