Chapter 45: “third Parties Are Despicable”
Lin Zhao’s expression was full of surprise, “So fast!”
She usually had a calm expression, but was still strikingly beautiful. When she smiled, it was like warm sunlight shining brightly.
The male comrade’s heart pounded wildly.
He quickly looked away, cursing himself inwardly.
Stop jumping, Comrade Lin’s eldest child is already old enough to help out, calm down, third parties are despicable.
This mental pep talk worked. The male comrade steadied his mind and reminded her, “Comrade Lin, remember to go register the bike and pay the taxes.”
“I know, thanks.” Lin Zhao smiled and thanked him.
“No need to thank me, it’s what I should do.” Thinking it was still working hours and Comrade Lin probably didn’t have time to pick up the bike, the male comrade from procurement thoughtfully said, “Come find me after work, I’ll give you the bike, I’ll be around anytime.”
“Thanks.” Lin Zhao had no candy on hand and had no way to thank this enthusiastic comrade, planning to thank him tomorrow instead.
She said something to her colleague and returned to the counter with light steps.
Bicycles were hot commodities, hard to get with tickets and expensive too. Whoever got one would be happy for days.
Lin Zhao was in a good mood, the smile at the corners of her mouth lingering for a long time.
Her attitude toward customers became even better, with a smile on her face and soft-spoken words, startling customers who were used to salespeople giving them the cold shoulder.
The door curtain was suddenly lifted, and in came a hunched, ragged old man.
The old man’s rough, bark-like hands tightly gripped an old bamboo basket, sweat dripping down his deeply grooved face as he shrank at the threshold, not daring to come forward.
Liu Chunhong was in a bad mood, irritated by everything. Seeing a dirty, smelly old man standing at the door, she snapped at him.
“What are you doing? If you have nothing to do, get out! Standing at the door stinking up the place, how are we supposed to serve customers like this.”
In fact, near closing time, there were hardly any customers. She was just venting on a target.
Li Fen thought her words were too harsh, frowned, pointed to the slogan on the wall, and bluntly said:
“The huge ‘No Abusing Customers’ on the wall—are you blind or illiterate?”
She had just suffered a big loss at noon, and forgot it all by afternoon!
Stupid thing.
Liu Chunhong slammed the towel she was using to wipe sweat onto the counter and said angrily, “Who did I hit or curse? We’ve worked together for years, I don’t want to argue with you, so don’t pick on me.”
“I’m picking on you?” Li Fen laughed in anger, “How about we call the director over to judge.”
Liu Chunhong was furious. “Judge if we must, I’m not afraid of you!”
The two argued fiercely.
Wang Ju shrank her neck and shuffled with small steps behind Lin Zhao to hide.
“…”
Seeing this scene, Lin Zhao suddenly recalled that line from the original book—the world is just a massive makeshift operation.
The more she thought about it, the more it made sense.
Over there, the old man trembled as he tried to back out, but looking at the eggs carefully protected with wheat straw in the bamboo basket, he couldn’t move his feet.
It wasn’t easy for him to come to the county once. If he couldn’t sell the eggs today, he’d have to come again tomorrow. In this heat, eggs wouldn’t keep and would go bad.
At that moment, a clear voice rang out.
“Old man, come over here.”
A light appeared in the old man’s cloudy eyes, and he walked over.
Before he could speak, he heard the young salesperson say, “Old man, what do you want to buy?”
The old man’s hand gripping the bamboo basket tightened slightly, his nails embedded with unremovable dirt, cracks on his knuckles gaping open.
“Young comrade, I’m not buying anything, I’m here to sell eggs. The Supply and Marketing Cooperative buys them, right?” he asked nervously in his countryside accent.
“We buy them, but I need to check the goods.” Lin Zhao’s attitude was kind.
She was a child from the countryside and naturally wouldn’t look down on hardworking, simple working people.
The old man relaxed, took out a small rag, wiped the bottom of the bamboo basket, then placed the basket on the counter. “Young comrade, they’re all fresh, not a single bad egg. My wife wiped each one with warm water, no chicken droppings at all.”
Afraid the salesperson wouldn’t take them, his eyes showed flattery and humility, like he was begging low and small.
And yet he had earned the money through his sweat.
Lin Zhao’s throat felt sour.
This generation really had it hard, having lived through warfare and famine, working so hard just for two words: to survive.
Admirable, and heartbreaking.
“They’re very clean and large. Six cents per egg, does that price work for you?” Lin Zhao knew the Supply and Marketing Cooperative’s egg acquisition standards well and quickly quoted the price.
Six cents?
The old man excitedly rubbed his hands.
Da Zai had come before to sell, always at four cents, five if lucky, never six cents.
“Fine, fine.” He nodded happily.
Afraid Lin Zhao didn’t know the situation and had quoted too high, the old man added, “Girl, my Da Zai often comes to sell eggs, the previous prices were four or five cents. Did you get it wrong?”
As he spoke, he quietly glanced at Liu Chunhong.
His eldest son said the one who bought eggs was the roundest salesperson, probably the one fierce like a big goose.
Lin Zhao caught the old man glancing at Liu Chunhong and had a guess, her impression of Liu Chunhong completely plummeting to rock bottom.
Even greedy for working people’s money, devoid of conscience!
“No mistake.” Lin Zhao said, recording the acquisition details.
“Old man, six cents per egg, you have twenty eggs here, total one yuan and twenty cents.”
She pointed to the bottom right of the acquisition form, “If no problem, sign here, or press a handprint if you can’t write.”
The old man unhesitatingly pressed his handprint.
This girl, he trusted her.
Lin Zhao was stunned, a unfamiliar emotion surging in her heart.
She had previously only thought being a salesperson was respectable and easy. At this moment, being looked at with such trust by the old man, she felt the weight of responsibility on her shoulders.
She took one yuan and twenty cents from the money box and gave it to the old man.
The old man smiled, revealing his gums missing several teeth.
“Thanks, thank you, girl.” He thanked her repeatedly, even bowing to Lin Zhao, then wrapped the money layer after layer in a handkerchief before leaving the Supply and Marketing Cooperative.
He had gotten several extra cents more; from now on, he’d have Da Zai sell to the prettiest girl here.
Liu Chunhong saw Lin Zhao butt in and take her exclusive perk, her eyes bulging like a frog’s.
“Lin Zhao, don’t touch what you shouldn’t, or you’ll end up with nothing.” She warned coldly.
Lin Zhao looked puzzled, hmm-ed in seeming confusion, then calmly countered unhurriedly, “In the Supply and Marketing Cooperative, is collecting eggs a job only Comrade Liu can do?”
Without waiting for Liu Chunhong to answer, she turned to Li Fen, “Sister Fen, is that the case?”
She annoyedly patted her forehead and said guiltily, “Director Jiang didn’t say, I didn’t ask, it’s my fault. After work, I’ll go ask, so I don’t step on another landmine.”
Li Fen held back a laugh.
Her peripheral vision caught Liu Chunhong’s darkened face, nearly laughing herself silly.
Well done!
“I haven’t heard that.” She flung the boomerang of fate, hitting Liu Chunhong right between the eyes.
“Sister Liu, where did you hear that? I’ve been at the Supply and Marketing Cooperative for almost five years, how come I never knew? Did I miss some important document?”
Ignoring Liu Chunhong’s increasingly dark face, Li Fen smiled innocently, “Look at my memory, getting worse and worse. Looks like I need to go through all our Supply and Marketing Cooperative’s documents, to avoid making such low-level mistakes later.”
Liu Chunhong knew the truth about the egg matter and didn’t dare let it see the light, or she’d lose her job.
Panicking inside, Liu Chunhong showed nothing on her face and just said, “No document, I’ve been collecting eggs since I started, all these years, it’s habit.”
She added nonchalantly, “You all go ahead and collect if you want.”
As if she didn’t mind handing over the egg collecting job at all.
In fact, Liu Chunhong cared desperately.
Her heart was bleeding.
All these years, she had only relied on kickbacks from collecting eggs to skim off at least a thousand or more.
Suddenly losing this income, how could it not hurt her?
Because of this, Liu Chunhong completely resented Lin Zhao.
From the day this country girl entered the Supply and Marketing Cooperative, her dignity had been trampled, it infuriated her to death.
“Clang clang clang——!!”
The end-of-work bell rang.
Liu Chunhong packed her things and left, her back even carrying anger.
The old employee who was close to her smiled at Lin Zhao and the others, then hurried to catch up.
Once they left, Li Fen burst out laughing.
“Hahahaha, so satisfying!!”
She gave Lin Zhao a thumbs up, “Comrade Lin, you’re the best.”
Wang Ju looked at Lin Zhao with starry eyes too, Comrade Lin was so awesome.
Lin Zhao looked baffled.
How was this awesome?
Wasn’t this basic? Speak up when needed, ask when in doubt, otherwise why have a mouth.
Thinking of the new bicycle, Lin Zhao quickly packed up, then went to find the colleague from procurement.
“Comrade Lin, that one outside is yours.” The young man pointed outside.
A brand-new Phoenix brand bicycle placed in the corner, a rare women’s style, very eye-catching.
“Thanks, really troubled you today.” Lin Zhao smiled.
“You’re too polite, Comrade Lin.”
Daily question: why are all the pretty female comrades married so young.
Lin Zhao went to the Public Security office to register and plate it, then paid the taxes.
All set now.
She pedaled the bicycle home.
With good weather, even the wind was with her, cutting the time to the brigade by more than half.
Lin Zhao rode into the village and before reaching home, saw Yuan Bao rushing at her like a little firecracker.
“Aunt Lin, you bought a bicycle!” The little friend said excitedly.
He wanted to touch the bicycle but didn’t dare.
Lin Zhao’s expression froze awkwardly.
This kid’s crisp “aunt” instantly turned her from an elegant professional Supply and Marketing Cooperative salesperson into Village Entrance Cuihua. Honestly, if he called her “auntie,” she could even get two candies for free.
“Yeah, bought a bicycle.”
Yuan Bao remembered the important thing, slapped his forehead, and said loudly, “Aunt Lin, the twins’ grandmother bled a lot, the twins cried for a long time.”
Lin Zhao’s eyes instantly lost their smile, gave the messenger kid a candy, hopped on the bicycle, and hurried toward the old house.
A crowd stood at the Gu Family home door.
They whispered among themselves.
Seeing Lin Zhao’s figure, they all called out.
“Whoa! Chenghuai’s Wife, you bought a bicycle?!”
“Da Zai’s mom, you’re finally back, your mother-in-law suffered big time.”
“Your two kids cried till their eyes swelled, go in and check quick.”
…
From overhearing, Lin Zhao barely pieced together what happened.
She pushed the bike through the crowd and quickly entered the old house gate.
No one in the yard, but faint voices came from the main house.
“Da Zai! Er Zai!” Lin Zhao parked the bike and called out loudly.
Inside the room, Da Zai and Er Zai guarded Gu Mu. The two little brothers who had been smiling like little suns that morning were now like frostbitten eggplants, wilted and listless, curled at the bedside.
Suddenly, hearing mom’s voice.
The two little brothers jumped up together and ran outside.
“Mom!” Da Zai shouted, burrowing into Lin Zhao’s bosom, tears falling like a broken string of beads, “Mom, Grandma bled a lot.”
At noon, Gu Mu had just stepped into the Lu Family kitchen when her foot caught on something, and she fell forward stiffly. In her panic, she grabbed for support and hit the elm wooden stool by the door.
The stool legs shook violently, the stacked coarse porcelain bowls and plates crashed into shards. She fell heavily into the pile of shards, getting many cuts on her body, her clothes soaked red with blood.
Because of this, Gu Mu was sent home by people helping at the Lu Family. When she returned covered in blood, it was seen by Da Zai and others playing in the yard.
The group of mischievous kids were scared out of their wits and hadn’t recovered yet.
Sure enough, as soon as Da Zai and Er Zai saw their biological mother, they cried out the fear they’d held in all afternoon.
Lin Zhao hugged the two kids, patted their shoulders, and said softly, “Don’t be scared, Mom’s back. Come, take Mom to see your Grandma.”
The two little brothers’ eyelashes were wet, they wiped them casually, sniffled, and led Mom to the main house.
The room was packed with people: Gu Fu and several sons and daughters-in-law, even Bang Bang, Lai Mei, and their kids were there.
Gu Mu lay on the bed, eyes closed, hard to tell how she was.
Lin Zhao could only ask, “How’s Mom?”
“She’s fine.” Gu Fu sighed, “The doctor said your mom is fine, just lost blood, needs to rest.”
Seeing Gu Fu not in good spirits, Lin Zhao didn’t ask more. While he went out for water, she found Zhao Liuniang, “Second Sister-in-law, what exactly happened? How did Mom get hurt so badly?”
It happened at the Lu Family, she couldn’t help overthinking.
Lu Baozhen!!
Zhao Liuniang shook her head, “I’m not clear on the details.”
She lowered her voice, “Heard the Brigade Leader’s Wife say Mom fell as soon as she entered the Lu Family kitchen. She accidentally hit a wooden stool with bowls and plates on it. The stool tipped, bowls and plates fell and shattered, and Mom fell into the shards.”
“Mom was covered in blood when she was just sent back.”
Lin Zhao’s eyes cooled slightly, her tone meaningful, “That’s too much of a coincidence.”
“Yeah, pretty unlucky, the key is she suffered.” Zhao Liuniang sighed.
“Did Mom encounter anything strange before falling?”
Zhao Liuniang didn’t get her meaning.
“Anything strange?” She thought, then shook her head, “Haven’t heard.”
A hoarse voice came from the bed, “…Nothing.”
Hearing Gu Mu’s voice, Gu Fu who had just entered rushed to the bedside, looking worried, “How are you?”
“Fine, rest and I’ll be good.” Gu Mu tugged her pale lips into a smile.
She waved at Lin Zhao and the others, “I’m fine, you all go home and rest.”
Gu Fu also said, “Go on, I’ll take care of your mom, I’ll call if anything.”
With both heads of household saying so, Lin Zhao and the others left.
Because Gu Mu was injured, even the new bicycle couldn’t make the Gu Family happy.
Lin Zhao took the four kids back home.
Seeing Da Zai and Er Zai listless, after settling the dragon-phoenix twins, she went back to her room to organize supplies.
Prepared twenty eggs, two jin of pork, a pack of brown sugar, a can of malt extract, put them in a bamboo basket, and handed it to the two kids.
“Da Zai, Er Zai, take these to the old house, say it’s for your Grandma to nourish her body.”
Before the two sons could speak, Lin Zhao continued seamlessly, “With these good things to nourish, your Grandma will surely recover quickly. If not, Mom will take her to the county hospital.”
Once her mother-in-law recovered, she definitely had to ask carefully if Lu Baozhen was involved.
