country bumpkin

On the 22nd day of the tenth lunar month, Kong Xiujin had completed her postpartum confinement period. Her physical recovery was going very well, and her energy had returned.

Today, Kong Xiufang took her to the garment factory to register for an interview. They wanted to let Director Xu assess her first, and then discuss the job.

They arrived at Director Xu's office at the factory. Kong Xiufang knocked on the door and asked, "Director Xu, may we come in?"

Director Xu replied simply, "Please come in." Kong Xiufang pulled Kong Xiujin into the office.

Then she introduced her to Director Xu, saying, "Director, this is my cousin, Kong Xiujin, who is 19 years old this year."

Director Xu looked her up and down and said, "Hmm, the age matches. May I ask where you've worked before, and what your job was?"

Kong Xiufang did not answer; she wanted Kong Xiujin to perform well.

Turning to look at Kong Xiujin, she saw her nervously clutching the hem of her clothes, head down, silent.

Kong Xiufang gently nudged her arm with her own, signaling to her with her eyes that she should answer the director's question.

Director Xu frowned at Kong Xiujin's timid demeanor, thinking to himself that this girl was too shy. How could she work in another city like this? She didn't have Kong Xiufang's confidence and ease at all.

Seeing that Director Xu was frowning, Kong Xiujin quickly said, "Hello, Director! I used to work at the Blue Ocean City Aquaculture Farm collecting kelp and sea lettuce."

Director Xu then asked, "Have you done any other jobs?"

Kong Xiujin said cautiously, "I used to work as a waitress in a restaurant."

Director Xu didn't speak to her, he just looked at Kong Xiufang.

He said to Kong Xiufang, "Kong Xiufang, you should go back first! We will let you know the results in two days."

Kong Xiufang didn't say much, just said, "Thank you, Director Xu. You go ahead with your work, we'll head back now." Then she pulled Kong Xiujin away.

After leaving the garment factory, Kong Xiufang looked at Kong Xiujin and said, "What's wrong? Are you scared? You seem very nervous."

Kong Xiujin said dejectedly, "Xiufang, do you think Director Xu didn't like me? I think I didn't succeed in this interview."

Kong Xiufang also felt that it had not been successful, which could be seen from Director Xu's expression.

She told Kong Xiujin to go back to her eldest sister's house first, and to wait a few days for news.

If not, she could help Kong Xiujin go elsewhere to inquire about job openings.

Kong Xiufang escorted her to the factory gate and then went back to work in the workshop.

In the afternoon, Director Xu had someone find Kong Xiufang and call her to his office.

Director Xu smiled at Kong Xiufang and said, "Xiufang, you are a trainee I personally trained. You have excellent skills and work efficiently, but you don't know how to judge people. Your cousin looks so thin and weak, and she is also a shy and quiet person. It's a bit of a stretch for her to join our workshop."

Kong Xiufang knew this would happen, and she was a little disappointed.

Director Xu added, "Actually, the new workshops for both of our factories have already been built. We'll be hiring more people in a while, and you can apply then. It's just that the interviews will be very strict then, so it won't be easy to get in."

Director Xu also wanted to help Kong Xiufang, and then continued.

"How about we send her to the warehouse management department? They're short-staffed for a record clerk. It's an easy job, not heavy or tedious. All she has to do is be meticulous. I think her slow and deliberate manner is perfect for meticulous record-keeping."

Kong Xiufang was delighted to hear this; she didn't care which workshop she went to, as long as she could get into the factory.

I have a salary, a place to live, and meals provided. Everything is taken care of. It's great!

She quickly bowed deeply to Director Xu to express her gratitude, saying words of thanks as she did so.

Director Xu came over and helped her up, saying, "Don't be so polite, but let me make this clear: if she can't do it, there's nothing we can do!"

After Kong Xiufang sincerely thanked her, she said, "Don't worry, she will definitely do her best. If she doesn't perform well, you can fire her at any time."

Seeing that she had expressed her opinion and that there was nothing else to discuss, Director Xu pretended to be impatient and said, "Alright, hurry back to work!"

Kong Xiufang skipped happily toward the workshop. Director Xu shook his head; this child was too honest, he didn't know if that was a good thing or a bad thing.

When Kong Xiujin returned to her eldest sister's house, she saw her sister washing clothes in the yard and went over to help. She had just reached out when Kong Xiujuan stopped her.

Kong Xiujuan smiled and said, "Xiujin is back. How did the interview go?"

Kong Xiujin smiled awkwardly and said, "I don't know, they told me to come back and wait for the results."

Kong Xiujuan comforted her, "It should be about right. Their Director Xu is practically Xiufang's teacher, and she likes her quite a bit. She should be able to give her that kind of face."

Hearing this, Kong Xiujin felt a little more at ease. She was about to go help with the laundry when Kong Xiujuan said, "Alright, go to the kitchen and pick some vegetables. We'll have some greens for dinner tonight."

Kong Xiujuan felt that since she had been staying here for so long, eating and drinking for free, she must feel embarrassed, so she had been helping her with chores for the past few days.

If you really don't let her do any work, she might say she's leaving and renting a place to live elsewhere.

Kong Xiujin really thought that way. She had already made up her mind that if she couldn't find a job, she would go home or go to work in another city as soon as possible, so as not to trouble Kong Xiujuan any further.

After listening to her older sister's advice, she went to the kitchen to pick vegetables and cook rice porridge.

Sun Zitao returned home from get off work in the evening.

As soon as he entered the door, he saw Kong Xiujin busy in the kitchen.

Xiujuan quietly pulled him aside and told him about Xiujin's job interview today.

Sun Zitao nodded, thinking to himself that this girl had it tough too.

During the meal, Sun Zitao said to Kong Xiujin, "Xiujin, don't worry about work. Xiufang will definitely be able to handle it for you."

Kong Xiujin looked at him gratefully and said, "Brother-in-law, thank you and my sister for taking care of me during this time. If I can't find a job, I'll really be embarrassed to continue living here."

Just then, there was a knock on the door. Kong Xiujuan opened the door and saw that it was Kong Xiufang.

She walked in with a big smile and said loudly, "Xiujin, good news! Director Xu has arranged for you to be a record clerk in the warehouse management department!"

Everyone looked delighted upon hearing this.

Kong Xiujin's eyes welled up with tears as she stood up and said, "That's wonderful! Thank you, Xiufang, thank you everyone."

Kong Xiufang waved her hand and said, "We're all family, we should look out for each other. But you'll have to work hard from now on."

Kong Xiujin nodded vigorously. At this moment, her heart was filled with anticipation for her new life, and the little family was filled with a warm atmosphere because of this good news.