"Why did you choose to sell your job?" Zhou Zhiguo asked once again, "If you have any difficulties, you can tell us. You can now be considered an employee of the lighting factory."
Even though she hasn't completed the onboarding process, as long as Xu Qinghuan doesn't sell her job, she is a secure employee.
Xu Qinghuan gave a bitter smile, "Just now, as soon as the recruitment results were announced, at the factory gates, my fiancé and cousin forced me to give my job to her. And this is before going home; if I went back, I'd be surrounded by everyone like in a siege. No matter how capable I am, I can't guard against them twenty-four hours a day."
She believed that if she insisted on refusing, the Xu Family might do something even more outrageous to remove this roadblock.
Zhou Zhiguo sighed, "You could ask the organization for help. I heard your father was a martyr."
Xu Qinghuan nodded, "Thank you for your kindness! But, there's no need. This time was just unlucky for them to find out. Next time I participate in the recruitment exam, I'll be more cautious. With my abilities, I should be able to pass any industry's recruitment exam."
Zhou Zhiguo found it hard to persuade her further. The girl's words were too irritating, especially with his niece who didn't pass sitting right next to them.
Zhou Xinyan, however, looked at Xu Qinghuan with glowing eyes because she'd heard Xu Qinghuan actually scored a perfect score, and even the Foreign Translation Bureau couldn't find any fault with the final translation question.
This was truly impressive!
"This position, after one year, becomes a regular job with a wage of 42.6 yuan. You know the unofficial pricing standards for various positions, right?"
It was really difficult for a union leader like Zhou Zhiguo to discuss this matter with Xu Qinghuan.
Xu Qinghuan didn't expect the position she applied for was categorized as a technical role, with the regular wage equal to those transitioning with a vocational high school education.
These days, getting into vocational school was harder than getting into high school.
Zhou Xinyan couldn't help but tug on her uncle's sleeve, and Zhou Zhiguo, feeling a bit helpless, gently patted her to comfort her, then said to Xu Qinghuan, "For your position, we offer thirteen hundred yuan, plus some vouchers, how does that sound?"
Xu Qinghuan knew the Zhou Family wasn't undervaluing the position. This position was something many families couldn't afford, and even those who could might not be able to secure it.
"Thank you!" Xu Qinghuan wasn't pretentious.
Zhou Zhiguo had borrowed some money from the finance office beforehand and handed a thick leather bag to Xu Qinghuan. She took a glance inside; not only was there money, but also some vouchers, which she didn't count and put into her canvas shoulder bag without fuss.
Zhou Zhiguo appreciated this very much. This kind of magnanimity is rare; this girl is good, and his niece did well to make friends with her!
Since Xu Qinghuan hadn't started working yet, the process of transferring her position was quite simple, especially with Zhou Zhiguo's assistance, she just had to sign her name to finalize the deal.
"Huanhuan, thank you!" Zhou Xinyan held Xu Qinghuan's hand, tears welling in her eyes, "I now have a job and don't have to go to the countryside, but why don't I feel happy at all!"
Xu Qinghuan's heart was touched somewhat, "I know your contact details, no matter where I go in the future, I'll write to you."
Earlier, she glimpsed at the vouchers; the Zhou Family had prepared mainly nationwide grain vouchers for her, along with some rare milk vouchers, and quite a few fabric vouchers, showing their thoughtfulness.
"Alright, make sure you keep your word," Zhou Xinyan choked up.
"Mm, you should go now, start your work early and earn more wages. I have things to attend to, so I'll leave first." Xu Qinghuan gently squeezed her palm; she really liked this straightforward good friend.
Zhou Xinyan watched her walk into the distance before turning away.
Zhou Zhiguo asked, "Did your friend already register to go to the countryside?"
Zhou Xinyan's heart skipped a beat, "Uncle, definitely not! Besides, even if Huanhuan wasn't first, this job wouldn't go to me anyway. No matter how much money spent, I couldn't buy it for myself."
Zhou Zhiguo chuckled, rubbing his niece's head, "Little girl, trying to pull a fast one on me, your friend is good, definitely worth befriending!"
"Really?" Zhou Xinyan was so happy she almost jumped up; her parents recognizing her friend made her even happier than earning their acknowledgment herself.
Xu Qinghuan went straight to the Jiang Family. She had visited once before, at that time believing wholeheartedly that she would marry into the family, and paid attention to the surroundings. Thus, Xu Qinghuan found the Jiang Family's gate effortlessly, with vivid memories.
A beautiful song came from the radio inside, "If someone asks me, where is this place? I will proudly tell him, this is my hometown..." Occasionally, she could hear Mother Jiang hum a couple of lines.
Mother Jiang was cleaning, and upon hearing the door knocked, asked, "Who is it?"
"It's me, Aunt Jiang!"
Xu Qinghuan responded and waited for quite a while without hearing anything, although the cleaning sounds continued inside.
After some time, Mother Jiang came over, opened the door, and asked impatiently, "What are you here for?"
She assumed Xu Qinghuan was there to ask the Jiang Family to help her find a job.
Xu Qinghuan didn't mind Mother Jiang's attitude; there were few mothers-in-law as vile to their son's fiancé as her.
"Aunt Jiang, could we talk privately?" Xu Qinghuan smiled, "Of course, if you don't mind the family's matters becoming widely known, I don't mind speaking here either!"
In these residential buildings, privacy was poor, and Xu Qinghuan's arrival had already attracted the neighbors, peering around.
Mother Jiang suppressed her irritation, turned around, and went into the house, "Come on in!"
Xu Qinghuan entered and closed the door behind her.
The house was kept clean and tidy by Mother Jiang; the floor was polished to a shine.
Xu Qinghuan, without ceremony, sat directly on the sofa while Mother Jiang stood before the coffee table, towering over her, asking sourly, "What are you here for? If you're here to discuss the wedding date, there's nothing to talk about. But if you want to discuss breaking off the engagement, you can bring that up!"
Xu Qinghuan straightforwardly responded, "Are there any conditions if we break off the engagement?"
Mother Jiang was extremely astonished, letting out a scoff, "You'd be willing to break off the engagement? You must be talking nonsense!"
Xu Qinghuan had little time to waste, replying directly, "Aunt Jiang, if we break off the engagement, what are your conditions?"
Mother Jiang said, "This matter can't be dealt with by me alone; you'd have to have your mother speak with the Yan City Jiang Family."
Xu Qinghuan knew this would be the result; even if Mother Jiang dared to make decisions on her own, the Yan City Jiang Family could force Father Jiang to divorce her.
Mother Jiang had married into the Jiang Family as an act of social climbing.
All these years, she lived within the Jiang Family with much humility and apprehension.
Xu Qinghuan remarked, "Aunt Jiang, Jiang Chengxu is your son, born and raised by you. Logically, you should have the most say in his marriage, but now, whether it's about the engagement or disengagement, you only stand by without action—not because you can't, but because you don't dare, is that right?"