Help others? It's better to help yourself - Chapter 27

In her past life, Xu Jing’an was an ordinary person, and her intelligence didn’t improve much when she crossed over. She had no grand ambitions, preferred a quiet life, and went with the flow.

“Jing’an, I heard that this month there are supplies of seafish and pork. Let’s hurry and get the tickets,” Wu Sufen said, pulling Xu Jing’an along.

In this era, without tickets, one cannot get far. Basic tickets like food and oil tickets are issued monthly.

However, some tickets are only distributed during major holidays and are used to obtain these supplies.

Thus, many places like grain stores, supply and marketing cooperatives, and supermarkets require buyers to procure goods from other locations. They issue tickets based on what they can procure.

Requests for leave from the unit are constant.

Xu Jing’an took advantage of the current lull to go to the bathhouse. The steel plant has its own bathhouse, and family members of workers can also use it for free. Therefore, when the shift ends, the place is as crowded as a dumpling-making session, making it impossible to move. They prefer to wash during quieter times when there are fewer people.

Xu Jing’an could use her space to wash at any time, but others were unaware of it. In summer, she could say she showered at home, but in the cold winter, she had to use the unit’s bathhouse. Otherwise, if people started spreading rumors about her not being clean, it would be unjust!

The next morning, in addition to buying fish and meat, Xu Jing’an also used the coal tickets and 30 yuan for heating this year. There was coal left from Qin Jie in the yard, so she ate at the cafeteria at noon and used the space for the remaining two meals (which made cooking simpler and preserved the taste of meat). Normally, she just boiled water and used it for heating.

Life continued quietly into 1967.

The ongoing movements outside had little impact on the workers.

After successfully knitting a sweater under Wu Sufen’s guidance, Xu Jing’an’s relationship with Wu Sufen grew even closer.

Starting this year, Wu Sufen began her journey of matchmaking. Family and colleagues took turns arranging blind dates, but she still hadn’t found a suitable match.

Wu Sufen vented about the unreliable blind date candidates to Xu Jing’an, who listened quietly. In such situations, it’s best to just listen and avoid giving advice, as superficial interactions should remain shallow.

On International Women’s Day, the factory organized a tug-of-war competition for female employees. After the event, each woman was given five pounds of toilet paper. Xu Jing’an thought to herself that coming to this steel plant was the right choice.

In the city, men typically wore Zhongshan suits, work uniforms, or military uniforms in spring, autumn, and winter, while in summer, many wore vests, shirts, shorts, or long pants.

For women, summer attire generally consisted of floral shirts and long pants. Some fashion-conscious girls even wore brightly colored clothes and skirts.

However, starting this year, green military uniforms became all the rage nationwide. The style was part of the Zhongshan suit series, with a Mao Zedong badge worn on the chest.

Women’s clothing became extremely plain overnight, with most opting for black, gray, or blue, blending in with the crowd. The same applied to men.

Xu Jing’an also put away her pretty clothes and wore those that had become faded and even patched up.

Since her time travel, Xu Jing’an had become exceptionally adept at adapting to the times.

After hearing Wu Sufen talk about her matchmaking experiences, it seemed as though some sort of restraint had been lifted in the building, causing everyone to focus on Xu Jing’an, who was 18 and still single.

Several older women subtly and overtly inquired about the type of person Xu Jing’an was looking for. Xu Jing’an deflected these questions with a smile, and after that, no one brought it up again, which she quietly sighed in relief over.

However, Xu Jing’an knew this was not the end, but rather the beginning!

In the workplace, a single young adult is often subject to discussions and introductions from their leader, colleagues, and even the union. At home, family members, neighbors, and community committee members frequently come by to ask about the situation.

The reason for not being married? Many important positions require one to be married with children for promotion. This is because leaders and organizations believe that being settled in family life indicates stability, a sense of responsibility, and a balanced personality, making one more reliable.

Xu Jing’an did not aspire to stand out; she just wanted to live a peaceful life. It seemed she needed to find a suitable match herself, so she wouldn’t be like a headless chicken without a clue when the time came.