Chapter 24: I Can

Bangbang exclaimed, the envy on his face undisguised, "Third Aunt also took you to see a movie and eat popsicles; you two boys had a pretty good day today."

Laimei's attention was on the phone call, so she grabbed the elder cub's hand and asked excitedly: "Elder cub, second cub, did you touch the phone? What does the phone look like?"

The second cub had a strong desire to express himself and said: "There were so many shredded meat noodles at the state-run restaurant! Mama, Brother, and I shared a bowl and were stuffed! We could only bring back the other two dishes."

"The phone is long, with a little ear on each side." He tried hard to describe it.

Tie Chui asked eagerly: "Second cub, what movie did you watch?"

"Tunnel Warfare, it was so good! Mama said she'd take us often." The second cub's expression was proud.

Tie Chui was incredibly curious and asked again: "Second cub, can you tell us about it?"

"I can." The second cub started to tell it.

The Gu family children listened intently.

The elder cub didn't stay long; he told Gu Mu and went home first. He still had to help Mama with work.

Gu Mu listened for a while, returned to the main room, sat on the kang, and said with great heartache: "Third daughter-in-law must have spent quite a bit on this trip."

Gu Fu glanced at her, "They've separated."

"Going to the state-run restaurant, watching a movie, eating popsicles—it must have cost at least 5 yuan. Why are young people so bad at living? Earning money isn't easy." Gu Mu sighed.

Gu Fu repeated: "They've separated."

Gu Mu glared: "I know they've separated; I don't need you to keep reminding me."

"..." Gu Fu didn't speak.

Early the next morning, Lin Zhao came to the team to get an introduction letter.

The team leader wasn't surprised at all. Seeing her, he knew what it was about, "Getting an introduction letter?"

"Mm."

After Lin Zhao said what the content of the introduction letter should be, the fountain pen in the team leader's hand dropped onto the table with a 'clatter'.

He quickly came back to his senses, scrambled to pick it up, checked it painfully, and was relieved only when he saw it wasn't broken.

Wait, what did he just hear?

The Gu family's third daughter-in-law wants to transfer her grain and oil relationship and become a city person?!!

"Supply and marketing cooperative?" The team leader asked.

Lin Zhao had a smile in her eyes, "Yes."

"Sales clerk?"

"Right." Lin Zhao nodded affirmatively.

The team leader's expression changed, and he looked at her eagerly, "Is the supply and marketing cooperative in the county hiring?"

"Haven't heard."

The team leader was anxious and pursued the question: "Then how did you get this job?"

Lin Zhao's smile deepened, her tone rising, "I'm a high school student; what's hard about finding a job?"

She wouldn't cause trouble for her Comrade Gu.

Besides, if she weren't a high school student, she wouldn't even dare to think about such a good job.

Of course, the most, most important thing was having connections and luck.

The team leader choked.

"Team leader, can you hurry up? I'm in a hurry." Lin Zhao urged.

She wouldn't be at ease until the grain relationship was successfully transferred.

You know, before she got married, her uncle found her a job, but it was half an hour late, and that job was gone.

The team leader didn't dare to delay and sat down to write the introduction letter.

He finished writing in a few strokes and handed it to Lin Zhao.

"You'll soon be the only worker in our team. In the future, if you hear about any hiring, don't forget to pass the word to us; I won't let you pass it for nothing."

Lin Zhao took the introduction letter, glanced at it, confirmed there was no problem, folded it, put it away, and smiled: "Certainly. I'm from our team; if there's good news, I'll naturally think of our team."

The team leader wanted to say something else, but noisy sounds came from outside the courtyard.

"I'm leaving first." Lin Zhao said and left the team office.

After going out, she saw some strange faces.

These people were educated youth who had come to the countryside.

In the original book, educated youth meant trouble. Lin Zhao just glanced at them faintly and quickened her speed to leave.

"Who is that?" A newly arrived female educated youth asked, "Is she an educated youth?"

Looking at her dress and skin color, she didn't look like a country person; she looked even more like a city girl than the city girls.

"Lin Zhao, the daughter-in-law of the Gu family, the one who gave birth to twins and the twins. She's a family member, and her personality is arrogant and willful; she's not easy to provoke. Stay away from her." Someone who knew Lin Zhao explained.

The newly arrived female educated youth was half-believing; she didn't look like it.

After the team leader came out, looking at the educated youth who came to find him, a deep crease appeared between his brows.

"What's the matter with you guys again?"

The educated youth team leader remembered the business and hurriedly said: "The team leader, several more educated youth have arrived, and the educated youth point isn't enough to live in at all. So many people are squeezed into one room, and they can't even turn over at night. We came to find you, hoping the team can help build a few more rooms."

The team leader had originally planned to do this, "Building is fine, but not now."

"Why?" A newly arrived male educated youth hadn't suffered in the city, let alone knew about the 'Double Harvest', and felt the team leader was pushing them off, so he was a bit dissatisfied.

The team leader had seen all kinds of people; how could he not see his thoughts? He raised his voice: "Let the old educated youth tell you why."

After dropping this sentence, he ignored these big troubles and went to busy himself with the 'Double Harvest'.

Just as the team leader was walking toward the field, he ran into Gu Fu.

"Old Gu, didn't expect your family to have another person with an iron rice bowl. My father said you have great fortune; it's not wrong at all."

Gu Fu was stunned, "Are you talking to me?"

"Who else could it be." The team leader looked at his full-faced confusion and was surprised: "You don't know?"

"What should I know?"

The team leader said: "Chenghuai's wife is going to be a sales clerk at the supply and marketing cooperative. You haven't heard about this?!"

Gu Fu's brain felt like it had been smashed by something, very dazed, and he opened his mouth to speak, but was preempted by Gu Mu, "Team leader, what did you say? Elder cub's mother is going to be a sales clerk at the supply and marketing cooperative?"

"She came to me to open an introduction letter and has already gone to the county." The team leader said.

"Oh my!" Gu Mu slapped her thigh excitedly, "She didn't reveal a word of it."

This was a big deal. Gu Mu was so anxious she ran to find the elder and second cubs.

Gu Fu was also curious; that was a job! He said something to the team leader and ran after his wife.

The team leader expressed understanding; for country people, there weren't many opportunities to change their fate.

Such good news was indeed worth being happy about!

Zhao Liuniang felt exceptionally hot in her heart and looked at Huang Xiulan, asking: "Sister-in-law, do you think this... is true or false?"

"It should be true." Huang Xiulan said.

The third daughter-in-law loved face; she wouldn't make uncertain things known to everyone. Being able to open an introduction letter meant she was sure of it.

"In that case, our family is going to have a worker! And a sales clerk at the supply and marketing cooperative! It's really face-saving!!" Zhao Liuniang said happily.

Huang Xiulan clasped her hands together, her heart filled with mixed feelings.

The third daughter-in-law really had good fate!

"It's a pity they've separated."

They couldn't get any benefits, couldn't get any.

The joy on Zhao Liuniang's face faded slightly, but she was happy again in an instant, "Although they've separated, they're still family after all. With the third daughter-in-law working at the supply and marketing cooperative, it'll be convenient for us to buy things.

I heard the supply and marketing cooperative has imperfect items that don't need tickets. When the time comes, ask the third daughter-in-law to help; maybe she can add some good things to the family."

Like a thermos or something.

Huang Xiulan adjusted her mentality and smiled: "That's true. The third branch's good days are the third branch's; we don't envy them."

Zhao Liuniang said: "I envy them; that's a good job, who doesn't envy it? Although I envy them, I'm not sour. Bangbang's father and I have arms and legs, and we're diligent; these days will get better and better."

Huang Xiulan nodded, "That's true."

Gu Mu ran to the place where the children often played and shouted with her big voice, "Elder cub! Second cub!"

The two cubs heard their grandmother's voice, looked up, their little faces, which had been raised to be half a degree fairer, dotted with mud spots.

Seeing their grandparents, they wiped their faces with the backs of their hands and ran toward Gu Mu.

"Grandpa, Grandma, what are you calling Brother and me for?" The second cub was afraid his grandmother would be fierce to them, grinning, looking milky and cute.

"Your mother is going to be a sales clerk at the supply and marketing cooperative, isn't she?" Gu Mu asked hurriedly.

The second cub blinked his big eyes and asked back: "How does Grandma know?"

"How else would I know? Your mother went to open an introduction letter, and the team leader told your grandfather and me." Gu Mu explained in a few sentences, her tone urgent as she asked: "Is your mother going to be a sales clerk at the supply and marketing cooperative? Did you guys manage it when you went to the county yesterday? What exactly happened? Tell me quickly, you're killing me with anxiety!"

The elder cub had a steady personality and strong language expression ability. He said with reason and evidence: "That job was found by Father, but it's also because Mama is a high school student that she has a chance. Mama went to take an exam this morning; she was afraid she wouldn't pass, so she didn't tell Grandma."

He even knew how to help his mother explain.

Gu Mu said nervously: "She still has to take an exam."

The elder cub nodded, "She has to take an exam. Mama can only be a sales clerk if she passes the exam."

Gu Mu put her hands together and muttered something silently.

Jade Emperor, Queen Mother of the West, you must bless the third daughter-in-law to pass!

She didn't make a sound, but Gu Fu could guess what she was thinking. He scanned the surroundings, and seeing no one was looking, he didn't spoil the fun.

After she finished muttering, Gu Fu reminded, "Time to go to work."

Gu Mu's consciousness returned, she rubbed her face, and became completely awake, "Right, right, right, time to go to work."

When they got to the field, even working, she was absent-minded.

Huang Xiulan and Zhao Liuniang wanted to ask a few questions but didn't dare.

On the other side, Gu Xing'er went to pick up firewood early in the morning. She carried a bundle of firewood back to the village and heard people saying Lin Zhao was about to become a sales clerk at the supply and marketing cooperative. The firewood fell to the ground, and she rushed to the person speaking, her eyes burning with fire.

"What did you say?"

"You said Lin Zhao is going to be a sales clerk at the supply and marketing cooperative?"

The passerby heard her call her sister-in-law by her name and shook his head in his heart. It was someone else's business after all, so he couldn't meddle too much and just pretended not to hear.

"The whole team is spreading it. The elder cub's mother opened an introduction letter and went to the county. I heard she has to take an exam, and after the exam, she'll be a proper sales clerk."

As for saying Lin Zhao didn't pass the exam? The people of the Harvest Production Team hadn't thought about it. You know, she was a high school student, the one with the highest education in the ten miles and eight villages.

If she couldn't pass, no one could pass.

Gu Xing'er clenched her hands into fists, her face full of jealousy. She didn't even care about the firewood, rushed home, rummaged everywhere in Gu Fu and Gu Mu's room, found the slip of paper with the military region's phone number, took another yuan, and rushed straight to the county.

She arrived at the post office covered in sweat and, with the help of the staff, dialed the military region's phone number.

Gu Chenghuai heard it was a family member's call and thought it was his wife. His brows and eyes relaxed, and even without an expression, he couldn't hide his good mood.

He ran all the way to answer the phone.

"Third Brother."

Hearing this, his brows narrowed slightly.

"Mm." Gu Chenghuai responded faintly, without a word of nonsense, and asked directly: "What's the matter with calling?"

"Third Brother, you found Lin Zhao a job at the supply and marketing cooperative, right?" Gu Xing'er's tone was very aggressive, with a bit of a questioning flavor.

Gu Chenghuai's gaze dimmed, ignoring her question, and a cool voice sounded.

"I'm not at home, is this how you treat my wife? Calling her by her name, pushing her head into a big bump... Gu Xing'er, you really are my good sister."

The disappointment in his words clearly reached Gu Xing'er's ears across the phone line, "I pay for your tuition, pay for your living expenses, and haven't treated you badly since you were small, yet you can't even tolerate my wife and children..."

Gu Xing'er instantly lost the intention to question. She turned pale and said in a panic: "Third Brother, I didn't, I didn't not tolerate them."

"Whether you did or not, you know yourself." Gu Chenghuai interrupted her sophistry and said faintly: "The third branch has already separated. As a son, I have the responsibility to support my parents, but no obligation to support my sister. From now on, you'll be managed by Father and Mother; I won't interfere anymore, to save you from being ungrateful."

Gu Xing'er's face changed slightly, and she said urgently: "Third Brother, I'm your own sister, you can't treat me like this!"

"I can." Gu Chenghuai said coldly.

After speaking, he hung up the phone.

Gu Xing'er had been raised by Old Gu Mu since she was a child, and Gu Chenghuai had left home when he was in his teens, so the relationship between the siblings was already weak. He was only willing to help her because he earned a lot and wanted to help the family reduce their burden. Since she couldn't see clearly, it was better to take it back.

When he got married, he promised Zhao Zhao that he would protect her just as he protected the country.

It was hard enough to be a military family member, and Gu Xing'er dared to bully people; she really thought he had no temper.

Gu Chenghuai walked toward the dormitory, thinking about his wife being bullied and hiding in the room crying, his internal organs churning, and he became even more dissatisfied with his sister.

Lin Zhao: "..." Crying? She only made others cry!

Gu Chenghuai returned to the dormitory, and Sun Yeli was there too.

"Sister-in-law's call?" He gossiped.

"No, my sister." Gu Chenghuai answered.

After three years in the army, even a sow could look like Diaochan, let alone Sun Yeli had been in the army for far more than three years.

His eyes lit up, "How old is your sister?"

Gu Chenghuai looked at him, his eyes confused.

"Cough..." Sun Yeli cleared his throat, smoothed his clothes, and smiled eagerly and flatteringly, "How am I? Am I qualified to be your brother-in-law?"

Gu Chenghuai was paralyzed with disgust, "You've lived a good life for long enough."

Sun Yeli wasn't a stupid person and naturally heard the subtext in these words. He lay down calmly and closed his eyes.

Why is it so hard to marry a wife!

Gu Chenghuai kicked his foot, "Can you get bicycle tickets?"

"You want them?" Sun Yeli asked.

"Nonsense."

Sun Yeli: "..." Can't even ask.

"The mouth isn't just for talking and eating."

"I'll find someone to ask; I should be able to get them." Sun Yeli knew many people, and if you wanted any tickets, finding him was the right choice.

Seeing him full of confidence, Gu Chenghuai thought for a moment and added: "Also need a watch ticket."

Sun Yeli gritted his teeth: "... Alright."

Post office.

Gu Xing'er listened to the 'beep-beep-beep' sound from the other end of the phone and panicked, shouting with all her might: "Third Brother!!"

Seeing her emotional state was wrong, the staff member was afraid she would smash the phone on the ground, so she stepped forward to take the phone and reminded: "The other side hung up."

Finally, she hung up the phone.

Gu Xing'er paid the money and walked to the entrance of the supply and marketing cooperative in a daze.

Thinking that Lin Zhao was about to become a decent sales clerk, her eyes were hateful, and anger kept bubbling up in her heart.

Her Third Brother's connection should have been given to her! ===== CHAPTER 25 =====