The 1970s: Military Family Beauty

"If it's really as you said, I'll treat you." Jiang Furong agreed generously.

Isn't it a unique traditional culture of the Chinese people that whoever wins the award treats the other? She has always done so.

After coming to this time and space, people who are kind to me like to express their love and appreciation by feeding them food.

It was like this when I was in the family compound, and now that I have arrived at Jiangshan Machinery Factory, the new colleagues I met are the same.

Jiang Furong found it very interesting. Could it be that the words "I want to eat delicious food" were carved on her forehead?

In response, Lin Zhaodi took out a dozen meal coupons and said, "Don't be polite with me. I still have a lot. It's enough for as many meals as you want."

Jiang Furong took it and looked at it. It had the words "Special Kitchen Meal Coupon" printed on it, and the expiration date written in ballpoint pen. "Is this issued by the factory?"

"This is the second-place award for our department's advanced collective, and everyone got a share." Lin Zhaodi said proudly, "If it were first-place, there would be even more!"

Jiang Furong exclaimed, "That's so good!"

It really has the style of a large public factory.

She never imagined that the special meal coupons were not only a welfare allowance for certain positions, but also one of the factory's rewards for various outstanding performances.

Distributing edible food is indeed the greatest reward in an era of material scarcity.

Lin Zhaodi said, "Now you can feel free to let me treat you."

Jiang Furong felt that she should not accept the reward without any merit, so she declined and said, "Keep these tickets and use them on your birthday."

"I've never celebrated my birthday. My mom said girls don't celebrate birthdays," Lin Zhaodi said, her smile hinting at a hint of disappointment. "I don't even know when I was born."

Jiang Furong smiled and said, "It's okay. You know me now. Let's find a calendar tonight and choose the day you want to celebrate your birthday. We'll set that date and you'll celebrate your birthday at that time every year from now on."

It doesn't matter what day your birthday is; what matters is the mood and sense of ritual involved: "A child's birthday is an egg, and an adult's birthday is a meal! Sister Lin, I'm looking forward to eating your 'meal'!"

Lin Zhaodi's eyes were red, and she was amused by Jiang Furong's words: "You can choose your own birthday. This is the first time I've heard of it."

The two of them were talking when someone sat down beside them with breakfast in hand. "Xiao Lin, what are you so happy about?"

Lin Zhaodi turned around and shouted in surprise, "Zhang Bingliang, it's you!"

Zhang Bingliang quickly glanced at Jiang Furong, then looked at Lin Zhaodi and said, "Is the sun going to rise from the west today? Why are you so happy to see me?"

Lin Zhaodi pulled Jiang Furong over and introduced her, "Zhang Bingliang, this is Jiang Furong, our new statistician. Director Liao just asked Jiang to write a book review. Could you please bring it up later?"

Zhang Bingliang stared at Jiang Furong and said, "New here? I was wondering why I haven't seen you before. Xiao Jiang, right? Hello, I'm an office clerk, my name is Zhang Bingliang."

Jiang Furong smiled back: "Hello."

Zhang Bingliang was unsure about the relationship between Jiang Furong and Director Liao, so he asked tentatively, "Have you finished writing the materials Director Liao asked you to write?"

Jiang Furong nodded: "Yes."

I didn't even think about sharing my reading notes.

She planned to take it up and hand it over to Director Liao personally.

Lin Zhaodi rushed to say, "Our Xiao Jiang didn't dare to sleep in the dormitory last night when he received the task assigned by Director Liao. He finished it overnight."

Zhang Bingliang didn't catch any key information and echoed the praise: "Working through the night, your spirit is commendable." He then said, "Director Liao went out for a meeting with Ji Chang today. He left before dawn and won't be back until the day after tomorrow. Even if I took the materials you wrote, I wouldn't be able to hand them over to Director Liao."

Jiang Furong immediately said, "Then I'll wait for Director Liao to come back before submitting the materials."

Zhang Bingliang was slightly startled, then smiled and said okay, then changed the subject to ask Lin Zhaodi: "The office chorus for the Lantern Festival Gala on the 15th of the first lunar month is still short of one person, can you fill in?"

Lin Zhaodi shook her head repeatedly: "Oh, I can't do it, I can't do it, I don't know how to play music."

"You can learn it by practicing along. It's not a big deal," Zhang Bingliang said in an unquestionable tone. "You like singing so much, so you should take the lead when the time comes."

Lin Zhaodi said in embarrassment, "What if I sing out of tune?"

Zhang Bingliang snorted, "If you go to rehearsal today, you still have a week to practice. If you wait for Director Liao to come back and assign you tasks, then you only have three to five days to practice."

Jiang Furong gently kicked Lin Zhaodi under the table and nodded slightly, meaning that she should agree quickly.

Lin Zhaodi said to Zhang Bingliang reluctantly, "Oh, okay then."

Zhang Bingliang stood up and said, "Then go to the second floor of the Cultural and Sports Center after work. They are all practicing there. You will see them there. I'm leaving first."

Lin Zhaodi waited until Zhang Bingliang reached the food window. After making sure he couldn't hear her, she quietly asked Jiang Furong, "Why do you want me to agree?"

Jiang Furong said, "Didn't you hear what he said? If you don't agree now, you will have to agree in a couple of days."

"Oh," Lin Zhaodi said, her mood was dull. The golden and crispy fried dough sticks no longer had any fragrance. "I don't want to eat anymore. Put it in the lunch box and take it to the Finance Department."

The food in the cafeteria is enough for everyone, but no waste is allowed. Once caught, one month's meal allowance will be cancelled and a demerit will be given.

Lin Zhaodi was in a heavy mood, but she did not forget that food should not be wasted. She walked carefully with her lunch box.

Jiang Furong asked, "What's wrong? Are you really singing out of tune?"

This question brought back Lin Zhaodi's sad past:

"I participated in the Lantern Festival Gala last year. I was doing fine during practice, but once I got on stage, everyone started singing their own tunes, and the people in the audience were laughing so hard that they fell over.

The other few people stayed in their own departments to work, unlike me who sat at the window facing the outside world. You don’t know, those people from the branch factories below who came to do business tried to imitate me as soon as they saw me, which made me so angry.

I was supposed to go this year, but I said I needed to take family leave. Now I’m done for. I’m going to make a fool of myself all over again.”

Jiang Furong found it hilarious, but she had to hold it in: "You all practiced on your own, didn't anyone teach you?"

Lin Zhaodi shook her head with a sad face, “It was the typist who carved the lyrics and music onto wax paper, mimeographed a few copies and distributed them to us, and then the eight of us practiced the chorus together.

You don’t know, those guys are really bad, they nicknamed us the Eight Road Runners.”

Jiang Furong couldn't help herself and asked with a smile, "What?"

Lin Zhaodi said: "We were singing our own songs on stage, but once we were off-key, we all stopped and looked at each other. We didn't even finish the second half of the song before we left the stage. As a result, when we walked off the stage, some of us walked to the left and some to the right. They laughed at us and said we were walking on the street on the stage."

Jiang Furong laughed out loud. "Walking on the road" means wandering aimlessly on the road.

The nickname "Eight Road Rollers" is a very appropriate description. She immediately imagined the scene in her mind, which was really funny.

Lin Zhaodi stamped her feet and said, "Look, you haven't even seen us sing yet and you think it's funny! How can I sing again?"

Jiang Furong smiled and asked, "Since we asked you to go on stage and sing, then you all usually like singing, right?"

Lin Zhaodi said, "Yes, we all like to sing, but the office won't let us sing solo. They say we have to sing in chorus to show the power of unity. What do you say we should do? We'll be laughed at for another year."

Jiang Furong said, "How about finding a music teacher to teach you? Is there a primary school for children of our factory? Is there a music teacher?"

Lin Zhaodi sighed, "The music teacher has her own program, so how could she have the time to bother with us? Besides, if her program is good, she can win an award."

Lin Zhaodi sighed as she walked, as if the sky was about to fall. "What kind of song is this guy from the Finance Department supposed to sing? You want me to go on stage and perform an abacus trick?"

Jiang Furong thought about it and decided to help: "Sister Lin, I'll accompany you to practice singing after work. My sister has learned singing in the art troupe, and I learned the simple musical notation by listening to her."

"Really?" Lin Zhaodi seemed to have grasped a life-saving straw, and her worry turned into joy: "Xiao Jiang, you know music, why don't you come on?"

Jiang Furong said, "I know music, but I don't like singing, not at all. But I can help you practice the song."