Meng Sining boarded the train to Beijing alone, with a canvas bag filled with simple clothes slung over his shoulder.
She bought a sleeper ticket and stayed on the upper bunk after getting on the train. Except for eating and going to the toilet, she hardly ever got down to walk around.
The long journey was a bit boring, so Meng Sining took out a professional translation book purchased at the mall from his bag and began to read it page by page.
Since she had never been exposed to this kind of knowledge before, she felt uneasy and her fingers unconsciously stroked the pages of the book, trying to absorb more nutrients from the lines.
In contrast to the quiet aboard the train, Youcaoling Village, where Jiangtang lives, is bustling with activity. Farm work hasn't even finished when the county's oil tanker arrives.
This day was the day when the asphalt road was paved in Youcaoling Village.
As soon as the sky was getting light, the road at the entrance of the village was crowded with villagers. Everyone was whispering to each other, their eyes full of curiosity and anticipation.
When a villager saw her coming, he asked curiously, "Secretary Jiang, how long did it take to pave this asphalt road?"
Jiang Tang smiled and responded, "The construction team said that if everything goes well, it will be completed in about a week.
It will be much more convenient for us to travel in the future."
Aunt Ma beside her also agreed: "Yes, in the past, when we went to the commune, the road was bumpy and dirty, but now it is finally changing."
As they were talking, the workers on the construction team began to get busy.
They skillfully operated the machines, pouring the boiling asphalt from the tanker trucks and spreading it evenly on the road surface.
The steaming asphalt emitted a pungent smell, but the villagers' enthusiasm remained undiminished.
Several young men couldn't help but step forward to help. Under the guidance of the workers, they used tools to spread the asphalt.
Jiang Tang was also busy. She shuttled between the crowd and the construction site, helping to coordinate various matters.
Seeing some villagers curiously approaching the construction area, she quickly stepped forward to dissuade them: "Everyone, please stand back. The asphalt is very hot. Don't burn yourself."
Despite the scorching sun, construction is still proceeding intensively.
The workers' clothes were already soaked with sweat and stuck tightly to their bodies, but they were still full of energy.
Captain Luo asked the villagers to cook mung bean soup in advance, and also put some cucumbers and tomatoes chilled in water on the roadside for the staff to quench their thirst.
They were full of expectations, but they couldn't help much. All they could do was ensure the logistics.
This time two paint trucks came and laid the floor at the same time.
Jiang Tang looked at the bustling scene in front of him, feeling filled with emotion.
She knows very well that this asphalt road is not only a means of transportation, but also a road of hope for Youcaoling Village to move towards a new life.
By the evening, the day's construction came to a temporary end.
Although only a small part of the road has been paved, the villagers can already imagine the convenience in the future.
The villagers discussed excitedly: "At this rate, we will be able to walk on the new road in a few days."
"Yes, once the road is repaired, it will take more than ten minutes to get from our village to the commune."
Jiang Tang returned home, had a simple meal in her space, and then lay down on the bed.
While going to the toilet, Meng Si Ning ran into the space to relax.
Jiang Tang looked at her and asked lazily, "Did you encounter anything strange on the bus?"
"No, it's just that the space smells bad. I put all my things in the space, so I came in to relax. Have you been working again? You look so tired."
“Asphalt paving begins today.”
"That's pretty fast. Next time you hold a meeting, you can walk on the asphalt road. This is all thanks to you."
Jiang Tang laughed, she also felt that she had done something great.
In the next few days, Meng Si Ning was in the car while Jiang Tang was busy with village affairs.
Meng Si Ning came here without informing his mother in advance, so he got off the train.
Following the address on the letter, I found the translation department.
"Hello, comrade. I'm a student here to participate in the selection process for the Translation Department. Where do I register?"
The gatekeeper glanced at her and said, "Wait a moment."
After saying that, he made a phone call and a colleague came out after a while.
The early morning sunlight shines on the faded red brick walls, as if covering the building with a veil of hope, foreshadowing that she is about to embark on a new journey.
At this time, a middle-aged woman in her thirties with short hair and wearing a blue work uniform walked towards her quickly with a friendly smile on her face. She asked, "Hello, comrade, please show me your ID."
Meng Si Ning hurriedly gave her his quota letter, recommendation letter, and work permit.
After checking everything was correct, the female comrade smiled and extended her hand, introducing herself: "My name is Lin Su, and I'm in charge of the logistics of this selection. Come with me, I'll take you through the registration procedures."
Under the guidance of Lin Su, Meng Si Ning entered the translation department's compound.
As you enter the hall, what catches your eye is the mottled cement floor and the green-painted wall skirts.
The staff members walked hurriedly, wearing uniforms with blue, gray and green as the main colors, holding yellowed documents in their hands and discussing work content with each other.
When I arrived at the office, I saw several old wooden desks filled with documents and books.
While Lin Su sorted the documents, he introduced: "The competition for this selection is very fierce, with a total of twenty candidates participating.
The next two weeks will be intensive training, followed by a written test. After passing the written test, there will be two weeks of practical assessment.
The accommodation is in the guesthouse diagonally opposite, and you can check in with this internship certificate.
Get familiar with the environment first, and gather in the conference room at 8:00 tomorrow morning to start the first day of training."
"Okay, Director Lin." Meng Sining took the information. The paper had a faint smell of ink. She looked through it carefully and asked Lin Su questions from time to time.
After coming out of the office, Meng Si Ning decided to walk around and familiarize himself with the environment.
When she passed by the training classroom, she saw through the glass that several candidates were sitting together having a heated discussion.
One of the boys, wearing black-framed glasses and a washed-out Zhongshan suit, noticed Meng Sining and enthusiastically waved her in. "Comrade, you're here for the selection, too, right? My name is Chen Qing. Let's talk, maybe we can learn from each other."
Meng Sining walked into the classroom with a smile and joined their discussion.
During the conversation, I learned that many of these candidates had relevant translation experience, and Meng Sining felt tremendous pressure.
But she secretly encouraged herself and decided to give it her all.
As night fell, Meng Si Ning came to the guesthouse next door.
She followed the crowd and followed a few comrades she met today into a triple room. There were three simple wooden beds in the room. The sheets were patched but washed clean.
At this time, the other two lesbians were already in the house.
A woman with short hair and a gray khaki jacket stood up first and greeted with a smile: "Hello, my name is Sudi, I'm from this city, and we'll be roommates from now on."
Another girl with a ponytail and a blue twill top also stood up and said, "My name is Zhou Liqiu, from Jiangsu Province. Nice to meet you."
Meng Si Ning responded with a smile and placed the canvas bag beside his bed: "Hello, my name is Meng Si Ning, from Xinliang, nice to meet you."
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