Chapter 372: Let Them Starve to Death

The people of the First House were eating when they saw Qiu Shaomei carrying in a watermelon; their eyes all lit up. Having worked all day, how delightful it would be to eat watermelon now.

Seeing her family's gaze, Qiu Mu grew even angrier: "Just as if they haven't eaten in several lifetimes. Let them starve to death for all I care."

Qiu Tai Nai saw she was using this as an excuse to vent, so she directly slapped her chopsticks onto the table: "Does this mean you don't want to eat, right?"

Qiu's Eldest Uncle's Wife stood there stunned for a moment: "Tai Nai, I..."

Before she could say anything, Qiu Tai Nai made the final decision: "Enough. Since you don't like it, then you won't need to eat later. Everyone has been tired all day; stop causing trouble."

Seeing his own Tai Nai angry, Qiu's Eldest Uncle glared at his own wife: "The Eldest Uncle's Wife is not here today due to matters; you only just entered the kitchen to cook. Don't be ungrateful."

Seeing her husband also blaming her, her heart was so bitter.

Soon it was the day of the examination at the City Rolling Mill. Liu Chuxue had gone to find the Party Secretary a day early to get her introduction letter ready.

The Party Secretary did not make things difficult, but when handing her the introduction letter, he casually said: "Be sure to pay attention to your safety when you go out."

Liu Chuxue did not mention the Rolling Mill examination to the Party Secretary; she thought it was better to avoid trouble than to create it, and it was not too late to talk once there was a result.

In the morning, Liu Chuxue got up before dawn. Her mother gave her a bowl of porridge and an egg: "Eat this first; I also baked a leftover two-grain bun from yesterday for you. Take it to eat on the road."

Liu Chuxue took it: "Mom, it's still early; don't rush."

Liu's mother gently wiped the fine sweat from her forehead: "Mom isn't rushing; I'm just a bit nervous."

While peeling the egg, Liu Chuxue said: "Mom, we just need to do our best. If we really fail the exam, then it's fate."

Liu's mother was also afraid that the higher the expectations, the more pressure Liu Chuxue would feel: "You're right; I was too attached to the outcome."

After finishing the porridge and the egg, holding the fragrant baked two-grain bun, she walked out: "Mom, I'm leaving. Wait for good news from me at home."

Liu's mother hurriedly chased out: "Be safe on the road, and come back early."

Once Liu Chuxue left the village, she quickened her pace. When she arrived at the bus stop sign, quite a few people were already waiting for the bus.

Not long after she arrived, the bus came.

She was lucky; after getting on the bus, she found there was still one seat left, paid the fare, and quickly sat down.

The bus rattled all the way into the city. Liu Chuxue got off directly by the roadside; afraid of missing the time, she ran all the way to the Rolling Mill.

What she didn't expect was that a dense crowd stood at the factory gate. She thought: Could all these people be here to take the exam?

But thinking about it, she understood. After all, it was only 1975. Urban middle school and high school graduates without jobs would face being sent to the countryside. Urban jobs were one radish per one pit; it was normal for so many people to apply.

She had only just arrived when she heard someone holding a loudspeaker standing on the high platform at the very front: "Everyone quiet down. Those taking the exam, go inside. Accompanying relatives, please step back consciously and clear the passage. We will start the exam promptly at eight-thirty."

"Let me state one more thing clearly: Do not disturb the order at the scene. If discovered, even if your relatives score the best, our Rolling Mill will not hire them. Do you understand?"

Jobs were hard to find now. Some people, so their relatives could pass, would cause incidents that made people coming later to take the exam miss the exam time. This had happened before, so naturally, a word had to be said.

(End of this chapter)