Chapter 55, Finding a Job
The placement of military spouses in the local area is mainly handled through consultation between the military and the local government, with the government departments taking the lead in placement. Therefore, the task of finding jobs for military spouses falls under the jurisdiction of the Revolutionary Committee. Because there are many military spouses, the Revolutionary Committee specially assigned several staff members to establish the Military Sub-district's Office for the Placement of Military Spouses, specifically to handle the placement of military spouses.
So early the next morning, Lin Qingqing took the application for military dependents approved by the army, the work certificate materials written for her by the Women's Federation of Yutian Commune and the brigade headquarters, and her own resume to the Revolutionary Committee's Office for the Placement of Military Dependents.
The office for settling military dependents was small, with only four desks arranged in pairs facing each other. Four staff members were present. The oldest, a middle-aged woman, sat on the left, towards the back; she appeared to be the office director. Opposite her was a young woman, seemingly in her early twenties, who was receiving a family member.
A man and a woman were sitting at the two desks on the right. The man was slightly overweight with thinning hair, and looked to be in his early thirties, perhaps even younger. The woman was wearing a blue dress, had long hair, and a black headband. Presumably because it was still early, neither of them had received any family members.
The woman in the dress was facing the door. Lin Qingqing saw her as soon as she came in, glanced at her indifferently, and said nothing.
Lin Qingqing met her gaze, naturally sat down in front of the woman in the dress, glanced at the name tag on her chest, and said, "Hello, Officer Zhou, I'm here to look for a job."
"The documents." Secretary Zhou lazily stretched out his hand.
Lin Qingqing handed her the documents, which she took without looking at them, and asked casually, "Tell me about your situation."
"My name is Lin Qingqing. I am from Xingfeng Brigade, Yutian Commune, Xinyang County, Shicheng. I married Xie Wei, the commander of the 24th Regiment of the Military Sub-district, this July."
Upon hearing the word "regimental commander," Officer Zhou's eyebrows twitched, but he remained silent.
“My husband and I came to the military unit last week to accompany our family. This is the approval document for officers’ family members to accompany their families,” Lin Qingqing reached out to flip through the documents that she had just handed over but which Officer Zhou had casually placed on the table. “It was just approved last Thursday.”
Officer Zhou took the documents she had pulled out, nodded, and asked, "What's your educational background? What kind of job are you looking for?"
"I never went to school, but I taught myself elementary to high school courses. I can write and do math. Before..."
Upon hearing that Lin Qingqing had never been to school, Officer Zhou's expression changed. He impatiently tapped the table: "Alright, alright, I understand your situation. Here are a few jobs; see which one you'd like to take." He then took out...
He handed a form to Lin Qingqing, saying, "These jobs don't require an exam. If you're interested, just fill out the form and you can start working in a couple of days."
Lin Qingqing took the form handed to her by Zhou, which listed about ten jobs. Each job details, requirements, salary, and number of openings were clearly written. Jobs that were already filled were marked with an X, while those that had been filled but were not yet full had the number of openings indicated. There was also a blank space for the note indicating that no one had been opened yet.
The textile factory jobs are easy and have low entry requirements; the three positions available have already been filled.
The garment factory requires candidates to know how to make clothes and needs to undergo a trial period. They are recruiting five people but are still short two.
The state-run restaurant is hiring for logistics positions; the work is easy and the requirements are low, but they have already filled their quota by hiring only one person.
The factories that couldn't recruit enough people were mainly male-dominated factories like hardware factories, machinery factories, and fertilizer factories. Firstly, the work was hard, and secondly, the personnel were quite diverse, so very few military spouses were willing to go there.
After looking at it, Lin Qingqing asked, "Don't you have any other jobs?"
"Yes, you do have some knowledge, but what can you do if you've never been to school?" Officer Zhou asked sarcastically. Although Lin Qingqing said that she had studied the curriculum from elementary to high school on her own, Officer Zhou did not believe a word of it.
Understanding the implication in Zhou's words, Lin Qingqing's expression calmed down. She opened her own documents on the table, placed the certificates issued by the Women's Federation and her work unit, as well as her personal resume, on top, and said, "I think there are quite a few things I can do."
But in Zhou's opinion, anyone can talk big, but when it comes to actually doing the work, they're useless. If the staff she assigns there refuses to accept them, she'll not only be left with complaints, but she'll also be blamed by others.
So, without even glancing at the documents Lin Qingqing had laid out, Officer Zhou said, "Comrade Lin, I know you look down on these jobs, but I have to tell you, your thinking is wrong. Hard work and perseverance are excellent qualities that everyone should learn. Besides, it's not that I don't want to arrange for you to be in an easier unit, but they'll reject you as soon as they see your educational background. Although we serve you military dependents, we can't force the unit to hire you, can we? And even if they reluctantly accept you, you won't know how to do anything. Can you keep this job for long?"
Lin Qingqing found it somewhat amusing as she listened to her long-winded explanation. It made it sound as if she was being unreasonable and insisting on having an easy job.
If it weren't Lin Qingqing who heard these words, and hadn't inquired about job placement, she might have been scared, or even felt she was in the wrong, and randomly picked a job on the form.
Officer Zhou thought so too; these military wives all had lofty ambitions.
She thinks marrying a soldier will make her a phoenix rising in the social ladder. She doesn't even consider her own circumstances. She's so picky about jobs; they should face reality and stop thinking they're so capable.
She picked up the teacup on the table, took a sip of tea slowly, and waited for the military wife in front of her to come to her senses and settle on a job.
But Lin Qingqing's words surprised her: "What kind of work can I do? Shouldn't you look at my previous work experience before making a judgment?"
Zhou, the clerk, paused in his movements.
The office manager at the desk on the left heard the noise and came over to ask, "What happened?"
What kind of work experience could a rural woman who has never been to school have? Is she better at farming than others?
Thinking of this, Officer Zhou sneered inwardly, stood up and said, "Director, this is how it is. This comrade is the wife of the commander of the 24th Regiment of the Military Sub-district. She came to our family placement office today looking for a job. Considering that she has never been to school, I gave her this form, but she seems to look down on the jobs on the form and asked me to look at her previous work experience."
As he spoke, Zhou quickly gathered up all the documents that Lin Qingqing had just spread out on the table and handed them to her, saying, "This is her work experience. I think that with her work experience, she is simply not qualified to do the work in the offices of various units."
Director Chen picked up the documents and began to browse through them. The more he read, the more somber his expression became. He suppressed a smile and said to Lin Qingqing, "Comrade Lin, as you can see, it's not that I deliberately didn't arrange a good job for you, it's just that your situation..."
"Have you seen her work experience?" Director Chen interrupted Zhou.
Upon hearing this, Officer Zhou was taken aback: "What?"
"I'm asking you if you've reviewed this comrade's previous work experience," Director Chen said sternly, slamming the documents in his hand onto Officer Zhou's desk.
Seeing her attitude, Zhou, the clerk, finally realized something was wrong and quickly picked up the documents to look at them.
She was stunned when she saw it.
Lin Qingqing's file states that she started working in the Women's Federation office of Xingfeng Brigade last December, officially became a staff member of the Women's Federation in February of this year, and was promoted to director of the Women's Federation in April, while also serving as deputy director of Xingfeng Garment Factory. By last month, Xingfeng Garment Factory had expanded its workforce to 100 employees after another round of recruitment.
The resume also details the work Lin Qingqing did after joining the Women's Federation, the achievements she made, the story of how she presided over the establishment of Xingfeng Garment Factory, and the several expansions of the garment factory.
The certificates issued by the Women's Federation of Yutian Commune and Xingfeng Brigade also confirmed that the content on the resume was accurate.
real.
Could an illiterate rural woman really have this ability? Officer Zhou thought that the Yutian Commune Women's Federation and Xingfeng Brigade could issue this certificate to Lin Qingqing because her husband was the regimental commander!
But Zhou dared not say it aloud, and only shook his head, saying, "Impossible, she has never been to school!"
“I never went to school, but when I had the opportunity, I taught myself the courses from elementary to high school and read a lot of books.” Lin Qingqing finished speaking and looked at the office director, saying, “In fact, in order to better popularize legal knowledge among the brigade members and also to enable them to use legal weapons when they encounter difficulties, I read legal books thoroughly during my time working at the Women’s Federation. And for the good development of the brigade’s collective enterprise, I have also read a lot of books on management and equipment technology.”
As Lin Qingqing spoke, everyone in the office looked at her.
Lin Qingqing seemed oblivious to the stares, turning her gaze back to Officer Zhou: "I wasn't lucky enough to be born into a good family. I had to do chores when I was five or six, and work in the fields when I was a teenager, which is why I never went to school. But it wasn't because I didn't want to, it was because I couldn't. But no matter how difficult it was, I never gave up on learning."
"I believe there are many military dependents like me. Of course, not everyone studies cultural knowledge. Some may know how to sew clothes, and some may be good cooks."
"I know that there are more people than positions, and not everyone can find a job they like. But I think that as staff members responsible for placement, you should at least be more patient, ask more questions, and consider the issues from the perspective of the families so as to find jobs that are suitable for both parties."
"In this way, we military dependents can better feel the warmth of the military, and our husbands can devote themselves more wholeheartedly to the cause of defending the motherland."
Lin Qingqing's voice wasn't loud, but her words were firm and resolute.
As she finished speaking, a military spouse who had been with her husband for two months and had repeatedly been turned away when trying to find work at the family resettlement office led the applause: "Well said!"
The family members who entered the office one after another also had tears in their eyes and joined in the applause.
Director Chen was also moved.
Only Zhou, the clerk, turned pale and weakly protested, "Director, I didn't."
Director Chen glared at Officer Zhou and said to Lin Qingqing, "Comrade Lin, you're absolutely right, but please rest assured, as well as all the family members, that our family resettlement office was established for only one purpose: to facilitate..."
To you, the families of military personnel, in order to better serve you!
"In the past, our work has had many shortcomings, but rest assured, in the future we will serve you more attentively and meticulously, and do our best to give every family member the opportunity to utilize their abilities and find a job they like. So please trust us!"
“Since you’ve said so, we definitely believe you!” a military spouse said, taking the lead.
Seeing Director Chen looking at her, Lin Qingqing nodded and said, "I completely trust the organization!"
After resolving the trust crisis, Director Chen glanced at Officer Zhou and said in a low voice, "Give me Comrade Lin's information, and I'll arrange her work."
With a pale face, Zhou glanced at Lin Qingqing, gritted his teeth, and handed over the remaining documents on the table to Director Chen.
Director Chen picked up the documents, smiled at Lin Qingqing, and said, "Please come this way with me." He then sat down at his workstation.
Lin Qingqing's initial intention was simply to find a job smoothly; she had no intention of causing trouble for anyone. So, once the problem was solved, she followed Director Chen to sit down at her desk.
...
After sitting down, Director Chen said, "Let me take a look at your information first." She had only read Lin Qingqing's resume and hadn't looked at the other information carefully yet.
Lin Qingqing hummed in agreement, sat up straight, and behaved very obediently.
Officer Zhou saw all this and gritted her teeth in anger, but dared not say a word. She could only sit back down, holding her breath, and wait for other family members to come to her for work-related questions. However, she did not expect that because of what had just happened, the later family members accompanying the military all thought that she would deliberately make things difficult for them. They were afraid of being assigned some hard and busy work, and would rather wait in line than come to her for help.
Of course, Zhou, the clerk, hadn't noticed anything amiss yet, and Lin Qingqing didn't even glance back, waiting for Director Chen's reply.
A few minutes later, Director Chen finished reviewing the information and said, "I have a basic understanding of your situation. Also, I would like to ask what kind of job you are looking for?"
If you had to ask Lin Qingqing what kind of job she wanted, she would definitely say an office job, nine to five. But if she really said that, wouldn't that confirm what Secretary Zhou just said about her not being able to endure hardship?
Moreover, Director Chen had already said that, and now that he's taking over her job, he certainly doesn't want to give anyone cause for gossip, so he'll do his best to arrange work for her. Lin Qingqing didn't want to ask for too much and make things difficult for others, so she said, "I'm fine with anything, I'll follow the organization's arrangements."
Zhou, the clerk who was sitting idly behind Lin Qingqing, was so angry at her words that he almost vomited blood. Why didn't you just say that you would follow the organization's arrangements?
Director Chen frowned slightly. She wasn't afraid of Lin Qingqing making requests, but rather of her remaining silent. She took three forms from her drawer and handed them to Lin Qingqing, saying, "This is all the job postings our family placement office has received so far. Take a look and tell me which job you'd like."
"Can I go to any of the organizations listed here?" Lin Qingqing asked.
Upon hearing Lin Qingqing's words, the other family members all looked over, wanting to see what good jobs were listed on the form she was holding.
Director Chen was a little surprised by Lin Qingqing's wariness, but considering her previous work experience, it wasn't surprising. He smiled and said, "I will try my best to explain your situation to your unit. Whether you can get in depends on the unit's decision. In addition, some units require an exam for recruitment. I can only register you. Whether you can get in depends on whether you can pass the exam."
Upon hearing that there would be an exam, many family members who had been craning their necks to look in this direction turned their attention away, but some of the more educated ones decided to sign up and give it a try.
As Lin Qingqing listened, she flipped through the forms in her hand. She had originally just wanted to find a decent job, such as a sales clerk at a supply and marketing cooperative or a waitress at a state-run restaurant. However, Director Chen specifically mentioned the exam, and she couldn't refuse to take it.
Looking at the work on the form, the top form is the one that Zhou, the secretary, gave her before, and the notes on it are almost the same.
The second form lists slightly better jobs, such as sales clerks and waitresses, which Lin Qingqing originally planned to find. However, there are fewer jobs listed, only seven or eight, and each job requires fewer people.
The third table shows even fewer job openings, with only three positions still available: a staff member in the propaganda department of the steel mill's factory committee, a clerk in the garment factory's trade union, and an accountant in the transportation company. All positions require a vocational high school diploma, with the transportation company's accountant position also requiring a specific major. All three positions require passing an exam.
In addition, the notes on this form are different from those on other forms. Other forms simply state how many people have been recruited and whether the positions have been filled, but this form includes the exam date and the names of the applicants in the notes.
The exams for all three positions are scheduled for next week, indicating that the problem isn't a lack of qualified candidates, but rather that the exam dates are slightly later, allowing for continued application. Furthermore, the Publicity Department and Trade Union positions each received more than ten applicants, while the Accountant position, due to its specific professional requirements, only had three applicants.
This is just the data from the family placement office. These recruitment exams are open to the public, so there will definitely be graduates who haven't found jobs yet, as well as recent graduates participating in the exams; the competition will be fierce.
big.
Seeing that Lin Qingqing was taking a long time to browse the third table, Director Chen reminded her, "The accounting position at the transportation company has strict professional requirements."
"I know," Lin Qingqing nodded and asked, "Can I apply for two positions?"
"You're applying for both of these positions?" Director Chen asked with surprise, reminding him, "The exams are on the same day."
"No, I want to sign up for the recruitment exam of the Steel Plant's Publicity Department. Also, I want to try this job," Lin Qingqing said, pointing to the job posting for a sales clerk at the Supply and Marketing Cooperative on the second form.
Director Chen thought for a moment and said, "I can send your application over, but I can't guarantee whether you'll be accepted or whether the supply and marketing cooperative will be willing to wait until you finish the exam." The implication was that trying to find a better job while still employed was not an option.
Lin Qingqing nodded: "Okay."
After deciding on the work direction, Director Chen had Lin Qingqing fill out an application form and took her resume, saying he would show it to her unit and let her come back on Wednesday to pick up the results before letting her leave.
...
After finishing her errands, Yu Xiuhong returned home close to noon. She was at work and not home. Yang Li, her neighbor, was sitting in the yard, embroidering insoles while watching her son play. When she saw Yu Xiuhong return, she casually asked, "Did you go out?"
"I went to the Revolutionary Committee." Lin Qingqing unlocked the door as she walked home.
Yang Li paused for a moment and asked, "What are you going to the Revolutionary Committee for?"
"Looking for a job, I can't just stay at home doing nothing, can I?" Lin Qingqing said with a smile. She had nothing else to do, so she brought a stool out of the house and sat down to talk to people.
“No one will say anything if you stay at home doing nothing,” Yang Li said casually, her hands still busy. “Besides, Commander Xie’s salary is so high, surely he can support you?”
Lin Qingqing was taken aback when she heard her say that: "It's not that I'm afraid of what people will say, it's just that I can't stay at home, so I want to find a job."
"What's wrong with staying at home?" Yang Li didn't understand. "Besides, you just got married. The most important thing is to have a child as soon as possible. There's no need to rush into work."
“This child isn’t something I can just decide to have,” Lin Qingqing said tactfully. “Besides, even if I’m working, it won’t stop me from getting pregnant. Don’t companies offer maternity leave?”
“Do you think having a baby is so easy? You definitely need to rest at home a lot when you're pregnant! And you'll have to take care of the baby after you give birth,” Yang Li said. She has been unable to work because of her child and is quite sensitive about this. “Don’t think that raising a child is easy and that having a child won’t interfere with your work. In reality, taking care of a child is very troublesome. Because of this one child, I can’t sleep well at night and I never have a moment of peace all day long.”
Lin Qingqing said helplessly:
"I didn't say raising a child is easy, I just think it's unnecessary to delay your own pace for a child whose arrival is uncertain." If she were pregnant, she might not look for a job so early, but isn't the pregnancy still uncertain? Moreover, giving up a job for a child she's not even pregnant with can easily put pressure on others.
"Forget about pace, girl, listen to my advice, once you're married, you should have a child as soon as possible. Nothing else is more important than this." Yang Li became more and more agitated as she spoke, and she put down the work she was doing. "Yes, you're not that old and you can wait, but think about it, Commander Xie is already twenty-eight. Other people his age already have kids who can run errands, but what about him? Don't listen to his nice words, he definitely still wants a child."
"Even if he wants children, when we can have them is not something I can decide on my own."
Yang Li looked at Lin Qingqing helplessly, thinking she was incredibly foolish: "That's why I told you not to rush into work, but to hurry up and have a baby! Do you know Zhao, the deputy battalion commander's wife from Building 16? She's still a high school graduate. Before she joined the army, she worked at the commune's grain station, and after she joined, she got a job at a state-owned factory, even working in an office. And what happened? Because they didn't have a child, the couple got a divorce and she slunk home. And look at me, I've never worked since I came to the army, but has my husband ever said a word? No, why? Because I have a son!"
Lin Qingqing: "..."
She felt that bringing out a stool specifically to chat with her neighbor and build rapport might have been a mistake.
It was lunchtime, and Lin Qingqing didn't want to continue talking to her, so she made an excuse to get her food, went back to her room to get her lunchbox, and went out.
...
When Lin Qingqing returned from the cafeteria after lunch, she was a little worried, afraid that she might run into Yang Li. But she was lucky; Yang Li had gone back to her room to cook, while Yu Xiuhong and her son were eating out.
Seeing Lin Qingqing deliberately peering through the openwork of the wall on one side of the moon gate, Yu Xiuhong smiled meaningfully and asked after she entered the courtyard, "Did the neighbors come to talk to you?"
Lin Qingqing asked in surprise, "How did you know?"
"She's afraid people won't know she had a son, and she brags about it to everyone every few days." Yu Xiuhong pursed her lips and asked, "What did she say to you?"
Lin Qingqing suddenly realized and said, "You're advising me to stop working and have a baby sooner."
Her summary was very accurate. Yu Xiuhong laughed out loud, but then quickly covered her mouth to make sure no one could hear her. She said to Lin Qingqing, "Don't listen to her. A woman still needs a job to stand tall!"
She wasn't just making this up; it was based on her experience!
Back in her hometown, all the money her husband sent back was kept by her mother-in-law, who was also biased. She had to beg her mother-in-law even for something as simple as an egg. After she joined the army and got a job, when she returned to her hometown, not only was her mother-in-law much more polite to her, but even her sisters-in-law were incredibly envious of her!
Author's Note: First update
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