Starting from 1950

The dishes were served, interrupting their conversation and allowing Su Yang to suppress his excitement and calm down temporarily.

Li Dabenshi's skills truly live up to his name. His braised carp with noodles features snow-white, firm fish meat and crispy, fragrant fried noodles.

After finishing his meal, Su Yang watched as Li Daben returned a few coins to Zhang Zhenguo.

This special meal, consisting of two meat dishes and one vegetable dish, cost Zhang Zhenguo a full 14,000 yuan, but he was very happy with the money.

The personnel relations of the security department do not interfere with those of the flour factory, and since Su Yang is an unstaffed employee, he does not need to go through the flour factory's procedures.

After finishing their meal, Zhang Zhenguo took Su Yang directly back to the security department.

The security department operates on a 24-hour, three-shift system, with about ten people on each shift.

After introducing Su Yang to the squad leader and security officers on duty, Zhang Zhenguo led him directly to the security department's weapons depot.

Su Yang was startled as soon as he entered the door because a large cannon on wheels was pointing directly at the entrance.

Although the security department of Limin Flour Factory only had about thirty people, plus the militia members who were also factory workers, the total number did not exceed one hundred. However, this small warehouse contained quite a few weapons.

The entire armory was filled with the smell of gun oil and rust. Su Yang shifted his gaze from the dark, gaping cannon to a row of wooden cabinets and several tables against the wall.

The cabinet compartments contained dozens of Mauser pistols and small cardboard boxes, and judging from the writing on them, the boxes were full of bullets.

On the table were a Type 38 rifle and two Type 96 machine guns.

The wooden box in the corner was not opened, and Su Yang guessed it was a hand grenade.

Su Yang's heart started pounding uncontrollably. What boy could resist the temptation of a real gun?

But he quickly calmed down and shook his head: "Section Chief, I don't need these things to kill rats."

Zhang Zhenguo laughed. Of course he knew that Su Yang couldn't use these weapons, and even if he could, he couldn't give them to an unofficial staff member.

He just wanted to show off to Su Yang and make the little guy feel a sense of belonging to their security department.

"Come on! Come to my office, I'll tell you about your benefits," he said, waving his hand dismissively.

Su Yang's eyes lit up; he knew the real show was about to begin!

The two arrived at the office and sat down.

Zhang Zhenguo got to the point firmly, "Our factory's security department has specially hired 'unofficial pest control officers'! They're specifically to deal with these rats that gnaw on the nation's food!"

He looked intently at Su Yang. "You don't need to sit in the office every day, nor do you need to be on time like the workers. Your task is simple: eliminate as many rats as possible within the factory premises! Security will give you a pass; you can enter the factory area, warehouses, and even the production workshops as long as it doesn't interfere with production! You can even request some sacks or scrap leather from the warehouse if you see anything you like. And... the bounty remains the same! Eight hundred dollars per rat, settled at the end of the month, not a penny less!"

These conditions were practically tailor-made for Su Yang.

He was granted freedom of movement, a bounty, and an officially recognized identity.

Su Yang suppressed his overwhelming joy and tried to make his voice sound calm: "This... is it going to work? I'm just a family member, not a factory worker."

"If I say it's okay, then it's okay!" Zhang Zhenguo waved his hand decisively, with the straightforwardness characteristic of a soldier. "Special talents deserve special treatment! The grain in the factory that was damaged by rats, when converted into money, would be worth far more than your little reward! The leaders know how to do the math."

He opened his notebook, quickly scribbled a few lines, tore off a piece, and handed it to Su Yang. "Here, your temporary access pass and slip. From today onwards, you're part of our security department! Every month... well, let's start with a 'basic allowance' of 80,000 yuan as recognition of your skills. Bonuses will be paid separately! What do you think?"

Eighty thousand in basic allowance! Plus the bounty for killing rats... Su Yang's heart pounded.

He took a deep breath, took the note, and nodded vigorously: "Thank you, Section Chief! I will definitely do my job well and never let our Security Section down!"

"Good lad! That's a good idea!" Zhang Zhenguo smiled broadly when he saw that he had agreed.

"From now on, when you catch a rat, just keep its tail; dispose of the body yourself. I'm giving you the bounty for the 58 rats you caught today... Here's the money, count it!"

Zhang Zhenguo decisively took out the money from the drawer, counted out 46400, and handed it to Su Yang.

"Thank you, Section Chief!"

"No need to thank me, you deserve it. Just work hard in the future and eliminate more rats."

.......

"What's going on...? What's going on...?"

The small office next to the publicity department of Limin Flour Factory has now been converted into the factory's broadcasting studio.

Wu Xinxue is practicing Mandarin in the broadcasting studio, referring to the "Basic Training Manual for Announcers".

The dialect of Beijing is similar to Mandarin, but she likes to use the "er" sound when speaking, and she has been focusing on practicing to correct it these past two days.

"Xinxue, look who this is!"

After Xu Hongyan came in, she smiled and pointed behind her.

"Su Yang? What brings you to the factory?"

Wu Xinxue rubbed her eyes, feeling dizzy from practicing Mandarin, and thought she must have seen wrong.

"Of course it's because of work!" Su Yang waved the note in his hand at Wu Xinxue with a smug look on his face.

"Work?"

Wu Xinxue's face froze for a moment, then she turned to look at Xu Hongyan.

Xu Hongyan laughed and said, "Comrade Xiao Su is quite something now; he's our factory's 'unofficial pest control officer'!"

"An unofficial pest control officer?" Wu Xinxue became more and more confused as she listened, racking her brains to figure out what kind of job this was.

"Alright, Xiao Su isn't an outsider. You two can go over the script in a bit, Xin Xue, just follow the broadcast instructions. I have a ton of things to do, so I'm off!"

After saying that, Xu Hongyan turned and left.

Wu Xinxue looked at Su Yang with a confused expression.

Looking at her adorable, dazed expression, Su Yang resisted the urge to rub her cheeks and smiled as he recounted what had happened that day.

"Ah~!"

Upon hearing this, Wu Xinxue first let out a long scream, then rushed over and hugged Su Yang.

Su Yang was almost breathless from Wu Xinxue's sudden hug, the faint scent of her "Bai Que Ling" brand face cream mixed with the unique wheat flour aroma from the flour factory lingering in his nostrils.

The two were so close that, thanks to the enhanced senses after the upgrade, even through the thick cotton clothes, Su Yang could clearly feel her heart pounding wildly in her chest with excitement.

"Sister Xinxue... I can't... I can't breathe!" Su Yang struggled and protested in a muffled voice.

Wu Xinxue suddenly realized what was happening and abruptly released him. Two red clouds instantly rose on her fair cheeks, making her even more beautiful than when the firelight shone on her face.

She took a half step back, her eyes shining brightly as she looked at Su Yang, a mixture of surprise and pride.

"Eighty thousand dollars in basic allowance? And a bounty... Good heavens! 58 rats, more than forty-six thousand dollars! We...we're rich!" She counted on her fingers, her eyes growing brighter as she did so, as if she could already see the hut filled with grain and meat.

Su Yang rubbed his neck, which was sore from being strangled, and couldn't help but laugh at her greedy yet adorable appearance: "Of course it's true! Here, this is the slip and access pass issued by Section Chief Zhang, and this is today's reward."

He slammed the note stamped with the security department's red seal and a thick wad of banknotes onto the broadcasting station.

"Also, you need to make an announcement over the loudspeaker to the entire factory that starting today, I'm going to be killing rats in all areas of the flour mill, and ask the workers to cooperate."

"That's great! Su Yang! You're amazing!" She couldn't resist rushing over again, but seeing Su Yang take a half-step back warily, she reluctantly stopped, instead giving him a hard pat on the shoulder. "I knew it! My Su Yang is the best! From now on, we'll work together and earn money together!"

Su Yang felt a warm glow in his heart. It felt really good not having to be a kept man, which filled him with energy.

"Okay! From now on, I'll be in charge of catching rats and making money, and you'll be in charge of... well, making sure you broadcast your audio properly." He wanted to say "in charge of being beautiful," but he felt that was too slick and didn't fit his current eleven-year-old persona, so he swallowed it back.