Chapter 413: Chapter 191: Go East to the Promised Land
It was like a precision machine: efficient, dispassionate, yet filled with a moving warmth.
Jack and his family walked out of the main hall and went to the human resources center next door.
This place was even more bustling than the hall they had just been in.
Job postings scrolled across a massive electronic screen.
"Inland Port Phase II: Welders Urgently Needed, $35/hour!"
"North Shore Machinery Factory: Hiring Lathe Operators, Paid Weekly, Free Lunch!"
"Recovery Team: Hiring Laborers, Paid Daily!"
It was a blue-collar paradise.
An old man in a Union jacket and a baseball cap was standing on a platform, shouting to the crowd.
"Alright, form a line! No pushing!" Frank’s booming voice made everyone’s ears ring. "There’s plenty of work in Pittsburgh! As long as you’ve got two hands and two feet, nobody’s going hungry!"
Jack walked over, ID card in hand.
Frank glanced at the words "Senior Lathe Operator" on the card, and his eyes lit up.
"From Detroit?"
"Yes, sir."
"Excellent. The guys who build cars always have good skills."
Frank immediately pulled out a contract and slapped it on the table.
"Sign it."
"Inland Port Equipment Maintenance Department, Senior Technician. Base salary of four thousand, plus overtime. Full medical insurance, and the Union covers your pension contributions."
"Can you start tomorrow at seven in the morning?"
Jack stared at the numbers on the contract.
Four thousand.
That was a wage he couldn’t have even dreamed of back in Detroit.
"Yes!" Jack answered loudly. "I can start right now!"
"No need." Frank waved a hand. "You just got here. Get your family settled, take your wife and kids out for a nice meal, and show up to work tomorrow bright-eyed."
Frank pulled open a drawer, took out an envelope, and stuffed it into Jack’s hand.
"This is a week’s pay in advance. It’s the rule in Pittsburgh. Newcomers don’t start with empty pockets."
Jack clutched the thick envelope, somewhat surprised. "You’re... advancing my salary? Don’t I need to wait for a probationary period or...?"
Frank looked at him and cracked a smile.
"You’re a senior technician with fifteen years of experience, not some kid fresh out of school. In Pittsburgh, skill is collateral, and skilled workers get preferential treatment."
Frank clapped Jack on the shoulder.
"Welcome to Pittsburgh, brother. I hope you become a true new Pittsburgher."
Jack clutched the thick envelope.
Inside were crisp, new bills—US dollars still fragrant with the smell of ink.
At that moment, this man who had lost everything in Detroit could finally hold back no longer.
He turned his back and fiercely wiped his eyes with the rough back of his hand.
「An hour later.」
Jack and his family stepped into their apartment in the Brooklyn District.
The apartment wasn’t large, but it was spotless.
The walls were painted a warm yellow, and the floors were polished to a mirror shine.
The furniture was old, but all of it was sturdy.
Most importantly, the radiator was blazing hot.
Susan opened the refrigerator and was surprised to find a few cartons of milk, a loaf of bread, and some eggs inside.
It was a "welcome package" prepared ahead of time by community volunteers.
Timmy let out a cheer and dove onto the soft sofa.
Jack walked to the window and drew back the curtains.
Outside the window, the view of Pittsburgh stretched out before him.
A faint, almost imperceptible hum of machinery reached his ears.
It was a heartbeat.
The powerful heartbeat of the city.
Jack took the envelope from his pocket, pulled out a few bills, and handed them to Susan.
"Go buy a chicken," Jack said with a smile. "We’re eating well tonight."
Susan took the money and nodded emphatically as fresh tears streamed down her cheeks.
They had survived.
In this unfamiliar city, in the dead of winter.
They had found a home.
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