June is a season of harvest, and with the approaching graduation ceremony, there is one major task ahead. It’s the filling out of the application forms.

The job allocation after graduation is a significant event in every college student’s life, but filling out the application is the most critical step. However, for Zhang Guoqing and the defense students, this isn’t highly relevant.

The school first announced the regions and names of work units to be allocated. The destinations are very fragmented and scattered. Basically, each place and unit only gets one or two people.

As for Zhou Jiao and the others, they choose their preferred places and units from these destinations and fill them out on the application form. After long-term ideological studies and having role models from that era, the majority are high-spirited and determined to go to the most challenging places, to build a career where the country needs them the most.

Regarding whether these declarations are genuine or not, Zhou Jiao remains unmoved. Don’t assume she failed to notice that while some are making decisions, they are still curious about who chose Beijing?

Unlike others, Zhou Jiao fills in Beijing uniformly, as for the unit name above, she doesn’t care. Faced with classmates’ inquiries, she frankly says her kids are too little to go too far.

Actually, by now, those who are close have already discussed during the thesis submission period. Like Qiao Na, she has long planned for three places—Beijing, her brother’s, and her aunt’s home.

What’s the use of asking more? Everything has to obey the allocation.

Once the application forms were filled out, the classmates were full of excitement and anxiety, guessing their destinations, longing for their future, eagerly discussing, and hoping.

After the graduation ceremony, everyone’s mind has already flown afar.

The Party Secretary of the Teaching and Research Section and the Director of the Teaching and Research Office did not make everyone wait long. They said arranging so many students one by one is not simple; they need to negotiate time with the upper departments.

But Zhou Jiao knew early on that before filling out the application forms, they had already discussed specific matters with relevant departments above. In this short time, it was just the final verification of information, already confirmed with no error.

This noon, after lunch, Counselor Wu accompanied the teachers from the Teaching and Research Section to personally deliver each student’s assignment certificate to the dormitory.

When Qiao Na ran over to ask where Zhou Jiao was allocated, Zhou Jiao was already packing her luggage. Because she was the first to receive the assignment certificate, notifying her to report to the General Staff Department within the month.

Zhou Jiao was somewhat surprised and somewhat expected about this result. With the school matters done, she wants to immediately share the good news with her dad and accompany her sons.

This happy girl rushed in, holding up her assignment certificate and form, flauntingly said: "Jiao Jiao, I really can stay in Beijing."

"Congratulations."

"What about you? Let me see quickly."

Zhou Jiao closed the door, handed it to her, and continued to pack things. Five years have gathered quite a bit, even though Zhang Guoqing had already shipped some back once.

Say it’s abandoning them, but many carry memories. Such as that little bamboo tube, which Zhang Guoqing specifically picked for her; such as the yellowed notebook, inside of which Zhang Guoqing forced out one or two lines of free verse for her when she first entered school.

As it is, the more Zhou Jiao packed, the more there was to pack, even the small stool they decided to abandon; she plans to take it back. Not to mention the bamboo mat with a hole.

"I guessed that except you, no one could get into this unit. Luckily I was smart, didn’t waste ink back then."

"The Second Machinery Department Research Institute isn’t bad either."

Qiao Na nodded happily: "Don’t be busy; let me tell you where everyone is allocated."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Jiao paused her hand.

"When I came over, the teacher said except for your man and those few, everyone in our class has been allocated. Truly, our classmates are all over the country."

Indeed!

Staying at school, oil fields, several factories, mechanical industry bureau, water pump factory, tractor factory, machine tool factory, metallurgical bureau, the research institute of the Second Machinery Department.

Besides being scattered across the country, the units are also varied.

Zhou Jiao focused on Shen Yunshi and the others. As expected, among the seven with merit recognition, they were all allocated to secret units at their place of residence.

"Everyone has discussed staying one more day at school, having a gathering, and leaving contact information, what do you think?"

It seems leaving immediately isn’t possible. Zhou Jiao took the notification slip, kept it in her bag, and smiled: "Sure, you set the time, I’ll definitely come."

Qiao Na stomped her foot speechlessly: "Isn’t your man supposed to prepare? Since you’re here, where did he go? These days, except for seeing him on stage at the graduation ceremony, his shadow is unseen."

Zhou Jiao smiled sheepishly: "He’ll be back tonight."

"Is Da Yi with him?"

"Yes, they also have to deal with some minor issues upon graduation. Let Shen Yunshi host first! Tonight we’ll gather in our class, the extra class fees will just be spent."

"I’m not a class officer; you should notify them."

"Okay, I’ll go a bit later. Anyway, except for local classmates, no one can leave today."

Having set the time, this matter was already confirmed. Qiao Na helped her pack while beginning to gossip. It’s nothing but whose heart was actually unhappy.

Too many monks and too little gruel, naturally, it’s impossible to allocate everyone to desired units. As in Xie Fang being allocated to the neighboring city’s tractor factory, she can’t be happy.

Before Zhang Guoqing returned to school, Qiao Na had already left to investigate where other class’s sisters were allocated. In the dormitory, aside from bed linens, Zhou Jiao had already organized everything.

Upon entering, Zhang Guoqing first congratulated his wife.

Zhou Jiao gave him a sideways glance, "These days you don’t seem worried at all, you must’ve heard something, right?"

"Heh heh."

Zhou Jiao speechlessly tugged at his cheeks; really thoughtless!

"Wife, be gentle, let me report something."

Zhou Jiao let go of him, looked at him, signaling him to speak quickly.

"Next month Da Yi and I also need to go to military school. Once there, probably won’t see you for three months. What do you think about going somewhere for a honeymoon?"

"Where do you want to go? Tomorrow I’ll report in, see if I can start working by month’s end."

"Didn’t you see many classmates go to other places before being given time to visit home, it should be no problem. Go seaside or climb mountains?"

It’s exhausting! But seeing Zhang Guoqing’s enthusiastic look, Zhou Jiao really couldn’t bring herself to refuse, "As long as I’m with you, anywhere is fine; you choose a place."

Zhang Guoqing cheerfully lifted her for a kiss, laughing: "Honey, your sweet talk is quite something. This time, let’s have a romantic tour."

Zhou Jiao laughed happily upon hearing this. Is that sweet talk? There are sweeter things yet to be said. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

"By the way, does the notification say to which department you’re allocated?"

Zhou Jiao handed him the assignment certificate and notification, "Probably won’t know till the report-in day. Don’t worry, any department is fine; as long as I get paid and stability for years, it’s enough."

"Not right! Should be at least a month’s deadline? Could it be an error?"

Seeing him incredulously wide-eyed, Zhou Jiao inexplicably wanted to laugh. He really planned where to play after talking so long?

"Who told you this rule? Isn’t it Da Yong? No worries, I’ll explain the reason on reporting day, and I still have three sons not yet settled."

However Zhang Guoqing looks, the upper-end time limit still doesn’t seem wrong.

He shook his head somewhat disappointed. Deep down, he hoped to have a memorable graduation trip with Zhou Jiao. Missed in the previous life, he wishes to fill the regret this time.

Nevertheless, thinking his wife will have a leisurely job. Drinking tea, reading newspapers daily, and listening to office gossip. That’s quite nice!