Chapter Eighteen: The Heir to the Factory

Aunt Li swiftly brought the dishes to the table, tidied up, and called the two at the table to sit down. Then she shouted toward the inner room, “Hey, hurry up and eat! The food’s getting cold.”

As her words faded, a man with slightly graying hair emerged from the inner room. Although a bit stooped, he looked energetic, holding a bottle of Erguotou in his hand and smiling at the corners of his mouth. He plopped down in a chair, chuckling, “Come on, don’t fuss anymore, sit down with us.”

Aunt Li looked at her husband, her face full of suspicion. What had gotten into him today, grinning so much his mouth might swell? What was so special about today that he was drinking?

He replied, “You know me best. Today, something great happened—something huge.”

“A good thing? What good thing?” Aunt Li immediately asked.

“Take a look at this.” The man carefully took a form out of his jacket pocket, waved it triumphantly, and slapped it on the table.

“A hiring form?” Aunt Li exclaimed in delight.

The young girl sitting at the table opened her eyes wide. She didn’t really understand, but it seemed like something impressive.

The thin boy beside the table glanced at the words “hiring form,” and his eyes twitched. His expression was awkward, clearly different from his father’s excitement.

“Cui Yue, I’ve already spoken to the factory. You can start work this week,” the man said, filling his cup with Erguotou.

The thin boy was named Cui Yue, the third child in the family. He had an elder brother and sister, and a younger sister. His brother worked elsewhere, and his sister married last year. He had just graduated from high school, but because his science grades weren’t ideal, he’d missed out on university. The speaker was his father, Cui Yuanjun, former office director of the county fertilizer plant. As he was about to retire, he asked the factory director, Chen Changping, for a favor—he’d never asked for anything from the organization in his life—and wanted his son to take over his position at the fertilizer plant, which was doing well. In these times, getting such a job was not easy. Many envied such a secure livelihood.

“So, did Director Chen agree? I told you, you’ve worked with him all your life, even if you weren’t the most accomplished, you’ve certainly worked hard. How could he refuse you? This is great. Yue will have a job.”

Aunt Li looked over the hiring form several times, her eyebrows dancing with joy.

“What do you know? This is the organization considering our situation and showing us care,” Cui Yuanjun said, downing his cup of liquor. A wave of heat rushed from his stomach to his head. He was proud.

“Third Brother’s going to work! Third Brother’s going to work!” cried the little sister, dancing with excitement.

Only Cui Yue hung his head, silent. His expression showed he was not happy about his father’s arrangement. Cui Yue didn’t want to become an outstanding worker at the plant—or, rather, he hadn’t really thought about what he wanted to do. He had no plan for his future.

Aunt Li nudged him gently, “Yue, you’re grown now, you need to be sensible...”

“But, but, I don’t want to be a worker at the fertilizer plant...” Cui Yue replied in a timid, mosquito-like voice.

“What?!” Cui Yuanjun, hearing his son finally speak up, burst into rage.

“A worker? What’s wrong with being a worker? Workers feed you, clothe you! Labor is honorable! Plenty of people would fight tooth and nail for this spot! I had to swallow my pride to get you this form.”

“No, I just don’t like this job...” Cui Yue buried his head lower, his voice barely audible.

“Don’t like it? Then tell me, what do you like? You didn’t do anything special in school. If you had half your brother’s brains, you wouldn’t be sitting here today,” Cui Yuanjun snapped, pointing at his son.

Cui Yue didn’t dare look up, staring at his toes, feeling a complicated mix of emotions.

Seeing his son, Cui Yuanjun’s disappointment turned to anger. He snatched the canvas bag on the table and threw it to the floor. Books scattered everywhere—besides textbooks, there were novels like “The Three Heroes and Five Gallants,” “Stories of the Sui and Tang Heroes,” and “The Sword Heroes of Mount Shu.”

Seeing the titles, Cui Yuanjun nearly passed out. This kid, if it wasn’t textbooks, he’d devour any other book, and even after graduating high school, he still hadn’t changed.

Aunt Li hurried to protect Cui Yue, fearing her husband might lose his temper and beat him so badly he couldn’t get out of bed.

The little sister was so frightened she burst into tears.

“Yue, this job is really hard-won. Don’t be foolish,” Aunt Li pleaded.

“Let him be. I won’t bother anymore. Let him fend for himself!” Cui Yuanjun, furious, kicked the books into a corner, grabbed his jacket, and slammed the door as he left, not even touching his meal.

The night was quiet and deep. Aunt Li’s soft sobs mingled with Cui Yue’s restless tossing and the creaking of the wooden bed.

County Fertilizer Plant, main office building.

Mr. Li, the gatekeeper, carried two kettles of hot water and a newspaper tucked under his elbow, standing before the factory director’s office, about to knock.

From inside came Director Chen’s familiar voice, “Old Li, come in.”

“Director Chen, I haven’t even knocked yet, and you already know.”

“Old Li, I can tell it’s you by your footsteps. After so many years, you still haven’t changed. I could do it myself, but you always go out of your way. I’m starting to develop some bureaucratic habits,” Chen Changping joked, patting Li on the shoulder.

Old Li set down the newspaper, scratched his head, and laughed, “Bureaucratic or not, I wouldn’t know. Just pouring a cup of water for an old leader.”

He expertly brewed tea, snagged a Da Qianmen cigarette from Director Chen, and cheerfully returned to the gatehouse.

Chen Changping blew on his hot tea, glanced through today’s newspaper, and suddenly remembered something. He called down the hall, “Director Liu, come here a moment.”

“Director Chen, I’m here.” Before the words had faded, a pair of prominent ears appeared at the doorway.

Since becoming office director in the main building, Liu Laisheng felt he’d entered the prime of his life. He managed his work effortlessly, anticipating and meeting the leaders’ needs. In a short time, he’d become indispensable in the main building, earning the trust of the leadership. Those around admired Director Chen’s knack for recognizing and employing talent.

“Director Liu, here’s a hiring form. Please make arrangements,” Chen Changping said, handing him a form from the drawer.

“Director Chen, the new workers have already been assigned. What’s this one?” Liu Laisheng asked curiously.

“This child was delayed by some matters. Please take care of the paperwork and make up for it,” Director Chen replied.

“Yes, yes, Director Chen. I’ll handle it right away.”