Chapter 9: A Loving Mother and Father

Zhang Yifu’s home was in the old staff dormitory compound of the Jijing Power Supply Bureau. Most people living in the compound were his parents’ coworkers. It was the weekend, and when the neighbors saw a tall young man entering the compound with a large suitcase, they all gathered around. It had to be Old Zhang’s son, the college student.

“Yifu! Does this mean you’ve graduated?” An auntie was the first to approach, fanning herself with a palm-leaf fan.

“Yes, I’ve graduated.” Zhang Yifu replied casually without stopping his steps.

“So, where’s your job assignment? Did you get into the Ministry?” A middle-aged man followed up and asked, “There aren’t many college graduates in our whole compound. We were all counting on you to become a leader!”

“Heh, didn’t get into the Ministry.”

“…That’s alright, that’s alright. Getting into the Ministry directly is too hard. I suppose you went to the North China Bureau then?”

“Didn’t go to the North China Bureau either.”

The neighbors were a bit surprised. After a few awkward seconds, someone finally asked, “You’re coming back to our Power Supply Bureau? That’s fine too… We’re all family here, easier to look after each other.”

“No, not there either.” Zhang Yifu shook his head.

Everyone looked at each other.

They were all insiders and understood the system well. If it wasn’t the Ministry, nor the Electric Power Management Bureau, nor the Power Supply Bureau, then the only place left was probably a Power Plant. The top college student in the compound, Old Zhang’s college son, actually ended up going to a Power Plant after graduation!

No one knew what else to say. Offering comfort felt wrong, not offering comfort also felt wrong. They could only watch as Zhang Yifu stepped away from the crowd and headed straight home.

“Must be that his grades were really too poor,” the auntie sighed, gazing at Zhang Yifu’s retreating back. “Such a fine college student, going to a Power Plant is such a waste…”

“True. Even Lao Wang’s kid, who graduated from a vocational college, got assigned to the Electric Power Management Bureau.”

“Well, that’s Lao Wang for you. He is a Division Chief at the Electric Power Management Bureau himself, so of course he could manage it with some effort.”

“But Old Zhang… he used to be a Leader at the Electric Power Management Bureau too.”

“How many years ago was that? Now he can only fix electric meters, right?”

“Sigh… Yifu is such a pity. It’s always been about connections passing down in our circle. His dad can’t help him now.”

“I’d already talked to that family about a potential matchmaking. Section Chief Song’s daughter really liked Yifu too. With this, that’s probably all ruined.”

“Ha, you should stop talking about that right now. What girl would want to marry into a Power Plant? Especially someone from Section Chief Song’s family!”

So, the neighbors began to sigh in regret over the misfortune that had befallen Old Zhang’s family.

Old Zhang, Zhang Guodong, had obviously been unlucky to be demoted from the Electric Power Management Bureau to the Power Supply Bureau. But what gave him comfort was that he had raised an outstanding college son. After graduation, his son would enter the Power System. As long as his starting point wasn’t too low, becoming a Division Chief in the future would be no problem at all.

If they had to rank them, the Power Supply Bureau was like a third-tier unit. Above it was the Electric Power Management Bureau, and above that was the Ministry. Relatively speaking, children from families in a regional Power Supply Bureau rarely amounted to much. So within the circle of the Power Supply Bureau dormitory compound, everyone had high hopes for Zhang Yifu. They were counting on him to rise up and bring prestige to the whole compound. Because of this, they showed a certain respect to Zhang Guodong. Even Zhang Guodong’s Leader had hinted that he was willing to become family through marriage.

But now, all those hopes were shattered. Once someone enters a Power Plant, who knows how many years they’ll have to endure there. In those days, intellectuals had a sense of superiority. An intellectual should be doing technical or managerial work. A Power Plant was a place for workers. Zhang Yifu had essentially fallen a social class. Among the discussing neighbors, there were some who secretly gloated. In a small dormitory compound, everyone inevitably compared themselves to others. If they themselves hadn’t done well, they would compare whose children were more promising. Previously, many people felt inferior when they saw Zhang Guodong. Now they felt much more at ease. The Power Plant was the lowest unit. Their own high school graduate sons might even do better than Zhang Yifu in the future.

In the courtyard, they talked among themselves. Zhang Yifu didn’t mind at all. In fact, he didn’t care one bit. Right now, he only wanted to hurry home to see his parents. It didn’t matter if others didn’t understand; the key was to put his parents’ minds at ease.

At his doorstep, his mother, Ning Lan, opened the door and saw her precious son returning without notice. Her face was filled with pleasant surprise, but she complained, “How come you just show up like this? You should have told us earlier so your dad and I could pick you up from the train station!”

“I’m old enough. No need to pick me up.” Zhang Yifu smiled, picked up his luggage, and entered the house. “I won’t even stay two full days. Have to report to my work unit soon.”

“Really… the arrangements are so rushed.” Ning Lan wiped her hands on her apron, quickly took it off, and picked up her old, wrinkled leather wallet. “You rest first. Mom will go buy a fish right away. We’ll have your favorite braised fish for dinner.”

“No need, anything is fine,” Zhang Yifu tried to persuade her. “I’ve been eating a lot of farewell meals the past few days.”

“Never you mind.” Ning Lan wouldn’t listen at all. Once she decided, she acted. She immediately changed her shoes and hurried out the door, her face beaming with joy and happiness.

“She really is the best mom,” Zhang Yifu smiled as he watched Ning Lan’s back. His mom didn’t even ask where he was assigned. She was just rushing out to buy fish. That was touching enough.

Just then, Zhang Guodong also reached the door. He raised his glasses for a closer look and asked in surprise, “Yifu?”

Ning Lan looked younger than most women her age, while father Zhang Guodong looked older. His heavy, old-fashioned glasses and the white hair at his temples made him seem like someone about to retire.

“It’s me.” Zhang Yifu quickly stepped forward. “Mom saw me and went out to buy fish. Couldn’t stop her…”

“Heh, that’s just how your mom is.” Once Zhang Guodong saw it was really his son, he stepped forward with a smile. “Come, come, have a rest first. We’ll sort your things out later.”

So, Zhang Yifu followed his father and sat down on the living room sofa.

It was supposed to be a leather sofa, but the leather was worn and tattered. In some places, the yellow foam inside was even showing. The screen of the old TV opposite them wasn’t much bigger than a future iPad. But to be fair, in this era, a family owning these things seemed pretty good.

Naturally, Zhang Guodong was happy to see his son. He casually pulled a pack of Su cigarettes from under the coffee table, lit one with satisfaction, and then smiled as he pushed the pack toward Zhang Yifu. “Four years now. You must have learned, right?”

“I did learn,” Zhang Yifu declined. “But it’s best to smoke less if possible.”

“Right, right. Smoke only when necessary. I’m happy today, so I’ll smoke a good one.” Zhang Guodong shook his head with a smile. “So? Where were you assigned?”

Conversations with his father were always this direct. Zhang Yifu didn’t plan to beat around the bush either. He just lowered his head and said, “I’m going to the Jibei Power Plant.”

When he said this, Zhang Yifu was already prepared to be scolded.

“Jibei Power Plant? Great!” To his surprise, Zhang Guodong’s face was full of joy. “That’s where I worked when I first started! It’s the second-largest power station in all of North China! Very good for building character!”

“Ah…” Zhang Yifu was at a loss for how to react. “I thought… you would blame me for choosing a Power Plant.”