167. Full of adventurous spirit
As Jiang Guiying said, Guan Yuehe was like a horse that had broken free of its pen after her confinement period, and she could go to the supply and marketing cooperative and department store on Changhu Street twice a day.
According to Guan Yuehe, if the department store weren't so far away, she could go there every day.
But she didn't buy anything when she went out. After staying indoors for a while, she wanted to wander around in crowded places.
During this time, Li Xuelian came to visit and brought her back news from her workplace over the past month.
The only connection to Guan Yuehe is that she has gained another colleague.
But it was different from what she had previously learned from her superiors.
Li Xuelian was quite certain, "The new female colleague in your company was transferred from the head office of foreign trade and has many years of experience in foreign trade. On the contrary, our company has a student who just graduated from a foreign trade university."
Guan Yuehe nodded, thinking that this was a good idea, as their office was lacking people with experience in foreign trade.
Besides Li Xuelian, He Shuangshuang and Xie Dongxue also managed to squeeze in some time during their busy schedules to visit her home together.
One or two people said that Lin Ting's temper was like hers.
"My mom also said that Lin Ting has the same temper as me when I was a child." She said that Lin Ting is just like her when she was a child, not fond of making a fuss.
He Shuangshuang and Xie Dongxue exchanged a glance and both noticed the smile in each other's eyes.
"We mean that Lin Ting's love for this food is just like yours."
They all get very eager when it comes to food; once they're full, everything else is negotiable.
"Nonsense!" Guan Yuehe absolutely refused to admit it.
Mo Mingqi came with He Shuangshuang. Hearing the adults' words, he whispered in protest, "She looks most like Gu Yu."
His mother used to be busy preparing for the college entrance examination and would go to Aunt Yuehua for advice. So he would help Aunt Yuehua coax Guyu.
As soon as he arrived and saw Lin Ting from Aunt Yuehe's house, he realized that Lin Ting looked exactly like Gu Yu when she was a child.
He spoke softly, but the adults all heard him clearly.
Xie Dongxue laughed the loudest, and Mo Mingqi thought the adults were really baffling. Little did he know, the adults were referring to her quick temper while eating, not her appearance.
Mo Mingqi was sent to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy soda, and only then did the adults start talking about their own affairs.
He Shuangshuang shared her experience: "You can't say everything in front of children. They're too young to understand and might spread family matters. Even more so with my son Mo Mingqi, who's older. He's obedient and only listens to what he cares about. He doesn't ask adults for clarification and just keeps it to himself."
However, He Shuangshuang didn't plan to talk about the unpleasant things from her in-laws' side, so as not to upset them.
"The leader wants me to go down to the countryside for a few years to gain experience."
Guan Yuehe asked with certainty, "So you're already prepared?"
As far as He Shuangshuang was concerned, she wouldn't bring up something for no reason if she hadn't made up her mind to do it.
Xie Dongxue waved her hand and said, "Then let's go! After a few years of training, we can move up in the ranks. Wow, I'll have another avenue for advancement."
Guan Yuehe smiled and said, "You should write a report about her another day."
"I couldn't ask for more!"
Watching the two of them chatting and laughing, He Shuangshuang's mood instantly brightened.
She hadn't discussed this news with Mo Zhinan yet, and her family was even less reliable. She had kept it to herself for over a month, only revealing it to them today.
Yuehe is right. She is ready to begin the next phase of her career.
"Congratulations!" Guan Yuehe and Xie Dongxue offered their sincere congratulations.
He Shuangshuang mimicked Guan Yuehe's tone and said, "Let's encourage each other, Comrade Guan Yuehe and Comrade Xie Dongxue."
They started from the Zhuoyue Garment Factory, went to Peking University for two and a half years to study at the Workers, Peasants and Soldiers University, and now they are in different units, doing different jobs, but they have not stopped moving forward in their respective fields. They are particularly precious, like-minded comrades.
"To borrow a phrase from our factory director, we should exert as much effort as we have and climb as high as we can."
"...Did our factory manager say that?" I don't think I've heard that before.
"Well, that's pretty much the idea."
—
We chose a Sunday in mid-March, invited two families of relatives to Uncle Ming's small restaurant, set up three tables, and had a meal together to celebrate.
In addition to relatives, Guan Yuehe also invited Ding Xuewen and Xu Chengcai's family of four.
Lin Ting, fast asleep, had no idea that the adults were using her as an excuse to celebrate, and everyone ate to their hearts' content.
Gu Mannian suggested to Grandpa Ming: "Grandpa, why don't you open a restaurant that specializes in hosting banquets, like the Beijing Hotel? I guarantee your business will take off."
Grandpa Ming snorted, "This tiny, fly-infested restaurant is enough to keep me busy. Why would I open a new one? What a waste of my time."
Guan Canghai nodded in agreement.
So when Gu Mannian asked him if he wanted to get another hair perming machine so that people wouldn't have to wait in long lines, he waved his hand and refused.
"Running a shop is enough to keep you busy. You're getting on in years. Getting another machine would be too much for your body." Guan Canghai gave up on the idea. If he were ten years younger, he wouldn't even need his son-in-law to ask; he would have already taken care of it himself.
"Comrade Guan Canghai, you're not right about that."
Guan Yuehe put down her chopsticks. "How old are you? Just over sixty? Look at your energy and spirit! You can still contribute to society! Even if you don't contribute to society, you can still pursue your career and make it bigger and stronger. Don't you agree?"
"Exactly!" Lin Sitian and the others immediately chimed in, "Our Uncle Guan doesn't look like he's over sixty. He could easily be a barber for another twenty years, right?!"
Guan Yuehe added, "If you're too busy, just hire someone to help. The policy is there; as long as the number of workers you hire doesn't exceed the limit, what's there to be afraid of?"
"If you're afraid of wolves in front and tigers behind, you won't be able to take a step forward!"
After being out of work for more than a month, Guan Yuehe was spurred on by He Shuangshuang and now has a burst of energy, as if she has recharged her strength and is ready to return to her job and make a big splash.
But he overdid it, and it's not time to go back to work yet. He's channeling all his energy into his family.
Guan Canghai was truly afraid of her, and hurriedly said, "Alright, alright, confess! Confess to two! Director Guan, just say less and eat more."
"Give me a piece of chicken, it's a bit far from here," Guan Yuehe said smoothly, no longer trying to persuade Comrade Guan Canghai.
Jiang Guiying and Aunt Fang breathed a sigh of relief. Guan Yuehe had inquired about the situation of the agricultural and sideline products store a few days ago, fearing that she might also encourage them to go all out and make a big splash.
They opened a shop to earn some extra money and pass the time; they never imagined that at their age, they would be learning from the Wang family how to grow and strengthen their business.
After Guan Yuehe finished her postpartum confinement, she often visited the sunflower seed king's general store. When the sunflower seed king and his wife were not busy, if they ran into her, they would call her over to chat about foreign trade.
To be honest, even though Guan Yuehe has been working in the foreign trade department for a year and a half, her family's understanding of foreign trade is still limited to: foreign trade is just about earning foreign exchange.
Jiang Guiying and Aunt Fang were secretly wondering: Could the Wang family be planning to export their sunflower seeds abroad?
Lin Sitian whispered to Chen Lizhong, "Yuehe didn't love her work as much as she does now before."
Hearing this, Xu Chengcai whispered, "After all, she's been working for over ten years and has only taken a handful of days off. It's no wonder she'd be upset if she didn't work for more than a month."
Ding Xuewen concluded, "She just loves going to work, it has nothing to do with what kind of job she does."
Guan Yuehe, who hadn't heard what they were saying, urged, "Stop chattering and hurry up and finish eating so we can make room for others."
Grandpa Ming's business has been booming since it opened, with long queues outside every Sunday.
It's all thanks to my father's connections; people who aren't usually close to Uncle Ming wouldn't be able to get a table at his house.
However, two more small restaurants opened down this street at the beginning of this year. If Grandpa Ming's business continues to thrive, more new restaurants will likely spring up along this street.
As Guan Yuehe was leaving after finishing her meal, she glanced down the alley and noticed a shop with a sign that read "Beautiful Hair Salon."
Well, it seems her dad's barbershop has also been discovered and is doing very well.
It's just like the breakfast stalls at the entrance of the alley. Once someone started and made money, others would follow suit.
During the process, some people compared prices, some people raised quality concerns, and in the end, only three or four companies remained.
"What does that mean?" Guan Canghai, who had drunk a few glasses of wine, was now slurring his words. Guan Aiguo sighed and helped him up to prevent him from being led astray into a ditch.
Guan Canghai continued, "This shows that technical skills are the key. You need to have the skills to guarantee quality, then customers will trust you and be willing to come to you for haircuts and perms!"
Guan Aiguo added: "They also need to have a good attitude and provide good service."
Now, small businesses are springing up like mushrooms after rain. There are two privately owned barbershops on Changhu Street alone, not to mention others elsewhere. The state-owned barbershops are suffering significantly as a result. Guan Aiguo saw this and realized that fewer customers meant less income for the barbershop, and consequently, less bonus for him. This wouldn't do!
So, Guan Aiguo specifically asked his regular customers why they preferred to get their hair permed at private barbershops. They didn't have to worry about bad stylists or that the hairdressing would be fixed if it wasn't done well. Given that, who would choose a state-run barbershop over a private one?
Jiang Guiying agreed, "That's right. They're both selling fruit candies, so people are more willing to buy from Guazi Wang's general store. Why? Because at Guazi Wang's general store, the one paying is the boss. At the supply and marketing cooperative, the one collecting the money is the boss."
A group of people chatted about the national economy as they slowly returned to Ginkgo Alley.
Hearing that they went out for a full moon celebration, the neighbors were surprised, "Why didn't they invite more colleagues and friends over to their house?"
"A meal with family and relatives is enough," Jiang Guiying said, staying at the alley entrance to chat while the others went home.
As soon as Lin Ting's full moon celebration ended, Guan Yuehe began her countdown to returning to work.
"The pants and waistband need to be altered." Guan Yuehe tidied up the clothes, dismantling what needed to be disassembled and making other things, and setting aside the ones that needed alteration.
The baby formula was neatly stored in the dresser in the living room, and Lin Ting's clothes and diapers were also put away in her small room.
You don't realize until you tidy up that Lin Ting, despite being so small, has quite a lot of food, clothes, and other necessities. Her room and Lin Yiku's room couldn't hold them all, so Lin Ting's room was put into use ahead of schedule.
Fearing that Lin Ting might not be used to drinking formula and would fuss, Guan Yuehe fed her some formula beforehand to test it out. As soon as she was fed it, she sucked on it even faster.
Jiang Guiying seemed to have expected this, "I already said that Lin Ting eats just like you, she's not picky about food."
Lin Ting would eat as soon as she woke up, and even Gu Yu secretly called her "little glutton".
Guan Yuehe praised herself indirectly, "That's great! A good child is one who doesn't pick and choose their food. They'll grow up to be as tall as their mother, 1.73 meters!"
Jiang Guiying couldn't help but laugh and chimed in, "Yes, yes, yes, you'll be as tall as your mother in the future."
And emphasized: "1.73 meters!"
With that height, he would stand taller than many men.
"By the way, the other day my uncle asked me if Guan Aiguo was dating anyone, and I said I didn't know. Did he and his girlfriend break up?"
"What a load of rubbish!" Jiang Guiying said irritably.
Guan Yuehe's eyes widened, and she forgot all about tidying her clothes. "Does dating involve superstition?"
Jiang Guiying: "..."
The ghost she was talking about wasn't the kind of ghost that Chang Zhengyi used to talk about all the time.
“Every time I ask him how things are going and when he’s going to bring his girlfriend home for dinner, he stammers and can’t give a complete answer.”
"I even suspect that the person he's talking about is made up out of thin air, and he's using her as an excuse to fool around outside!"
If it weren't for her old friend Aunt Fang's persuasion, she would have already planned to stake out the factory's barbershop to see if he was dating someone or secretly going off to fool around.
“What could he possibly be up to?” Guan Yuehe said dismissively. “He probably just doesn’t like the women in the family, and he’s too embarrassed to tell them.”
"I can't be bothered to worry about him finding a girlfriend. It's all because the young people in the factory recently got into trouble for going out to dance and socialize, and more than a dozen people were arrested. I'm afraid he'll do something reckless outside!"
Jiang Guiying sighed, "More and more young people outside are causing trouble; we can't afford not to take precautions."
No wonder Detective Song is so busy every day; last year's thief gang hasn't been caught, and there are even more troublemakers now.
—
On the night before Guan Yuehe was to return to her post, Guan Aiguo finally mentioned that he was bringing his partner home for dinner that Sunday.
"Really?" Jiang Guiying pressed, "What's your name? Are you also a worker at the car factory?"
“Her name is Wan Xiujuan. Her family also works at the car factory. She just took over her family's job at the gatehouse.” Guan Aiguo finished speaking in one breath. Seeing that Jiang Guiying wanted to ask who introduced them, he said, “You’ll know when she arrives.”
Before Comrade Wan Xiujuan could even visit, Guan Yuehe learned from Zhou Baoyu on her first day at work how the two of them met.
Everyone left the alley one after the other, with Guan Yuehe trailing behind by a short distance.
Zhou Baoyu was driving Luo Guifang when Luo Guifang asked him, "Has Xiujuan's job been settled yet?"
"It's settled. He'll be a mail clerk in the factory's mailroom."
Guan Yuehe's ears twitched. As soon as the words "Xiujuan" and "messenger room" came out, she thought of Guan Aiguo's partner.
So I asked, "Is Xiujuan your friend?"
Zhou Baoyu then noticed that Guan Yuehe had ridden to the side, and suddenly felt a little guilty. "Xiujuan is a friend I met in the Fengshou Brigade."
They were both sent-down youth in the Fengshou Brigade, no wonder Guan Aiguo found a girlfriend without needing anyone to introduce him.
Judging from Baoyu's expression, he must also know the truth.
"Sister Yuehe..." Zhou Baoyu was wondering if she had revealed a secret and was about to ask a few questions when Guan Yuehe didn't give her a chance to ask.
"Sister Luo, I'm in a hurry to get to work, I'm off now." With that, she dashed off like a gust of wind, leaving them far behind.
—
"Good morning, grandpa and grandma!"
"Oh! Director Guan is back at work?!"
The familiar greetings came again.
Author's Note: [Peeking while covering face]
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