Chapter 192 Her sweet tongue makes men fawn over her.

“Battalion Commander Zhou, it’s not that I don’t want to give you face,” Principal Wang said somewhat awkwardly, “but the school has regulations that we only admit the children of officers or the children of our state-owned farm staff. Comrade Liu Lanhua… she’s just a temporary worker hired by our experimental group, which doesn’t comply with the regulations.”

But somehow, the news that Zhou Jianjun had been rebuffed in the principal's office spread throughout the entire residential area in less than half a day.

Several military wives who were weeding in the experimental field gathered together and started gossiping again.

"Have you heard? Battalion Commander Zhou went to see Principal Wang personally for that widow's child, and what happened?"

"What else can they do? They were turned away! They don't even know who they are, a temporary worker's child, and they want to go to the same class as our cadres' children? They're like a toad trying to eat swan meat!"

"I think it's that Liu Lanhua who's restless. She can't climb up to Battalion Commander Zhou herself, so she's using the child as a ladder. She's got a lot of tricks up her sleeve!"

Liu Lanhua happened to be passing by and, after hearing what the group was saying, froze on the spot, unsure whether to rush over and argue or to flee in panic.

Seeing the main character arrive, the military wives not only didn't restrain themselves at all, but instead seemed to have found amusement, becoming even more brazen. A woman with slanted eyes raised her voice in a sarcastic tone:

"Hey, isn't this Lan Hua? I heard your two daughters are going to school? Congratulations! It seems your cooking skills are really good. You've made our Battalion Commander Zhou so comfortable with just a few meals that he's willing to run errands for you!"

Even a fool could tell the lewdness in those words.

"You...you're talking nonsense!" Liu Lanhua was tongue-tied, and after a long time, she could only manage to utter this one sentence.

Suddenly, a male voice rang out behind them.

"What nonsense are you spouting!"

Zhou Jianjun appeared there at some point. He had just returned from a meeting at the regimental headquarters and hadn't had time to change out of his uniform. His face was ashen, indicating that he had also overheard the conversation between the men.

"It seems you didn't listen to a single word of Commander Le's mobilization meeting! You've been making malicious speculations behind our backs and ruining our comrades' reputations. I think your thinking is problematic! You need to be thoroughly rectified!"

The battalion commander's imposing presence was overwhelming, and the military wives trembled in fear, almost dropping their hoes.

They had never seen Zhou Jianjun so angry before, and they all fell silent, not daring to utter another word, and slunk away like birds and beasts.

But those words were never pleasant to hear.

She didn't dare look up at the man who had stood up for her. After a long while, Liu Lanhua cautiously spoke:

"Commander Zhou... thank you." Liu Lanhua gently bit her lip. "But please don't interfere in our affairs anymore."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Jianjun subconsciously frowned again.

"Why?" he asked.

Naturally, there's always gossip and trouble around a widow's door.

However, Liu Lanhua ultimately couldn't bring herself to say it aloud, and only said, "You are a good person, a high-ranking official, with a bright future. You heard what they said today, and I can't let our family's affairs ruin your reputation. They are right, I am a widow, and I shouldn't keep troubling you."

Zhou Jianjun looked at this woman who was always cautious in her conduct and actions. Even though she had never made any mistakes, in his memory, she always seemed to be apologizing to people.

He finally sighed, somewhat helplessly.

"Comrade Liu Lanhua," Zhou Jianjun's voice softened unconsciously, "look up at me first."

Liu Lanhua subconsciously looked up and met his deep, pool-like eyes.

“Sister-in-law Jiang once said that we live in the same compound, we’re all one family, eating from the same pot. As a family, there’s no such thing as trouble or inconvenience.” He paused, his gaze fixed intently on her. “I’m helping you because your daughter needs to go to school, that’s a serious matter. I’m helping you because someone is bullying you and your child, a widow, that’s justice. If I, Zhou Jianjun, didn’t even dare to stand up for this kind of serious matter and justice, what would be the point of wearing this military uniform?”

He looked at her slightly parted lips and took a half step forward. When Liu Lanhua saw the man's movement, her body instinctively wanted to back away, but in the end she stood still in place.

"Besides, if I were truly afraid of those rumors and would avoid you from the very beginning, that would be a sign of a guilty conscience, and that would truly confirm their slander."

Do you understand?

Liu Lanhua was stunned. Faced with Zhou Jianjun's calm gaze, she could only shake her head and nod frantically.

Finally, she raised her sleeve, wiped her face haphazardly, and said in a choked voice with a heavy nasal tone, "Battalion Commander Zhou... I, I, Liu Lanhua, don't know what good deeds I have done in this life and the past life to be able to meet such good people as you and Sister-in-law Jiang."

“There’s no such thing as a past life or a next life. That’s all feudal superstition and shouldn’t be taken seriously.” Zhou Jianjun looked at the woman and laughed. “You’re the one who’s made something of yourself, and you deserve my help! Alright, stop crying here and get to work.”

"Alright!" Liu Lanhua wiped her face again, quickly gave Zhou Jianjun a smile, picked up the shovel, and left.

Jiang Wanqiu soon heard about Zhou Jianjun's setback at school.

She thought to herself that simply sending someone into the school was definitely not an option.

Moreover, Zhou Jianjun is a straightforward man, and his words are probably not very tactful. I'll have to go and see for myself.

Taking advantage of having nothing to do in the afternoon, she strolled over to the school for employees of the company's children.

The sound of children reading aloud could be heard from the school. Jiang Wanqiu went to the teachers' office.

In the office, Ms. Lin, with whom she had a good relationship, was grading homework. Upon seeing Jiang Wanqiu arrive, Ms. Lin smiled and invited her to sit down.

"Sister-in-law Jiang, what brings you here today? Has Ping An been mischievous again?"

"Not at all, my family is safe and sound, I'm very relieved." Jiang Wanqiu smiled, sat down opposite Teacher Lin, and then casually brought up, "I just came here for a stroll. By the way, I heard... your school is quite short-staffed lately?"

Upon hearing this, Teacher Lin immediately began to complain: "That's right! Old Zhang, who used to manage the logistics, retired last month. No one wants to take on this chores job anymore. Sigh, no wonder, just listen to this job—cleaning all the toilets in the school, clearing the trash, moving tables and carrying coal, sometimes even guarding the gate. It's tiring and dirty, and the meager pay isn't even enough to fill a tooth gap. Which of the women and other family members in the compound wants to do this?"

She shook her head as she said this: "At yesterday's meeting, Principal Wang was still saying that if we can't recruit more people, we'll have to consider raising wages and food stamps."

Jiang Wanqiu immediately understood. That was exactly what she wanted to hear.

Her eyes lit up as she looked at Teacher Lin: "Little Lin, what do you think? What if we let Lan Hua do this job? If she becomes a full-time employee of our school, then her two daughters can go to school legitimately!"

Upon hearing this, Teacher Lin raised an eyebrow and looked at Jiang Wanqiu with a knowing expression: "I see now, so this is what you came here for today."

Jiang Wanqiu smiled sheepishly: "I just felt sorry for them, a widow and her child, and thought I should help them if I could."

Teacher Lin nodded: "I've heard about Liu Lanhua these past few days. I met her a few times when I went to the supply and marketing cooperative, and she does seem like an honest person. As long as Liu Lanhua is willing to endure the hardship, this matter will definitely work out!"

"Whether it works or not depends on Principal Wang's approval. I'll go talk to him about it personally."

"Hey, hurry up and go!"

After saying goodbye to Teacher Lin, Jiang Wanqiu went straight to knock on the principal's office door.

Principal Wang was looking at a pile of documents with a headache when he saw Jiang Wanqiu. He forced a smile and said, "It's Comrade Jiang. Please have a seat."

Jiang Wanqiu didn't beat around the bush and got straight to the point: "Principal Wang, I won't keep you from your work. I heard that the school's logistics department is short of a cleaning and moving helper, is that right?"

Principal Wang sighed and nodded: "Yes, due to tight funding and low salaries, we haven't been able to find a suitable person."

"Then let me recommend someone to you." Jiang Wanqiu leaned forward and said with a smile, "Liu Lanhua, Sister Lanhua. You may not know her well, but I can guarantee she's efficient, of noble character, and incredibly hardworking!"

Principal Wang felt the name sounded familiar. After thinking for a moment, he asked, "Isn't this the person Battalion Commander Zhou mentioned a few days ago? He said she has two daughters who are of school age."

Jiang Wanqiu said, "To be honest, that's exactly why I came here today. Think about it, if you hire her and make her a full-time employee of the school, it will not only solve the school's big problem of staff shortage, but her child will also meet the enrollment requirements, right? This is a great thing that kills two birds with one stone!"

After listening, Principal Wang stroked his chin and pondered. The method was indeed good, but he still hesitated: "The principle is sound, but... in practice, we still need to ask the person involved if they are willing, right?"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Wanqiu knew that he had relented, but still wanted to maintain the airs of a principal.

"Oh, Principal Wang, what are you saying!" Jiang Wanqiu's tone was a bit like flattery, "What do you mean by 'personal'? In this school, inside and out, isn't it you who calls the shots? You are the highest-ranking official in this school, and everything is just a matter of your word. As long as you nod your head, how dare we say 'no'? We would be extremely grateful and rush to thank you for giving our Sister Lan Hua a job!"

Principal Wang felt completely comfortable after hearing her praise.

He waved his hands repeatedly, saying, "Comrade Jiang Wanqiu, what you said is too exaggerated, too exaggerated," but he couldn't stop smiling.

“I can trust the character of someone who was recommended by both Battalion Commander Zhou and Comrade Jiang. So, let her come over. I can get her on the job anytime.”