Refusing to marry a widower, I went on a crazy spree of sending my children to the army.

Everyone: "......"

Okay, it's good that Qiao Manman wasn't hired.

"What about the vacant positions?"

Director Tan gave a forced smile: "Keep it for the next recruitment!"

Thinking that these troublemakers would only cause more trouble if brought in, it would be better to get rid of them all.

And so, the supply and marketing cooperative's recruitment came to an end, and Qiao Manman followed Liang Simin to the Liang family home.

Just then, Liang's parents came home from get off work. When they saw their daughter bring a friend, they quickly went to greet her.

Despite holding an important position in the government, he appears kind and approachable, without any airs.

Liang's father asked, "How did you do on the exam? Was it a complete disaster? If you can't find a job, you should go to the countryside in Northeast China. I've already taken care of everything for you!"

Although the topic was serious, Mr. Liang's tone was very gentle, as if he were joking with Liang Simin.

Liang Simin chuckled and hugged her father's arm: "Dad, I have a job! You didn't expect that, did you? Hehe!"

Mr. Liang exclaimed in surprise, "No way! Your math is so bad, how could you get in? You're not kidding us, are you?"

I secretly suspect that Tan Yousheng let me win. I wonder if this will cause problems.

Liang Simin smiled and shook her head: "Hey, don't you know my own limitations? How could I possibly pass the supply and marketing cooperative's exam?"

It was my sister, Qiao Manman, who gave me this job opportunity!

Liang's mother came out of the kitchen with a plate of strawberries. There weren't many, only about ten. As she urged Qiao Manman to eat, she asked, "What happened?"

Liang Simin briefly explained the exam situation and spoke up for Qiao Manman: "Mom and Dad, you be the judge. Manman's mother is not in good health. What does that have to do with her? Why should her admission be revoked?"

Mr. and Mrs. Liang remained silent, sensing that the matter was not so simple after all.

However, the two were decent people and didn't intend to renege on their debt to Qiao Manman.

Mother Liang went inside and counted six hundred yuan. After hesitating for a moment, she added two more ten-yuan bills and rummaged through the money box to find some grain coupons and some cloth coupons.

She handed the job to Qiao Manman, saying, "Manman, Auntie knows that six hundred yuan can't buy such a good job. Auntie is very grateful that you gave the opportunity to Simin."

Here's 620 yuan and some receipts. Go to the supply and marketing cooperative and buy some nutritional supplements for your mother. Your aunt will visit her again when she's less busy at work.

Regardless of whether the other person's intentions were genuine or not, these words at least sounded quite pleasant. They have a heartwarming power.

Qiao Manman took the money and said with a smile, "Auntie, you're too kind. Actually, I've been quite short of money lately. Getting to know Simin is my good fortune."

As the sun set, Mr. and Mrs. Liang invited Qiao Manman to stay for dinner, but she politely declined.

After leaving the residential compound, I went straight to the state-run restaurant, bought a bowl of shredded pork noodles for myself, and also ordered ten steamed buns, a serving of braised pork, a serving of braised fish, and three or four vegetable dishes to pack up.

The waiter frowned and asked, "Are you sure you can eat this much?"

Qiao Manman explained with a smile, "Sister, someone in my family is in the hospital, so we need to eat something good. Thank you and the chef for your hard work!"

He then handed the other person a handful of fruit candies, saying, "Have a sweet treat!"

The waiter then smiled broadly as he took her order, and the portion of food he served was even more generous than that of the others.

Qiao Manman thought to herself, "When will I ever be 'God' again? This constant bowing and scraping is so humiliating."

Fortunately, the food tasted good, and the bowl of noodles was finished in no time.

Qiao Manman knew the other dishes were ready when the waiter called her. She picked up her lunchbox and thermos from the counter, turned left at the door, and disappeared into a dark alley.

When they came out again, they were empty-handed.

Qiao Manman returned to the guesthouse and found that the checks were much stricter than before.

It might be a shift change; the previous female server wasn't there, and a male server replaced her.

After carefully checking Qiao Manman's letter of introduction, the young man asked her a few more questions. Only after confirming that her identity was correct did he lead her to the room.

"Make sure to close your doors and windows at night, and don't open the door unless it's one of our staff members knocking!"

Qiao Manman nodded, indicating that she understood.

I filled a thermos with hot water, washed up at the foot of the bed, jumped onto the 1.2-meter-wide bunk, stretched out my arms and legs, and sighed contentedly.

Moonlight streamed into the empty room, and her heart was calmer than ever before. Qiao Manman felt it was time to buy a house in the county town!

In her hazy state, she felt like she had forgotten something. But she was too tired and soon fell asleep.

***

Old Master Qiao, Qiao Zhenzhen just got back and immediately threw a huge tantrum.

When Qiao Zhenzhen's mother, Zheng Yue, asked her what happened, Qiao Zhenzhen cried and said, "Mom, I didn't pass the exam. Dad clearly said that everything was arranged, but my name isn't on the list. Instead, that little bitch Qiao Manman is on it!"

"How can this be!"

Seeing that Zheng Yue didn't believe her, Qiao Zhenzhen stomped her foot and said, "So many people saw it, would I lie? I don't know where she got the information from!"

Seeing her daughter's confident expression, Zheng Yue's eyes lit up: "Hey, isn't this a good thing? Just let Qiao Manman give you her job!"

Qiao Zhenzhen's face was filled with horror.

She wondered how she could forget that her father's job was obtained through her third uncle's recommendation.

If the father can give in, why can't the daughter?

Good heavens, what a stupid thing she did!

"Girl, what's wrong?" Zheng Yue noticed that Qiao Zhenzhen's expression was off and quickly helped her sit on the sofa.

Qiao Zhenzhen licked her lips, her voice strained, "Mom, let me calm down. I think I did something wrong..."

***

At the educated youth compound, Lu Yuan was busy until midnight when he returned home and heard from Lu Yifeng that Qiao Manman had come back.

"That girl was quite something, she left without even showing her face. It made Old Mrs. Qiao so angry that she called the barefoot doctor."

Lu Yuan's lips curved upwards, thinking to himself, "That's really true, so lively and cheerful!"

"By the way, did you make any progress today?"

"We've found a clue!"

Lu Yifeng put his hands behind his head: "Looks like the leisurely days of being an educated youth won't last long! Tsk tsk!"

Lu Yuan paused for a moment while making the bed, but quickly resumed his normal actions.

He lay on the kang (a heated brick bed) for a long time, unable to fall asleep.

***

The morning sun shone brightly on the earth. Qiao Manman woke up from her sleep and asked the system, "What time is it, Tongtong? Sign in!"

"Okay, host, it's 8:30 now. Checking in for you immediately! Congratulations on receiving one cubic meter of supplies and one fertility pill!"

Qiao Manman lay on the bed indifferently, and only after she had finished did she sit up with a yawn and check the supplies.

Hmm, it's different from what I checked in a few days ago. It's some clothes and fabric, and a few pairs of shoes.

Qiao Manman took out a little dress and held it up against herself, feeling that it fit her quite well.

Unfortunately, it wasn't the height of summer yet, so I changed into a white long-sleeved shirt and a pair of black cargo pants.

As for shoes, Qiao Manman chose a pair of black lace-up canvas shoes.

After hesitating for a moment, I tied my hair into a high ponytail, which made me look both innocent and capable.