Chapter 29 Two Updates

On the first day of work in the 1970s, Lin Xiang woke up very early.

She didn't have a watch, so when she got up and went downstairs in her linen pajamas to collect her dress, she glanced at the clock on the living room wall and saw that it was only twenty past six.

There were few entertainment activities in the 1970s, and with kerosene lamps and electricity shortages, people got used to going to bed early and getting up early.

Lin Xiang has been here for a month and has almost adjusted her previous work schedule of staying up late, not getting enough sleep, and feeling groggy the next day and needing coffee to stay alive.

There were noises coming from the kitchen. Feng Li was cooking porridge and preparing salted vegetables on the stove. Seeing that Lin Xiang had already gotten up, she smiled and said, "Why don't you sleep a little longer? The food factory is not far away. We can make it in time."

"Aunt Feng, I might be a little excited, so I woke up after getting enough sleep."

Lin Xiang went upstairs to change her clothes, washed up, and went to the kitchen to help. Not long after, Zhou Yuezhu also came downstairs yawning.

Captain Zhou arranged an accounting job for his daughter in the army's logistics department. She will start the job next week. Zhou Yuezhu still has a few days of leisure time and goes to bed late every day.

I got up early today just to catch up with Lin Xiang on her first day at work.

Feng Li specially prepared a sumptuous breakfast, including corn porridge, steamed buns made from two-grain flour, and diced pickled vegetables, and opened a can of shrimp sauce.

"Here, this is what your factory produces." Feng Li introduced it to Lin Xiang, "After all, it's the army's own factory, and they usually give benefits to military families. It tastes really good."

The dark red can has the words "119 Food Factory" printed in black, with the words "Shrimp Sauce" in bright red and large letters in the middle, giving it a rustic feel.

Lin Xiang took a bite of the shrimp sauce. It was salty, fresh and rich. It was a perfect accompaniment to rice porridge or steamed buns. The taste was really good, worthy of being the food factory's flagship product.

"Aunt Feng, Yuezhu, I'm going to work!" After breakfast, Lin Xiang dressed neatly and prepared to go.

Feng Li kindly said, "Okay, drive slowly on the way, and be sweet when you get to the factory. If you don't understand anything, just ask. I have a good relationship with the workshop manager of the shrimp sauce production workshop 1 in Factory 1. If you encounter any problems in Factory 2, you can go to her. Her name is Xie Limei, you can just call her Aunt Mei. I have already greeted her."

"I know, thank you, Aunt Feng." Seeing that Aunt Feng had taken care of things properly, Lin Xiang felt grateful in his heart, said goodbye to the two of them, and left.

The military compound is not far from the food factory. It takes about 20 minutes to walk there. Lin Xiang walked alone on the road. Along the way, she saw the scenery at 7:30 in the morning. The moist sea breeze was blowing in, and it was relaxing and comfortable to brush her face.

There were many military wives walking to work in the food factory on the road. Occasionally, a few of them rode past quickly on bicycles, and the ringing sound of the bicycle bells always aroused envy from others.

Bicycles are expensive nowadays, costing at least a hundred yuan. What's more important is that if you want to buy a bicycle, you need more than just money, you need a bicycle ticket, which is even harder to get, even harder to get than meat coupons, cloth coupons, and sugar coupons.

Lin Xiang was also a little envious. Who would have thought that one day she would envy others for owning a bicycle.

There was a huge crowd at the entrance of the food factory on Monday. The workers in the workshop were all wearing neatly-fitting dark grey work clothes, a shirt on top and trousers on the bottom. Because they were making food, they had to wear white sanitary caps when entering the workshop.

The entrance of Factory 1 was crowded with people, but the entrance of Factory 2, which was separated by a wall, was deserted.

Lin Xiang walked into the gate of the second factory and felt that it was deserted. Compared with the bustling factory next door, the second factory seemed to be in a state of failure.

Factory 1 is spacious, with a bluestone bungalow as the workshop, a three-story red brick office building, a canteen and dormitories, and a production line for its signature shrimp sauce and other canned seafood and candy. Factory 2 is small, with only two workshops, producing the soda line that is on the verge of being phased out due to reduced production. Workers work leisurely, chatting about family matters from time to time. The only office is a two-bedroom bungalow, not to mention a canteen or dormitories. Everyone has to go to Factory 1 for meals and accommodation.

Lin Xiang had some expectations in her heart, but she was still a little surprised at this moment. It seemed that the second factory was really in disrepair and had been abandoned.

But she is not in a hurry. She only needs to stay here for two or three months and then she can go back to the first factory.

The factory office of Factory 2 was reduced to only three people, an office director and two clerks. Director Zhao Jianjun was a little surprised that so many people were stuffed into the factory office this year.

Zhao Jianjun was a cook in the army. He had a good tongue and had been to the battlefield carrying a pot. Later, he was discharged from the army due to injury and returned to his hometown to farm. His life was difficult. When the 119th Division established a food factory, he was called back by his former leader and became a worker in the factory. Later, he became the office director of the second factory.

He was just too idle. As Factory 2 suffered repeated defeats and was gradually abandoned, he spent every day in the office reading newspapers and listening to the radio, enjoying himself.

The fifty-year-old man, with thinning hair, glanced at Lin Xiang, then looked down at the newcomer's file. He felt that it was a pity for this young female comrade who had a good education and good test performance.

I have to come to the second factory and stay for a while.

Director Tian talked to him about the situation yesterday. Comrade Lin Xiang will not stay in the second factory for long and will go back in two or three months, so he asked him to take care of her more.

Director Zhao didn't know what this operation was, but he just agreed.

"Let's welcome the new comrades!" Zhao Jianjun called two clerks and led the applause.

Applause suddenly broke out in the not-so-spacious office, and Lin Xiang was almost startled. Was the induction ceremony in the 1970s so enthusiastic?

Well, if you listen carefully, the applause is sparse.

There is some enthusiasm, but not much.

"Hello everyone, my name is Lin Xiang, and I am one of the employees recruited this time." Lin Xiang turned to Director Zhao, and then glanced at the two employees, a man and a woman, and introduced herself sincerely, "I hope to work with you all in the future, and we can work hard together and have fun."

Director Zhao, with his sparse hair on his head, clapped his hands again and smiled happily: "Oh, you are indeed a high school graduate, you are more educated. Xiao Kong and Xiao Ma, listen to what he said, how well he spoke."

In addition to the fifty-year-old Director Zhao, there is another male clerk in the office, Ma Defa, who is thirty-three years old, tall and thin, and looks listless, like a thin and long telephone pole. Next is a female clerk, Kong Zhenzhen, who is twenty-six years old, with two short braids, and she is knitting wool on her desk.

"Welcome, welcome." Ma Defa gave a symbolic welcome weakly.

Kong Zhenzhen spoke more clearly, and said to the director: "Director Zhao, you are not dissatisfied with our low education level, are you?"

Director Zhao curled his lips and quickly raised his hands to beg for mercy: "I didn't say that, don't put the blame on me."

After returning to his seat, Director Zhao pointed to the only empty long table and said to Lin Xiang, "Comrade Xiao Lin, you will sit there from now on. Xiao Ma and Xiao Kong are both nice people. If you have any questions, just ask them."

"Got it, Director Zhao."

Lin Xiang's desk is in the corner of the office, close to the door and the window on the wall. Looking out, she can see a tall Alsophila tree with lush branches and leaves, which is pleasing to the eye.

The entire office is long and deep. Director Zhao's desk is at the deepest part of the office, with a bookcase behind it, occupying the largest space. In front of Director Zhao's desk, on the right side are Ma Defa and Kong Zhenzhen's desks, one behind the other. In the middle of the left side, there is a long table with various sundries, such as thermoses, enamel cups and tea jars, and further down is Lin Xiang's desk.

When Lin Xiang looked up from her desk, the first thing she saw was a tin thermos and several teacups with the words "Learn from Comrade Lei Feng" printed on them. Through the obstruction of the utility table, she could catch a glimpse of Director Zhao facing her.

As soon as I arrived, I sat face to face with the leader, which would be the most terrifying position in later generations. I can only say that fortunately the distance between us was far enough and there was a sundry table blocking the way.

In her previous life, Lin Xiang worked in two companies after graduating from university. Both were large companies with orderly management and strict systems. Not to mention the 996 work schedule, they were also busy and never stopped, and overtime was commonplace.

So she saved some money, but she was really tired.

My colleagues at that time all said that I should just work like a slave for a few more years and wait until retirement.

But now, Lin Xiang, who has just started working, seems to have experienced the feeling of retiring soon.

That whole morning, no one assigned them any work. Director Zhao drank tea and read the newspaper all morning; Ma Defa held a pen and wrote something quickly all morning. Occasionally he would stop to bite the pen, or he would be in deep thought; as for Kong Zhenzhen, she was also not idle, she knitted all morning.

Lin Xiang observed silently for a while. As a newcomer, it was not easy for her to slack off openly. She took the initiative to find Director Zhao and ask if there was any work to do. Director Zhao lowered his newspaper, revealing his shiny head: "Work? You want to work? Then go to the workshop and take a look at the workers' production situation."

Lin Xiang finally got a job, but when she went to the two workshops, she was dumbfounded.

The old soda production line was running slowly, occasionally jamming. Many of the workers were knitting, chatting, and even eating sunflower seeds.

Lin Xiang went over and was enthusiastically given a handful of melon seeds by the workers before returning to the office.

Director Zhao saw her coming back and smiled: "You guys are all very enthusiastic about your work, right?"

Lin Xiang suddenly found it difficult to answer. How should one answer this?

It seems like an easy job, but it also seems to have pitfalls!

Before she could say anything, Director Zhao answered his own question: "Hey, did someone give you some sunflower seeds? I was saying that the conditions in our second factory are a bit simple, but we are united and we are especially enthusiastic about treating new employees! Xiaolin, give me a few too."

Lin Xiang: "..."

The whole morning passed in a daze. When there was still half an hour before the end of the morning work, there was a burst of lively conversation outside the office. The three people in the office raised their heads at the same time, put down what they were doing and stood up.

Before Lin Xiang could react, the three of them had already left quickly. Ma Defa turned around lazily and called Lin Xiang: "Hurry up, it's too late to catch up with the people in the first factory."

It only took Lin Xiang three minutes to finish checking the workshop in the morning, so she left work early. She followed three people from the office of Factory 2 to the cafeteria of Factory 1, and while the workers of Factory 1 were still at get off work, she leisurely selected dishes.

"Sister Liu, please give us two more slices of meat for the office." Kong Zhenzhen said loudly, trying to get close to the lady serving food in the cafeteria. "Especially since we just got a new employee, look how thin he is. He must eat more."

As soon as Kong Zhenzhen finished speaking, Director Zhao and Ma Defa brought their lunch boxes over, waiting for Sister Liu to get two more slices of meat.

Finally, Kong Zhenzhen did not forget to remind Lin Xiang: "Come on, Lin Xiang, call Sister Liu. When you come to the cafeteria to eat in the future, just look for Sister Liu. Sister Liu is the most active and hardworking person in the cafeteria. No one can compare to her."

Lin Xiang was really surprised by her colleagues' operation, but she still called people obediently. She heard Sister Liu behind the food window scolding with a smile: "You guys from the second factory are like leeches. I really admire you!"

Having said that, he still gave Lin Xiang a spoonful of stir-fried pork and green pepper steadily, without any shaking in his hands, and it looked like there were at least four slices of meat.

Sitting at the dining table to eat, Lin Xiang was surprised at how good the food in the factory cafeteria tasted. After they had finished eating, they slowly packed up their lunch boxes and prepared to take them outside to wash. Then, workers from the first factory rushed in, jogging or walking quickly all the way to the food window. In almost an instant, the cafeteria was filled with darkness.

Lin Xiang suddenly felt lucky that she got off work early and came to eat early. The food was so delicious!

Not to mention, once the large army arrived, there were too many people and too little meat, so the lady serving the food started to tremble with her hands. Many people only had two slices of meat in one spoonful of food, and they sighed and complained.

After the meal, Lin Xiang had a two-hour lunch break. She had never had such a long and leisurely lunch break in her previous life. She chatted with her colleagues for a while to get closer to each other. Then everyone just lay down on the table for a nap. In the afternoon, they worked another two and a half hours and left work half an hour early.

Lin Xiang still seemed confused after her first day at work. Is this real?

Am I just starting work or am I about to retire?

====

When Lin Xiang returned to Zhou's house, she smelled the fragrance of food as soon as she entered the door.

The current conditions make it impossible to eat meat and fish every day. Today, a neighbor of Zhou's brigade comrade sent four coconuts. In the afternoon, Feng Li and her daughter drank the juice of a coconut, split the coconut open, dug out the coconut meat, and fried it with pickled cabbage. Eating it really relieved the stuffiness in the hot summer.

Lin Xiang had eaten this dish in her previous life and thought it was quite fresh at that time.

The pickled cabbage has a salty aroma, the coconut flakes are fried crispy, and one or two diced yellow bell peppers are added to give it a unique flavor.

After the meal, each of them held a cut open coconut and poured the coconut juice into an enamel cup. Lin Xiang spoke sweetly about her first day at work today.

She had never seen such a working atmosphere before. Everything was new and full of a fascinating sense of indulgence. "I was a little scared. Is it like the first factory not caring about the second factory?"

She had just arrived and it was not easy for her to ask anyone directly, so she could only put her hope on Aunt Feng.

Feng Li was not surprised. "I don't know much about this, but I have heard people talk about it. When the second factory was first built, it was quite dynamic and busy all day long. Later, it failed to get going and gradually became like this. Director Tian and the factory managers above him all know about it, and it's also spread outside. The second factory will definitely merge with the first factory."

If the merger is really carried out, it will inevitably turn from an independent factory into an inconspicuous small workshop, which is a cliff-like drop in level. In addition, it is difficult for the workers of the second factory to integrate into the merger.

Feng Li comforted Lin Xiang: "Just stay there peacefully. You will be transferred to Factory 1 in a few months anyway. Factory 1 is good. The products it produces sell well, and the workers get high wages and bonuses."

Lin Xiang also thought so. It was only two or three months that passed.

In the following days, she went to work at Factory 2 every day and gradually discovered some tricks. Factory 1 had to check whether the employees were ready to report for work, but Factory 2 did not have this rule. Lin Xiang was the first one to arrive at the office every day.

There are four people in the office. The other three can always find something to do and slack off without any worries. Lin Xiang also can't find anything to do every day. Suddenly, she wondered if this was the dream job she blurted out when she was a corporate slave and was working overtime to death.

It's also very magical!

Lin Xiang spent her first days at the job in a daze. Two days later, after get off work, she ran into Song Wei, whom she hadn't seen for a while and had almost forgotten about.

"Comrade Lin Xiang!" Comrade Song Wei, who was described by He Hongyuan as a peacock with its tail spread out, trotted in front of him with a brilliant smile on his face.

Lin Xiang was almost about to forget him. It seemed that half a month had passed since the last time they met on a "blind date". Song Wei had become a little tanned, and when he smiled, he showed a mouthful of white teeth.

"Hello, Comrade Song Wei." Lin Xiang didn't feel awkward meeting her blind date, especially since they didn't even talk about blind dates that day because He Hongyuan suddenly joined in and asked to have dinner together.

The blind date for two people turned into a dinner for three people. Lin Xiang suddenly remembered that she always felt that He Hongyuan did it on purpose.

Afterwards, Song Wei never came to see me. The meaning was self-evident. It was a good thing this way as it saved us from mutual embarrassment.

"Comrade Lin Xiang, no, I'm sorry. After we had dinner last time, I went out to sea on a mission and didn't have time to tell you." Song Wei just came back from the sea yesterday, and this sea patrol mission was scheduled urgently.

Langhua Island is responsible for the security of China's southern waters. Facing the frequent attempts of other countries to intrude, our navy patrols the waters every day to conduct reconnaissance and vigilance. Such routine patrol missions usually take place every two weeks.

As a result, half a month ago, there seemed to be something unusual in the southeastern sea area, and the cruiser sent back intelligence. The troops then sent reinforcements, and Song Wei was named to board the ship.

The crisis was resolved, Song Wei went back to the dormitory and took a nap yesterday, and today he remembered to look for Lin Xiang.

After all, he went on a mission right after the blind date last time, and the blind date didn't work out, so he had a lot of things to say but didn't say them.

After seeing each other again after half a month, Comrade Lin Xiang still seemed as beautiful as before, and looked gentle and polite, which was different from his rash personality. She was also a relative of Captain He.

Song Wei thought, if he and Lin Xiang really got together, wouldn't he be on good terms with Captain He in the future?

It's really scary.

Lin Xiang naturally didn't care: "It doesn't matter, the mission requires it, you just do your thing."

Lin Xiang and Yue Zhu made an appointment to go pick coconuts. Now she exchanged a few words with Song Wei and prepared to leave.

"Hey, Comrade Lin Xiang, then...then let's go...see...tomorrow..." Song Wei called Lin Xiang and saw her looking at him with her bright eyes. Her face instantly turned red and she began to stutter as she spoke, "See...dianying..."

The word "movie" was pronounced quickly and unclearly. He was extremely nervous and thought to himself that he was such a loser.

Lin Xiang probably understood what Song Wei meant, but was a little surprised. Could it be that he still wanted to continue the blind date with her?

But...

Lin Xiang suddenly thought of someone who appeared a few days ago and kept saying that she was worried that he would be away for half a month and she would be pursued by someone else.

This person is really evil! Could it be that he had foreseen this happening?

Now listening to Song Wei's date invitation, Lin Xiang could only think of He Hongyuan.

Looking at Song Wei again, Lin Xiang really hadn't thought about the follow-up of the blind date with him. After all, a long time had passed, and she couldn't waste his time.

"Comrade Song Wei, I'm sorry, I'm busy." Lin Xiang refused tactfully.

"Ah?" Song Wei hesitated for a few more seconds, then asked bravely, "Then when, when are you free?"

Lin Xiang could hear some of Song Wei's insistence, and tentatively hinted, "Comrade Song Wei, we had a pleasant chat over dinner last time. I'm glad to be your friend. We can watch outdoor movies together if we have the chance to catch up with the troops in the future."

Song Wei's face, which had become darker due to being in the sun for half a month at sea, instantly fell. The young man did not hide his sadness after all. He could tell that Comrade Lin Xiang did not like him.

"Okay, then we'll watch an open-air movie when we have the chance in the future." Song Wei couldn't cling to his female comrade, so he raised his hand to salute her, turned around and trotted away.

Lin Xiang had rarely seen such an innocent young man. Now, looking at his back, she felt a little lonely. Oh, what a sin.

It was all He Hongyuan's fault. He had to find me and say those words before I left, which made me feel confused.

Even on the second day after she entered the second factory, when a lady in the workshop wanted to introduce her to a partner, Lin Xiang politely declined.

Annoying, He Hongyuan is really annoying!

====

Lin Xiang is pretty, has a high school education, and currently works in an office at the Second Factory. Upon learning that she is single, many people are eyeing her and want to introduce her to someone.

Lin Xiang spent nearly half a month working day after day and politely declining blind dates.

On Saturday, we got off work half an hour earlier than usual. Thinking about the holiday on Sunday, everyone was more eager to go home.

When Director Zhao left, he reminded Lin Xiang: "There's nothing to do here anyway. Going home early can also save electricity and water for the factory, and make a contribution."

Lin Xiang: "...it seems to make some sense!"

Lin Xiang was a little uncomfortable leaving the second factory at 3:30 today. Thinking that it was still early and tomorrow was Sunday, she simply went to a nearby seafood store.

She lived in Zhou's house and always ate and drank more at Zhou's house. In order not to owe too many favors, Lin Xiang often bought vegetables, seafood and snacks to bring back.

I was lucky today as I just caught up with the fishing boat and found a batch of fresh crabs on the seafood stand. They were all big male crabs with fat roe and good meat. I estimate each crab weighs more than 3 taels.

In later times, crabs were expensive. Lin Xiang, who had a decent income, felt the pain in his heart even when eating crabs. But this time it was different. Crabs were sold by the kilogram, and a kilogram of crabs cost eight cents, which really shocked Lin Xiang.

She bought two kilograms of crabs. There were only three people in the family, and crabs are cold in nature, so it is not advisable to eat too much. Brigade Commander Zhou and He Hongyuan were out at sea on a mission and had not returned yet.

Thinking of He Hongyuan, Lin Xiang paused while holding the net bag. Aunt Feng was still talking about him last night. According to the previous mission schedule, they would probably not be back until next Wednesday or Thursday.

Aunt Feng and Yuezhu missed Brigade Commander Zhou, but as for me...

I am too lazy to think about the man who talked nonsense to me before I set off.

After buying the crabs, she selected some shrimps to make porridge, and finally bought a handful of green onions. Lin Xiang carried the net bag full of seafood and the green onions home.

At four o'clock in the afternoon, the sun was setting, and Lin Xiang walked along the way, with a little sweat on his forehead. It was not yet the normal time to get off work, and there were not many soldiers coming and going in the family compound. Therefore, when he saw a tall soldier striding towards him, Lin Xiang's first reaction was to be stunned.

That tall and straight figure always seemed familiar to me.

As the man got closer, the handsome face became clearer and clearer, and Lin Xiang seemed to still hear Aunt Feng's words in her ears - I estimate she'll be back on Wednesday or Thursday.

Just thinking that there are still several days of buffer time, Lin Xiang can still breathe a sigh of relief.

After all, after hearing what He Hongyuan said ten days ago, she was not prepared at all to face him again.

As a result, at this moment, He Hongyuan, who was supposed to be floating on the sea, strode towards him, stopped half a meter away, leaned over to take the net bag from Lin Xiang's hand, and took away the crispy and tender chicken greens. When he raised his eyes again, the corners of his lips curved up, and he said naturally like an iceberg melting: "This crab is quite big. When I got off the boat, I met a fishing boat coming back from fishing. The villagers stuffed a few crabs in and brought them here."

Are the two of them so familiar with each other that they can talk about these things?

Especially since he just took the seafood and vegetables from his hands naturally, just like a soldier who came out to pick up his wife who bought vegetables.

Lin Xiang retracted her gaze, stopped thinking about it, and looked at him quietly. As a result, she ran into his smiling eyes and looked away in panic: "Are you back from the mission?"

"Yes." He Hongyuan changed his usual attitude of being frugal with words and took the initiative to explain, "This time it ended a few days earlier, otherwise it would take a few more days to come back."

"Oh." Lin Xiang, who was quite eloquent, couldn't utter a word. She just tried to walk towards Zhou's house with He Hongyuan as naturally and calmly as possible.

Just when Lin Xiang had finally calmed down her strange and nervous emotions and was thinking that the two of them would just get along like they did before, she suddenly heard He Hongyuan say something.

"I went to the guesthouse right after I got off the boat, thinking I'd tell you I was back, but the place was empty." He Hongyuan was wearing a neat military uniform, and he didn't look tired at all after drifting on the sea for half a month. He was still energetic. At this moment, in his left hand, he was holding a net bag filled with crabs and shrimps, which didn't match his temperament, and in his right hand, he was holding a bunch of green vegetables. He said with a smile on his lips, "I almost thought you were scared by what I said that day, and you took advantage of me being away for half a month and disappeared with your bag."

Lin Xiang: "..."

Lin Xiang had never thought that she would be teased by such a serious soldier like He Hongyuan. She raised her eyes and glared at him, not knowing that her face was now rosy in the sun like an April peach. This glare did not have any killing power, but seemed coquettish and cute.

She opened and closed her cherry lips and said angrily, "Why would I run?"

Just after being teased by He Hongyuan, Lin Xiang's voice was a little coquettish, without any anger.

He Hongyuan pulled up the corners of his mouth, as if he was releasing all the smiles accumulated over the years in front of Lin Xiang. There was no trace of his usual expressionless, serious and indifferent look.

"Okay, I'm glad you didn't run away."

Lin Xiang was too lazy to pay attention to him and just walked ahead. He could take the dishes if he wanted. She was just happy and relaxed.

Lin Xiang walked in front, with her two braids loosely draped behind her head, swaying back and forth.

He Hongyuan stopped teasing Lin Xiang and followed her obediently, carrying the seafood and vegetables. His eyes were full of smiles. Thinking of her angry look just now, he found it so cute.

My extremely hard heart felt like it was stroked by a light feather. It felt itchy and numb.