Chapter 175 Job Promotion

Xiao Jiu felt that the shrimp were blanched when they were fresh, then frozen outside before being brought to their house as a gift.

So her fourth sister is clearly not an ordinary person either!

Despite her inability to hear and her lack of eloquence, she is actually very perceptive; she just chooses not to explain herself.

But no matter where the shrimp come from, they are all for our own consumption, so why does it matter where they come from?

"We're in for a treat this Chinese New Year! Look, there's some ribbonfish your godfather got us. We'll fry it up today and everyone can eat it together."

When Cuihong, who was helping in the kitchen, saw the appearance of the ribbonfish, she frowned and looked very disgusted. Xiaojiu, who was watching from the side, felt that her fourth sister knew a lot about seafood!

This year, the only ingredient she contributed to the dish was plump peanuts. They grew some themselves, but it wasn't enough to go around. Grandma shelled some for the New Year, and she secretly scooped a large bowlful into the dish and mixed it all together.

Grandma thought it was strange when she was soaking the peanuts the night before. "I feel like I didn't peel this many, and the peanuts we grow are usually quite small, yet there are so many big ones here."

Grandpa said she must have remembered it wrong. It couldn't have been added out of nowhere, could it?

Grandma, unsuspecting, sighed, "I guess I really am getting old!"

Grandma soaked a big basin of peanuts, planning to make spiced peanuts today as a side dish for these men.

The rest are deep-fried, so that women and children can also grab and eat them.

When it came to Cuixiang, she decided to make sweet fried peanuts, which delighted everyone.

Only Xiaojiu and Cuimei didn't move forward; in their eyes, sweet fried peanuts were nothing special.

The old lady loved being around people, and seeing so many children and grandchildren surrounding her made her beam with joy.

There were two tables set up, one for men and one for women. The men drank their wine, and the women gossiped, without disturbing each other.

Tang Cuilian has been working for a year now. Compared to this time last year, she is noticeably darker and looks more robust.

For the past year, I've been earning a temporary worker's wage of fifteen yuan a month, working more than ten hours a day. Although there's no overtime pay, there are overtime meals that I can eat my fill of without having to pay for them. My life has been more fulfilling than ever before.

Compared to her other sisters, Tang Cuilian was undoubtedly the luckiest.

"We'll both be officially hired after the New Year. We've already received the notification, starting after the New Year."

Zhao Lingli also shared some good news: "It's mainly because my husband is very skilled. I, as an outsider, have also learned a lot of skills over the years. I never expected to become a key member of the factory. I'm benefiting from being educated. I can read and do accounting. After the New Year, I'll be promoted to a full-time position and even become a team leader!"

Zhao Lingli was very happy. "My household registration will be transferred to the factory after the New Year so that I can receive grain and other benefits every month."

Regular employees receive labor protection supplies every month, and at the beginning of the month they also receive various receipts and grain ration books. So far, it seems that they are better off than those with rural household registration.

"Then let's transfer. We used to run our own business, and we were worried about things going wrong, so we moved back to the countryside. Now it's different. If you two have the opportunity to become permanent employees, you should naturally transfer your household registration to the factory. This is a great opportunity. Cuilian, you should work hard too. Maybe you'll have the opportunity to become permanent employees in the future. You're still young, you'll have plenty of opportunities!"

While serving food to Xiao Jiu, Zhao Lingli spoke to the other girls.

"That's right. This distillery is all about seniority. I don't know if my husband and I will be lucky enough to get a house. It would be great if we could get a house. Right now, we're working hard to meet various performance targets. Don't underestimate this small factory; the competition is fierce."

A state-owned winery in a small county town was safe, at least until the late 1980s. It's only been 57 years now. By then, my parents will have retired, so it's definitely necessary to keep going.

In those days, if a family had two full-time employees, they could support a whole family.

Furthermore, if you get a permanent job at this time, you'll be able to buy affordable food during famine years, which is the bottom line for urban residents.

"After I become a full-fledged worker, my salary will rise to 33 yuan a month. That's the salary for a first-level worker. My husband is a skilled worker, and he also receives a skills subsidy every month. Together, he can earn 36 yuan. If you factor in overtime and other miscellaneous expenses, he can earn 40 yuan."

As expected of someone from a family that has been making wine for generations, Tao Changyi is a dedicated researcher. He spends every day in the wine cellar studying the taste and fermentation time of the wine. Although he has only been at the winery for a short time, he has been doing this since he was a child and definitely deserves the title of master craftsman.

As the old saying goes, if you have a skill, you won't starve no matter where you go.

Tang Cuimei also mentioned the fifty yuan compensation, saying, "After the New Year, Cuixiang will go to school. This money will come from the compensation. It's not easy for our family to have a student. If she can go to school, she should. If she can succeed in the future, it will also reduce the burden on the family."

This is the truth, and it's also a way out for rural children with high investment and high returns.

When the topic of going to the city for drinks came up at the dinner table, Cui Mei took the initiative to make suggestions in response to her family's concerns.

"Why don't I go with you? It's not appropriate for Xiao Jiu to stay in their boys' dormitory. We'll get a letter of introduction and stay at a guesthouse. I want to visit the city library and see the environment of the No. 1 High School so that I can use it as a reference for my efforts in the second half of the year. I will bring Xiao Jiu back safely."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Lingli exclaimed, "Oh, that would be the best! I've been worried that she wouldn't be able to manage on her own, and it wouldn't be right to have her brother take her back and forth again. Xiaomei, it would be great if you could come along. I'll cover your accommodation and meals."

Cui Mei quickly said, "No, no need. I have some money on hand now, and besides, it won't cost much."

"Keep your money for your studies and schooling; the money your godmother gives you is a reward."

Xiao Jiu was also very happy. As long as she could go out and see the world, it was an opportunity for her. She could also check if there were any sales channels in the city and exchange some money. She didn't have much money and felt quite anxious, especially since it was winter and supplies were scarce. It was a good time.

On the afternoon of the second day of the Lunar New Year, Xiao Jiu went back to Taoyuan Village with her sisters. Because it started to snow, Cuihua told the Tao family not to go to the Tang family on the third day of the Lunar New Year, saying that Xiao Jiu would stay at their house for two days and then be sent back. Xiao Jiu also wanted to see how her sisters were doing and see if there was anything she could help them with.

In the past two years, the sisters have worked together and become more assertive. Anyone who tries to freeload at the Tang family's old house has been driven away by them.

As for the so-called biological father, Tang Youtian, it was as if he didn't exist. Tang Youtian had a second wife to take care of him, and he devoted himself to working and raising his son. So he didn't bother them. As for Cao Amei, she married far away. It was her skill to be able to run back. It would be normal if she couldn't.