Chapter 270 - 210: Want Work, Not... (2)
"A job? What kind of job?"
Granny Liu’s hands, holding Zhao Wendong’s, began to tremble. Zhao Wendong and Lin Zhiyin exchanged a glance and quickly held the old woman’s hands tight, worried she would become overly excited.
"Um, a worker at the County Number Two Silk Factory."
THUD—!
The reed mat in Baozhu’s mother’s hands dropped onto the kang bed. Zhao Baolian’s heart was in utter turmoil. ’A factory worker! A worker at the best kind of factory, a silk factory!’ Even if they didn’t know all the details, they had heard countless times from others how incredible it was to be a factory worker, and a worker at a silk factory was the cream of the crop. Granny Liu couldn’t even stay seated and began to slide toward the floor. Fortunately, Zhao Wendong and Lin Zhiyin had anticipated this. With a joint effort, they pulled the little old lady back onto the kang.
"Dongzi, this... this won’t do! Baolian can’t take such a good job. This is a debt we could never repay! Give it to Pandi. Yes, let Pandi go."
Granny Liu had weathered many storms in her life, but even she was now trembling with excitement from head to toe. This Shaman Grandmaster, who cast her Spells through incantations, was suddenly at a loss for words.
"Oh, Granny Liu, what are you saying all that for? Baozhu is still young, isn’t he? If Baolian starts working, your family’s life will improve. If your life improves, you’ll be happy. If you’re happy, Third Master will be happy. If you’re both happy, then I’m happy. And if I’m happy, then all of Dragon King Pond is happy! So, for the sake of everyone’s happiness in Dragon King Pond, Baolian absolutely must take this job!"
Zhao Wendong’s speech was like a tongue twister, leaving Granny Liu and her family utterly bewildered. Only Zhao Baozhu was beaming with excitement.
"Brother San, does this mean my sister will be a city folk from now on?"
Becoming a factory worker did indeed allow one to transfer their household registration to the city, so it wasn’t wrong to call her a city dweller. Zhao Wendong smiled and nodded.
"Yay! My sister’s a city folk now!"
When he saw Zhao Wendong nod, Zhao Baozhu leaped high into the air, his excitement mirroring the time, forty or fifty years in the future, when Zhao Wendong would first show him Teacher Mikami’s "educational materials."
"Dongzi, really? Is this... is this really happening?"
Granny Liu, still in disbelief, sought confirmation from Zhao Wendong again. On the kang, Zhao Baolian’s hand gripped the reed mat so tightly that its sharp edges cut into her skin. Blood flowed faster from the fresh wound, but she didn’t seem to notice, her gaze fixed intently on Zhao Wendong.
"Yes, really. Alright, that’s all for this little matter. We’re leaving now. It’s not just Baolian; Zhao Xiaoyan is going too. They’ll go together. I have to go tell Uncle Weiguo as well."
With that, Zhao Wendong pulled Lin Zhiyin along and made a quick escape, fearing that Granny Liu and her family would put on another dramatic display of gratitude. It was only long after they had gone that Granny Liu’s gaze fell upon the bright yellow oranges by the edge of the kang. She slapped her thigh in dismay.
"Oh, dear! Dongzi left and we didn’t even see him out. We were just sitting here stunned. Baolian, my dear, Dongzi has paved a golden road for you! You must work hard when you get to the factory. Don’t you dare disappoint your big brother Dongzi!"
"Yes."
Zhao Baolian nodded vigorously, an unreadable light flickering in her eyes. ’A golden road, is it?’
"Granny, don’t worry! When I grow up, I’ll be sure to follow Brother San’s lead. I even went with him to the last fight!"
"Yes, yes. My grandson is the best."
Granny Liu stroked Zhao Baozhu’s head, her face a picture of gratification, though tears were already welling up in her eyes.
When they arrived at Third Master Zhao’s home, they found him completely worn out from the day’s exertions. He was resting on the kang when Zhao Wendong came in. Upon seeing him, Third Master Zhao tried to struggle to his feet, but Zhao Wendong gently pushed him back down.
"It’s alright. I just came to see if you’ve been starving my grandfather."
Hearing this, Grandmaster Ai chuckled. After staying at Third Master Zhao’s for these past few days, his health had improved significantly. He no longer cut the tragic figure he once did, lying alone on his kang.
"Zhao the kid, I’m not starving. Your Third Master arranged for the captain to bring me meals."
"Hehe, good to hear. By the way, Third Master, where’s Uncle Weiguo? Is he at home or at the production team office?"
"The team office."
"You two get some rest. I’m off to find Uncle Weiguo. I’ve brought you some oranges. Don’t save them—eat them now before they spoil."
He left two oranges for the old men to enjoy, then led Lin Zhiyin to the production team office.
"Well, well, if it isn’t the Civilian Militia Captain and our accountant," Liu Xiufen said with a teasing smile as Zhao Wendong and Lin Zhiyin entered the room. With Lin Zhiyin as accountant and Jin Xiuying as the scorekeeper, Zhao Wendong’s family now had three cadres dominating the team committee. Zhao Weiguo and Zhao the Fourth were also in the room. The whole production team was abuzz with preparations for spring plowing, with everyone scrambling to claim jobs for work points and grain. The team office was busier than it had been all summer. A few commune members who had come to report on their tasks also greeted Zhao Wendong with a smile, and he returned their greetings one by one.
"Uncle Weiguo, you should be thanking me."
"Thank me? What for? You looking for a thrashing?"
Zhao Weiguo shot Zhao Wendong an annoyed glare. ’This damn kid is getting too arrogant. He hasn’t even taken over my post yet and he’s already this insolent.’
"So, where should I start? Your arms or your legs?"
"That’s right, tear him limb from limb! Weiguo, I’ll help you hold him down,"
Zhao the Fourth chimed in with a cheerful laugh. Liu Xiufen watched the scene with delight, a smirk on her face as she waited to see Zhao Wendong get taken down a peg. To her surprise, however, Zhao Wendong remained perfectly composed. He casually sat on the edge of the kang and stretched his arms out in a wide yawn.
"Honey," he said, turning to Lin Zhiyin. "You see? I go to all this trouble to get them spots at the silk factory, and what do I get? No appreciation, not even a thank you. Instead, they want to tear off my arms and legs. Tell me, have I stumbled upon a pack of ungrateful wolves?"