Chapter 39: She Always Has People to Order Around

Her tone was serious, yet brimming with unmistakable joy.

Song Uncle stopped slurping his noodles and looked up at his wife, deep creases etched across his forehead.

“What’s the good news?” he asked.

“Zhaozhao’s become a sales clerk at the Supply and Marketing Cooperative!!” Song Aunt’s voice rose with delight, her face glowing with happiness.

Song Uncle tightened his chopsticks, his expression startled and thrilled. “Really?”

“How could it be fake? Zhaozhao came all the way to tell us herself.”

Song Aunt remembered Zhaozhao’s attire today and smiled. “Zhaozhao wore a brand-new white shirt and a linen skirt reaching her ankles, and she even got a brand-new wristwatch—said Chenghuai sent her tickets yesterday, so she bought it.”

“Her face is rosy-lipped and fair, so pretty—she hasn’t suffered a bit. Better complexion than when she first graduated. I can tell she’s doing well. Now she’s a sales clerk—her life’s only going to get easier.”

Song Uncle had always worried about Lin Zhao, his only niece.

Over the past few years, he hadn’t stopped trying to find her work, but every job he found was in a workshop—standing for hours on end, stifling in summer, freezing in winter. Young girls’ hands cracked open after just a few days.

He could endure hardship himself, but he couldn’t bear seeing his Zhaozhao suffer. He wanted her to have an easy, respectable job.

But.

Jobs in the county were like slots for one radish per hole; even ordinary positions were hard to come by, let alone something as easy and respectable as a sales clerk.

“It really is good news,” Song Uncle exhaled heavily, the heavy stone in his chest finally lifted. “Did Chenghuai help arrange it?”

Song Aunt nodded. “It was just luck.”

“Chenghuai has a battle buddy whose older brother-in-law is the director of the Supply and Marketing Cooperative. Just as the cooperative is expanding and needs two more clerks, our Zhaozhao is a high school graduate with connections and education—so the job is hers.”

Song Uncle understood the full story and thought Zhaozhao was lucky. “She’s always been lucky.”

After a full day’s work, he was truly hungry. He slurped two more bites of noodles, then remembered something and asked, “How did Zhaozhao eat lunch today?”

“Starting tomorrow, I’ll have Yun Cheng take her meals.” Yun Cheng was a temporary worker, not too busy; when he gets swamped, Yun Jin will take over—Song Aunt had already planned it all.

Song Yun Cheng: “...” Mom?

Song Yun Jin: QAQ

Song Uncle grunted. “I’ll leave the bicycle.”

The sun sank slowly, painting the western sky and vast clouds in orange-red hues.

Riding a bicycle was much faster than walking, but it wrecked your butt.

“Yun Cheng, have you found a job yet?” Lin Zhao shifted her body, trying to change the subject.

Hey, who are you looking down on?!

Song Yun Cheng brushed back his bangs. “Sis, you think I’m you?”

“I’m not as soft as you. I can do any job. Finding work is easy for me.”

Lin Zhao swung her feet, unoffended. She was soft. She couldn’t handle hardship.

Song Yun Cheng pedaled on. “I got into the Electric Motor Factory as a temporary worker. I figure I’ll be regular next year.”

“By the way, you’re permanent staff, right?” he asked.

Lin Zhao nodded. Since he couldn’t see, she added, “Definitely settled.”

That’s what it meant to have connections.

“So enviable,” Song Yun Cheng said, full of admiration.

“Didn’t you ask Uncle to help you?”

Song Yun Cheng burst out laughing. “Sis, you mean asking for favors? I wouldn’t dare. If I mentioned it, Dad would beat me to death. Old Song’s temper’s as fiery as Auntie’s—he hits hard. I’ll just wait it out.”

Lin Zhao pinched his arm.

The cycling boy grimaced, hissing in pain.

“Sis, dear sis, you trying to strangle me?” Song Yun Cheng nearly jumped off the bike.

“Stop talking nonsense!” Lin Zhao rubbed the spot she’d pinched, annoyed. “My mom and Uncle have gentle tempers. They never raise their voices. Where’s the temper?”

Gentle tempers?!

Song Yun Cheng’s arm jerked, the bike swerving wildly.

After steadying it, he turned his head, face filled with shock. “That’s not temper?!”

Thinking of how his father spoke to Zhaozhao in hushed tones, he suddenly looked enlightened. “Oh right—Dad never yells at you. He always smiles at you...”

The boy muttered discontentedly, “Who’s even the real child here?”

Song Yun Cheng rode Lin Zhao back to the brigade.

He was a stranger—tall, spirited, riding a bicycle—and the village aunts and uncles immediately stared.

But when they saw Lin Zhao on the backseat, their expressions changed instantly, their curiosity impossible to hide.

Song Yun Cheng’s mind clicked—he instantly guessed what they were thinking.

He called out loudly: “Sis, we’re here.”

The word “sis” rang out unusually clear.

Sis?

Lin Zhao has a younger brother?!

The brigade chief’s wife stepped forward, smiling. “Chenghuai’s wife, you have a younger brother? I thought you only had three older brothers.”

Nonsense—she clearly had four older brothers!!

Not wanting the villagers to laugh or gossip, Lin Zhao said nothing more.

“He’s my cousin. My aunt sent him to bring me.”

The brigade chief’s wife nodded. “Ah, so he’s from your aunt’s side.”

Lin Zhao was flashy—everyone in the brigade knew she had a powerful city uncle.

Because of that, no one dared to provoke her.

The brigade chief’s wife sized up Song Yun Cheng, eyes gleaming. “Young man, got a girlfriend? If not, Auntie can set you up.”

“Sure,” Song Yun Cheng agreed, then rattled on: “My family has three workers. The girl you introduce—does she have a job too?”

The brigade chief’s wife choked, her smile fading.

She was a villager—where would she find someone with a job?

The entire brigade had only produced one girl with a iron rice bowl: Lin Zhao.

“You’ve got high standards.”

Song Yun Cheng frowned. “Not high at all. Where’s it high? My family has three...”

He casually held up three fingers. “Three workers—all iron rice bowls. Demanding the girl have a job isn’t unreasonable.”

“In the city, no job means no grain. No grain means no food. That’s a real problem—you can’t ignore it.”

Hearing this, the brigade chief’s wife and the village aunts agreed.

“That’s true.”

“Three workers in the family—wanting a girlfriend with a job isn’t unreasonable.”

Song Yun Cheng nodded seriously. Exactly—not unreasonable.

Behind the well-meaning matchmakers, he winked at Lin Zhao.

His brows lifted, eyes bright as stars, revealing a row of white teeth—youthful vigor radiating from him.

“Go home,” Lin Zhao waved him over.

“...” Sis, can you not call me like I’m a dog?

Song Yun Cheng gave her a mournful look.

He obediently followed.

He didn’t rush back to the county—he wanted to see Dacai and the others.

When he returned, his parents would ask. If he couldn’t answer, they’d scold him.

Song Yun Cheng and Lin Zhao arrived at the Gu household. Seeing the earthen house, he froze, face filled with disbelief—and a pang of pity for his sister.

“Sis, you live here?”

“Yes, this is my home,” Lin Zhao nodded calmly, glancing at him with a warning look. “What? My home isn’t good enough for you to step into?”

Song Yun Cheng wasn’t implying that—he angrily pushed the bike inside.

He was an idiot.

Pity? What a joke.

Seeing a stranger, Da Huang perked up his ears, barked, baring sharp teeth in a low, threatening growl.

Hu Po stood beside her mother, barking too, looking just as fierce.

“Da Huang, Hu Po—this is family,” Lin Zhao said.

Da Huang was indeed intelligent. The moment she spoke, he fell silent. Together with Hu Po, they rushed forward, wagging their tails wildly around their mistress.

“Sis, you have a dog? You actually have a dog?!” Song Yun Cheng’s voice rose higher with each word, frowning in concern. “Sis, are you even eating enough?”

Lin Zhao thought he was talking nonsense. “Of course I eat enough. If I didn’t, how could I afford a dog? I’m not stupid.”

Song Yun Cheng relaxed, staring at Da Huang and Hu Po with mild disdain. “Ugly.”

After receiving a sharp look from Lin Zhao, he changed his tune: “...Looks pretty clever.”

Lin Zhao was satisfied and withdrew her gaze, patting each dog’s head.

Song Yun Cheng asked, “Sis, where are Dacai and the others?”

“Probably playing at the old house or around the village,” Lin Zhao said.

“I’ll go find them!” Song Yun Cheng hurried off, thinking children loved bike rides. He wheeled the bike out and rode around the village searching for Dacai and the others.

Lin Zhao saw it was getting late, washed her face and hands, and went to the kitchen to cook.

Previously, I won two bags of braised beef noodles; the noodles were large, so I might as well cook them all, add a few eggs and some greens—it should be enough.

Whether it’s enough or not, it’s fine this way—it’s convenient.

Yun Cheng still has to head back to the county later.

Song Yuncheng pedaled his bicycle slowly, searching the whole village for Da Cai and Er Cai, his voice ringing out clearly as he called their names.

“Da Cai!”

“Er Cai!!”

Da Cai and Er Cai were splitting a can of food, their cheeks puffed out as they ate; hearing their names called, they picked up the cans and walked toward the sound.

They saw a stranger.

Er Cai spotted Song Yuncheng’s bicycle—his eyes lit up, he wiped his mouth, and hurried over, staring intently at the bike.

“Bro, come look at the bicycle!”

After calling his brother, he looked up at Song Yuncheng and asked without hesitation: “Who are you? What are you doing here in our brigade? How much did you pay for this bicycle?”

The child’s eyes sparkled like falling stars, his smile adorable and lively, utterly charming.

Song Yuncheng instantly liked him and smiled: “Are you Da Cai or Er Cai?”

Er Cai was a clever little rascal—he wouldn’t easily reveal who he was. He crossed his arms, standing there, tilting his chin up slightly.

“I asked you first. You tell me who you are, then I’ll consider whether to be friends with you.”

Song Yuncheng watched the kid’s brash attitude and nearly choked laughing.

“...Cough, I’m your uncle.” he said.

“?!” A huge question mark appeared on Er Cai’s face.

Uncle?

He and Da Cai stood shoulder to shoulder, whispering to his brother: “Bro, this guy’s definitely a nasty kidnapper—he’s pretending to be our uncle. Let’s trick him to the brigade office and get the brigade chief to catch him, so he can’t trick kids anymore!”

Er Cai’s voice was loud—even when he whispered, it was still audible.

Every word he said reached Song Yuncheng’s ears.

“...!!” The teenager’s lip twitched.

On their first meeting, his own nephews were loudly plotting to send him to jail!!

“I really am your uncle. If you don’t believe me, go ask your mom.” Song Yuncheng sounded both helpless and bitter.

Da Cai and Er Cai froze, their faces instantly brightening; the two boys grabbed hands and bolted off.

They ran straight home.

Seeing the door open, their smiles outshone the sun.

“Mom!”

“Mom!!”

Two joyful, excited voices drew nearer.

“Mom, you’re back!” Er Cai rushed to the kitchen door and shouted: “Mom, why didn’t you call me and Brother? We’ve been waiting for you so long—we got so hungry!”

The aroma drifting from the kitchen made his saliva almost drip.

“Mom, what are you cooking? It smells amazing—do we get any?!”

Da Cai still remembered Song Yuncheng; he clung to the doorframe, peering inside: “Mom, there’s this weird guy on a bicycle who says he’s our uncle. Do we even have an uncle like that?”

“This uncle, that uncle”—Lin Zhao thought the kids’ way of speaking was hilarious.

“Yes, the man on the bicycle who came looking for you is also your uncle. You have another young uncle too—he’s still in school. I’ll take you to see him someday.”

Da Cai’s voice was crisp: “Okay.”

“Mom, Er Cai’s stomach’s about to cave in—I want to eat!” Er Cai patted his rumbling belly and pouted at his mom.

“The noodles are ready. Go wash your uncle’s hands.” Lin Zhao ordered, ladling the cooked noodles into bowls.

Song Yuncheng hadn’t planned to mooch a meal, though the aroma from the kitchen made him swallow involuntarily.

“Sister, it’s getting late—I’ll eat back home.”

“Don’t argue!” Lin Zhao glared at him.

Song Yuncheng fell silent, rubbed his nose, and obediently followed Er Cai to wash his hands.

Er Cai smirked.

The uncle rubbed his nephew’s head: “Where’s your hair?” he asked while washing.

Er Cai scratched his prickly scalp: “The barber shaved it off. Mom says bald heads are cooler.”

Song Yuncheng didn’t quite believe it—he was sure they’d had lice or something, and his sister had found them disgusting.

Da Cai wiped his hands with a towel, glancing occasionally at the new uncle: “Why didn’t I ever see you before?”

“Ask your mom.” Song Yuncheng kicked the ball back.

Da Cai pursed his lips and fell silent.

No need to ask—he was sure their mom had been too exhausted caring for them to introduce this uncle.

After washing their hands, Song Yuncheng and the two boys went to fetch the food.

Inside the kitchen, the aroma grew even stronger.

The scent was indescribable.

All three were utterly enchanted!!

They squinted with smiles, their noses twitching rapidly, as if trying to suck every trace of fragrance into their chests.

The three of them wore identical expressions.

“Sister, your cooking’s gotten even better—just smelling it makes me drool; it must taste even better.” Song Yuncheng remembered how, back then, Zhao Zhao would occasionally cook—her half-hearted dishes were still tastier than his mother’s carefully prepared meals.

His father called it talent.

He was absolutely right.

“Eat fast. You still have to head back to the county—leave early so you won’t get caught in the dark.” Lin Zhao said.

Song Yuncheng nodded, bent over his bowl, shoved a forkful of curly noodles into his mouth, widened his pupils, and immediately gave a thumbs-up.

“Amazing!!”

He praised it once, then devoured it at lightning speed.

Da Cai and Er Cai were starving—they buried their faces in their bowls, slurping loudly, too enchanted to speak.

Song Yuncheng was a city kid, sure, but he rarely ate so comfortably.

After finishing the bowl, he leaned back, hand on his stomach: “So good!”

Seeing Da Cai and Er Cai clearing the bowls, he hurried to help.

Da Cai held out his hand to stop him: “Mom says you’re in a hurry to get back to the county—we’ll clean up.”

Song Yuncheng found the boys’ movements too practiced; curiously, he asked: “Do you usually wash the dishes?”

Da Cai nodded calmly: “Mom works hard. Me and Er Cai can wash.”

Song Yuncheng felt utterly useless compared to the two boys.

“You’re really impressive,” he praised.

His sister used to boss him and Yunjin around—now she bosses Da Cai and Er Cai.

She always has someone to boss around.