Chapter 95 Rejection This is a rejection letter

After lunch, Wang Ying went to attend the workers' representative conference and model worker commendation conference with several employee representatives and leaders of the factory.

The meeting was held in the city hall auditorium. When Wang Ying and her group arrived, the place was already crowded. Wang Ying spotted her former garment factory nemesis, who had arrived as a representative of the factory's employees. She also saw Deputy Director Gao from the paper mill, who immediately joined Director Zhao in conversation. A salesperson she knew from the department store arrived, and they exchanged greetings. Then, in the crowd, she spotted Lu Yanfen, surrounded by several male comrades.

"Wang Ying."

Wang Ying heard someone calling her. It was Gu Xuan, who was walking towards her.

"You're here too." Wang Ying said with a smile.

"Just joining in the fun." Gu Xuan said, "The photos we took last time have been developed. You can come to my house to pick them up later, or I'll ask Gu Mei to give them to you."

"So soon? Let me get it," Wang Ying said. "My wife's photos haven't been developed yet. When they are, I'll send them over and we can exchange them."

"Okay." Gu Xuan glanced around Wang Ying and said, "Xiang Huaimin didn't come?"

"Director Xiang refused to come," Wang Ying said with a smile, "saying it would delay him from solving the world's problems."

Gu Xuan smiled and said, "He's just that guy. Is it okay to get along with him?"

"That's great. Director Xiang is a lovely leader." Wang Ying said with a smile.

"Cute..." Gu Xuan was a little speechless, unable to understand why Xiang Huaimin was so cute.

Gu Xuan exchanged a few irrelevant words with Wang Ying and was then called away by his colleague.

After Gu Xuan left, Zheng Liancheng came over and whispered to Wang Ying, "Director Wang, is the young man who just spoke to you surnamed Gu?"

Wang Ying said, "Does Director Zheng know him?"

"Haha, I have, I have. Director Wang has a wide network of contacts, but I haven't heard you mention him." Zheng Liancheng said.

"It's just an acquaintance, it can't be considered a connection," said Wang Ying.

Zheng Liancheng smiled but said nothing. Knowing someone was also a connection, so why didn't he know them? And judging by the way they were talking just now, they must be very familiar with each other. Wang Ying was young, capable, and knew the Gu family, which gave Zheng Liancheng a new understanding of her.

The meeting began promptly at 2 p.m., and as usual, the leaders gave speeches. After several leaders delivered lengthy speeches, Wang Ying was already drowsy.

After the leaders' speeches, the ceremony to commend model workers began. Wang Ying, one of the candidates for the model worker award, was mentioned by the leaders and his achievements were mentioned, though only briefly, without further elaboration. This year, four model workers were selected: three men and one woman. All were older and had long service experience.

One of the female comrades was called He Yi. Wang Ying remembered her. She was a grassroots clerk of the Women's Federation. She had been working in the Women's Federation since its establishment in the year the People's Republic of China was founded. She had always insisted on doing the most grassroots work, refused promotion several times, helped many women and children, and later appeared on national television.

Wang Ying thought that honor should indeed be given to such people.

After the leader on the rostrum announced the model worker's name and unit, Qian Tongsheng whispered to Wang Ying, "Don't be discouraged. There will be opportunities in the future."

Wang Ying was not discouraged at all. She was only 21 years old and her career had just begun. Rather than being named a model worker, she wanted to be named an outstanding young person in the future.

After several model workers gave speeches, the art troupe began its performance. It opened with a "Workers' Chorus," followed by poetry recitations, ballet, and more.

At five o'clock in the afternoon, the conference ended and everyone left the auditorium. Everyone received a souvenir, a towel.

Not long after leaving the auditorium, Wang Ying was stopped by Lu Yanfen.

"Yingzi, long time no see."

"Sister-in-law Yanfen." Wang Ying hadn't seen Lu Yanfen for a long time. It was May, and she was wearing a white shirt with a large lapel, and a black cardigan. It was a simple outfit, but on her, it looked stunning. They stood not far from the auditorium entrance, talking, and anyone who passed by couldn't help but glance at Lu Yanfen.

"How are you doing lately? You must be very busy at work," Yanfen asked.

"Not too busy, really." Wang Ying hadn't been very busy lately. The workshop had added equipment, hired new employees, and production was back on track. Her work schedule was pretty much the same every day, nothing too busy. Since Director Qian had previously assigned her and thought she was restless, she didn't want to make any new moves for the time being.

"I've tried both shaqima and peach pastry, they're really delicious, better than before. I heard you made them all, you're amazing, how did you come up with that idea?" Yanfen said softly as always, with a smile on her face.

"It was done by everyone in the factory together. It's not my personal credit." Wang Yingyu said indifferently. She has lived two lives and has met many people, but she can't see through Lu Yanfen.

"Auntie said you have been very busy. Yunsheng picks you up from get off work every day. You two have a really good relationship." Lu Yanfen said.

Wang Ying sighed, "It's not a good thing for sister-in-law to be alone all the time. Uncle Gao and the others all support you in moving forward. You should find someone who understands you and can pick you up every day."

Lu Yanfen lifted her hair and sighed, "It's hard. I can't forget the old ones, and it's hard to accept the new ones. It's not fair to them either."

Wang Ying wanted to roll his eyes. He didn't know whether the old person Lu Yanfen was talking about was Gao Weifeng or Zhao Yunsheng.

"I've heard everything about my sister-in-law and Brother Weifeng from Yunsheng. My sister-in-law truly has a deep affection for him." Wang Ying emphasized the word "all," refusing to believe Lu Yanfen didn't understand. "It's quite romantic to be able to stay with one person for your entire life. If this happened in the old society, I'm afraid my sister-in-law would have been honored with a chastity memorial."

Lu Yanfen's face really looked a little ugly. Wang Ying didn't wait for her to speak and said, "Sister-in-law, I still have to go buy groceries. See you later."

After saying this, Wang Ying went to get his bicycle, leaving Lu Yanfen there.

Lu Yanfen stared at Wang Ying's back until she disappeared around the corner. When she was about to leave, she noticed a man staring at her. Without thinking much, Lu Yanfen walked towards her colleague calmly.

Wang Ying took her bicycle and went to buy some vegetables. It was rare that she was the first one home, so she put her bag away and went to the kitchen to cook.

Chen Xiuqin was the second one to come back. She went to the kitchen and saw that it was Wang Ying who was cooking. She asked, "Yingzi, why are you here so early?"

"Well, the meeting lasted until five o'clock, so I came back. Dad was with Uncle Gao and others. It seemed like they had other things to do." Wang Ying said.

"Who are the model workers?" Chen Xiuqin asked.

Wang Ying told Chen Xiuqin about those people. Chen Xiuqin also knew He Yi and said admiringly, "Since no one else knows her, it's reasonable to give it to He Yi."

"You know her too." Wang Ying said.

"She knows him, of course she knows him. There was a thug who beat his wife two alleys ahead of us, and she was the one who mediated the situation. She's been here several times," said Chen Xiuqin.

"What did you say in the end?" Wang Ying asked.

"We got divorced," Chen Xiuqin said. "Or he'd be called a scoundrel. Even if I promised him a hundred times, he'd still beat his wife. In the end, we got divorced with He Yi's mediation."

Wang Ying felt that if Lin Fanghua's divorce was not going smoothly, she could also ask He Yi to mediate.

"She really deserves this honor," said Wang Ying.

Chen Xiuqin laughed: "I think our Yingzi should also take one, as she suffers from the disadvantages of her youth."

"Being young is the greatest blessing. How can I say I'm at a disadvantage?" Wang Ying said with a smile. "If I really get the Model Worker award now, it will definitely cause controversy. I'd better contribute more to the factory and achieve better results first."

"You're right to think so. Hey, Yingzi, have you seen Yanfen?" Chen Xiuqin asked.

"I saw it and she said she envied Yunsheng for picking me up from get off work every day. I advised her to find someone too, but she said she couldn't let go of her old lover," said Wang Ying.

"I don't know what she's thinking. She won't listen to anyone's advice," Chen Xiuqin said. "I haven't been in contact with her much at work lately. They're all asking me about retirement, but I don't want to retire yet. If I retire, I won't be able to catch up when something good comes my way. Someone else will definitely grab it first."

"Can I be re-hired?" Wang Ying asked.

"It's not easy. After all, I have to move goods and so on. If I am transferred to an easier position, people will not accept it. There is less than a year left. I wonder if there will be any good things. It would be great if there was a washing machine." Chen Xiuqin said naggingly.

Wang Ying couldn't remember when his family started using a washing machine in his previous life. He only remembered that it was probably in the early 1980s, or a few years later. However, washing machines already existed at that time, but they couldn't be brought to Beichong.

The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law were chatting about family matters when Zhao Yunsheng came back first. As soon as he came back, he went to the kitchen to look for Wang Ying. Chen Xiuqin tactfully left and let the kitchen be used by the young couple.

Zhao Yunsheng asked Wang Ying with a smile, "How was the art troupe's performance today?"

"It's okay." Wang Ying didn't actually look at it carefully.

"The conference is finally over, and I can pick you up and drop you off at get off work every day," said Zhao Yunsheng.

Wang Ying smiled: "You don't mind the trouble. Some people envy you."

"Why would it be a hassle? It's just on the way." Zhao Yunsheng said, "Who would envy you, your subordinates?"

"Sister-in-law Yanfen." Wang Ying said.

When Zhao Yunsheng heard this person's name, his face darkened: "Did you meet her?"

"Well, she said she can't forget the old friend, but she doesn't know which old friend it is." Wang Ying said deliberately.

Zhao Yunsheng understood the meaning behind Wang Ying's words and said in a strange voice, "It must be Gao Weifeng. She said she would remain a widow for Gao Weifeng for the rest of her life."

Wang Ying laughed, and Zhao Yunsheng walked over to her and pinched her face: "Don't laugh."

"Is anyone there? Is this Zhao Yunsheng's house?" A strange voice suddenly came from outside.

"It looks like the postman." Zhao Yunsheng bolted out like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. Before Wang Ying could react, Zhao Yunsheng had already disappeared into the kitchen.

Wang Ying had almost prepared dinner. She walked out of the kitchen and saw Zhao Yunsheng holding an envelope in his hand.

"Who wrote to you?" Wang Ying said.

All the relatives of the Zhao family are in Beichong, and Wang Ying has never heard Zhao Yunsheng say that he has any friends from other places. He is a little curious about who wrote to Zhao Yunsheng.

Zhao Yunsheng hid the letter behind his back and said, "No one."

"Huh? Still want to hide it from me?" Wang Ying was surprised. Considering Zhao Yunsheng's feelings for her, it shouldn't be the case.

"I won't tell you for now. Let me take a look at it first." Zhao Yunsheng said.

"Ah!" Wang Yingfu suddenly realized, "Is it a letter from a magazine or newspaper?"

Zhao Yunsheng lowered his hands from behind his back, and with droopy eyes, he said, "Yingzi, sometimes you shouldn't be too clever."

Wang Ying ran up to him and asked with a smile, "When did you submit your manuscript? Which magazine or newspaper did you submit it to? And which article did you submit to? And you actually kept it a secret from me!"

Zhao Yunsheng said, "It's an article I wrote a while ago... There aren't many submissions now..." Zhao Yunsheng felt a little shy as he spoke. He had originally thought of submitting it secretly, hoping it would give Wang Ying a surprise if it was published. Unexpectedly...

"Hurry and take a look, I've replied to your letter!" Wang Ying seemed even more excited than Zhao Yunsheng.

Zhao Yunsheng was so nervous that his hands were shaking as he held the envelope. He simply handed it to Wang Ying and said, "Show it to me."

"Will you really let me see it first?" Wang Ying said.

"Well, I don't dare to look," Zhao Yunsheng said. "If the result is good, show it to me; if it's bad, throw it into the stove and don't let me see it."

Wang Ying laughed: "Then I'll watch it!"

"Look!" Zhao Yunsheng "is ready to die"!

Wang Ying opened the envelope and found a letter inside... Wang Ying glanced through it and found that it was a letter of rejection. Zhao Yunsheng's manuscript had been rejected.

Wang Ying saw Zhao Yunsheng was still nervous and felt a little reluctant to tell him. He continued reading. Although it was a rejection letter, it was written with remarkable sincerity, and the author made no secret of his admiration for Zhao Yunsheng. Wang Ying was stunned when he saw the signature at the end of the letter. It was a writer who would later become famous, and his works were later adapted into films and TV series, winning international awards.

"What...what happened..." Zhao Yunsheng saw Wang Ying was stunned and asked cautiously, "Is it a rejection letter?"

Wang Ying nodded and handed the letter to Zhao Yunsheng: "Although it is a rejection letter, I suggest you read it yourself. You will regret it for the rest of your life if you throw it into the furnace."

When Zhao Yunsheng heard that it was a rejection letter, he couldn't help feeling disappointed, but after hearing what Wang Ying said, he took the letter.

It was already getting dark, but the handwriting on the letter was still clearly visible. Zhao Yunsheng read the letter and felt that what Wang Ying had said was right. If he didn't read the letter, he would definitely regret it for the rest of his life.

At that moment, Director Zhao returned. Zhao Yunsheng hurriedly folded the letter and put it in his pocket. But his excitement was unbearable, and he looked at Wang Ying with a burning gaze.

"What are you doing standing in the middle of the yard?" Director Zhao asked.

"It's okay, Dad. Dinner is ready. Let's enjoy it." Wang Ying said.

Zhao Yunsheng's mind was completely drawn to the letter in his pocket, and he was distracted throughout dinner.

Director Zhao and Wang Ying were discussing today's conference, but he didn't hear a word. He was preoccupied with the letter's contents. Although it had been rejected, the editor truly understood and resonated with his novel, explaining that its failure to be selected simply didn't align with the magazine's "current style." The editor also urged him not to give up on his literary career, believing he could achieve great things in the future. He even offered to keep in touch with him through correspondence.

After dinner, Zhao Yunsheng and Wang Ying cleaned up the dishes together. When they reached the kitchen, Wang Ying said, "Why don't you go upstairs first? I think you really want to read the letter again."

Zhao Yunsheng was of course anxious to watch it again, no, ten times. But he insisted on cleaning the kitchen with Wang Ying and preparing the food for tomorrow morning before going upstairs with Wang Ying.

As soon as he returned upstairs, Zhao Yunsheng sat down at the desk, took out the letter again, and read it over and over again.

Wang Ying washed up and went to bed. Looking at Zhao Yunsheng's back, she felt that his parents might be wrong. He would definitely achieve literary success. Although Zhao Yunsheng's novels had not been published, they had been appreciated by future great writers. Wang Ying believed that his future was limitless.