RSMFH 09

Chapter 09

Selling the Job

After Lin Chen returned from the commune, he went home first, but upon hearing that Jiang Ning had gone to the Educated Youth Point, he rushed over in a panic.

That morning, after arriving at the commune, he hadn’t gone straight to report for duty. Instead, he went to find another childhood friend, Gao Baoliang. Gao Baoliang’s father was the accountant for the commune, and Gao Baoliang himself was currently a militia platoon leader. Lin Chen had been thinking: if he went to the commune every day, leaving early and returning late, he would certainly be unable to take care of his family. It would be better to sell the job.

The militia was managed by the county’s armed forces department, so it was impossible for just anyone to take over his position. However, Gao Baoliang was already qualified to compete for the position of company commander, so, naturally, it was something that could be arranged.

When he found Gao Baoliang and explained his idea, he was immediately met with a refusal: “How can that be? It’s not easy to become a company commander! I wouldn’t dare do something that would make you regret it.” Gao Baoliang was tall and sturdy, but his face carried a youthful, shy smile. The old company commander was getting on in years, and Gao had been eager for the position for a long time. When he first heard that a new commander would be “air-dropped” in, he hadn’t been happy about it at all—that was, until he heard it was Lin Chen, at which point he felt convinced.

Lin Chen handed him a cigarette and struck a match to light it for him. “I’m married now. I don’t want to be too far away from my wife. Can you do me a favor?”

Gao Baoliang’s hand, holding the cigarette, froze in mid-air. His expression stiffened as he let the smoke curl upward. He calls a forty-minute commute “too far”? “Alright then,” he conceded. “I’ve heard that this level of wage-paying work in the county can sell for six hundred yuan. I’ll pay you every cent of that, and I’ll give you an extra one hundred jin of grain coupons.”

Once they agreed, they immediately went to find his father, Gao Guixiang. Gao Guixiang’s mouth split into a wide grin, and he readily handed over the money and the coupons to Lin Chen. He had been an accountant in the commune for a lifetime and had some savings, originally intended for his son’s future marriage. Now that the company commander position was settled, young girls were practically throwing themselves at his son; he no longer had to worry about finding a daughter-in-law.

Under Gao Guixiang’s guidance, the two men quickly processed the transfer. Gao Baoliang officially became the militia company commander. As they parted ways, he raised an eyebrow at Lin Chen. “When are you going to invite me to your house to see what kind of heavenly sister-in-law you have that makes you treasure her so much?”

Lin Chen chuckled. “Just wait and see.”

Jiang Ning watched Lin Chen walk toward her, the corners of her mouth lifting involuntarily. The sunlight behind him made him look even taller and more upright. There was a bit of sweat on his sharp-angled face; he was overflowing with masculine charm that made it impossible for her to look away.

“Why are you back?” Jiang Ning greeted him, naturally handing the bundle of her belongings to him before taking out a handkerchief to wipe his sweat.

Lin Chen took the items, lowering his head and standing perfectly still to let her tend to him. His heart felt hopelessly soft. “Wife,” he said gently, “I have something to report to you: I’m not doing the company commander job anymore.”

Ma Huijuan had been crying for a long time, but seeing that no one was paying attention to her, she got up to eat, only to see the two of them acting all lovey-dovey. She rolled her eyes so hard they nearly hit the back of her head. Jiang Ning’s attitude toward her was nothing like this—she was a total shrew!—but the moment she saw Lin Chen, her voice became sweet and her movements turned delicate.

Lin Chen was also nauseating. What is this, “reporting something”? It’s not like he’s seeing a leader… Wait, what did he say? The job is gone?

Disregarding the fact that the husband and wife were whispering to each other, she charged over and began mocking Jiang Ning: “Just a moment ago, you were bragging that your man was a company commander. So much for that—talk about a slap in the face! I thought you were someone special, but it turns out he’s just a common peasant after all. Give me back my twenty yuan…”

Slap!

Before she could finish, Lin Chen’s palm connected with her face. “I’m warning you: don’t mess with my Ningning ever again.”

Ma Huijuan stumbled and fell to the ground, completely dumbfounded. She watched as he led Jiang Ning away, speaking softly as they walked: “Actually, I sold the job. I sold it to my childhood friend…”

Hey! Stop with the dramatic pauses when you talk! Selling the job to a childhood friend meant the new commander was still someone she couldn’t afford to offend! Did she have any hope left in this lifetime?

When Jiang Ning and Lin Chen returned home, they were greeted by the scent of a meal. “Brother, Sister-in-law, you’re back,” Lin Qiao said, running over to take the items from Lin Chen’s hands. She turned toward the house and shouted, “Mom, dinner’s ready!”

On their way back, they had heard adults from every household calling for dinner. “Goudan, come eat…” “Cuihua, where the hell did you go? It’s-time-to-eat…” The long, drawn-out endings sounded like beautiful musical notes, weaving together with the chirping of the cicadas into a joyous summer symphony. It was a simple, rustic life she had never truly appreciated in her previous existence.

Lin Chen hurried to take the red “Double Happiness” enamel basin from the wooden stand, drawing cool water for Jiang Ning to wash her face and hands. After she finished and sat down, a fragrant bowl of white rice was placed before her. In this era, grain was scarce, and rice was never enough to go around. Meals were usually porridge, or rice mixed with sweet potatoes or potatoes. Sometimes, there wasn’t even a single grain of rice—just pumpkin and sweet potatoes. How could they afford to eat a full bowl of plain white rice like this?

Jiang Ning looked around and discovered that she was the only one with a full bowl of white rice; everyone else’s bowls were mixed with sweet potatoes. She quickly scooped half of her rice into Lin Chen’s bowl and fished a piece of sweet potato from his. “Sweet potatoes are delicious; I love them too,” she said with a smile.

In her previous life, because she was unhappy in her marriage, she had been willful and picky about food. Lin Chen had accommodated her every whim, often getting scolded by Lin Zhou-shi because of it.

Lin Chen looked at her with his deep, dark eyes and then spoke to Wang Xiufen: “Mom, from now on, our family doesn’t need to try so hard to save. If you want to eat white rice, just eat it. I will also buy eggs and meat; don’t be reluctant to spend the money.” He told them about selling the job for six hundred yuan and one hundred jin of grain coupons. With that money, combined with their allocated grain, the family would live quite comfortably for the next two years.

“I still have a few dozen yuan here,” Jiang Ning added. As for the massive amount of supplies and over eight hundred yuan in her space, she wouldn’t mention those for the time being. Letting others know about such things was a burden; it was better to find a legitimate excuse to bring them out later.

Lin Chen smiled and ruffled her hair. “Keep your money safe. Mine is yours, too. I’ll be counting on you to manage this home from now on.”

Jiang Ning blinked and refused. “Better let Mom manage the money.”

Wang Xiufen patted her hand, encouraging her. “How could I manage so much money? The most I’ve ever had in my pocket was a few yuan. In my hands, that money would be like a hot potato.”

Lin Qiao chimed in, undermining her own mother: “If Grandma knew the money was with Mom, she’d definitely think of a thousand ways to squeeze us for it. It’s better off in Sister-in-law’s hands—they’re afraid of you!”

Jiang Ning chuckled. Am I really that scary? She didn’t say anything further, taking it as an agreement to the arrangement.

Unexpectedly, Lin Chen added, “Wife, when you have time, teach my mom and sister how to be strong and assertive so they stop getting bullied by others.”

Wang Xiufen and Lin Qiao nodded like garlic cloves, resembling elementary school students waiting for their teacher’s guidance. Jiang Ning thought to herself: It’s over. Her reputation as a fierce woman who shouldn’t be trifled with was already deeply ingrained in everyone’s hearts!