Li Xiaocao felt something was off about what he was saying, frowned, and was about to speak up to smooth things over.
Mingzhao, who had been silent all along, suddenly raised her head. She looked at He Yuchun, her eyes still clear and calm, without any anger at being offended, nor gratitude for being "given a favor," but simply stating a fact very directly:
"I don't need to look for a job."
Her voice wasn't loud, but it reached the ears of everyone in the courtyard clearly.
He Yuchun's smile froze, then she grinned dramatically as if she had heard the funniest joke in the world, her lips curling into an undisguised sarcasm: "Oh! Mingzhao, what are you saying! If you don't work, what are you doing at home? You can't just wait for Commander Huo to support you every day, can you? Even though Commander Huo is a commander and has a high salary, we modern women need to have something to do and some income, right? Otherwise, it won't sound good to others!"
She emphasized the word "raise" and glanced at Howard, wanting to see the commander's reaction.
Li Xiaocao was also stunned, looking at Mingzhao with concern, afraid that she was just embarrassed to say that. She quickly tried to smooth things over: "Yuchun, don't say that! Mingzhao, she..."
Howard sat in his wheelchair, his face calm, but a hint of coldness flashed in his eyes. He was very uncomfortable with He Yuchun's veiled insults and attempts to sow discord. He was about to speak when Ming Zhao interrupted him.
Mingzhao seemed not to understand the sarcasm in He Yuchun's words, nor did she care about Li Xiaocao's worries.
She looked at He Yuchun and repeated herself very seriously, her tone as calm as if she were discussing the weather:
“I have a job.”
"Pfft!" He Yuchun couldn't hold back any longer and burst out laughing, as if he had heard the funniest joke of the century.
She clapped her hands dramatically, her voice shrill: "Oh my Mingzhao! You're so funny! You have a job? Taking care of Commander Huo at home is your job? Then which wife in our compound doesn't have this 'job'? Hahaha!"
Li Xiaocao looked at Mingzhao awkwardly, thinking that Mingzhao had spoken recklessly because she was provoked by He Yuchun. She tugged at Mingzhao's sleeve and whispered, "Mingzhao, it's okay, let's not argue with her..."
Howard's heart leaped into his throat! He knew Mingzhao too well! She wouldn't lie! If she said she "had a job," then she definitely meant it! Could it be... the paperwork at the research institute was completed so quickly? No, that can't be right, Liu Wenjun just took the blueprints not long ago!
Mingzhao looked at He Yuchun, who was laughing so hard she was doubled over, and then at Li Xiaocao, who looked embarrassed and worried. Finally, a very subtle...confusion appeared in her clear eyes. She seemed not to understand why they were reacting this way.
She tilted her head slightly, as if pondering how to explain in a way they would understand, but ultimately, she chose to give up. She simply uttered a few words again calmly, clearly, in a declarative tone:
"I have a job. Believe it or not."
After speaking, she stopped looking at He Yuchun and Li Xiaocao, lowered her head, and stared at the armrest of Huo Hua's wheelchair, as if there was something there worth studying. Her posture was one of complete certainty, as if to say, "It's the truth, no need to argue."
He Yuchun's laughter abruptly stopped, as if she had been choked. Looking at Mingzhao's unyielding, eerily calm demeanor, a nameless anger flared up within her! Pretending! Just pretending! What kind of decent job could a blockhead like him, who can't even speak properly and stays cooped up at home all day, possibly have? You're kidding me!
Just as she was about to continue her sarcastic remarks, Li Xiaocao quickly pulled her aside and smoothed things over, saying, "Alright, alright! Whatever Mingzhao says goes! Come on, Yuchun, didn't you say you were going to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy some things to prepare for work tomorrow? I'll go with you!" She really didn't want to see He Yuchun continue to belittle Mingzhao, and she was also afraid that Commander Huo would lose his temper on the spot.
He Yuchun was pulled away by Li Xiaocao and walked out. She turned back and glared at Mingzhao resentfully, muttering in a voice that was neither too loud nor too soft, just loud enough for the people in the courtyard to hear: "Tch! What are you pretending for! You have a job? I think you're sick! You think you're so great just because you married the regimental commander? You're so arrogant! Regimental Commander Huo is really..." Li Xiaocao forcibly cut her off.
The courtyard finally quieted down.
Howard looked up at Mingzhao. Sunlight fell on her lowered eyelashes, casting small shadows. She stood there quietly, as if the little disturbance had never happened.
“Mingzhao,” Howard’s voice was low, with a hint of tension that was barely perceptible, “you just said… you have work?” He had to confirm.
Mingzhao looked up, her gaze meeting Howard's probing eyes. She nodded without hesitation: "Yes."
"What kind of work?" Howard pressed, his heart pounding in his chest. Was it a research institute? So soon? Or... something else? Could it be dangerous?
Mingzhao noticed the obvious worry and seriousness in Howard's eyes, and seemed to think for a moment. Then, she answered very seriously:
"Work that needs to be kept confidential."
Howard: "..."
Looking at Mingzhao's overly calm and composed face, a tremendous sense of powerlessness and a deeper worry instantly gripped him.
Confidentiality? The work at the research institute does indeed require confidentiality, but... did she just casually mention it? Or... is there something else going on with this "work"?
Just then, a rapid bicycle bell rang out from outside the courtyard gate, accompanied by a familiar voice:
"Comrade Mingzhao! Is Comrade Mingzhao at home?"
It was Xiao Wang, the secretary of Zhang Mingyuan, the director of the research institute! He pushed his bicycle, his face showing an urgent business attitude, and stopped in front of Li Xiaocao's house, his eyes locking onto Mingzhao in the yard.
"Comrade Mingzhao! I've finally found you! Dean Zhang asked me to bring this to you immediately!" Xiao Wang said, taking out a kraft paper envelope from his briefcase. It was stamped with the bright red official seal of the "Northern Machinery Research Institute" and two eye-catching black characters: "Letter of Appointment"!
He strode into the courtyard and solemnly handed the envelope to Mingzhao, his voice carrying a barely perceptible hint of respect: "This is your temporary non-staff researcher employment letter and related confidentiality agreement. Dean Zhang requests that you sign it today and bring it to the research institute to report for duty first thing tomorrow morning! The application form is also attached!"
Li Xiaocao was shocked!
"Mingzhao, what happened? Did you find a job?"
He Yuchun tilted his head, trying to figure out which store it was. Why was it so formal, like they were giving out an employment certificate?
She didn't have any...
Suddenly, He Yuchun had a flash of inspiration: This...this...isn't this a contract?
Many years later, He Yuchun was already old and could only do handicrafts. He would see other people's children go to university and find jobs, and those companies would issue such employment letters.
But... Mingzhao? A letter of appointment? How is that possible?!
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