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

The day after tomorrow afternoon, the conference room of the Linzhou Light Industry Bureau was packed with people.

More than a dozen people from five factories arrived. There weren't enough long tables, so two more folding chairs were added by the window. Several large document bags were squeezed between teacups, and no one was willing to take them back.

Section Chief Ge stood by the door, greeting the people from the research institute.

"Mr. Sun, over here."

He then pointed to the empty chairs in the front row.

"Comrade Lin sits inside; let her see the materials from several factories first."

As soon as Lin Xiuhe put down her canvas bag, a gray-haired man opposite her looked up.

"Is this Comrade Lin?"

Section Chief Ge nodded.

"Director Zhao of Linzhou Agricultural Implements Factory."

Factory Director Zhao glanced at her, then looked at Engineer Sun.

"Who's in charge of the people who came from Beijing?"

Engineer Sun opened the notebook.

"I will be in charge of the research institute's affairs. Comrade Lin Xiuhe will be responsible for verifying the orders and actual situations of the various factories first."

Factory Director Zhao lifted the document bag closer to his lap.

"So young, how many factories have you worked in?"

Ma Chunlan was flipping through the acceptance forms when she heard this, and impatiently pushed the papers to the middle of the table.

"The department store bought all 1,000 sets from our factory."

She pointed to the seal above.

"Director Zhao, listen to this first. If there's anything wrong, then you can talk about whether you're young or not."

Factory Director Zhao scanned the acceptance form.

"Your stuff can't compare to what a farm implement factory makes!"

Ma Chunlan took the paper back.

"Then you two go first."

She leaned back in her chair.

"Anyway, we brought everything today, so just comparing factory size won't get us the goods."

Seeing that the two sides were about to clash again, Section Chief Ge picked up the lid of his teacup and tapped it twice on the edge of the table.

"Make things clear first."

"Only two research institutes can be ranked this time. We'll decide which one's matter is the most urgent right here today."

Luo Qingfu immediately handed over the payroll from the agricultural machinery factory.

"Our factory will speak first. Although the shutdown list has been eased, wages are still being withheld. If we are delayed for another half month, the factory really can't hold on."

"Director Luo, please wait a moment."

The person in charge of the lock factory sat on the far side. Just as he raised his hand, Director Zhao had already placed his materials on the table.

"The farm implement factory has hundreds of employees and a backlog of orders. They should at least go to us first."

"Proceed according to the date the materials were submitted."

Sun looked down at the list.

The people from several factories immediately started checking the dates on their applications. Some said they submitted them the day before yesterday, others said they had already made the phone call a long time ago, and the room suddenly became chaotic.

Lin Xiuhe pulled the order from Director Zhao's briefcase.

"Delivery by the end of August?"

Factory Director Zhao stopped talking.

"It's the end of August, but we have a large volume."

"Can it still be done now?"

"It can hold out for a while."

Has the purchasing unit followed up with them?

"We haven't urged them yet."

Factory Director Zhao frowned and moved his chair forward a bit.

"Won't it be too late by the time they come knocking on the door? You can see for yourselves what old assets the factory has."

"So what you're trying to solve this time is the subsequent production conditions."

Lin Xiuhe put the order back on the bag.

"This batch of goods hasn't expired yet."

Factory Director Zhao refused to admit it.

"Problems were bound to happen sooner or later, so what's wrong with making arrangements early?"

"That's right."

Lin Xiuhe moved his materials to the side.

"But there are only two spots available today, so let's see who can't wait."

Factory Director Zhao placed his hand on the document bag.

"Our factory is so big, yet we're ranked behind small hardware factories?"

The lock factory manager, who was sitting against the wall, pressed the order down to his knees and turned away awkwardly, as if he wasn't going to speak again.

Lin Xiuhe reached out her hand to him.

"What were you trying to say?"

The person quickly handed over the order.

"We will deliver the goods in five days."

"They initially said they could give us two more days, but this morning the purchasing agent called again and said they wouldn't give us any more time."

A supplementary agreement is attached to the order.

This batch is small, but if it's overdue, the supply for the following year will be cancelled.

Lin Xiuhe spread out the agreement.

"Has this follow-up order been signed?"

"Signed."

The lock factory manager wiped his forehead with his sleeve.

"The factory just kept a few people on board. If this order falls through, they won't be able to take on any more work."

Factory Director Zhao frowned and interjected.

"A few dozen locks, how much are they worth?"

The lock factory manager's face turned bright red, his lips moved, but he didn't dare to take it.

Lin Xiuhe placed his order at the very front of the table.

"The amount of money isn't much."

She looked at Director Zhao.

"If we don't submit it in five days, we'll lose all the work for the year. You don't have to submit it until the end of August, so we can still do it now."

Factory Director Zhao raised his chin.

"According to your ranking, big companies are worse than small companies?"

"Which order is due first?"

Lin Xiuhe put the lock factory's agreement on the order.

"Which brand is bigger isn't shown on this piece of paper."

Ma Chunlan sat next to her and deftly handed over the second batch of orders from Hongxing Factory.

"Then we'll see."

"The first batch has been received, and the second batch will be delivered in twelve days. We've written down where the materials will come from and how the cooperation fee will be handled."

As she said this, she glanced at Director Zhao.

"So that no one will say our factory is too small again."

Stop being so sarcastic.

Factory Director Zhao pulled the document bag back in front of him.

Did I mention you?

Ma Chunlan countered with a question.

Mr. Sun bent his finger and tapped it on the table.

"Let's get down to business first."

Lin Xiuhe finished reviewing the materials from the Red Star Factory.

The acceptance form was genuine, the second batch of orders had already taken effect, and the cooperation fees were clearly stated. She placed the Hongxing Factory's document bag next to the lock factory.

Luo Qingfu leaned forward in a hurry.

"What about our agricultural machinery factory?"

Cao Aiying pressed down on the pay sheet he pushed out.

"Let Engineer Lin finish reading it first."

"Can't I even say a word?"

"You've already said enough along the way."

Cao Aiying turned the ledger to the page with the note tucked inside.

"The wages owed last month, and the amounts that need to be made up this month, are all here. Those who were laid off are still here, and they still need to be paid."

Luo Qingfu's face was tense.

That's why you need to be in the front row.

"Delivery in 18 days."

Cao Aiying pushed the account book over.

"Let others see it first. Even if it's not our turn, we'll have to accept it."

Lin Xiuhe checked the orders and payroll.

The agricultural machinery factory already has a shortage of workers, and its delivery time is indeed six days longer than that of the Hongxing factory.

"Tomorrow I'll go to the agricultural machinery factory to check the accounts and the current progress."

She closed the ledger.

"We won't take up the first two spots today."

Luo Qingfu sat up straight immediately.

"How are you going to delay paying the wages of twenty-eight people?"

So we'll go tomorrow.

Lin Xiuhe said.

"Let's see how long the factory can hold on. The accounts aren't settled yet. If we give you the quota now, what about the goods from Hongxing Factory in twelve days?"

Luo Qingfu wanted to argue, but Cao Aiying had already taken the account book back.

She glared at him, somewhat annoyed.

"Send someone to the factory first. Even if you call again, it won't be an hour earlier tomorrow."

Luo Qingfu wiped his face and leaned back in his chair.

Sun wrote down the name of the agricultural machinery factory after Hongxing Factory, and then handed another document to Lin Xiuhe.

"Daily consumer goods factory".

Director Shen is here for the meeting.

She was around forty years old, and the cuffs of her gray cadre uniform were faded from washing. After entering the room, she sat on the side checking the numbers. She didn't even look up when several families were arguing.

When it was his turn, Director Shen put the order and cost sheet together.

"We have twenty days left."

Section Chief Ge glanced at her.

"Then you'd better behave yourself."

"Being dishonest won't help."

Director Shen flipped to the last page of the formal application.

"The amount of money will be decided in a factory meeting. All the necessary stamps have been affixed so we don't have to make another trip next time."

Lin Xiuhe read it once.

The materials are all there, and the order is genuine; it's just that the deadline hasn't arrived yet.

"I can't get a spot this time."

Director Shen nodded.

"I know."

She was putting the materials back together, and she tied a knot around the bag's drawstring with her fingers, but stopped halfway through.

"Mr. Sun, when is the next batch coming?"

Engineer Sun looked at Section Chief Ge.

Section Chief Ge looked down and flipped through his workbook.

"Let's finish things with these two companies first. As for the rest, we'll have to see how the research institute arranges it."

"What day was that?"

"It's hard to say right now."

Director Shen turned to the date page of the order.

"We will deliver the goods in twenty days."

She left the paper on the table.

"If I don't make it next time, who should I give this document to today?"

No one in the room responded immediately.

Factory Director Zhao couldn't sit still any longer.

"If she can't get an appointment in twenty days, what hope is there for us after two months?"

Section Chief Ge looked up.

"Old Zhao, you guys can still do it."

"We can do it, but the old stuff is there, and it'll have to stop sooner or later."

"Then go back and complete the application properly."

Section Chief Ge pushed his document bag back.

"We'll make way for the five-day and twelve-day holidays today."

Factory Director Zhao's face flushed, and he grabbed the materials and stood up.

"I can't explain this to the hundreds of people when I go back to the factory."

Tell the truth.

Section Chief Ge turned the calendar towards him.

"They'll deliver in five days, you still have two months. If anyone asks again, just show them the dates."

Director Zhao, clutching his briefcase, had lost some of his arrogance, but he was still unwilling to give up.

"It's our turn next time."

Lin Xiuhe said:

"Next time, even if we get all the materials, it will depend on whose order was more urgent at the time."

"Still arranging them like this?"

"Didn't it come out today?"

Factory Director Zhao choked for a moment, then picked up the materials and went out the door.

With one less person in the meeting room, the chairs were finally a bit more spacious.

Sun packed the materials from the lock factory and the Red Star factory into the same large document bag.

"Let's decide on these two first."

He then pulled out the payroll from the agricultural machinery factory.

"Go to the farm machinery factory tomorrow morning."

This time, Luo Qingfu didn't argue anymore, but only urged:

"Come early."

Cao Aiying carefully put away the account book.

"I'll wait at the factory gate."

Section Chief Ge began to collect the materials on the table, but Director Shen remained seated.

She looked at the date on her order, hesitated for a moment, and then pushed the application back in front of Lin Xiuhe.

"Comrade Lin, is it alright if I leave the materials here for now?"

"Can."

"It saves us from having to come back and start all over again."

Director Shen loosened the bag drawstring he had been holding.

"Our factory is not competing for those two spots."

"But once the twenty days are up, the purchasing unit won't listen to me about how busy the research institute is."

Lin Xiuhe took her materials and placed them next to the agricultural machinery factory.

Two companies were chosen from the table.

Three orders remained.

Section Chief Ge flipped to the next month, counted on the calendar several times, but still couldn't write down a date for Director Shen.