"Oh! Xiao Jiang is finally back!"
"She's doing great at home! She looks a bit plumper; she used to be a little thin, but now she looks even prettier!"
"How did Comrade Jiang do on the exam? Are you confident?"
On his first day back at work, Jiangci was surrounded by his colleagues from the European division.
She answered with a smile, "Not bad. I also think I've gained a little weight. Do I look better now?"
"It's alright, at least I didn't disappoint the leaders! But the results aren't out yet, so whether I'll succeed depends on the exam scores."
Her colleagues gathered around and asked, "Have you filled out your college application yet? Which school did you choose?"
"I applied to Peking University, China University of Political Science and Law, and Huazhong University of Science and Technology. We'll see which school accepts me."
A colleague who had returned from studying abroad offered her advice: "Those are all very good schools. Study multiple majors, such as law, key languages, and international economics and trade. If you can go to university, you should study all of these!"
"Isn't the minister's younger brother a law professor at Peking University? Xiao Jiang, if you get into Peking University, you can take that old professor's class. He used to be the Premier's assistant, a very capable gentleman!"
Jiang Ci nodded repeatedly, indicating that she had remembered their words and that if she passed the exam, she would definitely visit the old gentleman.
Jiang Ci, who had just returned to work, began to adjust a few days ago. Director Chai saw that she had the energy to do other things in addition to maintaining her previous work status, so he asked her to familiarize herself with the work of the Information Department.
The staff of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are required to rotate positions; it doesn't mean that Jiangci has to work in the European Department for the rest of its life.
She will need to spend two to three years abroad to familiarize herself with diplomatic settings overseas.
Jiang Ci had worked in this department for over a year, so she naturally knew that Director Chai had arranged for her to work in the Information Department, which she gladly accepted.
...
After get off work, Zhou Mingli went to see Shen Conghe again.
When Shen Conghe saw Zhou Mingli, she asked in surprise, "You're not still selling review materials, are you?"
Zhou Mingli laughed and said, "I'm not selling it anymore. But a friend of mine is having some trouble at home, so I gave this job to him and let him go to another place to do it."
Shen Conghe was not an inflexible person, and Zhou Mingli was a trustworthy person. When he said this, Shen Conghe nodded and said, "You should remind him to be careful."
“Okay.” Zhou Mingli took out a cloth bag from his pocket and handed it to Shen Conghe. “This matter has become his sole responsibility, so I can’t interfere too much. I just told him that the money for the intellectual property rights needs to be paid.”
"There's a thousand yuan in here, Brother Chen, you keep an eye on it."
Upon hearing this, Shen Conghe's expression turned serious. "Put it away! Don't give me any more money!"
"You already gave me over seven hundred, that's enough!"
"Besides, those materials were just compiled by me for your partner to study. They were originally a gift to you both, so how could I possibly charge you any more money!"
"Mingli, if you keep doing this, I'm not going to stay with you anymore!"
“I understand the logic, Brother Shen. Our families don't need these formalities.” Zhou Mingli forcefully shoved the money into his hand, lowering his voice, “This money should have been yours anyway.”
Shen Conghe understood what Zhou Mingli meant when he touched the thick cloth bag full of "Great Unity" coins.
“You…sigh!” Shen Conghe sighed.
“It seems we can’t do this job now, but who knows when the policy will change? Brother Chen, if you help me organize the review materials again, I guarantee we’ll earn more money than this.” Zhou Mingli smiled calmly.
Shen Conghe grunted and frowned. "What you said is quite right."
Although the college entrance examination is now open, accommodating those unemployed educated youth, what will happen after a large number of college students graduate?
We can't just keep letting them wander around outside, can we?
"The policy hasn't been implemented yet, so you have to be careful in everything you do!" Shen Conghe warned Zhou Mingli.
Zhou Mingli smiled faintly and nodded slightly.
He gave Shen Conghe a thousand yuan in one go, which was equivalent to monopolizing the intellectual property rights of the review materials.
Of course, there was little awareness of intellectual property rights in those days.
However, every time Xu San sells a book, he needs to give Zhou Mingli a share of the profits.
These are the clearly written clauses in the contract that Xu San and he wrote together before Xu San left.
Whether he can earn back the thousand yuan he gave to Shen Conghe depends on whether Xu San can make money.
Zhou Mingli knew that Xu San's father was paralyzed by epilepsy and had not improved much.
He saw Xu San paying for his usual medicines at the hospital, followed him over, and that's how he learned about Xu San's family situation.
Xu San was detained by the security guards at the printing factory for three days. He could have been released if he had confessed that Zhou Mingli had sent him to inquire about something, but Xu San refused. He endured it for three days until the security guards gave up and finally released him.
Only after considering both matters did Zhou Mingli release some of the items he had to Xu San.
Otherwise, given Zhou Mingli's cautious nature, he would never have so easily handed over this kind of business to Xu San.
The Zhou family had a very good New Year in 1978 and 1979.
After the holiday started, Zhou Mingli did not have much work to do except help Chef Mo at a few leaders' homes. He stayed at home with Jiang Ci to prepare for the New Year.
Last year, Huang Zheyue broke her leg and couldn't help much. This year, as soon as she had a holiday, she asked Zhou Mingli if there was anything he could do.
When buying cabbages, he volunteered to bring them home; when cutting meat, he pushed his bicycle and assured everyone he could do it himself.
When Zhou Mingli went to buy a coal briquette, he could also say that he would go find a cart himself.
When Zhou Mingli returned, he complained to Jiang Ci that Huang Zheyue's presence was too strong this year.
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