Shen ng greeted Yu Xueli before taking Wu Xianglan to the textile factory. The gatekeeper was familiar with her, especially after Director Hu Biao personally visited him the night before to instruct him to be very polite and let Shen ng in when he sees her. Thus, he was incredibly warm when he greeted her, which greatly shocked Wu Xianglan.
"Elder sister-in-law, does this man know you?"
"Shh, it’s because Mr. Hu has given him a heads up. He knew I was going to bring you here for work today, that’s why he let us through. Don’t sneak looks, when you look at soone do it openly and confidently, your peeking habit is a bit much."
Wu Xianglan was sowhat embarrassed. She didn’t want to behave like that; she was just afraid of being judged by the people of the county.
Because Hu Biao had inford them, the person who ca to fetch Wu Xianglan was quite polite. After giving her a set of work clothes, they were ready to start working. Shen ng slipped so candy to the person, then pulled Wu Xianglan aside.
"Xiang Lan, here’s so candy. Sweeten up when you talk to people, get along well with them, and keep in mind the importance of making good relations. Otherwise, once Zhou Jiaojiao arrives, I’m afraid she’ll make things difficult for you."
"Okay, elder sister-in-law, I got it. Go do what you need to do. This big sister seems like a straightforward person, she won’t give a hard ti."
Shen ng looked at the sharp and shrewd woman, wondering how soone Wu Xianglan found to be straightforward could have been so brazenly snide the first ti they t.
"Alright, you know what to do. I’m leaving now, I can’t be late."
Wu Xianglan watched Shen ng’s receding figure with a sigh. She fondled the newly received work clothes in her hands, overjoyed. She hadn’t even started working and she had already received such fine fabric for her uniform. If she wore this back to the village, wouldn’t it arouse the envy of everyone from old to young, n and won alike!
"What are you zoning out for? Hurry up, we’ve got work to do."
"Coming, big sister, it’s my first day, I don’t know anything yet, please look after in the future. These candies, my sister-in-law bought them from Hai City, have a taste. You can’t even find them at our county’s Cooperative Society."
The previously sowhat irritated big sister’s expression imdiately softened upon receiving the candy, and she affectionately took Wu Xianglan’s hand, calling her sister.
When Shen ng arrived at her workplace, she noticed many snacks piled on her desk. She looked around the office and her workstation; if not for the excessively pink mirror that was distinctly hers, she would have thought she entered the wrong room.
"Why are you standing there? Your train ticket sales are about to start, hurry and sit down. I’ve poured hot water in your cup; it’s at the perfect temperature now, drink so to relax."
"What’s the rush? As if rushing to a grave. Xiao ng just got here, let her rest easy for a mont before starting, and if people want to buy tickets, they can wait. If they’re too impatient, they don’t have to buy."
"Yes, yes, Xiao ng, that bag of dates on your desk is from . These dates are fantastic, big and sweet, even better than what they sell at the Cooperative Society."
" too, too, I got you a box of shortbread. I was in a rush at the Cooperative Society yesterday. Since you’re new here, we should all get to know you, but yesterday was so hectic, I didn’t have the chance to greet you properly."
...
A group of won eagerly surrounded Shen ng, trying to get on her good side. These won, who just yesterday had ignored Shen ng when she entered the office, were now all smiles and seemingly very enthusiastic.
Wei Jia, holding a cup of water, stood at the very outer edge, unable to squeeze through to Shen ng. She felt indignant. How amusing these people were; they disregarded Shen ng yesterday, but today, they were all trying to curry favor.
As the crowd began to pour into the ticket hall, these people still hadn’t gone to their workstations. Shen ng directly opened the small window above her desk.
"I’m about to start selling tickets here, you all should go get busy too. We can chat more at noon. These items are precious, thank you all for working hard."
"What’s there to thank for? The candy you gave us yesterday, that’s the real rarity. I took it ho for my child, and my father in law said that’s what Friendship Hotel in Hai City serves to foreign guests."
"Wow, really? What’s the background of your family, Shen ng? How did you manage to get candies ant for foreign guests? Have you ever t a foreign guest?"
"What’s so surprising about it? A foreign guest still has one nose and two eyes. But what really matters is Shen ng’s abilities. That guy from yesterday was the son of the Textile Factory Director, wasn’t he? And today he still..."
"Cough cough cough..."
They chatted with Shen ng for a while. Seeing only her smiling face and that she didn’t reveal much useful information when she did speak, they couldn’t help but directly start to inquire. Their own families also had convoluted connections, but who could match Shen ng’s solid connections? The County Party Secretary’s son-in-law called her Sister, bringing her als; just this fact alone could show how good Shen ng’s relationship with the County Party Secretary’s Li family was. It wouldn’t be surprising if the seemingly humble background of Shen ng from the countryside was a smokescreen, and perhaps even the Li family might have to tread cautiously around her!
However, just a mont ago, an older sister was too direct, and soone next to her promptly interrupted.
"Comrade, I want to buy a ticket from Ning County to Provincial City, here’s my recomndation letter, how much is it?"
"Oh, comrade, let take a look at your recomndation letter to confirm, alright, here is your ticket, the total is 20 cents."
Seeing Shen ng getting back to work, everyone also hurried back to their own workstations. Indeed, it was ti for work, and they dared not be too brazen. If they were to slack off in their duties, a word from Shen ng to the County Party Secretary could ruin their bright futures.
After selling tickets for two bus shifts, Shen ng went to Fu ili’s office, and then left with her lunchbox. Everyone in the office watched her go, feeling a bit disappointed. Her taking the lunchbox with her ant that no one ca over to bring her lunch today. For a mont, everyone thought maybe the director had guessed wrong, perhaps she just happened to know Mr. Hu and wasn’t involved with the Li family at all.
Not long after leaving the bus company, Shen ng found an empty spot to enter her space, indulged in a delicious al of spicy hotpot and a bottle of Beibingyang soda. After lounging comfortably for twenty minutes, she started working.
She moved the infant milk powder into an old-fashioned tin can, then found a large snakeskin bag, sealed it with tape, and slung it over her shoulder back to the office.
Just stepping into the hall, she spotted Hu Biao already surrounded by a couple of people, but from his expression, he seed very impatient. When he saw Shen ng, his eyes lit up.
"Sister ng, I’ve co to bring you lunch again, today it’s..."
"Didn’t I tell you yesterday not to bring it? I just went to the Cooperative Society and had a big bowl of noodles, I can’t even eat dragon at right now."
Hu Biao didn’t reply, his eyes were riveted on the snakeskin bag she was carrying, unable to hide his joy. That was his son’s provision, after all!
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