Yu Yao waited at the bus stop near the pier for more than ten minutes, but did not see a bus.
As the sun began to set, Yu Yao decided to walk back first.
Anyway, there's only one road, so if a bus comes, she can just flag it down halfway.
Unlike later times when buses don't stop at designated stops, buses in those days could stop at any time. Even if there were no buses running, it wouldn't mean being delayed until dark before reaching the residential compound.
The weather on the island is unusually hot and humid.
Dark clouds drifted in from nowhere, making the sky grow increasingly gloomy.
Yu Yao wiped the sweat from her face with a handkerchief and vowed that she would definitely go to see if there were any bicycles when the supply and marketing cooperative went to pick up goods on the first and fifteenth of the lunar month. With a bicycle, it would be convenient to go anywhere.
For people of this era, walking for an hour or two is a small matter, but for urban youth like Yu Yao, who takes the bus or subway everywhere she goes, walking for half an hour is a nightmare.
She was sweating profusely, and the soles of her feet felt like they were on fire; it hurt even after taking just a few steps.
Just as she couldn't take it anymore and stopped to rest, a somewhat familiar voice came from behind her.
"Is this Comrade Yu?"
Yu Yao, panting heavily, turned around and looked back with some surprise: "Comrade Wu."
Wu Huaiqing was also surprised, "I was looking at your back and tried calling out, I didn't expect it to really be you."
His gaze fell on the large bag on Yu Yao's back, and he took the initiative to speak.
"I'm going to the food factory, and it's on my way. If you don't mind, I can give you a ride."
Yu Yao glanced at his military green sidecar and, unable to resist the temptation of riding in it, nodded.
"Then thank you, Comrade Wu."
"We're all friends, no need to be so polite."
Wu Huaiqing's sidecar truck had things in the bed, so he had to take them out and put them back in before he could fit Yu Yao's large military green bag.
Yu Yao looked at the slightly worn sidecar with great envy.
At least it has three wheels. In an era when bicycles were a luxury, having a diesel-powered motorcycle was incredibly convenient.
Didn't you see the envious looks from everyone who passed by?
"Comrade Wu, is this sidecar yours?"
When Yu Yao asked about the crossbow, Wu Huaiqing was full of pride. While tying his luggage to prevent it from falling off during the ride, he said, "It's mine. It cost five hundred yuan."
She can afford it for 500 yuan.
Yu Yao felt a surge of heat in her heart.
Buying a bicycle is not as good as buying a sidecar bike. You don't have to worry about refueling either, as there are gas stations in the military compound. Family members can refuel as long as they pay.
She was about to ask Wu Huaiqing where he bought it when Wu Huaiqing spoke first: "I know you're probably wondering where I bought it. To be honest, ever since I bought the crossbow, nine out of ten people I've met have been curious about it."
Wu Huaiqing's cavalry's daggers were discarded by the army. Although they were discarded, they were still considered important supplies. Before they were even discarded, they were taken by other departments, and the army used them to exchange for some necessary supplies.
His sidecar motorcycle was obtained by Haixing Food Factory in exchange for six recruitment quotas from the food factory and the army; there were only three of them in total.
The factory director and deputy director are provided with cars when they go out on business, so they don't need sidecars. The middle-level managers all want to use them.
Initially, the vehicles were for public use, but after the cadres fought over the right to use the three sidecar trucks, resulting in bloodshed, the factory director had no choice but to change his strategy.
In the words of Director Wang of Haixing Food Factory, everyone wants to take advantage of the country, but there's no such thing as a free lunch, so he simply came up with the idea of drawing lots.
Five hundred dollars per car. Anyone who wants one can sign up and draw lots. Whoever draws the lot gets to keep it.
More than a dozen cadres wanted it, but Wu Huaiqing was lucky enough to catch one and buy it.
Kuazi (a type of Tibetan friar). (Image)
Yu Yao sighed after hearing this.
That's true, kuazi aren't so easy to buy.
However, it's okay. If we can't buy one, we can't buy one. It's good to be able to buy a bicycle for transportation.
She is a thoughtful person who never dwells on meaningless things and has very little internal conflict.
Upon hearing Wu Huaiqing mention recruitment, she quickly asked, "Comrade Wu, are you referring to the food factory expanding its production line?"
Wu Huaiqing nodded, "That's right. At this year's Canton Fair, our food factory secured a large foreign exchange order for canned goods. To deliver on time, expanding our production line is imperative."
"Comrade Yu, are you planning to participate in this recruitment?"
Seeing how concerned she was, Wu Huaiqing guessed.
Looking at that face that resembled his aunt's, he couldn't help but remind her, "If you're going to take the exam, you'd better hurry up. The factory will be holding the exam on September 15th. Families of soldiers and military personnel from nearby brigades will be coming to register. It won't be easy."
"Thank you for the reminder, Comrade Wu," Yu Yao said, her expression shifting as she thought of the books her sister-in-law had given her. "Comrade Wu, could you do me a favor?"
"Comrade Yu, please speak frankly."
Yu Yao opened her bag and took out the book.
"These are food-related books that my sister-in-law found for me. Comrade Wu, could you help me see what kind of questions might be asked when a food factory is recruiting?"
Although Wu Huaiqing was not the one who proctored and set the exam questions, he was a cadre in the food factory and knew better than outsiders what knowledge was important in the food factory.
"This production line is mainly for canned food production. This book on canned food processing technology is quite good; you can focus on studying it."
In addition, you should also familiarize yourself with this basic book on food processing safety. The other books are also good; once you're hired in a food factory and need to be evaluated, don't stop learning.
Wu Huaiqing also highlighted some key points for her, greatly narrowing down Yu Yao's learning scope.
Yu Yao was very grateful. "Comrade Wu, you have really helped me a lot. I will treat you to a meal when I become a food factory employee."
Wu Huaiqing smiled and said, "Then I wish Comrade Yu all his wishes come true."
Looking at Yu Yao's radiant smile, Wu Huaiqing always felt a sense of disorientation.
It's as if I'm seeing my aunt in her youth, before my sister got lost, full of youthful energy.
If she were their own sister, then their aunt and uncle wouldn't have to constantly be overcome with grief and unable to hide their sorrow.
Yu Yao put the book back in her luggage and got on the back of the motorcycle.
The sidecar started up, its rumbling sound particularly loud on the quiet mountain path. It was also really fast, easily leaving several cyclists behind.
The food factory and the military compound weren't far apart, so Wu Huaiqing planned to take Yu Yao there first before going back.
"Yinhua, do you think that woman is Commander Lu's country wife?"
Zhou Yuju's eyesight wasn't very good, so she squinted for a while and then asked her cousin Zhou Yinhua, who was standing next to her.
Zhou Yinhua looked in the direction she was pointing and said, "If it's not her, then who is it? This vixen is indeed restless. Commander Lu has only been on a mission for a short time, and she's already chatting and laughing with other men. She's shameless."
Zhou Yuju chimed in, "Who says otherwise? A woman like that, who is so promiscuous, should be drowned in a pig cage."
"Commander Lu is really blind. He gave up a virtuous wife and loving mother like his cousin and married a woman who likes to seduce men. Who knows how many green hats she will wear in the future?"
Upon hearing Zhou Yuju's words, Zhou Yinhua hatched a wicked plan.
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