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

The next morning, before Lin Xiuhe even arrived in Xinghe, someone from Linzhou sent her a message.

Director Ye told her to go there as soon as possible.

We picked up 320 lunchboxes and baskets today; the truck delivering the iron materials has already arrived at the factory gate on the street. This time, unlike before, they refused to unload the goods first and then settle the payment; they said they would only unload the materials according to the amount of money they brought.

When Lin Xiuhe arrived, the car was still parked outside the yard.

The driver squatted by the wheels, smoking, while bundles of iron were piled up in the truck bed. Director Ye stood at the factory gate, clutching the money Lin Xiuhe had brought him yesterday, his brow furrowed with anxiety.

"This money is only enough to keep a little over half of it."

Drivers also have their own difficulties.

"It's not that I'm rushing you, but the factory now requires payment upfront for materials. I need to settle accounts when I get this truck, and even a penny short won't solve anything."

The workshop had been cleared out long ago.

Zheng Qiaoyun and several other female workers had already put on their arm sleeves, waiting for the materials to arrive. Yesterday they were saying that today would be the official start of new work, but now the trucks are stuck at the door, and everyone is worried about it.

Lin Xiuhe calculated the amount of money she still had.

"Unload according to the existing funds first."

The driver put out his cigarette and nodded.

"Okay, I'll wait until the afternoon. If it gets any later, I'll have to take it back."

Director Ye was somewhat worried.

"Only this batch will be kept; we'll have to wait until tomorrow."

"Let's get started today."

Lin Xiuhe looked at her and said, "Don't touch the portion reserved for the female workers."

The street factory wasn't completely broke.

If the money intended for paying workers' wages is also used, then of course the entire truckload of materials can be kept. But the final payment for the first four hundred sets hasn't come in yet. If it's delayed for another two days, the first ones to wait will be these female workers.

Director Ye readily agreed.

"Then let's do as you say."

The driver started calling for people to unload the goods.

The workshop bustled with activity again. Zheng Qiaoyun carried the first bundle of materials inside, and as she passed Lin Xiuhe, she asked, "Is it really possible to take the rest back?"

"He couldn't pay the money in the afternoon, so he left."

"Let's get started on these things."

Director Ye called after her, "If you hurry up, will you conjure up money for me?"

Zheng Qiaoyun turned around with a smile.

"Money can't be conjured up, and work can't just sit idly by."

A burst of laughter followed in the workshop.

Lin Xiuhe did not stay in Linzhou for long.

The final payment for the 400 sets of goods has arrived on the agreed settlement date, and I must find out about this payment today.

When she rode her bike back to the city, Qian Caigou was coming out of the warehouse.

He smiled when he saw her.

"You've come at the right time. I sent someone to Xinghe to look for you this morning."

Upon hearing this, Lin Xiuhe quickened her pace.

"Has the payment been received?"

"They're down."

Qian, the purchasing agent, handed her the invoices. "All four hundred sets have been inspected and put into storage, and the one hundred and ten that were temporarily added in the west of the city also had no problems. The remaining payment can be settled today."

Lin Xiuhe had been waiting for almost half a month before she finally heard those words.

Qian, the purchasing agent, led her to the checkout window and casually asked about the 320 chickens from the street factory.

"Has work started yet?"

"I'm picking up the materials today, but I'm a little short on the money."

"No wonder you ran so fast."

Qian, the purchasing manager, laughed at her, "Before, I only saw you chasing after orders, but now that you have more orders, you're starting to run out of money."

Lin Xiuhe also smiled.

"If there are two more, I might really have to find a way to cover them up first."

Xinghe was called from the window.

She went over and completed the formalities one by one.

After receiving the last sum of money, Lin Xiuhe stood there for a moment.

From the moment she first stamped Xinghe's seal on these four hundred sets of goods after resigning, through production, inspection, delivery, and finally settling the final payment today, thankfully none of the steps went wrong on her watch.

She put the money away and turned to head towards Linzhou.

In the afternoon, the truck that delivered the iron was indeed still at the factory gate on the street.

The driver was getting impatient, and when he saw her ride her bike into the alley, he immediately stood up.

"Comrade Lin, how is it?"

"Unload the rest."

The driver's anxious expression disappeared, and he immediately called for others to continue moving the materials.

Bundle after bundle of iron fell into the yard, and the rack that was originally half empty was quickly filled.

Director Ye settled the remaining material costs and finally felt relieved when he received the receipt.

"Now we don't have to wait for the ingredients tomorrow."

Zheng Qiaoyun was carrying the last bundle inside with someone when she heard this and laughed.

"Then we can do it a little longer tonight."

"Didn't you complain of back pain last night?"

"My back aches, but I can't skimp on my pay at the end of the month."

The female workers nearby all laughed.

Director Ye told her to stop worrying about money, but then reminded the person in charge of recording work hours not to miss the few people who worked overtime yesterday.

The materials have arrived, and the female worker's share of the money hasn't been affected. There's still room to move forward with the new orders from Ningzhou.

When Lin Xiuhe came out of the street factory, the cloth bag was much thinner than when she had just received the final payment.

But this time, she didn't feel the panic of suddenly running out of money.

Because after all the payments were made, there was still a sum of money left in the bag that truly belonged to Xinghe.

This is not an advance payment, nor is it money for the next batch of materials.

These are the ones that were actually kept after all 400 sets were made.

It was already dark when I returned to Beijing.

After finishing her training, He Qiuyan came to Xinghe again and was sitting at the door peeling peanuts with the gatekeeper.

Upon seeing Lin Xiuhe, her first words were:

"Did you get the money back?"

"I'm back."

"How much has been spent this time?"

Lin Xiuhe gave a number.

Upon hearing this, He Qiuyan immediately followed her into the house.

"How much is left?"

Lin Xiuhe placed the cloth bag on the table, sorted out the few sums of money that couldn't be touched at the moment, and then took out the remaining portion.

He Qiuyan, who had been preparing to continue finding fault, slowly raised her eyebrows after seeing this.

"sure."

"Is Xinxinghe no longer just an empty shell?"

He Qiuyan pushed the money back in front of her.

"This time I believe you're not just trying to trick me into doing the work with a few orders."

Lin Xiuhe laughed out loud.

"So, you'll stay after two weeks?"

"Dream on."

He Qiuyan looked around the 12-square-meter room and said, "It's so small that it's hard to even fit an extra chair. You should think about how long you can keep squeezing in here."

No sooner had he finished speaking than the gatekeeper called from outside:

"Comrade Lin, the landlord is looking for you!"

Lin Xiuhe walked out.

The landlord was standing at the door of the room next door that had been locked all along, with two young men behind him carrying the last box of belongings out.

"The people inside left today."

He took out his keys from his pocket and opened the door.

The room next door is much more spacious than Xinghe's current room, with larger windows and a row of wooden shelves along the wall.

The landlord turned to look at her.

"Didn't you ask me the other day when the neighbor's place would be available?"

"It's empty now."

He Qiuyan also came out and stood at the door looking around inside.

The two rooms are separated by only one wall.

The landlord waved the keys in his hand.

"This one is twice the size of your current one."

"Whether I want it or not, I need to give someone a definite answer tomorrow."