Chapter 108: Letter of Recommendation

Chapter 108: Chapter 108: Letter of Recommendation

"Besides, I’ve looked into it. Chestnuts used to be managed by the supply and marketing cooperatives, with prices set by the state. The government collected most of them for export to earn foreign currency. Only the lower-grade ones were left to be sold at the cooperatives."

"I’m not trying to compete with the state for resources or interfere with the important business of earning foreign currency. I’ll just buy the lower-grade chestnuts, which private entrepreneurs are allowed to trade."

Since Su Jue was going into business, he had researched what things could be sold and what things private entrepreneurs were forbidden from selling.

Because he had done his research beforehand, he spoke about these matters with confidence and clarity.

"It’s perfect timing. I can sell a batch right before school starts. It’ll be great if I can make a few dozen yuan."

With that, Su Jue made up his mind.

"Tomorrow, I’ll go with Aunt Zhao to the village to buy chestnuts. You can leave this to me." Su Jue took charge of the matter.

Su Wan nodded. "But Third Brother, if you’re buying a lot, shouldn’t you find someone else to go with you?"

When the tricycle is loaded with goods, it’ll need someone to push it. The roads to the villages are all narrow paths or dirt tracks. They’re hard enough to walk on, let alone ride on. In short, it’s exhausting work.

"No need. Shunzi and Ah Hong have to keep selling their goods by the movie theater. If they miss even one day, not only will they lose business, but someone might take their spot. It won’t be easy to get it back."

"I had to grease the palm of the movie theater’s projectionist and use my brother-in-law’s status to warn off those troublemaking hooligans just to keep that spot."

Speaking of Lu Zhengchuan, Su Jue couldn’t help but sigh.

"I always knew life would be easier with a powerful backer, but now that I actually have one, I realize just how true that is."

"I just had to drop a hint to those hooligans about my brother-in-law’s position, and they didn’t dare harass us anymore."

These low-level thugs might dare to offend a cadre, but they wouldn’t dare to cross a soldier. The soldiers could arrest them with ease, since the thugs themselves weren’t clean to begin with. Besides, this was the Capital, so the local hooligans weren’t as bold as those from out of town.

Su Wan smiled and said, "When Zheng Chuan comes back, I’ll tell him you were praising him, Third Brother. He’ll be thrilled."

"As long as he continues to treat you well and take care of you, I’d be happy to praise him every day." Although Su Jue had a strong sense of pride and always wanted to achieve something on his own, he knew who to trust. His impression of Lu Zhengchuan was quite good.

Su Wan just smiled.

The next morning, Aunt Zhao and Su Jue set out with the tricycle at five, while the sky was still dark.

Su Wan heard them leaving and saw their figures disappear from her window. She was still very sleepy, so she lay back down and went back to sleep for a little longer.

When she woke up again, it was already past nine.

She went to the kitchen and saw that breakfast had been left for her.

Su Wan reheated the steamed egg, sweet potato, and buns left in the pot before she started to eat.

While Su Wan was eating, Su Jue and Aunt Zhao had already arrived in the village.

They had been on the road for over four hours, which was considered extremely fast.

As soon as they entered the village, some of the villagers spotted Aunt Zhao.

Su Jue had come to Zhao Village with Lu Zhengchuan to pick up Aunt Zhao just a few days ago, so the villagers recognized him and weren’t wary of him.

The first thing Su Jue did was visit the brigade leader.

Aunt Zhao first went back to her old house for a quick look, then sought out some of the older women she was friendly with to bring up the matter of buying chestnuts.

While the two of them were busy in the village, Su Wan wasn’t idle either.

Because Old Wu had come over.

With him were the father and son pair, Liu Guosen and Liu Shu.

"Ms. Su Wan, my apologies for the intrusion," Liu Guosen said, stepping forward to greet her. "I’m here on an important matter."

Su Wan nodded. ’She had a good idea what this was about,’ but she said politely, "Mr. Liu, Liu Shu, please have a seat. Let me just give something to Uncle Wu, and then I’ll be right with you."

"Please, Ms. Su, take your time. We’re not in a hurry."

Su Wan saw that they both looked weary from their journey and were sweating, so she poured them two glasses of water.

Liu Guosen and Liu Shu sat down in the courtyard to rest.

Su Wan turned and called to Old Wu, who was curiously watching the two, to come inside the house.

"Uncle Wu, take a look. This is the portrait you asked for. Is there anything that needs to be changed?"

Old Wu forgot all about his curiosity regarding the strange father and son’s visit. His full attention was on the person in the portrait, and his eyes welled with tears as he nodded. "It’s him. It’s perfect. This is exactly what my child looks like."

"It’s just... the mole on the nose is a little off. It needs to be adjusted."

"Alright." Su Wan picked up her pen to make the changes for him.

After she adjusted a few small details, Uncle Wu left, satisfied with the portrait.

Once that was settled, Su Wan went out to the courtyard and sat down across from Liu Guosen.

"Mr. Liu, for you to come all this way at this time...?"

"Ms. Su, it’s great news! It’s been almost half a month since we parted ways in the Southwest, but I went back to the factory and reported the incident to my superiors right away."

"After the leadership confirmed the truth of the matter, the rewards were issued." ℴℴ𝘮

"This is a letter of recommendation. It’s for that driver position I mentioned last time. You can have someone take this letter to any factory, and they’ll be able to get a job there."

This was an iron rice bowl. Su Wan hadn’t expected it to be so easy.

However, she was cautious. Worried that this might be an attempt to bribe Lu Zhengchuan, she carefully examined the official documents and confirmed that the factory had also made a public announcement about it before she finally felt at ease.

"There’s also this. It’s a monetary reward from the factory, specifically for you, Ms. Su."

"It’s to thank you for your heroic actions in contacting the police and saving our lives."

Liu Guosen handed her thirty yuan. It wasn’t a lot of money, but it had been officially documented and processed.

And the reward was for her, not for Lu Zhengchuan.

Su Wan accepted it.

"Ms. Su, this is a little specialty from my hometown. A token of gratitude for saving me and my child."

"It’s not much, just a smoked goose and some cured sausage."

Liu Guosen knew the kind of people Su Wan and Lu Zhengchuan were; they wouldn’t accept anything they didn’t feel they had earned. That being the case, he hadn’t insisted on bringing a lot, just a few food items to show his sincerity.

Su Wan understood social etiquette. After a moment’s thought, she accepted them.

But then she got up and took out a large bag of chocolates and White Rabbit creamy candies from the cupboard.

"Here, Liu Shu, take these candies to eat. I hope you like them."

Liu Shu instinctively looked at Liu Guosen. Only after his father nodded did he reach out to take them, saying sweetly, "Thank you, Sister Su Wan."

"Ms. Su, now that I’ve delivered everything, I have to get to work, so I won’t stay any longer. This is my contact information. If you ever need anything, please don’t hesitate to find me."

"If you’re looking for someone to teach you how to drive, just contact me. I’m not good at much else, but I do know a thing or two about driving." Having delivered the items, Liu Guosen was ready to leave.

Su Wan invited him to stay for lunch, but he refused.

After all, he was a man visiting a woman alone. He had brought his son along specifically to avoid gossip, and staying too long could easily start rumors. He genuinely saw Su Wan as his savior and naturally didn’t want to cause any trouble for her.

Besides, he really did have to get to work.

After seeing the father and son off, Su Wan looked at the letter of recommendation in her hand and couldn’t help but feel happy.