ITBBS Chapter 14

Shen Yao first removed her makeup outside and changed back into her original clothes before returning to her room at the guesthouse. She sat on the bed to rest. After running around for most of the day, she felt a little tired. She opened her water flask and drank some spiritual spring water, which restored her energy.

She earned a considerable amount of money today, so she didn’t feel like going anywhere else.

Thinking that since she was already in the county town, she might as well go to the factory to inquire about the job. So she went to the department store, bought a bottle of liquor and a jin of egg sponge cake, took seven or eight apples from her space, and headed to the steel factory.

Standing at the gate of the steel factory, Shen Yao saw that the gatekeeper, an old man, was listening to the radio with great enthusiasm. She felt bad interrupting him.

She waited for two minutes, but the old man was completely absorbed. She took a deep breath and called out, “Uncle, is Factory Director Li here?”

Old Man Li was just getting to the best part of the opera when he was interrupted. Fuming, he said, “Who is it? You, little girl, how rude! How dare you interrupt someone listening to opera?” Old Man Li was furious. The best part had been interrupted again, leaving him feeling as upset as if a cat were scratching at his heart.

Shen Yao wasn’t annoyed. She thought the old man was like a grumpy old child, probably frustrated from always being interrupted while listening to the opera.

“Uncle, is Factory Director Li at the factory?”

Old Man Li looked at the young girl before him. She wasn’t unpleasant to look at, so he decided not to hold it against her. “Little girl, what business do you have with Factory Director Li?”

The corner of Shen Yao’s mouth twitched. She found this old man quite amusing. “Uncle, I’m Shen Guodong’s daughter. I’ve come to see Factory Director Li about securing a job.”

“Why didn’t you say you were Guodong’s daughter earlier? Go on in. The director is in his office.” Knowing that this young girl was Young Shen’s daughter, Old Man Li decided not to make things difficult for her.

“Alright, thank you, Uncle.” Shen Yao thanked the gatekeeper and walked into the factory.

Arriving at the director’s office door, she knocked. Knock! Knock! Knock!

“Who is it? Come in.” Li Jianshe’s loud voice boomed from behind the door.

Shen Yao thought of the gatekeeper. Could these two be father and son? They both had the same loud voices.

“Factory Director Li, hello!” Shen Yao pushed open the office door and said politely.

Li Jianshe looked up when he heard the voice. He found the young girl opposite him familiar. He thought for a moment before speaking, “You’re Shen Guodong’s daughter, Shen Yao, right? Come in and sit down. Whatever it is, we can talk sitting down.”

Shen Yao didn’t stand on ceremony. She placed her things on the tea table and sat down on the sofa by the door. “Yes, Factory Director Li. Shen Guodong is my father.”

Seeing Shen Yao reminded him of Shen Guodong, a rare talent. Li Jianshe himself was transferred from the military and disliked people who were cunning and deceitful, so he held Shen Guodong in high regard.

Shen Guodong had worked at the factory for seventeen years. He was honest, reliable, conscientious, and responsible. He had been promoted to workshop director a few years ago.

No one expected that a month ago, he would lose his life due to a worker’s mistake.

“Shen Girl, why did you bring things? Remember to take them back when you leave. You’re here to ask about the job today, aren’t you?” Li Jianshe didn’t expect this young girl to be so capable despite her young age.

Shen Yao just smiled and then replied, “Yes, Uncle Li. I would like to ask what kind of job the factory will assign me?”

She wasn’t planning to take the job herself. She wanted to find out exactly what the job entailed and then sell it. She only had six months left before the college entrance exams, so she didn’t need the job.

“Shen Girl, factory work isn’t suitable for you. You have a high school education, so a clerical position like an accountant would be better for you.”

Li Jianshe thought that factories were mostly filled with men. Very few women worked there, and female employees usually worked in the kitchen or in clerical roles. This girl was too skinny to handle factory work.

Shen Yao didn’t beat around the bush and asked directly, “Uncle Li, can I sell the job to someone else?”

Li Jianshe didn’t expect the girl to want to sell the job. He was taken aback for a moment before saying, “Girl, why do you want to sell the job? Do you have someone in mind? Jobs are so hard to come by these days. It’s one position per person. What is this girl thinking?”

“Uncle Li, I have six months left before I graduate from high school, and I’m planning to take the college entrance exam. For the next four years, I’ll be going to school in another city, so I won’t need the job. I want to transfer it to the wife of the village team leader.”

No matter where you were, education was important. She couldn’t stop at high school. If she had the chance to go to university now and didn’t take it, there would be no opportunity in a few years. She would have to wait over a decade, and she couldn’t wait that long.

“That’s great. A university graduate is valued anywhere. Since you’ve made your decision, just have the person replacing you come and report for duty. A man can be assigned to the workshop.”

Li Jianshe thought that if the girl wanted to continue her education, he couldn’t possibly stop her. His own children were also in university.

Shen Yao knew the job matter was settled. She stood up to leave. “Thank you, Uncle Li. Sorry for troubling you. I’ll be going now.”

“Alright, Shen Girl. Study hard and get into a good university.” Li Jianshe didn’t say much more, as he still had a pile of things to deal with.

“Okay, I will!”

Just as Shen Yao was about to say goodbye to the gatekeeper at the factory entrance, she saw that he was once again engrossed in listening. Not wanting to disturb him, she quickly left the steel factory.

Then Shen Yao headed straight to the department store. She remembered that when she bought the liquor earlier, she had seen Moutai liquor on the counter. That was good stuff. She couldn’t pass it up.

Shen Yao walked into the department store. Her eyes fixed on the Moutai bottles on the counter. The corners of her mouth turned up slightly. This was the Golden Wheel brand produced in 1958. She remembered seeing a news report before she transmigrated: a bottle of Golden Wheel brand Moutai had sold for 1.35 million yuan, and a bottle of Green Beauty Moutai had sold for an astronomical price of over 2 million yuan.

Although there was no Green Beauty on the counter, the Golden Wheel brand was still a treasure. She had to get it. After a few decades, it would all be money.

Shen Yao was overjoyed. If one were to ask what had the most investment value during the hard times, it would definitely be antiques, calligraphy, paintings, Moutai, and stamps.

One bottle of Moutai decades later would be worth a house. If she didn’t collect more now, she would never have such a good opportunity again.

Shen Yao said to the salesperson, “Comrade, please wrap up these two bottles of Moutai for me.”

“Alright, two bottles of Moutai come to seven yuan total.” The salesperson quickly packed the liquor. She remembered this girl. She had bought liquor before. And judging by her clothes, she wasn’t a country bumpkin, so there was no need to worry she couldn’t afford it.

After paying, Shen Yao carried the two bottles of Moutai back to the guesthouse. These two bottles were her biggest gain of the day.