That day happened to be the beginning of June.
Time was heading into summer—neither hot nor stuffy, and the factory’s air conditioning remained uncertain about whether to turn on or not. Only a few ceiling fans creaked and groaned as they spun.
Amid the old creaking sounds, the workshop director led a group of people through the workshop, stopping right in front of me.
But he didn’t look at me. He simply raised his head and clapped his hands at everyone. All the workers stopped what they were doing and looked at him.
“I have an announcement.” He said in a flat tone, “The factory has been expanding recently and many new workers have arrived. The higher-ups require the old to guide the new—each veteran employee can mentor at most two new employees. Those willing can come find me to sign up. For each person you mentor, your wages increase by thirty yuan.”
I barely heard what he was saying. My gaze kept drifting toward Mantuan in the crowd, then nervously shifting away again and again.
I didn’t know how to describe this feeling. I clearly hadn’t done anything, yet I felt as if someone had caught me, inexplicably wanting to flee.
Mantuan also saw me. His expression became complicated too, but I could never tell what he was thinking.
“Little Zhang.” The director turned to look at me. “Others need to volunteer to sign up, but your work performance is good. You’ll mentor two directly—set an example for everyone.”
“I…”
Before I could agree or refuse, the director turned back and pointed at Mantuan: “Zhang Mantuan.”
Then the director looked at the girl beside him: “…And Zhang Fang, are you two together?”
“Yes…” Mantuan nodded hesitantly.
“Then you two pair up and apprentice under Little Zhang.” The director said, “The rest of you, follow me forward.”
Just as he had arrived in a grand procession, he led the group away toward the distance without another word.
I didn’t know what to do next, but I wanted to escape.
Previously, I had a wall protecting myself, but that wall—whether torn down by someone else or abandoned by myself—no longer existed.
“Sis!” The girl called Zhang Fang walked forward and naturally hooked her arm through mine. “You’re also surnamed Zhang? We’re all family from five hundred years ago!”
“I…”
“My name is Zhang Fang. I might have to trouble you from now on.” After speaking, she turned back and pulled Mantuan over. “This is my partner, Zhang Mantuan. Sis, all three of us are surnamed Zhang—what a coincidence.”
I lifted my head to glance at Mantuan, then calmly withdrew my hand from Zhang Fang’s embrace. If she had held on any longer, she might have discovered I was trembling slightly.
Seeing my action, Zhang Fang seemed to realize something. She quickly lowered her head and rummaged through her woven bag for a while, then pulled out a package of White Rabbit milk candies.
“Sis!” She kept stuffing the candies into my arms. “I brought these from the village—no special meaning… I’ll be troubling you from now on.”
“No…” My mind remained somewhat chaotic as I pushed her hands away. “I don’t want them…”
Seeing my resolute attitude, Zhang Fang quickly turned back and cast a pleading look at Mantuan.
Mantuan seemed to be in no better condition than I was. After holding back for a long time, he slowly said to Zhang Fang: “If she doesn’t want them… just forget it.”
“Aiya… you…” Zhang Fang paused, then turned back to look at me. “Sis, don’t mind him. Mantuan isn’t good at handling things. If there’s anything, just tell me.”
I had never imagined that one day Mantuan would bring his fiancée to apprentice under me. Now this girl kept calling me “sis,” dragging my memories step by step back to those past days.
But she didn’t know I had just turned eighteen today.
That’s right—they weren’t like me. They only came out to work after reaching legal age. So in this girl’s eyes, someone who could be their mentor was naturally a senior, a big sister.
I knew I had no choice. I could only wait for things to happen, with no way to take initiative.
Although Mantuan seemed to have no hostility toward me, and Zhang Fang also seemed very enthusiastic, I still had an ominous premonition.
In front of everyone on the assembly line, I accepted that package of White Rabbit milk candies, but silently thought this girl didn’t seem very skilled at social interaction.
Giving gifts to others so publicly in front of everyone would undoubtedly make me the subject of gossip. Whether I accepted or refused, there would be no good outcome.
But as I said, entering society early had taught me many things.
“Come, everyone pause your work for a moment.” I said to everyone, “These are the newcomers Zhang Fang and Zhang Mantuan. They brought milk candies for everyone—let’s all have some together.”
As I spoke, I tore open the candy wrapper and poured them all onto the table in front of me.
Zhang Fang seemed to understand my intention and quickly corrected herself: “Right, right… these are for everyone to eat together. We two just arrived on this line, and we’ll need all you brothers and sisters to look after us from now on.”
Zhang Fang seemed a bit cleverer than I had imagined, but I didn’t quite understand why Mantuan had become such a wooden person.
Was it because he saw me?
The workers on the assembly line smiled when they saw this scene. Their work was repetitive day after day—the sweetness of a single candy was enough to improve their mood.
I also peeled open a candy and put it in my mouth, thinking to myself that if it’s fortune, it’s not disaster; if it’s disaster, there’s no escaping it.
Since things had already happened, I could only do my part. If they could keep their mouths shut about the past, I would also act as if nothing had happened.
I looked at Mantuan one last time, trying hard to determine whether his eyes held goodwill or malice. My demands had never been high—I only wanted a place to work and earn money. I needed to support my family and save Liang Wa.
Unfortunately, in his eyes I saw neither goodwill nor any trace of malice. I only saw what looked like a pool of stagnant water, without any ripples.
Just like back then, he chose silence.
“You two go pack up and report to the dormitory first.” I rubbed the candy wrapper into a small ball. “Our production line doesn’t have any difficult points. Sit next to me this afternoon and start working with everyone.”
“Okay, Sister Zhang!” Zhang Fang answered with a smile, then picked up their luggage from the ground. “Then Mantuan and I will go first. Thank you so much today.”
I watched their backs as the paper ball in my hand flicked into the trash can. Such sweet candy, yet wrapped in such fragile paper…
What if one day the paper broke? Would the candy still be sweet?
I spoke a few words to my coworkers, asking them to temporarily help watch my station, then left the assembly line with my ID card, a new bankbook, and several packs of cheap cigarettes.
Today was my eighteenth birthday, and I still had one important matter to handle—changing my identity information.
As long as I could get through this hurdle, the heavy stone I carried on my back could finally settle.
I would take root and live here until I earned enough money.