I See through Everything

Chapter 279: Chapter 147: Returning Home

"That’s rude. If you’re going to open it, at least wait until you’re home." Jiang Xin shot her sister a look, then asked in surprise, "Ah Ting, are you really going on a blind date?"

"Sis, you should get married soon! You’re almost twenty-eight. In a few more years, you’ll be past your prime. Don’t regret it then." Jiang Ting stuffed the large bills back into the red envelope.

Hearing this, Jiang Xin looked at her sister as if seeing her for the first time. "I’m speechless. You’re only twenty-three and you’re already trying to marry yourself off?"

"Heh, Sis, don’t listen to all that ’little fairy’ talk online. You should spend less time on Weibo and Xiaohongshu." Jiang Ting knew her youth was her biggest advantage. Though it felt a bit self-deprecating to think that way, she was aware that with her vocational school diploma and very average family background, if she didn’t find a husband with good prospects while she was still young, her options would only get worse.

"No way. I’m a person, not a baby-making machine," Jiang Xin said, her tone resolute.

Hearing her sister’s response, Jiang Ting gave up trying to persuade her. "Think about it yourself, then. Anyway, if my blind dates over the New Year go well, I’m quitting my job and coming back home."

"Ah Ting, are you crazy? It’s hard to find a job right now, and we’re doing fine where we are. You can keep working while you go on dates or get married," Jiang Xin said, suddenly anxious at the thought of her sister quitting.

"Sis, you know what it’s been like these past few years. Our line of work, clothing sales, is going downhill. After paying for food, rent, utilities, my phone, and transportation, plus the occasional meal out with coworkers and friends, I’m only left with three or four thousand yuan a month. I’d be better off going back home and giving up the grind."

The sisters kept talking, but soon realized neither could convince the other. They fell silent to avoid hurting each other’s feelings.

Each lost in her own thoughts, the two sisters soon arrived at their front door.

They saw their younger brother, Jiang Hao, helping their father pluck a chicken.

"Dad! Little Bro!" the sisters called out in unison.

"Ah Xin, Ah Ting, go take a shower. We’re eating early today," Jiang Dabiao said while gutting another large rooster.

"Okay!"

"Sis, you go wash up first. I’ll help out for a bit."

"Mm."

Jiang Ting grabbed a low plastic stool and sat down next to her brother, Jiang Hao. She picked up a chicken wing and started pulling out the fine downy feathers that remained after scalding.

"How was work this year?"

"Just so-so."

"The economy has been tough these past few years. Maybe you two should come back. It’s easier to find a job in town now. The pay isn’t high, but you can still make three or four thousand yuan."

"I’ll think about it."

"Don’t worry about things at home. The land on Little Nanshan was acquired, and we got over three hundred thousand in compensation. Our family also has one spot open at Jiang Miao’s company. If you or your sister wants to come back, I’ll give the spot to one of you. Your mother and I are growing duckweed and raising Egyptian Fish now, and we can make over a hundred thousand a year. It’s no problem to support your brother through university."

"Let me think about it." Jiang Ting was genuinely tempted, but she was also thinking of her sister, Jiang Xin. ’If my blind dates work out over the New Year, then I’ll let my sister have the spot.’

Compared to Jiang Miao’s hometown of Xinxiang, the villagers in Salt Town, Nanhu, and Langqing were even more proactive. The middle-aged and elderly residents who had stayed behind mobilized en masse, all trying to persuade the young people just returning from out of town to come back and work.

Unless their jobs out of town paid extremely well, or they were civil servants, the villagers saw Hailufeng Company as a very good job, perfectly suitable for their sons and daughters.

After all, it was close to home and the benefits were pretty good.

The housing fund and employee apartment complex, in particular, made many villagers green with envy.

「On New Year’s Eve, after the reunion dinner.」

While watching the Spring Festival Gala, Lin Taian spoke earnestly to his son, Lin Yonghan. "Yonghan, from what I can see, that job of yours in Wancheng has no future."

"Dad! I’m doing just fine at the toy factory. I’m a team leader now," Lin Yonghan said, looking disgruntled.

"Heh, a team leader? And you’re still only making a little over six thousand. A team leader at Hailufeng Company’s Yandun Mountain Farm gets a base salary of fifty-five hundred, and that’s before adding in other things. Isn’t that better than being a team leader at your stupid toy factory?"

"For real?" Lin Yonghan looked incredulous.

Lin Taian glared at his son irritably. "Why would I lie to you? Your old classmate, Old Li Tou’s son Xiaorong, is a team leader at the Gongping Town Farm right now. You can go ask him."

"But if I quit and Hailufeng Company doesn’t hire me, won’t I be screwed?"

Lin Taian looked as if to say, ’How could someone as smart as me have a blockhead like you for a son?’ "How can you be so dense! You can apply first. If you get the offer, then you quit immediately and come back to work at Hailufeng Company."

"Oh, oh..."

"Don’t ’oh, oh’ me. If I find out you didn’t apply, I’ll show you what ’pork stewed with rattan’ is all about."

"Heh..." Lin Yonghan knew his old man was just bluffing. If it really came to a fight, he could easily overpower his father.

After all, the father and son had come to blows before.

Among the young people returning to their villages were all sorts. There were those like Lin Yonghan, who was being pushed into it. There were those like Jiang Ting, with her complicated feelings. And there were those like Jiang Xin, who was dead set on staying in the big city. Of course, there were also people who actively wanted to work at Hailufeng Company.

Ke Jiaming from Nanhu Village, for example, worked in software R&D at Huafen Company. He had just turned thirty-six this year and knew the situation at his company. With his mediocre performance, he probably wouldn’t survive this year’s "big test."

In truth, he had already saved a lot of money over the years. After all, his total annual income was around 800,000 to 900,000 yuan. Having worked for almost ten years, he had managed to save over five million.

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