The 1970s: Married First, Fell in Love Later-Chapter 37 - 36: He Lang Found a Job

"He Lang, what are you doing here? Are you coming with us to Sea City?" Li Dawei asked happily.

He Lang smiled at him.

He had taken He Lang on two trips before. He Lang knew how to drive and could help out, and on top of that, the guy was great at handling unexpected situations. So when Li Dawei saw He Lang walk over, he was thrilled, assuming He Lang was joining them on this trip to Sea City.

Zhang Bin said, "He Lang, you all know him. From now on, he’ll be going on runs with you. Old Mo, assign He Lang a partner later. But don’t schedule him for any runs just yet. Let him get familiar with vehicle maintenance first."

"Got it, Captain Zhang."

Old Mo was the oldest one there and a steady worker, so Zhang Bin trusted him.

Zhang Bin clapped He Lang on the shoulder and left.

He Lang spent the day at the transport team’s depot.

When he returned in the afternoon, he announced to the whole village that he had found a job.

Xue Yue had at least gotten a heads-up from He Lang, but the rest of the He family and the villagers had no idea.

People have a common weakness: they love to gossip. And just like that, before the He family could even process the news, villagers were already showing up at their door to ask about it.

"I heard your third son found a job in town. What kind of job? How’d he find it? How much does he make a month?"

"Yeah, I heard too! Mrs. He, you can’t keep it a secret. Are they still hiring? What about my Gousheng? Think he could get in?"

"Oh, come on, your Gousheng would never make it. My Huairen, on the other hand, might have a chance."

"What’s wrong with my Gousheng? He earns five work points when he works! He the Third is just a lazy bum. My Gousheng has got to be better than him, right?"

"He’s still no match for my Huairen."

"What do you mean, no match?"

"..."

Mrs. He watched the people standing at the courtyard gate, her head throbbing. ’I’m standing right here,’ she thought, ’how can they talk like this with no regard for me? Nothing’s even happened yet and they’re already starting to argue.’

After finally managing to shoo the crowd away, Mrs. He went back inside, only to see her third son sitting there with his legs crossed.

"Third Son, you need to explain yourself! What is going on? What kind of job did you get? And how does the whole village already know about it?" Mrs. He demanded, looking anxiously at He Lang’s calm expression.

Little did she know, He Lang had started spreading the word the moment he entered the village. By now, the entire village probably knew he’d found a job, which was exactly the effect He Lang wanted.

He needed everyone to know he was employed and had a source of income.

He Lang said casually, "I just know a guy from the transport team. He found out I could drive, so he got me a temporary position there."

"The transport team? That’s a lucrative post," He Nan said with a hint of envy.

Mr. He, taking a drag from his cigarette, said, "Perks or no perks, now that you’re there, work hard. Don’t you dare embarrass me."

He Ze glanced at He Lang a few times but said nothing. He Ze was a temporary worker at the town’s textile factory. Even though He Lang was also a temporary worker, a job with the transport team was worlds better than one at the textile factory. A sour feeling grew in He Ze’s heart.

When He Lang came out of the house, he ran into Gu Yuwei, who had been standing outside the whole time. Seeing He Lang, Gu Yuwei opened her mouth, wanting to ask if it was true he’d found a job in town.

He Lang gave Gu Yuwei a single glance and walked quickly away.

Gu Yuwei watched as He Lang went back into his own room and shut the door with a SLAM.

「In the eldest son’s quarters,」 as soon as He Nan returned, Guo Jinfeng immediately asked, "Third Brother found a job? Is it for real?"

"It’s true. He’s a temporary worker at the transport team."

Guo Jinfeng was stunned for a moment. She said to He Nan, "Is it that easy to get into the transport team? How much did Third Brother pay?"

He Nan shook his head. "He didn’t pay anything. Said he knew someone who recommended him."

"Then could you ask Third Brother to talk to that person and see if he can get you in too?" Guo Jinfeng asked, looking at He Nan with hopeful eyes.

He Nan shot her a look. "Are you daydreaming? You think just anyone who wants to can get in? It’s one thing that Third Brother is well-connected, but the most important thing is that he knows how to drive. I’ve barely even ridden a bicycle, and you want me to drive a truck?"

Guo Jinfeng blinked, and after a long moment, she replied, "In this family, the second and third brothers are both workers now. You’re the only one left tilling the fields every day."

"What’s wrong with tilling the fields? If everyone becomes a worker, someone still has to farm. Otherwise, what would we all eat?"

Although He Nan envied his younger brothers, he believed everyone had their own destiny and there was no use forcing it. Besides, compared to the days when they couldn’t even fill their stomachs, farming now offered a sense of hope.

Guo Jinfeng stared at the unambitious He Nan, so angry she could have ground her molars to dust.

「In the second son’s quarters,」 He Ze returned to their room in low spirits, only to find Gao Cuiyun squatting by the spittoon, vomiting.

"Did you eat something bad? You’ve thrown up seven or eight times today."

After she finished, Gao Cuiyun rinsed her mouth, gently patted her chest, and shook her head.

"I didn’t eat anything unusual. I just can’t stop feeling nauseous and throwing up bile."

Gao Cuiyun suddenly had a thought and whispered to He Ze, "Husband, do you think I might be pregnant again?"

He Ze glanced at her belly. "Probably not, right? There hasn’t been any news for years. How could it suddenly..."

Gao Cuiyun wasn’t sure either. Her health had been damaged after giving birth to Xiao Yang, and she hadn’t conceived since. So with the way things were now, she couldn’t be certain.

"Husband, aren’t you going to work tomorrow? Could you take me to the hospital for a check-up on your way? You never know, right?"

He Ze nodded. "Alright."

Gao Cuiyun then asked about He Lang’s job. "Did Third Brother really find a job?"

He Ze grunted irritably. "He’s just a temporary worker."

Gao Cuiyun also asked, "How much did he pay for it?"

He Ze shot her a look. "Why are you asking about that? Hurry up and make dinner. We’ll eat and go to bed early so we can leave early tomorrow."

Gao Cuiyun pouted but didn’t dare to provoke him.

「Back with He Lang,」 Xue Yue was packing his things.

"Will you be eating lunch at the depot from now on?"

"Yeah. I just need to bring my lunchbox and chopsticks."

"It’s so far away, it’ll be a hassle to come back every night. Why don’t you apply for a spot in the dormitory like Second Brother? It would save you the daily commute." Xue Yue was thinking about how inconvenient the round trip was, and how he would have to wake up early every day.

He Lang looked down at Xue Yue, his voice a little deep. "If I don’t come back at night, won’t you be scared all by yourself?"

Xue Yue stopped what she was doing and looked up at He Lang, meeting his unreadable eyes.

She said softly, "I just think you’ll be tired from all that traveling."

He Lang scooped Xue Yue up into his arms, setting her down on the edge of the kang bed. He stood before her.

He cupped Xue Yue’s cheeks with his hands, leaned in close, and whispered, "If I’m not here, will you miss me?"

Xue Yue gazed into He Lang’s focused eyes. It was as if she were the only person in his world. A smile played on her lips as a wave of sweetness welled up from the bottom of her heart.

*SMOOCH.*

Xue Yue’s sudden action stunned He Lang, and he didn’t react for a moment.

Seeing Xue Yue’s face grow redder and redder, He Lang let out a soft chuckle.

"Kiss me again."

Xue Yue shyly lowered her head, neither speaking nor responding.

He Lang smiled, lifted Xue Yue’s chin, and lowered his head.