Chapter 16: Preparation

After returning home, Li Xiuyuan called his parents to let them know that the reporting date on the notification was quite tight.

He had received the notification today, and the start date was set for the 11th—just the day after tomorrow, Wednesday. He had originally thought there would be a few days to prepare.

But it turned out there was only one day, which was rather rushed.

“Alright, no problem. I called your sister this morning; she said she’ll come over this afternoon. After lunch, I’ll close up the shop and come home with your mother. The noodle shop won’t be open tonight,” his father, Li Jianguo, said cheerfully over the phone. “We’re just waiting for you to get your notification. Once the whole family is together tonight, we’ll have a good celebration for you.”

Li Xiuyuan didn’t refuse his father’s suggestion. Now that everything was settled, having a small family gathering to make his parents happy was only fitting.

After hanging up, Li Xiuyuan didn’t waste time. First, he prepared the things he needed to bring to work on the day after tomorrow, starting with a notebook. As the saying goes, a good memory isn’t as reliable as a worn-out pen.

Having worked for decades in his past life, Li Xiuyuan deeply understood this truth. With so many tasks assigned by superiors, forgetting even one or two could instantly ruin their impression of you and, if important matters were delayed, could even lead to punishment.

By recording daily work, he could often review it. Also, if any issues arose at work, the notebook could serve as evidence.

Keeping a record of work helped trace accountability and, to some extent, mitigate risks.

Next, he needed to prepare his work clothes. Many people misunderstood, thinking that working within the system meant wearing a suit and tie, polished black leather shoes, carrying a briefcase and a water bottle.

He wasn’t sure about other places, but at the county level, unless it was a significant occasion, none of that was necessary.

Dressing neatly and appropriately was enough. There was no need for a suit, shirt, and tie—he wasn’t a leader, so why dress so conspicuously?

A slightly casual look was fine, of course. But if he wore a shirt with cartoon patterns or some strange outfit, that would only make him uncomfortable.

Li Xiuyuan sorted through his wardrobe. Some clothes were no longer wearable, but others were fine—like striped shirts, solid-colored casual pants, and black and white sneakers.

After tidying up, he planned for the next day. Once work started, freedom would be limited, so he decided to take advantage of the remaining day to go to the city, open a securities account, invest fifty thousand yuan, and then focus on work with peace of mind.

He was waiting for the bull market of 2007 to arrive, when the money in the stock market would roll upward.

It was 2005 now. In two or three years, by 2007, he could at least earn some retirement money for his parents in this small county—not necessarily achieving financial freedom, but enough to let them rest easy after a lifetime of hard work.

Around two o’clock in the afternoon, his parents returned. Li Jianguo and Zhang Qiuhe were carrying groceries, ready to cook something delicious for dinner.

“Mom, Dad, you’re back.”

“Yeah, quickly show your reporting notice to Dad,” Li Jianguo said as soon as he arrived, getting straight to the point. Li Xiuyuan smiled and handed the notice to his parents.

The reporting notice was simple.

It was issued by the Personnel Bureau—a notification of employment as a civil servant in Huangyuan County. It read:

“Comrade Li Xiuyuan: According to the relevant laws, after passing the examination, medical check, and evaluation, you are hereby employed as a civil servant. Please report to the Huangyuan County People's Government Office on May 11, 2005.”

Below was the official seal of the Huangyuan County Personnel Bureau and the date.

Though just a few simple lines, Li Jianguo and Zhang Qiuhe read the notice over and over until their eyes were red, before carefully handing it back to their son.

“Dad, Mom, why do you look like you’re about to cry?” Li Xiuyuan teased.

Li Jianguo laughed, half scolding. “You little brat, teasing your old man now. Crying? It’s just the wind and dust making my eyes sting. I’ll go wash the vegetables and start cooking. Tonight, we’ll have a good drink, just the two of us.”

With that, he got up and went into the kitchen.

His mother followed, and the two chatted and laughed heartily as they prepared the meal. Sitting in the living room, Li Xiuyuan smiled along.

Around four in the afternoon, there was a knock at the door. Li Xiuyuan got up to open it and saw his sister’s family: his sister Li Qingqing holding his little niece, while her husband Zhang Zhihao held their older nephew's hand and carried some gifts.

“Sis, brother-in-law, come in. You just came, why the gifts? That’s too formal,” Li Xiuyuan said, ruffling his nephew’s hair.

The boy, named Zhang Mingxuan, was already in senior kindergarten and would be starting primary school that fall. The little one was sturdy and lively.

“Uncle!” Zhang Mingxuan called out in a sweet, childish voice. Li Xiuyuan bent down to pick him up. The boy was quite heavy, so he quickly put him down again.

Hearing the commotion, their parents came out of the kitchen. Seeing the gifts, they scolded gently, saying the guests were too polite and shouldn’t spend money unnecessarily. With two kids, there would be plenty of expenses once they started school.

Zhang Zhihao was straightforward and just smiled shyly, not saying much.

His family lived in a central town near Huangyuan County—the wealthiest town in the area. They ran a small business and lived comfortably.

He and Li Qingqing had been middle school classmates; neither passed the high school entrance exam, so they attended vocational school together and eventually got married.

“Mom, Dad, is there some good news to call us over like this?” Li Qingqing asked bluntly, handing the children to her husband before following into the kitchen.

When Li Jianguo called his daughter, he hadn’t explained what the matter was.

“Ha ha, I’ll tell you at dinner,” Li Jianguo laughed heartily.

Li Xiuyuan poured tea for his brother-in-law in the living room and handed a drink to his nephew.

“Thanks, Uncle. I want to watch cartoons,” the little boy said without shyness, immediately making another request after receiving the drink.

Li Xiuyuan laughed and agreed, turning on the TV so the boy could watch cartoons.

Only then did he start chatting with his brother-in-law.