Chapter 28: Keep a Low Profile, Keep It Low-Key

Tian Xiang, seeing that it was still early, went to the theater troupe for practice and didn't return until noon.

As soon as she entered the courtyard, the scent of stewed meat wafted toward her. Oh, someone was having a feast today. Tian Xiang glanced over and saw Tian Chuying standing by the coal stove, adding salt to a pot. Clearly, the fragrance was coming from there.

Pan Yuzhen, appearing like a ghost, sidled up to Tian Xiang and whispered, "She only got back after eleven this morning. She bought pork ribs and kidney beans at the market. Looks like she’s planning to send them over to Lu Feng."

The communal courtyard was cramped; no family had their own kitchen or restroom. The restrooms were located by the water pipes, one for every alley, shared by about twenty households. The stoves were just two coal burners under the eaves—one for rice, one for dishes—so everyone could see exactly what their neighbors were eating.

Tian Chuying hadn't come home last night? Tian Xiang hadn't known that.

Pan Yuzhen continued, "Tsk, tsk, tsk. The man is already seeing a widow, and she still has the nerve to cling to him? Even stewing tonic soup for him—I don't even know what to say about your cousin. She’s bringing such shame to the Tian family."

Indeed. Tian Xiang simply said, "Let her be." She couldn't concern herself with other people's business.

After parking her bicycle, Tian Xiang stepped away. Pan Yuzhen quickly began gossiping with others. Before long, the entire courtyard knew that Tian Chuying had stayed out all night and was fighting a widow for a man.

At noon, as Tian Xiang was slurping her noodles, she heard arguing from next door. It seemed He Cuifen had returned. Tian Xiang ignored it, finished her meal, took a short nap, and headed back to the troupe.

In the afternoon, sensing the time, she went to the market to buy dinner groceries. As she walked into the courtyard, she bumped into Tian Chuying. The latter was also pushing her bicycle, but she looked disheveled. There were scratches on her face, as if she had been clawed, and she kept her head low, avoiding everyone. At first, Tian Xiang hadn't noticed, as Tian Chuying had let her hair down to hide the damage. It was only when she dropped her lunch bag while reaching for her bike handlebars that Tian Xiang recognized her.

So she had gotten into a fight with Widow Jiang! Serves her right. Tian Xiang walked straight past her and into the courtyard. Behind her, Pan Yuzhen, who always caught onto these things instantly, gasped, "My goodness, Tian Chuying, who did you get into a fight with?"

Tian Chuying was too ashamed to speak; she covered her face, ran into her room, and slammed the door. Soon, the rumor spread throughout the courtyard that Tian Chuying had nearly been disfigured fighting a widow for a man.

When Hu Honglian returned from work, she heard the news and laughed, humming a tune. However, her mood soured when she heard that her daughter’s position was only a probationary one. "Why is there a probation period?"

Tian Xiang explained the issue of overstaffing. Only two positions were open? In these times, such roles were usually internally decided, so why the overstaffing? Hu Honglian sensed something was wrong. Tian Xiang suggested, "Someone might be targeting Chairman Jiang." She had thought about it, and it wasn't hard to guess who was behind it.

Hu Honglian worried, "But once you’re in, won't they target you too?"

Tian Xiang replied, "Mom, a clear conscience needs no fear. If I do my job well, how can they find fault?"

That was true, but... Hu Honglian knew the workplace was difficult. She had her husband finish the noodles while she pulled her daughter into their room. She spent the time teaching her daughter the hundred points of getting along with superiors, how to handle emergencies, and how to strike back against colleagues with sharp tongues or those who would stab her in the back.

The next day, Tian Xiang packed her large lunch box, her red peony-patterned tea mug, her notebook, her work ledger, a fountain pen, ink, a small tea cake, and the hard-boiled eggs her mother had prepared. She set off for work.

She pushed her bicycle, with Hu Honglian following to see her off. Pan Yuzhen saw the bulging cloth bag and asked where she was going. Hu Honglian smiled, feeling a bit sheepish, "She's starting a probationary position at the Red Fifth Street."

"A position on Red Fifth Street! Which factory?"

"Oh, the Machinery Factory."

"My god! That's the number one factory among the Big Five! How is Xiangxiang so capable? From now on, she's a Red Fifth Street local!"

Nowadays, gender equality was emphasized, and female employees were eligible for housing after marriage. Hu Honglian said, "Keep it low, keep it low. It's just a trial period; whether she stays is another matter..." Though nothing was certain, she couldn't help but want to boast. She had previously hoped to marry her daughter off to Red Fifth Street just to secure a job. Now, her daughter had found her own way without relying on marriage—it was a qualitative leap.

Even though it was only a trial, the news that Tian Xiang had landed a job at the Machinery Factory spread throughout Sanli Alley in the time it took to buy groceries. The difference between the two cousins was stark: the elder was working at the Red Fifth Street, while the younger was still fighting a widow for a man.

Meanwhile, as Tian Xiang approached the factory gate, she pinned on her temporary work permit. During work hours, Red Fifth Street was a sea of bicycles. Now, she was one of them. Tian Xiang felt a surge of excitement and greeted the elderly gatekeeper. The old man laughed warmly—the young were always so full of life.

Tian Xiang arrived early, and only Section Chief Li was in the office. Li Huai assigned her a seat. By the time she had finished setting up her things, Tao Huilan and Chen Yong arrived one after the other. Tao Huilan kept the same arrogant air as yesterday, looking at Tian Xiang askance. Strangely, she had a red scratch on her face, which matched the marks on Tian Chuying’s face from the day before. Chen Yong, who had been sent to the hospital after hitting the iron gate, looked fine, though there was a bruise on the bridge of his nose. It seemed he had a fainting spell at the sight of blood.

Once everyone arrived, the three completed their entry formalities. Jiang Qin came over with Li Huai and two existing colleagues from the Internal Affairs Department to hold a simple welcome meeting. After introductions, they got down to business.

Jiang Qin gave an overview of the Lixin Machinery Factory’s union. With over 4,800 employees, it was the largest factory in the city. Founded after liberation, the factory, including retirees, families, and children, totaled over 16,000 people. The residential area occupied one-third of the district, the largest of all the Big Five factories.

The union had four departments: the General Affairs Department (management and personnel), the Internal Affairs Department (office work and workers' livelihood), the Organization Department (production and safety coordination), and the Propaganda Department (culture, sports, and outreach). Excluding the factory committee leaders holding concurrent titles and various spontaneous hobby groups, there were currently eighteen full-time staff.

The new Internal Affairs team was created to handle the increasing workload, organize and guide retirees and housewives in learning and progress, and coordinate with the neighborhood committees.

When Section Chief Li introduced the work yesterday, the three felt like mere handymen. But as Chairman Jiang spoke, Tian Xiang felt herself shift from a laborer to a formal factory staff member, gaining the dignity and foundation of a professional cadre.