Chapter 239

The gossip Wu Yuzhuo brought back kept the mother and daughter worried for a long time.

Especially Xiao Wu, who spent her childhood and adolescence in this compound.

Thinking about leaving the familiar compound and friends, and the possibility that his parents would be separated, Wu Yuzhuo cried, which was a rare occurrence for him.

As an insider, Zhou Yi also cried several times with his friends.

Ye Manzhi said with both heartache and amusement, "Officer Wu hasn't even sent back any definite news. Aren't you two crying a little too early?"

"We just couldn't help it!" the two girls muttered at the same time, sniffing.

Yi Yi said reluctantly, "We have been together for more than ten years and have never been apart!"

She and Youyan grew up together. They are both friends and classmates, and they spend more time together than real sisters.

Ye Manzhi stroked the girls' hair and comforted them, "Don't say there's no confirmed news yet. Even if we really do break up, it's no big deal. When you both graduate from high school and start working, you'll still have to separate!"

The children have no chance to go to college and have to go to work after graduating from high school.

In Zhou Suo's family, the eldest son joined the army, the second son went to the countryside, and among the two youngest children, one could stay in the city, and the other could either join the army or go to the countryside to work in the fields.

According to Sister-in-law Zhenfang, she wants to keep the youngest Zhou Yi by her side and let the third child go out to explore the world.

Wu Yuzhuo is an only child and can stay in the city according to policy.

But when she was still a little kid, she was already standing guard in the compound with a gun, and she had long since decided to join the army.

She and Wu Zhengrong also support their children's ambitions. Apart from anything else, workers, peasants and soldiers can be recommended to go to university.

Ye Manzhi always felt that if her daughter did not continue to study, it would be a waste of the smart brain inherited from the Wu family.

Although being a soldier is hard, it brings honor to the whole family when one person joins the army. If there is a chance to be recommended to go to college in the future, it would be even better!

Therefore, no matter how Zhou Yi's future is arranged, even if they both join the army, the two girls will still be separated.

Ye Manzhi's original intention was to persuade the two girls to be more open-minded. However, her words made Yi Yi burst into tears again, and she hugged Youyan and cried again.

Ye Manzhi: “…”

Forget it, that's what teenage girls are like.

Cry if you want to.

She lamented the little girl's sentimentality the night before, and met her childhood sweetheart at work the next day.

Lin Qingmei came to the First Industrial Bureau to deliver materials, and went upstairs after finishing her work.

"Director Ye, you've become quite famous recently!"

Lin Qingmei didn't like tea, so Ye Manzhi opened a bottle of soda for her and asked cheerfully, "Who told you that?"

"You're just saying you're awesome! You're using that director of the sewing machine factory as an example to scare the monkeys!"

"That's all misinformation," Ye Manzhi said honestly, "I was forced into a corner, so I had to be tough for once."

In the situation of the Light Industry Bureau, she would rather appear to be more formidable than allow others to treat her like dough and knead her into shapes and flatten her at will.

Those business leaders also treat people differently based on their situation. If she doesn't stand up, she will encounter endless setbacks at work.

Ye Manzhi put down her soda and asked with concern, "How have you been lately? Does that Deputy Director Sun still dare to bully you?"

"Heh," Lin Qingmei frowned and said with disgust, "We don't interfere with each other now, but if he dares to attack female comrades again, I will find evidence to report him!"

When she mentioned this, her eyes became furious.

Lin Qingmei worked as a deputy section chief in the Propaganda Department of a steam turbine factory. Last year, the section chief was transferred to work in the province. She had good academic qualifications and abilities, and had the opportunity to be promoted to section chief. However, she was unexpectedly replaced by a deputy director of the workshop.

Although she felt disappointed at the time, she was able to think positively. She believed that who gets promoted and who gets demoted depends not only on their abilities but also on their overall strength.

She accepted that she couldn't compare to others.

The director of the factory office retired this year, leaving a director position vacant. Several deputy directors were still inexperienced, and Lin Qingmei felt that this was her opportunity. She believed that she was capable of both being the propaganda section chief and the factory office director.

But this time she learned from her last lesson and knew that it was not enough to just bury her head in work, she also had to show her face in front of the factory leaders.

As a result, as soon as she tactfully expressed her desire to become the director of the factory office, Sun Zhigang touched her hand and put his arm around her waist.

She was almost frightened to death by this unexpected situation. She slapped the person and pushed him away on the spot.

She has been working for so many years and has encountered some minor teasing, but she just fought back fiercely.

But this was the first time she had encountered such a direct approach.

We are all adults, so how could she not understand what the surname Sun means?

Lin Qingmei thought that she couldn't afford to offend him, so the worst that could happen was that she would just quit being the director of the factory office.

However, if I don't pursue it, the old light bulb will never stop.

She was criticized by name at the factory-wide staff meeting, and the work of the Propaganda Department was rejected one after another.

He looked like he was forcing her to submit.

Lin Qingmei thought to herself, I am not someone who has no backers, the worst that can happen is that both of us will be destroyed.

So she told her backer, Ye Lai Ya, about what she had been going through recently.

Ye Lai Ya was still the director of Shuguang Factory at that time and had no influence on the work of Binjiang Steam Turbine Factory.

But her old partner was the director of the First Industrial Bureau, who was the head of the turbine factory.

Lei Wanyuan didn't do anything special after receiving the request. He just spoke a few more words to her in a familiar manner when he went to the factory for research.

The old man surnamed Sun was quite tactful and did not embarrass her anymore.

When selecting the director of the factory office, he no longer strongly opposed it.

Lin Qingmei said gloomily, "I'm really unhappy being the factory director. I have to face his old face every day."

"He's so brazen about bullying a lesbian. This definitely isn't the first time. Haven't you heard anything?"

If this happened to Ye Manzhi himself, he would definitely find a way to prevent it from happening again.

"No, if I had known he had this problem, I wouldn't have gone anywhere near him," Lin Qingmei said angrily. "He preaches moral principles all day in meetings, but who knew he was such a double-faced bastard! But I'm keeping an eye on him. If he bullies me again, I'll report him."

Ye Manzhi curled her lips and said, "It's probably hard to catch a guy like him. Instead of writing a letter of denunciation, it would be better to beat him up!"

Lin Qingmei sighed, "There are more men than women at the Steam Turbine Factory. The leadership team is all male, and the Women's Federation and the Trade Union have almost no say. Even if there was a female director on the leadership team, that Sun guy would have to be cautious in his actions."

"You should work hard and strive to become the deputy director of the factory revolutionary committee."

"By the time I become the factory leader, Sun should have retired," Lin Qingmei said. "I saw District Chief Mu on Guangming Street yesterday. It seemed like she had just returned. It would be great if she could be assigned to lead our factory. When she was district chief, there weren't any such troubles in the district government offices."

Ye Manzhi asked quickly, "Are you seeing things?"

"No, I even said hello to her."

It is definitely good news that Mulan can come back from the cadre school.

Ye Manzhi took out the address book and called her home according to the old number.

But the call didn't go through, maybe the phone at home had been dismantled.

After get off work, Ye Manzhi went back to Guangming Street and knocked on Mulan's door.

It was Mulan himself who opened the door.

"Xiao Ye, why are you here?" Mulan looked at the door in surprise.

"I heard you were back, so I came to see you!"

Ye Manzhi placed the snacks and canned food on the table, then gave the man a hug. "You look energetic. Are you feeling well?"

She and Mulan had no work intersections, and their letters were not as frequent as Xia Zhuyun's.

But we can still communicate once or twice a year.

"That's it." Mulan's condition was not as good as when Xia Zhujun just came back. She patted herself and said, "I'm old now. I'm definitely not as good as the young people."

Ye Manzhi said with a smile: "What's the point of being old? I can still do revolutionary work for a few more years."

"I'm done with this," Mulan said, waving her hand. "I'm going to retire straight away when I get back this time!"

"It's still too early to retire!" Ye Manzhi comforted her. "Auntie Feng is still writing marriage certificates for people in the commune. You are a few years younger than Auntie Feng. It's far from time for you to retire!"

Mulan does not have a high level of education, but among cadres of their generation, few have particularly high levels of education.

Moreover, she worked her way up from the grassroots level, from street director to mayor of Zhengyang District. Judging from her abilities alone, she is much better than many leaders of the Municipal Revolutionary Committee.

Ye Manzhi felt it was a pity to let a female cadre like Mulan retire early.

but……

She sighed silently in her heart.

Mulan and Xia Zhuyun's situations are different.

When Xia Zhuyun came back, the province was going to rebuild the Provincial Industrial Bureau, which was exactly where she could be of use.

But Mulan has been away for so many years, and the leadership team of Zhengyang District has long been replaced.

Even if she wanted to go back, there was no place for her.

There is a lot of room for man in the city, so it's no wonder that Mulan is bored and wants to retire.

Ye Manzhi didn't mention work anymore. She helped Mulan and his wife cook, talked about the changes in the city in recent years, and left after dinner.

*

Regardless of whether Mulan can resume work, the family reunion after returning from the cadre school is worth celebrating.

While Ye Manzhi was happy for Mulan, she was also looking forward to Wu Zhengrong's return.

Whether to leave or stay, there must be an explanation.

However, Wu Zhengrong's business trip this time was exceptionally long, and he did not return to Binjiang until after the National Day.

The mother and daughter have been preparing themselves mentally for a long time, and now they are calm and just want a result.

Wu Yuzhuo was the first to ask, "Dad, are you really going to Beijing to work?"

"No," Wu Zhengrong said, taking a moment to answer while sitting at the table, eating noodles. "My superiors wanted me to go to Beijing, but I declined and recommended Jiang Suo."

The situation in scientific research units is not very good. The work in Beijing is not as good as that in the 1062 Institute, and they are mainly responsible for administrative work.

In Wu Zhengrong's mind, administrative work is similar to logistics.

Even if we go to Beijing, it will be Beijing's logistics.

He doesn't want to do it.

It just so happened that Jiang had not been assigned a job since he was released, and it might be difficult for him to return to the research institute to do scientific research, so it would be better to let him go to Beijing to manage logistics.

Therefore, Wu Zhengrong recommended Jiang Suo to his superiors.

Ye Manzhi and Wu Yuzhuo looked at each other and both breathed a sigh of relief in their hearts.

It seems that there is no need to worry about being separated or moving!

After dinner, Ye Manzhi sent her daughter out and comforted Dr. Wu.

If I could be transferred to Beijing, I would most likely get a promotion.

As a result, Wu Zhengrong gave such a good opportunity to Jiang Suo and had to stay in Institute 1062.

No matter whether the position is administrative or scientific research, you have definitely missed the opportunity for promotion.

If you miss this opportunity, you don’t know when the next one will come.

Ye Manzhi felt that Wu Zhengrong’s refusal to go to Beijing might have something to do with his family.

She had only been working at the Light Industry Bureau for half a year and had not yet made any significant achievements. If Wu Zhengrong was transferred, she would not be able to join the army in the short term.

It is inevitable that the two will live apart, which will not have a good impact on the children.

Ye Manzhi touched Dr. Wu's head with pity, "For this family, you gave up such a good opportunity, alas..."

"Going to Beijing isn't a good thing," Wu Zhengrong said nonchalantly, "You don't have to take it to heart."

How could Ye Manzhi not take it to heart? She really felt it was a pity.

Dr. Wu has been rooted in Institute 1062 for more than ten years, rising from deputy director to director.

He finally got a chance for promotion, but he declined it.

Others affected by this include Zhou Suo next door.

Zhou Suo and Wu Zhengrong joined the institute in the same year, and both are still deputy directors today!

Ye Manzhi couldn't help but mutter: "If I were Chief Zhou, I would probably be pissed to death by you!"

If Wu Zhengrong leaves, he can become the director!

Wu Zhengrong said, "Don't worry about Director Zhou. His superiors have other plans for him."

Ye Manzhi wanted to ask what the arrangements were, but they had been married for so many years, and apart from Wu Zhengrong's own affairs, she rarely asked about the work in the army.

Even though she was extremely curious at this moment, she resisted the urge to ask.

She felt relieved knowing that her family would not hinder Zhou's progress.

Wu Zhengrong originally wanted to share it with her, but seeing that she was suppressing her curiosity and refused to ask, he diligently massaged his shoulders and back, and comforted him with gentle words.

Dr. Wu thought about it and swallowed the words that were about to come out of his mouth.

It’s a rare opportunity to enjoy the gentleness of the sprouts, so I’ll just enjoy it for a few days first.

Ye Manzhi felt that Wu Zhengrong had made a huge sacrifice for the family, so for the next half month, with a bit of emotion and compensatory psychology, she took care of Wu Zhengrong in bed and out of bed, inside and outside the house, and in terms of food, clothing, housing and transportation, making sure he was comfortable.

I used the few cloth coupons I had left that year to make him a new shirt and a new pair of trousers.

When going to work in the morning, the couple went out together. Ye Manzhi accompanied him to the research institute, and then went to the bus station in front to catch a bus.

We were never this affectionate even when we were newly married.

After Zhou found out, he went home and asked Liu Zhenfang to go to work with him every day and send him to the company before leaving.

Liu Zhenfang: "I'm giving you face, right? You're a kindergarten kid? And you have to let me watch you walk in the door!"

Zhou Suo seized the opportunity and said, "Then you should ask me to walk with you in the yard less often in the future!"

"If you don't want to accompany me, then don't. You're old, who cares about you?"

The couple next door started arguing again, but Ye Manzhi still insisted on getting up early every day to exercise and then go to work with Wu Zhengrong.

That morning, before leaving, Wu Zhengrong said in a casual tone, "We don't have to work together anymore. You should sleep a little longer in the morning."

Ye Manzhi was a little tired of getting up too early every day, but she still pretended to say, "It's okay, I can get some exercise when I get up early. Besides, I didn't come here specially to give you a ride, I just happened to be on my way."

Wu Yuzhuo couldn't bear to watch any longer, so he put the teacup on the table. With a mustache still stained on his lips, he said, "Mom, my dad won't be working at the 1062 anymore. He's been transferred to the Military Academy. You two are going south and north, so it's not convenient for you at all."

Her mother would go home after work and spend time with her father, ignoring any new happenings in the compound.

The news that her father was transferred to Binjiang Military Academy as vice president had already spread throughout the compound.

Only her mother is kept in the dark!

Hearing this, Ye Manzhi opened his eyes wide and asked, "Transferred to the Military Academy? When did that happen?"

Wu Zhengrong touched his nose and said, "It's something recent. Today is my first day at work."

"..." Ye Manzhi jumped up and punched his hard shoulder. "You bastard, you deliberately hid it from me, didn't you? I shouldn't have made you new clothes if I had known! You wasted all my cloth coupons!"

She thought this guy gave up working in Beijing because of his family. She was so touched for nothing!

Wu Zhengrong let her punch him twice before saying, "The child is watching. Please be careful of the impact."

"What influence do I care about?" Ye Manzhi glared at him. "If you don't behave, I'll punish you according to the family rules!"

Wu Zhengrong chose a good time to confess. They both had to go to work in the morning, and Ye Manzhi scolded him a few words before letting him go.

It’s my first day at the new company, so I can’t be late, right?

She helped the man straighten the collar of his military uniform and brushed off the non-existent dust on his shoulders.

I feel that Dr. Wu looks particularly handsome, majestic and imposing today.

Well, let’s go to work.

Watching the other person's back disappear through the door, Ye Manzhi withdrew his gaze and said to his daughter, "We used to live in the Military Academy as a guest for over ten years. Now we finally don't have to live in a guest house anymore. Your dad has really become a member of the Military Academy!"

"Hey, hey," Wu Yuzhuo said, holding her arm, "Don't be angry! Yiyi and I have been so happy these past few days. Uncle Zhou has become the director, so we don't have to move, and neither do we. We can be together every day!"

The branches are full of leaves but lifeless.

She knew very well Wu Zhengrong's bad taste and pettiness. After all, they were a couple, so it was no big deal for her to be nice to him.

The moment she heard that Wu Zhengrong was going to be the vice president of the Military Academy, she felt happy and relieved.

At least we don’t have to live apart!

Ye Manzhi told her daughter to remember to lock the door when she went to school, and then went to work with her backpack.

On the way, she carefully thought about Wu Zhengrong's transfer.

Recommending Jiang to go to Beijing was actually a clever move.

Director Jiang used to be the head of a department at the Military Academy, and later the director of the 1062 Institute. However, after working on a farm for several years, when he came back, there was no place for him in the institute.

It has been so many years since Jiang left his research position that it is unlikely that he can directly become the vice president of the military academy.

However, if he is sent to Beijing to do administrative work, the possibility will be much greater.

Wu Zhengrong's recommendation solved Jiang's work problem, kept him in Binjiang, and did not hinder Zhou's progress.

Ye Manzhi couldn't help but complain in his heart that Wu Zhengrong was both loyal and cunning.

She walked into the office building while thinking about it. When she arrived at the office door, she saw Tang Zhanshan waiting there.

"Director Tang, why are you here so early?"

Tang Zhanshan came here on purpose to stop her early.

"Director Ye, we've already discussed with the Agricultural Machinery Factory and are considering merging the Fourth Agricultural Machinery Factory with us. Do you think the bureau would agree to this?"

In the past few months, he has been really skinned alive because of the ownership of the industrial sewing machine production line.

This production line was not that important to the sewing machine factory, but he could not explain to the workers why he let the cooked duck fly away.

Therefore, he could only try his best to delay time again and again to keep the production line.

The latest plan they came up with was that the Sewing Machine Factory would invest 1.2 million to complete the project's finishing work, while the Agricultural Machinery Factory would not have to pay a penny and would merge the loss-making Agricultural Machinery Factory No. 4 into the Sewing Machine Factory.

The sewing machine factory uses the factory building of the Fourth Agricultural Machinery Factory to expand the household sewing machine production line, and the workers on the production line will then be those of the Fourth Agricultural Machinery Factory.

This plan can be considered as an explanation to the Light Industry Bureau, the First Industrial Bureau, and the Agricultural Machinery Factory.

Ye Manzhi took the stack of information and started looking through it.

She actually knew about this plan a long time ago.

The sewing machine factory paid for the completion of the unfinished production line, which was in line with the original intention of the Light Industry Bureau.

If Tang Zhanshan hadn't been arrogant at first and respectful later, he wouldn't have had to go through so much trouble.

In order to keep this production line, Tang Zhanshan made all kinds of excuses to prevent the agricultural machinery factory from dismantling the machines in the factory, which lasted for more than two months.

All other projects in the "100-day war" have resumed work, only the sewing machine factory is still at a stalemate.

Tang Zhanshan has already completed his mission of "killing the chicken to scare the monkey", so there is no need to make things difficult for him.

Besides, dismantling and reassembling the production line is a troublesome task and wastes a lot of time. Since the sewing machine factory is willing to pay, let it stay.

Ye Manzhi carefully read the report and nodded, saying, "As long as we negotiate with other units, there shouldn't be any problems with the Light Industry Bureau. The bureau will definitely support the development of the enterprise."

Hearing this, Tang Zhanshan felt relieved.

He put on a deliberate smile, said some words of thanks and left quickly.

He has been cheated by this female director in the past few months, and he has spent money and effort but still received no thanks.

He really didn't want to see this face if he could avoid it.

…

Ye Manzhi also disliked Tang Zhanshan's old face.

After the other party left, she spent the whole morning reviewing documents in the office. She did not go out in the afternoon and stayed in the bureau to read materials.

After get off work, she returned to the military industrial complex and said to Chang Yue'e, "Mom, I'm going to Beijing soon. Can you and my dad come with me?"

Chang Yue'e asked, "What are you doing in Beijing? How can you bring your parents on a business trip?"

"We used to have Director Mu from Guangming Subdistrict Office, the one called Mulan. Do you still remember her?"

"Remember, your boss when you were working at the neighborhood office?"

"Well, Director Mu recently transferred to the Industrial Department of the Provincial Farm Bureau. Tonglan County has a food industry park, and Director Mu wants to put a baby formula project there. However, the province only provides the technology, not the funding, so Binjiang needs to raise the funds on its own."

The funds required to build a new dairy factory are not a small amount. Even if the city invests money, it is impossible to cover the full amount. Therefore, Ye Manzhi plans to go to the Ministry of Light Industry and ask the leaders of the ministry for some funds for technical transformation.

Domestic infant formula is still a nascent project, and there is almost no genuine infant formula on the market.

Since the province can provide the technology, Ye Manzhi still wants to seize this opportunity.

Ye Shouxin waved his hand and said, "You're taking us with you on a business trip. What a bad influence!"

"What's wrong with that? You two can pay for your own travel and accommodation, and you won't be spending any government money. You'll just be traveling with me, and we'll have someone to look after you along the way!" Ye Manzhi asked, "You two have never been to the capital, have you?"

Ye Shouxin refused again: "It doesn't matter whether we go to Beijing or not! Just do your job well, and we can go again when we have the chance."

"You've been saying this for thirty years, haven't you? You told me when I was a kid that you'd go to Beijing to see the world if you had the chance, but you've never been!" Ye Manzhi advised, "Wait until you're my grandma's age before going out to play. What's the point?"

The reason she had this idea was mainly because she was inspired by old comrade Jin Tiantian.

The old lady in her nineties came to the city for the first time. Everything she saw was new to her, but she was too exhausted to eat or have fun.

Ye Manzhi wants to take her healthy parents to Beijing for a trip.

Ye Shouxin still shook his head and refused to go, but Chang Yue'e pushed him away and pulled her daughter aside, saying, "If your father doesn't want to go, then forget it. We can go together! I also want to go to the capital to broaden my horizons while my legs are still good!"