It was already past nine o'clock when the two brothers Zhang Guoqing and Zhang Guoqiang arrived at the county town on their bicycles. They hurriedly sped towards the county public security bureau.
The County Public Security Bureau and the Women's Federation now share a common compound. When they entered, the compound was bustling with people. Aside from a few uniformed bureau staff, the majority were women—a hallmark of the County Bureau compound. Women hold up half the sky, and more than half. Besides the Women's Federation, women also make up the majority of the staff in the compound's nursery and cafeteria.
Zhang Guoqing would stop and chat with acquaintances along the way. He would also chat with members of the Women's Federation if they came over. It took him a full half hour to walk just a few steps.
Zhang Guoqing and his brother finally arrived at Zuo Lin's office on the second floor. Zhang Guoqing knocked on the door and only opened it and went in after hearing Zuo Lin calling him to come in.
Seeing Zhang Guoqing and the others come in, Zuo Lin scolded them with a smile, "I knew you guys were coming in. I only heard Xiaowu's voice but couldn't see you. I waited for a full half an hour. Lao Er, how is it? Do you see how popular Xiaowu is? He knows everyone he goes to. I've written this note. Go to the Personnel Department to complete the paperwork, and then go to the Finance Department to register. Xiaowu knows all these places, so let him take you there. Remember to get your work clothes and wear them to work next Monday. Come up with Xiaowu when you're done. I have something else to tell you."
Zhang Guoqiang nodded and replied respectfully, "Uncle, I understand. I'll go through the formalities with Xiaowu first and come up later."
Zuo Lin nodded, waved to the two brothers, and told them to go quickly.
Zhang Guoqing led Zhang Guoqiang out and brought him to the innermost room not far away. He knocked on the door and shouted, "Sister, are you there? I'm Xiaowu, and I'm coming in."
A cheerful laugh came from inside, "Come in, the door is not locked."
When Sister Lin, a clerk in the Personnel Department, saw Zhang Guoqing push the door open, followed closely by a man who looked similar to him, she stared at him curiously and asked, "What are you doing? You're coming to me instead of Director Zuo. I'm surprised you're coming."
Zhang Guoqing pushed his second brother to sit down. He leaned against the table and said with a smile, "You are really capable of this. Uncle Zuo can't do it. Where are Aunt Huang and Four Eyes next to you?"
Sister Lin slapped his arm vigorously and said with a smile, "You bad boy, you're so blind. You're giving your brother Zhang a random nickname. See if he'll beat you up. Why didn't you come to see him when you went to the bureau the day before yesterday? He kept nagging me, and it was annoying me to death. He and Sister Huang went out to do some business today and won't be back. What do you want to talk to them about? Tell me."
"Sister, this is my second brother. Look, do you think they look alike? We have the same parents. Haha... He comes here to work, so you have to help take care of him in the future. Here, second brother, quickly give Sister Lin a note. Sister Lin, please take a look and tell me what procedures to follow." Zhang Guoqing said in a very natural manner.
Sister Lin took the note, looked at it, and gave Zhang Guoqing a sidelong glance. "You're such a sly fellow. You still don't know what to do? Once I've registered and signed, I'll take you directly to the finance office and have them register you so you can get your salary next month. When do you plan to get your household registration? If you want to do it right away, I'll give you a note. And as for your work clothes, I'll ask someone to pick them up at the warehouse. Wait a minute."
After she finished speaking, the person had already left the room. She shouted for someone to come up. When she heard the response from below, she returned to the room and asked in a low voice with a gossipy look on her face, "Everyone has been saying these past few days that your father-in-law and mother-in-law have come to the county town. How are they? Are they really young?"
Hehe...Xiaowu, when you two walk together, does anyone call you brothers? "After saying this, he doubled over with laughter.
Zhang Guoqing rolled his eyes at her and said with a smile, "Pay attention to your image. How blind must you be? My father-in-law is young, but even if he were younger, he's still not 40."
Sister Lin instructed a female colleague who came in, "Xiao Fen, get this colleague's work clothes for me. Remember to check carefully to make sure there are no missing items. It will cause trouble later."
Xiaofen nodded, looked at Zhou Guoqiang, and said to Sister Lin, "Sister Lin, is 180 okay?"
Sister Lin asked Zhang Guoqiang, "Comrade Guoqiang, do you think the 180cm one is okay? I think you should be 178cm tall, and the 170cm one is too small for you." Seeing Zhang Guoqiang nodded, Sister Lin sent someone down to do the job.
Zhang Guoqing watched her busy writing the relocation notice, but didn't bother her. He walked over with the thermos, shook it, and saw that it was hot. He filled Sister Lin's cup, poured two more for himself, and sat down patiently to wait.
"Okay. After you get your work clothes, I'll take you two to the finance office. Once you register, you can get your salary next month. Only after your household registration is transferred can you get a supply book, which allows you to collect food rations and some receipts. Our bureau and the Women's Federation share a cafeteria. They provide three meals a day. It's up to you whether you eat in or not. But the food inside is cheaper than outside. Even if you get the supply book this month, you still can't make it this month, you can only make it next month. Xiaowu, you're familiar with the finance department later. Ask them to prepay some meal tickets and vegetable tickets for your second brother, and then calculate it next month."
Zhang Guoqing nodded after hearing this. "Thank you, Sister Lin. If you hadn't told me, my second brother wouldn't have known all the intricacies involved. This household registration is currently registered with the bureau. We can only move into the neighborhood committee after my family buys a house, right?"
"Well, once there's a property in his name in the county, we can move in with the kids. Right now, he's alone, and his household registration is at the bureau. The rations and bills shown in his supply book are paid out along with his salary by the finance office between the 1st and 3rd of each month. I saw his current salary is 27.50 yuan a month, and after three months, when he becomes a regular employee, he'll get 32.50 yuan at level 30."
Zhang Guoqing said with a smile: "Sister, can you tell me, what level are you now? Your income is very transparent. Doesn't my brother-in-law know how much private money you have?"
Sister Lin scolded with a smile, "I won't tell you. The finance department has all remembered it. I'll tell Jiaojiao to be careful about hiding your private money. Xiaowu, you are not honest. Every month, your brother-in-law not only hands over his salary, but also his travel allowance."
Zhang Guoqing bowed his hands and begged for mercy, "Please don't, tell Jiaojiao that my brother-in-law is so considerate, then she will compare herself with me from time to time. Please forgive me."
Sister Lin laughed, "You are so shrewd. Jiaojiao, you have the final say. When you are done, remember to find your Uncle Ye. Doesn't that old man like you the most? Go and ask him to help and find a dormitory for your second brother. Most of the people in our bureau are from the county, so there is no shortage of dormitories. Now it's the end of the year, and it's just in time to get it done in advance. I don't know what it will be like when someone comes in next year. All the dormitories in the Women's Federation have been allocated, and there are probably two single dormitories left in the bureau." After she finished speaking, she heard footsteps at the stairs and winked.
The footsteps reached the door and knocked on it. Sister Lin asked, "Is that Xiaofen? Come in."
Zhang Guoqing stood up and saw Xiaofen holding a bag full of work clothes. He took the top one and put it on the table. He looked at it curiously and said to her, "Comrade, thank you for your hard work. Sister Lin, you don't have to buy clothes for work anymore. That's great. It saves fabric."
"Stop talking nonsense! Guoqiang, this form is the relocation permit. Keep it safe. Remember to get it stamped by the team when you go back. Bring it back to the household registration department next Monday. I'll take you to the finance office, and once you've registered, everything will be fine."
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