Chapter 34

Lin Zhao rolled her eyes back; the woman with the inverted triangle eyes opposite clearly didn't expect her to be so tough, and her face twisted in anger.

At eight o'clock sharp, the copper bell rang "dang dang lang".

Instantly, the crowd of people rushing in was wrapped in the smell of sweat and sourness.

Several hands clutching bills slapped on the glass counter.

"Comrade! Comrade!! This is the money and cloth coupons, give me three feet of cloth first." The girl with sheep-horn braids poked half her body into the counter, and the blue cloth coupons were soaked into a dark color by sweat.

Next to her, a woman wearing a patched jacket with a crying woman tucked under her arm had a louder voice than her, "I came first, I want a piece of soap, this is the money and coupons!"

"There are children here, don't squeeze!" The person in front roared.

"Comrade, help me get 5 meters of hemp rope!"

Lin Zhao had noted the location of the goods in advance, and plus she had the fortune of seeing this kind of battle, she wasn't panicked at all; receiving money, taking goods, giving change, her movements were flowing like water.

She was someone who could read, had a good memory, and knew clearly in her heart where everything was placed in the two counters; serving the people, her efficiency was called high.

The other girl came late, didn't know anything, and suddenly so many people rushed towards her, the wave of urging sounds forced her into the corner of the shelf, and the hem of her white shirt was squeezed into pickled vegetable wrinkles.

She was extremely at a loss, her lips moved lightly, and she said something, but unfortunately, there were loud voices in all directions, and no one could hear clearly what she said.

"Comrade, why are you standing so far away, I want a can of fruit and a towel, hurry up, I'm in a hurry to go to work!"

The person in front of her counter urged anxiously.

The supply and marketing cooperative in the county had just been expanded and was not small, with more than ten counters.

There were many people at some counters, and the counter where the fat old employee was located sold seeds, and there weren't that many people at the counter, but she didn't come over to help, looking at the little girl who made mistakes frequently with a cold smile, her face full of mockery.

Li Fen was a warm-hearted person, couldn't bear to see the beautiful little girl in difficulty, so she helped her when she was done with her own work, teaching her while helping.

In a short time, Lin Zhao knew clearly what kind of temperament the people in the supply and marketing cooperative had.

A warm-hearted big sister Li Fen, and two who didn't look like they had very good personalities.

It didn't affect anything.

Sales clerks all had iron rice bowls, no one could do anything to anyone.

Director Jiang was worried about the two new comrades, came very early, stood in the shadows of the grain and oil area with his hands behind his back, his gaze sweeping over Lin Zhao's steady braids.

This military dependent even tied hemp rope into a beautiful figure-eight knot, looking like she had been immersed in the supply and marketing cooperative for ten years.

Seeing Lin Zhao was more proficient than the old hands, and the other little girl was also trying to adapt, he nodded in his heart and left quietly.

Lin Zhao and the others were busy for nearly an hour before the people rushing into the supply and marketing cooperative gradually became fewer.

Li Fen was used to this work intensity, bent down to find her towel, wiped the sweat from her face, and smiled at the two new girls, "How is it? Are you adapting?"

Lin Zhao had sweat on her forehead, and the broken hair on her forehead was a bit wet, "It's okay, it's just too hot."

"It is indeed hot, persist, persist, in two months it won't be this hot." Li Fen comforted.

She looked at the other new girl and asked with a smile, "I still don't know your name?"

"... My name is Wang Ju." The answering voice was like a mosquito, and you couldn't hear what she was saying with a little noise.

Li Fen had a straightforward personality, didn't like dealing with shy girls very much, afraid that a slightly louder voice would scare the person to tears.

"Oh, oh." Li Fen spat out two "ohs" one after another awkwardly, revealing a polite smile, "Welcome, welcome, my name is Li Fen."

"Sister Fen." Wang Ju called out in a small voice, then thanked her, "Thank you, Sister Fen, for helping me just now."

Listening to her speak, Li Fen had to prick up her ears.

The straightforward big sister waved her hand, "It's nothing, it's nothing, everyone is a colleague, helping each other is what should be done.

Think about when I first came, I didn't understand anything either, and was led by my predecessors for several days before I figured out the situation.

You should familiarize yourself with your counter as soon as possible, remember a little bit about what is placed where, it's nothing if you are not proficient at the beginning, wait for half a month or a month, and you will know where the goods are even with your eyes closed."

Wang Ju was very nervous, not knowing where to put her hands and feet.

"What if I can't remember?"

This...

Li Fen didn't know how to reply.

It's just those few things, just get familiar with them, what's there to not remember.

Lin Zhao interjected, "Try it first, if you really can't remember, you can write it down in a notebook."

There are indeed people whose brains can't think of anything when they are nervous.

Wang Ju's eyes lit up, she looked at Lin Zhao and thanked her in a small voice, "Thank you."

Li Fen shook her head in her heart, how can you be a sales clerk if you are so timid, you speak and the customers can't hear clearly.

The working hours of the supply and marketing cooperative were from eight in the morning to three in the afternoon.

Lin Zhao padded her stomach casually at noon, and as soon as it was time to get off work, she immediately packed her things and went home.

She left.

Liu Chunhong threw the rag on the counter and cursed, "What kind of attitude, no wonder she's a relation-based hire, not a bit of eye for detail, the predecessor hasn't left yet, she's the first to leave, it's not proper! It's simply not proper! I don't know if they recruited a sales clerk or an ancestor, if it were my daughter who came in, she wouldn't be like this."

Li Fen had a good impression of Lin Zhao, so she said, "It's time to get off work, they didn't leave early either."

"If you really want to find a job for your daughter, why don't you give your job to her. Don't bully the little comrade, anyway, you are a predecessor, have a bit of a predecessor's look."

Leaving a few words, Li Fen left directly.

She really hoped Liu Chunhong would think it through; the two new female comrades were able to overcome all difficulties to get in, and were directly regular employees, what does that mean? It means they have big backers!

If you really confront them, it's hard to say who will suffer.

Liu Chunhong knew Li Fen's words made sense, but she still angrily pulled a long face.

"Who bullied the little comrade? How do I not have a predecessor's look?! I can still work, how can I give up the job, what will I do if I give it up!? A job only has value if it's held in one's own hands, Li Fen's words make so much sense, why doesn't she give her job to her younger sister!!

"It's just that Lin Zhao and Wang Ju, those two flashy ones... snatched my daughter's job, I went to the director the first time I heard the news, the director clearly said it hadn't been decided yet, I thought my daughter had a chance, looked for relationships everywhere, spent so much money and coupons during this period, and in the end, didn't get anything, can I not blame them?"

It was already good that she didn't trip them up.

Liu Chunhong got angrier the more she thought about it, staring at the direction of Lin Zhao's counter, her eyes ruthless.

"I know you're aggrieved, but they've already completed the entry procedures, forget it." The old employee who was on good terms with Liu Chunhong comforted her.

Liu Chunhong didn't speak again.

Can't forget it.

Her family couldn't suffer this loss in vain.

Her daughter's swollen eyes appeared before her eyes, and Liu Chunhong made up her mind not to let those two newcomers have an easy time.

It was a big sun in the morning, but it turned cloudy at this moment, accompanied by wind, blowing on her face, brushing away the dryness and heat.

Lin Zhao walked unhurriedly, first came to the post office to mail a letter, and then asked the person in front of the counter, "Comrade Liang, is there any mail for me?"

Liang Yi said, "Yes, it just arrived this morning, wait a moment, I'll find it for you."

After saying that, she squatted down halfway and began to rummage.

A moment later, she stood up with a letter in her hand, "Here, your letter."

"Starting today, I'm working at the supply and marketing cooperative, so letters don't need to be sent to the village anymore, I'll come and pick them up every few days." Lin Zhao said with a smile at the corner of her mouth.

Liang Yi widened her eyes and said in surprise, "You became a sales clerk?!"

"Right, I just started working today." Lin Zhao answered.

Liang Yi took half a step forward, her body stuck to the counter, grabbed her hand, and lowered her voice, "Congratulations! Comrade Lin, if there are any defective products in the future, don't forget me, I definitely won't let you suffer a loss."

"That's for sure." Lin Zhao agreed, "Helping each other, you've helped me quite a bit these past few years, I remember them all."

Liang Yi beamed with joy and wanted to say something else, but someone came in, so she hurriedly swallowed the words that reached her mouth.

Lin Zhao blinked at her, waved the letter in her hand, and walked out of the post office slowly.

After going out, she couldn't wait to tear open the envelope.

This letter is quite thick today.

She found a place at random, sat down, and unfolded the letter paper.

Two coupons appeared inside, one bicycle coupon, one watch coupon.

"!!"

Lin Zhao was stunned, her fair fingers picked up the two coupons, shone them a few times in the sun, and then came back to her senses.

It really is a coupon!!

Surprise appeared on her face, and she curved her eyes and smiled.

Lin Zhao carefully put the coupons into her satchel and began to read the letter.

【To Comrade Lin Zhao:

Peace upon opening the letter.

The letter has been read and understood, very happy.

Learning that you will soon go to the supply and marketing cooperative to perform your duties, my heart is very comforted. I have already written a letter to inform my mother to take care of the children on my behalf, you can rest assured to devote yourself to socialist construction.

Thinking that the brigade is quite far from the county supply and marketing cooperative, I specially entrusted a comrade-in-arms to exchange two coupons: one Yongjiu brand bicycle coupon, one Shanghai brand watch coupon. The former can solve the trouble of commuting, the latter can help with punctuality at work, I hope my wife uses them well.

Both of these are necessities for production and life, you should go to the county department store as soon as possible to purchase them with the coupons. Attached to the letter is a remittance slip for 300 yuan (Money Order Number: Ge Zi No. ****).

Although separated by a long distance, every place where the red star shines is hot soil, I hope you take care.

Sincerely

Revolutionary salute

Gu Chenghuai

One night on June 20, 1966】

A short letter, Lin Zhao read it several times, and the smile at the corner of her mouth never fell.

Not long after, she returned to the post office.

She mailed a bottle of meat sauce and a can of meat to Gu Chenghuai.

Liang Yi looked at her and smiled, her eyes teasing.

Lin Zhao didn't change her expression, watched her pack the things, and only then left.

A bicycle is a big item, the supply and marketing cooperative sells them, but they have to be ordered in advance; she planned to tell the purchaser tomorrow and ask him to help order one.

As for the watch, it's simple, she can buy it tomorrow!

With a plan in her heart, Lin Zhao walked straight to the state-run restaurant and bought a few meat buns to take away.

Having not seen the cubs for a whole day, as a mother, she was very concerned, and walked very fast.

Seeing Dazai and Hearing Erzai also missed their mother, waited at the village entrance early, and after seeing Lin Zhao from afar, they rushed over like two little firecrackers.

After being able to eat their fill, their legs were strong, and they ran faster.

"Mother!"

Two crisp voices rang out.

Seeing Lin Shisheng, the little brothers were even happier, "Second Uncle!"

Lin Shisheng bent down and picked up the two eldest nephews; he had been working since he was a child and had a body full of muscles, so picking up the two little ones didn't take any effort.

"Ah—so high." The field of vision suddenly changed, and Hearing Erzai shouted excitedly.

Seeing Dazai's eyes were also bright.

Back home.

Lin Zhao returned to the room, took out a watermelon, cut it in the kitchen, and called Seeing Dazai in to take it to his Second Uncle.

Seeing Dazai ran into the kitchen, looked at the things on the cutting board, and was full of confusion, "Mother, what is this?"

"Watermelon, a summer essential, very cooling. Take it out and eat it first, I'll make you some watermelon lemon juice and then come out." Lin Zhao never made promises lightly; what she promised the children, she would definitely do.

Seeing Dazai carried the basin out.

Soon he came back again.

"Mother, I'll come help you." He said.

Lin Zhao's heart softened, looking at her short and small eldest son, "No need, you go out and eat watermelon, it will be ready soon."

Seeing Dazai was unwilling, "I'll wait for Mother to eat together."

Lin Zhao didn't persuade him anymore, accelerated her speed to smash the watermelon into juice, cut the lemon, and a rich lemon sourness attacked her nasal cavity.

"Mother, what is this, it smells good." Seeing Dazai liked this smell.

"Lemon." Lin Zhao explained, and also gave him a new lemon to let him see.

Seeing Dazai lowered his head and looked again and again, and even raised it to his nose and smelled it.

Lemon.

He recited it silently in his heart.

This was the first time he had recognized fruits other than wild mountain fruits; one was watermelon, and one was lemon.

Hearing Erzai was heartless and ate watermelon with his Second Uncle, and when he turned his head, he found his brother was gone.

He hurriedly rushed into the kitchen.

Seeing Seeing Dazai very close to Lin Zhao, Hearing Erzai leaned over in three or two steps, stood on the other side of his mother, raised his head, and revealed his little face covered in watermelon juice, "Mother, what are you saying to Brother?"

"Let your brother tell you, Mother is making you sweet and sour watermelon lemon juice." Watermelon and lemon could make fruit juice, which Lin Zhao learned from a book.

After Su Yuxian heard people talk about it, she tried to make it, and it was well-received in the military compound. At the same time, she, who had been dead for several years, was dragged out again and whipped repeatedly.

Thinking about it made her feel unlucky.

Stop thinking about it.

Soon, Lin Zhao made the juice that was cooling and thirst-quenching.

Looking at that color, the little ones liked it very much.

"Wow!"

Exclamations of surprise that gave face appeared one after another.

Even Lin Shisheng, who had just come to the kitchen, followed with a "wow".

"Wow!"

This sound made Seeing Dazai and Hearing Erzai laugh out loud, and the sound reached outside, where Da Huang and Xiao Hu Po cooperated by barking.

Lin Shisheng rubbed the two nephews' prickly bald heads and asked Lin Zhao, "What is this?"

"Watermelon lemon juice made from watermelon, lemon, and sugar." Lin Zhao casually introduced the raw materials.

Lin Shisheng's mouth twitched.

Not one of them was cheap!

"Watermelon is understandable, where did the legendary lemon come from?"

Lin Zhao was very calm, laughing it off, "I'm lucky."

"Don't go to the black market, that place is tightly guarded." Lin Shisheng warned; he didn't go there himself anymore.