Section Chief Guan (071)
By the time Guan Yuehe received Lin Yiku's letter, it was already early September.
The mail carrier stood between the gates of Courtyard No. 2 and Courtyard No. 3 and called out to Lin Sitian and Guan Yuehe to come out and collect the mail.
Lin Sitian looked at the letter in her hand, then at the one in Guan Yuehe's hand; the thickness was obvious at a glance.
At least her brother is sensible; at least he doesn't just write a thin sheet of paper in his letters anymore!
When Guan Yuehe got home and opened the letter, she found it was indeed just one sheet of paper. The letter was brief, stating that he had already enrolled at school and had even run into a former classmate. The letter ended by inquiring about her well-being and urging her to write back as soon as she had time.
But the envelope also contained two photos of him at the school gate. One showed him in military uniform, and the other showed him wearing the new jacket she had asked Xu Cheng to make for her.
Reserved and composed yet spirited, wow, Lin Yiku looks so good in military uniform.
Guan Yuehe was very satisfied with her taste. She admired the photo for a while before placing it under the glass on top of the dresser. Next to it were her own photo and a family photo.
Later, I'll gradually add photos of my second brother's family and friends, and the world behind this glass will become more vibrant!
Ding Xuewen received a letter from Xu Chengcai with good news. When he replied, there were many question marks and exclamation marks on the letter expressing his shock. Guan Yuehe couldn't help but laugh when she thought about it, and decided to share it with Lin Yiku, who was studying in Hunan Province.
After finishing her reply, a half-yellowed leaf blew in through the window and landed on her desk, heralding the arrival of early autumn in Beijing. Guan Yuehe put it in the envelope along with the letter.
Taking advantage of the moment when her mind was at peace, Guan Yuehe decided to memorize some more German vocabulary.
That's right, it's German, not English. Guan Yuehe read it aloud, her face scrunched up.
Teachers Zhang Xinbi and Guo Xusheng kept praising her for her language talent, praising her more and more each time, making her smile so much that her eyes narrowed into slits and her head spin.
Last Sunday, when she went to the Five Star Motors factory to submit translation materials, she got carried away and said she wanted to learn German from them.
Actually, she covered her mouth as soon as she finished speaking, as if she wanted to back out a little.
Zhang Xinbi pretended not to see it and took out several German learning books from the drawer. They looked like they had been used for many years. She randomly flipped to a page and found that the notes on it were all written by Zhang Xinbi in a very unique small regular script.
Zhang Xinbi immediately started explaining German grammar rules to her. Before she left, she learned more than twenty words and received three German learning tapes...
Suddenly switching to a different language caught her off guard, and she was already on her way to learning it.
It was a bit tough, but the thought of becoming a "foreign language expert" who could speak both English and German made her feel incredibly proud.
Therefore, in her reply to Lin Yiku, she also wrote: Perhaps the next time I reply, I will reply in German. Please keep improving, otherwise you won't be able to understand my reply, Comrade Lin Yiku!
After studying for half an hour, my older brother came and knocked on the door.
It was a ticket for sending her a recording.
She couldn't borrow the two teachers' tape recorders, so she had to ask her family for help in finding one.
These days, radios that can receive broadcasts are no longer a particularly rare luxury item in the city, and the supply is much greater than it was a few years ago. However, tape recorders that can play cassette tapes are extremely rare, and most of them are imported.
Imported ones are unaffordable, and the only domestically produced one is the Sunflower brand cassette tape recorder, which was only successfully developed last April and is already in high demand abroad.
This shows how difficult it is to get a ticket.
"Oh my god! Thank you, big brother!" Guan Yuehe was so excited when she received the ticket with "Sunflower Brand Cassette Recorder" printed on it that she jumped up and down on the spot.
Guan Jianguo smiled and said that he could only exchange the ticket, and she would have to go to the department store and wait in line at the counter herself.
"Brother, you've already helped me a lot by getting me the tickets!" Guan Yuehe exclaimed excitedly, then asked him how much he had spent on the tickets. She had just taken out her savings when Guan Jianguo waved his hand and said, "I brought back some things for someone else to exchange for these tickets, so it didn't cost me any money. Don't bother giving me any."
It didn't cost any money, but it definitely cost a favor. Guan Yuehe couldn't estimate the value, so she simply took out two packets of milk powder from the cabinet and handed them to him, saying, "These are for Yangyang."
Lin Yiku exchanged the milk powder with his classmate. He gave some to Xu Chengcai, kept some at home, and gave the rest to her, saying that drinking more would help her grow taller.
The three babies were born on the same day. Cao Lili's daughter was born in the early morning and named Lingling. Wu Lanxiang's son was born in the morning and named Chenchen. Her nephew was born at noon and named Yangyang.
I have to say, the nickname her mother, Aunt Bai, and Aunt Zhao came up with together was quite nice and meaningful.
"Okay, you go ahead with your work, I'm going back now. Oh, by the way, Mom told you not to cook lunch, but to come home for lunch."
After her older brother left, Guan Yuehe took out all her savings and counted them.
She spent all her savings attending the Canton Fair. Six months later, she had barely saved up a hundred yuan. She needed to save more to buy a tape recorder.
I usually help Zhang Xinbi and the others translate documents, but there's not much of a subsidy. At the end of the month, three or four yuan is already quite a lot.
Anyway, she wasn't after that little bit of subsidy.
Zhang Xinbi and Guo Xusheng were both talented translators and technicians at the factory, and they received good treatment. Every time she went to the car factory, they would either treat her to stir-fries or bring her some food back with them.
Of course, he also brought back a torrent of praise.
Otherwise, she wouldn't go to the car factory so often on her days off.
After counting the money, she neatly folded it and put it back. It would probably take her another six months to save enough to buy a tape recorder.
She wasn't in a hurry to buy it now, nor did she plan to borrow money from family or friends. Studying, she thought, was a long-term endeavor; she could take it slow and there was no rush.
She had already automatically ignored the fact that the sewing machine, one of the "three turns and one sound" (referring to the sewing machine, a watch, a radio, and a telephone), had not yet been found.
As for the idea of buying a camera? I've completely forgotten about it.
You should save money, but you shouldn't neglect your food.
Sure enough, when she heard her second aunt calling out to everyone in the front yard to hurry up and buy canned meat from the supply and marketing cooperative, she rushed over faster than anyone else.
Before she knew it, it was National Day. Guan Yuehe had been studying German for a month and had finally gotten the hang of it, no longer having to scrunch up her vocabulary.
She also received a reply and a package from Lin Yiku, who actually sent her cured meat with a unique flavor from Hunan Province, as well as two jars of chili sauce.
Lin Sitian brought her another bottle of chili sauce, saying that she, Grandpa Lin, and Grandma Fang couldn't handle such spiciness and had already shared all the chili sauce they received.
"My brother really only gave you this as a birthday present?" Lin Sitian asked Guan Yuehe in shock, clutching the meat tickets on the table.
"Yes. How thoughtful!" Her mother hadn't forgotten her birthday this year and had cooked her a bowl of noodles. She hadn't expected Lin Yiku to remember as well.
"Alright then." Seeing that she was genuinely satisfied, Lin Sitian put the meat ticket back on the table and said with emotion, "My dad was right."
"What did Grandpa Lin say?"
"...I say you two are the perfect match."
“That’s right! My judgment can’t be bad!” Guan Yuehe proudly raised her chin.
"Did you pass your certification exam?" Guan Yuehe asked, not forgetting to inquire about her good friend's job after she finished expressing her pride.
"I just submitted my application materials before the holiday, and the exam is at the end of the year." Lin Sitian originally wanted to ask her to go shopping and relax, but seeing the pile of books on her desk, she took a deep breath and said, "I'll go get the books to study."
Guan Yuehe hummed and teased her, "I thought you were going on a date with Zhou Jinghang."
“He’s been coming to our hospital a lot lately. I see him every day, but I don’t want to see him when I’m resting.”
But before she could move the books over, a sudden commotion erupted in the front yard.
The two immediately abandoned their studies and ran to the front yard to watch the excitement.
Seeing that Aunt Er, Uncle Zhang, and Hao Daren were carrying boxes and thick quilts into the house, Guan Yuehe guessed that Aunt Er and Uncle Zhang had finally reached an agreement with Hao Daren's parents to let Hao Daren move into the Zhang family's house.
The neighbors in the front yard helped out while asking around: How did you suddenly reach an agreement?
Aunt Er's face didn't show much joy. She only said, "Our house here is spacious enough to be a new house for the two children. Our in-laws said it would be better for Da Ren to come and live here."
"Aren't you going to repaint your new house?"
"The house is perfectly fine, why paint it?"
Everyone felt that Auntie Er was definitely not telling the truth. How could the Hao family, who had been holding out for so long, suddenly have a change of heart?
Wu Erni thought it was normal. "What else can you do if they don't get it? If they get married but don't live together, problems are bound to arise sooner or later."
"Too."
Among the onlookers, only Lin Sitian knew something about the situation, but she kept her mouth shut at the crucial moment and didn't reveal a single thing to Guan Yuehe.
Once October was over, everyone realized why.
Zhang Chaonan is pregnant, and it's not feasible to keep the young couple living separately. The two families had a rare moment of harmony, ending with Hao Daren moving into Zhang Chaonan's house.
Then, news spread that Wu Erni was pregnant.
"Do the kids from your No. 2 courtyard always have to come in groups?" people from other courtyards joked.
Both families were happy about the upcoming addition of a new member, except for Sun Jiawang.
No, we can't call him Sun Jiawang anymore, we should call him Wu Jiawang.
Wu Erni took it upon herself to go to the police station to change Sun Jiawang's surname, as if to continue her family line.
Wu Jiawang did not object. He was often bullied at school because he had the surname Sun. Although his stepfather beat up the father of the student who bullied him, the students dared not bully him openly anymore, but they still secretly agreed to ostracize him.
After changing my surname, things changed a little; I experienced less exclusion.
His joy was short-lived, as he soon heard the news that he was going to have a younger brother or sister. The elderly folks in the alley even joked, "Now that your mom has a new baby, she won't want you anymore!"
Wu Jiawang's emotions collapsed at once. He cried loudly at home and then ran away to hide.
Jin Hongchang finally managed to find the person, but Wu Jiawang was beaten by his biological mother again, and he howled even louder, sitting at the entrance of the alley shouting that having a stepfather meant having a stepmother.
"We still haven't played enough."
"What kind of stepfather is always thinking about buying you food, clothes, and other necessities? You can't be as heartless as your biological father. We're old but we're not blind."
The elderly folks took turns scolding Wu Jiawang until he was too embarrassed to continue howling outside, and he went home sobbing.
Just as Wu Jiawang entered the courtyard, he bumped into Jin Hongchang coming out of the house. Wu Jiawang awkwardly tried to turn away, but Jin Hongchang stuffed some money into his hand, telling him to go buy a bag of brown sugar and come back, "The rest is enough for you to buy a bottle of soda."
"What's wrong? Do you need to buy anything else?" Seeing him standing still, Jin Hongchang took out money and tickets from his pocket. Wu Jiawang glanced at him, then grabbed the money and ran away quickly.
I brought back a bag of brown sugar and three bottles of soda. But my eyes were still filled with tears.
"Your eyes are dripping more than the tap water." Wu Erni put the soda aside. "What's wrong now?"
If you know I brought back three bottles of soda, then I'm not upset anymore. Why are you still crying?
Wu Jiawang said aggrievedly, "Aunt Yuehe said that when I cry, I wail so horribly that it sounds like a duck about to die... She went too far!"
Wu Erni and Jin Hongchang: "......"
After a moment of silence, Jin Hongchang said, "I'll talk to her and tell her not to talk about you anymore."
"Waaah, no way, you can't beat her!" Wu Jiawang felt even more aggrieved.
Luo Guifang, who came to deliver chicken soup to her family, suppressed a laugh and comforted him, "It's alright. She's talked about Song Gong's family's Northwest branch quite a bit too. She wasn't targeting you on purpose. She even treated you to popsicles, right?"
Too.
Wu Jiawang felt a little comforted.
The good thing about Aunt Yuehe is that she doesn't bully him just because he's his father. She bullies indiscriminately, and she's dealt with plenty of mischievous kids in Ginkgo Alley.
Guan Yuehe, who was mentioned, was preparing to attend the city's commendation meeting for outstanding workers.
The materials were submitted in July, the list of award recipients was released in late October, and the award ceremony was held in early November.
Let's leave aside the details of the process for now; as long as the result is good, that's enough.
Among the many clothing suggestions from her family and friends, Guan Yuehe finally decided to follow Xie Dongxue's advice: wear clothes and shoes produced by the Zhuoyue Garment Factory.
We must seize every opportunity to promote our factory!
It was like a regular meeting in the city; the commendation ceremony wasn't particularly grand.
Guan Yuehe went to receive the award certificate, and a reporter from the Daily News took a picture of her. The meeting ended abruptly just like that.
But when he brought the certificate back, Comrade Xiao Guan still made quite a splash in the factory.
The commendation script submitted to the radio station was written by Xie Dongxue. While objectively stating the facts, she also lavishly praised the speaker with her own personal bias.
As a result, Comrade Xiao Guan received quite a few congratulatory messages.
Back in the alley, things got even more interesting. Jiang Guiying walked around courtyard number two and three with the certificate in her arms, and everyone in the alley knew: Guan Yuehe had been named an advanced worker of the city!
"Is Yuehe about to be promoted?"
"I guessed so."
"Yuehua has just been promoted to deputy head of the publicity department, and Yuehe is also aiming for a promotion. It's really surprising how ambitious these two sisters are."
Guan Yuehua's promotion is a done deal, but Guan Yuehe's promotion is still uncertain.
For the past few months, there have been no personnel changes in the Planning Department. However, Section Chief Lin is almost always at the production workshop, and most of the matters requiring his signature have been delegated to the Deputy Section Chief. Everyone else couldn't help but wonder: Is Section Chief Lin going to be transferred anyway?
Guan Yuehe also muttered to herself, but her life was too busy. She went to work and studied German after get off work, so she didn't have the time to think about anything else.
Two days after she returned from attending the city's advanced worker commendation conference, the factory held a workers' meeting, mainly to announce that Section Chief Lin would be promoted to deputy factory director in charge of production, overseeing the production of the sportswear workshop and the sports shoe workshop.
The new appointments will take effect from New Year's Day, and the period from now until New Year's Day is the public announcement period.
The former deputy section chief, Long, was also promoted to section chief, but he is temporarily "acting section chief" and will be subject to a period of evaluation before he can be officially appointed.
"Xiao Guan, Xiao Tao, congratulations."
Guan Yuehe was happy to thank them one by one, but Tao Cheng's smile was somewhat forced: he had forgotten that Guan Yuehe had been recommended by the factory to become an advanced worker in the city!
I initially thought I could compete, but now that I've looked into it, I've discovered that Guan Yuehe has more and more leverage to get promoted, and I'm feeling really frustrated.
After the list is submitted, the factory will conduct individual interviews and performance reviews of the recommended candidates.
In terms of seniority, Comrade Xiao Guan was among the first batch of workers recruited after the factory was established. Including the six months he worked as a temporary worker, he has been with the factory for eight years.
In terms of ability, he wouldn't be considered outstanding, but he can complete any task assigned to him well.
Speaking of popular support, Comrade Xiao Guan's popular support is beyond question. When she was recommended for school, she received the most votes.
Let's talk about other bonus points. Comrade Xiao Guan was featured on the front page of the newspaper for eliminating harm for the people. Later, he went to the Workers, Peasants and Soldiers University to strengthen his theoretical studies. Then he performed outstandingly at the Canton Fair. Recently, he was also named an advanced worker in the city.
Tao Cheng had a general idea of what was going on. Although he felt it was a pity, there was nothing he could do but compose himself and wait for the next opportunity for promotion.
Normally, the outcome is pretty much decided after the conversation. But I don't know if there are any other variables.
Guan Yuehe felt that she had done all she could, and there was no point in rushing.
Before the results were released, Guan Yuehe went to work on time as usual, finished her work, and left on time.
I picked the last remaining leaf from the ginkgo tree at the entrance of the alley and put it in my reply to Lin Yiku.
Autumn in Beijing in 1974 came to an end, and on a night when the temperature suddenly dropped, it reminded her that winter was coming.
She's going to queue up to buy cabbage, potatoes, and sweet potatoes to stock up on food for the winter!
"Guiying, has your Yuehe's promotion been finalized?"
"It's not decided yet, we don't know. Hey, you'd better move forward a couple of steps... Hey, you guys cutting in line, get out of there and line up at the back!"
"I'm not getting up. Go ahead and lift me up if you dare!" The leader of the group squatted on the ground with his hands in his sleeves, looking at the eldest brother with a roguish expression. They relied on their strong physique to cut in line without any restraint.
No sooner had he finished speaking than Officer Song strode over, his face stern, and asked, "What are you doing?"
Upon seeing the police, the man who had just acted like a scoundrel tried to slip away with a grin, but a dark shadow loomed overhead. Looking up, he saw none other than Guan Yuehe, the famous woman from Ginkgo Alley.
He and Guan Yuehe had some connection, but Guan Yuehe clearly had no recollection of it.
He and one of his brothers went to ambush "fat sheep" outside the Zhuoyue Garment Factory, hoping to rob them of some money. However, they ran into Guan Yuehe and were beaten up, howling in pain.
Fortunately, Guan Yuehe beat them up badly back then, and since they failed to steal anything, her family also helped pull some strings, which prevented them from being locked up.
So when he heard the news that Guan Yuehe had directly arrested an armed fugitive, he wasn't surprised at all. That girl is just that bold; anyone who gets beaten up knows what I mean.
Before he could even offer an excuse, Guan Yuehe had already begun to complain.
"Officer Song, I saw those guys cutting in line from far behind! It's outrageous! Everyone else is queuing properly, but they have absolutely no manners!" Guan Yuehe rolled up her sleeves. "Which unit are they from? Everyone come and identify them, they're a disgrace to our unit!"
"Yes, yes, we're rude, we'll leave now." Seeing Guan Yuehe roll up her sleeves, the ringleader almost instinctively wanted to cover his head. Without even needing to educate Song Gong'an, he called the other thugs to slip away to the back.
Guan Yuehe praised Song Gong'an, saying, "Gong'an, you are so authoritative and make things so much easier for me!"
No wonder everyone likes to ask Officer Song to handle even the most trivial matters.
Police Officer Song just thought Xiao Guan was too modest. At least in Ginkgo Alley, Comrade Xiao Guan's influence was undeniable.
With the help of the Song Public Security Bureau to maintain order, no one dared to cut in line amidst the chaos, and the line moved forward in an orderly fashion.
Every household filled their cellars and hauled back loads of coal briquettes from the coal yard or coal shop. With their basic needs met, they felt relieved.
The mood for gossip and casual conversation was high.
This alley is always full of trivial matters and all sorts of family and neighborhood conflicts, with neighbors gossiping about everyone.
Guan Yuehe put down her textbook, grabbed a small stool, and came out to join in the fun, mainly to give her brain a break.
Just then, someone mentioned that the workshop director had introduced Xu Xiaomei to a potential partner. Xu Xiaomei happily went out to meet him, but ended up giving the matchmaker a good scolding.
Why?
The person speaking glanced at Guan Yuehe before saying, "The male colleague from the railway bureau introduced by the workshop director is named Gao Yuansen."
The name sounds strangely familiar.
Guan Yuehe thought for a while before she remembered that this was the guy her sister used to date.
"Xu Xiaomei said that Guan Yuehua wouldn't approve of her, so why should we introduce her to someone? She doesn't even work at the scrap yard. How would the workshop foreman know about these things? He meant well, but Guan Yuehua scolded him and he got angry, saying he wouldn't introduce her to anyone again."
Guan Yuehe rolled her eyes: What does this have to do with her sister? Xu Xiaomei is really dragging people into this for no reason.
However, she still agreed with Xu Xiaomei's idea. Someone like Gao Yuansen, who couldn't think straight, was indeed not suitable for dating, let alone marriage.
Having talked to many people and gained experience, Xu Xiaomei finally knows how to distinguish which people are suitable for dating and marriage.
"What young lady can date more than a dozen men? I think she's just being difficult. If she keeps going like this, she'll end up getting older and no man will want her."
Everyone was just gossiping about Xu Xiaomei, but now they've suddenly turned around and are criticizing Matchmaker Liu.
"The factory meetings always encourage young comrades to marry and have children later in life. Twenty-five or twenty-six is still young, the perfect age for personal hard work and contributing to the country's development. You need to be educated more about this kind of thinking!"
There are many girls getting married later these days. I don't have any in my family, but I do in my relatives' families. How can you say such nonsense?
Besides, what's wrong with dating multiple people? It's not like you're messing around. According to them, young people these days are still too conservative.
Upon hearing the word "education," Liu the matchmaker felt as if her tail had been stepped on, fearing she would be arrested again and forced to write a self-criticism, and she slunk away.
Guan Yuehe smiled silently to herself.
Most of the elderly people in the alley are still mentally sound; the car factory's ideological education is really effective!
Xu Xiaomei never expected that her second failed attempt at finding a partner would also make her the target of someone with ulterior motives.
Ding Xianguang, who had been working in the countryside in Inner Mongolia for four years, applied for a family visit leave this year and spent a week traveling before finally returning home.
As soon as Ding Xianguang returned, he complained that he never wanted to go back to Inner Mongolia. Four years had passed, and he still couldn't get used to the food and drink. He said that even if he couldn't come back to the city, he would be happy to go to the suburbs or the countryside.
Aunt Ding had a sudden inspiration. She went to the Xu family to discuss with Aunt Xu that Ding Xianguang should marry Xu Xiaomei. That way, Ding Xianguang wouldn't have to go to the countryside, and Xu Xiaomei could get married.
Xu Xiaomei can't stand hearing people say that she can't get married. If someone introduces her to an unsuitable man, it only adds fuel to the fire.
No sooner had Aunt Ding arrived at the Xu family's door than Little Sister Xu came to the Ding family with a stick and beat up Ding Xianguang.
Even after getting off work, Officer Song and Grandpa Lin still had to mediate between the two families.
When people have free time, they have a lot to do.
Just as they were resting, Ding Xianzong, who had gone to the countryside in Northeast China, returned to visit his family. He also brought his wife, whom he had married in the countryside.
Aunt Ding was unhappy that her second grandson had married a rural woman, and she scolded her with a long face, but the rural woman didn't even look at the Ding family.
They complained that the Ding family was too big and their place too small, and that they had to haggle over every meal. They felt it was better for them to live comfortably in the countryside.
Less than three days after returning, Ding Xianzong and his wife packed their bags and went back to Northeast China.
Aunt Ding was so angry that she cursed at the door: "I've raised this grandson Ding Xianzong for nothing!"
The commotion at the Ding family's house wasn't over yet when Grandpa Xie's husband, Grandpa Xie, arrived with two large cloth bags, seeking refuge with his son.
Xie Zhenhua, with a cold face, didn't let anyone into the house, only saying, "Go find whoever is your biological son!"
Oh my! Teacher Xie and Xie Zhenxing aren't brothers from the same father?!
Xie Zhenhua is different now. He used to be just a junior high school math teacher, but now he is a vocational school teacher who teaches physics theory to vocational school students. He has also been invited to teach theory classes to technicians in factories. He may become a technical expert in the factory in the future!
Since Liu Axiu is also a workshop team leader, the two of them together might end up being assigned to a small villa that only technical experts can live in.
Right now, Grandpa Xie is throwing a tantrum in the backyard of Courtyard No. 3, and no one is coming over to help or criticize Xie Zhenhua.
Firstly, it's difficult to judge other people's family affairs; secondly, I don't want to offend Xie Zhenhua.
But people have been speculating behind the scenes: what is the identity of Xie Zhenhua's biological father?
Finally, it was Officer Song and Grandpa Lin who stepped in and asked Aunt Xie to take the people to the factory's guesthouse to book a room for them to stay in.
Song Xibei shook his head and sighed, feigning maturity, "I'm fine with anything in the future, just don't want to be a policeman."
No sooner had he finished speaking than Officer Song slapped him on the face, saying, "Someone like you can't join the police force."
"Impossible! Brother Yiku said someone like me is suited for the army!"
Guan Yuehe quickly explained, "Lin Yiku is right. Someone like you is suitable to join the army to pluck out thorns. After being disciplined a few times, you'll behave yourself."
Song Gong'an almost burst out laughing, then patted Song Xibei on the shoulder again, "Did you hear that? The army doesn't want troublemakers!"
"I don't believe it! When Brother Yiku comes back, I'll have him tell you in person!" Song Xibei turned to Guan Yuehe and asked, "Sister Yuehe, when is your boyfriend coming back from his vacation?"
"I don't know," Guan Yuehe said, spreading her hands. "He didn't tell me."
"Ugh... Sister Yuehe, your boyfriend won't do. I have a cousin... Ouch! Old Song, you hit me again!"
Police officer Song even complained that he hadn't been beaten enough.
Guan Yuehe watched with great interest. Song Xibei was a fence-sitter, sometimes admiring Lin Yiku and sometimes trying to undermine him.
Guan Yuehe wrote down the latest gossip in the alley and sent it to Lin Yiku, also asking him when he would be on holiday and whether he would come back for the New Year.
Throughout the days of waiting for a reply, receiving a letter, sending a reply, and waiting for another letter, the alley remained bustling with activity.
Until the day before New Year's Day, the factory's broadcasting station notified all employees to go to the small auditorium to collect holiday benefits, and also broadcast the factory's latest personnel appointments:
"...Comrade Guan Yuehe has been promoted to Deputy Chief of the Planning Section..."
Guan Yuehe's heart, which had been pounding, finally settled down, and she breathed a sigh of relief.
"Section Chief Guan, congratulations! Keep up the good work!"
"Thank you, factory manager!"
Guan Yuehe was happy for a long time. When she got off work, she wanted to go straight home, but Gu Mannian reminded her and asked if she had received the benefits.
Oh my gosh! I'm so happy I've forgotten about food!
Section Chief Guan reflected on his actions briefly.
—
"Master Guan!"
Guan Canghai turned around and exclaimed, "Oh!" It was rare for his little daughter to come home from get off work so late.
Seeing that there was rice, flour, cooking oil, and a piece of fatty pork on the front and back of her car, I thought to myself that the treatment at the garment factory was too good. No wonder the little girl was so happy.
But, "You call me Master Guan? Call me Dad!"
Guan Yuehe put away her cheerful smile and said seriously, "Master Guan, please call me Deputy Section Chief Guan!"
Master Guan: "......"
So he came here to show off.
Old Master Guan readily changed his tune, raising his voice to a high pitch, "Oh! Deputy Section Chief Guan, you're off work?"
After shouting, he turned to Grandpa Ming with a worried look and said, "You see? My unlucky daughter is trying to show off her power to her father."
Grandpa Ming was so angry that his beard was blown askew. He glared at his old friend, who seemed to be complaining but was actually showing off, and his unlucky daughter, who couldn't stop laughing. He took two quick steps, swept his leg across the road, and got into the car, which rattled and sped into Ginkgo Alley.
Guan Yuehe only showed off to her own family once, and didn't go out to show off.
But she couldn't hide it at all; the elderly folks were very well-informed!
Of course, Guan Yuehe was happy not only about the promotion, but also about the raise.
Salary increases gradually with seniority, generally every two years.
She got a promotion and an increase in seniority this time, and will receive 43 yuan a month from now on, a full 4.5 yuan increase!
Lin Yiku sent a letter back saying that he would be going home for the Chinese New Year in early February and asked them not to send letters during this period, as he had gone to the army for training.
Alright, when he comes back, he won't be greeted by Comrade Guan, but by Section Chief Guan!
"Section Chief Guan, stop laughing and come help me with the yarn." Lin Sitian interrupted her silly laughter.
"Understood, Dr. Lin!"
The two of them kept calling each other "Section Chief Guan" and "Dr. Lin," showing off endlessly, which made Aunt Fang and Jiang Guiying, who were sitting in the living room, laugh.
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