Chapter 34 "Wherever the red star shines is a hot land"
Lin Zhao rolled her eyes in response. The woman with the inverted triangle eyes opposite her obviously didn't expect her to be so tough, and her face was distorted with anger.
At eight o'clock, the copper bells rang.
The crowd that rushed in suddenly brought with it the smell of sweat.
Several hands holding bills slammed on the glass counter.
"Comrade! Comrade!! Here are the money and cloth coupons. Give me three feet of cloth first." The girl with pigtails half leaned her body into the counter, the blue cloth coupons were stained dark by sweat.
Next to her, the woman in a patched jacket, holding the crying woman under her arm, was shouting even louder than her, "I came here first, I want a bar of soap, here are the money and tickets!"
"There are children here, don't push!" the person in the front shouted.
"Comrade, help me get 5 meters of hemp rope!"
…
Lin Zhao had noted down the location of the goods in advance. As she had the good fortune of having seen such a scene before, she was not at all panicked. She collected money, picked up the goods, and gave change smoothly.
She can read and has a good memory. She knows exactly where everything is placed at the two counters, and she is very efficient when serving the people.
The other girl arrived late and knew nothing. Suddenly, so many people rushed towards her, and the urging voices forced her to the corner of the shelves, and the hem of her white shirt was wrinkled like pickles.
She was at a loss, her lips moved slightly and she said something, but unfortunately there were loud voices coming from all directions, and no one could understand what she said.
"Comrade, why are you so far away? I need a can of fruit and a towel. Hurry up, I'm in a hurry to go to work!"
The person at her counter urged anxiously.
The county supply and marketing cooperative has just been expanded. It is not small and has about ten counters.
Some counters were crowded. The counter where the fat old employee worked was selling seeds, and there were not so many people at that counter. But she did not come over to help. Instead, she sneered at the little girl who made frequent mistakes, her face full of mockery.
Li Fen is a kind-hearted person. She couldn't bear to see a pretty girl in trouble, so after finishing her own work, she helped her and taught her while helping her.
In a short period of time, Lin Zhao knew the personalities of the people in the supply and marketing cooperative.
One is the enthusiastic elder sister Li Fen, and two others seem to have bad personalities.
It doesn't affect anything.
Salespeople have stable jobs and no one can do anything to them.
Director Jiang was worried about the two new comrades, so he arrived early and stood with his hands behind his back in the shadow of the grain and oil area, his eyes sweeping over Lin Zhao's neatly arranged braids.
This military dependent even tied the hemp rope into a beautiful figure-eight knot, as if he had been working in the supply and marketing cooperative for ten years.
Seeing that Lin Zhao was more skilled than the veteran, the other girl was also trying to adapt. She nodded in her heart and left calmly.
Lin Zhao and others worked for nearly an hour, and the number of talents pouring into the supply and marketing cooperative gradually decreased.
Li Fen was used to this kind of work intensity. She bent down to find her towel, wiped the sweat off her face, and smiled at the two new girls: "How are you? Are you getting used to it?"
Lin Zhao's forehead was sweating, and her hair was a little wet. "It's OK, but it's too hot."
"It is indeed hot. Just hang in there. It won't be this hot in two months." Li Fen consoled.
She looked at the other new girl and asked with a smile, "I don't know your name yet?"
"...My name is Wang Ju." The voice that replied was as soft as a mosquito's buzz, and there was a bit of noise so I couldn't hear what she was saying clearly.
Li Fen has a straightforward personality and doesn't like dealing with shy girls, as she is afraid of scaring them to tears if she speaks a little louder.
"Oh, oh." Li Fen awkwardly uttered two "ohs" in succession, showing a polite smile, "Welcome, welcome, my name is Li Fen."
"Sister Fen." Wang Ju called out softly, and then thanked, "Thank you Sister Fen for helping me just now."
Li Fen had to prick up her ears to listen to her speak.
The cheerful elder sister waved her hand and said, "It's nothing, we are all colleagues, and it's only natural for us to help each other.
When I first came here, I knew nothing and it took me several days of guidance from my seniors before I understood the situation.
Familiarize yourself with your counter as soon as possible and make a note of where things are placed. It’s okay if you are not familiar with it at first. After half a month or a month, you will know where the goods are with your eyes closed. "
Wang Ju was very nervous and didn't know where to put her hands and feet.
"What if I can't remember?"
this……
Li Fen didn't know how to respond.
It's just a few things, just get familiar with them, there's nothing to forget.
Lin Zhao interrupted, "Try it first. If you really can't remember it, you can write it down in a notebook."
It is true that some people can't think of anything when they are nervous.
Wang Ju's eyes suddenly lit up, she looked at Lin Zhao and whispered, "Thank you."
Li Fen shook her head in her heart, how can you be such a timid salesperson? Customers can't even hear you clearly when you speak.
The working hours of the supply and marketing cooperative are from 8 am to 3 pm.
Lin Zhao had a quick lunch at noon, and when it was time to get off work, she packed up and went home.
As soon as she left.
Liu Chunhong threw the rag on the counter and cursed, "What an attitude! She is just a relative. She has no sense at all. She left before her senior. It's outrageous! It's absolutely outrageous! I don't know if they hired a salesperson or an ancestor. If my daughter came in, she would never be like her."
Li Fen had a good impression of Lin Zhao, so she said, "It's time to get off work, and they didn't leave early."
"If you really want to find a job for your daughter, why don't you just give her your job? Don't bully the young comrade. After all, you are a senior and you should act like one."
After saying a few words, Li Fen left.
She really hopes that Liu Chunhong can be more open-minded. What does it mean that the two new female comrades were able to overcome all difficulties and come in, and were directly appointed as formal employees? This shows that they have a powerful backer!
If they really fight each other, I don’t know who will suffer.
Liu Chunhong knew that what Li Fen said made sense, but she still frowned in anger.
"Who is bullying the young comrade? Why am I not acting like a senior?! I can still do the job, how can I give it up? What am I going to do if I give it up? The job is valuable only when it is in my own hands. What Li Fen said makes so much sense, why doesn't she give the job to her sister!!"
"It was those two flashy girls, Lin Zhao and Wang Ju... who stole my daughter's job. I went to the director as soon as I heard the news, but he said it hadn't been decided yet. I thought my daughter had a chance, so I looked for connections everywhere. I spent a lot of money on tickets, but in the end I got nothing. How can I not blame them?"
It was good enough that she didn't trip them up.
The more Liu Chunhong thought about it, the angrier she became. She stared in the direction of Lin Zhao's counter with a fierce look in her eyes.
"I know you feel wronged, but they have all started working, so just forget it." An old employee who was on good terms with Liu Chunhong comforted her.
Liu Chunhong didn't say anything else
Not counting.
Her family can't suffer this loss in vain.
Her daughter's tear-swollen eyes appeared in front of her, and Liu Chunhong made up her mind not to let the two newcomers have an easy time.
It was sunny in the morning, but now it has become cloudy, with wind blowing on my face and brushing away the heat.
Lin Zhao walked slowly and first went to the post office to mail a letter. Then she asked the person at the counter, "Comrade Liang, is there a letter for me?"
Liang Yi said, "Yes, I just arrived this morning. Wait a minute, I'll find it for you."
After saying that, he half squatted down and began to search.
After a moment, he stood up with a letter in his hand, "Here, your letter."
"Starting today, I will be working at the supply and marketing cooperative. You don't have to deliver letters to the village anymore. I will come and pick them up every few days." Lin Zhao said with a smile on her face.
Liang Yi opened her eyes wide and asked in surprise: "You became a salesperson?!"
"Yes, I just started working today." Lin Zhao replied.
Liang Yi took a half step forward, leaned against the counter, grabbed her hand, and said in a low voice, "Congratulations! Comrade Lin, if you have any defective products in the future, don't forget me. I will never let you suffer any loss."
"Of course." Lin Zhao agreed, "We should help each other. You have helped me a lot in the past few years. I remember it all."
Liang Yi smiled happily and wanted to say something, but someone came in and she quickly swallowed the words back.
Lin Zhao winked at her, waved the letter in her hand, and walked out of the post office slowly.
After going out, I couldn't wait to open the envelope.
Today's letter is quite thick.
She found a place, sat down, and unfolded the letter.
Two tickets appeared inside, one for a bicycle and one for a watch.
"!!"
Lin Zhao was stunned. She pinched the two tickets with her fair fingers and shone them in the sun for a few times before she came to her senses.
It’s really a ticket! !
A look of surprise appeared on her face and she smiled with her eyes curved.
Lin Zhao carefully put the ticket into her bag and began to read the letter.
[To Comrade Lin Zhao:
Exhibition of confidence.
I have read your letter and am very pleased.
I am very pleased to learn that you will soon be taking up your post at the Supply and Marketing Cooperative. I have written a letter to inform my mother that she will be taking care of the children on my behalf. You can devote yourself to socialist construction with peace of mind.
Considering that the brigade was quite far away from the county supply and marketing cooperative, I asked my comrades to exchange two tickets for me: one for a Forever bicycle and one for a Shanghai watch. The former can solve the problem of commuting, and the latter can help people be punctual at work. I hope my wife will make good use of it.
These two items are necessities for production and life, so you should go to the county or city department store and buy them with your tickets. Attached is the remittance slip for RMB 300 (bill number: Ge Zi No. ****).
Although we are far apart, wherever the red star shines is our warm home. Please take care.
Sincerely,
Revolutionary salute
Gu Chenghuai
On the night of June 20, 1966
Lin Zhao read this short letter several times, with a smile on her face all the time.
Soon, she returned to the post office.
I sent a bottle of meat sauce and a bottle of canned meat to Gu Chenghuai.
Liang Yi looked at her and smiled with a mischievous look in her eyes.
Lin Zhao remained calm and watched her pack her things before leaving.
Bicycles are large items and are sold at the supply and marketing cooperative, but they have to be ordered in advance. She plans to tell the purchasing department tomorrow and ask him to help her order one.
As for the watch, it’s easy, you can buy it tomorrow!
With a plan in mind, Lin Zhao went straight to the state-owned restaurant and bought a few meat buns to take away.
The mother was very worried because she hadn’t seen her cubs for a day, so she walked very fast.
The eldest and second cubs also missed their mother and had been waiting at the village entrance for a long time. Tiechui saw that the eldest and second cubs didn't want to play, so he stayed with them at the village entrance.
Three children and two dogs, one big and one small, sat at the entrance of the village waiting quietly.
"Woof——" Dahuang suddenly got up, barked, and ran forward.
Erzai stood up suddenly and shouted, "Da Huang! Da Huang, where have you been? Come back!!"
Dahuang stopped and stood where he was. Seeing that his little master didn't move, he barked again towards the end of the road.
The eldest boy suddenly thought of something and ran forward. Amber followed him, and the quiet dirt road suddenly became lively.
"Mom!" The eldest boy's excited voice rang out.
Lin Zhao quickened his pace and walked to the eldest child in two or three steps. "Why are you here?"
"I'm here to pick up mother." The eldest cub raised his little face, staring at Lin Zhao with his clear eyes without blinking. Her figure was reflected brightly, as if a baby bird was guarding the nest, waiting for the return of the female bird.
"Mom, I miss you."
He was a shy kid, and it was the first time he said he missed his mother. Lin Zhao's heart sank, and she said softly, "Mom missed you too. She's been thinking about you all day."
As soon as these words came out, the eldest boy, who was originally a little embarrassed, smiled.
"Mom, how are you today?" he asked.
"Okay, how about you, how are you guys?" Lin Zhao said.
"That's fine. Grandma made us steamed egg custard in the morning, and made milk powder for the third and fourth cubs. At noon, she made us thick rice porridge with some pickled vegetables made by mother. It was delicious. The second cub and I drank a big bowl." The eldest cub answered his mother's questions in detail, and then asked, "Has mother eaten?"
He was asking about noon.
"I ate it. I ate whatever I wanted." Lin Zhao said.
The eldest took the net bag from his mother and said, "Mom, you work hard. The second child and I are old friends. We can do the housework. Tiechui also helped us. Mom, work hard and don't worry about home."
He learned the second half of the sentence from Gu's mother.
The child's hands are soft, with prickly fingertips, which are the marks left by him from always helping with the chores.
Lin Zhao's heart softened. She looked down at Haodaer and touched his little face.
"How can I not worry about you?" Such a sensible kid.
"Don't wait here anymore. You guys go have fun. I'll be back soon. I'll go find you guys when I get back. What if a big truck passes by on the road? You guys are short and the driver can't see you. It's very dangerous."
The eldest cub explained, "We didn't wait on the main road. We waited at the entrance of the village. Grandma told us to do that. It was Da Huang who suddenly ran away and barked. I knew it must be Mom who came back, so I ran here."
"I know you are good." Lin Zhao slowed down his voice.
Her gaze swept across Da Huang who was squatting there and Amber who was circling around her ankles, her eyes softened.
"Da Huang and Amber are great too."
Erzai saw his brother helping his mother carry the cloth bag and he had nothing to carry, so he said, "Mom, can I help you carry the bag?" His eyes were filled with expectation.
Lin Zhao took the bag off and gave it to him. The second son imitated his mother and slung it over his shoulder. The green shoulder bag almost dragged on the ground, but the eldest son quickly pulled it away from the ground.
"Second son, you have to pull it like this, don't get mom's bag dirty! Mom still has to carry it tomorrow!" He taught his younger brother seriously.
"I know." Erzai said loudly, and walked forward with the bag.
Tiechui followed him happily.
After entering the village, Lin Zhao said, "Tiechius, thank you for helping the eldest and second sons with their work and playing with them. Auntie will treat you to some steamed buns."
Before Tiechui could say anything, Erzai's eyes suddenly lit up and he said in a clear voice, "Mom, you bought buns again?!"
"Yes, since you guys were so well behaved, I bought you some meat buns," said Lin Zhao.
The second child turned around and threw himself into his mother's arms, his little head buried in her arms, laughing so hard that his whole body trembled, "Thank you, mother, I like eating meat buns."
What don't you like to eat?
Lin Zhao smiled.
Tiechui licked his lips, looked at Third Auntie intimately, and thanked her obediently: "Thank you, Third Auntie."
After returning home and washing her hands, Lin Zhao gave each of the three children a bun.
"You guys eat some buns first, and I'll make some cold noodles later, okay?"
Erzai munched on the meat bun, his cheeks puffed up, "Okay, everything mom cooks is delicious."
After saying that, he went to the village to play with Tiechui.
The eldest cub sat on a small stool and snuggled up to his mother, while Amber was spinning around his feet.
"Why don't you go out?" Lin Zhao put her arm around the eldest son's shoulders. He was still thin and looked tiny in her arms. He ate very carefully, unlike the second son who always got food all over his face.
(End of this chapter)
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