QTIMP -Chapter 34 Character Persona – Greedy (Part 34)

As for the things Xing Huai’en had mailed over, Si Qiu sent everything back the same way it came. He had even asked Xiao Xue to bring something to her once, but Si Qiu refused to accept it, and Xiao Xue mailed it back again. After that, he finally stopped sending anything.

Still, Xiao Xue often looked like she wanted to say something but held back. Si Qiu decided to be direct and told her plainly that she didn’t like Xing Huai’en. Xiao Xue immediately took her side and even wrote to her brother, telling him not to mention Xing Huai’en in letters home anymore.

However, starting before the New Year, the atmosphere grew increasingly tense. Various documents were issued frequently, and the entire holiday season felt tight and strained.

In the blink of an eye, it was June 1966. Suddenly, a national document was released announcing that the college entrance examination had been postponed. Before the public discussion around that could even settle, news followed that the exam had been suspended altogether.

For many people, it felt as if the sky had collapsed. Director Li’s mouth was covered in blisters from anxiety. Si Qiu couldn’t help reminding her, “Aunt Li, since things have turned out this way, we should hurry and find a job for Xiao Xue. I’m afraid…”

She didn’t need to finish. Aunt Li understood. At this time, although there were calls for educated youth to go to the countryside, it wasn’t yet mandatory.

Many graduating students were being encouraged to go down to the villages. But those older people who had clawed their way up from rural life all knew how hard that life truly was.

When mandatory rustication began in 1968, the so-called “Old Three Classes” were the first to be mobilized—meaning the graduates from 1966 to 1968.

Xiao Xue didn’t have a boyfriend yet, and marriage might need to be postponed. So finding her a job as soon as possible was crucial.

Thinking of graduating students reminded her of Qin Bei. After getting off work at noon, she picked up some food from the state-run restaurant and headed straight to that dilapidated little courtyard.

Qin Bei opened the door for her. He looked completely dejected. Si Qiu carried in two lunchboxes, said nothing, and simply started laying out the food.

“Do you think it will ever be reinstated?” he suddenly asked.

“Not in the short term, probably.”

Hearing her answer, his hand paused mid-motion as he was picking up food.

Si Qiu didn’t seem to notice and chatted casually, “I think you’re just too idle. Once you get busy, these things won’t feel like such a big deal. Look at our neighborhood committee—these past few days, documents have piled up in stacks. Today we’re required to mobilize educated youth to go to the countryside to experience life. Tomorrow it’s to support rural construction. We all have to go out and do the persuasion work. My legs are about worn thin from running around, and my mouth is practically chapped raw from talking. I’m telling you, there are too many idle people in the city right now. When there’s idleness, there’s trouble. Our committee is bound to get even busier, so I might not have time to eat with you anymore.”

As Si Qiu spoke, Qin Bei’s eating pace grew slower and slower.

“Oh, by the way, how’s your third brother doing at the purchasing station?”

“Huh? Oh! He’s doing pretty well. I heard the person you recommended has already been made permanent.”

“Becoming permanent is good. One more person employed means one less thing for our neighborhood committee to worry about.”

When she brought up the topic again, Qin Bei stopped chewing and looked at her quietly.

Si Qiu pretended not to notice and continued reaching her chopsticks toward the plate of scrambled eggs.

Until the moment she left again, Qin Bei didn’t say another word.

A few days later, a “red capitalist” donated a siheyuan courtyard. Although it wasn’t as large as the Public Security Bureau’s compound, it was more than sufficient for their smaller staff.

So the neighborhood committee prepared to relocate. With the move, they found themselves short-handed and needed to recruit more people. That was how Li Qingxue was brought in.

At the same time, another young girl named Shi Meifeng joined. She was seventeen and had just graduated from middle school.

A retired, solitary veteran was arranged to serve as the gatekeeper, and an older military wife was hired as the cook. With the staff in place, the relocation officially began.

Even with personnel from the Public Security Bureau helping, Si Qiu and the others were busy for several straight days.

After everything was finally settled, Si Qiu felt she had to reward her stomach; otherwise, she felt as if all the strength had been drained from her body.

Leaning over her desk, she was planning which state-run restaurant to visit after work when Li Qingxue, who had just returned from outside, suddenly slapped her desk.

“Xiao Qiu, there’s a guy outside looking for you.” She spoke mysteriously.

Si Qiu stood up immediately. “You don’t recognize him?”

Li Qingxue quickly shook her head. “Nope!”

Seeing that it was almost time to get off work anyway, Si Qiu picked up her shoulder bag and headed out.

She jogged a few steps to the entrance and saw a man chatting with the gatekeeper. He wore an extremely short buzz cut. When he smiled, a dimple appeared on one side of his face. His eyes narrowed slightly, making him look especially pleasant.

Hearing her footsteps, he turned at once. “Qin Bei?”

Qin Bei waved to the old gatekeeper, tossed the cigarette in his hand onto the ground, and crushed it out. “Qiuqiu, you’re off work, right? Perfect—I brought something delicious. Let’s go eat.”

Si Qiu felt a little dazed, watching him rattle off that long string of words. He said goodbye to the gatekeeper and turned to leave.

Drawn by the rich aroma wafting from the lunchboxes, she followed him back toward the old courtyard.

Only after chopsticks were pressed into her hand did she snap out of it. Looking at the four lunchboxes arranged before her, she swallowed hard but decided she should at least ask first.

She could probably endure a little longer.

“Where have you been all this time? And where did all this food come from?”

Seafood—she hadn’t eaten any in such a long time. She felt she was about to lose all restraint.

Qin Bei picked up his chopsticks and first placed a bit of each dish into her bowl. “Eat first. I’ll explain slowly.”

Since he put it that way, Si Qiu didn’t make things hard for herself. She took a bite of the braised abalone with pork and potatoes. The first mouthful was so fragrant she nearly swallowed her tongue.