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

Three days later, the list of the Linzhou research team was posted on the first floor of the research institute.

Engineer Sun is ranked first.

Team leader, responsible for overall coordination.

Lin Xiuhe was last in line.

Data organization, telephone communication, and meeting minutes.

Old Xu, the gatekeeper, poked his head out from the guardhouse.

"You made several trips, why are you now at the back of the queue?"

Lin Xiuhe finished reading the list.

"It was decided by the institute."

She went up to the second floor.

There were three document bags on the office desk.

Application from a lock factory.

Acceptance form from Hongxing Hardware Factory.

Orders, payrolls, and materials related to work stoppages at the agricultural machinery factory.

She checked each one carefully, and just as she tied the bag drawstring, Engineer Sun came in.

"Submit the materials from Linzhou to the group before noon."

Lin Xiuhe pushed the three bags over.

"They're all here."

Mr. Sun flipped through a few pages.

"We'll have a team meeting this afternoon. You can provide updates on the situation at the three factories during the meeting."

Lin Xiuhe looked up.

"Shall I just add something?"

Engineer Sun pointed downstairs.

"The list has been finalized."

"When I arrive in Linzhou, will I simply keep records?"

"Someone has to keep a record."

Lin Xiuhe placed the bag from the agricultural machinery factory on the table.

"I've been to the lock factory and the Hongxing factory."

"The materials from the agricultural machinery factory were handed over in my presence."

"Let me sit in the back and copy it down, while the people in the front ask me all the questions from the beginning again. Ten days is enough?"

Engineer Sun stacked the materials neatly.

"The division of labor within the team is not determined by whoever makes the most trips."

"I didn't fight for the team leader position."

Lin Xiuhe said:

"The paperwork is yours, and whether the research institute agrees or not is also yours."

"But I know better than the newcomers which company asked first and which company's materials were incomplete."

"You can bring it up at the meeting."

"What happens after you've made your point?"

Engineer Sun looked at her.

"Lin Xiuhe, the investigation team isn't focused on just one person."

There was a knock on the door.

Xiao Liu from the mailroom handed over a registered letter.

"Sent from Linzhou Agricultural Machinery Factory."

The sender was Cao Aiying.

There was only one piece of paper in the envelope.

Twenty-eight names were crammed on top.

Those who can write signed their names.

Those who couldn't write it pressed their fingerprints.

At the bottom it says:

Comrade Lin:

There was no notice of work stoppage posted. Our group of 28 people went to work as usual today.

Lin Xiuhe placed the paper on the payroll sheet of the agricultural machinery factory.

Mr. Sun looked at it for a moment.

"The decision to postpone the work stoppage was made by the agricultural machinery factory itself."

"It cannot be recorded as a graduate school grade."

"Nobody's going to beat me to this result."

Lin Xiuhe opened the payroll.

"The list has been delayed, but salaries still need to be paid."

"If we can't keep the orders, this list will be brought out again next month."

Mr. Sun picked up the signed paper and put it into the agricultural machinery factory's document bag.

An operator ran into the hallway.

"Long-distance shipment from Linzhou Light Industry Bureau."

"The connection has been established."

The two went downstairs.

Engineer Sun picked up the receiver in the duty room.

"I am Sun Jianguo."

They talked for a long time on the phone.

He wrote a few lines on the registration form.

"You've already booked five places?"

"Should I bring the orders, ledgers, and applications?"

"Can we discuss the collaboration fee too?"

Mr. Sun paused for a moment.

Whether Lin Xiuhe goes or not is up to the research institute to decide.

The other party said a few more words.

Mr. Sun handed over the receiver.

"Section Chief Ge is looking for you."

Lin Xiuhe answered the phone.

"I am Lin Xiuhe."

Section Chief Ge has a very loud voice.

"Comrade Lin, we've met with representatives from several factories."

"Going to each and every one of them, ten days isn't enough."

"Everyone come to the Light Industry Bureau the day after tomorrow afternoon."

"Factory manager, accountant, orders, ledgers—none of them can be missing."

"How many are there now?"

"Five companies have been selected, and two are still submitting supplementary applications."

"Both the Red Star Factory and the Agricultural Machinery Factory have named you."

"This matter will be handled by the research institute."

"We don't care how you arrange things."

Section Chief Ge said:

"But you've been to the first two companies, and you've also looked at the materials from the agricultural machinery factory."

"If we change the person at the last minute, we'll have to renegotiate with several factories."

"Ten days is too much to afford."

Lin Xiuhe hung up the phone.

Mr. Sun took away the long-distance registration form.

"Go see the director."

In the director's office, the list of the investigation team, telephone records, and a sheet of signatures of 28 people were placed side by side on the table.

The director asked first:

"Are all five confirmed clients bringing their own accounts?"

"bring."

Sun Gongdao:

"The other two companies are still submitting supplementary materials."

Which one is in the most urgent?

"The lock manufacturer has the earliest delivery time."

Lin Xiuhe pulled out the order.

"Hongxing Factory delivered one batch, and the rest depends on whether the materials can arrive."

She pressed the payroll sheet from the agricultural machinery factory next to her.

"The agricultural machinery factory is less than halfway complete."

"Although the list of companies that have suspended operations has been eased, the orders are still delayed, and we still won't be able to pay wages next month."

The director then asked:

"The other two?"

"I haven't seen the order or the payment."

"We'll arrange it at the meeting."

"How should we arrange them?"

"Let's check the delivery date first."

"Let's see how much money has already been bet."

Those who only complain about difficulties but can't produce any orders should be postponed.

"Whether or not you are willing to use public funds and pay cooperation fees should be clearly stated in writing."

The director looked at Engineer Sun.

Are you aware of these things?

All that Engineer Sun had were the official documents sent from Linzhou.

"Further verification is needed on-site."

"She has already checked three companies."

The director pulled the original list in front of him.

Sun Gongdao:

"I'm worried that local factories will bypass the institute and go directly to an individual in the future."

"Rules must not be broken."

"The rules remain the same."

The director picked up a pen.

"People shouldn't be placed in the wrong place."

He didn't touch the "team leader" part after Sun's name.

Point the pen tip downwards.

The sections following Lin Hsiu-ho's name, "Data Compilation, Telephone Contact, Meeting Minutes," were crossed out with a black line.

The director rewrote:

On-site needs verification.

The person verifying the opinion must sign it.

He pushed the list back.

"Procedures and commitments, handled by Engineer Sun."

"Lin Xiuhe will check the factory's orders and accounts first."

"Whoever approves it must sign it."

He looked at Lin Xiuhe.

"If it requires consultation, then consultation should still be sought."

He then said to Engineer Sun:

"You manage the procedures, but don't let the people who went to the site sit in the back copying the text."

The director tapped the phone record of the Linzhou Light Industry Bureau with a pen.

"The day after tomorrow afternoon, Lin Xiuhe will sit in the front."

"Let her see the orders and accounts from the factories first."