Chapter 326 Sister, How Old Are You? Can You Be More Mature?

Chapter 326: Girl, how old are you? Can you grow up already?

Zhou Weining hasn't changed a bit—still as... energetic as ever.

Su Taotao turned to Fu Zhengtu, who had jogged over, and said, "No worries, head back to work."

Fu Zhengtu glanced at Zhou Weining: "Try not to be so careless next time."

Zhou Weining ducked her head, attempting to reduce her presence.

Su Taotao draped herself lazily over the car window: "Well? What is it?"

"Can I come work at your factory?" Zhou Weining asked.

Su Taotao: "What would you even do at my factory?"

Zhou Weining said, "I can handle anything! Your new factory is huge, surely you need clerical staff, right? My handwriting and writing are both decent—don’t sell me short."

What Zhou Weining really wanted was to be a teacher at the kindergarten, but both her grandfather and her brother firmly opposed it, refusing to let her ruin the country's future or lead the kids astray.

After several failed attempts to argue, she had no choice but to settle for a clerical job at the factory.

"Listen to me—you're better off where you are."

Zhou Weining clearly came from a sheltered upbringing, and in the future, most state-run factories would either change or go under.

People slave away for years just to secure a stable government or institutional position. Zhou Weining was born with a silver spoon, something many could only envy.

Su Taotao couldn’t help but feel that if Zhou Weining left such a good job now for a state-run factory, she might regret it later.

Zhou Weining shook her head: "I don’t want to waste my prime years stuck in this backwater anymore!"

Su Taotao: "..."

Zhou Weining continued, "It was my grandfather who forced me to work here. Look at this place—when there aren’t any test flights, it’s so quiet you can hear a pin drop.

"Every day, I’m surrounded by the same old boring guys, no entertainment, zero fun whatsoever!

"I’m still so young! I don’t want to retire! I thrive on excitement, I love listening to people chat, I love places buzzing with life—even noisy kids are fine!

"Director Su, Comrade Su, Sis Su—I’m begging you, give me a chance to transfer! I promise I won’t bother the kids or pester Chenchen!"

Zhou Weining clasped her hands together, making puppy-dog eyes.

Su Taotao looked at Zhou Weining—she was a rare burst of color in this gray world.

One man's trash is another man's treasure. What Su Taotao thought was best for Zhou Weining might not actually be what she wanted for herself.

"If you really want to work at the factory, fine. There’s a public recruitment next week."

Su Taotao handed her a flyer and a form: "Look through the positions and see which one you qualify for. Fill out the application and submit it. We’ll arrange a unified interview and select the best candidates."

Zhou Weining stared in shock at the form in Su Taotao’s hand: "I—I have to fill this out? And go through a public recruitment? Can’t I just use connections and transfer directly?"

Su Taotao raised an eyebrow: "What do you think?"

Zhou Weining resignedly took the form: "Fine, I get it. I’m no worse than anyone else—I’ll show them what I'm made of!"

Su Taotao smiled: "I look forward to seeing what you can do. Oh, and make sure to talk it over with your family first—I don’t want them ganging up on me later."

Zhou Weining nodded: "Don’t worry, as long as I don’t become a teacher and corrupt the kids, they won’t object."

Su Taotao recalled her previous act of pretending to have a nonexistent friend, but this time she finally had some self-awareness.

Su Taotao nodded: "Good, teaching really isn’t for you. Actually, the workers’ union has many open positions. If your drawing skills are decent, you could be a propaganda staffer—making posters/blackboard bulletins, teaching basic literacy—that would be great too."

Zhou Weining’s eyes sparkled like a lightbulb: "I can draw! That position sounds perfect for me."

Su Taotao: "There are plenty of other roles too, all clearly described in the job duties. Look through them yourself and pick one that plays to your strengths and suits you best."

Zhou Weining nodded firmly: "Don’t worry, I definitely will!"

Out of the corner of her eye, Zhou Weining suddenly noticed the sleeping Chenchen. She immediately covered her mouth and bounced giddily: "Aww, the little angel is so adorable even when asleep!"

Su Taotao: "..."

Seriously, how old are you? Can you act a little more mature?

This girl really goes gaga every time she sees Chenchen.

Su Taotao started the car: "I’m off now. Think it over carefully."

"Wait—" Zhou Weining reached into her pocket, digging around until she finally pulled out a chocolate. She placed it next to Chenchen’s dried persimmon and couldn’t resist giving his “small, chubby hand” a little squeeze.

Satisfied, she said: "Remember to tell the little angel—oh, I mean, Chenchen—that it’s from Auntie Ningning!"

She hoarded it for herself, but she was happy to give it to the little angel!

Su Taotao thought this girl was really quite endearing—and a good match for Mo Jiazhe too.

She wondered if Mo Jiazhe had made his move yet.

She nodded: "I’ll thank Auntie Ningning for Chenchen. I’m off now."

Even as Su Taotao drove away, she could still see Zhou Weining waving at the car through the rearview mirror.

Well, this "‘remote wilderness’" really was "a poor fit" for such a lively young girl. The factory, full of life, would probably make her happier—and bring her closer to Mo Jiazhe too.

Back at the factory, as soon as the car stopped, Chenchen woke up, rubbing his eyes and looking around.

Su Taotao unbuckled his seatbelt and lifted him out: "Chenchen, awake? Do you want to go to school or stay and play at the factory?"

Chenchen yawned sleepily.

Dong Shengping opened the door, and Bai Bai barreled out, tail wagging and circling excitedly around Su Taotao’s feet.

"Bai Bai~"

Su Taotao set the little one down, and Chenchen crouched to give Bai Bai a good scritching.

"Mommy, I’ll play with Bai Bai~"

Su Taotao nodded: "Alright, go inside and play with Bai Bai."

Keeping him at the factory was wiser—otherwise, when Fu Zhengtu came to pick up Fu Yuanhang later, Chenchen would only get sad all over again.

Su Taotao slipped a dried persimmon and the chocolate into Chenchen’s pocket.

"The chocolate is from Auntie Ningning. Mommy said thanks for you. You can eat it if you get hungry later, but don’t let Bai Bai have any—not a single nibble. It’s bad for him."

Chenchen nodded: "Okay, Mama, but who is Aunt Ningning~~"

Su Taotao: "..." Zhou Weining would be heartbroken if she heard that.

"She's Uncle Zhou's sister. You've met her many times."

"Ah~~" Chenchen didn't know Zhou Weining's name, but he knew she was Zhou Zheng's sister. "That not-too-bright lady, oh, so she's Aunt Ningning~~"

Su Taotao: "..." Whatever, Zhou Weining always came across as not too bright around Chenchen, so she didn’t bother correcting him.

The current security guard was no longer Dong Shengping but another ex-soldier called Little Chen.

Dong Shengping was being prepped for management and had started supervising production in the workshop. He was thorough and had everyone's respect, so Su Taotao felt at ease with him overseeing production.

"Little Chen, please keep an eye on Chenchen. Call me if anything comes up."

Little Chen nodded: "Yes, Director Su. By the way, Director Su, there was a call from G City earlier, also surnamed Su. He wants you to call back when you return. Here’s the number."

Su Taotao took the note. G City, surnamed Su—it must be her family.

How interesting. For over half a year, things had been peaceful, but as soon as Zhang Jingan arrived, so many new characters popped up.

Well, can't avoid it forever. It was time to formally meet her family and that legendary childhood friend.