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

The next morning, Yang Ming had no mission to go into the mountains and slept in late, which was a rare treat.

He didn't wake up until the sunlight from outside shone through the gaps in the curtains and brightened the room.

The room was quiet, and Yang Guangming lay on the hard bed without getting up immediately.

He stared at the spiderweb-like fine cracks on the ceiling, listened to the faint sound of the factory's broadcast in the distance, and pondered his plans for the day.

Yesterday, at a dinner party, there was a breakthrough in my elder brother Yang Ximing's job search in the city. Section Chief Huo personally promised that as long as we can provide more than 300 catties of live pigs, we can exchange them for a formal apprenticeship in the railway system.

This is even better than the best expected result.

The railway system is a dream job for many. It offers excellent benefits, high social status, and job stability; as long as you don't make any major mistakes, it's a lifelong "iron rice bowl" (guaranteed job).

If my elder brother can get in, it will not only be a turning point in his personal life, but also a tremendous change for the entire Yang family.

Thinking of this, Yang Guangming's lips unconsciously curled up.

He sat up abruptly, glanced at the alarm clock on the table, and realized it was almost seven o'clock.

Time to get up, there's a lot to do today.

He got out of bed, put on his clothes, walked to the window, and drew back the curtains. The morning sunlight of spring immediately flooded in, a little dazzling, but warm and comfortable.

Yang Guangming withdrew his gaze and began washing up.

He fetched half a basin of cold water from the public washroom and quickly washed his face and neck with a towel. The cold water stimulated his skin, completely waking him up.

After washing up, he took out breakfast from his storage space.

A set of jianbing guozi (Chinese crepe) and a tea egg.

The jianbing guozi (Chinese crepe) had cooled down; the crepe had hardened, and the crispy filling inside wasn't as crunchy anymore. The tea egg, once peeled, had a slightly hardened egg white, but the yolk remained sandy and savory.

He sat on the edge of the bed, eating slowly.

It's great to be young; even eating cold food didn't make my stomach feel uncomfortable. Because I drank alcohol last night, eating something this morning made me feel much better.

After a simple breakfast, it was time to prepare the gifts for our visit to Commander Huo's home.

Yesterday, Lin Guodong and He Dongliang specifically reminded us not to go to Section Chief Huo's house empty-handed.

Section Chief Huo is a fairly honest man, but his wife is quite troublesome. Whether his elder brother can be assigned a good position, and whether Section Chief Huo is willing to do his best to help, largely depends on this visit.

Yang Guangming sat down on the edge of the bed, his consciousness sinking into his mind, and began to select suitable items from the refrigerator.

Gift-giving is an art.

A gift that is too insincere will not be appreciated. A gift that is too extravagant will put pressure on the recipient, making them hesitant to accept it.

Moreover, gifts should be practical and touching to the recipient's heart.

Lin Guodong had briefly mentioned Section Chief Huo's family situation. Section Chief Huo himself was the head of the locomotive depot at the railway station, with a decent income, but his family was large, and the burden was considerable. Most importantly, he had an elderly mother who was in poor health and needed nutrition.

After thinking for a moment, Yang Guangming took out two boxes of imported chocolates from his spatial storage.

This is pure cocoa butter dark chocolate, packaged in tin boxes, each weighing half a pound. In those days, this kind of imported chocolate was an absolute rarity. You couldn't find it in small towns, and even in big cities, it wasn't something you could easily buy.

Next, he took out two pounds of milk candy, which had a rich milky aroma and exquisite packaging. Milk candy was rarely sold in stores in the small county town, making it very attractive to children and women.

Then came the cured pork and ham. He took five jin of each and carefully wrapped them in oiled paper. The cured pork was dark red and glossy, with alternating layers of fat and lean meat, clearly top-quality. Jinhua ham had a reddish-brown color and a unique salty aroma; it was a famous product of the south, and even more so in a small county town.

All of this added up to a considerable amount. But Yang Guangming felt it wasn't enough.

Section Chief Huo's elderly mother needed nutritional supplements. And luckily, he had some traditional tonics in his spatial storage.

With a slight thought, he took out two jin of Dong'e donkey-hide gelatin.

Donkey-hide gelatin comes in a simple, rustic paper box. Inside are smooth, dark brown blocks of gelatin, emitting a faint medicinal and gelatinous aroma. This is an excellent tonic for women to replenish blood and energy, especially suitable for the elderly and those with weak constitutions.

After thinking for a moment, he took out another two pounds of honey. This amber-colored, viscous, and rich local honey, packaged in a transparent glass jar, looked incredibly tempting. Honey is good for the lungs and relieves coughs, and it's also good for the elderly's throats. It's good to drink it with water regularly or use it as a medicinal ingredient.

Actually, there were even more valuable things inside, such as deer antlers and dried sea cucumbers. But he didn't plan to take them out.

Firstly, these things are too conspicuous and their origin is difficult to explain. Secondly, gift-giving requires discretion; presenting something too valuable at once might scare the recipient away.

These gifts—imported chocolates, milk candies, cured meat, ham, donkey-hide gelatin, and honey—are substantial enough, practical, presentable, and not too extravagant.

Yang Guangming put all these things, one by one, into that worn-out canvas shoulder bag.

The cured pork and ham, being bulky, were placed at the bottom. The donkey-hide gelatin and honey, to prevent them from being crushed, were placed in the middle. The chocolate and toffee were placed on top. The canvas bag was stuffed full and felt heavy in my hand.

He weighed it in his hand and nodded in satisfaction.

Once everything was ready, Yang Guangming checked the time; it was almost seven o'clock. He slung his canvas bag over his shoulder, locked the dormitory door, and walked out of Building 4.

The air in the factory area was fresh in the early morning. The poplar trees on both sides of the road had already sprouted tender green leaves, which glistened in the sunlight. Revolutionary songs were playing on the loudspeaker, and the stirring melodies echoed over the factory area.

Yang Guangming didn't linger in the factory and headed straight for the gate.

Stepping out of the pharmaceutical factory, the streets were already bustling with activity.

Workers rode their bicycles to work, forming streams of vehicles, the jingling of bells echoing throughout the air. Queues formed at the roadside breakfast stalls, the aroma of fried dough sticks, soy milk, and tofu pudding filling the air. Children, carrying their schoolbags, walked in small groups to school, chattering and laughing.

Yang Guangming walked along the street towards the train station.

The train station is located in the southeast corner of the county town, not too far from the pharmaceutical factory, about a 20-minute walk.

After walking for about ten minutes, a relatively neat cluster of brick and tile houses came into view. This was the railway staff quarters, which was larger and more orderly than the police station staff quarters, mostly single-story houses made of red bricks.

There was a gatekeeper at the entrance of the courtyard, an old man in his fifties, wearing a railway uniform, sitting in the gatehouse drinking tea.

Yang Guangming walked over and politely asked, "Sir, may I ask which row Huo Duanchang's house is in?"

The old gatekeeper looked up and sized up Yang Guangming. Seeing that although he was dressed simply, he had a composed demeanor and was carrying a heavy bag, he asked, "Are you looking for Section Chief Huo? What's the matter? Did you make an appointment?"

“I’m a friend of Section Chief Huo. We arranged to visit each other today,” Yang Guangming said.

The old gatekeeper glanced at him again before saying, "Chief Huo's house is in the third row, number five. Go in, it's the third row on the right, the fifth house."

"Thank you, sir," Yang Guangming said, and stepped into the family compound.

The path in the courtyard was paved with cement and was very smooth. Holly trees were planted on both sides of the path and were trimmed neatly. Some family members were hanging clothes to dry and tidying up in their own yards. When they saw Yang Guangming, a stranger, they all cast curious glances at him.

Following the security guard's directions, Yang Guangming quickly found number five in row three.

This is one of a row of bungalows, with a small yard in front. Some withered vines climb the wall, which looks like it will be covered with green plants in the summer. The yard is very clean, with some coal and chopped firewood piled in the corner.

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

Soon, there was movement inside. The door opened, and Chief Huo poked his head out.

Today he was wearing a navy blue Zhongshan suit, the buttons were fastened meticulously, his hair was neatly combed, and he looked very energetic.

Seeing Yang Guangming, a smile spread across his face: "Guangming's here? That's early! Come in, come in!"

As he spoke, he pushed open the courtyard gate, letting the sunlight in.

"Chief Huo, I'm sorry to disturb your rest," Yang Guangming said politely as he walked inside.

"What do you mean by disturbing me? Didn't I say yesterday that you're welcome to come to my home?" Huo Duanchang said with a smile, his gaze sweeping over the canvas bag on Yang Guangming's shoulder, a knowing look flashing in his eyes, but he didn't say anything more.

The two entered the house.

The house was a bit bigger than Lin Guodong's. Upon entering, there was a living room with a square table, several chairs, and a cabinet with glass doors containing tea sets and odds and ends. Several certificates of merit and a railway map were pasted on the wall.

In the living room, an elderly woman in her fifties with gray hair was sitting in a chair against the wall, mending a garment. Seeing Yang Guangming enter, she looked up and gave him a gentle smile.

A woman in her thirties, slightly plump, wearing a floral blouse, came out of the inner room, carrying a rag, clearly cleaning. Upon seeing Yang Guangming, she paused for a moment, then smiled, but her eyes held a clear scrutinizing gaze.

Yang Guangming immediately guessed that this woman must be Section Chief Huo's wife, the "troublesome" person Lin Guodong had mentioned.

"Mom, Xiuqin, this is Yang Guangming, whom I told you about yesterday. He's the deputy captain of the hunting team at Dongfang Pharmaceutical Factory," Director Huo introduced. "Guangming, this is my mother, and this is my wife, Wang Xiuqin."

Yang Guangming quickly bowed and greeted them: "Hello, Grandma, hello, Auntie, I am Yang Guangming."

Grandma Huo smiled and nodded: "Good child, sit down, don't stand."

Wang Xiuqin greeted him with a smile, "Guangming's here! Come in and sit down, I'll get you some water." She put down the rag and turned to get the thermos and teacup, but her eyes couldn't help but dart towards the canvas bag that Yang Guangming had placed on the table.

Section Chief Huo clearly noticed his wife's gaze, his brows furrowing almost imperceptibly, but he said nothing and gestured for Yang Guangming to sit down at the table.

Yang Guangming took the canvas bag off his shoulder and placed it at his feet, but did not open it immediately.

Wang Xiuqin poured a cup of hot water and placed it in front of Yang Guangming. Then she sat down on the chair next to Section Chief Huo, her eyes still fixed on the bulging bag, her face filled with undisguised curiosity.

Section Chief Huo coughed lightly and said, "Guangming, how did you rest yesterday? You didn't drink too much, did you?"

"It's alright, Section Chief Huo, he didn't drink too much." Yang Guangming said with a smile, "Thank you so much for your help yesterday. My brother's matter has really been a troublesome one for you."

"Don't mention it, we're all friends." Section Chief Huo waved his hand. "Besides, this is just the unit's policy. If you meet the requirements, it can be done. It's not really helping anyone."

That being said, Yang Guang knew perfectly well that without Section Chief Huo's connections, even if his elder brother had a 300-pound domestic pig, he might not be able to get his hands on a job in the railway system. And even if he did, subsequent job assignments would depend entirely on whether Section Chief Huo was willing to put in the effort.

He stopped beating around the bush, bent down to pick up the canvas bag, placed it on the table, and said as he opened it, "Chief Huo, this is my first time visiting, and I didn't know what to bring. This is just a small token of my appreciation, please don't find it offensive."

As he spoke, he began taking things out of his bag.

The first thing they brought out were two boxes of imported chocolates. The tin boxes gleamed in the sunlight, and they were printed with foreign letters and patterns that I couldn't understand. They were obviously not made in China.

Wang Xiuqin's eyes lit up instantly, and she unconsciously leaned forward.

Next came two pounds of milk candy. The White Rabbit wrappers were red and white, and the milky aroma seemed to emanate from the wrappers.

Then came five catties of cured pork. The oil paper was opened, revealing dark red, glossy, marbled pieces of meat, exuding a rich smoky aroma.

Five jin of Jinhua ham, with its reddish-brown color and unique salty aroma, made Wang Xiuqin sniff involuntarily.

Finally, Yang Guangming took out the two jin of Dong'e donkey-hide gelatin and two jin of honey.

He pushed the donkey-hide gelatin and honey in front of Grandma Huo and said sincerely, "Grandma, I heard that your health needs to be improved, so I brought some donkey-hide gelatin and honey."

Donkey-hide gelatin replenishes qi and blood, which is especially good for elderly people like you. Dissolve it in rice wine, add some red dates and walnuts, steam it, and eat it. Alternatively, you can crush it and mix it with boiling water to drink. Honey moistens the lungs and relieves coughs; drinking it regularly with water is good for your health.

Looking at the simply packaged donkey-hide gelatin and the tempting honey in front of her, Grandma Huo's face showed gratitude, and she waved her hands repeatedly, saying, "This child, you've gone to too much trouble, this... this is too much of a burden..."

Wang Xiuqin was already stunned by the pile of things on the table.

Imported chocolates, milk candies, cured meats, hams, as well as donkey-hide gelatin and honey... each of these items is a rare commodity nowadays, and you might not be able to buy them even if you have the money.

She had only heard of the imported chocolate and donkey-hide gelatin, but had never seen them in person.

Her gaze lingered on the items, her face beaming with undisguised joy, but she still politely said, "Guangming, this...this is far too valuable! We can't accept it, please take it back!"

Section Chief Huo frowned and said sternly, "Guangming, you're being too formal. We're friends, helping each other is only natural. What kind of talk is this, bringing so many things? Take them back immediately!"

Yang Guangming had anticipated their refusal, and calmly said, "Chief Huo, Auntie, listen to me. These things are nothing special, just a small token of my appreciation."

He looked at Section Chief Huo and said, "At yesterday's dinner, if it weren't for you speaking up, my brother's job would have been impossible. A job in the railway system is an opportunity that many people would kill for. With just one word from you, my brother has been given a golden path. I will remember this kindness."

He then looked at Wang Xiuqin and Old Mrs. Huo: "Grandma, this is my first time here. What would it look like if I came empty-handed? These things are all practical. The cured meat and ham are for us to eat, the chocolate and milk candy are for the children, and the donkey-hide gelatin and honey are for Grandma to nourish her body. If you don't accept them, it means you're treating me like an outsider."

These words were spoken sincerely, clearly stating the reason for gratitude while also presenting the gift as a "practical" gesture, thus reducing the recipient's psychological burden.

Wang Xiuqin felt relieved to hear this, and looking at the good things on the table, she was even more reluctant to let go. She looked at Section Chief Huo, her eyes filled with obvious anticipation.

Section Chief Huo was still somewhat hesitant. He knew, of course, that Yang Guangming's purpose in giving the gifts was simply to get him to put in more effort in his elder brother's work arrangements. But these things were indeed too valuable, and he wouldn't feel at ease accepting them.

Yang Guangming noticed his hesitation and added fuel to the fire: "Section Chief Huo, these things were brought by a friend from out of town. They didn't cost any money; they're just a small token of my appreciation. If you don't accept them, I won't feel at ease going back home. My older brother's matter still needs your help. If you don't accept them, I'll be too embarrassed to ask again."

Section Chief Huo sighed. He knew that if he didn't accept the gift today, Yang Guangming would definitely feel uneasy, and there would be some awkwardness between them regarding his elder brother's job arrangements later on. Moreover, his wife's eyes clearly showed that she wanted these things.

He hesitated for a moment, then finally relented: "Guangming, you're really... too kind. Alright, since you've said so, we'll accept the things. But this is a one-time exception. If you bring anything again next time, I'll really be angry."

Upon hearing her husband's agreement, Wang Xiuqin immediately beamed and said, "That's right, that's right, Guangming, you're so honest. Next time you come home, please don't bring anything."

Grandma Huo smiled and said to Yang Guangming, "Child, thank you, you're so kind."

Yang Guangming breathed a sigh of relief. The gift had been delivered; the first step was a success.

With that, the atmosphere in the living room became much more relaxed.

Section Chief Huo took a sip of tea and said to Yang Guangming, "Guangming, since I promised to help you with your brother's matter, I will keep it in mind. When I get to the office later, I'll first go to the Agricultural and Sideline Products Office to ask about the specific policies, and then see what positions are currently vacant."

"Thank you so much, Section Chief Huo," Yang Guangming said sincerely.

"However, I must make this clear beforehand," Section Chief Huo said solemnly. "Job assignments are not solely my decision; they also depend on the station's actual situation and staffing needs. I can only say that I will try my best to secure good positions, but I cannot guarantee that I will be assigned to the most ideal position."

"I understand, I understand." Yang Guangming nodded quickly. "I would be extremely grateful if you could put in a good word for me. As for the specific arrangements, of course, it will depend on the station's needs."

Section Chief Huo nodded, quite satisfied with Yang Guangming's sensible nature.

He then asked about Yang Guangming's basic information, such as his age, education level, physical condition, personality traits, and so on.

Yang Guangming answered one by one: "My eldest brother is twenty-three years old this year. He graduated from elementary school and his education level is not high, but he is very smart and learns things quickly. He is physically strong, tall and robust, and has great strength. He is very good at farm work. As for his personality, he is steady and reliable, hardworking, and loyal."

Commander Huo listened carefully and got a general idea of ​​what was going on.

A low level of education is a disadvantage, but good physical condition and a willingness to endure hardship can actually be advantages in the railway system, especially in entry-level positions. Many positions do not require a high level of education, but they do require good health and a strong work ethic.

"Okay, I understand," Section Chief Huo said. "When we get to the unit, I'll check things out first."

Wang Xiuqin's smile was much more genuine than before. She greeted Yang Guangming warmly, "Guangming, haven't you had breakfast yet? I'll go get you something to eat."

"No need, Auntie, I've already eaten," Yang Guangming quickly declined.

"Don't be so polite, we're already at home." Wang Xiuqin said, heading towards the kitchen.

Section Chief Huo glanced at the wall clock; it was almost eight o'clock. He said, "Xiuqin, stop busy. It's getting late. Guangming and I have to go to work."

He stood up and said to Yang Guangming, "Guangming, let's go to the train station now and get things settled as soon as possible so you can inform your older brother sooner."

"Okay, I'll do as you say." Yang Guangming also stood up.

The two said goodbye to Grandma Huo and Wang Xiuqin and left the house.

Wang Xiuqin saw him off to the gate of the courtyard, her smile never fading, and she kept saying, "Guangming, come visit us often in the future!"

As they walked out of the railway staff quarters, Section Chief Huo said to Yang Guangming, "Guangming, those things of yours... are too valuable, there's really no need for them."

Old Lin and I are classmates. Even just for his sake, I will do my best to handle your matter.

Yang Guangming smiled and said, "Section Chief Huo, don't overthink it, it's just a small token of my appreciation. My elder brother still needs your help with his affairs."

Huo Duan sighed and said nothing more. But Yang Guangming could sense that his attitude was closer than yesterday.

Having received such a generous gift, it would be unreasonable not to do something practical in return. Section Chief Huo was already planning how to approach Director Ma of the Agricultural and Sideline Products Office and how to secure a good position for him.

The two walked side by side toward the train station.

The train station is not far from the residential compound. After walking for less than ten minutes, you can see a cluster of tall buildings.

Although Pingyang County Railway Station is only a county-level station, it is located on a major transportation route and is an important hub connecting the north and south. Therefore, it is quite large and has been designated as a second-level station, which is a very high level.

The station square is spacious, and there are already many passengers queuing to buy tickets and wait to board the train.

The main building of the station is a Soviet-style building, made of red bricks, tall and solemn. The words "Pingyang Station" are displayed in large red characters on the roof, which are particularly eye-catching in the sunlight.

Instead of using the main entrance for passengers, Section Chief Huo led Yang Guangming around to the side and entered the office area through a small door.

The office area was quiet, with terrazzo floors gleaming in the breeze. Signs hung on the office doors: Station Master's Office, Secretary's Office, Dispatch Office…

Section Chief Huo led Yang Guangming to a room with a sign that read "Agricultural and Sideline Products Office" and knocked on the door.

"Come in," came the voice of a middle-aged man from inside.

Section Chief Huo pushed open the door and went in, with Yang Guangming following behind.

The office wasn't large. A desk stood by the window, behind which sat a man in his forties, wearing glasses and with a refined appearance. He was reading documents and looked up when he heard the noise.

Upon seeing Section Chief Huo, he immediately stood up, a smile spreading across his face: "Section Chief Huo, what brings you here? Please have a seat."

He looked at Yang Guangming again, somewhat puzzled. "Old Ma, busy?" Section Chief Huo greeted him with a smile, pointing to Yang Guangming, "Let me introduce you to someone. This is Yang Guangming, the deputy captain of the hunting team from Dongfang Pharmaceutical Factory, a friend of mine."

Director Ma quickly shook hands with Yang Guangming: "Hello, hello, I am Ma Wentao."

"Hello, Director Ma, I'm Yang Guangming," Yang Guangming replied politely.

The three took their seats. Director Ma poured tea for Section Chief Huo and Yang Guangming.

Section Chief Huo got straight to the point: "Old Ma, I'm here today to ask about our station's incentive policy."

Director Ma was taken aback: "Incentive policy? You mean... the one that offers job opportunities in exchange for agricultural products?"

"Yes, that's it." Section Chief Huo nodded. "Guangming's older brother has acquired two large, fat pigs in the countryside, weighing about 300 jin in total. He's wondering if he can exchange them for a quota according to the policy?"

After listening, Director Ma said seriously, "Section Chief Huo, this policy exists, but... it's quite strict. First of all, the weight requirement must be met, and there's no room for leniency."

And... as you know, the number of positions is very limited. In practice, these positions are only given out as a last resort; generally, they are not given out.

Section Chief Huo smiled, took out a cigarette from his pocket, offered one to Director Ma, lit one for himself, took a deep drag, and then slowly said:
"Old Ma, the policy was approved by the station committee, it's written in black and white. As long as the conditions are met, it should be implemented. It's true that there are limited spots, but since there's a policy, the spots that should be given should be given."

He exhaled a puff of smoke and continued, "Brother Guangming, you have no idea how much effort he put into getting these two pigs. It's so hard for country folk to move to the city. Now that we finally have an opportunity, let's lend a hand if we can."

Director Ma glanced at Section Chief Huo, then at Yang Guangming, and understood.

Section Chief Huo personally led his men here, and his words were clear; he was obviously offering to help this young man. If he hesitated any longer, he would be being ungrateful.

This incentive policy is mainly intended as a motivation; in practice, job openings certainly won't be given out easily. But since Section Chief Huo personally led the group, he didn't need to offend anyone.

Director Ma's face immediately lit up with a smile: "Section Chief Huo, you're right. Once the policy is set, it must be implemented. As long as the conditions are met, there will definitely be no problem."

He turned to Yang Guangming and asked, "Comrade Xiao Yang, are you sure your older brother's two pigs weigh three hundred jin?"

Yang Guangming nodded: "Confirmed, gross weight around 300 jin, each head around 150 jin."

“Good, good.” Director Ma nodded repeatedly. “Our policy stipulates that providing a live pig weighing over 300 jin can earn you a formal apprenticeship. Your brother’s situation just meets the standard.”

He paused, then said, "However, there are still some procedures to go through. The pigs need to be delivered, we need to inspect them, weigh them, and confirm their weight. Then, the payment also needs to be made according to the station's stipulated purchase price. This... you can accept it, right?"

Yang Guangming asked, "Director Ma, what is the purchase price?"

"It's 90 cents a pound based on gross weight," Director Ma said. "This is the price set uniformly by the station, whether it's domestic pigs or wild boars."

Yang Guangming quickly did some mental calculations.

Three hundred catties of pig, at 9 mao per catty, would be 270 yuan. But the older brother negotiated a price of one yuan per catty with the Wang family in Liushugou, so three hundred catties would be 300 yuan. In this case, he would lose 30 yuan.

But compared to a full-time job opening, the difference of thirty yuan is nothing.

“No problem, Director Ma, we can accept it.” Yang Guangming readily agreed.

Director Ma smiled and said, "That's good. When can you deliver the pigs? That way we can arrange for inspection and weighing in advance."

Yang Guangming thought for a moment and said, "Director Ma, I'll go back and make the arrangements today, and try to deliver the pigs this afternoon. Is that alright with you?"

"This afternoon?" Director Ma was somewhat surprised. "So soon?"

"There's no time to lose," Yang Guangming said with a smile. "The sooner we get it done, the sooner we can have peace of mind."

Director Ma looked at Section Chief Huo. Section Chief Huo nodded: "Old Ma, could you please make some preparations in advance and arrange for someone to conduct the inspection this afternoon?"

“Okay, no problem.” Director Ma agreed. “I’ll be waiting in my office this afternoon. Just bring the pigs over.”

With the matter settled, a huge weight was lifted off Yang Guangming's shoulders.

After chatting with Director Ma for a few more minutes, Section Chief Huo got up to take his leave.

As they left the agricultural and sideline products office, Section Chief Huo said to Yang Guangming, "Guangming, you go ahead and get busy. Hurry up and go back to make arrangements. I'll ask around later to see what positions are available and try my best to get a good job for your older brother."

"Thank you so much, Section Chief Huo," Yang Guangming said sincerely.

"Don't mention it." Section Chief Huo waved his hand. "Go on your way, and be careful on the road."

Yang Guangming thanked him again and turned to leave the train station office area.

As he walked out of the train station, he checked the time; it was almost nine o'clock.

We need to hurry back to the village.

It's over 20 li (about 10 kilometers) from the county town to Xiangyang Village, which takes more than two hours to walk. Time is a bit tight.

He was pondering how to get back quickly when he suddenly remembered that there was a bicycle parked outside Director Ma's office; it was probably Director Ma's personal bicycle.

Perhaps... I could borrow it?
The journey was quite long and time was tight, so he decided to swallow his pride and ask anyway.

Yang Guangming hesitated for a moment, but still turned around and went back to the agricultural and sideline products office.

Director Ma was puzzled when he saw him return: "Xiao Yang, is there something else?"

Yang Guangming said somewhat embarrassedly, "Director Ma, there's something I'd like to trouble you with. My journey back to the village is quite far, and walking takes too much time. I'm worried I'll be late delivering the pigs this afternoon."

"Excuse me... could I borrow your bicycle for a moment? I'll return it to you this afternoon when I deliver the pigs."

Director Ma hesitated for a moment, glanced at Yang Guangming, and then, remembering Section Chief Huo's attitude towards him, readily agreed: "Okay, no problem. The bicycle is right outside the door, here's the key."

As he spoke, he took a car key out of the drawer and handed it to Yang Guangming.

"Thank you so much, Director Ma!" Yang Guangming took the keys, feeling extremely grateful. With the bicycle, the round trip would be much faster.

"Go quickly and come back soon, be careful on the road," Director Ma instructed.

"Oh, don't worry."

Yang Guangming took his keys and walked out of the office, finding the Forever brand bicycle by the door. The bicycle was well-maintained; although the paint was a bit old, it was very clean, and the chain was oiled.

He unlocked the car, pushed the bicycle out of the train station.

Riding a bicycle feels completely different. With the two wheels spinning, the speed is several times faster than walking. The spring breeze on my face carries the fresh scent of earth and flowers, invigorating me.

Yang Guangming pedaled his bicycle along the familiar dirt road, speeding towards Yangcun Village.

The wheels rolled over the road, raising a fine cloud of dust.

Yang Guangming was pondering how to make arrangements upon returning to the village.

First, we need to find the eldest brother and tell him the good news. Then we need to go to Willow Gully and buy the two pigs. Next, we need to arrange transportation to get the pigs to the train station.

Time is tight, we need to hurry.

He pedaled harder, making the bicycle go even faster.

In less than an hour, the outline of Xiangyang Village came into view.

Around nine o'clock in the morning, most of the able-bodied people in the village had already gone to work in the fields. The village was very quiet, with only some elderly people and children at home.

Several elderly women who were sunbathing in front of their houses looked at Yang Guangming with surprise when they saw him riding back on a brand-new bicycle.

"Guangming? Why are you riding a bicycle? Whose bike is this?" an old lady asked.

Yang Guangming stopped the car and replied with a smile, "Auntie, this is borrowed from a colleague at the factory. I came back to take care of some things."

"Oh, you city people are really something, you all have bicycles," the old lady said enviously.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Yang Guangming rode his bicycle home.

The front door is locked; everyone in the family must have gone to work.

Yang Guangming rode his bicycle directly to the brigade headquarters.

The brigade headquarters was located in the center of the village, consisting of a row of relatively neat brick and tile bungalows. As Yang Guangming walked to the door, he happened to see his second uncle, Yang Siyuan, coming out from inside.

"Second Uncle," Yang Guangming greeted.

Yang Siyuan was somewhat surprised to see Yang Guangming: "Guangming? Why are you back? Aren't you at work today?"

"I'm back to take care of some things," Yang Guangming said. "Is Secretary Xiang here?"

"He's in his office." Yang Siyuan pointed inside. "You need to see him about something?"

"Well, I need the village's help with something," Yang Guangming said.

Yang Siyuan didn't ask any further questions and said, "Then you can go in. I still have some accounts to settle."

Yang Guangming nodded and walked into the brigade headquarters.

The Party Secretary's office was in the innermost room. The door was open, and Xiang Fugen was sitting behind his desk reading a newspaper, holding an enamel mug and slowly sipping tea.

Yang Guangming knocked on the door: "Secretary Xiang."

Xiang Fugen looked up and saw Yang Guangming. A smile appeared on his face: "Guangming? Come in, come in! What brings you back today?"

Yang Guangming walked into the office and sat down in the chair opposite Xiang Fugen.

"Secretary Xiang, there's something I'd like to ask you for a favor," Yang Guangming said, getting straight to the point.

"What is it? Tell me." Xiang Fugen put down his enamel mug, very warmly. Yang Guangming was now a cadre at Dongfang Pharmaceutical Factory, and in Xiang Fugen's eyes, he was someone he needed to cultivate a good relationship with.

Yang Guangming organized his thoughts and said, "It's like this, our factory purchased some agricultural products from Liushugou. We were originally going to arrange for a truck to pick them up, but today the truck went to another place at the last minute."

The purchasing department asked me to do them a favor and see if I could find a horse-drawn cart in the village to haul the goods back.

He paused, observing Xiang Fugen's expression: "I was thinking that since there are horse-drawn carriages in our village, I came back to ask if we could borrow one. Of course, it can't be used for free; the factory will cover the necessary fees."

Xiang Fugen listened, and a thoughtful expression appeared on his face.

Using the village's horse-drawn carts to haul goods for the factory is no big deal. Besides, Yang Guang made it clear that the factory would pay for it, so there's even less of a problem.

He readily nodded: "Sure, why not? The village's horse-drawn cart is free today, you can use it."

"That's great, thank you Secretary Xiang," Yang Guangming said quickly.

Xiang Fugen waved his hand: "Don't mention it. It's a good thing that our village can help your factory. In the future, if there are any good things, please think of the village more often."

“That’s for sure,” Yang Guangming said with a smile.

He thought for a moment and then said, "Secretary Xiang, I'll have to trouble you to make an announcement over the loudspeaker to call my dad, my eldest brother, and my third brother back. We need manpower to move things, and all three of them need to go together."

Xiang Fugen was taken aback: "Are three people enough? Should we call two more?"

He thought that the amount of "agricultural and sideline products" Yang Guangming mentioned was quite large, and that three people might not be able to move them all.

Moreover, by hiring two more people, he could get a bigger share of the "benefits"—subconsciously, he felt that since the factory was paying him, Yang Guangming would definitely not let anyone help for free and would probably give him some wages.

Yang Guangming clearly understood what Fu Gen meant, but he didn't want to make a big fuss, so he said, "That's enough, three people are enough. There's not much stuff, just some odds and ends. The main thing is that someone needs to go back and forth with the carriage."

Seeing that Yang Guangming had said this, Xiang Fugen stopped insisting.

He walked to the loudspeaker by the wall, turned it on, and shouted into the microphone: "Hello, hello, all commune members, pay attention. Yang Xiuyuan, Yang Ximing, Yang Yuming, come to the brigade headquarters immediately after hearing this broadcast. I'm telling you again, Yang Xiuyuan, Yang Ximing, Yang Yuming, come to the brigade headquarters immediately after hearing this broadcast."

The broadcast echoed throughout the village via loudspeakers, reverberating across the fields.

Yang Guangming sat in his office, chatting with Xiang Fugen, waiting for his father, brothers and sisters to arrive.

Xiang Fugen was a good conversationalist, asking many questions about the factory and inquiring about news in the county. Yang Guangming shared what he could, and the atmosphere was very harmonious.

About twenty minutes later, hurried footsteps could be heard outside.

Yang Ximing was the first to rush in, his face filled with anxiety and confusion: "Guangming? Why are you back? What happened?"

Immediately afterward, Yang Xiuyuan and Yang Yuming also walked in. Both of them looked equally puzzled when they saw Yang Yuming.

Yang Guangming stood up and said to Xiang Fugen, "Secretary Xiang, we'll head over now. The carriage..."

"The carriage is in the livestock shed in the backyard. Just have Yuming hitch it up. Any tools you need are available in the shed."

"Okay, thank you, Secretary Xiang." Yang Guangming thanked him again, then winked at his father and elder brother, "Dad, elder brother, let's go home first, and I'll explain everything to you in detail."

Although Yang Xiuyuan and Yang Ximing were full of doubts, seeing Yang Guangming's calm demeanor, they knew it couldn't be a bad thing, so they nodded and followed Yang Guangming out of the brigade headquarters.

Yang Yuming obediently ran to the backyard to get the carriage ready.

The three of them left the brigade headquarters and walked home along the dirt road in the village.

On the way, Yang Ximing couldn't help but ask, "Guangming, what's going on? The radio called us back, is there some news from your side?"

Yang Guangming glanced around to make sure no one was watching before lowering his voice and saying, "Brother, your mission is accomplished."

"It's done?" Yang Ximing was stunned, then his eyes widened suddenly. "Really? Which factory?"

“Railway system,” Yang Guangming uttered.

Yang Ximing froze, stopped in his tracks, and stared at Yang Guangming in disbelief: "Railway...the railway system? Really?"

Yang Xiuyuan also stopped in his tracks, a look of shock on his face: "Guangming, explain yourself, what happened?"

Yang Guangming pulled the two of them to a big tree by the roadside and briefly recounted the events of yesterday's dinner, emphasizing that Section Chief Huo had agreed to help and that he had confirmed the policy at the Agricultural and Sideline Products Office at the train station this morning.

"The policy has now been confirmed. As long as we deliver those two 300-pound pigs to the agricultural and sideline products office at the train station and they pass inspection, we can exchange them for a formal apprenticeship," Yang Guangming concluded.

Yang Ximing's breathing quickened, his face flushed, and his fists clenched involuntarily. He never dreamed that the opportunity would come so quickly, and so well!
The railway system! That was a place he never even dared to dream of before!

Yang Xiuyuan was also very excited, but being older and more composed, he asked, "Guangming, is this... reliable? Will there be any unexpected changes?"

"Dad, don't worry, it's reliable," Yang Guangming said confidently. "Section Chief Huo is the head of the locomotive depot at the railway station, a powerful figure. Director Ma of the Agricultural and Sideline Products Office also personally confirmed the policy. As long as the pigs are delivered and meet the weight requirements, there will definitely be no problem with the quota."

Yang Xiuyuan nodded in relief, a smile of satisfaction spreading across his face: "Good, good, that's great! Ximing, you've really caught a good opportunity this time!"

Yang Ximing was so excited that he couldn't speak, he could only nod vigorously.

Yang Guangming checked the time and said, "Dad, brother, it's getting late. We need to hurry. Let's go home to get the money first, then go to Liushugou to buy the pig, and we have to deliver it to the train station this afternoon."

"Yes, yes, hurry up!" Yang Ximing realized and quickly said.

The three quickened their pace and headed home.

Once inside the house, Yang Guangming asked, "Dad, is the five hundred yuan we paid as compensation last time still at home?"

“Yes, it’s locked in the box,” Yang Xiuyuan said. “I’ll go get it right now.”

He strode into the inner room, opened an old wooden box, and took out a handkerchief bag from the bottom, inside which was the five hundred yuan compensation that the Qin family had given him last time.

Yang Guangming took the money and counted out 350 yuan. Buying pigs would cost a little over 300 yuan, so he brought an extra 50 yuan just in case.

He tucked the money into his pocket and said to his father and elder brother, "We've brought enough money. Let's go to the village entrance now and wait for Yuming. Once the carriage is harnessed, we'll head straight to Willow Tree Gully."

Yang Xiuyuan and Yang Ximing nodded, Yang Guangming pushed his bicycle, and the three of them walked out of the house together.

Just as they arrived at the village entrance, they saw Yang Yuming driving a horse-drawn carriage towards them.

The cart was a common type of handcart in the village, with two rubber wheels and some dry grass spread on the flatbed. It was pulled by an old horse, moving slowly.

Upon seeing the three of them, Yang Yuming excitedly asked, "Second Brother, where are we going? What good stuff are we getting?"

Yang Guangming rode his bicycle and said to his father and elder brother, "Dad, elder brother, you two get on the bike, I'll tell you all about it on the way."

Yang Xiuyuan and Yang Ximing also got into the car.

Yang Yuming cracked his whip, and the old horse strode forward, the carriage swaying and wobbling out of the village.

Once they left the village and got onto the dirt road, Yang Guangming recounted the whole story to his third brother in detail once again.

Upon hearing this, Yang Yuming was so excited he almost jumped off the platform: "My God! The railway system! Brother, you're going to be a railway worker? That's awesome!"

Yang Xiuyuan's face was also full of smiles, but he did not forget to tell Yang Ximing: "Ximing, this opportunity is rare, and your brother got it for you. After you join the company, you must work hard and not let your brother down."

"Dad, don't worry, I will definitely do my best!" Yang Ximing solemnly promised, his face filled with unprecedented determination and anticipation.

Looking at his older brother, Yang Guangming felt very gratified.

The carriage bumped and creaked along the dirt road. The fields on either side receded into the distance, and the western mountains stood out clearly in the sunlight. (End of Chapter)