In the fiery red era of the heavens, refrigerators are refreshed daily.

Chapter 198, Section 197: Second Brother Joins the Company. Unexpected Good News. Fate Arrives. Destiny's Compensation.
Another Spring Festival has passed in the midst of noise and reunion, and time has quietly slipped into 1971.

In March, Shanghai was still chilly, with the morning wind carrying a biting cold. However, the tender buds quietly sprouting on the branches and the faint scent of damp earth in the air already indicated that winter was completely over.

Yang Guangyao's injured leg has fully healed.

Thanks to his youth and already good health, and even more so to his mother Zhang Xiuying's meticulous feeding of bone broth, crucian carp soup and various nutritional supplements over the past few months.

That leg, which once had a heavy cast, can now walk, run, and jump just like a normal person.

Because it was just a fracture and not displaced, there were no sequelae after a full recovery, which relieved the whole family. The gloom that had been hanging over their home for half a year finally dissipated.

The work-related issues, as Yang Guangming had previously promised, have been resolved smoothly.

Yang Guangming approached Lang Tianrui, the head of the Labor and Personnel Department. Lang Tianrui regarded Yang Guangming as a great benefactor and naturally agreed without hesitation, even with a sense of urgency to repay him.

For ordinary people, getting a temporary, unemployed job at the Hongxing State-Owned Cotton Mill was an incredibly difficult task, with countless eyes vying for the limited number of openings. However, with the head of the labor and personnel department, who held the power of personnel arrangements, personally handling the matter, it was naturally not a difficult task. Lang Tianrui was well-versed in this, and he handled the process with ease.

Lang Tianrui was meticulous and thoughtful. Knowing that Guangyao's leg injury had just healed and he was not suitable for heavy physical labor, he specially arranged a temporary position for him as a "payroll clerk".

This position requires a certain level of education, which is a perfect match for Yangguangyao High School's educational background.

This job involves calculating and compiling the wages of all factory employees, including various grades, working hours, overtime pay, subsidies, deductions, etc. There are many items and complex forms, requiring extreme care and accuracy, and no mistakes can be made.

The factory has a limited number of officially employed accountants, so when things get really busy, they often hire temporary workers with higher levels of education to help with basic calculations and data entry.

This job doesn't require going to the workshop or doing physical labor. You sit in the office all day fiddling with an abacus and checking forms. It's mental work, and you're protected from the wind and rain, making it perfect for someone who has just recovered from illness and needs to avoid strenuous activity.

Lang Tianrui's arrangement was truly well-thought-out.

On Monday morning, the factory gate was bustling with people. Workers pushed bicycles or walked, chatting and laughing as they entered the gate in groups of three or five.

Yang Guangming deliberately arrived a few minutes early and stood in a conspicuous spot on one side of the factory gate to wait.

Soon, he saw his second brother, Yang Guangyao, riding his old Forever bicycle with their mother, Zhang Xiuying, on the back. He skillfully rode over through the bustling crowd. Yang Guangyao was a very good rider, weaving through the crowd with ease.

Today, Yang Guangyao wore a nearly new blue youth suit. It originally belonged to Yang Guangming, but Zhang Xiuying stayed up all night to shorten it, washed it clean, and even ironed it with an enamel mug filled with boiling water, making it look exceptionally crisp.

Yang Yao's hair was carefully combed and rinsed with water, making it appear black, shiny, and smooth. His face showed a hint of nervousness, but even more so, anticipation for a fresh start. He looked energetic and radiated an upward-looking spirit.

"Mingming!" Zhang Xiuying saw her youngest son first, and her face immediately lit up with a smile, as if she had seen her pillar of support. Yang Guangyao also braked and stopped, supporting himself on one foot with a nimble movement, showing that his legs were indeed nimble again.

"Mom, Second Brother." Yang Guangming greeted him with a smile.

Zhang Xiuying got out of the back seat, tidied her wind-blown hair and clothes, and then, still worried, straightened her second son's already neat collar, muttering instructions as if Yang Guangyao wasn't going to work but was going on a long journey.

"Yaoyao, it's your first day at work. Observe and learn more, talk less, be diligent, and keep an eye on things. Be careful with your calculations and don't make any mistakes. This is related to the wages of all the workers in the factory, it's not a small matter... If you make a mistake, the leaders will criticize you, and the workers will have complaints."

"I understand, Mom, don't worry, I've got it all figured out," Yang Guangyao replied patiently, his attitude very good. He knew that his mother's nagging was full of concern.

"Maintain good relationships with your colleagues; harmony brings wealth. If you don't understand something, quietly ask Section Chief Lang or the older colleague next to you. Be humble and have a sweet tongue..."

"Yes, I know." Yang Guangyao nodded.

Zhang Xiuying then turned to her youngest son, her eyes filled with entrustment: "Mingming, I'm entrusting your second brother to you. Please give him some guidance. He's new to the office and doesn't know many of the rules."

"Don't worry, Mom. Section Chief Lang has made all the arrangements, everything will be fine." Yang Guangming's tone was calm, giving his mother a reassuring look. His composure effectively calmed Zhang Xiuying's slightly tense emotions.

Zhang Xiuying nodded and pushed her bicycle: "Alright, I'll go to the workshop first. You two brothers can look after each other if you go together."

She pushed the cart a few steps, then looked back again, still feeling uneasy. Seeing the two brothers standing together, she finally felt relieved, joined the crowd, and headed towards the weaving workshop.

The two brothers smiled at each other and walked side by side toward the factory office building. Yang Guangming naturally took the canvas bag from his second brother, which contained a lunchbox and a water cup prepared by Zhang Xiuying.

The red brick office building is taller than the surrounding workshops, giving it a rather imposing appearance.

As Yang Guangyao entered the place for the first time as a staff member, he couldn't help but straighten his back slightly, take a deep breath, and feel the change in identity that was different from before.

Yang Guangming led his second brother to the labor and personnel department on the second floor with practiced ease.

Several people were already waiting at the door to handle their business. Inside the large office, there was a mix of voices: the clicking of abacus beads, conversations, and the rustling of documents. It was a busy yet orderly atmosphere.

The section chief's office was open.

Lang Tianrui, the head of the Labor and Personnel Department, had just brewed a cup of tea. The tea was inexpensive jasmine tea, but it had a strong aroma. He sat down at his desk and opened his work log for the day.

"Section Chief Lang, good morning." Yang Guangming stood at the door, greeting him with a smile, his voice neither too loud nor too soft.

"Hey, Guangming! Good morning!" Lang Tianrui looked up and saw the Yang brothers, and immediately stood up enthusiastically with a genuine smile on his face.

His gaze then fell on Yang Guangyao, who was standing next to Yang Guangming. "This must be Comrade Guangyao, right? Welcome, welcome!" He extended his hand.

"Section Chief Lang, hello! I'm Yang Guangyao, reporting for duty today. I look forward to your guidance in the future." Yang Guangyao stepped forward, bowed slightly, and grasped Lang Tianrui's hands with both of his, his tone respectful yet measured. He remembered his mother's instructions and maintained a very proper attitude.

"Good, good, good! You look like a spirited young man! Is your leg all healed?" Lang Tianrui looked Yang Guangyao up and down, nodding in satisfaction. Yang Guangyao was handsome, tall, and had bright eyes; he made a very good first impression.

"Thanks to you, everything is fine now, there's no problem at all. Thank you for your concern, Section Chief," Yang Guangyao replied politely.

"That's good! Health is the foundation of everything! Only with good health can you work well." Lang Tianrui smiled and picked up a pre-prepared form from the table. "Here, Comrade Guangyao, fill out this employment form first. The procedures for temporary workers are simple. After you fill out the form, I'll get it stamped and take you to the accounting department to familiarize yourself with the place. That's when you'll officially start working."

He had Yang Guangyao sit at his desk, handed him a pen, and pointed out how to fill out the forms, such as "family background" and "education level." His attitude was very considerate, showing a level of enthusiasm far exceeding that shown to ordinary temporary workers.

Yang Guangming, watching from the side, knew that Lang Tianrui was only being so enthusiastic because of him, so he gave him a grateful look. Lang Tianrui smiled knowingly and waved his hand, meaning it was nothing and there was no need to be polite; the favor was understood between them.

The formalities were completed quickly. Holding the stamped form, Lang Tianrui said to Yang Guangming, "Guangming, you go ahead with your work. I'll take Comrade Guangyao to the accounting group to arrange the work. Don't worry, leave it to me." He said this to reassure Yang Guangming and to show that he would take care of him.

Yang Guangming nodded and said to his second brother, "Second brother, then you should follow Section Chief Lang and familiarize yourself with the environment. I'll come over and take a look again when I have time at noon."

"Okay, go ahead and get busy." Yang Guangyao stood up and watched his younger brother leave.

Yang Guangming thanked Lang Tianrui again before turning back to his office.

Lang Tianrui led Yang Guangyao through the large office to a relatively independent area on the inner side, separated by several tall wooden filing cabinets.

There are four or five desks here, each piled high with payroll sheets and ledgers. Abacuses and pens are standard equipment, and some desks also have thick volumes of "Rules for Calculating Labor Wages" and "Compilation of Labor Insurance and Welfare Systems".

Three or four people were working at their desks. Some were rapidly calculating on an abacus, their fingers moving so nimbly it was dazzling; others were checking spreadsheets, their expressions focused, occasionally marking something with a red pen; still others were copying name lists. The air was filled with an atmosphere of rigor and concentration.

"Everyone, stop for a moment. Let me introduce a new colleague." Lang Tianrui clapped his hands, his voice booming.

The comrades in the accounting team all looked up and their eyes were all fixed on the newcomer.

"This is Comrade Yang Guangyao. Starting today, he will be working temporarily in our accounting group, mainly responsible for assisting with basic accounting and data entry. Please welcome him." Lang Tianrui's introduction was concise and clear.

A round of polite applause broke out. Several older comrades scrutinized the newcomer with curious and calculating eyes.

"Comrade Guangyao, this is Team Leader Wang from the accounting group. Team Leader Wang is a veteran in our factory's payroll accounting, with a wealth of experience. If you have any questions about your work in the future, please consult Team Leader Wang." Lang Tianrui introduced a woman in her forties who was wearing dark blue arm sleeves, with a kind face but shrewd eyes.

"Team Leader Wang, hello! My name is Yang Guangyao. I'm new here and don't know anything. Please give me your criticism and guidance in the future." Yang Guangyao immediately greeted him respectfully, leaning forward slightly.

Team Leader Wang adjusted his glasses, smiled, and said in a fairly gentle tone, "Welcome, Comrade Xiao Yang. Don't be so polite, let's learn from each other. Our work here is varied and requires attention to detail, so we can't rush it. Take it slow and build a solid foundation; that's the most important thing."

Lang Tianrui then briefly introduced the other colleagues, addressing them as "Comrade Li" and "Master Zhang," among other things. Yang Guangyao greeted each of them politely, trying his best to remember their surnames and faces. His humble attitude, appropriate responses, and handsome appearance easily left a good impression.

"Xiao Yue." Lang Tianrui waved to a young woman sitting at the very back. "You've been here for quite a while now and have a lot of work experience. Mentor Guangyao more often and help him get familiar with the accounting group's procedures and rules as soon as possible."

The woman looked up at the sound.

Sunlight followed suit.

What came into view was a girl who looked to be in her early twenties, with two shiny braids tied at the ends with small light green bows that swayed gently as she looked up.

Her face was fair and smooth, her nose was straight and high, and her eyes were large and bright, like black grapes soaked in clear water, with a clear and intelligent look.

She wore a well-fitting light green plaid coat over a white polyester shirt with the collar neatly turned out, giving her a clean and sharp look, as well as a rare elegance.

While not stunningly beautiful, she has fair skin, delicate and gentle features, and a calm demeanor, making her instantly likable and irresistible.

She looked up, her gaze meeting Yang Guangyao's. She seemed to pause slightly, perhaps not expecting her new colleague to be such a tall and spirited young man. Then, she stood up gracefully, a faint smile curving her lips, revealing her white teeth: "Okay, Section Chief Lang. Don't worry."

Her voice was clear and melodious, with a touch of the soft sweetness unique to southern girls, but not overly affected, making it very pleasant to listen to.

"Comrade Yue, hello. I'll be troubling you from now on," Yang Guangyao said hurriedly, feeling a little nervous for some reason, his palms sweating slightly. He felt his voice was a bit more strained than usual.

“Comrade Yang Guangyao, it’s no trouble to learn from each other.” Yue Xinlei responded with a smile, her gaze lingering on Yang Guangyao’s face for a moment before naturally shifting away, her demeanor generous and appropriate.

Lang Tianrui looked at the two of them, a barely perceptible smile flashing in his eyes, seemingly pleased with the scene. He then gave them a few more instructions, such as "work hard" and "get familiar with it as soon as possible," before turning and returning to his office.

Team Leader Wang arranged an empty seat for Yang Guangyao, which was right diagonally opposite Yue Xinlei, and she could see him just by looking up.

She brought over a thick stack of old forms and a worn-out "Employee Salary Grade Standards Handbook." "Xiaoyang, don't rush into work. Look through these old forms and the handbook, familiarize yourself with the basic salary, subsidies, and various deductions for each workshop, job, and grade."

For example, how much is the difference in basic wages between first-level and second-level workers? How are the job allowances for textile sewing machine operators and mechanics calculated? What are the standards for high-temperature subsidies and night shift allowances?

These are the basics; you must thoroughly understand them, otherwise you'll easily make mistakes in calculations later, and a small error can lead to a huge mistake.

Team Leader Wang explained everything in great detail.

"Okay, Team Leader Wang, I will definitely read and learn carefully." Yang Guangyao took the form and manual and nodded earnestly. He touched the thick manual and felt a heavy responsibility.

Yang Guangyao sat down, opened the manual, spread out the forms, and began to carefully study them. The office returned to its busy rhythm, with the clatter of abacus beads and the scratching of pens on paper becoming the main sounds.

Yang Guangyao watched intently. He found that this job truly required a great deal of meticulousness and patience; there were numerous numbers, intricate rules, and various codes and symbols to memorize.

But he never fell behind in his studies. Since he was here, he wanted to do his job well, not to be looked down upon, and even more so, not to embarrass his younger brother and Section Chief Lang.

During his studies, he encountered several symbols and items that he didn't quite understand, such as the triangle and star symbols, and he didn't know what subsidies they represented. After hesitating for a moment, he looked up and quietly asked Yue Xinlei, who was diagonally opposite him, for help. He didn't want to bother Team Leader Wang from the start.

"Comrade Yue Xinlei, excuse me, what does this symbol mean?" He pointed to a mark on the form, lowering his voice so as not to disturb others.

Hearing the voice, Yue Xinlei looked up, put down her pen, and leaned over to look at the spot he was pointing to. She had a faint, pleasant scent of face cream on her.

“Oh, this is the mark for the night shift allowance. Look here.” She picked up a form from her desk and pointed it out to Yang Guangyao, her fingers slender and fair. “Next to each night shift hour, there will be this small triangle symbol. When calculating, you need to multiply it by the night shift allowance coefficient. The coefficient standard is on page 27 of the manual.”

Her explanation was clear and concise, and her attitude was natural, without the slightest impatience.

"Oh, I see. Thank you." Yang Guangyao suddenly realized and quickly thanked him, while turning to page 27 of the manual to confirm.

"You're welcome." Yue Xinlei smiled and continued with her work.

After the initial request, subsequent inquiries seemed much more natural. Yang Guangyao discovered that Yue Xinlei was very proficient in her work, thoroughly familiar with all the regulations, and explained things patiently, clearly, and without holding anything back. When encountering complex issues, she would even pull out example tables and point them out to Yang Guangyao.

The morning passed quickly in study and occasional whispered questions, and Yang Guangyao filled several pages with notes.

The lunch break bell rang, its crisp sound echoing through the office building. The accounting team members put down their work, stretched, and took out their lunchboxes from their drawers, preparing to go to the cafeteria for lunch.

"Xiaoyang, let's go to the cafeteria together?" Team Leader Wang invited, his attitude even more friendly than when they first met. It seemed that Yang Guangyao's quiet and focused study attitude throughout the morning had already won her initial favor.

"Okay, sure." Yang Guangyao stood up, tidied up his notes and manual, and took out his lunchbox. Just then, he saw Yue Xinlei also close her ledger and take out her lunchbox.

Everyone was eager for lunch, and the group walked out of the office together. Yang Guangyao subconsciously slowed his pace, walking alongside Yue Xinlei. Team Leader Wang and two other women walked a few steps ahead, chatting casually.

"Thank you so much for helping me this morning, answering so many of my questions," Yang Guangyao said sincerely, trying to find the right words to say.

"Really, you don't need to be so polite, it's all my pleasure." Yue Xinlei turned her head to look at him, her eyes crinkling with a smile. "You learn very quickly, you grasp many things immediately, and you remember them very well." She noticed Yang Guangyao's densely packed notes.

"No, no, it's because you don't think I'm stupid and you explain things clearly." Yang Guangyao was a little embarrassed by her praise, but his heart felt like it had been brushed by a feather, a little happy and a little shy.

The two chatted casually about payroll calculations, such as which workshop had the most complicated hourly records and which type of subsidy was most prone to error. Before they knew it, they had arrived at the cafeteria entrance.

The cafeteria was bustling with activity, and long queues had formed at every window.

Yang Guangyao immediately spotted his younger brother, Yang Guangming, standing at the entrance of the cadre canteen, looking in his direction. Their eyes met, and Yang Guangming smiled, gesturing for him to come over.

"Team Leader Wang, Comrade Yue Xinlei, my brother is over there, I'll go over there for a bit," Yang Guangyao said to his colleagues.

"Go on ahead," Team Leader Wang said with a smile and a wave of his hand.

Yue Xinlei nodded, her gaze inadvertently sweeping over the tall and composed figure at the entrance of the cadre canteen, before she and Team Leader Wang and the others walked toward the long line of ordinary employees.

Yang Guangyao ran over to her younger brother.

"How are you doing, Second Brother? Are you adjusting well? Is the work complicated?" Yang Guangming asked with concern.

"It's great. Section Chief Lang made very thoughtful arrangements, Team Leader Wang and my colleagues are all very nice, and Comrade Yue Xinlei, who is in my team, is also very helpful and taught me a lot."

Yang Guangyao spoke in a relaxed tone, his face showing satisfaction and a little excitement about his new job. "The work is a bit detailed, with lots of numbers and rules, but I think I can handle it. I'll learn slowly."

He waved the lunchbox in his hand. "Come on, let's eat. I'm a little hungry."

Yang Guangming put his arm around his second brother's shoulder, and the two brothers walked into the cadre canteen together.

The days passed peacefully by.

In the blink of an eye, Yang Guangyao has been with the company for two months, and it's already May.

The weather in Shanghai has warmed up completely, the sycamore leaves have grown large and dense, and people have switched to lighter clothing.

Yang Guangyao has fully adapted to the job of a payroll clerk. He's intelligent, hardworking, and sometimes even takes the manual home after work to study. He quickly became able to handle most basic accounting tasks independently with a very low error rate, earning him widespread recognition from Team Leader Wang and his colleagues. Everyone thinks this young man is reliable, eager to learn, and not impetuous.

He and Yue Xinlei were in the same group, their workstations were next to each other, so they naturally communicated the most.

The two were of similar age and both had graduated from high school, so they had a lot in common.

Besides work-related communication, we sometimes chat during breaks about what movies we've watched, what books we've read, or interesting stories we've heard.

Yang Guangyao discovered that Yue Xinlei was not only beautiful, but also cheerful and generous, meticulous in her work, and had a bright and infectious smile.

Moreover, she is very knowledgeable and often has unique insights into issues; she is not just a pretty face.

Yue Xinlei also felt that although Yang Guangyao was a temporary worker, he was responsible, smart, quick-witted, and asked questions when he didn't understand. Once he learned something, he did it meticulously, unlike some young people who were ambitious but lacked practical skills or were slick and impetuous.

Most importantly, he is indeed handsome, with striking features and a tall stature; his mere presence is pleasing to the eye.

A subtle affection quietly blossomed between the two young people, like a seed buried in the soil in spring, sprouting without them even realizing it.

When they worked overtime together to check data, they would tacitly bring each other a snack or a few candies; Yang Guangyao would occasionally bring a few delicious snacks made by Zhang Xiuying from home, such as glutinous rice dumplings or scallion pancakes, and would naturally share one with Yue Xinlei; when Yue Xinlei received a new blue-black ink, she would also fill Yang Guangyao's fountain pen with some.

These little interactions carried a sweet, unspoken understanding.

My colleagues have all been through this before, so they see what's going on, smile knowingly, and occasionally crack a few harmless jokes.

For example, when someone said, "Teacher Yue teaches diligently, and Comrade Xiao Yang studies hard," the two of them would just blush and smile without refuting it.

Sometimes Yue Xinlei would glare reproachfully at the person making the joke, but there wasn't much real annoyance in her eyes.

That noon, Yang Guangming went to the staff canteen for lunch as usual. After getting his food, he turned around and saw Lang Tianrui, the head of the labor and personnel section, also carrying a lunchbox and looking for a seat.

"Section Chief Lang, over here," Yang Guangming called out, pointing to the empty seat opposite him.

When Lang Tianrui saw it was him, he smiled and walked over, sitting down in the seat opposite him.

"Guangming, are you busy today?" Lang Tianrui asked, picking up his chopsticks as he made small talk. "Not bad, same as always. Just dealing with some documents and reports. And you? You seem to be in a rush," Yang Guangming replied.

"Sigh, the beginning of the month is always incredibly busy. Payroll calculations, social security payments, staff transfers... I have to keep an eye on every single one of them." Lang Tianrui sighed, but there wasn't much worry on his face, clearly indicating that he was already quite adept at handling these matters.

The two chatted as they ate, talking about everything from the factory's production situation to the recent weather, and then about some trivial matters.

After finishing his meal, Lang Tianrui put down his chopsticks, wiped his mouth, leaned forward slightly, and with a slightly mysterious and teasing smile on his face, turned the conversation to Yang Guangyao.

"Guangming, speaking of which, your second brother Guangyao is truly remarkable." Lang Tianrui's opening remarks were tinged with obvious admiration.

Yang Guangming looked up, somewhat puzzled, and replied with a smile, "That's a compliment. I'm just grateful that he can do this temporary job well without making any mistakes or causing you any trouble. I also have to thank Section Chief Lang for giving him this opportunity and for taking care of him all this time." He thought Lang Tianrui was just giving him a routine compliment.

"Hey, it's not about work." Lang Tianrui waved his hand, his smile widening, tinged with a hint of teasing. "I mean, Comrade Guangyao's taste is really something!"

He gave a thumbs up, "In this respect, I don't think you're any worse than your younger brother, and you might even be a step ahead! You have vision and courage!"

Yang Guangming was even more confused, completely failing to understand what Lang Tianrui was referring to, or what kind of vision and courage were needed for the job.

"Perspective? What perspective? Section Chief Lang, I don't understand what you're saying. My second brother... what happened to him?" He put down his chopsticks and became serious.

Seeing this, Lang Tianrui pretended to be surprised and widened his eyes: "What? Such an important matter, and you, as the younger brother, don't know anything about it? This won't do, you're too indifferent to your own second brother's affairs! This isn't like you at all." He deliberately kept them in suspense.

He lowered his voice to make sure no one around was paying attention: "This isn't a secret in our personnel department. Everyone in the accounting team knows about it."

Yang Guangming's heart skipped a beat, and his expression became even more serious. "Section Chief Lang, please stop beating around the bush. What happened to my second brother? What's wrong? Did he make a mistake at work? Or did he have a conflict with someone?"

He felt a little uneasy, wondering if his second brother had made a big mistake at work, or if he had made a mistake out of youthful impetuosity and offended someone.

"Oh dear, look how nervous you are! It's a good thing, a really good thing!"

Seeing that he had misunderstood, Lang Tianrui quickly explained with a smile, his tone light, "It's a personal matter! A personal matter! Comrade Guangyao has a girlfriend!"

Moreover, it seems that the two get along very well and are in love. They have no intention of hiding it, so it's basically out in the open.

Didn't your family notice anything at all? Has he never come home late from get off work? Has he never gone out on his days off?

Yang Guangming was stunned, completely stunned.

Second brother has a girlfriend? He really didn't know.

For the past two months, Yang Guangming has continued to stay in the Shikumen area one or two nights a week, just like before.

In the past day or two, he only knew that his second brother went to get off work and came home on time every day, ate dinner, and occasionally read a book or played with his little nephew Zhuangzhuang in the evening. He didn't see anything unusual.

I didn't hear him mention going out on dates over the weekend; at most, he'd just go for a walk in the nearby park. Is my second brother keeping this a secret? Or have I just been too busy to notice?
"I really...I really don't know," Yang Guangming answered honestly, his mind racing. His second brother had limited opportunities to meet women, the most likely being at the factory... "Section Chief Lang, is the woman...from our factory?" he asked tentatively.

"Absolutely!" Lang Tianrui slapped his thigh, giving him a "you finally hit the nail on the head" look. "And he's right here in our personnel department, in the accounting group, in the same work group as your second brother! We see each other every day!"

Yang Guangming quickly went through the names of the female colleagues in the accounting team in his mind.

The right age... Team Leader Wang is definitely not one of them. The other two older women already have children in elementary school... So that leaves only... that quiet, pretty girl with good professional skills.

A name popped into his mind.

"Could it be... Comrade Yue Xinlei?" Yang Guangming asked tentatively, with a hint of uncertainty.

He had a good impression of the girl, but he didn't expect things to develop so quickly with his second brother.

"Hey! I knew you were quick-witted!" Lang Tianrui confirmed his guess, with a "you finally figured it out" expression.

"It's Yue Xinlei! What a wonderful girl! She's a full-time employee, has a high school education, and is impeccable in both looks and personality! She's quiet and gentle, has strong professional skills, and comes from a well-off family!"

"Don't you think your second brother has a sharp eye? He quietly snatched up the best girl in our department! It turns out all my hard work wasn't in vain."

He used a slightly exaggerated metaphor, while revealing his good intentions.

Yang Guangming was indeed surprised, even a little shocked.

My second brother is tall, handsome, and energetic, so it's not surprising that some female colleagues are interested in him.

It's common for young men and women in the factory to develop feelings for each other since they spend so much time together. If the woman is also a temporary worker and the two are of similar background, the chances of them getting together are quite high.

But Yue Xinlei was a permanent employee... which was a huge advantage in the marriage market of the 1970s.

Generally speaking, female employees with formal employment tend to prefer partners who also have formal employment status, such as technicians, managers, or male employees who are also formal employees.

The initial joy he felt for his second brother was quickly replaced by a sense of realistic worry.

The difference is obvious!
"Section Chief Lang, this is good news... A handsome man and a beautiful woman, naturally it's a good thing..."

Yang Guangming carefully considered his words, frowned slightly, and expressed his concerns, "But why do I feel a little uneasy?"

Comrade Yue Xinlei is a formal employee, and I heard that her family is well-off.

My second brother is still just a temporary worker... Given this difference in status... Even if the two of them are willing and their love is unwavering, will the woman's family agree?
Marriage and daily life are ultimately not just a matter between two people.

The concept of marrying someone of equal social standing exists in any era, but it was even more realistic and widespread in the 1970s.

Upon hearing this, Lang Tianrui's smile faded slightly. He picked up the water glass beside him, took a sip of tea, and seemed to be carefully considering his words. His expression was hesitant, as if he knew something inside.

Yang Guangming saw it all, and his unease grew even stronger.

He leaned forward, lowered his voice, and spoke with even greater sincerity:
"Section Chief Lang, what is there between us that we can't talk about? You've always been a mentor to us brothers, so please tell me whatever you know."

Whether it's good or bad, I need to have a clear understanding in my heart.

Is there anything unusual about the woman's family? Or... do they have any opinions about my second brother? Are they against it?

His concern was that the woman's family might not know about it at all, or they might know but strongly object.

If it's the latter, then the future of this relationship is probably bleak, the second brother will inevitably get hurt, and it may even affect his work.

Lang Tianrui put down his teacup, sighed, and his expression became more serious: "Xiao Yang, since you've asked this far, I won't hide it from you anymore."

This matter is a bit complicated, but it's not all bad; it might even be... an opportunity for your second brother.

His words were a bit roundabout, but they piqued Yang Guangming's curiosity even more.

He paused, looked at Yang Guangming, and his tone became somewhat solemn, even with a hint of revealing secrets: "You also know Comrade Yue Xinlei's father. He is none other than Yue Xingguo, the full-time deputy secretary of our factory, Secretary Yue."

Upon hearing this, Yang Guangming was genuinely surprised, his eyes widening slightly as if he had almost misheard.

Deputy Secretary Yue Xingguo!

He was the third-ranking leader in the factory, second only to Secretary Tian and Director Zhao. He was in charge of Party affairs and cadre work, and had a high reputation and his words carried great weight.

He was a figure who frequently gave reports on the podium, someone Yang Ming looked up to. I never imagined Yue Xinlei was actually Secretary Yue's daughter! This is truly... utterly unexpected!
His worries intensified instantly, as if a stone was pressing down on him.

The factory leader's daughter, and her own second brother, a temporary worker... the difference seems to be more than just a little bit; it's practically an insurmountable chasm!

The difference in social status is obvious.

He couldn't imagine how someone of Secretary Yue's status and family background could agree to his daughter finding a temporary worker without a formal job. It sounded too unrealistic.

"Secretary Yue's daughter?" Yang Guangming's voice was filled with disbelief, even a little dry. "Section Chief Lang, this... a family like Secretary Yue's, could they possibly be interested in my second brother? This... how is this possible? The difference is just too..." He couldn't find the right words to describe it.

"So, there are special circumstances in this matter."

Lang Tianrui understood his reaction, put on a sincere expression, and explained in detail:

"Secretary Yue only has one daughter, Xinlei, whom he cherishes dearly. He treats her like a precious gem, afraid she might fall if he holds her in his hands or melt if he keeps her in his mouth."

Although he didn't explicitly say he wanted a son-in-law to live with his wife's family, he had already made it clear that he hoped his daughter could live with her parents after marriage so he could take care of her and provide for them in their old age. He only has one child, so it's understandable that he has this idea.

He looked around and lowered his voice: "Think about it, these days, although we advocate new customs and gender equality, if the man lives with his mother-in-law after marriage, even though it's not the old-fashioned practice of marrying into the wife's family, it doesn't sound very good."

Families with good financial standing, or those who are somewhat conservative and concerned with appearances, wouldn't want their sons like that. If the young man is truly well-off and a good match, his parents will be the first to object, feeling it's a loss of face and fearing their son will suffer. So…”

Lang Tianrui shrugged, giving him a knowing look: "This is awkward."

Families who are well-matched in terms of social status and other aspects generally find it difficult to accept this condition.

But Secretary Yue insisted on this point, probably because he couldn't bear to part with his daughter.

As for other aspects, such as the other person's job and family background, they are not so rigid; as long as they are decent, that's fine. The most important thing is that they are a good person, capable, and good to Xinlei.

"But Xinlei is a girl with her own ideas."

Lang Tianrui continued, his tone laced with a mix of teasing and admiration, "She has quite high standards for a man's appearance and character. She won't even look at someone who isn't particularly handsome and pleasing to the eye."

In the two years since she started working, countless people have introduced her to potential partners—technicians, government officials, and talented young men from other factories.

But because either the other party's family didn't accept the condition of her staying at her parents' home, or she herself didn't like the other party's appearance or manner of speaking, she didn't succeed in any of them.

Secretary Yue was also quite anxious, but he refused to lower his standards.

Yang Guangming listened intently; the situation was indeed unusual and completely different from what he had imagined.

It turns out that high thresholds also bring their own set of troubles.

"Now," Lang Tianrui concluded, his tone becoming more relaxed, "it's your young couple, Guangyao and Xinlei, who have fallen for each other. They're a perfect match, like figures from a painting. I think now it's basically just a matter of getting past their parents. As long as they're both determined, the success rate is actually quite high."

He looked at Yang Guangming, his tone becoming more certain: "Based on my understanding of Secretary Yue, he is not the kind of person who despises the poor and loves the rich. He is quite pragmatic and values ​​his daughter's happiness more."

As long as Yue Xinlei is firm in her stance and has her sights set on Guangyao, there shouldn't be too much of a problem on his end.

Your Guangyao is outstanding in every way except for his temporary job. In terms of family background, personal character, appearance, physique, and education, he is even better than many young men with formal jobs.

Secretary Yue has a sharp eye; he's probably good at judging people.

"As for work."

Lang Tianrui smiled meaningfully and lowered his voice, "For Secretary Yue, that's not important at all."

As long as he can see Guangyao as a good person, thinks that the young man is reliable, has potential, and can be good to his daughter.

So, is it really such a huge problem to get him a permanent position in his current unit or to try to transfer him to another unit?
Who knows, this temporary worker status might actually become a way for his future father-in-law to show him favor or assess him.

That's quite a pointed point.

Yang Guangming slowly processed these words.

Lang Tianrui's analysis was reasonable and thorough, clearly explaining the advantages, disadvantages, and special conditions.

If Secretary Yue truly cares most about his daughter staying by his side after marriage, and his daughter is determined to be with her second brother, then work might not be the biggest obstacle. It might even be a way for Secretary Yue to test his future son-in-law's patience or a place where he can bestow favors and help him in the future.

Thinking about it this way, the future seems much brighter.

"so."

Lang Tianrui concluded by patting Yang Guangming's arm, "In my opinion, whether these two can get together depends on whether their feelings for each other are strong enough, and whether Miss Xinlei's attitude is firm enough."

As long as she's made up her mind and determined, I think there's a 70-80% chance she'll get what she wants from Secretary Yue.

Your Guangyao might have hit the jackpot this time!

As their direct supervisor, Lang Tianrui saw their interactions in the office clearly: "Anyway, when I look at Yue Xinlei now, her eyes are shining, she has a smile on her face, and she works with more energy. She even gets distracted from time to time. That state can't lie. She really has her eye on your Guangyao."

He patted Yang Guangming on the shoulder and said in an elder's tone, "I really think they can get together."

As for the matter of living at the bride's parents' home after marriage, Guangming, we need to be more open-minded and not be influenced by those old ideas.

They only have one daughter, and it's only natural for them to want her to stay with them; we should understand.

As long as the young couple is happy, it doesn't matter where they live, right?
Besides, living with Secretary Yue will only benefit your second brother's future development, and will not cause him any harm.

This last sentence hits the nail on the head.

After listening to this long explanation, Yang Guangming felt much less worried and relieved.

Instead, a complex mix of emotions arose: surprise, joy, a sense of realization, and a hint of pressure and unreality about the possibility of becoming in-laws with the factory leaders.

He nodded, his expression relaxing, and a smile appeared on his face: "Section Chief Lang, you're right. Your analysis is very insightful. Thank you for telling me this, otherwise I would still be in the dark and worrying unnecessarily."

As long as my second brother is willing, and the two of them have a good relationship and are sincere, the rest... let nature take its course.

As for where they stay, it's really not important; they can figure it out themselves.

He is indeed quite open-minded and doesn't think it's a big deal.

"That's more like it!" Lang Tianrui laughed, his tone lightening. "This is fantastic news! Just wait and see when you get to your second brother's wedding! And don't forget to invite me for a drink too!"

"Definitely! If that day ever comes, you'll be the great matchmaker and will definitely sit at the head table! If it weren't for your deliberate arrangements and the opportunity you gave us, this joyous occasion wouldn't have happened," Yang Guangming replied with a smile.

Speaking of this, Lang Tianrui was indeed somewhat proud. He had only held onto a sliver of hope, but he never expected it to actually work.

The two chatted for a few more minutes, and when they saw that it was almost time, they packed up their lunchboxes and got up to leave the cafeteria.

After they parted ways, Yang Guangming didn't immediately return to his office. Instead, he took a slow walk in the factory area, still processing the news he had just heard.

His second brother and Secretary Yue's daughter... This was indeed an unexpected development for him.

He never expected that his second brother's marriage would take such a turn for the better, and that it might be an extremely positive turn for the better.

If it really works out, not only will my second brother's personal issues be resolved and he be able to get a permanent job, but he will also have a better platform and prospects for future development. It would be a great thing for the whole family.

Of course, this is on the premise that the two have a good relationship and can successfully pass Secretary Yue's test.

He decided not to tell his family, including his parents, about this for the time being.

After all, they are only in the dating stage right now, and whether they can eventually get together depends on the crucial step of Secretary Yue's approval.

If we tell everyone now, and it doesn't work out in the end, not only will we be disappointed, but it might also put pressure on my second brother and cause our parents to have unrealized expectations or even anxiety.

Let's wait until things become clearer before making any decisions.

He planned to wait until he got home that evening, or find a suitable opportunity, to have a good talk with his second brother, to hear his own thoughts, to understand how far their relationship had progressed, and to give him some advice, such as what he should pay attention to in front of Secretary Yue.

Having made up his mind, Yang Ming took a deep breath of the warm afternoon air of spring, which carried a hint of floral fragrance.

His mood brightened, as if he could see a brighter future for his second brother.

This unexpected romance might be fate's way of compensating the second brother.

He hoped things would develop smoothly, just as Section Chief Lang had predicted.

(End of this chapter)