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

The next morning, Lin Xiuhe went to Limin Hardware Factory first.

The factory is not far from the mining area.

The gate to the courtyard was open; the early shift had already started. Carts loaded with goods were being pushed out, and several old iron frames that had just been repainted leaned against the wall. A worker was squatting at the workshop entrance changing wheels.

The security guard saw her standing outside and came out to ask, "Who are you looking for?"

"I'd like to speak with the person in charge of business at your factory."

Which organization?

"Beijing Xinghe Business Department"

The security guard clearly hadn't heard of it.

Lin Xiuhe handed over the letter of introduction.

After a while, a man in his forties came out of the yard. His work clothes sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, and his palms were still covered in dust.

He took the letter of introduction and first looked at her.

"From Beijing?"

"right."

"What do you need us for?"

"I'm also talking about the batch of daily necessities from the mining bureau."

The man's eyebrows twitched, then he smiled.

"So you came here?"

"Yesterday, Officer Xu asked me why Xinghe makes them feel at ease."

Lin Xiuhe looked into the courtyard.

"I want to see why they trust you all."

The man looked her over again.

"You're an interesting person."

"They're trying to steal our business right up to our factory gate."

"Look, you can't steal it anyway."

"That's hard to say."

That's what he said, but he didn't kick people out.

The man's surname was Song, and he was the deputy director of Limin Hardware Factory, responsible for external liaison.

He didn't lead Lin Xiuhe into the production workshop, but only took her for a walk around the yard.

A flatbed cart is loading two repaired iron frames.

Lin Xiuhe recognized the markings of the mining bureau on the surface.

"From the mine?"

It was delivered yesterday afternoon.

"Going back today?"

"Give it to me if I can."

Deputy Factory Director Song reached out and steadied the frame.

"We live close by. If anything breaks in a dorm, the logistics department just gives a call, and if a vehicle comes back, they'll bring it over. It's a minor problem; it'll be fixed in half a day."

A worker who was tying ropes nearby chimed in.

"The other day, the cart in the cafeteria had a broken wheel. It was delivered in the morning and taken away in the afternoon."

Deputy Factory Director Song laughed and scolded him, "Get back to your work."

The worker grinned and continued tying the cart.

Lin Xiuhe stood to the side, watching the two old iron frames being lifted onto the cart.

Seeing that she hadn't left, Deputy Factory Director Song asked, "Xinghe doesn't have its own factory, does it?"

"Not now."

"Then why would they dare to take orders from the mine?"

"I want to accept."

Deputy Factory Director Song looked her up and down.

"You own the operations department too?"

"Um."

"I still think you're a salesperson sent by your company."

"The boss also has to do the sales himself."

Deputy Factory Director Song was amused by her.

"You're quite honest."

He dusted off his hands.

"But let me tell you the truth. Things from the mine are different from those in a department store. If they break after being sold, people will come back for them."

"We've been doing this for so many years, the people at the mine know the factory is here, and they know we can't run away."

Lin Xiuhe nodded.

"clear."

Deputy Factory Director Song had been waiting for her to argue, but seeing how readily she answered, his expression became serious.

"You're so young, it takes real courage for you to travel all the way from Beijing to Jizhou by yourself."

"But public funds can't just be used based on who's the boldest."

Lin Xiuhe smiled.

That's right.

She didn't ask any more questions and quickly took her leave.

As I walked out of the factory gate, the same flatbed cart I had just seen passed by.

The repaired old iron frame swayed gently on the vehicle as it headed towards the mining bureau.

Lin Xiuhe did not go directly to Officer Xu.

She went to the same family dormitory area as yesterday.

The woman carrying the thermos was airing her quilts downstairs, and she smiled as soon as she saw her.

"The Beijing boss is here again."

Several people nearby joined in the commotion.

"Is the boss not going to discuss business today?"

"We haven't received the order yet."

"The mining bureau didn't agree?"

"They complain that Xinghe is too far away."

It's not surprising at all that the woman was carrying the thermos.

"That's true."

She forcefully shook the bed sheet open.

"If we really mess things up, we can't exactly take the train to Beijing to find you."

After listening, Lin Xiuhe glanced down the slope following the bed sheet in her hand.

"Where do you usually go for welding frames and repairing furnaces in the neighborhood?"

The woman pointed.

There's a repair shop at the entrance of the alley.

"Old carts and furnace frames from the mine are often sent there when they break."

Lin Xiuhe followed the direction she pointed.

The shop was smaller than she had imagined.

Two dismantled old bicycles lay across the entrance, and coal stove frames and iron buckets were piled up against the wall. A craftsman in his fifties was squatting inside, welding repairs to the stove legs.

Lin Xiuhe stood at the door and waited for the sparks to stop before speaking.

"Master, I have something to ask you."

The man took off his goggles.

"Repair what?"

"There's nothing to fix it right now."

The man frowned.

"Then what are you doing here?"

"I opened a business in Beijing and want to take a batch of goods from the mining bureau."

"If anything made by Xinghe breaks down in the future, and the people at the mine bring it to you, could you repair it for the usual price?"

The master found it strange.

"You haven't even sold any goods yet, and you're already looking for repairmen?"

"If I wait until it breaks before looking for a solution, people will start scolding me."

The man couldn't help but laugh.

"You do have some self-awareness."

"So, will you answer or not?"

"Of course I'll take any job I can get."

"Whoever brings it pays for it."

"OK."

The technician put his goggles back on.

Lin Xiuhe stood still.

"If it really is from Xinghe, I'll pay the money."

The man then lifted his goggles.

"You're in Beijing, who can I contact to claim acquaintances?"

"Have the mining bureau keep a repair order. When I get here, I'll pay whatever it costs."

"Aren't you afraid they'll use something else to frame you?"

"Xinghe's goods have their own markings."

The master looked her over for a moment.

"That's alright."

He squatted down again.

"Bring the goods over first, then we'll talk. The price is what it is; I won't work for you for free."

"That's how it should be."

"Thank me after you sell it."

Lin Xiuhe smiled and then left.

In the afternoon, she went to the mining bureau for the second time.

Officer Xu was tidying up his things in the office when he saw her come in, and he looked somewhat surprised.

"Where did you run off to today?"

Limin Hardware Factory.

Officer Xu looked up.

"You actually went?"

"I've gone."

"We didn't kick you out?"

"Deputy Factory Director Song is a very nice person."

Officer Xu was amused.

"You went and competed with others for business, and then you praised them?"

"They were already doing a good job."

Officer Xu paused in his work.

Lin Xiuhe handed over the address of the repair shop.

"You asked me yesterday where to find someone if something really went wrong with the product."

"Beijing is too far away. It's not realistic to expect the people at the mine to wait for me to come by train."

She pointed to the address on the paper.

"There's a repair shop downstairs in the residential area. The mechanic is willing to take on this kind of work. If it's just a minor problem, you can send it there first. Xinghe will pay for it."

Officer Xu took the address.

"Have you reached an agreement?"

"The master only agrees to take any job that comes his way, and the price will be calculated based on the actual work done."

Officer Xu nodded.

"That's more like it."

He looked up at her.

"If you told me you'd secured a regular repair shop in just one day, I'd ask you a few more questions."

Lin Xiuhe smiled.

"I don't have that much ability."

Officer Xu placed the paper on the table.

"Limin just mentioned you."

"What did you say?"

"You dare to walk right into their factory gate, and you're not pretending to know everything."

Lin Xiuhe laughed when she heard this.

"Is that a compliment?"

"Forget it, it's just what Deputy Factory Director Song said."

Officer Xu smiled briefly, but quickly suppressed his laughter.

"Comrade Lin, I still don't dare to hand over several hundred sets to Xinghe at once."

"I know."

"So what do you want today?"

Give me a chance to try.

Officer Xu sized her up for a moment.

"The two rows of single dormitories on the east side will be occupied next month. The original plan was to install forty sets of storage shelves."

Lin Xiuhe waited.

"Twenty sets."

Officer Xu held up two fingers.

"If you really want to do it, I can take out twenty sets first."

"Let the people in the dorm use it for a few days. If it works well, then we can talk more."

"What if it's not good?"

"Pull it back yourself."

"become."

Lin Xiuhe answered readily.

Officer Xu got up to get the contact form.

Suddenly, a series of hurried footsteps came from outside the door.

"Officer Xu."

A young staff member from the logistics department stood at the door and glanced in Lin Xiuhe's direction.

"Limin Hardware Factory just sent word over."

The contact form in Officer Xu's hand hadn't been placed on the table yet.

"What's wrong?"

"They're willing to take all forty sets of storage shelves."

The young officer continued:

"The price is still the same as last year."

"It can be delivered in half a month."

As Officer Xu stood by the table, his movements slowed down.

The words "Xinghe Business Department" were already written on the contact form.

The seal was still placed beside it.