While at the hospital, Cheng Yufen had called Kong Wenhui, and when she arrived with her son, Shen Meng was cooking with Cheng Yufen.
As soon as Kong Wenhui entered, she saw a well-dressed, elegantly pretty girl placing a plate of chive and egg dishes on the dining table, and she immediately thought this might be the person her sister-in-law had mentioned over the phone.
"Is this Comrade Shen Meng?"
"Hello, hello, I’m Shen Meng, Sister Kong, right? And who is this?"
Kong Wenhui pulled her son over and then bowed to Shen Meng, holding her son’s head down while bowing.
Luo Shihao was embarrassed; he had heard about Shen Meng before, how she had helped discipline her aunt’s family at the hospital, even making them too scared to persist in bothering them. He was curious about it since he knew how intimidating the Cheng family could be, but he hadn’t expected to meet her so soon, and she had already helped him solve a problem at work.
Seeing the smiling Shen Meng, he immediately took a liking to her and felt that Comrade Shen was really good, not the calculating type from the countryside; indeed, being from a military family made her different.
"This is my son, Luo Shihao. Comrade Shen, please have a seat. Sister, sister, I mean, we have guests, why are we still eating at home? Why don’t we go to a State-Owned Restaurant?"
Kong Wenhui urged Shen Meng to sit and quickly went to find Cheng Yufen in the kitchen. She found her making plain noodles and thought about the simple dish of chive and eggs out on the table, not even featuring a meat dish, which seemed quite impolite.
"Here comes Wenhui!"
"Yes, sister, why just keep Comrade Shen at home? And eat so simply? Let’s go, let’s go to the State-Owned Restaurant. Comrade Shen has resolved such a big issue for our family; we should at least treat her to a good meal, I’ll pay."
She then tried to drag Cheng Yufen out, but Cheng Yufen quickly pulled her back.
"Do you think I haven’t mentioned it? Xiao Meng doesn’t want to go; she said she doesn’t want me to spend frivolously, and it’s fine just eating anything at home. Ah, this girl is too kind-hearted. I asked her; her husband is a deputy regimental commander, by policy he qualified for family residence long ago, but considering many of his comrades have housing difficulties, he has yielded several times out of guilt. They’ve spent their money on building a brick house instead. I tell you, if she had joined the army earlier, they would have arranged a job for her, but she couldn’t leave her elderly parents. Also, the couple has adopted three martyrs’ orphans. I found this out myself, not from Xiao Meng, what luck to meet such a nice girl."
Kong Wenhui smiled and nodded. She works as a sales department manager at a grocery factory and is quite shrewd; it was a great job to give to someone she barely knew, and she remained somewhat skeptical inside.
"Sister, are you sure you checked thoroughly? The job is legitimate, right? You know the Luo family, they are very upright. If they wanted to pull strings, they would have arranged a job for Shihao long ago, it wouldn’t have been left idle until now."
"Wenhui, you know what kind of person your sister-in-law is. Besides, to pull strings, you need the opportunity, don’t you? It’s so hard to find a job nowadays. Even college students who graduated from good universities have to wait a year or two for job assignments. If the Luo family really had such capabilities, would they still be waiting so long?"
Kong Wenhui blushed at her words; she just wanted to know how this job came about, especially since her sister-in-law hadn’t made it clear.
"Last year, Xiao Meng came to the county, and on the street, she met a pregnant woman about to faint,... that’s how the job came about. Of course, Li Qianqian gave Xiao Meng two job opportunities. She gave one to her brother, and thought of me for the other. Her family is all decent people, only her brother is a bit lively. She wouldn’t have given us the job if she wasn’t worried about her family being bullied in the city."
Kong Wenhui finally felt at ease, just as she was about to say something, Cheng Yufen suddenly came closer.
"I’ll tell you something else, Xiao Meng is going to work at the public transportation company next month, personally arranged by the County Party Secretary. She’s really got connections; just keep that in mind."
This was a big secret; the fact that Shen Meng even told Cheng Yufen this showed she truly treated her like a sister, which greatly surprised Kong Wenhui.
After pacing around the kitchen a couple of times, she shouted to Luo Shihao, who was sitting outside: "Shihao, Shihao, hurry over here, come, come, mom has some money, you quickly go downstairs and buy some cooked dishes, hurry my son, whether you have a bright future or not depends on today."
Luo Shihao had just chatted with Shen Meng, naturally inquiring about job-related matters.
These couple of years, there were many unemployed youths; he too had been idling at home for quite a while. It wasn’t that he hadn’t worked; he’d quit temporary jobs that not only exploited but also mocked him, so he earnestly needed a permanent job to earn some respect for his parents.
"Okay, mom, I’m going now."
The Kong family’s house was a three-bedroom, not very big, so Cheng Yufen and Kong Wenhui’s kitchen conversation was faintly audible to her, but she didn’t care. She came to the county this time aiming to connect with Kong Wenhui, knowing it could open up endless possibilities.
During the meal, Kong Wenhui kept serving Shen Meng dishes enthusiastically, quite different from her initial excitement when entering the house.
"Sister Kong, you don’t need to fuss so much, please eat too. Actually, I didn’t clarify something to Sister Cheng. I gave this job to Shihao because I have a favor to ask."
"Oh~ What is it? Just say it, if this stinker can help, he’ll certainly do his best!"
"Yes Aunt, just tell me, anything I can do, I’ll surely get it done!"
Shen Meng: "...."
This kid’s pretty forward, truly the son of a sales manager!!
Kong Wenhui now knew that Cheng Yufen had spent twenty-nine hundred to buy Shen Meng’s job; it was indeed a bargain for a lifelong iron rice bowl.
"My younger brother is Shen Xiaobin. He’s somewhat introverted and shy, not very educated. I’m worried he won’t adapt well to city life, so I want Shihao to look out for him, show him the ropes."
"Auntie, don’t worry, I’ll definitely handle this well and ensure my young uncle isn’t bullied; you just watch!"
Shen Meng: "...."
He’s only a year younger than you, and you’re already calling him ’uncle’ so smoothly?!
During the meal, Shen Meng gained a sister and a nephew, as well as witnessing the starry-eyed affection of her sister Cheng Yufen.