"Go and invite your grandfather back later, and tell him that Sister Mianmian needs to speak with him. I'll take the basket home first."

"OK"

"Mianmian is here. I just heard Qiu say that you need to see the old man."

"Yes, Grandpa Gu."

"What is it? Speak."

"Here's the thing, I went to the county town today to visit my dad's former comrade-in-arms, and I happened to hear that there was a job opening."

"Work? What kind of work?" Grandma Gu asked in surprise.

"Salesperson at the supply and marketing cooperative"

"This, this, old man..."

"Mianmian, I wonder where your father's comrade-in-arms works in the county town?" Grandpa Gu, still somewhat rational, asked.

"He works at the county public security bureau; that's Director Zhou Jianbin, Uncle Zhou."

"You know the police chief?"

"Yes, I know him. I know not only the director of the Public Security Bureau, but also Director Ma of the post office. He said my mother saved his life."

Just like Uncle Zhou said, we need to mention these powerful and influential people to the Gu family so they'll think twice. They can't treat the life-saving grace as unimportant just because their parents sacrificed themselves.

Upon hearing that the person she was visiting was the head of the Public Security Bureau, they knew the job opening was real, and quickly asked, "Mianmian, do you know how much this job costs?"

"I don't know. Aunt Zhou didn't say. Uncle Zhou said that if Grandpa Gu and you want to know, you can go to the police station to find him tomorrow."

"Alright, I understand. Mianmian, thank you so much. Whether it works out or not, I'll have Grandma Gu give you a generous thank-you gift."

"No need, Grandpa Gu."

"Thanks should be given where due."

"Alright then, Grandpa Gu won't stand on ceremony with you."

"You are welcome"

"I'll head back now, it's getting late."

"Would you like to stay for dinner?"

"No need, Grandpa Gu."

"Oh well"

"Excuse me, please wait a moment."

He left after saying that. Whether he favors boys over girls is evident from his behavior. I don't know how Grandpa Gu usually calls Gu Cuicui, but when he calls Liqiu, he calls her "Qiu Yatou" (Little Qiu). Don't underestimate this seemingly insignificant nickname; it shows he doesn't really like his granddaughter. I wonder if he'll agree when he hears about needing 600 yuan to buy a job. However, considering how much he's supported Gu Cuicui's education over the years, he'll probably use that money. After all these years, she needs to get a job in the city; otherwise, he'll lose face, and all the extravagance this year will be for nothing.

A few days later, I heard that the brigade leader's daughter was going to work at the county supply and marketing cooperative.

From the letter Uncle Zhou brought back by Grandpa Huang, I learned what had happened. In the end, the job was bought for 560 yuan. That's no small sum, and considering the recent rumors circulating in the village, it seems the money was pooled together by several families.

I had originally planned to have the Gu family practice military boxing with them if they allowed it, but it seems I should give up on that idea. We can discuss the development of the brigade with the Gu family later. As for improving people's living standards and promoting the development of the brigade members, let's just forget about it and avoid causing trouble later.

Fortunately, I had exchanged some mountain produce with Grandma Gu a few days ago. She said there wasn't much brown sugar and I wouldn't be able to exchange it many times. I should just go to the mountains to collect it myself in the future, otherwise the risk would be too great.

And so, we gradually maintained a distant yet close relationship with the Gu family, which saved us some trouble, didn't it?

However, Chen Enpeng and Chen Junjie continued whispering among themselves for a while.

"Pengzi, what's going on? Mianmian's relationship with the Gu family isn't as good as it was when she first arrived."

"Isn't good or bad something mutual?"

What does that mean?

"The other day, Mianmian came back from the county town and visited the Gu family. Less than three days later, word came from the Gu family that Gu Cuicui had found a job in the county town and said she would start working after the exams. Tell me, who found that job?"

"Isn't that obvious, Mianmian? Shouldn't we be thanking Mianmian?"

"But you see, only Old Madam Gu thanked Mianmian; none of the other members of the four branches of the Gu family thanked her."

Why is that?

"Do you think a job costs little? In this rural area, even if an adult doesn't eat or drink, they only earn twenty or thirty yuan a year. This job must cost at least five or six hundred yuan. It'll probably empty several families' savings."

"Well, you can't blame Mianmian for that!"

"That's what you understand, but what about what you don't? They'll resent Mianmian for making them pay."

"But we didn't see them do anything to Mianmian."

"I haven't done anything special, I'm just not as enthusiastic as before."

"That's true, and what else?"

"Also, Mianmian definitely has someone behind her, and someone powerful at that."

"Aren't those her parents' comrades-in-arms behind Mianmian?"

"Yes, comrades-in-arms? But do you know where their comrades-in-arms are now? They can't all be in the military region. Those who stayed in the military region are capable and can't be here for the time being. But those comrades who were transferred to civilian jobs, their whereabouts are uncertain."

"Too"

I wonder if Mianmian is sad or not.

"Don't worry about that. Haven't you seen how Mianmian doesn't take these things seriously? She still finishes her work early every day and goes into the mountains to find food. It's either wood ear mushrooms, mushrooms, or wild fruits. A couple of days ago, she even traded with Grandpa Huang in the village for two goslings to keep for eggs and to guard the house."

"You're right. By the way, would you like to raise goslings?"

"Let's raise them. The yard is empty, let's raise some. Anyway, it'll be more convenient to get eggs later, and we won't always have to buy from the villagers. This isn't a long-term solution."

"Okay, I'll raise one too."

"Since you're raising them too, ask Mianmian how you traded them with Grandma Huang, and if you have any more at home."

"OK."

"You two are going to raise geese."

"Yes, is there a problem?"

"Can you do it?"

"No, isn't that what you're here for?" Chen Junjie said.

"Actually, raising geese is easier than raising chickens, and geese don't get sick much and are easy to raise."

"That's good. We were worried we might kill them," Chen Junjie said.

"Geese are easy to raise, similar to raising chickens; you just need to chop the vegetables and other food into smaller pieces."

"It's alright."

"Go back and tell Grandma Huang that they still have a few goslings they're thinking of selling."

"Then I'll have to trouble you, Mianmian."

"What's the trouble? We're all neighbors, aren't we?"

"That's true, we're neighbors now."

"Report, Deputy Division Commander Shen, your package and letter have arrived."

"OK, thanks"

"Old Shen, your children have written a letter."

"I don't know, maybe."

"Deputy Division Commander Shen, these are your three letters, all sent from Fusong. Oh, and these two large packages as well."