On the other side, Huo's mother, after finishing her phone call with her daughter-in-law, was still unable to contain her excitement.
Just as I was thinking of finding something to do to distract myself, I heard a noise outside the door.
Seeing Mr. Huo push the door open and come in, Mrs. Huo couldn't help but wonder, "Why are you back so early today?"
That's what I said, but I still went up immediately and took his briefcase and the coat from his arm.
Mr. Huo smiled and changed into a pair of slippers. "I had no choice but to come back. I've been receiving calls all morning with good news. There hasn't been a moment of peace in the office."
This batch of appointment notices was issued collectively, and more than one hundred officers of all ranks in the Beijing Military Region were promoted.
Most people were promoted by one or two ranks, but Huo Tingzhou was promoted three ranks at once, which was unprecedented in the entire military region.
As he spoke, he looked at Huo's mother and asked, "Why are you home at this hour? Didn't you say you were going to keep an eye on the cultural troupe's rehearsals for the new program?"
"Why are you lining up?"
Mrs. Huo hung up her briefcase and coat, and said with a helpless expression, "This morning, our cultural troupe's doorstep was almost flattened by those colleagues."
Given Mr. Huo's rank, his former colleagues would at most make a phone call to congratulate him.
The situation was different for Huo's mother.
She has a straightforward personality and is well-liked.
People come to congratulate her, she can't just keep a straight face.
"I've been laughing so hard my face is almost cramping up all morning."
Mrs. Huo pressed the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes. "If I don't leave, the girls won't be able to rehearse, so I took a day off and came back to hide."
Mr. Huo glanced at the living room. "Where are Mom and Dad? They're not home either?"
"Mom went to catch up with her old friends, and Dad took the chessboard to Grandpa Wang's house," Huo's mother said, giving Huo's father a knowing look.
Mr. Huo smiled knowingly and said, "It's better to retire."
“That’s right,” Mrs. Huo said enviously. “After retiring, you don’t have to worry about so many things. Unlike now, no matter how happy I am, I have to pretend that nothing happened and say a few humble words. I’m so tired of it.”
"It will be soon," Mr. Huo comforted him.
Mrs. Huo is 54 years old this year, according to the retirement policy for female cadres.
She will be able to officially retire next September.
However, Huo's mother is used to taking on important responsibilities at her workplace and is exceptionally capable, so the General Political Department's Cultural Troupe is unlikely to let her go anytime soon and may even want to rehire her.
Knowing that Mrs. Huo was eagerly awaiting retirement, Mr. Huo didn't want to upset her, so he didn't bring up the matter.
"By the way, Lao Huo, tell me the truth." With no one else home, Huo's mother suddenly looked at him suspiciously. "You didn't interfere with the third son's transfer and promotion, did you?"
Although she was mentally prepared for her son to be promoted beyond his rank, Huo's mother still found it somewhat unbelievable after seeing the appointment notice.
Mr. Huo paused in his tea-drinking motion. "Am I that kind of person?"
After saying that, she was both annoyed and amused, and said, "Do you think I have no principles? Or do you think Tingzhou has done something wrong that requires me, his father, to give him special treatment?"
“That’s not what I meant,” Mrs. Huo said. “I’m not afraid of you… Never mind, let’s not talk about this anymore.”
She originally thought that even if her son was transferred back to Beijing, he would have to spend a few years training in some army group.
Unexpectedly, he was promoted directly to the position of deputy chief of staff.
"I remember you were forty-two or forty-three when you were promoted to this position," Mrs. Huo said with emotion. "They were just lucky to be born at a good time."
Under the previous policy, the age requirement alone would have kept people from leaving for five to eight years.
"It's also because he married a good wife." Mr. Huo took a sip of tea and revealed the key to the matter.
The reason why the third son was able to be promoted three ranks in one go this time was not only due to the policy and his military achievements, but also, most importantly, because of his daughter-in-law.
Mother Huo reacted quickly, "You mean the time when Si Si did something good?"
Mr. Huo nodded. "Yes."
The military and the government have always been closely linked. The Central Military Commission received the news of the Ministry of Public Security's dismantling of the enemy's intelligence network immediately, since it involved many high-ranking officials.
He had suspected this when he first saw the reward.
"My daughter-in-law deserves a lot of credit for the third son's rapid promotion this time."
"Of course!" Mother Huo never forgets to acknowledge her daughter-in-law's contributions to the family. "I've said it before, it's a blessing for my son to marry Si Si, and it's also a blessing for our Huo family."
Mr. Huo wholeheartedly agreed with this.
With such a joyous occasion in the family, we should properly celebrate.
However, we just held a first birthday banquet for Sui Sui and Zhao Zhao a while ago, and then we held a full moon celebration for Xiao Dou Jiang.
If we hold a big promotion banquet, it might have a negative impact.
Therefore, after discussing it, Jiang Si and Huo Tingzhou decided not to hold a banquet.
It's good for the whole family to get together and have a lively reunion dinner.
...
Since receiving the transfer order, Huo Tingzhou has been working long hours every day, from being transferred from the local area to the capital, and now being parachuted into this position.
Many people sincerely wish him well, but just as many are waiting to find fault with him.
Jiang Si felt sorry for him, but she could understand.
"Why are you here?" She was a little surprised to see Huo Tingzhou picking her up when she went to get off work to handle some matters that day.
Huo Tingzhou fastened her seatbelt before saying, "I'll take you somewhere."
The tone of his voice was noticeably different from usual; it seemed he had a surprise for her.
Seeing this, Jiang Si didn't ask any further questions.
After getting on the bus, it headed west.
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