To please others? It's better to please yourself.

Summer 1981

"Sharpening scissors and knives!"

The shouts came from afar in the alley.

Mother Shen hurriedly took out a dull kitchen knife from the kitchen, opened the door and called out, "Hey, you scissors sharpener, come here."

Xu Jing'an had been back from summer vacation for three days. Hearing Shen's mother's voice, she casually took out the scissors from the house and brought them over.

The old man slowly walked over carrying a long bench. He didn't say much when he reached the door, put down the bench, got on, and started working.

At this moment, neighbors who heard the noise began to gather in twos and threes. A group of children chattered excitedly around them, while adults occasionally said, "Get away, he's sharpening a knife!"

First, sharpen the blade, then use a whetstone to rub it back and forth, making a "whoosh-whoosh-whoosh" sound. Occasionally, pour some water on it, and finally, gently rub the blade with your thumb.

Experienced craftsman: "Ma'am, it's done. How does it look?"

When Shen's mother took it and looked at it, the blade was indeed sharp and shiny, and the scissors were easy to use.

"Okay, the master chef's skills are unparalleled!" He took out the money and handed it over.

"Master, I still have some here!"

Although the country has now been reformed and opened up, people's livelihoods are still rationed. Occasionally, a few people can be seen carrying loads on shoulder poles and carrying baskets, selling vegetables they can't finish eating.

Shenzhen was the first city in China to abolish ration coupons. That was in 1984.

The black market still exists; to be precise, the transactions within it are more frequent and complex!

With the bureau so busy these days, Shen and his team still occasionally raid the black market.

When the people inside realized something was wrong, they ran faster than rabbits!

After the family finished lunch, the children ran out to play. After all, they had spent half a day in tutoring classes and needed a change of pace.

The electric fan was whirring, but it was blowing hot air. Xu Jing'an blew it for a long time, but she didn't feel any cooler at all.

Shen He, with an ice pop in his mouth, said, "Director Qiao might get promoted next year."

Xu Jing'an looked at her husband with surprise: "Really? How far have you been promoted?"

"Deputy Director of the Provincial Public Security Department"

"Great news! That's wonderful!"

After Zhou Lang's case was completed two years ago, Ren Jiahua, the captain of the criminal investigation team, was transferred away.

As Ren Jiahua was leaving, he shook Shen He's hand and said, "Our city's performance is good, but it was too thrilling."

"I'm getting older, too much excitement is a bit much for me!"

It's a fact that people in their forties who are constantly running themselves ragged are not physically fit enough.

Looking at his old partner, who was three years older than him, Shen He had to admit that the other party had indeed had a tough time.

The two patted each other on the shoulder, and everything was understood without a word!

With Ren Jiahua gone, Shen He, the deputy captain, naturally became the captain of the criminal investigation team.

The couple was so happy for two reasons: firstly, because they had a good relationship with Director Qiao, and it could be said that Shen He was one of Director Qiao's trusted subordinates.

Secondly, Shen He hasn't moved for so many years, except for Director Qiao, who hasn't changed positions. With his old superior pressing down on him and not getting promoted, where could Shen He go?

If Ren Jiahua hadn't been transferred, Shen He would have had to wait a long time to be promoted to battalion commander!

Xu Jing'an thought for a moment and then asked, "Captain Ren, where were you assigned last year?"

Shen He smiled and said, "You'd never guess where he was transferred to!" "He was transferred to M City, your hometown, to become the deputy director of the city's Public Security Bureau."

Xu Jing'an hadn't expected such a coincidence: "This is good news!"

In case the Xu family causes trouble, we can ask someone for help so we won't be completely clueless!

She reached out and handed her a bowl of the cooled mung bean soup on the table: "Eating popsicles alone won't do, your stomach isn't good. In the hot summer, you need mung bean soup to cool down."

Shen He took it with a smile and drank it down in a few gulps.

He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and said, "Director Qiao asked me today, 'Where do you plan to go after graduation? Are you going back to the steel mill?'"

All he knew was that his wife would never work in the police force.

Xu Jing'an shook her head: "No!"

In the minds of ordinary people, who doesn't know about steel mills? They're state-owned enterprises, big factories. The benefits are good, and they give out freebies all the time.

In this day and age, the most sought-after job is one with job security and stability. Many civil servants don't even earn as much as factory workers because factory workers receive monthly benefits and subsidies.

If something happens at home, go to the factory without hesitation. If the boss dares to say he'll cut wages, someone will dare to put their child on his desk the next day.

In short: If you're so capable, then raise it yourself!

There were also brothers who carried their over-eighty-year-old mother to their superiors' homes for a free meal. If they couldn't afford to support their elderly parents, who else could they turn to but their superiors?

But that was in the past. The era of workers standing up for themselves is over!

After the reform and opening up, state-owned enterprises also faced difficulties. Those unable to find a way out had no choice but to close down or merge. The result was a large number of layoffs!

Dual-income families, once the envy of everyone, have now become impoverished households!

Steel mills also went to the market, implementing "simulated market accounting and cost veto".

Everyone has targets to meet, and if they don't, they'll be penalized!

From then on, when addressing the factory director, ordinary people started using the term "boss".

Anyone who has lived near a steel mill knows that the environment there is terrible; even the air is filled with metal dust.

Whether from the perspective of long-term career development or physical health, changing jobs is the best option.

Xu Jing'an understood what Director Qiao meant; he wanted to help arrange the work before leaving. After all, he still owed her a favor!

"Go to the Education Bureau! The jobs there are good!"

Shen He nodded: "I'll give the director a reply this afternoon." The safety of the work here is acceptable, and he doesn't need to worry about anything else.

Nowadays, college graduates are assigned jobs immediately upon graduation. This year's graduating class has a large age gap, with some married and others unmarried.

Some unmarried college students went on to pursue postgraduate studies, some stayed at the university, and others were assigned to national administrative or public institutions.

Those who were exceptionally young and outstanding were assigned to work in relevant ministries and commissions of the central government and the state. Those like Xu Jing'an, who were married, were, without a doubt, assigned back to their hometowns.

Director Qiao wanted to help, and it wasn't a difficult task for him. Xu Jing'an naturally had no reason to refuse!

She wasn't ambitious; she didn't try to use kindness to her advantage or seek revenge.

In the afternoon, Shen He went to work. Xu Jing'an packed the children's worn-out sneakers into her bag.

"Mom, I'm going to get the kids' shoes repaired, and I'll buy them a new pair while I'm at it."

Just then, Shen's mother was about to go out for a chat, and without even looking up, she waved at her twice.

When Xu Jing'an arrived, the cobbler's stall against the wall already had a huge pile of shoes. Liberation shoes, rain boots, leather shoes…

"Master, could you please fix this?"

The experienced craftsman wiped his hands on his apron a few times, took the shoes, and looked at them for a while.

"How much does the chef charge?"

"Three pairs, three cents."

"Okay, thank you for your help."

While the old craftsman was busy with his work, Xu Jing'an even noticed a few broken umbrellas.

"Sir, you can repair umbrellas here too?"

"Yes, as our ancestors always said, it's never a bad thing to have many skills."

Xu Jing'an observed that many artisans are not talkative. They will answer if asked, but rarely initiate conversations.

After taking the repaired shoes, Xu Jing'an went and bought two pairs for each of her three children. One pair of canvas shoes for running, and one pair of plastic sandals for everyday wear.

To be honest, she never knew that children could go through so many shoes! At least two pairs of plastic sandals every summer.

That evening, the children were overjoyed to see their new sandals. "Mom, you're so sweet!"

Their plastic sandals were already worn out from being glued on!

Xu Jing'an smiled and took out the newly bought canvas shoes. The children's mood noticeably calmed down.

"Mom, you don't need to rush to buy sneakers."

"That's right, that's right."

The three children were in agreement.

The sneakers wore out yesterday, and today Mom bought a new pair. The kids, who thought they could finally rest for a day, had to abandon that idea.

Two days later, Shen He returned and told Xu Jing'an, "Director Qiao said: Everything is arranged!"

As expected, Xu Jing'an was assigned to the city's education bureau when she graduated at the end of the year.