Reborn in 1977, I will no longer be my brother's blood bag.

The 1,000 sets of window latches from Hongxing Hardware Factory were loaded onto the truck at noon the next day.

After the last wooden crate was sealed, the department store inspector sampled a dozen more sets.

One set was not returned.

Ma Chunlan took the acceptance form, first checking the quantity, then the signatures on it.

"Delivered on time and passed the random inspection."

She pointed to that line with her finger.

"Don't write these words vaguely."

The purchasing manager put away his pen.

"Yesterday they blocked my way and wouldn't let me leave, and today they're watching me write."

"If I don't keep a close eye on things, and you guys write 'basically passable' later, wouldn't all our night's work have been for nothing?"

Guo Chenghai came out of the office carrying a file bag.

He has bruises and his collar is wrinkled, but he walks more briskly than yesterday.

"Alright, the goods are all loaded onto the truck, what's the point of all this haggling?"

He stuffed the acceptance form into the file bag.

"The survey records, production figures, and department store feedback are all here."

Ma Chunlan gestured with her chin toward the factory gate.

"You really delivered it to the station yourself?"

"Otherwise what?"

Guo Chenghai clamped the document bag tightly.

"They pointed out the way for us yesterday, but this application is still sitting on the table today. I might as well quit being the factory manager."

He had only taken two steps when he turned back.

"Was the call to Beijing connected?"

"Still waiting."

"Tell Engineer Lin when the connection is established."

Guo Chenghai cleared his throat.

"One thousand sets have been delivered."

"Reassure her."

Ma Chunlan looked at him with a smile.

"Yesterday he kept calling me a student."

Yesterday is yesterday.

Guo Chenghai glared at her.

"If you keep nagging, you can submit the application yourself."

"Go to hell."

Ma Chunlan waved him away.

"If you dawdle any longer, everyone in the bureau will be off work."

The long-distance call was connected just as the department store's truck was leaving the factory gate.

Ma Chunlan grabbed the microphone.

"Beijing Research Institute?"

"I'm looking for Comrade Lin Xiuhe."

The operator asked a few questions.

"Comrade Lin just returned and hasn't arrived at his office yet."

"Then take notes."

Ma Chunlan looked at the dust that hadn't yet settled outside the courtyard gate.

"One thousand sets, all paid."

"I didn't return the set from the department store."

"Director Guo personally delivered our factory's application to the Light Industry Bureau."

The operator hurriedly said:

"Slow down."

"Note one more sentence."

"We'll do exactly what she arranged yesterday."

"The goods have been shipped out, so please rest assured."

When Lin Xiuhe entered the research institute, the security guard was walking out with a phone record in his hand.

Upon seeing her, he immediately waved.

"Mr. Lin, we've been looking for you."

Lin Xiuhe took the paper.

Hongxing Hardware Factory.

The first batch of one thousand sets has been fully delivered.

The random inspection was passed.

The application has been submitted to the Linzhou Light Industry Bureau.

A few more words were squeezed into the last line.

Rest assured, Mr. Lin.

The gatekeeper laughed:

"They specifically told me to."

Lin Xiuhe folded the paper and put it into her shirt pocket.

"Is Engineer Zheng here?"

"I've been waiting for you for ages."

The security guard pushed the registration book in front of her.

"The director is also waiting."

"Engineer Sun went in this morning."

After signing her name, Lin Xiuhe carried her canvas bag upstairs.

The bag was covered in coal dust from the train.

She came directly from the station without even going back to her place.

Engineer Zheng stood at the office door.

His sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, and he was holding an enamel mug in his hand.

Upon seeing her, he first glanced at the bag at her feet.

"Did you bring everything?"

"They're all here."

"Where's the food?"

"I haven't eaten yet."

Engineer Zheng took a sip of herbal tea.

"Go in first."

He gestured with his chin toward the conference room.

"The good news call from Hongxing Factory arrived half an hour earlier than yours."

"This time, it wasn't you who said you'd done it."

"Their goods have already been loaded onto the truck and left."

The director, Director Yan, and Engineer Sun were sitting in the conference room.

There was a report in front of Engineer Sun.

The telephone records from the Linzhou Light Industry Bureau were placed below the report.

Lin Xiuhe went inside and placed the canvas bag next to the chair.

The director pointed to an empty seat.

"sit."

Mr. Sun reached out and pulled out the phone record.

"Hongxing Hardware Factory believes that you have agreed to further cooperation."

"You are also the on-site contact person listed on the application."

Lin Xiuhe took out the copy from her bag.

"There are three more lines after this."

Director Yan took it.

On-site investigation.

No fees are charged.

Do not modify the decommissioned equipment.

No commitment to formal collaboration.

Engineer Sun pushed his report forward, pressing it down on the application.

"Local factories won't make such a clear distinction with you."

"Yesterday, the Light Industry Bureau called me and asked when Comrade Lin would be going over again."

"I'm in charge of this project, and the local authorities recognize you."

"If things go wrong later, who will clean up the mess?"

Lin Xiuhe placed the department store's acceptance form on the table.

It was pressing down on the corner of Engineer Sun's report.

"So I told them to go through the formal application process."

"We didn't receive the money, and we didn't sign a cooperation agreement."

Engineer Sun stared at her.

"You went after you received the notification."

"I'm not going. This form was transferred yesterday."

"So you can disobey orders?"

"I didn't promise anything on behalf of the research institute."

Lin Xiuhe tapped the acceptance date.

"I just didn't stand there and watch them throw away the order."

Mr. Sun put the pen cap back on.

"You're now using results to speak for yourself."

Engineer Zheng walked over from the door.

He put the phone record from the Red Star Factory onto the acceptance form.

"One thousand sets, I'll take them all."

The phone records suppressed Mr. Sun's report.

"The application has also been submitted to the Light Industry Bureau."

The only sound in the meeting room was the rustling of paper.

The director picked up the acceptance form.

"One thousand sets, all qualified?"

"The department store has been inspected and approved."

"Has the one that was out of service been restored?"

"no."

"How did that thing get out?"

"It's not that there's absolutely no work to be done in the factory."

Lin Xiuhe took out two records.

"One machine is still usable, and there are also semi-finished products in the warehouse."

"As soon as the accident happened, all the workers were stuck in front waiting."

"If we take on the remaining jobs first, we can secure the goods for that day."

What about the remaining orders?

"The Red Star Factory can't finish it all by itself."

Lin Xiuhe submitted the collaboration application.

"The gap has been clearly marked."

"The Light Industry Bureau will coordinate the rest."

Sun Gongdao:

"This is exactly what I'm responsible for."

"Then it's your turn to take over."

Lin Xiuhe looked at him.

"That box of goods from yesterday couldn't wait for you to come from Beijing."

Sun's hand stopped on the report.

Director Yan flipped to the profit calculation.

"Including temporary collaborations, is there still 1200 yuan left?"

"The Red Star Factory will calculate it."

"Are they willing to pay a collaboration fee?"

"willing."

"The advance payment of eighty yuan has been approved."

"I didn't accept it."

Director Yan then flipped to the lock factory's application.

"Did they also inquire about the follow-up?"

"I asked."

"Are there any more in Linzhou?"

"I only went to these two places."

Lin Xiuhe did not make any guarantees for factories she had never seen.

"Purchaser Liang said there are still some left."

"We'll have to check to find out the exact amount."

Mr. Sun leaned back in his chair.

"When does a local factory not face difficulties?"

"We're short of materials today, so we'll have to stop work tomorrow."

"The research institute takes on everything; are you still going to continue your current projects?"

The director laid out the applications from the lock factory and the Hongxing factory side by side.

"Director Yan, what's your opinion?"

Director Yan picked up a pencil and marked one mark on each of the two applications.

"Lock manufacturers are afraid of losing orders."

"The same goes for the Red Star Factory."

"It cannot be said to be a common problem yet."

"But both applications are right here; we can't just ignore them."

The director looked at Lin Xiuhe.

"How do you want to investigate?"

"Let's find a few more."

"What kind are you looking for?"

"We have orders, a real shortage of supply, and are willing to formally apply for cooperation."

Lin Xiuhe replied:

"We can't just listen to them say it's difficult."

"We still need to check the accounts to see if they are willing to use public funds and pay the expenses."

Sun Gongdao:

"You still want to go back to Linzhou?"

"This survey has concluded."

"I know."

Lin Xiuhe turned to the director.

"Whether or not to continue is not up to me to decide."

The director pulled open the calendar on the corner of the table.

He flipped to the date ten days later and crossed it out with a pencil.

"Ten days."