The sky collapsed, and in the blink of an eye, I found myself transported to Nanluoguxiang.

A short while later, hurried footsteps came from the corridor. The door creaked open.

A young woman in her early twenties strode into the office, her face flushed with excitement, and called out, "Director! It's weighed out—seventy-eight pounds!"

Director Wang let out a long sigh of relief, and the wrinkles on his face smoothed out a bit.

Turning to Li Kaixin, he smiled and said, "That's great! The meat for the families of martyrs this year is finally secured, and there's even more than half left. Kaixin, your timely help really came at the perfect time."

Li Kaixin chimed in at the opportune moment, smiling憨厚ly, "It's just that our neighborhood is so lucky, otherwise how could I have run into this wild boar on my way back to the village?"

Director Wang couldn't help but chuckle, pointing at Li Kaixin and scolding him with a laugh: "You little rascal, where did you learn this smooth-talking skill from? Tell me so I can see it too."

Li Kaixin scratched his head sheepishly, about to reply, when the curtain of the finance office was lifted and a middle-aged woman wearing glasses walked out holding banknotes.

She handed the money to Director Wang first, and then asked impatiently, "Director Wang, what should we do with this wild boar meat?" Before she finished speaking, everyone else in the office looked up and stared at her intently.

Director Wang looked around and saw everyone staring at him expectantly, which made him feel both amused and helpless.

He raised his voice again, saying, "This is for the families of martyrs; at most, each person can have half a pound as a treat!"

Although it was less than expected, everyone was still overjoyed—in those days, each person in the city only had two ounces of meat coupons per month, so half a pound of wild boar meat was quite a lot.

Director Wang turned around and handed a stack of banknotes to Li Kaixin: "Kaixin, this is sixty-two yuan and forty cents in total. Please count it."

Li Kaixin reached out and took it, stuffing it into his pocket without even looking at it, and said with a smile, "What could I possibly worry about if Aunt Wang handled it?"

"You're such a chatterbox!" Director Wang said with a laugh, then added seriously, "You know the way to the transport station, right? While it's still early, hurry up and get there. I've already spoken to Director Xie on the phone."

Li Kaixin understood and stood up briskly: "Then I won't keep you from your business."

As Li Kaixin spoke, she walked towards the door, but suddenly turned back and waved to everyone in the room, saying, "Uncles, aunts, brothers, and sisters, I'm leaving now!"

Before the words were even finished, the person had already vanished in a flash.

A moment of silence fell over the office, followed by bursts of laughter. Someone shook their head and chuckled, "This kid's got real talent!"

Director Wang also glanced meaningfully in the direction Li Kaixin had left.

Upon arriving at the transportation station.

Li Kaixin spotted an old man in an old uniform sitting on a bench, basking in the sun.

He stepped forward in a few strides, smiling sweetly, "Grandpa, you've worked hard! I was introduced by Director Wang from the neighborhood office. I need to see Director Xie about something."

The old man squinted and looked him up and down, then nodded: "Go in, Director Xie has given instructions."

"Okay, thank you!" Li Kaixin replied readily and walked briskly into the courtyard.

The door to the director's office was ajar, and Li Kaixin knocked three times.

"Go in—" a deep voice came from inside.

Pushing open the door, I saw a middle-aged man with a square face sitting behind his desk; there was no one else in the room.

Director Xie looked up and saw a young man, raising an eyebrow slightly: "Young comrade, who are you?"

Li Kaixin quickly stepped forward, leaning slightly forward: "Hello, Director Xie! I'm Li Kaixin, introduced by Director Wang and Aunt Wang from the Subdistrict Office."

"Oh, it's Li Kaixin!" Director Xie immediately smiled, a few fine lines appearing at the corners of his eyes. "Old Wang just spoke to me about it. Come, come, sit down and let's talk." He pointed to the wooden chair next to him.

Li Kaixin only moved half a step to the side, his hands neatly placed against the seam of his pants: "I can stand here, it won't take up your time."

Director Xie didn't insist. He casually took out a pack of Daqianmen cigarettes from the table, lit one, and started smoking.

Amidst the swirling smoke, Director Xie offered the cigarette pack to Li Kaixin, who quickly waved his hand, a well-behaved smile on his lips.

After finishing his cigarette, he spoke slowly and deliberately: "Since it was your Aunt Wang who introduced us, let's not mince words. This number of apprentice positions is worth the same everywhere else."

He held up another finger and said, "Eight hundred will do."

Li Kaixin inwardly exclaimed that this was nearly two hundred yuan cheaper than the market price! But he promptly feigned a troubled expression, "Director, could you give me a few days to pay this?"

"Sure," Director Xie said, flicking his cigarette ash. "But let me make this clear: this spot will only be held for a week at most. Don't blame me if it's not held for a while."

"I definitely can't let you be in a difficult position!" Li Kaixin quickly replied, her eyes sparkling. "I'll give you the money within a week!"

Director Xie nodded in satisfaction and was about to see the guest off when Li Kaixin shuffled closer and whispered, "Um... Director Xie, there's something else."

"I got lucky in the mountains a few days ago and caught a few wild boars. I just gave one to Aunt Wang, and I still have a whole one weighing about 70 or 80 pounds left. I'm really worried about what to do with it!"

Director Xie paused, his hand holding the teacup still. When he looked up again, his smile deepened. "You silly boy, just call me Uncle Xie like Old Wang does. Where's the wild boar now?"

"Just put it in that abandoned courtyard in front," Li Kaixin said, scratching his head sheepishly.

Director Xie suddenly stood up. "These days, who dares to put meat out in the open? Lead the way!"

He strode towards the door, not forgetting to turn back and urge, "What are you standing there for? Hurry up!"

As soon as the two stepped out of the office, Director Xie called out into the courtyard, "Xiao Liu! Come give me a hand!"

A young man in his early twenties ran over in response, his shirt sleeves rolled up to his elbows, revealing his well-developed muscles. Director Xie gave a brief explanation, and the three of them hurried out.

The security guard, holding his enamel mug, watched their hurried figures and muttered to himself, "What's Old Xie rushing about?"

After passing through two alleys, we turned into an abandoned courtyard.

Li Kaixin took two steps ahead and stepped into the abandoned courtyard. Before the two people behind him could follow, he had a thought and took out a wild boar that he had knocked unconscious with his mind from his spatial storage. He quickly tied it up with straw rope and threw it in the corner.

"Director, I'm here!" Li Kaixin waved and called out.

Director Xie stepped into the yard, his gaze falling on the wild boar bound with straw rope, and a smile instantly appeared at the corner of his eye. Little Liu, following behind, squatted down and touched it, then turned around in surprise: "Uncle! It's still alive!"

"Keep your cool!" Director Xie lightly kicked his butt. "How old are you? Stop yelling at the sight of anything alive." Turning to Li Kaixin, she gave him a thumbs up: "Kaixin, you're really something!"

He rubbed his hands together, lowering his voice: "Here's the deal, Uncle won't beat around the bush. I've got my eye on this pig, I won't weigh it, and I'll reduce your apprenticeship by another two hundred, how about that?"

Li Kaixin was overjoyed—this was clearly Director Xie extending an olive branch! He immediately decided, "I'll do whatever Uncle Xie says!"

"Okay! As for the other six hundred yuan, you can give it to me whenever it's convenient for you." Director Xie patted him on the shoulder.

"You wait here first, I'll go back and get the letter of introduction." After saying that, he pulled Xiao Liu under the locust tree, and the uncle and nephew whispered to each other for a while.

Before long, Comrade Liu was seen carrying the pig away.

Li Kaixin returned to the transportation station with Director Xie.

In the office, Director Xie took the letter with the red stamp from the drawer and solemnly handed it to Li Kaixin: "Keep it safe! If someone picks it up and impersonates you, you'll have nowhere to cry!"

He then added, "And remember to come and start work as soon as possible, don't delay too long."

Li Kaixin carefully folded the letter and stuffed it into his inner pocket, grinning from ear to ear: "Okay! Thank you, Uncle. I'll head back now?"

"Let's go!" Director Xie said with a laugh and a wave.

Stepping out of the transportation station, Li Kaixin took a deep breath and felt light and refreshed, as if he had finally found a job!