Chapter 5

In the evening, the father and son returned home from work, and the mother had already prepared dinner.

Lin Qiangsheng washed his hands, walked to the table, and sat down, picking up the chopsticks and taking a bite of the food.

"Son, take off your clothes, they're quite dirty," Xu Hongmei said to Lin Qiangsheng.

"Okay." Lin Qiangsheng walked outside, took off his work clothes, shook them, and then went to his room, hanging the work clothes up.

For dinner, there was a mix of rice and cracked corn, as well as cornmeal steamed buns. The mother had added a bit of sugar, making them sweet. The dish was pickled cabbage stewed with pork bones and vermicelli. There were three large jars at home used for pickling the cabbage. On the table, there was also a bowl of grass carp soup, which the mother had bought from the riverbank.

It was already mid-May, and the river had long since thawed. Anglers were once again fishing, and fish were being sold along the riverbank.

"Xiangrong, the city is going to resolve my work issue," Xu Hongmei said to her husband.

Lin Xiangrong, after hearing this, put down his bowl and asked, "Has Grandpa's side been resolved?"

The father was referring to the family in Yang City, including his in-laws. They had all worked in education, but due to some past reasons, they were wrongly labeled as rightists and suffered some persecution. Recently, it was heard that the higher-ups were going to rehabilitate them, which is why Lin Xiangrong asked.

"Yes, the situation my parents reported has been verified by the higher-ups. After the investigation, their innocence was proven, and they have been rehabilitated and their reputations restored! My eldest brother will also be reinstated. Sigh, our family has finally made it through the hard times," Xu Hongmei said happily.

"That's great! Since the city is resolving your work issue, what are your plans?" Lin Xiangrong asked.

"Isn't that what I'm asking you? If I work, I'll go back to the city health bureau, what do you think?" Xu Hongmei sought her husband's opinion.

Without much thought, Lin Xiangrong said, "Why go to the health bureau? They can't even pay salaries. You'd be better off at our factory. Our factory has good benefits and high salaries. Any unit in the city with vehicles will take care of us."

Lin Qiangsheng, with his head down, eating, glanced at his father with a hint of disdain.

In his previous life, there was a similar scenario. At that time, his mother also asked his father's opinion, and the father insisted that she go to his unit.

As a result, his mother really went to the auto repair factory and became an ordinary sanitation worker, losing a legitimate job at the city bureau.

This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and a rare chance. In 1977, the city health bureau was in dire need of cadres. His mother was educated and a legitimate college graduate, so she could easily have made a name for herself.

In the end, in his previous life, his mother became an ordinary sanitation worker because she listened to his father.

The difference between a sanitation worker and a cadre was enormous! One would remain a commoner, while the other would become a government official, with a vast gap between them.

By the 1990s, when the private auto repair industry rose, the Jiang'an Auto Repair Factory was no longer as prosperous as before and was on the brink of bankruptcy.

His mother had to rely on connections to get a job at the health bureau as an ordinary janitor until her retirement.

Now, at this critical juncture in life, Lin Qiangsheng couldn't let his shortsighted father bury his mother's future again.

Why not go for a ready-made cadre position and become a sanitation worker at an auto repair factory?

"Mom, don't go to the auto repair factory. Being a sanitation worker has no future. You should go to the city health bureau; it's much better to be a cadre!" Lin Qiangsheng said, looking up.

"Huh? Go to the health bureau?" Xu Hongmei asked her son in surprise. She didn't know why he was giving his opinion now; he had never said anything before!

"You don't know anything! The health bureau can't even pay salaries. The auto repair factory is much better!" Lin Xiangrong glared at his son, insisting that his wife go to his unit.

Lin Qiangsheng ignored his father and continued to his mother, "Mom, the health bureau is better! With your qualifications, you'll be promoted in no time. Then we can change our house, and maybe you'll get an apartment!"

Xu Hongmei was surprised and, after careful thought, realized there was a possibility as her son suggested.

Seeing his wife nod, Lin Xiangrong hurriedly said, "Why go to the health bureau? The auto repair factory is much better. We can go to work and eat together every day!"

"Are you only thinking about eating? Do you want me to cook for you all the time?" Xu Hongmei asked, her tone becoming aggressive.

Lin Qiangsheng glanced at his father, ignoring his glare, and said, "The auto repair factory may seem good now, but who knows what will happen in the future. There will be more car repair factories, and who will come to the Jiang'an Auto Repair Factory?"

Lin Xiangrong slapped the table and said angrily, "How can you talk like that? The auto repair factory isn't like what you say! Who can surpass our factory?!"

Lin Qiangsheng shrugged and continued eating, saying, "I heard that the transportation bureau is expanding their repair factory. They'll be competing with us."

"Them? Can they repair Jeeps or Volgas?" Lin Xiangrong laughed.

Xu Hongmei thought for a moment and said, "Alright, stop arguing. Maybe Qiangsheng is right. If I go to the health bureau, we might get an apartment in a few years!"

"What apartment? The auto repair factory is much better!" Lin Xiangrong said, still unconvinced.

"Shut up about the auto repair factory, just eat!" Xu Hongmei said harshly.

After dinner, Lin Qiangsheng put the bowls and chopsticks in the pot in the kitchen and went back to his room.

Xu Hongmei, seeing this, said softly to her husband, "Our son is growing up. Look, he's even cleaning up the dishes now. He never used to care, just eating and running off. Don't always criticize him; he's growing up!"

Lin Xiangrong glanced at the direction of the west room and said, "I know. Now I have to listen to him at the factory. This kid has a lot of ideas. I don't know what happened, but after he was beaten, he suddenly changed."

Xu Hongmei was about to ask about the car design but forgot and said angrily, "I don't know which bastard beat my son. If I find out, I'll go to their house!"

Lin Xiangrong waved his hand and said, "Forget it. As long as our son is fine. We only have one at home, so we can't let anything happen to him!"

Xu Hongmei sighed and nodded.

The eldest, Lin Qiangdong, went to serve in the south. He left early, at 17, and has been in the army for three years. He is said to be performing well and has just been promoted to deputy platoon leader.

The second, Lin Xiang, went to the countryside in Bin City as a young worker. The place is good, with no shortage of food. She often helps the family by sending some side dishes, but it's far, and it's inconvenient to visit, only during holidays.

After returning to his room, Lin Qiangsheng took out a small red book from his small box.

He sat on the kang (a traditional heated bed), set up a small table, and slowly recalled his past life, writing down events he thought were important to remember.

This process of recalling and recording his past life was time-consuming, and before he knew it, an hour had passed.

Lin Qiangsheng put the small book back in the box and counted his two months' salary, a total of 36 yuan, a small stack of bills. He had handed over his food and meat coupons to his mother and only kept this money.

Lin Qiangsheng smiled, not knowing what he could do with this money, probably go to a restaurant 20 times, each time with two dishes, one meat and one vegetable.

He put the money away, placed the small book at the bottom of the box, and locked the small wooden box, putting it in the cabinet.

This box was originally prepared for his elder brother by his parents, then used by his sister. After they left home, it was now his turn to use it.

Lin Qiangsheng looked at his reflection in the mirror, parted his hair, and saw the scar on his head, which had been stitched three times but was now barely visible.

"Who hit me? I can't quite remember." Lin Qiangsheng thought for a moment but couldn't recall who hit him, so he decided not to think about it.

He went to the kitchen, filled a basin with water, and washed his feet. Afterward, he went back to his room and got on the kang.

Lin Qiangsheng picked up an English-Chinese dictionary and started memorizing English words.

It was just after eight in the evening, and he wasn't sleepy. He found this English dictionary at the factory and treasured it, memorizing words every night.

"Knock, knock, knock." The door was knocked a few times, and his mother pushed it open and came in.

Xu Hongmei saw her son reading by a small candle and said with a smile, "What are you reading, son? Don't strain your eyes with such a small candle!"

Lin Qiangsheng put down the dictionary and smiled, "I know, Mom. When I have time, I'll try to make an oil lamp."

Xu Hongmei smiled and nodded, then said, "Do you really think it's better for me to work at the health bureau?"

Lin Qiangsheng let his mother sit on the edge of the kang and said, "Of course. What level is the health bureau compared to the auto repair factory? The health bureau will definitely be better in the future!"

Xu Hongmei said, "I haven't really thought about it that way, but I heard the health bureau can't even pay salaries. If I go there, I won't get paid or receive food coupons. What will we eat?"

Lin Qiangsheng smiled and said, "The difficulties are only temporary. Besides, Mom, you don't have a salary or food coupons now, and we still manage to get by."

Xu Hongmei laughed and said, "You, you can't even say something nice to make me feel better."

Lin Qiangsheng smiled and said, "Mom, just go to the health bureau. In a couple of years, you might be a big cadre, and you'll definitely get paid and food coupons. You don't need to worry about the family; I have a salary now."

Xu Hongmei nodded in relief and said, "Okay, I'll see. I'll talk to my superiors tomorrow and go to the health bureau. After hearing you, I feel that being a sanitation worker at the auto repair factory is indeed not very meaningful."

Lin Qiangsheng nodded happily, and his mother told him to go to bed early before leaving the room.

He blew out the candle, put the dictionary aside, and got into bed, trying to think of ways to make money, but couldn't come up with any ideas.

When he was tired, Lin Qiangsheng closed his eyes, counting money in his mind, and fell asleep.

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