In the fiery red era of the heavens, refrigerators are refreshed daily.

At four o'clock in the afternoon, Yang Guangming returned to his dormitory in Building No. 4 of the pharmaceutical factory with an empty basket on his back.

He placed the basket in the corner, sat down on the hard bed, and let out a long sigh of relief.

This trip home today was quite fruitful. Not only did I bring back substantial food and other groceries, but I also caught four rabbits, allowing the whole family to enjoy a delicious meal. More importantly, my eldest brother Yang Ximing's heartfelt words gave me a glimpse into another possibility for our family's future.

My older brother wants to go to the city.

This idea is a dream shared by almost every young person in rural areas today. However, very few have the courage and intelligence to plan and act on it.

Yang Guangming recalled the expression on his older brother's face when he spoke. That suppressed longing, that determination to not accept the status quo, and that eagerness after finding a glimmer of hope all touched him deeply.

He was lucky; he seized the opportunity to change jobs with the wild boar and stepped into the city.

But what about the eldest brother?

His older brother was a few years older than him and had already started a family with children. If he were to spend his whole life confined to those few acres of land in Xiangyang Village, he could see his future laid out before him.

Yang Guangming stood up and walked to the window.

Since he started working in the city, he's gotten to know quite a few people: his colleagues and superiors at the factory, Lin Guodong from the Public Security Bureau, and He Dongliang, whom he'd just met in the last couple of days.

But when it comes to having a good relationship and a lot of influence, Lin Guodong is the one.

Lin Guodong is now the captain of the county public security bureau's public security brigade, a truly powerful figure. More importantly, he is a loyal and capable person, a friend worth making.

Yang Guangming gradually came up with an idea.

He planned to visit Lin Guodong's home to tell him about his elder brother's situation and see if he had any good suggestions.

On your first visit, you certainly can't arrive empty-handed.

Yang Guangming took out a slightly worn canvas shoulder bag, which he had bought at a department store in the county town. It was perfect for carrying small items.

He locked the dormitory door and drew the curtains to make sure no one would suddenly come in.

His consciousness sank into his mind, and with a slight thought, he began to take things out of the space.

First, there was a large bag of sausages. Yang Guangming took about five pounds, carefully wrapped them in oil paper, and put them into a canvas bag.

Next came peanut oil; he took out two bottles, each weighing one jin (500 grams).

Honey is a good thing too; he filled two jars, each containing one pound. The amber-colored honey was thick and rich, looking very tempting.

After thinking for a moment, Yang Guangming took out two more pounds of milk candy. White Rabbit milk candy was an absolute rarity in those days, and it was hard to find in small towns.

These items, once stuffed into the canvas bag, were already bulging and quite heavy.

Yang Guangming weighed the options and decided that it was about right. For a first visit, a gift that was too extravagant would be inappropriate; these were practical yet not too flashy, just right.

He slung his canvas bag over his shoulder, straightened his clothes, and walked out of the dormitory.

Lin Guodong had already given him his home address, which was in the family compound behind the Public Security Bureau.

Yang Guangming walked out of the pharmaceutical factory and headed towards the police station along the familiar street. It was a little after four in the afternoon, and there were more people on the street than usual, including factory workers getting off work, housewives buying groceries, and children returning home from school.

After walking for about twenty minutes, a neat row of red brick houses came into view. This was the police family compound.

There was no guard at the entrance of the courtyard, but a sign in white lettering on the wall read "Police Family Compound, No Unauthorized Personnel Allowed." Yang Guangming walked straight in and, following the address given by Lin Guodong, found the second house in the third row.

This is one of a row of bungalows, with a small courtyard in front of the door, surrounded by a brick wall about one and a half meters high.

Yang Guangming stood outside the courtyard gate, cleared his throat, and called out, "Is Brother Lin home?"

Soon, there was movement inside. The door opened, and Lin Guodong poked his head out. When he saw that it was Yang Guangming, a smile immediately appeared on his face.

"Guangming? What brings you here? Come in, come in!"

Lin Guodong pushed open the courtyard gate, letting the sunlight in. He wasn't wearing a police uniform, but rather an old gray sweater, looking quite casual.

"It's Sunday today. I thought Brother Lin should be resting at home, so I took the liberty of coming over for a visit," Yang Guangming said as he followed Lin Guodong into the house.

The house wasn't big, but it was very clean. Upon entering, there was a small living room with a square table, four chairs, and a five-drawer chest. Several New Year's pictures and certificates of merit were pasted on the walls.

A woman in her thirties with a gentle face came out of the inner room, carrying a sweater she was knitting. She paused for a moment when she saw Yang Guangming.

"Guodong, this is..."

"This is Guangming, the sharpshooter from Dongfang Pharmaceutical Factory whom I've often told you about," Lin Guodong introduced. "Guangming, this is my wife, Wang Xiuying. You can call her sister-in-law."

Yang Guangming quickly bowed and said, "Hello, sister-in-law, I am Yang Guangming."

Lin Guodong's wife is a teacher at the county primary school. She put down the sweater she was holding and greeted him warmly, "Oh, it's Guangming! I've often heard Guodong mention you. Please sit down, please sit down, let me get you some water."

"Don't bother, sister-in-law, I'll just sit for a bit and then I'll leave," Yang Guangming said, taking the canvas bag off his shoulder and placing it on the table.

Lin Guodong glanced at the bulging bag and laughed, "Guangming, what are you doing? You came all this way, why bring things?"

Yang Guangming opened the bag and took out the items one by one.

"Brother Lin, sister-in-law, this is my first time visiting, and I don't know what to bring. This is just a small token of my appreciation, please don't find it offensive."

Seeing the surprised expressions on Lin Guodong and Wang Xiuying's faces, he explained, "These are some sausages I made myself, cured using traditional methods, and they taste alright. These two bottles are peanut oil, homemade and clean. These two jars of honey are wild honey from the mountains, good for the throat, and my sister-in-law, being a teacher, will need them. And this little bit of milk candy is for the kids."

The items were laid out on the table one by one: five pounds of sausages glistened with oil, two bottles of peanuts were golden and translucent, two jars of honey had a rich color, and the wrappers of milk candies shimmered in the sunlight.

Wang Xiuying's eyes widened in amazement, and she waved her hands repeatedly, saying, "This won't do, it's too precious! Guangming, take it back quickly, we can't accept it."

Lin Guodong frowned and said, "Guangming, you're being too formal. We're brothers, there's no need for this."

Yang Guangming said sincerely, "Brother Lin, sister-in-law, listen to me. Last time I was scammed, if it weren't for Brother Lin upholding the law, my three hundred yuan would have been gone for good. That was my family's life-saving money, and I will always remember this kindness."

He paused for a moment: "These things aren't worth much, just a small token of my appreciation. I made the sausages myself, pressed the oil myself, and picked the honey from the mountains—none of them cost me anything. The milk candy was a gift from a friend; I'm single and can't eat many of these. If you don't accept them, it means you're treating me like an outsider."

These words were spoken with such sincerity that Lin Guodong and Wang Xiuying exchanged a glance, both seeing the emotion in each other's eyes.

Lin Guodong sighed and patted Yang Guangming on the shoulder: "You... fine, since you put it that way, we'll accept the things. But this is a one-time exception. If you bring anything again next time, I'll really be angry."

Wang Xiuying laughed and said, "Guangming, you're so honest. Then I won't stand on ceremony."

The atmosphere immediately lightened.

Wang Xiuying went to the kitchen to boil water and make tea, while Lin Guodong and Yang Guangming sat down at the table.

"What brings you here today? Didn't you go home for your day off?" Lin Guodong asked.

"I went home for a while and just got back." Yang Guangming paused for a moment. "Actually... besides visiting Brother Lin and his wife, I also have something I'd like to ask Brother Lin."

Lin Guodong raised an eyebrow: "What is it? Tell me."

Yang Guangming then recounted in detail how his elder brother, Yang Ximing, wanted to exchange two pigs for a job opportunity.

From the time the eldest brother inquired about the news, to finding the two pigs in Liushugou, to the current predicament—the two pigs weigh a total of 300 jin, which is still 100 jin short of the 400 jin required by Dongfang Pharmaceutical Factory.

"...My older brother is a man of ideas and courage, but he just lacks an opportunity."

He's stuck on these two pigs now, unable to move forward or backward. I promised to help him inquire about the policies of other factories, but I'm not entirely sure myself.

Brother Lin works at the Public Security Bureau, he knows a lot of people and is well-informed, so I wanted to ask him if he had any connections in this matter.

After Yang Guangming finished speaking, he picked up the hot tea that Wang Xiuying had just poured and gently blew on it.

Lin Guodong didn't speak immediately. He picked up his teacup, took a slow sip, and frowned slightly, clearly deep in thought.

The room fell silent, with only the ticking of the wall clock.

After a long pause, Lin Guodong put down his teacup and slowly said, "Guangming, your brother's idea... is good, and the approach is correct. Right now, all units are short of meat, and they have all established agricultural and sideline product offices and introduced some incentive policies. Exchanging agricultural and sideline products for job opportunities is indeed a viable option."

He paused for a moment, then said, "However, our Public Security Bureau doesn't have any incentive policies in this regard. As a law enforcement agency, the Public Security Bureau has strict staffing and management, so it's unlikely that we would recruit people in this way."

Yang Guangming felt a slight sinking feeling in his heart, but he didn't show it on his face.

Lin Guodong changed the subject: "However, I can ask other units for you."

He looked at Yang Guangming and said, "I know several leaders of the security departments of other factories. We have contact at work and also have a good relationship in private."

Textile factories, instrument factories, radio factories, timber factories, garment factories, food factories... these factories are all key units in the county, and I am familiar with the heads of their security departments.

So, after I get to work tomorrow, I'll call them and ask if their factory has any policies in this regard. If it works out, I'll organize a get-together so we can all sit down and discuss it.”

Yang Guangming's eyes lit up: "Brother Lin, that would be too much trouble for you!"

"It's no trouble at all, just a small favor." Lin Guodong waved his hand. "But I have to say this upfront, I can't guarantee whether this will work out. It depends on the specific policies of each factory, and also on the weight of your brother's two pigs."

"I understand, I understand." Yang Guangming nodded repeatedly. "I'm already very grateful to have this opportunity to ask."

Lin Guodong thought for a moment: "Tomorrow is Monday, I'll make the contact during the day. If all goes well, how about Tuesday night? I'll treat everyone to dinner, and we can talk about this."

"How could I let Brother Lin treat me? This meal has to be paid for by me," Yang Guangming quickly said.

Lin Guodong laughed and said, "Don't argue with me. I was supposed to treat these old friends to a meal after my promotion. This is a good opportunity to kill two birds with one stone. Besides, you're just a young person who has just started working, where would you get the money to treat others?"

His tone was firm, and Yang Guang knew that arguing any further would only make things worse, so he nodded in agreement: "Then... I'll listen to Brother Lin's arrangements. But I'll have to prepare the drinks; Brother Lin can't argue with me about that anymore."

"Okay, you can prepare the drinks." Lin Guodong readily agreed.

With the matter now largely resolved, Yang Guangming felt much more at ease. He then chatted with Lin Guodong about factory matters and the hunting team's catch.

Wang Xiuying listened from the side, occasionally interjecting a few words, and the atmosphere was very harmonious.

After chatting for about an hour, Yang Guangming noticed that it was getting late and got up to say goodbye.

"Brother Lin, Sister-in-law, it's getting late, I won't bother you any longer."

Lin Guodong urged, "What's the rush? Have dinner before you leave. Your sister-in-law is a good cook, you should try her."

Wang Xiuying also said warmly, "Yes, Guangming, please stay for dinner. I'll make it right away."

Yang Guangming smiled and declined, "No, sister-in-law, I really have something to do. I have to go back to the factory. I have to go to work tomorrow, and there are some things I need to prepare. Next time, next time I will definitely try your cooking."

Seeing that Yang Ming insisted on leaving, Lin Guodong and his wife couldn't force him to stay.

Lin Guodong escorted Yang Guangming to the courtyard gate and patted him on the shoulder: "Guangming, I've taken your brother's matter to heart. Wait for my news tomorrow."

"Thank you, Brother Lin," Yang Guangming said sincerely.

"Don't mention it, go back now, be careful on the road."

As I stepped out of the police family compound, it was already dusk. The streetlights were on, casting a dim, yellowish glow on the cobblestone path.

Yang Guangming walked briskly towards the pharmaceutical factory, the heavy feeling in his heart dissipating considerably. With Lin Guodong's help in making the connection, the chances of his older brother's situation had greatly improved.

Monday morning, the sun was shining brightly, and I got up early as usual.

Today is the day the hunting team goes into the mountains. According to Li Daguo's arrangement, they go into the mountains every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and spend the rest of the time training or patrolling.

At six o'clock, the nine members of the hunting team assembled downstairs at the security office. Li Daguo counted the number of people and equipment, and after confirming that everything was in order, he waved his hand: "Let's go!"

The group set off again for Xishan.

The weather is lovely today, with bright sunshine and a gentle breeze. The vegetation in the mountains seems to have turned even greener overnight, and the air is filled with the fresh scent of grass and trees.

Yang Guangming walked in the group, in a good mood. After talking with Lin Guodong yesterday, there was progress on his older brother's matter, and he felt relieved, able to concentrate more on hunting.

Today's harvest was still plentiful.

Yang Guangming's marksmanship had completely won over everyone in the hunting team. His keen observation and accurate shooting meant that almost every sighting turned into actual prey.

Pheasants, rock partridges, doves, rabbits... gunshots echoed through the mountains and forests.

By the midday break, Yang Guangming had personally caught fifteen prey. The team's total catch was over twenty, which was quite a good result.

As usual, everyone stewed pheasant at noon. They ate around the campfire, sweating profusely and their mouths greasy.

While munching on a chicken leg, Li Daguo said to Yang Guangming, "Guangming, at this rate, this month's bonus is definitely in the bag. As for the housing allocation points that Section Chief Tian mentioned the other day, I think you'll accumulate enough very quickly."

Yang Guangming smiled and said, "We still need everyone's cooperation. No matter how good I am at fighting, I can't get anything done without my brothers helping me carry things and do the work."

These words were truly honest, and everyone felt comfortable hearing them.

Wang Tiezhu said in a simple and honest manner, "Deputy Captain, don't be modest. With you leading the team, our hunting team is now the most sought-after in the factory. Yesterday I ran into Old Sun from the patrol team, and he was extremely envious, saying he wanted to transfer to our team."

Zhang Jianguo laughed and said, "That's right. Now everyone in the factory knows that our hunting team has a sharpshooter deputy captain. The canteen's meat supply depends on us."

Everyone chatted and laughed, creating a lively atmosphere.

The hunt continued in the afternoon, and by the time they returned, the team had caught a total of forty game. Yang Guangming contributed twenty-four game, which was slightly less than the twenty-six game caught the first time, but still accounted for the majority.

Back at the factory, as usual, Yu Dehai and Section Chief Tian personally inspected the goods. Seeing the mountain of spoils, the two leaders couldn't hide their smiles.

"Good! Good! Good!" Yu Dehai exclaimed three times. "Great power, bright future, you've set a new record! Forty birds, that must weigh eighty or ninety pounds, right?"

Li Daguo straightened his back: "Reporting to the section chief, it's definitely more than expected."

Section Chief Tian nodded in satisfaction: "Good, keep up the momentum. Your hunting team is definitely going to get this month's bonus."

As he left the office, Li Daguo excitedly said to Yang Guangming, "Guangming, did you hear that? Section Chief Tian said so, so this month's bonus is definitely in the bag. Your housing allocation points will increase even more."

Yang Guangming was also happy. The housing allocation and the promotion were tangible benefits. But he still had another thing on his mind—his older brother's job.

After having dinner in the canteen in the evening, Yang Guangming did not go straight back to his dormitory, but went to the factory's employee cooperative.

He still had some grain coupons on him, but no liquor coupons, so he specifically asked Li Daguo to exchange a few for them.

Tomorrow's occasion is quite important, so he specially bought four bottles of Xifeng liquor. Xifeng liquor is one of the four famous liquors of this era, and is considered quite high-end.

On Tuesday morning, Yang Ming went to work as usual. The hunting team wasn't scheduled to go into the mountains today, so he was organizing the mountain-hunting records in the security office while waiting for a call from Lin Guodong.

Around 10 a.m., the office phone rang. Zhang Jianjun, who was near the phone, answered it, listened for a few moments, and then called out to Yang Guangming, "Guangming, it's the phone, it's for you."

Yang Guangming walked over and answered the phone: "Hello, this is Yang Guangming."

"Guangming, it's me, Lin Guodong." Lin Guodong's voice came from the other end of the phone.

"Brother Lin, have you made all the arrangements?" Yang Guangming asked.

"Yes, I've made the arrangements." Lin Guodong's voice was filled with laughter. "I made a few phone calls yesterday and arranged to meet with six people. The heads of the security departments of the textile factory, the instrument factory, the radio factory, the timber factory, the garment factory, and the food factory. I've got all the appointments."

Yang Guangming was overjoyed: "That's great! Thank you, Brother Lin!"

"Don't rush, there's more," Lin Guodong continued. "I also made an appointment with Section Chief Huo from the locomotive depot at the railway station. Section Chief Huo is my classmate, and we're on good terms. The railway station is a good place to work, with good benefits, so there might be an opportunity there too."

train station!
Yang Guangming's eyes lit up. If he could really get into the railway system, that would be much better than working in a factory. The railway system is a centrally administered unit, with good benefits and high social status.

"Brother Lin, you've thought of everything!" Yang Guangming said sincerely.

“We’re all brothers, no need to be so polite. It’s 6:30 tonight at the county guesthouse restaurant. I’ve already booked a private room. Just come over after get off work. Oh, and invite He Dongliang too; he often joins our gatherings.”

"Okay, Brother Lin, I'll go with Captain He after get off work."

"Are the drinks ready?" Lin Guodong asked.

"Ready? Four bottles of Xifeng liquor, is that enough?"

"That's enough, that's enough. I've prepared two more bottles too. Six bottles of wine, enough for ten people," Lin Guodong said. "Then it's settled. See you tonight."

See you tonight, Brother Lin.

After hanging up the phone, Yang Guangming let out a long sigh of relief.

Things were progressing even more smoothly than he had anticipated. Lin Guodong not only made appointments with the security chiefs of six factories, but also with the head of the locomotive depot at the railway station, showing him considerable respect.

Li Daguo noticed that he was in a good mood and asked, "Guangming, what's making you so happy?" Yang Guangming smiled and said, "Nothing much, I have a dinner party tonight, organized by Captain Lin."

Li Daguo suddenly realized: "Captain Lin is treating? That's a good thing. Getting to know more people will benefit you."

At lunchtime in the cafeteria, Yang Guangming ran into He Dongliang.

"Captain He, Brother Lin is treating us to dinner tonight and asked me to invite you along," Yang Guangming said.

He Dongliang laughed and said, "My cousin called me. Okay, let's walk together after get off work."

At 5 p.m., Yang Guangming returned to his dormitory and began preparing the things he would bring that evening.

He arrived at the factory gate with his things, where He Dongliang was already waiting.

"Guangming, is everything ready?" He Dongliang was dressed neatly today, his hair combed perfectly.

"Ready, Captain He." Yang Guangming lifted the net and showed it to him.

The two walked out of the pharmaceutical factory together and headed towards the county guesthouse.

When I arrived at the entrance of the guesthouse, Lin Guodong was already waiting there.

He was wearing a brand-new police uniform today, the stars on his epaulets glittering in the sunset. Seeing Yang Guangming and He Dongliang, he went to greet them.

"Dongliang, Guangming, you've arrived." Lin Guodong greeted them with a smile.

“Cousin, this is quite a grand occasion. You’re even hosting a dinner at the county guesthouse,” He Dongliang said.

"It's a rare occasion to treat someone to a meal, so we have to find a decent place." Lin Guodong walked ahead. "Come on, let's go in first. The others should be arriving soon."

The three entered the guesthouse, and the waiter, recognizing Lin Guodong, greeted them warmly.

"Captain Lin, your private room is on the second floor. Please follow me."

We followed the waiter upstairs to a private room called "Dongfeng Hall." The room was large, with a big round table that could seat twelve people.

"Cousin, you're being so generous today. The county guesthouse must be quite nice." He Dongliang was somewhat surprised. Places like this must be expensive.

Lin Guodong waved his hand: "It's a rare occasion to treat guests, so of course we should choose a better place. Besides, small restaurants have very limited supplies of side dishes; they might not even have a single meat dish. This is the county guesthouse, after all, so the supplies are a bit better."

He paused, then lowered his voice: "I've already spoken to the kitchen, so bring out whatever good dishes you have today. They're a bit pricey, but it's worth it."

Yang Guangming was deeply moved. Lin Guodong was genuinely trying to help him.

After the three sat down, Lin Guodong said to Yang Guangming, "Guangming, it's my treat today, I'll pay the bill, don't try to argue with me."

Just as Yang Guangming was about to speak, Lin Guodong interrupted him: "Let me finish. I'm treating everyone today for two reasons. First, I got promoted, so I should treat these old colleagues to a meal. Second, asking about job openings is just a side thing; the main reason is to celebrate my promotion. Is that a sufficient reason?"

He Dongliang chimed in, "Guangming, just listen to my cousin. He's a man of his word, there's no point in arguing with him."

Yang Guang knew that arguing any further would only seem pretentious, so he nodded and said, "Then... thank you, Brother Lin. Next time, next time I'll definitely treat you."

"Okay, you can treat next time," Lin Guodong said with a smile.

As they were talking, the door to the private room was pushed open.

The first person to enter was a middle-aged man in his forties, slightly overweight, with a beaming smile.

As soon as he entered, he shouted, "Old Lin, you rarely treat us! Today I'm going to make you pay!"

Lin Guodong stood up and went to greet him: "Old Chen, you have such a loud voice. Come, let me introduce you. This is Yang Guangming from Dongfang Pharmaceutical Factory, the deputy captain of the hunting team. Guangming, this is Section Chief Chen from the security department of the textile factory."

Yang Guangming quickly stepped forward to shake hands: "Hello, Section Chief Chen, I am Yang Guangming."

Section Chief Chen looked Yang Guangming up and down and smiled, "So young and already a deputy captain, quite promising!"

"Section Chief Chen, you flatter me," Yang Guangming said modestly.

Then, the others arrived one after another.

Wang, the head of the security department at the instrument factory, was in his forties, had a serious face, and didn't talk much.

Liu, the head of the security department of the radio factory, was thirty-seven or thirty-eight years old. He wore glasses and looked very refined.

Zhang, the head of the security department at the lumber mill, was tall and had dark skin, clearly someone who worked outdoors year-round.

Chief Zhao of the security department at the garment factory was in his forties and spoke crisply and decisively.

Chief Li of the security department at the food factory, in his forties, had a smiling face, like a Maitreya Buddha.

The last to arrive was Section Chief Huo from the locomotive depot of the railway station.

Section Chief Huo was in his early forties, tall and straight, with a brisk walk. As soon as he entered, Lin Guodong greeted him warmly.

"Old Huo, you've finally arrived! We were just waiting for you!"

Section Chief Huo shook hands with Lin Guodong and smiled, "Something came up on the way, so I'm late. This handsome young man, is he the Comrade Yang Guangming you mentioned?"

His gaze fell on Yang Guangming, scrutinizing but gentle.

Yang Guangming stepped forward: "Hello, Commander Huo, I am Yang Guangming."

Section Chief Huo nodded and shook hands with Yang Guangming: "Young and energetic. Old Lin told me about you, and I think he should thank you properly. If you hadn't given him the banner, we might not have been able to enjoy this wedding banquet."

All ten people arrived and took their seats.

Lin Guodong naturally took the seat of honor, with Yang Guangming seated to his right, Section Chief Huo to his left, and He Dongliang sitting next to Yang Guangming. The others took their seats according to their level of familiarity with each other.

Yang Guangming could sense that among these people, Lin Guodong, He Dongliang, and Section Chief Huo clearly had more influence. This was not only because the three were good at socializing, but also obviously because they were of higher rank.

Of the factories in the county, only Dongfang Pharmaceutical Factory is a provincial-level deputy director-general unit; the others are at most section-level or deputy section-level. Naturally, the heads of security departments in these factories wouldn't hold very high ranks.

Lin Guodong is the captain of the county public security bureau's security brigade, He Dongliang is the deputy captain of the security section of Dongfang Pharmaceutical Factory, and Section Chief Huo is the section chief of the railway station's locomotive depot. All three of them are at a higher level than these section chiefs.

The waiter started to serve the food.

The cold dishes were served first. There were four ordinary cold dishes, with red and green colors, which looked very refreshing.

Next came the hot dishes. The first dish was braised carp, a very large fish weighing over three pounds, drizzled with a thick sauce, and smelling incredibly fragrant.

The second dish was braised prawns in oil. Although the prawns weren't very big, there were quite a few of them. They were bright red and looked very tempting.

The third dish was scrambled eggs, a large plate of bright yellow, glistening with oil.

The following dishes were all vegetarian: stir-fried cabbage with vinegar, stir-fried shredded potatoes, Mapo tofu, and a winter melon and dried shrimp soup.

Although they are vegetarian dishes, they are very oily and taste much better than the vegetarian dishes in the cafeteria.

Finally, the main course consisted of steamed white flour buns and a bowl of rice.

In those days, this meal was definitely considered luxurious. Especially the two meat dishes—braised carp and braised prawns—were rarely seen in ordinary restaurants.

Lin Guodong still felt a little regretful. Although fish and shrimp can be considered meat dishes, they are aquatic products and cannot be considered a major meat dish.

Looking at the dishes on the table, Section Chief Chen laughed and said, "Old Lin, you've really gone all out today. This level of hospitality is comparable to hosting county leaders."

Lin Guodong smiled and said, "It's a rare opportunity to treat everyone, so of course we have to show our sincerity. Come on, everyone, let's start eating and chat."

He Dongliang opened the bottle and poured wine for everyone. The aroma of Xifeng liquor filled the private room.

Lin Guodong raised his glass: "First, to thank everyone for coming. My successful promotion wouldn't have been possible without your support and help. This glass is for you all!"

Everyone raised their glasses and drank it all.

The fiery liquor slid down my throat, a warm sensation spreading through my stomach. The atmosphere instantly became lively.

Everyone started eating and chatting. They talked about work, family, and recent happenings in the county. Yang Guangming listened quietly most of the time, only answering occasionally when asked a question.

He noticed that Section Chief Huo was a man of few words, but every time he spoke, he got to the point. The other section chiefs all treated Section Chief Huo with great respect, clearly indicating that the railway system held a very high status in this small county.

After several rounds of drinks and several dishes, the atmosphere at the table became even more harmonious.

Seeing that the time was right, Lin Guodong cleared his throat and said, "Everyone, I've invited you all here today not only to celebrate my promotion, but also because I'd like to ask for your help with something."

Everyone put down their chopsticks and looked at Lin Guodong.

Lin Guodong pointed to Yang Guangming: "Guangming has an older brother who farms in Xiangyang Brigade of Hongqi Commune. Recently, his older brother came up with a plan to exchange agricultural products for a job in the city."

He briefly explained Yang Guangming's situation, emphasizing that the two pigs weighed about 300 jin (150 kg) in total, but were still 100 jin (50 kg) short of the 400 jin (200 kg) requirement of Dongfang Pharmaceutical Factory. Therefore, he wanted to ask if other units had similar policies.

"...That's the situation. Guangming's older brother has ideas and is willing to take action, but he lacks an opportunity. You are all influential figures in the county, well-informed and have many connections. See if you can help him out and point him in the right direction."

After Lin Guodong finished speaking, he looked at everyone present.

The private room was quiet for a moment.

Section Chief Chen from the textile factory was the first to speak: "A domestic pig weighing three hundred jin? Both of them weigh three hundred jin in total?"

Yang Guangming nodded: "Yes, the gross weight is about 300 jin, and each one weighs about 150 jin."

Section Chief Chen stroked his chin: "According to our factory's regulations, a pig weighing over 200 jin can be exchanged for a formal apprenticeship. 300 jin is definitely enough."

Sunshine brightened his heart with joy.

Section Chief Wang from the instrument factory also spoke up: "Our factory has a similar policy. As long as you can provide a pig weighing more than 250 jin, you can exchange it for an apprenticeship. 300 jin is more than enough."

Several section chiefs from the radio factory, timber factory, garment factory, and food factory said that their factories also have incentive policies, but due to staff shortages, there are no incentives for available positions.

Yang Guangming felt reassured after hearing this. Both the textile factory and the instrument factory were good jobs in the county; having two options meant his brother's move to the city was basically settled.

He was pondering which factory to choose when Section Chief Huo, who had been silent until now, finally spoke up.

"Our train station also has this policy."

Section Chief Huo's voice wasn't loud, but it was very clear. As soon as he spoke, everyone else fell silent.

Lin Guodong looked at Section Chief Huo: "Old Huo, does your railway system also have this kind of policy? Your railway system shouldn't lack non-staple foods, right?"

Section Chief Huo said, "How could there not be a shortage? It's the same all over the country; everyone is short of meat. Although we have more mobility, our priority is to ensure the supply of non-staple foods on the trains. This policy was just introduced after the Spring Festival, and not many people know about it."

He paused, then looked at Yang Guangming: "If you can provide a live pig weighing over 300 jin, you can exchange it for a formal apprenticeship position, which can be assigned to the locomotive depot or the train depot."

Sunshine brightened his eyes!

Railway system!

Getting into the railway system would be far better than working in a factory. The railway system is directly under the central government, with good benefits and high social status. If my brother could get in, he'd be set for life.

He suppressed his excitement and asked, "Chief Huo, when you said three hundred jin, is that the gross weight or the net weight?"

"Gross weight," Section Chief Huo said. "It's calculated by gross weight. Three hundred jin is the maximum reward standard. If you reach this standard, you can get a formal apprenticeship."

Yang Guangming took a deep breath, picked up his glass, and stood up: "Section Chief Huo, on behalf of my elder brother, thank you! This glass is for you!"

Section Chief Huo also raised his glass and clinked it with Yang Guangming's: "No need to thank me, this is the unit's policy. As long as you meet the requirements, you will naturally get a spot. It's not really helping anyone."

The two drank it all in one gulp.

After sitting down, Yang Guangming asked, "Section Chief Huo, how exactly does it work? What procedures are required?"

Section Chief Huo thought for a moment and said, "Okay, I'll take you to see the comrades in the Agricultural and Sideline Products Office tomorrow to ask them about the specific handover process. Everything must be done according to procedure."

Yang Guangming quickly replied, "Okay, Section Chief Huo, then I'll go to your house first thing tomorrow morning. Would that be too much of a bother?"

"Don't mention it. We're all friends. There's no need to bother you. I'll wait for you at home."

With the matter essentially settled at this point, Yang Guangming felt a huge weight lifted from his shoulders.

The apprenticeship in the railway system was better than expected.

The atmosphere at the subsequent dinner was even more lively. Yang Guangming toasted each of them, thanking them for their help. Several section chiefs were also impressed with this young man and said they would keep in touch.

The dinner party lasted until after 9 p.m.

Stepping out of the guesthouse, a night breeze helped to sober me up considerably.

Lin Guodong pulled Yang Guangming aside and whispered, "Guangming, don't go to Lao Huo's house empty-handed tomorrow. Lao Huo is a decent man, but his wife is quite troublesome. The main thing is that if your older brother wants to be assigned a good position, Lao Huo will have to pull strings, and you'll definitely have to use some connections."

“I understand, Brother Lin.” Yang Guangming nodded.

"Bring something practical, nothing too expensive. The Huo family has an elderly mother who isn't in good health, so you could bring some tonics," Lin Guodong advised.

"Okay, thanks for reminding me, Brother Lin."

Everyone dispersed. Yang Guangming and He Dongliang walked back together.

On the way, He Dongliang said with a smile, "Guangming, you handled this matter efficiently today. The railway system is a good place to work; countless people would kill to get in. Opportunities like this are rare, and your older brother is lucky to have caught one."

Yang Guangming said, "Thanks to everyone's help. Without your help, my brother's deal would never have come to fruition."

“We’re all brothers, no need to be so polite.” He Dongliang patted his shoulder. “Your brother’s situation mainly depends on Section Chief Huo’s help. Try to get along with him as much as possible. Whether your brother can get a good position after he goes in depends on how hard he tries.”

He Dongliang also offered a suggestion.

Back at the pharmaceutical factory, Yang Guangming didn't go straight back to his dormitory, but instead went to Li Da's house first.

Li Daguo's house is a single room. Although it's not big, it's already quite an achievement to have a room in a tenement building.

When the door was opened, Li Daguo was wearing a vest and shorts, clearly preparing to go to sleep.

"Guangming? It's so late, is something wrong?" Li Daguo asked, somewhat surprised.

"Brother Li, I'm sorry to bother you." Yang Guangming said apologetically, "I'd like to ask for a day off tomorrow; I have some personal business to take care of."

Li Daguo was taken aback: "Tomorrow? Tomorrow is Wednesday, it's time to go hunting in the mountains."

"I know, I'm really sorry. But my older brother's job situation has improved, and I need to go to the train station tomorrow to complete the formalities." Yang Guangming briefly explained the situation.

Li Daguo frowned, clearly somewhat troubled.

The hunting team now relies mainly on Yang Guangming; without him, the harvest would be reduced by at least half. But Yang Guangming's work is obviously more important, and he can't be unreasonable.

After thinking for a moment, Li Daguo sighed, "Alright, you can take leave tomorrow. But Guangming, our hunting team is at a critical stage right now, and Section Chief Tian is keeping an eye on things. Try to get it done as quickly as possible, because you can't take leave again next time you go into the mountains."

"Thank you, Brother Li! I'll definitely go to work as usual next time I go into the mountains!" Yang Guangming quickly assured him.

"Go on, get some rest." Li Daguo waved his hand.

After leaving Li Da's house, Yang Guangming let out a long sigh of relief.

The leave issue is resolved, and I can focus on taking care of my older brother's business tomorrow.

Back in the dormitory, Zhao Xiaohu was already asleep. Yang Guangming quietly finished washing up, lay in bed, but couldn't fall asleep.

Everything that happened today is replaying in my mind like a movie.

From Lin Guodong organizing the meeting to the section chiefs expressing their support, and then to Section Chief Huo agreeing to help, everything went more smoothly than expected.

My older brother finally got a chance to go to the city.

Although apprenticeships in the railway system are entry-level positions, as long as you are willing to work hard, you will definitely have opportunities for advancement. Moreover, the railway system offers good benefits, which will make life easier for your brother and sister-in-law in the future.

As Yang Guangming pondered this, the corners of his mouth unconsciously turned up.

He could imagine the expression on his older brother's face when he told him the news. And his parents, how happy they would be to know their eldest son could also work in the city.

This family's fate is finally about to change completely. (End of Chapter)