Awaken: I See Tags, I Rewrite My Life
Chapter 58: I Want to Find a Partner

Chapter 58: Chapter 58: I Want to Find a Partner

The matter of the social gathering temporarily united the three newcomers of the internal team.

Initially, the three of them suggested, as per tradition, to apply for a venue, organize some performances, play some games, with men and women eating, drinking, and chatting to develop feelings.

But this involved budget issues, and Director Li didn’t approve it.

Li Huai: "There are many events in the second half of the year, and we have to spend money sparingly. Where can I find twenty or thirty rations for you just like that? Think again, we can’t stick to the old calendar; it’s the same every year without any novelty."

A social gathering without spending money, who would come to that?

Tao Huilan went back with the application form, and as soon as Tian Xiang and Chen Yong saw her expression, they knew it didn’t go through.

Tao Huilan: "Director Li said, this time the most we can get approved is three bucks."

Three bucks?

If it’s just the three of them, they could go to a restaurant and have a good meal of fish and meat.

But for a social gathering of dozens or hundreds of people, even buying sunflower seeds wouldn’t be enough.

Chen Yong: "Then think more about it, let’s talk in a couple of days. I have to go over to the family courtyard to deal with a case."

Tian Xiang also needed to follow up on the formation of the paper bag assembly team, so she went along.

Because paper bags are lightweight and space-saving, Tian Xiang’s team was very popular, with over two hundred people already registered to join.

There wouldn’t be enough bags to go around for that many people, and there would need to be a queue.

The team was fully assembled, just waiting to start in three days.

Roaming around the family courtyard, Tian Xiang went back to the factory and had lunch at the canteen. While washing her lunchbox, she heard Zeng Qingwen’s voice coming from the speaker.

Looks like that person came back to work.

Tian Xiang put away her lunchbox and went over to the factory committee.

There was only Zeng Qingwen in the broadcasting room, and as Tian Xiang saw her reading a script, she didn’t interrupt and quietly waited by the door for a while.

Zeng Qingwen finished reading the article in her hand before noticing Tian Xiang had come.

"Come in and sit down, don’t be so polite with me."

Zeng Qingwen’s voice was light and cheerful, and she seemed to be in a good mood.

Tian Xiang went inside, her gaze lingering on Zeng Qingwen’s forehead, before pausing and subconsciously asking her, "What have you been doing these days?"

Changed, changed.

Zeng Qingwen’s label changed; she went from a supporting role to a side role.

Even though she went from a female supporting role to side role 87, with her parts greatly reduced, she got rid of her hat!

She got rid of her hat!!!

Tian Xiang couldn’t contain her excitement, pointing at Zeng Qingwen’s forehead, her hand trembling.

Perplexed, Zeng Qingwen looked at Tian Xiang, "What are you doing? I just got engaged, no need to be so excited, right? I’ll tell you, the two of us are both women! And it’s not like you like Meng Cheng’an, right?"

Zeng Qingwen jokingly teased Tian Xiang.

Tian Xiang: "I-I don’t like Meng Cheng’an, don’t talk nonsense."

She and Meng Cheng’an just shared similar interests, and she helped him before because he got dragged into trouble by her, so she had no choice but to get involved.

Zeng Qingwen: "If you don’t like Meng Cheng’an, then who do you like?"

Tian Xiang: "Me?"

"Hey, no, why did this topic come up? I was asking you a question, why are we talking about me now!"

Tian Xiang felt speechless; the topic was getting more and more off course.

She calmed herself down and collected her thoughts.

Engagement, engagement, turns out she got engaged!

"When did you get engaged? I didn’t expect you to act so fast, without any news and now you’re engaged. I didn’t hear you mention it before."

Zeng Qingwen pulled a chair for Tian Xiang to sit on.

"I don’t mind telling you, since you’re aware of the issues at my home. This was my decision, to help my father through this tough time."

Tian Xiang: "Who’s your fiancé?"

He’s now the fiancé, but according to her new label, there’s no problem with the marriage between the two families, it’s a done deal.

Zeng Qingwen: "The Fang family from the City Committee Courtyard. He’s currently an office secretary."

The City Committee’s office secretary, not a high position, but to be part of the City Committee system means the family’s position in the circle isn’t low.

Tian Xiang: "Is he willing to help you?"

Zeng Qingwen nodded, "I told him everything, his family will find a way to help my dad. Tian Xiang, I probably won’t be able to work here much longer, as my dad has already submitted a self-review report. Once he’s gone, I can’t stay in the Mechanical Factory, and my plans for attending university next year will also fall apart."

Zeng Qingwen said as her eyes began to redden.

Actually, what Vice Factory Director Zeng did wasn’t a major issue, it’s just that the higher-ups are ever-changing recently, and the wheel of fortune turns; you shone enough in the past years, now it’s time to pay it back.

Tian Xiang wasn’t great at comforting others, and after thinking about it, she said, "There might be another village beyond the dark willows, perhaps there will be new policies next year, like canceling the entrance exam. Don’t rush, maintain your pace, don’t put down your books, and once an opportunity comes, you’ll be ready to seize it."

Cancel the entrance exam?

Zeng Qingwen couldn’t help but chuckle.

She has quite the imagination.

But, it counted as comforting, right?

Zeng Qingwen: "Okay, I’ll listen to you."

Tian Xiang nodded and asked about Zeng Qingwen’s situation over the past week, confirming that her getting rid of the hat was due to the engagement, and sighed in relief.

Great.

Zeng Qingwen changed her fate, broke from the script, and went from a supporting role to a side role; this undoubtedly gave Tian Xiang a boost of courage, filling her with enthusiasm and confidence for the future.

Zeng Qingwen changed her character through marriage, maybe she could too.

Tian Xiang thought, at the upcoming social gathering, not only should she be matchmaking for others, but she should also keep an eye out for herself.

...

After getting off work in the afternoon, Tian Xiang rode her bike back home, and from afar, she saw Hu Honglian carrying a vegetable basket, standing at the entrance of the courtyard, scolding the street.

"Mom, who upset you?"

Hu Honglian, seeing her precious daughter return, immediately put on a smile, "Who else would I scold but that wretch Cao Jialing. She lost her position as a team leader and insinuated it was because of your scheming. You, too, with the ten thousand pairs of gloves, you should just follow the rules. To consider the face of the aunties and neighbors, you gave this street half of them. And as a result, a kind gesture is taken for granted, and she’s badmouthing you behind your back."

Hu Honglian spoke loudly, obviously for the eavesdroppers around to hear.

Pan Yuzhen said, "Xiangxiang’s mother, don’t stoop to her level. She’s just jealous that Xiangxiang is doing better than her daughter, envious of you, and deliberately saying that!"

Pan Yuzhen was an active member in the alley of Lane Three. She had two sons working, usually not taking on tasks for making paper boxes, but this time, with the labor protection gloves being different, and distributing wool, she also planned to join in the activity, and naturally support the Tian family.

Others also chimed in, saying Xiangxiang was a good kid and that she was obedient and understanding, something they all knew well.

Hu Honglian felt a surge of pride, finally feeling satisfied.

The mother and daughter returned to the house, where Hu Honglian showed her daughter the tofu she bought, planning to cook braised tofu that evening.

Tian Xiang: "Right, mom, there’s something I want to talk to you about."

"What is it?"

"I’m planning to look around and find a partner..."