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

When the father and his three sons arrived at the entrance of Liushugou Village, it was already past ten in the morning.

Yang Ming stopped his bicycle, and Yang Yuming also pulled on the reins of the carriage. The old horse, panting heavily, took a few steps in place.

"Brother, you go in alone." Yang Guangming was more thoughtful. "The three of us will wait at the village entrance. If we all go in, it will be too crowded and noisy, which will be bad."

Yang Ximing nodded: "Yes, this matter with the Wang family must be handled secretly, and the villagers must not know about it."

He jumped off the carriage, straightened his clothes, and headed towards the village.

Yang Xiuyuan, Yang Guangming, and Yang Yuming stayed at the village entrance. Yang Guangming leaned his bicycle against a big tree, and Yang Yuming drove the horse-drawn carriage to the shade of a tree by the roadside, unharnessed the old horse, and let it rest.

The three of them found a shady spot to sit down and wait.

Liushugou Village is smaller than Xiangyang Village, and the houses are more dilapidated. At the entrance of the village, there are several old willow trees, their branches already sprouting tender buds, swaying gently in the spring breeze.

A few barks of dogs and the sounds of children playing could be heard in the distance.

Yang Guangming glanced at his father. Yang Xiuyuan sat on a rock, took out his pipe, slowly filled it with tobacco, lit it with a match, and took a deep drag.

Smoke rose into the air.

"Dad, do you think this can work out?" Yang Yuming asked.

Yang Yuming felt that things were too simple, like a dream, and he couldn't quite believe it.

Yang Xiuyuan exhaled a puff of smoke and slowly said, "It would be best if it succeeded, but it's not a big deal if it didn't. Your elder brother has the intention, so let him give it a try. Our family has the means to do so now and can afford the losses."

That's very true. With that 500 yuan compensation, the family certainly had the confidence to try and make a mistake.

Yang Yuming leaned closer to Yang Guangming and lowered his voice: "Second brother, if eldest brother really gets into the railway system, will he be a city dweller like you?"

"Of course," Yang Guangming said with a smile. "The railway system is a central government-affiliated unit, and the employees receive government-subsidized grain rations, so they also have job security after retirement."

Yang Yuming's eyes were full of envy: "That's great... Second Brother, do you think I'll have a chance in the future?"

"You're still young, what's the rush?" Yang Guangming patted his younger brother's shoulder. "First, work hard with Dad to earn work points. There will be plenty of opportunities in the future. Whenever there's an opportunity, I'll definitely think of you."

The three of them talked, and time passed by, minute by minute.

About half an hour later, three figures appeared at the village entrance.

Yang Ximing returned, accompanied by a man in his fifties, dark-skinned and thin. A young man followed, carrying a large scale and a bundle of hemp rope.

Yang Guangming and the other two quickly stood up to greet them.

“Dad, Guangming, Yuming, this is Uncle Wang.” Yang Ximing introduced, “Uncle Wang, this is my dad, this is my second brother Guangming, and this is my third brother Yuming.”

The commune member surnamed Wang smiled somewhat awkwardly and nodded as a greeting. His eyes were small, and his gaze was shifty, making him appear a little nervous. He kept glancing around, as if afraid of being seen.

This member of the commune was secretly raising two pigs. If he were discovered and reported, the problem would be very serious.

"Hello, Uncle Wang," Yang Guangming greeted him politely. "I'm sorry to have troubled you."

“No trouble at all, no trouble at all…” the commune member surnamed Wang said in a very soft voice, “Let’s… let’s hurry up and not let anyone see us.”

"Yes, hurry up." Yang Ximing asked, "Uncle Wang, are the pigs still in the mountains? Which way do you think we should go?"

“In the mountains, you have to walk a while ahead.” The commune member surnamed Wang pointed to the mountains to the west. “The horse-drawn carriage can only go as far as the foot of the mountain. Once inside, you have to be carried by people.”

Yang Guangming looked at the large scale. It was the kind of two-person scale commonly seen in rural areas. The scale beam was as thick as a wrist, and the weight was made of cast iron. It looked very heavy.

"Let's go," Yang Xiuyuan said. "The sooner we go, the sooner we'll be back."

A member of the commune surnamed Wang and his son walked in front carrying a large scale, while Yang Guangming and his three sons followed behind.

Leaving the village, we walked onto a narrow mountain path. The path was narrow, with weeds and bushes on both sides.

After walking for about half an hour, the path became increasingly steep, and the carriage could no longer proceed.

“Dad, you stay here and watch the carriage,” Yang Guangming said. “The rest of us can go up.”

Yang Xiuyuan glanced at the terrain and nodded: "Okay, I'll wait here. Be careful when you're carrying the pig."

"Understood, Dad."

Yang Guangming, Yang Ximing, Yang Yuming, along with a father and son surnamed Wang, continued walking into the mountains.

After walking for nearly a mile, a ravine appeared ahead. The ravine was very well hidden, surrounded by bushes and thorns, and could not be seen at all without careful observation.

“Right there,” the commune member surnamed Wang pointed to the depths of the mountain valley.

Pushing aside the thorns, a cave came into view. The entrance was small and camouflaged with branches and thatch.

The son of a member of the commune surnamed Wang stepped forward, removed the disguise from the hole, and a strong smell of pig manure wafted out.

The cave was very dark, and faint humming sounds could be heard.

A member of the commune surnamed Wang lit a kerosene lamp, carried it, and went into the cave. Yang Guangming and the others followed him in.

The cave wasn't big, only about ten square meters. In the corner, there was a pigpen made of stones, where two fat pigs were lying. Hearing the noise, they raised their heads alertly.

Under the light of the kerosene lamp, it was clear that the two pigs were indeed well-fed. Their coats were shiny, and they were plump and strong, each weighing about 150 pounds.

“These are the two,” said a member of the commune surnamed Wang. “I’ve been secretly raising them for over a year, being very careful to avoid being discovered. But even so, it’s getting hard to hide them.”

Yang Guangming examined it carefully. The pig was indeed a good pig, but in this era, raising pigs privately was too risky. It was quite an achievement that the Wang family had managed to raise them to such a large size without being discovered.

"Uncle Wang, shall we begin?" Yang Ximing said.

"Okay, let's start."

A member of the commune surnamed Wang brought out hemp rope from outside, and several people worked together to drive the two pigs out of the pigpen.

The pig was clearly not used to being handled, struggling desperately and squealing sharply. Fortunately, the place was secluded, so there was no need to worry about being heard.

It took a lot of effort to tie the four legs of the two pigs together. The pigs lay on the ground, still wriggling and grunting in protest.

“Let’s carry it,” said the commune member surnamed Wang.

Five people worked together, with two people carrying each pig and the remaining person taking turns. Yang Guangming and Yang Ximing carried one pig, the commune member surnamed Wang and his son carried the other, and Yang Yuming followed behind for the time being.

Carrying a pig weighing over 100 pounds along a mountain path is definitely not an easy task.

The pigs continued to struggle, making the carrying even more difficult. The mountain path was rugged, with loose stones and weeds underfoot, making each step a struggle.

They hadn't walked far when they were all sweating profusely and panting heavily.

Yang Ximing gritted his teeth, his shoulders aching from the weight of the carrying pole. But he couldn't let up; if he did, the pig would fall and might escape.

Yang Guangming was also struggling, but his body had been strengthened over this period of time, and his physique had improved a lot. He could still persevere and did not feel very tired. He took each step very steadily.

The father and son, surnamed Wang, were clearly used to carrying things from the mountains. Although they were also tired, they were more relaxed than the Yang Guangming brothers.

It took nearly an hour, with many stops along the way, to finally carry the two pigs to where the carriage was parked.

When Yang Xiuyuan saw them return, he quickly came to greet them and help them.

The two pigs were put on the ground, and the group of people were exhausted. They sat on the ground panting heavily, their clothes soaked with sweat.

Yang Ximing wiped the sweat from his face and laughed, "That's really heavy!"

After resting for a while, a member of the commune surnamed Wang said, "Let's weigh them while the pigs are still behaving themselves."

He took the large scale from his son, and with the help of Yang Guangming and Yang Ximing, they hung the scale hook on a rope tied to a pig.

A member surnamed Wang and his son lifted the scale beam, while Yang Ximing moved the weight.

The scale gradually balanced.

"One hundred and sixty-two jin!" Yang Ximing shouted.

“Okay, I’ll write it down,” Yang Guangming said.

Next, we called the second pig.

"One hundred and fifty-three jin!"

The two pigs together weighed 315 jin (approximately 157.5 catties). That's 15 jin (approximately 75 kg) more than the expected 300 jin (approximately 150 catties).

Yang Guangming felt relieved. This weight would definitely be enough to secure an apprenticeship in the railway system.

"Uncle Wang, it's 315 jin. According to our agreement, it's one yuan per jin, so it's 315 yuan," Yang Ximing said.

The commune member surnamed Wang nodded, his face showing a mixture of anticipation and nervousness.

Yang Guangming looked at his father. Yang Xiuyuan took out a handkerchief pouch from his pocket, opened it, and inside was a stack of money.

He counted out 315 yuan and handed it to the commune member surnamed Wang: "Brother Wang, please count it."

The commune member surnamed Wang took the money, his hands trembling slightly. He licked his lips and began counting the bills one by one.

The cave was quiet, except for the soft rustling sound of counting money.

He counted it once, then again. The commune member surnamed Wang looked up, a smile spreading across his face: "That's right, three hundred and fifteen, just right."

He carefully wrapped the money, put it in the innermost pocket of his pocket, and pressed it down to make sure it was safe.

The transaction was completed, and both parties breathed a sigh of relief.

"Uncle Wang, thank you," Yang Guangming said. "This matter... you know, can't be told to anyone."

“I understand, I understand.” The commune member surnamed Wang nodded repeatedly. “Don’t worry, I won’t say a word. If this gets out, it won’t do me any good, and I’ll definitely be punished.”

He paused, then added, "Take the pig away, and we'll pretend we never saw it."

"Understood," Yang Ximing said. "Uncle Wang, we'll be going now."

"Okay, okay, be careful on the road."

A member of the commune surnamed Wang and his son helped lift the two pigs onto the cart. The pigs were tied up tightly and lay on the cart floor, still grunting.

Yang Guangming took the bicycle down from the tree and pushed it to the side of the road.

“Dad, you should go back to the village,” Yang Guangming said to his father. “The three of us can go to the train station.”

Yang Xiuyuan looked at his three sons and nodded: "Alright, I'll head back now. Be careful on your journey, and when you get to the train station, speak politely and get things done."

"Don't worry," Yang Guangming said. "When we get back to the village, if anyone asks, just say we were helping the factory haul goods, as we agreed before."

“I know,” Yang Xiuyuan said, “I won’t let it slip.”

Yang Guangming added, "If anyone asks about the wages, just say you don't know and wait until your brother gets back. He can give the village two yuan then, that should be enough, right?"

Yang Xiuyuan thought for a moment and said, "That's enough. One yuan is usually enough for one use of the carriage. Two yuan will definitely be enough for the village."

"That's good."

Yang Xiuyuan looked at his eldest son again, hesitated, and finally just patted him on the shoulder: "Ximing, when you get there, take good care of the formalities."

"Dad, don't worry," Yang Ximing said solemnly.

Yang Xiuyuan said no more and turned to walk back towards the village. He walked slowly, his back looking somewhat aged in the spring sunshine, but his steps were steady.

As Yang Guangming watched his father's retreating figure, a complex mix of emotions welled up within him. This taciturn man had toiled for this family his entire life, and now he finally saw his sons achieve success.

"Let's go," Yang Guangming said to his two brothers, turning his gaze away.

Yang Ximing got into the carriage and picked up the whip. Yang Yuming climbed onto the carriage platform and sat next to the two pigs, keeping watch to prevent the ropes from coming loose.

Yang Guangming rode his bicycle.

The carriage swayed and started moving, with Yang Guangming riding alongside on his bicycle.

When they returned to the entrance of Liushugou Village, the Wang family, father and son, had already gone back to the village. The village entrance was deserted, with only a few old willow trees swaying in the wind.

The carriage did not stop and headed straight towards the county town.

It's more than 20 li (about 10 kilometers) from Liushugou to the county town. The horse-drawn carriage is slow, so it's estimated to take more than two hours.

The dirt road was bumpy, and the pigs on the cart occasionally grunted. Yang Yuming gripped the rope binding the pigs tightly, afraid they would break free.

Yang Guangming rode his bicycle, but he couldn't go too fast; he had to keep up with the pace of the horse-drawn carriage.

The spring sun is getting stronger and stronger, making people feel hot.

Yang Ximing drove the cart, his face brimming with barely suppressed excitement and anticipation. He would glance back every now and then at the pigs on the cart, then back at the road ahead, his eyes burning with anticipation.

"Brother, don't worry, there's still time," Yang Guangming said, noticing his brother's urgency.

"I know," Yang Ximing said with a smile, "It's just... I just can't calm my mind. Guangming, do you think this can really work out?"

“It will work,” Yang Guangming said confidently. “Section Chief Huo personally agreed, and Director Ma of the Agricultural and Sideline Products Office also confirmed the policy. As long as the pigs are delivered and meet the weight requirements, there will definitely be no problem with the quota.”

"That's good, that's good..." Yang Ximing murmured, gently waving the whip in his hand.

The carriage traveled a little further when Yang Yuming suddenly said, "Big brother, second brother, I'm hungry..."

It was already noon, and everyone was starving.

Yang Guangming looked around; there was no village or shop in sight, and nowhere to eat.

"Bear with it," Yang Guangming said. "Once we get to the county town and finish our business, I'll treat you to a meal at a restaurant."

"Really?" Yang Yuming's eyes lit up. "I haven't eaten in the county town yet!"

“Really.” Yang Guangming laughed. “Let’s celebrate with our older brother today and have a good meal.”

"Great!" Yang Yuming exclaimed excitedly, and his stomach no longer seemed so hungry.

Yang Ximing said, "Guangming, don't spend money, just eat whatever you like."

“Brother, listen to me on this,” Yang Guangming said. “Today is a good day, worth celebrating.”

The carriage continued on its way, its wheels creaking and groaning as they rolled across the road. In the distance, the long, distant whistle of a train drifted by.

Those are trains arriving and departing from Pingyang Station.

Upon hearing this sound, Yang Ximing perked up and his movements became more brisk as he drove the carriage.

In the afternoon, the three finally saw the outline of the county town.

The closer you get to the county town, the more pedestrians and vehicles there are on the road. Many people cast curious glances at the two fat pigs that are tightly bound on the horse-drawn cart.

Yang Guangming rode his bicycle ahead, leading the carriage toward the train station.

The train station is located in the southeast corner of the county town, some distance from the main street. The closer you get to the train station, the more orderly the buildings on both sides of the road become, mostly single-story or two-story buildings made of red bricks.

At 2:30 p.m., the three of them finally arrived at the train station.

The square in front of the train station was spacious, and since it was the afternoon with fewer trains, there weren't many people in the square. A few passengers were resting on benches, and some vendors were selling tea and melon seeds.

Yang Guangming led the carriage around to the side and arrived at the small door of the office area.

There was a guard on duty in the gatehouse. He came out in surprise when he saw the horse-drawn cart bringing pigs.

"Comrades, what are you doing...?"

"Master, we're here to see Director Ma from the Agricultural and Sideline Products Office," Yang Guangming said politely as he got off his bicycle. "We arranged to have live pigs delivered this morning."

The gatekeeper glanced at the pig on the carriage, then at Yang Guangming, and said, "Wait a minute, let me make a phone call and ask."

He returned to the guardhouse and made a phone call.

Yang Guangming, Yang Ximing, Yang Yuming, and others were waiting outside the door. Two pigs were squirming restlessly in the truck, making grunting noises.

After a while, the gatekeeper came out and said, "Director Ma said that you can go straight in and drive the carriage to the courtyard in front of the office building."

"Thank you, master."

Yang Guangming pushed his bicycle, and Yang Ximing drove the horse-drawn carriage; the three of them entered the railway station's office area.

The office area was quiet, and the courtyard, with its cement surface, was very clean. A three-story Soviet-style office building stood in the center of the courtyard.

Yang Guangming had just parked his bicycle in front of the building and was about to go inside to find Director Ma when he saw Director Ma leading two people as they jogged out of the building.

"Comrade Xiaoyang, you've finally arrived!" Director Ma called out from afar, his face showing an anxious expression.

He was clearly more concerned about the two pigs and didn't even notice the bicycle that Yang Guangming had returned.

Yang Guangming greeted him, "Director Ma, I'm sorry I was delayed on the way. I've returned the bicycle to you; would you like to take a look at it?"

Director Ma waved his hand: "The bicycle isn't in a hurry, but where's the pig? Where's the pig?"

"In the carriage." Yang Guangming pointed to the carriage.

Director Ma strode to the carriage, looked at the two pigs on it, and smiled: "Good, good, they look quite good. Come on, weigh them quickly!"

The two people he brought were probably staff members from the agricultural and sideline products office; one was carrying a notebook and pen, and the other was carrying a small platform scale.

This platform scale is more accurate and easier to use than the traditional rural lifting scales.

"Let's bring the pig down," Director Ma said.

The three Yang brothers, along with two staff members brought by Director Ma, worked together to lift the two pigs off the carriage.

The pig was tied up, which made it easier to lift, but it was still heavy. It took several people a lot of effort to lift the pig to the platform scale.

Weighing begins.

The first pig was lifted onto the scale, the pointer wobbled a few times, and then stopped at a number.

"One hundred and fifty-eight jin!" the staff member announced.

It was 4 jin less than the 162 jin it weighed in Liushugou.

The second pig was carried up.

"One hundred and fifty-two jin!"

It's one pound less than the previous 153 pounds.

The two pigs together weighed 310 jin (approximately 150 kg). This is 5 jin (approximately 2.5 catties) less than the 315 jin (approximately 150 kg) weighed at Liushugou.

This difference is reasonable. The pig urinated along the way, and different scales can have errors. Three hundred and ten jin is more than enough to meet the requirement of three hundred jin.

Director Ma was clearly satisfied and said to the staff, "Write it down, gross weight 310 jin. At 9 mao per jin, that's 279 yuan."

He turned to Yang Guangming: "Comrade Xiao Yang, this weight meets the policy requirements. You two carry the pig to the temporary pigpen in the back first, and then come with me to complete the formalities."

A huge weight was lifted off Yang Guangming's shoulders. The most crucial step had been completed.

"Thank you, Director Ma," Yang Guangming said. "My eldest brother and third brother will go with you to complete the formalities. I have other things to take care of."

Director Ma was taken aback: "Is there anything else?"

“I need to go to Section Chief Huo’s office,” Yang Guangming said. “I’d like to hear Section Chief Huo’s opinion about my older brother’s job and see what arrangements he has in mind.”

Director Ma understood and nodded: "Okay, go ahead. Section Chief Huo's office is on the second floor at the far east end; there's a sign on the door."

He then said to Yang Ximing and Yang Yuming, "You two come with me. First, settle the pigs in place, then go to the finance department to collect the money."

Yang Ximing was a little nervous and looked at Yang Guangming. Yang Guangming nodded to him: "Big brother, you go with Director Ma and just follow the procedures. Yuming, you stay with big brother."

“Okay,” Yang Yuming replied.

Yang Guangming then said to Director Ma, "Director Ma, my elder brother is from the countryside and doesn't know much about the rules in the city. Please take care of him."

"Don't worry, I will definitely handle the task that Section Chief Huo assigned me," Director Ma said with a smile.

With clear division of labor, Yang Guangming turned and walked into the office building.

The office building was quiet. Yang Guangming went up to the second floor and found the office at the far east end. A sign on the door read: "Office of the Locomotive Depot Chief".

He straightened his clothes and knocked on the door. "Come in," came the voice of Section Chief Huo from inside.

Sunshine Ming pushed open the door and went in.

Section Chief Huo's office was much larger than Director Ma's. There was a large desk by the window, and behind the desk was a row of bookshelves filled with documents and books.

Section Chief Huo was sitting behind his desk reading documents when he heard the noise and looked up. Seeing it was Yang Guangming, a smile spread across his face.

"The light has arrived? Sit down." Section Chief Huo pointed to the chair in front of his desk.

Yang Guangming sat down in the chair, and Section Chief Huo got up to make him a cup of tea.

The tea was ordinary jasmine tea, but in those days, being able to drink tea anytime was a privilege reserved for leaders.

"The pigs have been delivered?" Section Chief Huo asked.

"It's been delivered. We just weighed it; it's 310 jin (150 kg), which meets the requirements," Yang Guangming said.

Section Chief Huo nodded: "That's good. Director Ma will handle it according to procedure. Your brother's job position is now secured."

He paused, picked up his teacup, took a sip, and continued, "However, Guangming, there's something I need to make clear to you. There are job openings, but you generally don't get to choose which position you're assigned to; it depends on the station's actual situation. I've tried my best, but that's all I can do within this framework."

Yang Guangming sat up straight: "Chief Huo, please speak."

"There aren't many positions available at the station right now," said Section Chief Huo. "There are mainly two: freight loading and unloading workers and road maintenance workers. Both of these are entry-level positions, and the work is quite demanding."

He looked at Yang Guangming: "If it's a normal assignment, your older brother will most likely be assigned to freight loading and unloading. This position is the most physically demanding, and it involves three shifts with irregular hours."

Yang Guangming's heart sank. Being a stevedore was indeed hard work, and there was little prospect of advancement.

"Where are the road maintenance workers?" he asked.

“The job is a bit better. The main job is to maintain the railway lines. The working environment is outdoors, but there is no need for three shifts,” said Section Chief Huo. “However, this position is also in high demand now. In general, this kind of award quota will not be assigned to this position.”

He put down his teacup, leaned forward, and said in a low voice, "Guangming, to be honest with you, I'm not very satisfied with either of these positions. Your older brother is young, strong, and ambitious; he shouldn't spend his whole life doing this kind of purely physical labor."

Yang Guangming was deeply moved. It was clear that Commander Huo was genuinely concerned for his elder brother.

"Commander Huo, is there... any other possibility?" he asked tentatively.

Section Chief Huo pondered for a moment and said, "I've been thinking about this all day. The staffing of all departments at our train station is very tight, and the better departments are not short of people. I've been asking around for a long time and finally found an opportunity."

He paused, looking at Yang Guangming: "The railway police station recently transferred one person, which freed up a police officer's position."

Sunlight brightened his eyes.

Railway police officers! This is so much better than being a loader or track maintenance worker!

Police work is respectable, with high social status and opportunities for advancement. Although it's also a grassroots position, its nature is completely different.

"The police station is keeping a close eye on this staffing situation."

I knew it would be difficult to get in. But I've worked in the railway system for so many years, I still have some influence. This morning, I specifically went to see Director Fan and talked to him for a long time.”

Section Chief Huo paused for a moment, then continued, "Director Fan was initially reluctant, saying that they would have a use for this position."

Later, after much persuasion, including explaining policies and appealing to personal relationships, I finally managed to convince him.

As long as he doesn't object, it's just a matter of giving a heads-up to the leadership, and that's it.

Section Chief Huo smiled and said, "Of course, I also did a considerable favor. But I think it was worth it. According to what you said, your older brother's physique is perfect for being a railway police officer."

Yang Guangming expressed his gratitude earnestly: "Section Chief Huo, thank you so much! I... I really don't know what to say..."

He was genuinely grateful.

Section Chief Huo not only kept his promise, but also went to great lengths to secure such a good position for his elder brother.

"Sit down, sit down." Section Chief Huo waved his hand. "After hearing your introduction, I think your older brother is a good fit. If he wasn't physically fit or his personality wasn't right, I wouldn't have bothered with this."

He said seriously, "But Guangming, I have to say this first. The requirements for the police officer position are higher than those for a loader or road maintenance worker. Not only do you need to be physically strong, but you also need to be quick-witted, know the rules, and be good at handling things. You need to make it clear to your older brother that once he joins the unit, he must do a good job and not let me down."

"Don't worry!" Yang Guangming said solemnly, "Although my elder brother is not highly educated, he is smart, willing to learn, and understands human relationships. He will definitely cherish this opportunity, work hard, and not let you down."

Section Chief Huo nodded: "That's good. After the onboarding procedures are completed, I'll take your older brother to meet Chief Fan so he can make an impression. He'll inevitably have to deal with Chief Fan a lot when he works at the police station."

"Thank you so much!" Yang Guangming said again.

Huo Duanzhang accepted Yang Guangming's gratitude without hesitation. He had indeed done his best, and he was worthy of the gifts Yang Guangming had given him, as well as the favor he had done.

"Let's go." Section Chief Huo stood up. "Let's go to the Agricultural and Sideline Products Office and see how your brother's paperwork is going. Old Ma is a slowpoke; I have to urge him on."

The two left the office and went to the agricultural and sideline products office on the first floor.

When they pushed open the door, Director Ma was giving Yang Ximing some instructions. Yang Ximing and Yang Yuming stood in front of the desk, listening attentively.

Upon seeing Section Chief Huo enter, Director Ma quickly stood up: "Section Chief Huo, what brings you here?"

"Come and take a look," Section Chief Huo said with a smile. "How's the paperwork going?"

"Just finished," Director Ma said. "The pigs have been moved to the temporary pigsty at the back, and the finance department has received the money, 279 yuan, not a penny less."

He pointed to a manila envelope in Yang Ximing's hand: "This is the receipt and proof of receipt."

Section Chief Huo nodded and looked at Yang Ximing and Yang Yuming. Yang Yuming quickly introduced, "Section Chief Huo, this is my eldest brother Yang Ximing, and this is my third brother Yang Yuming. Eldest brother, Yuming, this is Section Chief Huo."

Yang Ximing quickly stepped forward, bowed, and greeted, "Commander Huo, I am Yang Ximing."

He was nervous, but tried to remain calm. His voice trembled slightly, but it was clear.

Yang Yuming also greeted them, his face turning bright red, unsure of what to do with his hands and feet.

Section Chief Huo sized up Yang Ximing. Yang Ximing was about 1.8 meters tall, with broad shoulders and a thick back, and a robust physique. Although he wore patched old clothes, they were neatly made up. He had a square face, thick eyebrows, and large eyes, his gaze clear yet slightly tense, but very upright.

"Not bad." Section Chief Huo nodded in satisfaction. "With your physique, you're perfectly capable of being a railway police officer. Director Ma, I've done a good job this time, finding a tiger general for the railway police station. I'll have to ask Chief Fan to treat us to a meal later."

Director Ma laughed and said, "It's only because Section Chief Huo has a lot of influence with Director Fan that Director Fan would be willing to give up this police officer position so easily, without even meeting him."

He was telling the truth. Although Chief Fan didn't have the final decision-making power, as the head of the police station, he had the right to make recommendations and conduct assessments regarding the recruitment of new police officers. If he said someone was unsuitable, the station committee would carefully consider it.

Section Chief Huo waved his hand: "Director Fan is also a reasonable person. I explained the situation to him, and he thought it was appropriate, so he agreed."

He turned to Yang Guangming: "Guangming, your older brother is still confused, so you should tell him the good news."

Yang Guangming then had a chance to interject: "Brother, Section Chief Huo has secured a position for you as a police officer at a railway police station."

Yang Ximing was completely stunned, his eyes wide open and his mouth slightly agape, unable to believe his ears.

Police officers?

Railway police officers?

He had already prepared himself mentally, thinking it was unlikely he would be assigned a good position; he would probably be a loader or a road maintenance worker, most likely the kind of tough and tiring job.

I never expected it to be a police officer!
That guy wears a peaked cap and a police uniform!
"Commander Huo... Section Chief Huo..." Yang Ximing's voice trembled, and his eyes instantly reddened. "I... I really don't know how to say it... Thank you! Thank you so much!"

He bowed deeply, bending very low, and held that position for several seconds before straightening up.

This expression of gratitude is simple and sincere, without any fancy words, but everyone can see the heartfelt appreciation.

Yang Yuming was so excited that he couldn't speak, he just nodded vigorously, his face turning even redder.

Section Chief Huo was pleased with Yang Ximing's reaction. A person who knows how to repay kindness and is grateful is worth helping.

"Alright, enough with the thanks," Section Chief Huo said. "Director Ma, are all the paperwork complete?"

"Everything's ready, just waiting for the leader's signature," Director Ma said. "Section Chief Huo, would you like to go now, or..."

"Let's go now," Section Chief Huo said decisively. "Let's hurry and try to get the onboarding procedures completed this afternoon. Have Ximing take the documents issued by his unit so he can go back to the village tomorrow to transfer his household registration. That way, he won't have to make multiple trips, and it's too inconvenient since it's so far away."

Director Ma nodded repeatedly: "Okay, I'll take the document to the leader for signature right away."

With Section Chief Huo personally speaking up, efficiency immediately improved. Director Ma took a document from his drawer and hurriedly left the office.

The wait wasn't long; about ten minutes later, Director Ma returned with a smile on his face.

"Signed!" He waved the document in his hand. "The leader was very quick; he asked about the situation and signed it. Section Chief Huo, you have a lot of influence!"

Section Chief Huo took the document, looked at it, confirmed that the signature was correct, and handed it to Yang Ximing: "Ximing, this is the most crucial step. With the leader's signature, your employment is settled."

Yang Ximing took the document with trembling hands. His eyes welled up with tears as he looked at the bright red signature and seal at the end of the document.

"Next, go to the personnel department to fill out the forms," ​​Section Chief Huo said. "Director Ma, you take them there. I have some things to take care of here, so I won't take up your valuable time."

"Okay," Director Ma replied.

Section Chief Huo then said to Yang Guangming, "Guangming, you should come with us. Once you fill out the forms, complete all the formalities, and get the letter of introduction and certificate from your unit, everything will be settled."

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

Section Chief Huo waved his hand and turned back to his office.

Director Ma led the three Yang brothers to the personnel department.

The personnel department is on the second floor. There are two staff members in the office, a man and a woman, both around thirty years old.

Director Ma was clearly familiar with them, and greeted them with a smile as he entered: "Xiao Liu, Xiao Wang, busy?"

The male staff member looked up, saw Director Ma, and smiled, "Director Ma, what brings you here?"

"Complete the onboarding procedures." Director Ma handed over the documents. "The station leaders have signed them. This is Comrade Yang Ximing, recruited as a police officer at the railway police station."

The two staff members took the document, looked it over, and then sized up Yang Ximing.

"Oh, a new colleague," the female staff member said with a smile. "You're in great shape; you'd be perfect as a police officer."

She took out a form and handed it to Yang Ximing: "Comrade, please fill out this form. Name, age, place of origin, education level, family background, political affiliation, all of these must be filled in clearly."

Yang Ximing took the form, feeling somewhat awkward. He had only graduated from elementary school and his handwriting was decent, but he had never filled out such a formal form before.

Yang Guangming noticed his older brother's nervousness and walked over to him, saying softly, "Brother, don't rush, fill it out slowly. If you don't know how, just ask me."

Yang Ximing nodded, sat down at his desk, took out a pen, and began filling out the form.

His hands trembled slightly, and his handwriting was crooked, but he wrote each stroke very carefully.

Name: Yang Ximing.

Age: 23.

Place of origin: Xiangyang Brigade, Hongqi Commune, Pingyang County.

Education level: Primary school.

Family background: poor peasant.

Political affiliation: Masses.

……

It took nearly twenty minutes to fill out each section. After finishing, Yang Ximing checked the form to make sure it was correct before handing it to the staff.

The staff member took the form, glanced at it, and said, "Okay, the basic information is complete. We also need a one-inch photo for the work permit. Do you have one?"

Yang Ximing was stunned. A photograph? He had never had his picture taken in his entire life.

Yang Guangming quickly said, "Comrade, can the photo be taken later? My older brother is from the countryside and has never had his picture taken. We'll take it as soon as he officially starts working."

The staff member looked at Director Ma. Director Ma said, "It's fine to submit it later. Let's get the paperwork done first, and the photos can be submitted next week."

"Okay." The staff member nodded and began processing the follow-up procedures.

He took out several forms, filled them out, stamped them, and then issued a letter of introduction and a household registration transfer certificate.

The staff member handed Yang Ximing a stack of documents, saying, "These are a letter of introduction from your work unit and a household registration transfer certificate, which you'll need to complete the transfer procedures back in your village. Also, please keep these forms safe."

Yang Ximing took the documents with both hands and held them tightly in his arms as if they were precious treasures.

"Thank you, thank you, comrade," he said repeatedly.

"You're welcome. We'll be colleagues from now on," the staff member said with a smile.

By the time all the formalities were completed, it was already 4:30 PM.

Yang Guangming checked the time and finished all the procedures before leaving get off work. He was very efficient.

The four of them walked out of the personnel department and ran into Section Chief Huo in the corridor.

Section Chief Huo had clearly been waiting there on purpose. Seeing them come out, he asked, "Is everything done?"

"It's all done," Director Ma said. "All the paperwork is complete, and Ximing can go back to the village tomorrow to transfer his household registration."

Section Chief Huo nodded and said to Yang Ximing, "Ximing, the formalities are done. Are you at ease now?"

"I feel so relieved, so relieved!" Yang Ximing said excitedly. "Section Chief Huo, Director Ma, thank you so much! I... I really don't know how to repay you..."

"Working hard is the best way to repay the trust placed in you," Section Chief Huo said solemnly. "Once you've joined the railway police system, you must abide by the law and be conscientious and responsible. You cannot let down the organization's trust in you."

"I will definitely do it!" Yang Ximing said solemnly.

Section Chief Huo then turned to Yang Guangming: "Guangming, your brother's matter is settled. After completing the household registration transfer procedures, report to the unit as soon as possible. Director Fan will explain the specific work arrangements."

"Okay, Section Chief Huo," Yang Guangming said. "Thank you so much for your help today. It's almost time to get off work, so I'd like to invite you and Director Ma to dinner to express my gratitude."

Section Chief Huo waved his hand: "No need, you brothers are tired today, go back and rest early. We'll find another opportunity to get together after Ximing officially joins the company."

Director Ma also said, "Yes, that's fine, no need for today. You still need to get back to the village, don't waste time."

Despite Yang Guangming's repeated invitations, both men firmly declined. He could tell that Section Chief Huo and Director Ma were genuinely concerned for them.

"Well... alright then." Yang Guangming didn't insist anymore. "Once my brother officially starts working, I'll definitely treat the two leaders to dinner."

"Alright, we'll talk about it later," Huo Duanzhang said with a smile. "Let's go back quickly, before it gets dark."

The three brothers bid farewell to Section Chief Huo and Director Ma and left the office building.

As you enter the courtyard, the setting sun casts its golden rays upon the red brick building, giving the entire structure a warm glow.

Yang Ximing clutched the brown paper bag containing the documents tightly in his hand. The excitement on his face had not yet faded; his eyes were bright, and the corners of his mouth were involuntarily turned up.

"Brother, congratulations." Yang Guangming patted his brother on the shoulder.

"Second brother, is eldest brother really going to become a policeman?" Yang Yuming hadn't fully reacted yet, feeling like he was dreaming.

"To be precise, they are railway police officers," Yang Guangming corrected, but his face was full of smiles. "They are all in uniform."

"That's awesome!" Yang Yuming jumped up excitedly. "Big brother, you're a policeman now! Our village has never had a policeman before!"

Yang Ximing smiled sheepishly, said nothing, and simply hugged the brown paper bag even tighter.

The three arrived at the carriage. The two pigs had already been delivered, and the carriage was empty.

"Let's go find a place to eat first," Yang Guangming said. "I didn't eat lunch, and my stomach is rumbling."

Yang Yuming was the first to respond: "Yes, let's eat! Second Brother said he'd treat us to a meal at a restaurant!"

Yang Guangming smiled and said, "Let's go, I know a small restaurant nearby that has pretty good food."

Yang Ximing drove the carriage, and the three of them left the train station.

We found a small restaurant nearby. It wasn't big, just a few tables, but it was quite clean.

The waiter was very attentive; seeing them come in, he greeted them warmly, "What would you three like to eat?"

A small blackboard hangs on the wall, listing today's meals.

Yang Guangming glanced around and saw that there weren't many dishes available today. There was only one meat dish: braised small fish. The vegetable dishes included pickled cabbage stewed with tofu, braised kelp, and stir-fried cabbage.

"One serving of braised small fish, one serving of pickled cabbage stewed with tofu, and one serving of braised kelp," Yang Guangming ordered. "And nine steamed buns, please."

"Alright!" the waiter replied. "Please wait a moment, it will be ready shortly."

The three sat down at a table. Yang Yuming looked around curiously; it was his first time in a restaurant in the county town.

"Second brother, this meal must have cost a lot of money, right?" Yang Ximing asked in a low voice.

“It’s alright, it’s on me today,” Yang Guangming said. “Brother, this is to celebrate for you. From today onwards, you are a railway employee, and you’ll be eating government-subsidized grain and completely escape rural life.”

Yang Ximing nodded, his eyes reddening again: "Guangming, if it weren't for you, I wouldn't have had this opportunity..."

"We're brothers, let's not talk about these things," Yang Guangming waved his hand dismissively.

"Yes." Yang Ximing nodded heavily.

The food came quickly.

The braised small fish is made with small crucian carp, simmered in soy sauce, vinegar, and sugar, resulting in a sweet and sour flavor. The fish aren't large, but there's a generous amount, filling a whole bowl.

Sauerkraut stewed with tofu is a great dish to eat with rice. The sauerkraut, pickled all winter, is tangy and refreshing. The tofu is tender and smooth, soaking up all the broth.

The braised kelp is tender and flavorful, with the unique umami taste of seafood.

Nine steaming white flour buns, filled with the aroma of wheat.

The three of them were starving, so they didn't bother to talk and started eating the steamed buns.

Yang Yuming picked up a small fish, put it in his mouth, and his eyes immediately lit up: "Delicious! So delicious!"

Yang Ximing also ate heartily, but he was more refined than his younger brother. He picked up a piece of tofu, ate it with a steamed bun, and ate it in big bites.

Yang Guangming felt content watching his two brothers eat so heartily. The meal, though simple, was of great significance.

The three dishes and nine steamed buns were devoured in a whirlwind, leaving nothing behind.

Yang Yuming patted his bulging belly and sighed contentedly, "That was really satisfying... The food at the county town restaurants is just delicious."

Yang Ximing was also very full, but he was more concerned about something else: "Guangming, how much did this meal cost?"

Yang Guangming did the math: "Braised small fish costs 40 cents, pickled cabbage stewed with tofu costs 30 cents, braised kelp costs 20 cents, and steamed buns cost 1.5 cents each. Nine of them would cost 45 cents. That's 1.35 yuan in total."

One dollar and thirty-five cents was not a small amount in those days. An average worker's daily wage was only a little over one dollar.

Yang Ximing felt a pang of heartache: "It's too expensive..."

"It's not expensive," Yang Guangming said with a smile. "It's worth it today. Brother, treat me to another meal after you get your first month's salary."

“Absolutely!” Yang Ximing said solemnly.

After finishing his meal, Yang Guangming paid the bill and paid with his food coupons.

When I left the restaurant, it was already dark, and the streetlights were gradually turning on.

"Brother, Yuming, you should go back to the village," Yang Guangming said. "I took a day off today and have to go to work tomorrow, so I won't be able to keep you company."

He pulled out five jin of grain coupons from his pocket and handed them to Yang Ximing: "Brother, take these. Starting tomorrow, you'll be going to the city to complete your onboarding procedures. You'll need some grain coupons, otherwise you'll have trouble even getting food."

Yang Ximing didn't stand on ceremony and took it, putting it away carefully: "Guangming, you're getting more and more thoughtful these days. The grain coupons are indeed useful, so I won't be polite with you."

“There’s no need for formalities between brothers,” Yang Guangming said. “Last time I went through the onboarding process, you came with me. You should know the process since you’re handling it yourself this time. It’s not difficult; just follow the procedure.”

“I know,” Yang Ximing said. “Don’t worry, I can handle it.”

Yang Guangming added, "Once you officially start working, we must treat Section Chief Huo and Director Ma to a meal to express our gratitude. There's no rush; we can talk about it after you've settled in."

“I’ve got it.” Yang Ximing nodded.

The three brothers parted ways at the restaurant entrance.

Yang Ming quickened his pace, heading towards the pharmaceutical factory. Yang Ximing and Yang Yuming drove the horse-drawn carriage back to the village. (End of Chapter)