079 Changes
Lin Yiku's bankbook has been handed over, but the arrangement for the two families to formally sit down for a meal has to be postponed. They can only sit down and discuss marriage registration after Lin Yiku's marriage application has been approved.
Guan Yuehe has now replaced Lin Yiku as the largest household in Ginkgo Hutong.
Although she didn't know about other people's savings, it didn't stop her from thinking that she had the most savings.
On her first day back at work after the Spring Festival, the first thing Xie Dongxue asked her was, "What big purchase did you buy this time?"
When I returned to work after New Year's Day, almost everyone in the factory knew that Section Chief Guan had bought a television.
Of course, this wasn't something Section Chief Guan showed off himself; it was spread by a worker who also wanted to exchange his TV plane ticket for another one.
Section Chief Xiao Guan didn't show off to outsiders, but her close friends listened to her boast for a full two weeks.
"How did you know I had a plane ticket?" Section Chief Guan's eyes sparkled, as if to say: Comrade Xie Dongxue, you are truly the smartest comrade I have ever met!
She inadvertently found another opportunity to show off. Xie Dongxue turned and left.
"Haha, I was wrong." Guan Yuehe jogged to catch up with Xie Dongxue and asked if she wanted her to bring anything back from the Canton Fair.
Xie Dongxue didn't have anything in particular she wanted to buy, so she was told to buy whatever she wanted. She added, "Since you already have a camera ticket, I won't borrow a camera from a friend."
"Is it your friend or your partner?"
Xie Dongxue had previously listened to her family and dated her neighbor's son for a while, but she couldn't stand his parents' constant interference in her work, so she broke up with him.
The person I'm talking to now was introduced to me by the union director; he's a retired soldier who transferred to a machinery factory as the deputy head of the security department.
"My partner's friend." Xie Dongxue tried to change the subject and asked her when she and Lin Yiku were getting married.
"By the time he submits his report, you might still be ahead of me in the queue."
Xie Dongxue shook her head, her face beaming with undisguised joy. She leaned close to her ear and said, "Deputy Section Chief Wei is being transferred. Our section chief talked to me this morning. We'll think about marriage after the job situation is settled."
"That's great!" Guan Yuehe gently nudged her shoulder, and the two of them covered their mouths and chuckled.
It feels like when I found out we could go to the Workers', Peasants' and Soldiers' University together, knowing that my friends could go up together, it was like drinking sugar water, so sweet.
But now that they're a few years older, they don't hug each other and jump around happily anymore.
Two days later, Wei Changhe left Zhuoyue Garment Factory. It was said that his former boss had been reinstated and he had been transferred back to be the boss's secretary.
At the same time, there were new personnel changes in the factory's publicity department and personnel department.
Comrade Xie Dongxue was appointed as the deputy head of the Publicity Section, and Comrade Gao Xiaofang was appointed as the deputy head of the Personnel Section.
He Shuangshuang still couldn't take another step forward, and it's impossible for her not to feel bad.
But He Shuangshuang also said, "There's nothing I can do. Apart from not having attended a worker-peasant-soldier university, Gao Xiaofang is no worse than me in any other way."
Even Guan Yuehe had to admire Gao Xiaofang.
Guan Yuehe, who went from being a factory worker to a cadre position and is now a deputy section chief, believes that her success in becoming a deputy section chief was partly due to luck and hard work, while Gao Xiaofang's success was entirely due to her ability and effort.
"I'm thinking about whether I should switch to another company," He Shuangshuang said, looking unusually dejected.
With her father-in-law and husband around, she would have to achieve more than others if she wanted to advance further at the Zhuoyue Garment Factory. But sometimes, without the right opportunity, all her efforts are in vain.
Guan Yuehe and Xie Dongxue scratched their heads, unsure how to comfort her.
Although He Shuangshuang didn't say it, they both knew that He Shuangshuang didn't just want to be an ordinary clerk.
"You two stop frowning, let me think about it some more."
Indeed, their worries were useless; they couldn't help in any way.
On the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, Guan Yuehe gave her passbook to Lin Yiku and asked him to withdraw the money to buy a camera.
Lin Yi breathed a sigh of relief, almost thinking that she was going to return the savings book.
Lin Yiku withdrew the small amount from her savings account, and the passbook was returned to Guan Yuehe's hands. She checked the balance and saw that there was still three thousand left.
She felt both envious and fortunate. How many years would she have to save to reach that amount?! But thankfully, it was all hers now.
Lin Sitian breathed a sigh of relief when she found out, and said, "I thought you wouldn't touch the money in the savings account until you got the marriage certificate."
Guan Yuehe was shocked. "After knowing me for so many years, you still don't understand me?"
It's all in her hands now; there's no way she can take it back. Since that's the case, she's not going to pretend to be reserved; she'll get the marriage certificate before she can claim Lin Yiku's wife's dowry.
"I'll have to spend the money sooner or later, so I might as well buy the camera sooner and use it sooner."
If it weren't for the fact that you need to show identification to withdraw money, and that only the person receiving the money or a relative of the person receiving it can collect it, she would have gone to the bank herself long ago.
Lin Sitian immediately approached and said that her watch was broken when she was rescuing people, and she wanted to get a new one, so she needed to donate fifty yuan.
"Buy it!" Guan Yuehe, the big spender, agreed readily, quickly pointing out five ten-yuan bills. Lin Sitian hugged her hand, saying repeatedly, "We're real sisters, Yuehe!"
"No wonder Lin Yiku said you're cutest when you're being a sycophant."
"Ah! Lin Yiku actually said that about me?! He won't see me fawning over him anymore!" After saying that, Lin Sitian hugged Guan Yuehe's hand tightly again, "You must keep a tight grip on Lin Yiku's savings account from now on!"
Although she said she wanted to provide financial assistance, Lin Sitian still left an IOU, proudly declaring, "I'm not the kind of troublesome sister-in-law!"
Guan Yuehe turned around and handed the IOU to Lin Yiku, telling him to take it back to Lin Sitian, and instructed him, "You must make it clear to Sitian that I am not some kind of wicked sister-in-law!"
Lin Yiku, who was relaying messages among them, felt like she was being a bit superfluous.
The next day, Lin Sitian put on an expensive watch that cost more than two hundred yuan.
Even in her own home, Guan Yuehe could hear Aunt Fang talking about Lin Yiku and Lin Sitian, the two spendthrift siblings. Feeling guilty, she shrank back.
Lin Sitian went to medical school for further studies, and the stipend was only enough for her own living expenses, so she couldn't save any money at all. As for her previous salary, Aunt Fang was afraid that she would spend it recklessly, so she kept it for her.
Aunt Fang thought that Lin Sitian's savings couldn't possibly afford such an expensive watch; it was only possible that Lin Yiku had secretly funded part of it.
“A watch can last for many years.” Lin Yiku took the blame and even spoke up for her sister.
"You two are both at the age where you need to get married and start your own family. You'll be spending a lot of money in the future, so you should think about your own little family..."
The brother and sister were very remorseful, nodding repeatedly.
Lin Sitian was secretly laughing, and Lin Yiku, taking advantage of her mother's inattention, flicked her forehead.
On the seventh day of the Lunar New Year, Lin Sitian returned to school with her luggage to continue her studies. On the eighth day, Lin Yiku also went to her new workplace with her identification documents.
For two consecutive days, Guan Yuehe got up early to see the brother and sister off at the bus station. As soon as she saw them off, she began to busy herself with her task of working as a translator at the Canton Fair.
Her current role is as a translator for the city's delegation at the exhibition, and she also needs to attend a meeting in the city to understand the translator's work arrangements. However, she is specifically assigned to translate for Wuxing Automobile Factory, so she also needs to attend a meeting there.
Guan Yuehe happened to run into Zhao Youtong at the car factory. She said that she was planning to buy a camera and didn't need to borrow it from him for the time being.
Zhao Youtong joked, "Is your boyfriend jealous?"
"It's not that serious." Guan Yuehe waved her hand and said, "He's not that kind of person. He won't be jealous because I associate with other men. He also knows that I'm not a promiscuous person, so he's at ease with me."
Guan Yuehe joked, "He and I are both Party members! Comrade Zhao, don't worry, our thoughts are both very upright!"
Zhao Youtong laughed and gave her a thumbs up, "Not bad, a like-minded revolutionary comrade-in-arms!"
"Yuehe." Zhang Xinbi waved to her from the front, and Guan Yuehe and Zhao Youtong had to stop their conversation and turn to their own work.
After leaving the car factory, Guan Yuehe glanced at her watch and, taking advantage of the time she still had, headed straight for the department store.
After browsing and selecting items at the counter, Lin Yi finally made her decision before the sales clerk patiently ran out of stock, and also bought a considerable amount of film. The money Lin Yi had painstakingly withdrawn was almost entirely spent.
The car factory didn't provide suits and shoes for the attendees at this exhibition, but Guan Yuehe wasn't worried. She could just wear the two sets she had worn three years ago.
This time, having learned from experience, she prepared two more shirts and made an extra pair of black pants, so she no longer had to worry about the clothes not drying.
In mid-March, Lin Yiku's marriage application was approved, but Guan Yuehe was on the train to Guangzhou with the Five Star Automobile Factory's exhibition delegation.
This time, Guan Yuehe didn't stay in her seat and fall asleep, but instead listened to the conversation of the older comrades in front of her.
Among these people, two were experts who were exonerated and returned to the city last year. They were talking about how the country's technology in a certain area had developed slowly over the past decade, and how there was a generational gap in technical talent. If the younger generation is not trained, will they have to rely on these old guys who are old enough to be grandfathers to hold things up in the future?
Guan Yuehe didn't quite understand the technology they were talking about, but she understood the central idea of their conversation: there was a talent gap.
Zhang Xinbi also said, "That's right, Lao Guo and I are both holding two positions right now!"
Someone nearby joked, "Then why don't you transfer Comrade Xiao Guan to the car factory?"
Comrade Xiao Guan quickly shook his head, "That won't do, our factory also lacks people who can speak foreign languages."
Their factory manager, Mr. Zheng, said that their Zhuoyue Garment Factory will also strive to participate in the Canton Fair!
Zhang Xinbi knew all along that Guan Yuehe was determined to stay at the Zhuoyue Garment Factory, and never even considered poaching her to work at the car factory.
Guo Xusheng said, "Right now, all sectors of the country are short of talent, and who knows when we will have to promote talent again. I think it is very necessary to reinstate the college entrance examination."
Several former college students silently nodded in agreement.
When the Workers', Peasants', and Soldiers' Universities were first established, they were able to supply a considerable number of talented individuals to various industries. Later, however, these universities gradually changed, and few of the graduates truly mastered the necessary skills. They were less effective than the technicians trained by the factory's own technical schools.
The gap between graduates of the worker-peasant-soldier university and college students who passed the college entrance examination in the past is too great.
As Guan Yuehe pondered whether the college entrance examination would really be reinstated, Zhang Xinbi patted the back of her hand and said meaningfully, "Talent is always important."
Guan Yuehe sighed silently. She knew the reasoning behind it, but German was really hard to learn!
But after hearing what the older comrades said today, she gathered a lot of energy and vowed to fight German to the death!
To avoid being ridiculed by Chunmei in her letter for her short two sentences containing grammatical and vocabulary errors...
This year, the translation team for the Canton Fair has grown significantly. Most of the new members are foreign language fluents who returned to their posts last year, while a small number are translators who graduated from the foreign language major of the Workers, Peasants and Soldiers University.
Zhang Xinbi was assigned to assist with the signing and negotiation, while Guo Xusheng and Guan Yuehe became the main translators at the car factory.
This time, Guo Xusheng didn't need to worry about Guan Yuehe's situation. With the two of them dividing the work, the reception and explanation of the foreign clients were arranged in an orderly manner.
Guan Yuehe discovered that when Guo Xusheng spoke German with foreign clients, she could actually understand a small portion of it!
Translating materials and listening and speaking are two different things, and she suddenly felt somewhat satisfied with her learning achievements over the past three years.
"Comrade Xiao Guan! It's nice to see you again!"
Guan Yuehe turned her head and looked over. The woman in front of her looked very familiar. She knew that she had met her at the Canton Fair last time, but she just couldn't remember which unit she was from or what her name was. So she quickly shook the woman's hand and said warmly, "Yes! It's been a long time!"
"Of course! I've come to the Canton Fair with the factory every year for the past few years, and I was thinking of getting together with you when I had some free time, but who knew you wouldn't come!"
After chatting for a while, Guan Yuehe learned the other person's name and company, and they even made an appointment to have a meal together at a nearby state-run restaurant after the exhibition.
Guan Yuehe felt a little awkward while talking to someone, but after a while, she felt very happy.
It felt like reuniting with an old friend after a long separation.
Seeing that she was still cheerful after returning to the guesthouse, Zhang Xinbi laughed and said, "I really can't help but admire your energy."
Zhang Xinbi was especially impressed by Guan Yuehe's daily practice of folding the quilt into neat squares every morning.
"Yuehe, with your perseverance, it's only a matter of time before you become fluent in German!"
Guan Yuehe stood proudly with her hands on her hips, then tugged at the work badge hanging around her neck, "From now on, my work badge will say 'English and German Translator'!"
"Great! Try to learn another language, and you'll be able to handle the entire translation team in your factory all by yourself in the future."
Guan Yuehe was startled and didn't dare to reply. She grabbed her backpack and was about to leave, saying, "I'm going to work."
Zhang Xinbi and Guo Xusheng shared the interesting things that happened this morning. Guo Xusheng seized the opportunity to ask Guan Yuehe, "Which language are you going to learn next? Technician Zhang and I will find some information for you. How about learning Japanese? Although, kid... uh, well, their car manufacturing over there is still worth learning from. I think you can't go wrong learning this."
"Teacher Guo, someone's here, stop chatting." Guan Yuehe successfully changed the subject.
This year, Five Star Motors did not achieve any major breakthroughs in exports, but domestic orders are booked up for six months in advance.
Guan Yuehe wasn't sure if this counted as a good result, but she had successfully completed her translation work, and the rest was no longer her concern.
The day after the exhibition ended, Guan Yuehe, having learned from her previous experience, took a duffel bag and went to visit each exhibition area before starting to buy things.
Zhang Xinbi, who was traveling with her, was taken aback when she said she had finished shopping, and asked, "Not enough money?"
Last time I attended the Canton Fair, Guan Yuehe's purchasing activities were an eye-opener for me. Now, seeing her only pick a few booths to buy from, for her family and friends and for herself, the total amount of things she bought was not much. This is not like Comrade Guan Yuehe.
"That's enough." She's joking, she has plenty of savings now!
Guan Yuehe explained, "There's no need to bring Dacron or anything like that. You can buy the same things in department stores in Beijing now. Rare items are subject to purchase limits, so that's about it."
Zhang Xinbi nodded, also feeling that the exhibits at the exhibition were not very innovative.
For Guan Yuehe, a few years ago, she was a country bumpkin visiting the city, and everything was new and exciting. But three years later, the supply of various fabrics and nutritional products gradually caught up, especially since Beijing was the capital, and supplies were plentiful, so she no longer found anything new or exciting.
Although you don't need cloth coupons to buy cloth here, you can't buy much. And none of the family and friends who asked her to bring things over said they wanted to buy cloth.
Guan Yuehe also glimpsed the small changes in the country and the lives of those around her through her two experiences of purchasing at the Canton Fair.
"I almost forgot!" Guan Yuehe remembered to ask Zhang Xinbi to take a picture of her in front of the main entrance of the exhibition hall after she left the exhibition hall.
After the photo shoot, Guan Yuehe said to Zhang Xinbi, "My family and friends all said that the photos you took for me last time were exceptionally well taken."
"Really? Shall I take two more pictures of you? Just stand by the flower bed in front, how about that?"
"Great!" Guan Yuehe realized that Teacher Zhang was easily flattered.
At the end of March, Guan Yuehe returned home with a full load.
As soon as I got back, I was busy distributing things to my family and friends.
The neighbors, still eager to join in the fun, came to ask her about her experiences at the Canton Fair.
"Nothing special, it's pretty much the same as three years ago." Guan Yuehe carefully examined the items, but couldn't find anything new.
"Three years isn't a long time, so it's normal that nothing has changed."
Just like any other day, one day after another. It seems like there are a lot of things to do, but if you compare 1970 with 1977, it's still the same: going to work and coming home. If you crave meat, you go to the meat station. If the supply and marketing cooperative has good stuff, you rush to line up. Seven years have passed, and life hasn't changed much.
But Guan Yuehe's life was about to change drastically.
"Yi Ku's marriage application has been approved. When do you plan to get your marriage certificate?"
This is indeed a big problem.
Lin Sitian enrolled in the medical team in the second half of last year, which caused her to miss half a year's worth of courses. She has to stay at school during the summer vacation to make up for the missed courses.
July and August are the busy farming season, so Ding Xuewen couldn't come back.
Both of them said they absolutely had to come back to drink her and Lin Yiku's wedding wine.
While Guan Yuehe was pondering the matter, Jiang Guiying's heart was in her throat. "At this point, you can't be stubborn and go back on your word!"
Guan Yuehe was speechless. Was she that kind of person?
"Let's get the marriage certificate first, and then have the wedding banquet at the end of the year when everyone is here." It's impossible not to have a few tables; she wants to get back all the money she gave out as wedding gifts.
"I'll call Lin Yiku and ask if he's coming back on Sunday." It's such an important matter; I should let him know first.
So, on the first Sunday of April, both families put on their respectable clothes, which they only wore on special occasions, and set off together from No. 3 Courtyard to the state-run restaurant next to the automobile factory.
The neighbors laughed and said, "These two families are quite interesting. They're so familiar with each other, and they even live next door. It's fine if they eat at home, but they insist on going out for a meal. Other in-laws meet for lunch, but they make an exception and eat dinner. How strange!"
"Yi Ku didn't even come back, only the four old folks went. Aren't Yi Ku and Yue He going to participate?"
Guan Yuehe went to attend the Party class early in the morning, and then went directly to the state-run restaurant after the class.
Lin Yiku, on the other hand, rushed from the army to the state-run restaurant, not setting off with the elders.
Fortunately, they arrived earlier than the elders, allowing them to coordinate their statements beforehand.
Jiang Guiying and the others reaffirmed, "So, we'll get the marriage certificate first, and then just have a meal together as two families?"
Guan Yuehe and Lin Yiku nodded at the same time.
Nowadays, it's no longer customary to have leaders officiate and recite speeches at weddings. Instead, each family decides what to do based on their own circumstances. Some families simply have a meal with their relatives and distribute some wedding candy to the neighbors, and that's it. Some hold a few tables at the factory canteen, while others hold it at home.
Guan Yuehe and Lin Yiku didn't want to have a big celebration. They planned to have a meal together after getting their marriage certificate, and then host a small dinner party at home at the end of the year to invite friends over. That would be about it.
“That works too. Yiku just started reporting for duty and can’t take a vacation right now. You can invite your friends over for a celebration at the end of the year.”
The elders had no objections; after all, it's their life to live, and they've already discussed and agreed on it.
Jiang Guiying and Aunt Fang had already revealed their true intentions to each other: the bride price and dowry were prepared by the two young people themselves; one had a house and several large items, and the other had savings.
Alright, just right.
"So, will you go back home to live after Yi Ku, or...?" This was Jiang Guiying's biggest concern. Her partner was never home, and it wasn't good for him to stay away for too long.
Lin Yiku: "I've been quite busy these past few months since I took over the job, so I can only stay home on Sundays for now. It will be better in the second half of the year. After that, I can go home after get off work and ride my bike to work the next morning."
Fortunately, Lin Yiku's current workplace is not too far from Ginkgo Hutong; it takes about an hour to get there by bicycle, which is about the same distance as going to the Five Star Automobile Factory.
Guan Yuehe even joked with him, telling him to work harder to get promoted so that he could get a private car soon, making it more convenient for him to go home.
The goal has been set, but Deputy Regiment Commander Lin said that it will take several more years of cycling to achieve it.
"That's fine, it's more convenient to live at home. If you two are too lazy to cook, just hand over your food rations and you can eat at either of your homes."
Once the two of them finalized the matter, the elders felt reassured. As for when they would find the time to get their marriage certificate, they let them decide.
Aunt Fang simply said, "Tell me a day in advance so I can pack up my things from the 'bitter memories' event. After I get the marriage certificate, you can all move in."
"Mom, are you going to kick me out of the house like this?" Lin Yiku joked.
Aunt Fang seemed relieved, saying lightly, "Back when you were at home setting up the roof beams and removing the tiles, I was looking around to see which family wanted to take in a son-in-law. I had to send Lin Yiku there as soon as possible."
Guan Yuehe laughed heartily, "You also said that it's fortunate Lin Yiku is good-looking, so he should be able to live off a woman."
"That's right! Who knew he'd later join the army? They couldn't even catch him to send him away." Aunt Fang laughed along. "Yuehe was drinking sweet soup at my house back then, and Sitian asked Yuehe if she wanted her brother, saying she wanted to give him to Yuehe. Yuehe said,"
Aunt Fang imitated Guan Yuehe's tone perfectly, saying, "Even if you give me your new dress, I still can't accept it!"
The others burst out laughing.
Guan Yuehe couldn't stop laughing. If she had known this would happen, she should have agreed to give Lin Yiku to Sitian back then, and also asked for the new dress.
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