117 New Stage
When Guan Yuehe went to the office to submit her thesis, she overheard the teachers discussing some unusual behavior among the undergraduate students.
Teacher Ye chuckled and chimed in, "I've noticed it too. Everyone's started running, especially the freshmen. I don't know what's gotten into them."
Guan Yuehe believes that it might have something to do with her.
Guan Yuehe lowered her head, seemingly unconcerned, and waited for Teacher Qin to give her feedback.
But Professor Qin was multitasking, reading her paper while joining in the conversations of other professors, saying, "When it comes to running and exercise, we can't compare to Xiao Guan and his class of students."
When the other teachers looked over, Guan Yuehe said without changing her expression, "It's easier to learn after running."
"Yes, to do academic research, your body has to keep up with your mind."
Guan Yuehe suppressed a laugh, but thankfully, after reading her paper this time, Professor Qin finally relaxed and said that it didn't need to be revised, which made her happy.
"You're graduating soon, why are you so happy?" Teacher Qin smiled along with her.
“Of course.” Guan Yuehe held up her hand. “I studied at university for almost five years!”
She spent five years in primary school, and only three years in junior high and high school combined, but she spent five years in university! She never dared to imagine that she could study for so many years!
"There's only a little over a month left. I'll make sure to finish the remaining courses diligently."
"Don't worry, I'll definitely stand guard until the very end!" Guan Yuehe packed up her thesis materials, said goodbye, and left.
Time flew by and it was already the end of May, and the weather finally warmed up completely.
When Lin Yiku came over on her day off, she helped her bring home all the thick quilts and warm clothes from her dormitory.
"Is the house all renovated?"
"It's all fixed. We just finished painting it white the day before yesterday. We'll move in in a few days."
Lin Yi has been busy at home on his days off to renovate the house, and hasn't been able to visit her for two weeks. This is all thanks to the help of the elders in the family; otherwise, with his long hours, he probably wouldn't have been able to keep her busy until she graduates.
"That's great! We can live in a new house next time we go back!" Guan Yuehe picked up a dumpling and handed it to Lin Yiku. "Comrade Lin Yiku, the organization is very satisfied with your performance. This is a reward."
Lin Yiku glanced around, and seeing no one, she lowered her head and began to eat.
Guan Yuehe covered her mouth and chuckled, "We look like we're doing something wrong."
Speaking of acting like thieves, their first visit to the guesthouse outside the school was even more so. A legally married couple, acting like they were doing something shameful.
But they were unable to book a room at the guesthouse that time either.
They ran into graduate students from other majors in the Spanish department; that classmate and his partner were also at the guesthouse. The four of them stood silently facing each other outside the guesthouse for a long time, and in the end, none of them went in.
The small guesthouse outside the school was only one floor, and Guan Yuehe felt the rooms weren't very soundproof. It was so embarrassing.
They both tacitly avoided the word "guesthouse" afterward, and because they had saved up a lot of family planning supplies at home, they were no longer a scarce commodity.
"By the way, the Ministry of Foreign Trade came to talk to me."
"They'll probably assign me to the Foreign Investment Management Department first. After I report for duty, I'll probably start working." Guan Yuehe sighed. "Teacher Qin had someone compile a list of books related to foreign trade and economic cooperation for me. It's giving me a headache."
For her, it was akin to learning German for the first time, perhaps even more difficult. She could understand the individual words, but when put together, they became incredibly complex.
"Really, I'd rather learn a new language." Guan Yuehe glanced around and said regretfully, "Why didn't the Ministry of Foreign Affairs come and arrest me?!"
"You've mastered German, which is so difficult, so this little bit of theoretical knowledge won't be a problem for you."
"I'm better at hands-on experience."
That's what she said, but Guan Yuehe took a deep breath and ate the dumplings in big mouthfuls, as if she wanted to chew up all the theoretical knowledge related to foreign trade and economics and stuff it into her stomach.
Lin Yiku silently handed her the water bottle.
Married for three years, he knew her too well. She sighed, but she didn't actually need anyone's advice. He figured that in a while, she'd be strutting around showing off her newfound knowledge.
He was more concerned about whether she would have to go to work immediately after graduation.
"This year, the Fengshou Brigade is implementing a household contract system. Your aunt has contracted a piece of land to grow apple trees, and some people in the brigade have also contracted fish ponds to raise fish. Your aunt is asking you to go back and visit her during your vacation."
Guan Yuehe became interested. "Now that the family farms are contracted out, how are the harvests calculated? Do they only grow fruit trees? How are the grain taxes calculated?"
Lin Yiku really didn't know the specifics of how to calculate it, he just asked her if she would have time after graduation, and that she could take a day or two to go back and visit.
"Yes! After the exams at the end of next month, I still need to find someone to get my graduation certificate, a certificate, and transfer my academic records... I'm going to register on July 7th, so taking two days off shouldn't be a problem."
The people from the foreign trade department came over and talked to her about her future work, and the topic turned to the reporting date. The supervisor thought she could go there right after graduation, but who knew she had a lot of things to do and insisted on setting the reporting date for the 7th.
Unfortunately, she hadn't finished her classes this semester, so the school wouldn't issue her graduation certificate early.
"I'll adjust the time and we can go back and take a look together."
—
With the final exam over, Guan Yuehe's studies at Peking University have finally come to a complete end.
Before she could even feel sad, the Spanish major graduate students and her roommates invited her to go to the cafeteria to celebrate her graduation.
"Yuehe, let's keep in touch."
"I'll try to find you at the Ministry of Foreign Trade in the future!" Lan Yunqin encouraged herself.
But soon, everyone's emotions changed somewhat abruptly.
"The thought that there will be no one to lead the way in reading aloud in the future makes me feel empty."
Guan Yuehe chuckled and said gloatingly, "Now that I'm not the shameless one standing in front, you'll have to find someone else to stand in front."
"When rushing to the cafeteria, you need someone who can run fast to lead the way, otherwise it's easy to fall behind." Some classmates joked along.
In a small corner of the cafeteria, a group of people were laughing loudly one moment and secretly turning away to wipe away tears the next. Passing students were puzzled, and some even stopped to see what was going on.
Although there is much reluctance, all good things must come to an end.
Compared to her worker-peasant-soldier university classmates, her current classmates are doing quite well; probably a third of them stayed in Beijing. Unlike her former classmates, who are scattered in all directions, some of whom she hasn't contacted for many years.
Ye Zhi Qiu didn't allow her to refuse, and emphasized, "This is our thank-you gift to our senior sister for leading us in self-study, answering our questions, and taking us to the cafeteria!"
"The students have given feedback that they go there specifically to get the food, and the food does indeed taste better."
Guan Yuehe expressed her sincere gratitude.
She feels that in the past two years, in addition to gaining knowledge, she has also gained many like-minded friends.
But time didn't allow her much time for reflection. The day after the exam, she started working on her graduation certificate. Because she needed to provide various certificates, she had to make numerous trips to the teachers' offices.
After completing all the formalities and receiving her graduation certificate, Guan Yuehe finally returned to her dormitory to pack up her bedding.
Some unused study materials were left to Lan Yunqin, and she was instructed to give them to the next batch of junior students if she no longer needed them.
These materials contain many of her notes and represent a lot of her hard work; they can't be wasted.
Fortunately, Lin Yiku has helped her transport her books back home several times recently; otherwise, she would probably have had to make two trips to move all her things.
A roll of bedding, a large duffel bag, a washbasin and thermos in a net bag, and a tape recorder.
That's all she's taking with her.
Cheng Shuang corrected her mistake, "You also took a whole head full of knowledge with you!"
Guan Yuehe was truly impressed by her and gave her a thumbs up, saying, "Teacher Cheng really knows how to praise people!"
Cheng Shuang, like her, also received her graduation certificate.
But after Cheng Shuang stayed at the school, transferring her academic records became much easier. She completed the process earlier than Cheng Shuang and even received her dormitory key, and was about to move into the single teacher's dormitory that Cheng Shuang was assigned.
"If it weren't for sending you there, I would have moved in long ago."
Guan Yuehe exposed her lie, "You asked me to help you move most of it yesterday. There are only a few odds and ends left. You can just roll them up and take them with you when you come back later."
"Don't worry about it. When you go back to school, I'll have to bring you meal tickets." Cheng Shuang helped her carry the net bag. "Let's go, let's see you out. I still have to go back and tidy up my new dorm."
Her roommates hadn't gone home yet either, as if they had planned in advance to see her off at the school gate.
The group of people greeted each other, and her luggage was quickly divided up. She was then urged to go downstairs, as if she were being chased away by a group of people.
So she couldn't help but get teary-eyed.
But when they went downstairs, they saw the dormitory supervisor staring intently at them. Guan Yuehe waved to her and said, "Auntie, I've graduated. Goodbye!"
The dorm supervisor was unusually mild-mannered, but her words were anything but kind: "You can't come to the dorm after you graduate."
The group burst into laughter.
Guan Yuehe, carrying a cart full of her belongings and what Teacher Cheng called "a head full of knowledge," headed out of the school gate.
He waved without turning his head, "Let's keep in touch!"
She was finally not the last one to see her classmates off, and she was all smiles. She wondered if any of the classmates behind her were secretly pouting.
The sun at the end of June was so hot it made your eyes water; you need to eat two popsicles to feel better when you get back!
This time, instead of taking the bus, I rode my bike home for nearly two hours, the bell jingling all the way.
Guan Yuehe felt that she had stepped into another stage of her life.
It will also usher in another unknown, new, and challenging phase.
—
"Oh, Yuehe's back from her vacation?"
"Yes, I graduated."
"Yuehe, your new house looks great."
"Yes, I graduated!"
Less than half an hour after Guan Yuehe returned home, half the neighbors in the alley knew that she had successfully graduated and returned home.
"Look how smug she is... isn't it just because she's going to work in the foreign trade department?" Some people thought she was just showing off on purpose.
The people around didn't respond. If they could also work at the Ministry of Foreign Trade, they would probably make a big fuss about it in the alley for half a day.
Once home, Guan Yuehe didn't even have time to unpack her luggage; she first took a tour of the house, both inside and out.
The renovation of this house is pretty much in line with the original plan.
The large room on the far left is her and Lin Yiku's bedroom and study, while the one on the far right is a small bedroom. The space in the middle is separated by a wall, with the kitchen at the back and the living room at the front. Even the dining table is placed in the living room.
The outer half of the room was converted into a storage room and a bathroom.
Apart from a few small rooms, she felt that it was not much different from her original house.
Lin Yiku tidied up the house very well, almost completely replicating the previous layout. Only the bedroom curtains were changed.
Yuanbao, who was at home on summer vacation, heard a noise across the street and ran over to see what was going on. He found that Guan Yuehe had returned and greeted her familiarly. He even followed Guan Yuehe to check out the house.
“I told my dad that my aunt’s house is beautiful and I want to change it to look like that.”
But Mom said she was dreaming and didn't agree to tear down the house and renovate it.
"Auntie, do you buy a color TV?"
She wanted to buy it, but her mother said she was dreaming.
Guan Yuehe shook her head without thinking, "Auntie doesn't have money, she can't afford it."
"Huh?" Yuanbao scratched his head. "But everyone says you're a rich dog."
The neighbors in Ginkgo Hutong all agreed that anyone who could afford to buy a house for 6,000 yuan must be incredibly wealthy.
Guan Yuehe: "...That's no longer the case."
She and Lin Yiku saved up their wages for several more months and finally had a little savings, but they were far from being "rich."
There are definitely quite a few wealthy people in this alley.
While dealing with the talkative Yuanbao, she packed her luggage, put the books she brought back on the bookshelf, and went in and out of the bedroom and living room.
A little while later, Jiang Guiying came over with a basket of eggs and asked her if she was hungry.
"No, where did so many eggs come from?"
Jiang Guiying wanted to roll her eyes, but seeing Yuanbao there, she held back and instead asked her if she would need to go to the school to complete the procedures again.
"It's all done."
Guan Yuehe realized that her little tagalong was missing. "Is Guyu not home?"
She knew her sister was going to study at the court this summer and wouldn't be home much during her break, and today wasn't Sunday either...
Jiang Guiying smiled when Gu Yu was mentioned. "Your second brother came to the city the day before yesterday, and she insisted on going back with him. She stayed in our hometown playing with cats and dogs and didn't want to come back. Yi Ku said that when you go back to your hometown for the holidays, you can bring her back then."
After Yuanbao was sent home, Guan Yuehe raised her chin to the basket of eggs on the table and asked, "What exactly happened?"
She hadn't missed her mother's expression just now; it was obvious something was wrong.
Jiang Guiying scoffed, "Your sister-in-law, of course."
Guan Yuehe immediately sat down, ready to listen carefully.
"Lin Yuzhen's husband made some nice promises before, saying he could get Weiwei into the technical school of the machinery factory. Some time ago, her husband's boss was found to be embezzling and was arrested. Her husband is fine, but at this critical juncture, how dare he still arrange for Weiwei to get into the machinery factory?"
At times like these, it's best to keep a low profile and keep a low profile.
But it's difficult for Weiwei.
Guan Yuehe immediately thought of the spot her brother-in-law had. Sure enough, Jiang Guiying mentioned it the next second.
"I don't know where your sister-in-law found out, but she said your brother-in-law's family had a spot in a vocational school, so she thought she could ask your brother-in-law to help her get in touch and pay for it."
Jiang Guiying sighed, "Man Nian mentioned to me in May that he originally wanted to give the spot to Weiwei, but your elder brother and sister-in-law had made arrangements and planned to sell the spot to a colleague in the factory."
"This spot has already been sold, and Lin Yuzhen's husband can't help anymore. What a mess this is!"
"They've all been sold, what's the point of connecting them?" Guan Yuehe also wanted to sigh. Her elder brother and sister-in-law had been busy all this time, but it was all for nothing.
Oh, it's not entirely a complete loss, but the most crucial benefit didn't come to us. Wouldn't that make us furious?
Jiang Guiying was helpless and waved her hand, "It's none of my business. The two of them have plans but don't tell their family. Who's going to chase after them and fawn over them?"
But getting into a technical school meant securing a stable job, and it was impossible for Jiang Guiying not to feel regret. After all, she had practically raised Weiwei, and in the end, she had missed a great opportunity.
"If your sister-in-law comes here crying, let her cry."
Guan Yuehe pouted, "Why would she come here to cry? I don't believe she has the nerve to come looking for me."
"But what does this have to do with eggs?" Guan Yuehe returned to her original question.
“Your older brother asked Aiguo to bring back a lot of eggs. We were worried that they would spoil since we couldn’t finish them all. It’s good that you’re back.”
Since we brought them for her, she ate them. What were Brother Guan's intentions in bringing eggs home?
When they come back, it's all about trivial matters and everyday squabbles.
Jiang Guiying didn't continue, but Guan Yuehe could tell that she was holding a grudge.
"I brought them back. I'm taking advantage of the good weather to wash them." Jiang Guiying saw her take out the thin quilt and sheets and put them on the sofa, and then went to find a laundry basin.
"Don't bother, I have to go to the factory later."
She was assigned to the foreign trade department and would no longer be a worker at Zhuoyue Garment Factory. She had to go through the resignation process and would no longer be able to receive wages from Zhuoyue Garment Factory.
Speaking of which, even though she went to pursue her postgraduate studies for the past two years, the factory still counted her as a senior employee. In January of this year, her salary even increased by two yuan, which was due to the increase in her seniority.
Before starting the new phase, we must say goodbye to the Excellent Garment Factory.
Guan Yuehe pulled out her worker's certificate and other supporting documents.
She had used this worker's ID for fourteen years and had kept it carefully, but you could still tell it was very old.
She looked down at the worker's ID card in her hand; the photo inside was taken when she was sixteen.
Seeing her sighing while stroking her worker's ID card, Jiang Guiying chuckled and said, "Reluctant to part with it?"
"I've dedicated my youth to Zhuoyue Garment Factory, giving it the best years of my life, so of course I'm reluctant to leave!" Guan Yuehe said, then added, "I'll also miss our Factory Director Zheng, Sister Zhu, Sister Li Zheng, and the gatekeeper..."
There were also many older brothers and sisters in the workshop who had helped her.
But what's gratifying is that she and Zhuoyue Garment Factory have grown together and both have gotten better and better over the past fourteen years.
"The more I talk about it, the more upset I get, so I'm going out."
It's so hot today, it's making her eyes water all the time.
So, before entering the Zhuoyue Garment Factory, she first visited the supply and marketing cooperative outside the factory.
"Comrade, do you have any more cream popsicles?"
"have!"
How many?
Seeing that she was looking for trouble, the sales clerk asked impatiently, "How much do you want?"
"Uh, a hundred?"
—
"Section Chief Guan?! Oh, selling popsicles today?" The gatekeeper had sharp eyes and recognized Guan Yuehe at a glance.
Section Chief Guan, who sells popsicles, chuckled as he opened the styrofoam box behind him, took out a popsicle, and handed it to him, saying, "Please have one."
"I was expecting you to hand out wedding candy, but I didn't expect you to give out popsicles instead!"
The gatekeeper smiled and accepted the popsicle, congratulating, "The factory has heard about it for a while now. Section Chief Guan is too outstanding; he was snatched up by the foreign trade department before he even graduated. Our factory is a big step behind!"
Guan Yuehe was beaming from the compliment and quickly offered her another one, saying, "Your compliments are the most flattering."
After having a good time, Guan Yuehe casually asked if the offices of the various departments in the factory had been moved.
"Nothing's changed, it's still the same." The gatekeeper teased her, "The bicycle shed is still in the same old place too."
Guan Yuehe first went to the bicycle shed to park, then carried a box of popsicles to the planning department.
Some state-owned enterprises are now conducting pilot reforms, and the department most affected by these reforms is probably the planning department.
When Tao Cheng first saw her, he was stunned for a few seconds before he realized, "Section Chief Guan is back!"
"Section Chief Tao, there's no need to be so enthusiastic." Guan Yuehe called over familiar old colleagues to get popsicles. There were also two unfamiliar faces, and seeing that they were too shy to come over, she took them and stuffed them into their hands.
"Section Chief Guan, I heard you've been assigned to the Ministry of Foreign Trade. You'll be at least a deputy section chief there, right?"
Tao Cheng is too jealous to bear it anymore.
I finally got promoted to deputy section chief after Guan Yuehe left. I thought Guan Yuehe would go back to the factory after graduation, but I didn't expect her to get into a ministerial-level unit. I can't even catch up with her, I'm too embarrassed to be jealous.
"No, no." Guan Yuehe changed the subject and asked where Section Chief Long had gone, secretly thinking: He's a full-fledged division chief!
She's not the same little Guan who loves to show off anymore!
"Section Chief Long... here he is back."
Before Section Chief Long even got close, he heard a lively noise from the office. Just as he was wondering what was going on, he saw Section Chief Xiao Guan, whom he hadn't seen in a long time, greeting him.
Section Chief Guan is still the same Section Chief Guan as before, always cheerful, and he hasn't become arrogant even though he's about to become a big leader.
The commotion in the planning department attracted colleagues from the factory office. Fortunately, Guan Yuehe could save herself the trouble by simply going over and calling them over to get popsicles.
"Sister Zhu, this is for you."
Sister Zhu patted her on the shoulder, "The factory manager even mentioned you, saying you've really made Zhuoyue Garment Factory proud!"
Guan Yuehe's eyes lit up; this was truly high praise!
Sister Zhu found it amusing; he was still the same Xiao Guan who couldn't take praise.
"Hey, stop chatting for now. Let Section Chief Guan go deliver popsicles to the other departments first. Otherwise, there will only be a puddle of ice water left at the end. What will the comrades at the end eat?"
"Yes, yes, Section Chief Guan, come to our office for a chat later!"
Guan Yuehe carried the styrofoam box around a large circle. As the box gradually became lighter, she was asked in almost every department she visited: "Should we call you Section Chief Guan or Director Guan from now on?"
"Of course, it's still Section Chief Guan!" How friendly!
It's a pity that the factory director and Wang Zheng went to the city for a meeting to discuss how to advance the second batch of state-owned factory pilot reforms, and Zhuoyue Garment Factory was on the list of the second batch of pilot reforms.
However, there will be a time when they meet again, and she will thank the factory manager in person then.
I took the empty foam box to the personnel department and completed the resignation procedures in just a few minutes, but we chatted there for a full ten minutes.
As she drove the empty foam boxes out of the factory gate, the gatekeeper poked his head out and waved to her, "Section Chief Guan, come back to the factory often when you have time!"
"Okay!"
I stood outside the gate for a while. Familiar red slogans, but never really remembered; red brick office building; the loudspeaker announcing a workers' meeting tomorrow morning...
Just as Guan Yuehe started to leave, a Wuxing brand sedan slowly drove into the factory, and the gatekeeper was busy opening the gate.
"Was that Xiao Guan who just came back?" That imposing figure was definitely him.
The gatekeeper chuckled and replied to the factory manager, "Yes, Section Chief Guan came back to treat everyone to popsicles and to process his resignation. He just left."
Wang Zheng said regretfully, "I didn't run into him."
"There is ample time."
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