The 1960s: The Story of a Country Girl's Journey to the City

When Director Song heard Bao Ya say that, he couldn't help but blush, feeling that she wasn't talking about his son. However, he was naturally happy to hear others speak so highly of his son.

"Sigh, I'll be happy as long as this kid doesn't cause any trouble for the brigade."

"You can't always judge people with old eyes. He may seem like a child to you, but he can stand on his own two feet outside."

Bao Ya spared no effort in praising him, and seeing the upward curve of Director Song's lips growing wider and wider, she carefully considered and made her own request.

"Factory manager, can I come back next week? It's harvest time right now, and I'd like to go back and help out, and also buy some supplements for them to eat. The workload has been heavy lately, and I'm worried they won't be able to handle it."

Director Song nodded in agreement. It was indeed time to replenish their diet with some oil and fat. It was not convenient to buy meat in the countryside, and Yuan Chao probably wouldn't be able to eat meat very often either.

"Okay, go to HR to report next week. I'll have Jiang Yuan get a note from me later. Plus, two pig heads. You have a lot of people in your family, so there won't be enough to eat if there aren't enough."

The next day, at the crack of dawn, Jiang Yuan brought back the pig offal and pork, along with five jin of pork that the factory manager's wife had specially prepared for him.

After leaving their home, the two of them went to a state-run restaurant and bought twenty fried dough sticks before returning to Nanshan Brigade.

When they arrived, only Grandma Su was home; everyone else had gone to work.

"You're back so early? You haven't eaten yet, have you? Come in, I'll get you something to eat."

Grandma Su beckoned them in, then hurriedly went inside to get some eggs.

"Grandma, just make two bowls of egg drop soup, we've already bought some fried dough sticks."

"Okay, sure."

Soon, Grandma Su placed two bowls of egg drop soup on the small table in the yard and invited them to eat.

Grandma, have you eaten?

Bao Ya pulled out a fried dough stick and stuffed it into the old lady's hand. The old lady quickly put it back and licked the oil off her hands.

"I've eaten, you go ahead and eat, don't worry about me. Just let them have the rest at lunchtime."

"Oh, Grandma, just eat. We won't be short of money later. I have some good news for you in a bit."

Bao Ya stuffed the fried dough sticks back into Grandma Su's hand, urging her to eat quickly. Jiang Yuan poured the pork out of the sack and put it into several wooden basins, then came over to eat as well.

"Third brother, when you go to the fields later, call my eldest uncle back. I have something to tell her."

"Okay, sure."

Jiang Yuan nodded as he ate. It was that time of year again when his son-in-law would come to help with the chores, so he certainly couldn't stay at home.

After Jiang Yuan finished breakfast, he went to the fields, while Grandma Su and Bao Ya started cleaning the pork.

First, cut half of the five-pound pork and have Grandma Su marinate it. The rest can be used for cooking at noon.

"Grandma, how are the children? Are they doing well with the work?"

Bao Ya simply brought the person back; she had no idea whether he was capable or how well he performed.

"Okay, those kids are all pretty good. Your eldest uncle will have your second uncle take care of them. At first, they didn't know how to do it, so let them do less. Now they're doing quite well."

The leader's kid is really healthy. Several of the educated youth from our village have fainted since the summer harvest started.

The five you brought back are always so energetic and lively, they seem tireless.

Grandma Su said as she roasted the pig's head.

"They seem quite suited to going to the countryside. Why don't we talk to the factory manager and send his son there?"

Bao Ya thought these pieces of meat were quite good in the countryside; the meat processing plant was much quieter.

"Come on, I've only been telling you about the work. They've ruined a lot of the chickens in our village. We only have my two laying hens left, and I had to beg them to stay. Your chicken coop, your second uncle's, and Aunt Pang's are all empty."

Those kids brought so much money, three yuan each, at least two a day, and nothing I say can persuade them otherwise. If you don't come back soon, all the laying hens in our village will probably end up in their bellies.

If the educated youth in the village ate like them, they wouldn't be fainting every day.

"Hahaha, I knew these guys wouldn't be stingy with their mouths."

Bao Ya was delighted by what the old lady said. Knowing that they would find a way to get meat to eat made her feel at ease. She figured the meat would look pretty good, and she could report back to the factory manager.

"Bao Ya is back?"

Su Daqiang returned carrying the shoulder pole he used to deliver breakfast that morning. He put the pole down as he entered the house and washed his face.

"Uncle, are you hot?"

Bao Ya wiped her hands and poured Su Daqiang a bowl of water.

"Why are you back? You've already finished the work in the past two days?"

"I have some good news to tell you all: I got a job, working in an office at a meat processing plant."

"Really? That's great! We've got another worker in the family. What are you doing in the office?"

"I work in the factory's sales department, where I'm responsible for processing invoices."

Jiang Yuan and Bao Ya discussed it at home for two days before choosing this job. She originally wanted to be in the same department as Jiang Yuan, so that Jiang Yuan could do all the work and she could just stay home and collect her salary.

But Jiang Yuan said that the purchasing department had to take turns going to the countryside. They also had to go with the trucks to bring the pigs back. Everyone was on a shift, and going to the countryside to collect pigs required two people to go together, so it would definitely be her turn.

It would be better to go to the sales department. In a planned economy, sales is a hot commodity. You don't have to go out and run around. You even have to provide the pork buyers with good cigarettes and alcohol.

Bao Ya's job is to write sales invoices for them, that's about it.

"I knew our Baoya was amazing. Look at her, she's only been in the city for less than a year, and not only does she have a job, she's also arranged an apprenticeship for Simao. Hey, boss, after we're done with this, let's go to your dad's grave and give him a good talking-to."

Grandma Su was so happy she couldn't stop smiling, and even the way she roasted the pig's head became much lighter.

"Go back and tell Simao's mother to get ready. We'll go after we've paid the grain tax."

"Baoya, do you need to transfer your household registration? I'll go to the village committee to get you a letter of introduction."

As he spoke, Su Daqiang was about to run towards the brigade headquarters when Bao Ya called him back:

"Uncle, don't rush. I need to stay home for a couple of days. I have something to discuss with you."

Hearing that Bao Ya would stay for two more days, Su Daqiang was no longer in a hurry to go to the brigade headquarters and sat back down to listen to Bao Ya talk.

"Uncle, let the work points for those five children go to the brigade, don't put them on my head. When they leave, the brigade will write a letter of commendation for each of them, hold a commendation meeting, and have Grandpa Niu drive the donkey cart to send them back."

She has a job now and doesn't care about those few work points; making sure she looks good is the priority.

Su Daqiang nodded, instantly understanding Bao Ya's meaning. Those kids were all children of leaders, especially that monkey, whose father was the director of the meat processing plant. They had to give the leaders face.

"Okay, I'll write a letter to each of them later, and I'll also mention it to the commune, so that everyone will know if anyone asks about it in the future."

Su Daqiang readily agreed, then took over the task of roasting the pig's head from Grandma Su, and chatted casually with Bao Ya.

Bao Ya told them how she got the job, and even went so far as to recount the story of the Feng family mother and son committing murder and impersonating someone else. The two men listened with a sigh.