Chapter 163 Sowing Discord
The team member thought for a moment, but instead of answering Mas directly, he whispered, "Even if it's the truth, you can't say it! Thinking is one thing, reality is another. You'd better just accept reality. Team Leader Wu is also very capable, just a little bit less capable than Comrade Lin Yuanshu."
It wasn't that he wanted to favor Lin Yuanshu, but he could see Lin Yuanshu's strengths—he had completed the task of improving the penicillin production process and made it into the newspapers, etc.—while he hadn't yet seen any outstanding qualities in Team Leader Wu, and their projects were not yet completed.
When Mas heard the word "good girl," a hint of disdain flashed in his eyes. He didn't like either Lin Yuanshu or Wu Qin; they were too calculating and didn't act like women.
Just as he was about to speak, another male comrade said confidently, "Comrade Mas, I think he's right. You have to understand one thing: when you're under someone's roof, you have to bow your head. You don't have a second choice now. The possibility of Comrade Lin Yuanshu taking over your project team is very low. After all, the Minister of Health thinks so highly of Comrade Lin Yuanshu's abilities, he will definitely assign her a more important task, rather than letting her take over your team halfway through. Director Huang will not agree to such a thankless task, and Comrade Lin Yuanshu will not do it either."
He wasn't in Wu Qin's project team, so he could say whatever he wanted without having to worry about things like others.
Hearing this, Mas's face turned very ugly. He didn't know if Wu Qin was in a good mood or not. He only knew that he was in a bad mood. In other people's eyes, he was not as good as Lin Yuanshu, but now he was even worse than Wu Qin. It was really annoying.
Even though he was upset, Mas didn't forget his mission. He forced a smile and said, "I overlooked that. It's a real pity that I won't have the chance to work with Comrade Lin Yuanshu. On another note, Director Huang and Deputy Director Liu both personally went to pick up Comrade Lin Yuanshu. The level of importance they placed on him is truly enviable! Apart from Comrade Lin Yuanshu, no one else in the institute has ever been so valued. I'm afraid we'll have to wait until Comrade Lin Yuanshu has reviewed the project before it's Team Leader Wu's turn to make a selection."
The others couldn't help but chime in, praising Lin Yuanshu's abilities. However, they didn't belittle Wu Qin, because no matter what, Wu Qin's ability to become a team leader and manage a project team was superior to theirs, and they were still aware of their own limitations.
Seeing that Ma Si and the others were getting more and more excited and had completely forgotten about their work, Wu Qin stood outside the door and coughed lightly twice.
Upon hearing the sound, everyone in the laboratory fell silent and began working frantically.
Wu Qin walked into the laboratory with a straight face, pretending that nothing had happened. After all, being too concerned about Lin Yuanshu would only make her seem insecure. She preferred to let her abilities speak for themselves rather than explain with words.
When the team members saw Wu Qin, they awkwardly lowered their heads and went back to work, secretly relieved that they hadn't said anything they shouldn't have.
The team member next to Mas was filled with regret. If he had known that Team Leader Wu was outside the door, he shouldn't have kindly reminded Mas. He didn't know how long Team Leader Wu had been listening. He just hoped that Team Leader Wu had arrived late and hadn't heard them saying bad things about her.
"What happened to the experiment we did yesterday?" Wu Qin asked softly.
The team member quickly replied, "It's going very smoothly. I've recorded all the relevant data in my notebook, you can take a look."
Perhaps because of his mistake, there was a hint of nervousness in his tone.
Wu Qin nodded in satisfaction. "Well done."
Upon hearing this, the team member cautiously glanced at Team Leader Wu. Seeing that Team Leader Wu's expression was gentle, he breathed a sigh of relief. The fact that Team Leader Wu was praising him meant that Team Leader Wu hadn't heard what he and Mas were saying. He was really lucky.
Mas pursed his lips. He was unwilling to let this matter pass so easily. If everyone acted as if nothing had happened, wouldn't he have put on a good show for nothing?
He smiled slightly and said innocently, "Team Leader Wu, did you hear our conversation just now? Don't be angry. Although you can't compare to Comrade Lin Yuanshu now, I believe in your abilities. You will be able to surpass him one day. Please don't feel disappointed just because Director Huang and Deputy Director Liu went to pick up Comrade Lin Yuanshu!"
Upon hearing this, everyone in the lab took a deep breath and stared at Mas in disbelief. Mas was incredibly brave to say something so suggestive about Wu Qin.
However, upon further reflection, when Mas disliked Lin Yuanshu, he also said some harsh things and even got into a fight with other comrades because of it. From this perspective, they felt that Mas's behavior was reasonable.
The team member was utterly devastated. Just when things were finally about to pass, Mas had to bring it up again without thinking. Why was his life so miserable?
Good intentions can kill!
He never wanted to help Mas again, and he couldn't help but resent Mas in his heart.
Wu Qin was not angry because of Ma Si's words. She said confidently, "Don't worry, I won't be angry because of what you said. I think my work ability is no less than that of Comrade Lin Yuanshu, so there is no such thing as being inferior. As for feeling disappointed, there is no need to talk about it. When I first came to the research institute, although Director Huang and Deputy Director Liu did not come to pick me up, they specially met with me in their offices."
Mas barely suppressed the urge to roll his eyes. Wu Qin really knew how to flatter herself. Deputy Director Liu wasn't going to meet him in his office; she was going to discuss project matters. If he hadn't heard about this from Deputy Director Liu's assistant, he would have been fooled by her.
The other comrades, unaware of the truth, looked on with envy; they too longed to be treated with such importance.
None of them doubted that Wu Qin was lying. After all, the fact that Wu Qin was able to take charge of such an important project as soon as she arrived at the research institute was enough to show that Director Huang valued her. In their eyes, there was not much difference between valuing and valuing very much.
The only one who knew the truth, Mas, dared not reveal it, because the truth was related to Deputy Director Liu, and he could not disclose Deputy Director Liu's affairs without authorization.
"I hope you can still be this confident after meeting Comrade Lin Yuanshu." Mas's lips curled up slightly, revealing a fake "good luck to her" expression.
Although he disliked Lin Yuanshu, he had to admit that Lin Yuanshu's work ability was better than most people in the research institute.
Wu Qin stared at Mas and answered without hesitation, "I will."
She had known all along that Mas was one of Deputy Director Liu's men. Keeping Mas in the project team was a way of giving Deputy Director Liu some face. Now it seemed that it was better not to give him that face at all!
She knew about Lin Yuanshu's work achievements and that Lin Yuanshu was quite capable, so she was looking forward to meeting Lin Yuanshu, the woman whom Deputy Director Liu regarded as a worthy opponent.
Meanwhile, Director Huang and Deputy Director Liu stood at the arrival gate of the train station, waiting for Lin Yuanshu to come out.
Director Huang glanced at Deputy Director Liu beside him and asked, puzzled, "How come you have time to pick up Comrade Lin Yuanshu? Aren't you busy with work?"
Deputy Director Liu smiled politely and said confidently, "I'm busy, but as one comrade said, time is like water in a sponge, you can always squeeze some out. Comrade Lin Yuanshu is now a great contributor to our institute. His outstanding performance in the epidemic area has given our institute director face. My thoughts are the same as yours. We came here in person to welcome Comrade Lin Yuanshu in order to show that we value him."
Director Huang said with a complicated expression, "I would rather she hadn't performed so well."
Deputy Director Liu looked at Director Huang with a puzzled expression.
Director Huang did not answer Deputy Director Liu's questions; he had no obligation to do so. If it weren't for the thought that having Deputy Director Liu would better demonstrate the Dongfanghong Research Institute's regard for Lin Yuanshu and move Lin Yuanshu, he would have sent Deputy Director Liu back to work at the institute long ago.
Half an hour later, Lin Yuanshu arrived at the exit with bags and packages. She saw Director Huang and the others, but she wasn't moved. She was just wondering why they had come. She remembered that she hadn't told Director Huang's assistant about the train schedule!
Of course, it wasn't that she deliberately didn't tell anyone; communication wasn't convenient in those days, so she sent a telegram first and then bought a train ticket.
When Qu Zhigang saw Director Huang and the others, he felt a strange, indescribable feeling. Since the people from the Dongfanghong Research Institute had come, he assumed that the people from their institute must have come as well. He felt a sense of pride, like returning home in glory.
He looked around but didn't see anyone from his research institute. He walked over and asked in confusion, "Director Huang, have you seen anyone from my research institute?"
Director Huang's expression was grave, and he said tactfully, "I didn't see them. They might not be familiar with your shift."
Qu Zhigang felt his heart turn ice-cold. Lin Yuanshu returned to Beijing, and the director and deputy director of her research institute came to visit. He didn't expect such high treatment when he returned to Beijing; he just hoped that the research institute would at least send someone!
The world is going to the dogs, and people's hearts are cold and indifferent.
He couldn't help but blurt out, "Is your research institute short-staffed?"
Deputy Director Liu instinctively replied, "We're short!"
Upon hearing this answer, Qu Zhigang finally came to his senses and realized that he had asked a foolish question. He didn't want to continue being overshadowed by Lin Yuanshu at the Dongfanghong Research Institute. Thinking about it this way, his research institute wasn't so bad after all.
He laughed awkwardly, "Haha, our research institute is also short-staffed. Since no one from my institute is coming, I'll take my leave now."
Qu Zhigang didn't wait for Director Huang and the others to answer before grabbing his luggage and running away. It was too embarrassing for him to stay there any longer, and he was even more afraid of seeing Lin Yuanshu's mocking expression.
Deputy Director Liu stroked his chin thoughtfully and asked Lin Yuanshu in a low voice, "How is Comrade Qu Zhigang's work ability? Do we have any opportunities to poach him?"
Just as Lin Yuanshu was about to say no, Director Huang spoke first.
Upon hearing this, Director Huang was furious. He shouted, "What are you thinking? You see a talented person and you're trying to poach them? Have you ever considered how other research institutes feel?"
Deputy Director Liu: "..."
If he remembered correctly, Director Huang also poached Lin Yuanshu from the First Research Institute, without considering the institute's feelings at the time! He even went to the First Research Institute to brag about it!
Is this a case of "the magistrate is allowed to set fires, but the common people are forbidden to light lamps"?
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