Help others? It's better to help yourself - Chapter 4

An hour quickly passed, and the proctor, Li Jianan, collected all the exam papers. “The results will be announced in an hour. Everyone, please stay here and wait for the notification.”

No one in the exam room left; they all remained inside.

Mainly because more people were starting to show up for work now, and it would be hard to explain this situation if someone saw them—it might not be easy to explain.

Even though everyone knew what was going on, outwardly, they had to keep up appearances. No one wanted to look like a fool. After all, everyone understood the situation.

Those who knew each other gathered in small groups, quietly chatting.

Xu Jing’an sat at her seat, discreetly observing the twelve people in the room, picking out a few candidates.

After all, this job required a high school diploma, which everyone here had. But she was only a first-year high school student and didn’t have a certificate, so she couldn’t take the job!

This isn’t the Cultural Revolution anymore!

During the Cultural Revolution, you could put on a red armband and stir up trouble, or head to the countryside after just starting high school. All you had to do was talk to your headteacher, and you could pretty much get your diploma ahead of time!

Now, everyone was studying hard, hoping the college entrance exam would change their lives! From teachers to principals, who wasn’t strict and responsible?

If she went to the school now, all she could get was a certificate of incomplete education. (What’s an incomplete student? It refers to a student with a student status who drops out before completing the required courses in the educational plan.)

Even if she could get it, her eldest sister-in-law-to-be, “Xu Duoduo,” was still waiting!

An hour later, the director of the personnel department, Hao Weiguo, came in and said, “The results are out. You can check your scores yourself. I’m going to announce the three people who were accepted. Those who were selected, come with me to the office to complete the paperwork: Chen Yuanyuan, Wang Shunfeng, Xu Jing’an.”

As soon as the director finished speaking, three people stood up: two men and one woman. Yes, that’s right! Chen Yuanyuan was a strong, muscular man!

The three lined up and followed the director to the office.

Chen Yuanyuan, who was about 1.8 meters tall, was in front, Wang Shunfeng, about 1.75 meters tall, was at the back, and Xu Jing’an, who was under 1.6 meters, was in the middle—barely noticeable!

“Bring your household registration book; I need to register it,” the director said.

The three of them handed over their household registration books to Director Hao.

As he was writing, Director Hao said, “In three days, your names will be posted on the notice board. If there are no unexpected issues, the job is yours. In the meantime, prepare your documents and recommendation letters, and give them to me when the time comes.”

Hao Weiguo gave them serious instructions. “Alright, there’s nothing else for now. You can all go home, and remember to keep quiet about this.”

“Okay, got it.” “Thank you, Director.”

The director waved his hand, and the three quickly left the office, each going their own way.

They didn’t bother with small talk. If they ended up working together, there would be plenty of time to chat. If they didn’t, then there was nothing to say.

Now was the time to secure the job!

But for Xu Jing’an, the immediate task was to find a good buyer. Otherwise, when the list was posted and Xu Duoduo saw the name and found it familiar, she would surely ask Xu Jianguo. How could she let this job opportunity slip by?

After all, Xu Jingxie and Xu Jingping didn’t have high school diplomas and couldn’t get jobs.

And the eldest, Xu Jianguo’s fiancée, insisted on having a formal job before getting married. Isn’t this just like the old saying: “Mother helps daughter open the door—everything just falls into place”?

Fortunately, she had her household registration book with her, so she didn’t need to go back home to get it like the original owner did.

Once it passed through Mother Xu’s hands, everyone at home would know.

With this job in hand, the heroine would only dig in her heels even more. The eldest would insist on Xu Duoduo.

In the end, Mother Xu couldn’t win over her son and gave the job away.

But since it was given to a daughter-in-law, not someone else, as Mother Xu would say, “It’s still keeping it in the family!”

Xu Jing’an set her sights on a chubby girl in a blue jacket and black pants named Hao Meimei.

Because she clearly remembered that the girl had been the loudest one at the time, shouting, “How did I only get eighth place?”

She found someone close in rank; maybe the person would be upset about losing the spot.

If she took the money and they felt cheated, wouldn’t that be frustrating?

She saw Hao Meimei go into Director Hao’s office, and if she guessed right, she was probably the personnel director’s niece. Sure enough, she heard the girl call out, “Uncle!” That’s it, just wait!

About ten minutes later, Xu Jing’an went to knock on the personnel director’s office door.

“Come in,” Director Hao said, and Xu Jing’an walked in.

“Comrade, is there something else?” Hao Weiguo asked, looking at Xu Jing’an.

Xu Jing’an glanced at the teary-eyed Hao Meimei and said, “Director, I want to sell this job. I wonder if…”

“Really?” Hao Meimei excitedly asked.

Hao Weiguo looked at Xu Jing’an. “Comrade, this isn’t something to joke about. Are you sure?”

“I’m sure,” Xu Jing’an nodded firmly. If she didn’t sell it, was she supposed to contribute to the heroine’s happy life? What would she get out of that?

Hao Weiguo didn’t ask why she wasn’t taking the job or why she didn’t give it to a family member or anything like that.

He dealt with personnel matters—he’d seen it all. Besides, it would benefit his niece, so why say anything?

“This is a good job. How much do you want to sell it for?” Hao Weiguo asked.

Xu Jing’an didn’t know. “Whatever you think is fair. I just want some extra ration tickets too.”

Hao Weiguo thought for a moment. “Come back at noon, around twelve, and I’ll talk to her parents and have the money and tickets ready so you won’t lose out.”

For someone in his position, it wasn’t a big deal. People like him cared about their reputation and wouldn’t leave room for gossip or making enemies!

So, when it came to the money and tickets, Xu Jing’an didn’t need to worry. That little bit was everything to her, but to them, it was just a small matter!

“Alright, see you at noon. You’re busy,” Xu Jing’an said as she left the office and hurried to the supply and marketing cooperative where Wang Jingjing’s mother worked.

Just in time, she squeezed her way to the front with all her might and bought three feet of cloth.

When she came out, she was missing a button on her top, and her hair was a mess.

Just then, she heard a woman shouting, “My child—my child is missing, my child—” The shout startled the sales clerks, who quickly urged everyone to disperse.

“Don’t push—don’t push—” “Everyone, step back and help find the child.”

The crowded people quickly parted.

As soon as they made way, the woman who had been shouting pitifully rushed forward, picked up a shoe that had fallen on the ground, put it on, and immediately fought her way back to the counter to buy three feet of cloth.

Everyone was stunned! Then someone smart figured it out: “That lady is probably from Sichuan. There, they call shoes ‘children.’”

The crowd breathed a sigh of relief. Thank goodness, thank goodness. If someone had actually lost their child while shopping, everyone would have felt terrible.

“My cloth—” With that cry, the crowd surged forward again.