Chapter 10

Chapter 10

Seeing the protagonist crying, the old man asked her why, and she told him everything.

Feeling sorry for her, the old man informed her that the factory was hiring.

That’s how she got the chance.

Otherwise, how could she have had the opportunity to audition at the textile mill? After all, plenty of people were after those jobs, and the factory certainly wouldn’t just announce openings.

The old man nodded, understanding her family situation. Moreover, she said she knew how to use a sewing machine.

Few people could use sewing machines these days.

Sewing machines were expensive and required ration coupons.

They were usually one of the Three Major Items bought for weddings, but not everyone could afford them.

Owning one didn’t mean they knew how to use it.

Jiang Yiwei said she could, which surprised the old man.

He waved her over. "You came just in time. Today’s the last day for tryouts. If you’d arrived any later, you’d have missed it."

"I’ll take you to the hiring office."

The old man was quite helpful, offering to bring Jiang Yiwei to the hiring office.

"Thanks, Uncle," Jiang Yiwei said gratefully.

Following the old man into the First Garment and Textile Factory, they walked for over ten minutes before arriving outside a room. A crowd of people stood outside, some holding forms. Glancing in, Jiang Yiwei saw several desks, each occupied by someone—like a job screening.

The person guarding the door recognized the old man. "Uncle, what brings you here?"

"This young comrade is here for an audition. I’ll get her a form."

He pointed at Jiang Yiwei.

"Here." The man pulled a form from his pile and handed it to her.

Jiang Yiwei took it, thanked him, and began filling it out with the old man’s help.

While she was writing, a woman passed by, and the old man called out to her. From a distance, Jiang Yiwei could only see him gesturing and then pointing at her.

The woman gave her an approving look as she nodded several times.

The old man returned, grinning. Curious, Jiang Yiwei asked, "Uncle, I saw you pointing at me earlier. What’d you tell her?"

Though she didn’t know the exact words exchanged, the woman’s expression suggested the old man had put in a good word.

The old man smiled without answering, simply saying, "Just sit tight for your audition."

Jiang Yiwei thought about pushing further but decided against it.

Before long, a young woman called her name. "Over here." Jiang Yiwei quickly responded.

"Come with me," the young woman said, leading her into another room.

"Uncle, I’m heading in now."

"Do your best, I'll be waiting for your good news."

After saying this, Mr. Zhang headed back to the gate to resume his post. Jiang Yiwei watched him for a second before following the young girl into the room.

As soon as Jiang Yiwei entered, the door was shut, shutting out the prying eyes outside.

The job applicants waiting outside couldn’t help but whisper to each other.

They wondered why Jiang Yiwei had been taken to a different room.

"Isn’t she here for the job too? Why is she going to that room?"

"Yeah!"

"Why isn’t she with the rest of us?"

A few muttered, speculating why Jiang Yiwei had entered a separate room instead of joining them for the interview.

About twenty minutes later, Jiang Yiwei came out with the woman Mr. Zhang had summoned earlier. Both of them looked pleased.

"Sister Yi, I really appreciate your help."

"Don’t mention it, it’s my job."

The woman, Zhang Yi, was the recruitment and management supervisor.

She took Jiang Yiwei’s hand and said, "You’ll see when the time comes."

"Alright."

Jiang Yiwei then thought of Jiang Yuexin. "Sister Yi, can I bring my paperwork next time? If I get hired, I can just get hired on the spot."

It would be better to handle everything at once to keep Jiang Yuexin from causing trouble.

Zhang Yi thought it over, then nodded. "Sure, bring your paperwork then."

After thanking Zhang Yi, Jiang Yiwei left, feeling pretty confident about securing a job at the First Garment and Textile Factory.

Walking past the guard booth, she saw Mr. Zhang. "Mr. Zhang."

Seeing her, Mr. Zhang asked, "How’d it go, kid? Think you got it?"

He was asking whether she felt confident about being hired.

Hearing this, Jiang Yiwei smiled. "Thanks, Mr. Zhang. If not for you, I wouldn’t have had a shot at the sewing position."

The original host didn’t know sewing, so she had initially been assigned to the spinning workshop as a yarn doffer, where cotton dust choked the air and the machines roared.

Compared to yarn doffing, sewing was way better.

Moreover, Mr. Zhang had just told her his surname was Zhang, and Zhang Yi also shared the same surname. Jiang Yiwei suspected there might be a connection between them—it couldn’t be a coincidence.

So, she was deeply grateful to Mr. Zhang.

Although, according to the novel’s plot, she would have gotten a job, it wouldn’t have been as a seamstress.

"That’s all you. You know how to use a sewing machine, so you’ll pick it up quickly. Besides, whether you get hired or not isn’t my doing."

Mr. Zhang waved his hand, insisting it had nothing to do with him. Jiang Yiwei’s ability to operate a sewing machine already gave her an advantage over many others, and if she got the job, it was entirely due to her own merit.

"In any case, I must thank you, Old Man Zhang."

Old Man Zhang’s words were correct, but without his help, Jiang Yiwei would have ended up like the original owner—a spinning machine operator.

So Jiang Yiwei was still grateful for Old Man Zhang’s assistance.

Old Man Zhang clearly wasn’t bothered at all.

"Old Man Zhang, I’ll be back the day after tomorrow. I’ll bring good news. I’m heading home now."

Jiang Yiwei waved at Old Man Zhang and left for the bus stop she’d just come from.

When she returned home, Jiang Yiwei went about her day as usual and kept quiet about her job interview.

She simply waited until the right time to take her documents to the First Garment and Textile Factory.

Upon entering the factory, Jiang Yiwei made a point of greeting Old Man Zhang, who nodded at her and told her to hurry and find Zhang Yi.

As Jiang Yiwei had expected, she successfully became a seamstress at the First Garment and Textile Factory. Even if it wasn’t a permanent position, at least she wouldn’t have to go down to the countryside as an educated youth.

Jiang Yiwei thought about how the neighborhood office would come today to announce the list of people being sent down—along with her good news.

Today was going to be interesting.

Sure enough, before Jiang Yiwei even entered her home, she could hear Jiang Yuexin’s hysterical crying from afar, along with the voices of neighbors gathered at her courtyard gate, trying to console her.

Jiang Yiwei smirked.

"Yiwei, you’re finally back!"

Aunt Hu spotted her immediately.

Playing dumb, Jiang Yiwei asked, "Aunt Hu, why is everyone gathered at the gate?"

Aunt Hu yanked Jiang Yiwei aside and said urgently, "The neighborhood office came to your house. You and Yuexin have to go down to the countryside as educated youths."

What’s a girl like her supposed to do in the countryside? It was nothing but suffering.

Aunt Hu muttered to herself silently.

Jiang Yiwei pretended to be upset. "The notice came so soon?"

"Of course! Yuexin’s in there bawling her eyes out!"

With that, Aunt Hu pulled Jiang Yiwei through the crowd of onlookers and into the courtyard.

"Cuifen, Yiwei’s back!"

Jiang Yiwei was pulled before Zhang Cuifen, where she saw both Zhang Cuifen and Jiang Sanjie looking worn out with worry. Jiang Yuexin was throwing a fit, repeatedly crying that she didn’t want to go down to the countryside as an educated youth.

Jiang Ningning and Granny Hu stood nearby, making token efforts to talk her into it.

If the neighbors hadn’t been around, Granny Hu wouldn’t have bothered at all.

Zhang Cuifen glanced at Jiang Yiwei, then at Jiang Yuexin, and said faintly, "Yiwei, the neighborhood office has notified us. You and your sister will have to go down to the countryside as educated youths in a few days."

Zhang Cuifen didn’t want either Jiang Yuexin or Jiang Yiwei to go.

But unfortunately, there was no way to keep them in the city.

"Ma, I don't want to be an educated youth (urban youth sent to rural areas during the Cultural Revolution)." Jiang Yuexin refused to go; she wanted to stay in the city.

"Yuexin, didn’t Third Uncle and Third Aunt find you a temporary job before? If you had kept working then, you wouldn’t have to go now."

Jiang Ningning's face showed regret, but her tone carried a hint of gloating.

Among the three sisters, Jiang Ningning had no patience for Jiang Yuexin because Yuexin always picked on her. Naturally, Ningning couldn’t stand her.

*Stupid and cruel, thinking jobs were so easy to come by.*

And Yuexin would rather give the job to a stranger than let Jiang Yiwei have it.

Jiang Yiwei was truly unlucky to have such a sister.

"Jiang Ningning, buzz off! I don’t need your phony sympathy."

Jiang Yuexin wasn’t stupid—she could see right through Ningning’s pretense of caring while secretly gloating.

She was just waiting for her to suffer—how could she possibly care?

"Sis Yuexin, my sister was just worried about you, and you snapped at her. Sis, let’s go." Jiang Honghong, Jiang Ningning’s younger sister, stood up for her.

Her sister was being kind, and Yuexin threw it back in her face—such ingratitude.

"Who asked you to meddle?"

"Yuexin, that’s enough!"

Zhang Cuifen scolded Jiang Yuexin.

She knew Yuexin was upset, but no matter how much she disliked Jiang Ningning, she shouldn’t lash out at others.

"Hmph!" Jiang Yuexin turned away, her eyes red.

Zhang Cuifen said to Jiang Ningning, "Ningning, don’t take it to heart. Yuexin’s in a rough place right now—please try to understand."

"Third Aunt, I get it."

Jiang Ningning truly understood.

Watching Jiang Yuexin’s blubbering mess, Ningning wondered if she should warn *that foolish Jiang Yiwei*.

Not to let Yuexin take the job she worked so hard to get.

But then she decided against it. Either way, since both sisters were being sent down, she couldn’t wait to see the fireworks that would unfold.

"Cuifen, Sanjie, you should have a proper talk with Yuexin. Don’t let her work herself up."

The neighbors called her Aunt Mao, and she could only try to comfort Zhang Cuifen.

After all, everyone knew what a temper Yuexin had—who knew what else she might stir up?