Chapter 25 025 Watermelon
Three people passed the recruitment exam in Ginkgo Hutong, but only two were actually hired.
There was a man who scored high on his exams, but he couldn't use a sewing machine, let alone make shoes. He couldn't even thread a needle as well as an elderly person with poor eyesight. So, despite his high exam scores, he still failed the job interview.
Many people felt it was a pity; if the garment factory had hired office workers, he might have been hired on the street. But this time, the factory made it clear that they only wanted temporary factory workers, and those hired would be making shoes.
The final list of accepted employees was released on Sunday afternoon, and I have to go to work the next day, Monday, with my graduation certificate and household registration booklet.
The garment factory didn't hire many workers this time, but it's growing rapidly, and everyone thinks it might continue to hire in the future.
Originally, they didn't plan to let their child continue in junior high school, but now they've changed their minds. And those who didn't usually care about their child's grades are now keeping a close eye on them.
"You could say Yuehe was lucky? She joined the factory early, back when there were no exams, and the clothes she made weren't even as good as Xu Cheng's yet."
"Come on. You didn't say that before. You said Yuehe was just messing around, finding herself a new factory with only that many people, and you didn't know if it could last a year or two."
"Who could have predicted that the garment factory would get better year after year? You were one of them, weren't you? The garment factory was hiring temporary workers the year before last, and your daughter wanted to apply, but you didn't let her. When Xu Cheng went, didn't you also say that small factories outside couldn't compare to car factories?"
"..." Just as she was about to retort, she suddenly noticed the people queuing behind her and immediately put on a smiling face to greet them: "Teacher Xie, are you out to use the restroom?"
Xie Zhenhua: "......"
Early in the morning, the people queuing here are either using the toilet or cleaning toilets, do you even need to ask?
He doesn't usually interact with people in the alley, and his neighbors don't like to chat with him; at most, they'll nod as a greeting. But today, quite a few people came over to say hello to him.
The person who greeted him had a simple idea: Xie Zhenhua was a college graduate and a middle school teacher, so maybe they could ask him for help to fill in any job openings in the future.
The neighbors were welcoming, but Xie Zhenhua maintained his aloof attitude.
Meanwhile, Zhang Desheng, the primary school teacher, glared at Xie Zhenhua from behind, gritting his teeth. He then loudly lectured the people in front of and behind him on the principles of education, saying that if you don't learn well in primary school, it will be even harder to learn well in junior high...
Zhang Desheng glanced at Xie Zhenhua, who was engrossed in the paper in his hand. Zhang Desheng felt even more frustrated.
—
As Guan Yuehe was leaving for work, she passed by the front yard where Bai Xianghong's sister-in-law was washing clothes. She greeted her warmly, saying, "Xianghong left home at seven o'clock on her first day of work."
So diligent.
But then I thought about it again, and realized that she had been just as diligent during the six months she worked as a temporary worker.
Perhaps feeling it was wrong to become lazy as soon as she was officially hired, Guan Yuehe quickened her pace and entered the office five minutes earlier than usual, while also filling the office thermos with hot water.
I asked Brother Wang for a small pinch of tea leaves, brewed myself a large cup of tea, and couldn't resist crossing my legs to read the newspaper.
"Xiao Guan, you're up so early today?" Sister Zhu asked with a look of surprise.
Xiao Guan wasn't sure if Sister Zhu was praising her or insulting her, so she chuckled and changed the subject: "Sister Zhu, will our factory still have watermelons to distribute this year?"
Sister Zhu chuckled and pointed at her with her finger, saying, "Even a dog's nose isn't as sharp as yours. The purchasing department just brought back two truckloads of watermelons."
"Oh!" Guan Yuehe's mouth dropped open in surprise. She immediately put down her crossed legs and jogged downstairs to the purchasing department.
Two tractors were parked in the open space in front of the purchasing department, and security personnel were helping to unload the goods. Baskets of watermelons were being carried down.
Gu Mannian was busy running around, and finally after unloading the goods, he went to the finance department to reconcile the accounts and settle the money with the production team accountant who came with him. Only then could he squat at the door to take a breather.
Looking up, Gu Mannian saw Guan Yuehe helping out among the security guards, carrying watermelons and weighing them. Gu Mannian was truly impressed; even a lazy blockhead could become diligent when it came to food.
As soon as the latest announcement came over the loudspeaker, all the workers in the garment factory cheered.
The fifty temporary workers who just arrived today had their eyes light up. They were getting welfare benefits the moment they entered the factory?!
Wait, isn't this only for regular employees?
As soon as the afternoon shift ended, the temporary workers in the sports shoe workshop were dawdling and hesitating when the workshop foreman came over and urged them, "Hurry up and line up. The first one in line can pick a big one."
A group of people immediately rushed out.
Bai Xianghong ran fast, and just as she caught up with the group ahead, she saw Guan Yuehe come out carrying a large basket.
Each person gets one melon, and the rest can be bought by workers with their work IDs, but only one melon can be bought at a time, and once they're sold out, they're gone.
I bought Guan Yuehe because I was near the front of the line.
"Sister Yuehe!"
When Guan Yuehe looked over, her eyes were almost slits from smiling. She said happily, "The watermelons are big this year, so you'll get to pick a big one. I'm going back now."
He turned around and went to the purchasing department. "Gu Mannian, can I borrow your bicycle?"
As Gu Mannian handed her the car key, he said, "I already told you I'd hold it for you in advance, why did you bother queuing up?"
"It only tastes good when you snatch it. You don't understand." Anyway, she had the advantage of being close to the source, and no one else could act as quickly as her.
After getting the car keys, she noticed Gu Mannian staring at her and frowned. "You said you could lend me your bicycle, what's wrong? Are you going back on your word?"
She stared back, as if to say, "If you dare say it, I'll throw a punch."
Gu Mannian muttered to himself: "Can't you just talk things out instead of resorting to violence? Look at your sister, she's not like that..."
After Guan Yuehe glanced at her watch again, Gu Mannian finally spoke, but his voice was as soft as a fly's buzz, "I heard your sister brought her boyfriend home for dinner on Sunday?"
"...You're quite well-informed." Guan Yuehe waited for him to continue.
"What did your family say?"
“Look at my sister, if she thinks it’s good, no one can stop her.” Guan Yuehe suddenly felt the keys in her hand were burning hot. “You’re not still thinking of asking me to help you pursue my sister, are you? Forget about it, I really can’t do it.”
If she does it, her sister will scold her to death.
"Fine, fine, I won't lend you the car, but I'll give you the keys back."
"...Then you don't need the meat I brought back." Gu Mannian said expressionlessly, "Do you think I usually act like a bad guy who would ruin other people's relationships?"
Guan Yuehe: !!!
"Comrade Gu Mannian, you're definitely not that kind of person! My sister is so blind to have missed out on such a good comrade as you!" Guan Yuehe praised him to the skies, from his work performance to his appearance, before earnestly reminding him, "Don't tell my sister what I just said. Even if you do, she won't believe you, and she might even make me beat you up. Understand?"
Gu Mannian: "......"
Comrade Guan Yuehua is not that kind of person!
Finally, Guan Yuehe managed to borrow a bicycle and even bought half a chicken without needing a ticket.
Before leaving, he rubbed salt into Gu Mannian's wounds, saying, "Don't worry, I'll ask Xie Dongxue to introduce you to someone. You'll still be able to get married."
Gu Mannian, standing behind him, was so angry that he wanted to take back the meat he had sold.
Guan Yuehe rode the bicycle she had borrowed from Gu Mannian, the bamboo basket on the back seat was completely covered.
Guan Yuehe called Weiwei and Jingjing, who were playing with spinning tops at the entrance of the alley, and rushed home. Only after she pushed her cart into the No. 2 courtyard did someone ask curiously, "What good stuff did you buy? Did the clothing factory give you some welfare?"
"Why would they give out benefits when it's neither a holiday nor a festival? Yuehe must have bought it from outside."
No sooner had he finished speaking than Bai Xianghong returned carrying a large watermelon, head held high and chest puffed out with a smug look, as if he had received an award for outstanding worker.
"Hey! Where did you buy this watermelon? Is it a new arrival from the supply and marketing cooperative? I'll go home and get the money right now."
"If it wasn't bought from outside, did your factory send it to you? You really sent it?!"
No wonder Yuehe just brought back a big basket.
When Guan Yuehe returned home, she unloaded the baskets. Just then, Jiang Guiying was pulled over by Weiwei and Jingjing, saving her the trouble of calling for help over the wall.
"Mom, put the watermelon in the bucket first, then I'll go back to the car."
Then, like a gust of wind, it rushed out of Ginkgo Alley.
She had previously thought that once she bought the watch, she should save up money to buy a radio, but now she feels she should buy a bicycle first. That way, commuting to and from work would be faster, and she could go cycling with Xie Dongxue and Lin Sitian on her days off!
Although she doesn't know when she'll be able to buy a bicycle, the thought that she can scrape together the three essentials (motorcycle, radio, and bicycle) on her own fills her with excitement.
He pedaled even harder.
When she returned to Courtyard No. 2, Aunt Bai's family had already cut the watermelon. Each child in the courtyard received a small piece and squatted in a circle around the persimmon tree in the front yard.
The number of children in Courtyard No. 2 is much smaller than that in Courtyard No. 3, and each branch is also doing well.
But Sun Jiawang from the Sun family was the most mischievous. After the two of them finished their share of watermelon, they ran up and reached out for more, rudely ordering, "Give me a big piece."
Grandma Bai ignored him, told the other children to go home for dinner, invited her own family members inside, and closed the door.
Sun Jiawang pouted, about to yell, when he saw Guan Yuehe return and shouted at her, "Go cut your watermelon right now and get me a big one!"
Guan Yuehe snorted coldly, "I'll cut your head off and use it as a watermelon, come here!"
Sun Jiawang was stunned at first, then realized that Guan Yuehe didn't seem to be lying. He felt a chill run down his spine and started howling in fear.
The siblings from the Northwest and Southwest looked at Guan Yuehe with bright eyes, their mouths slightly open, silently exclaiming "Wow!" again and again.
"Come on, I'll treat you to watermelon." Guan Yuehe led the two of them along, and after a few steps, she turned back and called to the three Zhou sisters who were standing there fiddling with the hem of their clothes: "You come along too!"
As for the crying and cursing coming from the Sun family's house, what does that have to do with her?
She brought back two watermelons, cut one in half, kept the other, gave it to the children and sent them home, then cut off a quarter of it and sent it to Lin Sitian's house.
"This year's watermelons are sweeter than last year's."
The other family members took a bite, smacked their lips, and shook their heads, saying, "No, it's the same as last year."
"This year's are sweeter than last year's!" Guan Yuehe insisted.
Last year, each worker in the factory was only given half an egg, and there weren't any extras to buy. This year, the quantity is much greater.
More importantly, this year's watermelon was eaten at her home, so of course it was sweeter than last year's!
Guan Yuehe held the watermelon in both hands and ate it with relish. The remaining watermelon rinds couldn't be thrown away; they could be used to make another dish.
She didn't intend to eat the half chicken she brought back alone. Jiang Guiying said it was best to make chicken soup. There wouldn't be much meat, but the soup would be enough to fill you up.
Guan Yuehe thought it was fine, the only requirement was that the chicken legs and feet not be chopped into small pieces.
Dinner was a little later than usual tonight, but when everyone was enjoying the chicken soup, they all felt that the wait was worthwhile.
There's no tradition of dividing meat before meals at home, but this time, Jiang Guiying put the whole chicken leg and feet into Guan Yuehe's bowl beforehand.
Despite the expectant looks from her two nephews and nieces, Guan Yuehe remained completely unfazed. She was the one who got the meat, so she deserved to eat the big chicken leg; she wasn't going to try to maintain a "good aunt" image.
The child might feel a little wronged, but the adults wouldn't think that way.
Well, even if someone wants to, she has to keep it to herself. If she says it out loud, she won't invite them to eat meat next time.
Before reaching for the chicken leg with her chopsticks, Guan Yuehe hesitated for a moment, then gritted her teeth, picked up the chicken foot, and placed it in her sister's bowl directly opposite her.
Guan Yuehua didn't miss the reluctance in her eyes and became suspicious. "Have you caused me trouble?"
"What trouble have I caused you? Take it or leave it, give it back!" Guan Yuehe retorted loudly.
How could Guan Yuehua possibly return it to her? She pressed her chopsticks down on the chicken foot and said, "If you don't have it, you don't have it. Why are you making such a fuss? Are you guilty?"
Guan Yuehua casually asked a question, which made Guan Yuehe even more guilty. She pretended to be ungrateful and stopped talking, keeping her head down and eating without looking at anyone.
Guan Canghai and Jiang Guiying, sitting between them, couldn't help but sigh.
You could say the two sisters don't get along, because they'd still share good things with each other. But you could also say they're close, because they could fall out at any moment.
Oh well, sometimes parents have to turn a blind eye and let them argue amongst themselves.
Have a meal!
Guan Aiguo looked at his eldest sister, then at his second sister, and finally at his own bowl, pouting aggrievedly: "Why didn't my second sister share some with me? If my eldest sister doesn't want it, then give it to me!"
The next second, the older sister slapped him on the head, "What are you doing looking like that? If you don't want to eat, go outside and stay there."
Guan Aiguo felt even more aggrieved: "..."
After dinner, Cai Ying, who lived across the street, came over with Northwest and Southwest and gave Guan Yuehe a tomato.
Since Guan Yuehe moved into Courtyard No. 2, Northwest and Southwest often came to visit her. Guan Yuehe would occasionally share some roasted melon seeds and peanuts with them, and Cai Ying would give her a tomato to thank her.
Guan Yuehe said, "You're too kind," and "I'm so sorry," as she accepted the tomatoes.
This tomato looks delicious!
If Cai Ying hadn't gone to the front yard to deliver one to the Bai family as well, Guan Yuehe could have continued to be polite.
"Look at you, all you care about is food!" Guan Yuehua fanned herself hard with her fan a few times, but in the end she didn't dare to hit her head like she had hit Guan Aiguo.
"Yes!" Guan Yuehe listed, "There's also a bicycle, a radio, and a sewing machine. Oh, and I'd like to have a new cotton-padded coat made."
"...You're dreaming."
Because the sofa was too small, the two sisters were close together even if they sat at opposite ends. Guan Yuehe was sitting cross-legged on the sofa, and when she moved, she accidentally kicked Guan Yuehua.
Guan Yuehe gasped, carefully pulled her leg back, and then secretly glanced at her sister out of the corner of her eye.
Her sister was unusually irritable today, and she guessed it was related to Gao Yuansen.
Did her sister want to have a heart-to-heart talk with her? Otherwise, why would she stay behind when her parents had already gone back?
"You're on good terms with that guy surnamed Gu from your factory?"
"Huh? Oh. It's alright." Guan Yuehe looked down at her fingers. No matter how smart her sister was, there was no way she could know what she and Gu Mannian had talked about today!
Guan Yuehua glanced at her and said calmly, "Before dating someone, it's best to learn more about their family situation. It's not enough to just see if they're a good person; you have to check the pen before buying a pig. No matter how good a person is, if their family has a lot of troubles, they can't possibly have a good life. Such families may not offer help, but they can certainly give you a lot of frustration."
"Don't just focus on having fun dating. You need to think about how to plan for the future. If the guy is completely unambitious, you'll be the one working yourself to death."
"Furthermore, if someone tells you that you should be more frugal in the future, not spend money recklessly, and that you have to think about your family, just slap them across the face and ask them how much money they spent on you before they started eyeing your money..."
Guan Yuehua spoke incessantly, and Guan Yuehe, who had been "educated," went from feeling guilty at first to being curious. When her sister got up to pour water after talking for a while, she couldn't help but ask:
"Your talks with Gao Yuansen fell through?"
Guan Yuehua said expressionlessly, "Prepare for collapse."
Guan Yuehe nodded, and after a long while, tentatively asked, "Then what do you think of that guy surnamed Gu in our factory?"
Guan Yuehua slammed the enamel mug on the table, turned around and started yelling at her: "Did you ignore what I just said? Let me see if your ears are just for decoration?"
Guan Yuehe pouted. "What's wrong with just asking?"
Guan Yuehua waited and waited, for half a month, but she still didn't hear the news that her sister and Gao Yuansen had "collapsed".
What we've been waiting for is this year's educated youth going to the countryside.
Aunt Ding couldn't get the exact location of Ding Xuewen's assignment to the countryside from Guan Yuehe and the other two, but she went to the educated youth office several times and still managed to find out.
Aunt Ding wanted the educated youth office to assign Ding Xianguang to Ding Xuewen's place, but she was refused.
The educated youth office stated that the number of educated youth to be assigned to Northeast China was full, so Ding Xianguang could only apply to Inner Mongolia or Northwest China.
Because of this, Ding Xianguang made a scene at home again, blaming Aunt Ding for dragging her feet, not getting him a job, and delaying his application to go to Northeast China.
But when Ding Xianguang made a scene, Aunt Ding softened her heart and prepared more money and coupons for him.
It is said that Ding Lao Er was particularly dissatisfied and even threatened to divide the family property.
It was much quieter when we got to the Bai family's place.
Bai Xianghong got a job as a temporary worker at the Zhuoyue Garment Factory, and then Aunt Bai transferred the job to Bai Yuejin. Both siblings had jobs and no longer needed to go to the countryside.
Before the end of July, the educated youth who had signed up to go to the countryside boarded trains and headed to various corners of the motherland to participate in construction.
After two days of quiet, Ginkgo Alley became lively again after everyone received their wages in early August.
Meanwhile, workers in the three garment production workshops and various departments of Zhuoyue Garment Factory, apart from the sports shoe workshop, began to have some free time.
Guan Yuehe was no longer "valued" by the leaders of various departments and was called to do odd jobs. As her life calmed down, she decided to learn to knit sweaters from Sister Zhu.
When she was a factory worker, her job consisted almost entirely of operating a sewing machine, with almost no rest. It's nothing like her current leisurely life; she's so idle that she even misses the days when she did odd jobs in other departments.
Guan Yuehe was startled by her own outrageous idea and quickly moved a chair to sit next to Sister Zhu to study.
While she was struggling to decide which color of yarn to buy, Xie Dongxue came to the factory office.
They weren't there to see her, but to inform them that the factory office would also be putting on a program for this year's National Day performance, and that they could start rehearsing it now while they had some free time.
Sister Zhu was very experienced, and immediately said, "Let's put on a big chorus."
But Xie Dongxue rejected it, saying, "A large chorus is enough; you need to come up with something more novel."
So, the factory office held an impromptu meeting to discuss what kind of program could be considered novel.
The oldest of the group, Sister Zhu and Brother Wang, were arguing heatedly, neither able to convince the other. Suddenly, someone joked, "Why don't we just have Comrade Xiao Guan go up and demonstrate carrying a huge rock with one hand? That would be novel enough, wouldn't it?!"
The tense atmosphere was broken, and everyone laughed, saying the show was good.
Comrade Xiao Guan shook his head: She can't!
Since no conclusion had been reached, Sister Zhu suggested that everyone go back and think about it, and then bring up their ideas for discussion at the next meeting.
She couldn't figure out what the program was about, so she went to Lin Sitian and asked her to help her think of something while she went to the department store to see which color of yarn looked good.
"You're Yuehua's sister, right?" A woman with pigtails patted her on the shoulder.
Guan Yuehe couldn't guess which of her sister's friends this was. "Who are you?"
"Oh, I'm your sister's friend. My name is Gao Yuanlin. Gao Yuansen is my brother. You should have met before."
Guan Yuehe nodded, then looked at Gao Yuanlin more closely and noticed that she did indeed resemble Gao Yuansen somewhat. However, she had almost forgotten about Gao Yuansen, so it was normal that she didn't think of him for a moment.
"What's your sister been up to lately? I can't find her to go shopping, and I haven't even seen my brother for half a month. My mom even asked my brother when he's going to bring his girlfriend home to meet us."
Guan Yuehe had been quite polite just now, but upon hearing this, her expression turned indifferent. "I don't know, I don't live at home."
"Yes, yes, I heard from your sister that you moved out as soon as you got your apartment. She bragged about it to us old classmates a lot, saying your sister is smart and hardworking, getting an apartment so early..."
Guan Yuehe was surprised for a moment. She hadn't expected that she could be associated with intelligence in her sister's eyes.
However, she soon felt normal again.
Her sister would brag about her to her friends, and she used to brag about her sister when she was little, saying that none of the old ladies in Ginkgo Alley had a sharp tongue as sharp as her sister, and that she would go back to her sister if anyone insulted her.
Disliking each other doesn't stop you from bragging about each other.
"How about this, little sister..."
Guan Yuehe shook her arm and quickly said, "Comrade Gao, please call me by my name. My name is Guan Yuehe."
Her sister calls her by her full name, and her sister's friends call her "little sister," which makes her feel very uncomfortable.
“Then I’ll call you Yuehe.” Gao Yuanlin readily changed her address. “Yuehe, could you please tell your sister that I’m inviting her to a movie this Sunday and ask her to have some free time?”
Guan Yuehe didn't dare to make a decision for her sister. She thought to herself that her sister and Gao Yuansen might have already broken up, and it was questionable whether Gao Yuanlin and her sister could still be friends in the future.
"Why don't you talk to my sister in person? I'm afraid I might pass on the wrong message. Oh dear, my yarn is going to be gone! Comrade Gao, I have something to do, I'll be going now."
"Sigh..." Gao Yuanlin frowned, unable to stop Guan Yuehe, and could only watch as she joined the line to grab the yarn. With her height and strength, she squeezed to the front of the counter in no time.
He grabbed the sales clerk, shoved the money into her hand, and said, "Excuse me, could you please give me two pounds of fine wool yarn, the blue kind?"
The saleswoman tried to pull her hand away, but couldn't. She could only take her money and go get the yarn for her.
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