Chapter 111 The police social gathering talked about introducing potential partners...
When the topic of introducing potential partners came up, Mingxi perked up and asked Bailing, "Would you mind telling me about your colleagues and their requirements?"
Bai Antelope: "This..."
She moved her lips, hesitating slightly.
Mingxi: "Hmm? Is it inconvenient? It's okay if it's inconvenient, but you know my requirements. If they want me to introduce them to someone, I need to clarify the conditions first, so it's fine for them to come and talk to me in person."
"It's not that it's inconvenient," Bai Ling explained. "It's just that so many colleagues want to introduce me to potential partners that I don't know where to start."
Mingxi: "Huh?"
Bai Ling chuckled twice and said, "You know the nature of our workplace. It's almost entirely male, and with the busy work schedule, we're always working overtime. There aren't any female colleagues, and we don't have time to go out and meet or date them, so..."
Bai Ling's words were rather subtle. In fact, before she joined the Municipal Public Security Bureau, the Bureau's Field Operations Department was always referred to as a "monk's temple," meaning that the department consisted only of male officers, and all of them were single men.
There might even be female cats in the Buddhist temple, while the police dogs that run field operations at the Municipal Public Security Bureau are all male.
When the male officers at the Municipal Public Security Bureau first saw Bai Ling's report, they were all quite excited, thinking that their "monastic temple" had finally gained a female comrade. Who would have thought that Bai Ling would work even harder than them, be physically stronger than them, and always be the first to rush to the front when making arrests, causing the leaders to scold them every day, saying that they, a bunch of young men, were just eating for nothing.
And so, the big guys were forced to roll up.
Finally, as the case-solving rate improved and everyone's bonuses increased, they completely gave up the idea of dating someone in the same profession.
Just thinking about dating a woman like Bai Ling gives them a headache.
Of course, Bai Ling was unaware of this. She simply assumed that her colleagues at work were unwilling to date people in the same field because their jobs were too demanding and they couldn't take care of their families.
Bai Ling: "Most of the people in our department are single. Our team leader is thirty-five this year and still not married. His family urges him to find a partner every year during the Spring Festival. It's not that he doesn't want to find one, but he's just too busy to do so."
She spoke with a gossipy tone, whispering to Mingxi, "Actually, a senior member of our team told me that our captain used to date someone. She was incredibly beautiful, educated, and gentle and considerate. When our captain was busy, he couldn't take care of her, but she never complained. Our captain was about to get engaged to her, but during their engagement banquet, a serious robbery occurred in the city. One truck driver was killed and another seriously injured, and two handguns were stolen from the truck. All the police officers in the city bureau were called back to work overtime, and our captain was no exception. His girlfriend was left alone at the engagement banquet until our captain finished the case and went to find her. But she was nowhere to be found, and that's how they broke up."
Bai Ling sighed softly, looking on with great pity for her captain.
She could understand his anger at being left out of his engagement party, and she could also understand his distress at not receiving an explanation from the captain for several days. But it was a pity that they broke up over something after dating for so long.
Mingxi didn't think so; she thought the other person was quite decisive.
To be honest, given the unique nature of police work, if Captain Bai Ling has to leave her fiancé at their engagement party today because of a case, she might have to leave at their wedding party tomorrow because of a case. And if she gets pregnant or has a baby in the future, her fiancé might not be by her side because of a case.
This is an unchangeable fact.
If you want to marry a police officer, you have to accept this.
This might not be obvious when you're dating, but you'll feel it much more deeply after you get married.
To be honest, it's quite good that the woman realized this before marriage and understood that she couldn't accept it, choosing to break up with Captain Bailing. It would have been far more painful if she had only realized this after marriage, leading to a lose-lose situation and ultimately divorce.
Mingxi thought this to herself, but she didn't say it out loud. Instead, she asked, "So your captain hasn't dated anyone since then?"
Bai Ling hesitated: "I don't think so. I heard that his family forced him to go on several dates, but he was afraid of delaying the other party and that, like last time, he would be too busy with a case to take care of her, so the dates didn't work out."
Mingxi nodded: "Understood."
This means there's a knot in their heart. To introduce them to someone, you first need to untie that knot and find them someone who can accept their busy schedule.
Mingxi secretly noted this down and then asked the main question: "So, how many potential partners does your company want to introduce?"
Bai Ling thought for a moment: "Five, um, no, it's six. Our department has six, the Economic Crime Investigation Team next door, and the Major Crimes Unit also have several..."
Goodness, this is a big task.
Even Mingxi was a little stunned for a moment.
Bai Ling chuckled twice: "They were all shocked when they heard that I could find a partner. They said that if you could introduce me to a suitable partner, you could definitely introduce them to partners, so they all planned to come to you."
Mingxi: "..."
She remained silent for a long time before asking, "Doesn't your police station plan to organize a social event?"
Bai Ling: "A social gathering?"
She thought for a moment and said, "Oh! I know about that. In July, your Women's Federation organized a social gathering, right? It was even in the newspaper. We saw it in the newspaper at the time. Your event was really well done. The venue was beautifully decorated, and the activities were very interesting. However, our Municipal Public Security Bureau was not among the invited units."
It's not that the Women's Federation didn't want to involve the Municipal Public Security Bureau; it's just that they're not in the same system, making organization and communication difficult.
Bai Ling: "However, even if our unit is invited, I don't know how many people will have time to attend the social gathering."
Mingxi: "What if we held a social gathering at your workplace?"
Bai Ling's eyes lit up: "Have it done at our workplace?"
Mingxi nodded: "There are so many single people in your unit, you can definitely organize a social gathering and invite people from other units to participate. Last time, the city's government agencies didn't participate in the social gathering, so we can take this opportunity to organize a social gathering for government agencies."
The white antelope's eyes lit up. "Government offices are great!"
Compared to the Municipal Public Security Bureau, there are more female employees in government agencies.
However, organizing a social gathering, especially one that invites other organizations, is not something a lowly police officer like her can decide on her own.
We need to report to our superiors and let them make the decision.
Bai Ling didn't want to disappoint Ming Xi, but she had to answer honestly: "I can't make the decision to organize such a big event. I have to go back and ask the leaders above for their thoughts."
Mingxi wasn't surprised: "Then go back and ask your leader what he thinks. I'll also talk to our director about this and see what he thinks."
White Antelope: "Okay!"
While the two were talking, the line to buy coal kept moving forward, and it looked like it would be Mingxi's turn soon. Luckily, Aunt He returned in time.
Aunt He was panting heavily, but she still managed to ask Zhao Sulan in front of her, "Hey, Old Zhao, are you buying coal briquettes or honeycomb briquettes this time? How many are you buying? I'd like to know."
Zhao Sulan: "Buy honeycomb briquettes. They burn longer, produce less smoke, and are neat and clean to store."
Aunt He: "I'm thinking of buying honeycomb briquettes too, but I don't know how many to buy."
Zhao Sulan: "I did the math, and we plan to buy 1,200 yuan worth of coal. There are only two of us in the family, Mingxi and me. Although Mingxi is afraid of the cold, we don't use coal much. 1,200 yuan is enough to last until April. We can take the stove out in April, and then we'll just use it for cooking. We can buy more coal when we need it again."
They were all used to managing household affairs, and they all knew how many pieces of coal they needed in a day. Zhao Sulan estimated that 1,200 pieces would be enough.
Aunt He did the math: "Our family is about the same. We'll also buy 1200 yuan worth, so we don't have to worry about not having enough space if we buy too much."
Like the Ming family, Aunt He's family is small, with only one stove, and 1,200 yuan is enough to keep them warm all winter.
But other families are different. For example, Aunt Ma's family is different. Her family has many members, and the houses are not connected. Each house has its own stove, so she asked for four thousand pieces of coal at once.
Zhao Sulan: "Old Ma, did your family buy so much coal this year?"
Aunt Ma: "Sigh, in previous years when supplies were limited, my little ones always complained that the house wasn't warm enough. Last year, my husband used his connections to bring over an extra thousand catties of coal slurry from Shanxi, but it still wasn't enough to burn. This year, with no supply limits, I have to buy more so that my little ones won't complain about the cold anymore."
Speaking of her sons, Aunt Ma felt annoyed: "They are all young men, they should be full of energy, but I don't know why they are so afraid of the cold."
Aunt He: "What else could it be? He's playing the solo game, of course."
She tattled, saying, "Last winter, during the coldest period, when it was snowing, your third son was only wearing a thin jacket and jeans. I felt cold just looking at him, but he insisted, 'I'm not cold.' Of course he was cold!"
"Oh dear, that's right. It makes me so angry. Last year, I told my mistress to wear more clothes, but he wouldn't listen. I forced him to put on his cotton-padded pants at home, but he took them off as soon as we went out. He cares more about style than warmth. I'm just watching him develop rheumatism in his legs. Does he even care about warmth anymore?" Aunt Ma started ranting and raving.
While Aunt Ma was complaining, Zhao Sulan grabbed Mingxi and said, "Go home and find all your thermal underwear and long johns in your closet. The weather forecast says it will get colder in a few days, so you might be able to wear them then."
Zhao Sulan: "Oh, right, find your cotton-padded pants too. Since the weather is warm these days, I'll take them apart and put some more cotton in them, otherwise they won't be warm enough."
Mingxi: "Done."
She's not the kind of person who prioritizes style over warmth.
Winters in the northern part of the city are truly cold. The biting wind is so strong that it feels like being scraped by a knife when it hits your skin. You can't keep out the wind at all without wearing thick clothes.
Mingxi: "Do we have enough cotton at home? If not, should we go to the department store to buy some tomorrow?"
When the police officers came to present the banner last time, they also slipped in a lot of receipts along with the bonus, including cotton coupons. There were quite a few of them.
I don't know where it came from.
Perhaps some leftovers from the Public Security Bureau?
After all, the people working in the Public Security Bureau were mostly men, few of whom made their own clothes, so they didn't need cotton coupons at all.
“No need to buy any more. We still have cotton left over from last year.” Zhao Sulan had barely finished speaking when she shook her head again: “No, no, we should buy some more. Go back and check how many cotton coupons you have left, and see if we can buy you another quilt.”
Mingxi: "No need, I think my blanket is warm enough right now."
Zhao Sulan: "What's so warm about it? Your quilt hasn't been taken apart for years, it's all stiff. I was thinking of finding a cotton fluffer to fluff it for you this year."
She waved her hand: "Anyway, when you get back, find all the cotton coupons for me. I know what to do with them."
Since Zhao Sulan has already said that, what else can Mingxi say?
She could only obediently nod and follow her mother's arrangements.
"Don't hesitate, hurry up, it's our turn." Zhao Sulan stepped forward: "Master, we'd like to order 1200 honeycomb briquettes..."
I brought the honeycomb briquettes home and piled them up in the corner. The new briquettes were just brought back, so I had to leave them outside to air out for two days, otherwise they would be too wet. Luckily, the weather has been good lately, mostly sunny, so I'm not worried about them getting wet in the rain.
The walls of every household in the courtyard were covered with honeycomb briquettes, and Mingxi immediately felt the real presence of autumn.
Autumn in the northern part of the city is always busy. In preparation for the coming winter, every household is busy making cotton-padded clothes, sealing windows, storing winter vegetables, and drying vegetables...
It's not even mid-October yet, so sealing windows and stocking up on winter vegetables is still a bit early, but drying vegetables is definitely not too early.
Mingxi's family was considered late; most families would start drying vegetables in late August or September. However, Mingxi was busy at that time, and Zhao Sulan was also at work, so neither of them had much time to spare.
With the weather turning cold in late October, Zhao Sulan became anxious.
If we don't dry vegetables this fall, what will we eat in winter? Are we just going to eat cabbage and potatoes all the time?
Who can stand eating cabbage and potatoes every day?
So, Zhao Sulan got up early in the morning. After getting ready, she dragged Mingxi out of bed, and the two of them went out before dawn. They borrowed a bicycle from Aunt Ma's house, and Zhao Sulan took Mingxi to Yang Weihong's house. After meeting up with Yang Weihong, the three of them went to the vegetable market where Yang Weihong usually shopped.
The vegetable market Yang Weihong went to was a newly opened one in the suburbs. Unlike the vegetable markets in the city, this one was full of farmers from the countryside who brought their own vegetables to sell. The prices were low, and no coupons were required. You could buy as much as you wanted.
Zhao Sulan rode to the location, and after Mingxi jumped off the bike, she and Mingxi plunged into the crowd and began a fierce battle.
Potatoes, radishes, cucumbers, green beans...
At Zhao Sulan's place, things weren't sold by weight, but by basket. She bought several large baskets, and seeing that Yang Weihong's tricycle was already full, Mingxi quickly stopped Zhao Sulan's shopping.
"Mom, that's enough. If we buy any more, we won't be able to take them all back with us."
Zhao Sulan then clapped her hands and said, "Alright, that's about right."
After transporting the items home, it was almost seven o'clock. Mingxi tidied up, said goodbye to Zhao Sulan, and left for work.
Zhao Sulan didn't touch the food; she had taken the day off to prepare it at home.
This is the downside of everyone in the family working; if one person doesn't work, then one of them doesn't have to take time off to do this job.
Of course, despite Zhao Sulan's complaints, if she had to choose, she would still prefer that everyone in her family works and has a government job.
Mingxi rushed to work without stopping, luckily avoiding being late.
She entered the office, plopped down, and wiped the sweat from her brow.
Seeing Mingxi like this, Sister Wang teased, "Oh, I didn't know you'd gone to exercise so early in the morning, Mingxi?"
"Exercise what? Sister Wang, please stop teasing me. I've been running errands for my mom all morning," Mingxi said with a helpless smile.
Sister Wang: "Oh? Where did you go?"
Mingxi: "My mom and I went on a big shopping trip. She said we haven't dried any vegetables yet this year, so we bought several big baskets of vegetables today. We're busy at home now, preparing to cut them up and put them to dry."
Sister Wang: "Isn't it a little late to be drying vegetables at this time?"
Mingxi: "That's right, but there's nothing I can do. My mom and I both work. I was busy a while ago, and my mom couldn't take time off, so we didn't have time to post it."
Sister Wang nodded, agreeing with Mingxi's assessment.
Mingxi looked at Sister Wang for advice: "Sister Wang, you and your husband are both working, how do you manage all the housework? Does your husband take time off to do it?"
"Hmph, you want your brother-in-law to take time off to do housework? Dream on!" Sister Wang snorted and said, "We don't air these out every year. We get them from my mother-in-law's house. My mother-in-law has nothing to do at home, so she makes a bunch of these things every year. I don't let her work for free. I give her money when she takes the things. If she doesn't accept them, I tell your brother-in-law to give them to her, saying it's for her retirement. Then she happily accepts them."
She pursed her lips and said, "You don't know, that old lady is really something. When I give her money, she thinks I'm just being polite on the surface, deliberately keeping my distance from her, not treating her like family. But when your brother-in-law gives her money, she happily accepts it, and then goes around showing it off, saying that her eldest son is filial. Ha, even though it was my suggestion to give her the money, she never mentions my name when she brings it up, and she even says that she can't let me know, as if I'm stopping her eldest son from being filial to her."
Mingxi found it amusing to listen from the side.
Sister Wang often complained about her mother-in-law and sister-in-law in the office, but to be fair, her relationship with them wasn't particularly bad.
She was all smiles when they met. Her mother-in-law and sister-in-law would give her any good things they had. Similarly, when Sister Wang received something good, her mother-in-law and sister-in-law would also give her something good.
But there's no shortage of complaints.
Sister Wang also said that, despite what she said about her mother-in-law and sister-in-law behind their backs, her mother-in-law and sister-in-law had said a lot about her behind her back, and she had heard it all.
Everyone says that this way, no one loses out.
Upon reflection, Mingxi realized that this was indeed the case.
Mingxi and Sister Wang were talking when Director Shen walked in from outside. Mingxi immediately stood up, and Director Shen looked over.
"What's wrong, Mingxi?"
Mingxi nodded: "Director, I have something to tell you."
Director Shen: "Okay, then come to my office."
Director Shen walked ahead and opened the office door, with Mingxi following behind her into the office.
Director Shen: "What do you want to say to me?"
Mingxi: "It's like this, a few days ago I successfully introduced a colleague from the Municipal Public Security Bureau to a potential partner. Yesterday, while we were chatting, I unexpectedly learned that there are many single men in the Municipal Public Security Bureau, including quite a few older singles. I was thinking, since our last social event was very successful, could we hold another one at the Municipal Public Security Bureau and invite the colleagues who didn't participate last time?"
Director Shen glanced at Mingxi and asked, "Is this your own idea?"
Mingxi nodded nervously.
She wasn't sure what Director Shen was thinking. Would Director Shen think she was meddling? Would he think she was making trouble for no reason? Would he think her ideas were too naive...?
Mingxi was feeling very anxious, but then she heard Director Shen's cheerful voice: "Not bad, your suggestion is excellent!"
She said, "Ever since the last social gathering, when I went to a meeting, my colleagues from various departments in the district have been complaining about why they weren't invited. If this social gathering you mentioned can be organized, I won't have to listen to their complaints next time I go to a meeting."
Mingxi scratched his head and chuckled dryly twice.
She was worried that Director Shen wouldn't support her, but it turned out that Director Shen seemed quite supportive.
Director Shen: "Your idea is good, and your spirit of always thinking about work is commendable. However, whether the social gathering can be held depends on the cooperation of colleagues from other units. Here's what we'll do: you go back first, and I'll contact my colleagues from other units to ask around and confirm things before we talk about it again."
Mingxi nodded as the chick pecked at the rice.
She excitedly pushed open the office door and came out. Sister Wang and Yu Xiaomin were extremely curious about Mingxi's behavior. As soon as Mingxi returned to her desk and sat down, the two of them immediately leaned over to ask what had happened.
"What's wrong? What did you say to Director Shen when you went in? You seem so happy, is something good happening?"
"Could it be that the list of awardees for this year has been finalized? No way, it's usually not finalized until December, why is it so early this year?"
Mingxi shook his head shrewdly: "There is good news, but it's not about being recognized as an advanced worker."
Sister Wang: "What's that?"
Yu Xiaomin: "Xiaoming, stop keeping me in suspense!"
Mingxi: "Hehe, things haven't been finalized yet, so I can't tell you for now. I'll tell you when it's confirmed."
Sister Wang: "You're really driving us crazy!"
Mingxi chuckled, but no matter how much Yu Xiaomin and Sister Wang asked, she wouldn't say what it was about.
Holding a social gathering is a good thing, but things aren't finalized yet. What if it doesn't happen? Then Sister Wang and Yu Xiaomin would have been happy for nothing.
Mingxi withstood the pressure and didn't budge, waiting until Director Shen, the department, and the Municipal Public Security Bureau had discussed it and made the announcement.
"Come on, everyone, come and listen up. We have a new mission. At the end of this month, our unit will be leading a social gathering at the Municipal Public Security Bureau. In addition to the Municipal Public Security Bureau, various other government agencies in the city will also be participating."
As soon as Director Shen said this, the office erupted in excitement.
"Another social gathering?"
"Will the scale be the same as last time? Will there be reporters coming to interview this time? Last time when the reporters came, I didn't even dress up. I looked disheveled and awful."
"Is the social gathering at the end of this month too rushed?"
"..."
For a time, all sorts of things were being said in the office.
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