Chapter 35: Settled
Zhang Ze’s eyes lit up: “Not bad, kid, you’re finally smart for once.”
“Right, the method Forward mentioned is very good!”
Old Master Fu called them back for the original purpose of protecting her safety, so how could they neglect the fundamentals for the details.
Although far away from Beijing City, Xu Zixin’s reach couldn’t extend that far, but they still couldn’t let their guard down, right?
What if something happened…
Pfft, pfft, pfft!
So to avoid that what-if, it was better to do as Mao Jinqian said.
“Brother Zhang, Brother Mao, trust me. I can’t explain the specific reasons nor can I articulate them, but I’ve seriously weighed and thought about this matter.”
Su Ning set down the bowl and chopsticks, her face and eyes both full of seriousness.
Considering the issues they raised and the concerns in their hearts, she quickly thought for a moment in her mind before speaking again.
“How about this: the transport team in Yong County can be changed to the same unit as me, that is, the textile factory’s transport team?”
In other words, the transport team and the Hongqi Commune’s Eight Great Officers were necessary arrangements?
Zhang Ze lowered his head in silence, truly unable to figure out what connection existed between these things.
Ning Ning seemed to be playing a game of chess, but the target of this chess didn’t seem to be the person who posed the greatest threat to her.
However… since he had agreed to Old Master Fu and was taking her salary, he would just follow her arrangements.
Fortunately, switching to the same unit, the textile factory’s transport team mostly went out on business with the Purchasing Department cadre.
“Alright, then I’ll go to the textile factory transport team, and Forward will go to Hongqi Commune.”
He glanced at Su Ning then turned to look at Zhang Ze. Mao Jinqian scratched the back of his head; since both smart people had made their decisions, he, the dumb one who wasn’t very smart, would just listen.
“Fine, I have no opinion.”
“Then before the job matters are officially settled, Brother Zhang and Brother Mao should first bring over the family members as we discussed before.”
“Good, but we have to wait until tomorrow Ning Ning. Once you settle the residence and job, we’ll set off.”
After discussing the serious matter, the meal was almost finished. Zhang Ze and the other packed up the table, took the lunchbox and plates, and went out the door.
……
The next day early in the morning, Zhang Ze took Su Ning to the textile factory first to handle the entry procedures.
With the quota, complete proof materials, and greetings from above already made early, things naturally went very smoothly.
“Then welcome, Cadre Su, to join our textile factory big family.”
“Thank you, Director He.”
Taking the work badge and entry form he handed over, Su Ning politely thanked him and left smiling after confirming the work hours.
Zhang Ze, waiting outside the factory, saw her stride out confidently and hurriedly extinguished the cigarette in his hand.
The two continued nonstop to the large and small independent courtyards in Gu City.
Unexpectedly, after just asking for the specific address, they were a bit dumbfounded. It turned out the textile factory was on Beizheng Street north of Li River, while those two courtyards were on Nanmen Street across the river.
Even though Gu City wasn’t large, commuting by bicycle would still take more than half an hour.
Zhang Ze himself had no problem; he could run it every day, but Su Ning…
“Ning Ning, you…”
She had been smart since childhood, with excellent hands-on comprehension ability.
Unfortunately, she just didn’t get sports. As a kid, even the simplest jump rope was strenuous for her, and her stamina was terrible.
As if afraid he’d recall the childhood embarrassment at the Fu house, when jumping rope with Fu Ying and her brother, she ended up tangled like a rice dumpling, Su Ning awkwardly turned her head and quickly interrupted the words on the tip of his tongue.
“Let’s go check it out first. Riding a bike is no problem for me; it can even count as exercise.”
“True, then let’s walk to Nanmen Street and see.”
Gu City had four river-crossing stone bridges, so traffic between the two streets was fairly convenient. The biggest difference between south and north might be the riverside buildings.
The four streets of Beizheng belonged to the relatively prosperous city center, so before the new country’s urban construction, big households built along the river here, leaving the most and most concentrated hanging-foot ancient buildings.
While Nanmen’s several streets belonged to later-developed agency courtyards, factory family courtyards, self-built civilian small courtyards, etc., forming a clear contrast on both sides of the river.
South Gate First Street was right next to Li River, and the two large and small courtyards were only separated by two households.
The larger one had four main rooms and three side rooms, with a yard in front and a vegetable patch in back.
The smaller one had two main rooms and two side rooms. Though no backyard, the front yard was large enough.
Su Ning really liked this small courtyard. It was plenty big for one person, not only with a dug well outside the room next to the kitchen, but the toilet on the other side also had a cemented floor, making it very clean and hygienic.
Later, planting some flowers in the courtyard and a few fruit trees would make it even prettier.
“They’ve taken good care of the house.”
Su Ning said while pointing to the small courtyard, “Then I’ll live here. Brother Zhang, you and sister-in-law can live in the larger one. Don’t fight me for it; I like this small courtyard, hehe~”
“Alright, as you say.”
At home besides his old mother, daughter-in-law, and two mischievous boys, a larger place to live was naturally better.
Zhang Ze was very grateful in his heart and also glad he hadn’t hesitated to agree to Old Master Fu back then.
Now Ning Ning not only gave him such high salary, but also brought his family to the city for a better life.
Ever since he and Mao Jinqian left the unit because of that matter, his old mother and daughter-in-law hadn’t blamed him at all. He never regretted it, but he blamed himself…
He blamed himself that even desperately working to earn full work points, he still couldn’t let them eat their fill or dress warmly.
“Ning Ning, thank you.”
“Brother Zhang?”
“Nothing, let’s go. I know the place. Later at the guesthouse, Forward and I will come repair and clean it up, trying to finish before dark.”
Zhang Ze cleared his throat, suppressing the jumbled thoughts in his heart. “After all, it’s been vacant for a long time, and not far from the mountains and river, so we need to fumigate inside and out vigorously. Otherwise it’ll be dirty and messy; Ning Ning, you just wait at the guesthouse.”
Knowing what she meant by fumigate, Su Ning’s scalp tingled at the thought. Afraid of all soft slimy crawling things, she didn’t refuse right then and nodded in agreement.
Perfect, while they cleaned the house, she could go around exploring.
Before leaving, she had agreed with Grandpa Fu on the job, but now there was a change, so she needed to see if she could settle it with her own ideas without connections first. If not, she had to call Grandpa Fu ahead of time to explain.
“Right, Brother Zhang, remember to buy two new locks to replace them.”
“Got it, rest assured, I’ll remember.”
“Is the money and ration coupons enough?”
“Enough, the ones you gave before haven’t been used up yet.”
The two chatted while closing and locking the door again, leaving one after the other.
……
Mao Jinqian, guarding the luggage at the guesthouse, stood stiffly and motionless by the window out of sheer boredom.
Suddenly, he leaned forward a bit, confirming that the two approaching from afar were Su Ning and Zhang Ze.
His originally expressionless face, which had a fierce air, broke in a second, his mouth unconsciously grinning into his signature silly smile.
Thank you all for your various ticket support, hugs and hearts~
