Chapter 26
The early morning chill rushed in as Xie Shiyu pushed the door open.
The fire was warm, but it couldn't dispel the solemnity that remained between Gu Qiuyue's brows. She sat at the table, her fingers unconsciously moving across the manuscript paper.
Xie Shiyu hung up his coat and locked his eyes with her, "You don't look well? Didn't you sleep well last night?" His voice was low and hoarse after being on duty all night.
Gu Qiuyue suddenly came back to her senses. She didn't even notice when Xie Shiyu came in. She quickly put on a smile but couldn't hide her fatigue: "Why are you back now? Didn't you say you wouldn't be back until noon?" She stood up and took his hat and hung it up.
Xie Shiyu's eyes swept over her rosy cheeks and clear eyes with an inquiring look. He then pinched her earlobe and smiled gently, "Xu Weiguo went to replace me early in the morning. That guy is single anyway." This casual joke made Gu Qiuyue smile. She took the lunch box from him and said cheerfully, "Are you hungry? I'll go heat up some food."
There is no concept of vacation in this era. The Propaganda Department started working on the third day of the New Year. However, everyone in the office was doing their own work, and some people gathered together to chat. As Xie Shiyu said, this is a leisurely job.
Moreover, several colleagues and the director are easy to get along with, especially a female colleague named Sun Juan. The two of them hit it off right away. Director Zhao was also very friendly and praised her for her vigorous and innovative article "New Year, New Atmosphere" written before the New Year.
That day, after get off work at noon, because Xie Shiyu said he would not be back for lunch, Gu Qiuyue did not plan to cook and wanted to eat in the cafeteria before going home.
When I came back and passed by the wall of the family compound, I happened to see Wang Zhaodi and several other military relatives basking in the sun and talking about something.
Wang Zhaodi saw Gu Qiuyue's shrill voice rising as she passed by: "Oh, some people are so lucky. They can refuse university places just like that, and then sit in an office, protected from the wind and rain, and walk out the back door with confidence."
"Of course, he's pretending to be noble, he must be very proud of himself." The person who echoed the voice glanced at him.
Gu Qiuyue seemed to have just seen them. She raised her eyebrows slightly, with a hint of undisguised contempt in her eyes: "Oh? It's Comrade Wang Zhaodi. What's the matter? Have you finished your housework? So you have the leisure to come here and 'give orders'?"
She ignored the other party's specific sour words and glanced at them as if she was looking at something low-brow: "Whether I can enter the office or sit still depends on my real ability and the approval of the leaders for what I write.
Unlike some people who have no skills but a lot of gossip, besides being jealous and gossiping, I'm afraid they can't even write their own names properly? I suggest you go to literacy classes when you have time to consolidate your knowledge, so that you don't expose your level as soon as you open your mouth and make people laugh at you. "
"You..." Wang Zhaodi was so angry that she wanted to scratch Hua Gu Qiuyue's face, but was pulled away by the military wife next to her.
When we were almost home, Mrs. Zhang, Mrs. Chen from across the street, and a few of their good friends were also sitting by the wall basking in the sun. Seeing Gu Qiuyue come back, they asked, "Sister Qiuyue, is that bitch Wang Zhaodi causing trouble again?"
Gu Qiuyue recounted what had just happened, and everyone gave her a thumbs-up. Mrs. Zhang slapped her thigh and said, "That's how we should deal with that gossipy Wang Zhaodi. I suspect she's the one who started all those rumors in the courtyard."
"Oh? What's the matter?" Gu Qiuyue was curious, wondering if she should interact more with these sisters-in-law to avoid getting "off track".
Mrs. Zhang said angrily, "Some people say...that you were so willing to give up your university recommendation because you had already agreed with your superiors to trade it for benefits, and the exchange was for that leisurely position in the Propaganda Department!"
That leisurely position in the Propaganda Department? Gu Qiuyue frowned slightly, her eyes revealing genuine confusion. It was true that Xie Shiyu had arranged for her to join the Propaganda Department, but that was after the quota controversy, and Sister Zhao had clearly stated at the time that they had let her go because they were "short of staff."
Where does this "already agreed upon" and "quota exchange for position" come from? Furthermore, can a job in the Propaganda Department be exchanged for a university recommendation? This logic is absurd.
Seeing the pure confusion and puzzlement in Gu Qiuyue's eyes, Mrs. Zhang and several other sisters-in-law who were quietly listening understood about 70% of the truth in their hearts. This rumor was probably groundless and deliberately slandered.
"Alas," Mrs. Chen sighed, then finished her sentence, "I heard that Wang Sufen, the daughter of Captain Liu of the Third Regiment, also applied for that university spot. In the end, she didn't get it, so she asked Captain Liu to ask someone to transfer to the Propaganda Department. But Director Zhao said there wasn't a vacancy at the moment... So, she thinks you 'stole' her spot, and she's insisting that you used giving up your spot as a bargaining chip to take the spot ahead and replace her!"
After listening to this, Gu Qiuyue had only one thought in her mind: You can sit at home and the pot will come out of the sky!
She gave up her spot out of a careful assessment of the current situation and Xie Shiyu's predicament; her entry into the Propaganda Department was a matter of chance, and she worked diligently. But then, in the mouths of this sister-in-law, Wang Sufen, it became a calculated scheme, a quid pro quo? Just because she herself didn't get the spot and didn't get into the Propaganda Department, this double disappointment was being blamed entirely on Gu Qiuyue?
Gu Qiuyue suppressed her anger and chuckled softly, with a knowing sarcasm: "So that's the root of the problem. That Wang's wife is really good at 'association'."
Mrs. Zhang advised, "Sister Qiuyue, don't take it to heart. She's just unhappy and talking nonsense. We all know that Director Zhao is fair, and your manuscript is also good."
Mrs. Sun interjected, "Exactly. Wang Sufen couldn't even write a good ideological report when she was vying for a spot, so the Propaganda Department is even less qualified."
Gu Qiuyue smiled politely, but her eyes were cold. "Thank you, sisters-in-law. Those who are innocent will be innocent. I, Gu Qiuyue, have a clear conscience. I gave up my place because I didn't want to be separated from my lover. I joined the Propaganda Department because the organization trusted me. I am doing my duty. As for what others think..." Her tone turned cold, "It only means that some people have something to hide, or are simply jealous."
Mrs. Zhang said anxiously, "But if gossip gets spread, it will hurt your reputation..."
"Reputation?" Gu Qiuyue raised an eyebrow. "It's easy to spread rumors. If I rush to confront and explain, it will make me look guilty, which is exactly what she wants. Doesn't she just want to see me get angry? I won't."
She said calmly, "Rumors are like dust. The more you step on them, the higher they fly. But if they stand firm, they will fall with the wind. Over time, everyone will know who is gold and who is dirt."
She nodded to Mrs. Zhang: "Thank you for the reminder, I know what I'm doing. I'll finish my manuscript first." After saying that, she straightened her back and walked away with steady steps. Her back was calm and inviolable.
Under the shade of the tree, Mrs. Chen muttered, "This demeanor...Wang Sufen has hit a wall."
Another person said: "Deputy Xie's family looks friendly, but they are not dough."
Sister Li sighed: "I hope the spit can really blow away." But in her heart, she felt that Gu Qiuyue's calm attitude made Wang Sufen more uncomfortable than any noise. Deputy Tuanjia's daughter-in-law is not easy to mess with. The family compound will be more "lively" in the future.
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