Colorful years

"Old Luo, let's take the two brothers directly to their dormitory and settle them in first, and then we'll deal with other matters." Section Chief Qin smiled and warmly led the Zhang brothers to the slightly old Volga sedan, then turned to Old Luo, who was sitting in the driver's seat, and gave him instructions.

"Alright!" Old Luo readily agreed, then skillfully released the handbrake, gently pressed the accelerator with his right foot, and with a deep and powerful roar, the old Volga sedan slowly started moving forward with difficulty.

The wheels rolled on, and the scenery on both sides of the road rushed past. Before long, the car was on the wide, straight, six-lane main road that led directly from the train station to the prefectural government compound. Since it was not rush hour, there were few vehicles on the road, and Lao Luo was able to easily control the speed and drive smoothly all the way.

About twenty minutes later, the car gradually slowed down and finally came to a steady stop at the foot of a hill on the north side of Renmin Road. The hill was not high, but the terrain was undulating, with all sorts of buildings scattered on and off the hill.

Adjacent to the main road stands a four-story building, conspicuously positioned among the buildings of varying heights, like a proud crane standing among chickens. This is the location of the state post office and telegraph building.

Lao Luo deftly took the heavy luggage out of the car trunk and, without hesitation, carried it on his broad, sturdy shoulders.

Section Chief Qin walked steadily ahead, as if he knew everything about the place. Lao Luo followed closely behind Section Chief Qin, not daring to relax for a moment.

Not to be outdone, Zhang Cong and his brother quickly followed Lao Luo, their footsteps sounding exceptionally clear in the quiet environment.

They slowly climbed the winding, uneven stone steps on the east side of the post office building. They remained silent the entire way. Finally, they reached the hillside, where a long row of brick and tile bungalows came into view before Zhang Cong.

The view here is expansive, with no obstructions in front, offering a commanding view of the bustling city below.

Without hesitation, Section Chief Qin walked straight to Room 112 and stopped steadily at the door.

He calmly reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, delicate key. With a crisp "click," the door opened smoothly.

Upon seeing this, Lao Luo immediately strode into the house and carefully placed the luggage he was carrying on his shoulder onto the large bed.

Zhang Cong, who followed him into the room, quickly scanned the room with his eyes.

The first thing he noticed was the double wooden bed placed against the north wall, which looked sturdy and durable; then he saw a wooden writing desk with three drawers and an antique-style wooden chair placed neatly in front of the south window.

The room is about 20 square meters in size. Although the furnishings are simple and plain, it is the standard for single dormitories during the period of supply system, and can even be said to be a pretty good treatment.

Thinking that he was able to enjoy a nice dormitory provided by the company even before he had officially reported for duty, Zhang Cong couldn't help but feel an indescribable sense of gratitude.

This gratitude naturally extended to Section Chief Qin, who had been so helpful and had guided them there. At that moment, Zhang Cong secretly resolved to perform well in his future work and not let down Section Chief Qin and the unit for the special care and attention they had received.

"Xiao Zhang, the conditions here are indeed a bit basic, but please make do for now! However, there is one advantage to living here: it's very convenient whether you're going to work or shopping!"

Look, that big compound right in front of you is where our prefectural party committee and government offices are located. It only takes five or six minutes to walk there from here.

Look to your right front, do you recognize those two buildings standing side-by-side along the west side of Wuling Mountain Avenue? One is the Prefectural Party Committee Guesthouse, and the other is the Wuling Mountain Store!

As Section Chief Qin introduced the surroundings, he glanced at his watch, then fixed his gaze on Zhang Cong and said:

"Time flies! It's already past four in the afternoon! Here's what we'll do, Xiao Zhang, why don't you clean the room thoroughly and make it neat and tidy?"

Once everything is settled, come over to my place for dinner tonight. As for officially reporting to work, let's schedule that for tomorrow.

Hearing Section Chief Qin's thoughtful words, Zhang Cong quickly replied gratefully, "Section Chief Qin, and Lao Luo, it's really too much trouble for you two. I feel so bad that you've been busy with me all day. Thank you so much!"

"Hey! We're colleagues now, and we'll be working together for a long time to come. There's no need to be so formal about such a small thing!" Section Chief Qin waved his hand heartily and said with a smile.

After exchanging pleasantries for a while, Section Chief Qin and Lao Luo waved goodbye to Zhang Cong and turned to leave.

After Section Chief Qin and Lao Luo slowly left, Zhang Cong hurriedly called to his younger brother and rushed towards the Wuling Mountain store. Their steps were hurried the whole way, as if they were afraid of missing something important.

Finally arriving at the store, Zhang Cong and his younger brother began carefully selecting the items they needed. First, they bought a sturdy tin bucket, its surface gleaming with the distinctive luster of metal; then they bought a brand-new mop, its long head appearing soft and supple; and next, a broom, its handle smooth and easy to handle, its bristles neatly arranged.

In addition to these cleaning supplies, they also purchased a range of daily necessities such as toothpaste, toothbrushes, soap, and bar soap. Each item was carefully compared and considered before being placed in the shopping basket.

After buying the urgently needed items, the two brothers rushed back to their dormitory. As soon as they entered, they immediately threw themselves into the busy work of cleaning.

The older brother, Zhang Cong, was in charge of wiping the window glass. He carefully wiped away the dust with a damp cloth and then gently wiped it with dry newspaper until the glass became as clear as a mirror.

The younger brother picked up a mop and diligently mopped the floor, not missing a single corner, gradually making the originally dirty floor shine.

After cleaning the interior of the room, the two brothers moved on to the outdoor hallway and balcony. They worked together seamlessly. After a lot of hard work, the entire room, inside and out, was finally cleaned spotlessly and looked brand new. Even the sunlight streaming through the windows seemed exceptionally bright and warm.

Looking at the fruits of their hard work—a clean and comfortable living environment—the two brothers smiled at each other, filled with a sense of accomplishment. Afterward, they leisurely made their beds, tidied their clothes and belongings, and then went to Section Chief Qin's house to enjoy a sumptuous dinner.