Chapter 57
There were only two people recruited into the technical department during the July 15th recruitment, namely Pei Xingzhi and Li Xuezhi.
Before entering the department, Li Xuezhi was full of confidence, thinking that he was definitely better than Pei Xingzhi, would gain a foothold faster than him, and would be more valued by the leaders.
On his first day in the department, reality shattered Li Xuezhi's fantasy. Deputy Section Chief Pang Minghe gave him and Pei Xingzhi a few test questions, presumably to test their abilities.
After answering the questions, Pang Minghe took them away without any further comment, which made Li Xuezhi a little uneasy.
Li Xuezhi originally wanted to find Pang Minghe to find out the situation, but after finding out that Pei Xingzhi was not interviewed either, he gave up the idea.
Later, Pei Xingzhi was assigned various tasks, but he had no tasks. He went to find Pang Minghe, but was advised to read more books.
At that time, Li Xuezhi's face turned red all the way to his neck.
I'm angry.
In Li Xuezhi's view, this was simply a humiliation to him. Pei Xingzhi was entrusted with an important task, but he was asked to read more books.
This is telling him directly that Li Xuezhi is not as good as Pei Xingzhi.
The surging anger, unwillingness and shame in Li Xuezhi's chest were about to drown him. He wished he could grab the collar of Pang Minghe, who had humiliated him, and punch the old man hard in the next second.
But Li Xuezhi did not do so. He smiled awkwardly, thanked Pang Minghe, closed the door respectfully and left.
Reason suppressed impulse.
The 715 is not an ordinary factory. Before Li Xuezhi came here, his father-in-law told him that as long as he could gain a foothold in the 715, it would be a hundred times better than working in ordinary factories outside.
Knowing that Li Xuezhi and his wife were coming to the July 15th Incident, everyone who knew some inside stories about the July 15th Incident was very envious of Li Xuezhi.
It was precisely because he knew the benefits of the 715 that Li Xuezhi endured it. However, he would not accept his fate. Thinking of the methods he had used to deal with those teachers who looked down on him, Li Xuezhi raised the corners of his lips.
Pang Minghe and Pei Xingzhi, those who looked down on and humiliated him, he would not let any of them go.
In this way, due to his lack of ability, Li Xuezhi became a marginal member of the technical department.
Pei Xingzhi, who entered the department with him, was increasingly valued and could discuss various issues with others with ease, winning everyone's admiration.
Because he figured out a method to reuse the workshop's cooling water, which saved a lot of costs for the 715th Unit, even the usually serious Pang Minghe praised Pei Xingzhi for the first time.
Although he had prepared himself mentally, Li Xuezhi was still filled with jealousy when he saw that his mortal enemy was receiving more and more attention while he could only do odd jobs in the department and serve tea and water to people.
He wanted to establish good relationships with other colleagues and find out the details of Pang Minghe and Pei Xingzhi so that he could carry out his subsequent revenge plan.
However, what made Li Xuezhi angry was that these people seemed friendly to him on the surface, but were only willing to tell him some irrelevant and trivial matters. Once he asked a little more deeply, they pretended to be deaf and dumb.
After a few months, it was already common knowledge that Pei Xingzhi was valued by Bai Fengyao and Pang Minghe.
At the meeting, Pei Xingzhi sat in the front row, while he could only squeeze into the chair at the back edge. Listening to the people in the technical department talking incomprehensible words, Li Xuezhi's heart was filled with gloom.
Looking at Pei Xingzhi and Jiang Peiran leaving, Li Xuezhi decided not to wait any longer. He must find a way to prevent Pei Xingzhi from stepping on him to get to the top.
Pei Xingzhi and Jiang Peiran, who had already left, walked out of the office building. Jiang Peiran bumped Pei Xingzhi with his shoulder and said, "See, the way Li Xuezhi looked at you, tsk tsk, it's like he wants to eat you up."
Pei Xingzhi's expression remained calm. "It's not just one or two days. I'm used to it."
Jiang Peiran nodded and sighed, "Does he think we're all fools? He's so obviously trying to find out about you and Mr. Pang, afraid we won't notice?"
In this special movement, intellectuals were the targets of persecution. Those who were able to protect themselves and have a good job were not stupid.
In their opinion, Li Xuezhi's little tricks were extremely low-level.
What kind of place is July 15? Does he think it is a place where he can do whatever he wants?
The information about the July 15th that the outside world knows, except for the good treatment, is just false information deliberately spread.
Even the machinery produced by the 715 is a smokescreen. Many people have no idea what is actually produced, and only a few people know.
As mentioned before, the 715 is connected to the nearby military district where Meng Mingxia is located. If it was just an ordinary machinery factory, how could it be related to the military district?
Why did Pei Xingzhi need two guarantors for recruiting workers for an ordinary factory? A deputy factory director who was a technical expert and a division commander of a military region were not ordinary people.
Before coming, Pei Xingzhi was also confused about this, vaguely feeling that July 15 was not simple, but he did not ask.
Until a month ago, Pei Xingzhi met two people he had never seen before at the 715. They were tall and straight, with reserved temperaments. They looked very ordinary and could blend into the crowd without standing out.
One of them told Pei Xingzhi that he wanted to take him to a place.
Pei Xingzhi did not resist, and he felt that it had finally come.
He was blindfolded and taken to a car. Feeling the shaking of the car and the change in temperature in the air, Pei Xingzhi felt that the car was driving deeper into the mountains.
The car drove for about three or four hours, and Pei Xingzhi was taken down. He was not allowed to take off his blindfold until he was taken to a closed room.
At that time, there were three middle-aged men sitting in front of him, two of them were wearing military uniforms, and the military ranks on their shoulders made Pei Xingzhi take a deep breath.
Pei Xingzhi stayed in this room for a whole day, and no one except the person involved knew what Pei Xingzhi experienced in there.
Bai Fengyao didn't know either. When he heard Pang Minghe say that Pei Xingzhi had been taken away, he took off his glasses, rubbed his sore eyebrows, and sighed.
Then he walked out of the office and came to the accounting department, telling Meng Wanqiu that Pei Xingzhi was out on a business trip and would not be back tonight, and asked Meng Wanqiu not to worry.
Bai Fengyao came to inform Meng Wanqiu personally, and of course she did not suspect anything. Pei Xingzhi often assisted other factories and units, so she was not surprised.
When Pei Xingzhi finished his work, it was already the afternoon of the next day.
This time, he was allowed to see clearly where he was. It was a base built in the valley. There were soldiers standing guard every few dozen meters, and the defense was very tight.
He turned around and looked up at the building behind him, on which were welded four large gold-plated characters: "Institute 715".
The 715 Institute and the 715 Factory are only one word apart, but the difference is more than just a little bit.
The factory only needs to produce according to the tasks it receives. Even if the factory has a technical department, the products it produces can only be produced according to the instructions from above.
As for the "Suo", it not only produces but also independently develops complex technologies, has a larger scale and greater rights.
A factory is just a factory, but an institute can have many factories under it.
"Hey, what are you thinking about? It's almost your turn." Jiang Peiran patted Pei Xingzhi's shoulder, pulling him back from the memory of that day.
Pei Xingzhi blinked and handed the lunch box to the staff in the cafeteria.
The 715 outside is to cover up the illusion of the 715 inside. The technical department knows that there are only five people in the 715.
Bai Fengyao, Pang Minghe, Pei Xingzhi, Jiang Peiran, and an engineer named Shi.
When Li Xuezhi showed signs of being abnormal, people noticed it. Because the 715 Institute was special, Bai Fengyao and his team became alert instantly and sent people to investigate Li Xuezhi's background overnight. They did not just believe what was written in Li Xuezhi's file.
With the help of special personnel, Li Xuezhi's entire body was immediately uncovered, and everything he had done was already known to them.
Then, thinking about Li Xuezhi's actions of asking about their background, she instantly understood his little thoughts.
However, they did not point it out clearly, nor did they plan to let Li Xuezhi leave the technical department. Instead, they kept their positions in place, preparing to play the long game and catch the bigger fish.
After finishing his meal, Pei Xingzhi heard some nearby villagers selling things outside the square, so he went over.
Jiang Peiran also went over to join in the fun.
It is not correct to say that it is selling things. To be precise, it is an exchange. Money cannot be used. This is speculation, and food coupons have become the circulating currency.
Rural people had very few food coupons, almost none at all, so if they wanted them they had to exchange them with city dwellers.
It was afternoon, and the workers had all returned to their workshops. There weren't many people around the villagers selling their wares. Pei Xingzhi walked in and discovered they were actually selling peaches.
The pink peaches are small in size, but they have a strong fragrance. As soon as you walk in, the fragrance of peaches hits you in the face. There are a few green leaves attached to the stems, and the pink and white are mixed with green. Coupled with the sweet fragrance lingering at the tip of your nose, it looks particularly attractive.
"My friend, how much is it?" Jiang Peiran next to him couldn't help but ask.
In the end, Pei Xingzhi and Jiang Peiran took half of the peaches in the basket, but did not buy all of them, leaving some for the people behind.
Jiang Peiran didn't care, he just wiped it on his body and started eating, "Hmm - delicious, crispy and sweet, it really is a wild peach grown in the mountains."
Pei Xingzhi took it to the sink outside the cafeteria to wash it clean, just when Jiang Peiran thought he was going to eat.
Pei Xingzhi went to the canteen kitchen again, borrowed a knife from the chef, cut the peaches into pieces, put them into a clean lunch box, and then closed the lid.
Jiang Peiran's eyes widened, an idea popped up in his mind, and he pointed at Pei Xingzhi and said in surprise: "You, you are not."
Pei Xingzhi ignored him and gave some peaches to Master Zhu in the cafeteria. He was Sister Gao's lover because Sister Gao had a good relationship with Meng Wanqiu.
When Pei Xingzhi and Meng Wanqiu hosted a dinner, they invited the family of three, and that's how they met.
Master Zhu didn't hesitate. After thanking Pei Xingzhi, he picked up the peach and stuffed it into his mouth. "Not bad, not bad. It's sweet. It's already autumn and you still have peaches?"
"I heard it grows deep in the mountains," said Pei Xingzhi.
The climate in the deep mountains is different from that in the outside world. The seasonal changes are not obvious, and it is not uncommon to grow out-of-season fruits. When they were in Qinghe Village, Pei Xingzhi and Meng Wanqiu ran into the mountains and often picked various kinds of fruits.
"Please help me take these to Master Bai and Engineer Pang. I'm going to the accounting department." Pei Xingzhi turned around and instructed Jiang Peiran.
Jiang Peiran tutted his words twice. "We lost, we lost. I bought the peaches, washed them, and even cut them into pieces before giving them to my wife. Sigh, you deserve to marry such a beautiful wife, Master Zhu. We completely lost."
Jiang Peiran frowned, looked miserable, and spoke with a sorrowful heart.
Master Zhu laughed heartily, and in conjunction with Jiang Peiran, he teased Pei Xingzhi, "Yes, our Pei Gong is recognized as the best husband by the 715. He is both handsome and considerate."
Pei Xingzhi closed his eyes and opened them again, his mouth twitching: Forget it, I won’t bother with them.
But Jiang Peiran hadn't finished her act yet. Seeing Pei Xingzhi choked and speechless for the first time, she secretly rejoiced. She walked over and hugged Pei Xingzhi's arm, deliberately holding her throat, pretending to be a young wife. "Wow, Mr. Pei is such a good man, I really like him. Mr. Pei, please consider me. Apart from gender, I'm no worse than Comrade Xiao Meng."
After saying that, she stretched her neck and moved closer, wanting to kiss Pei Xingzhi.
The veins in Pei Xingzhi's forehead throbbed as he watched the idiot Jiang Peiran's big mouth approach. He no longer cared that he was ten years his senior. He grabbed Jiang Peiran's wrist with his backhand and turned him over, pressing him onto the cutting table beside him.
Jiang Peiran screamed in pain, "Ah, wrong, wrong, be gentle——"
Master Zhu crossed his arms and burst into laughter.
Really, why didn’t I realize Jiang Peiran was so funny before?
In the accounting department, Pei Xingzhi had just walked to the door when he heard the clacking sound of an abacus.
"Oh, it's Mr. Pei. Are you here to see Accountant Meng?" Wu Guifen was just about to go out, and as soon as she opened the door, she saw Pei Xingzhi outside.
When Meng Wanqiu heard the noise, she immediately looked towards the door. When she saw Pei Xingzhi, her big eyes instantly turned into crescent shapes.
Pei Xingzhi also smiled and waved to Meng Wanqiu.
The other people in the office also noticed Pei Xingzhi. Seeing the two of them, they laughed and teased the young couple, "Accountant Meng, please get out quickly. Don't keep Engineer Pei waiting."
"Haha, they must be newlyweds, no wonder they're so clingy."
"It was the same when my husband and I first got married. I understand."
"Still wearing the same clothes, wow, you really are young."
These people didn't know that Pei Xingzhi and Meng Wanqiu had been married for two years and their relationship had always been good, as it was always like this.
Meng Wanqiu smiled shyly, moved her chair away, and trotted towards Pei Xingzhi.
Pei Xingzhi half-bowed to the others and said embarrassedly, "Sorry to interrupt everyone's work."
"It's okay, it's a good time to take a break."
"Don't bother me. Mr. Pei often comes over to play. After all, he is the son-in-law of our accounting department."
"Hahaha--"
Older people have a hobby, which is to tease young people. Seeing them embarrassed, it seems like they remember their past and feel nostalgic.
After Meng Wanqiu came out, Pei Xingzhi took her hand and walked into the corridor. During working hours, few people passed by here.
"Have you eaten? Did the meeting last very late?" Meng Wanqiu asked.
Pei Xingzhi smiled and said, "We've already eaten. It's a little late, but the master let us rest in the afternoon, so we don't have to go to work."
"I don't have to go to work. I'm so envious." Meng Wanqiu looked at Pei Xingzhi with eyes wide open, eyes full of envy. They had to finish their work before leaving the accounting department. Recently, the factory project was completed, and they were extremely busy.
Meng Wanqiu was quick, capable, and had the heaviest workload. Although she sped up and finished early, everyone else was busy, and she couldn't leave alone.
Alas, once I entered the factory and got a job, I no longer had so much freedom.
Pei Xingzhi rubbed her head and took out the lunch box. "Be good, you'll be fine after this period. Come, see what I brought you."
Meng Wanqiu took the lunch box and asked, "What is it? Wow, it's peaches. There are peaches at this time. Where did you get them from?"
Seeing Meng Wanqiu's happy expression, Pei Xingzhi felt even better. "The villagers nearby were selling them in the square. Jiang Peiran and I saw them."
"You're from the countryside, it looks like you picked it in the mountains." Meng Wanqiu took out a piece from the lunch box and fed it to Pei Xingzhi before eating it herself.
"Hmm, delicious, very crispy, a little crisper than the ones we have back home." The wild peaches in the mountains of Qinghe Village are softer.
Pei Xingzhi placed his hand on Meng Wanqiu's belly. The loose coat she wore today obscured the bulge of her stomach. However, if he placed his hand on it, he could clearly feel the curve of her belly.
"How is it? Did the child bother you?"
Meng Wanqiu shook her head, a soft smile on her face. "No, he's very well behaved."
When the baby was halfway through the fourth month, it began to move in the womb. Before going to bed at night, it would punch and kick in the belly. Meng Wanqiu always said that the baby was practicing martial arts inside.
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