Chapter 149 Selecting a Team Leader
Faced with Zhou Xiangyang's threat, Zhou Dafu felt he had lost face in front of everyone. His face flushed red and then turned pale. He gritted his teeth and said, "How dare you treat me like this? I'm your father! Aren't you afraid of being gossiped about behind your back?"
Zhou Xiangyang looked calmly at the impotently furious Zhou Dafu, his tone revealing a hint of firmness, "Dad, I don't quite understand what you mean. I just wanted to have a chat with Deputy Factory Director Mao. What does it have to do with you? Don't worry, Deputy Factory Director Mao is a good leader. He won't make you lose your job without asking questions. You don't need to worry that I'll say bad things about you and ruin Deputy Factory Director Mao's impression of you."
What a joke! When has his reputation ever been good?
Seeing that the atmosphere between the two was becoming increasingly tense, the older brother was afraid that they would quarrel and cause their relationship to break down.
He quickly tugged at Zhou Dafu's sleeve and whispered, "Dad, I know you're worried that my younger brother isn't doing well, which is why you said those things. But he's grown up and has his own family. He's not a child anymore. He has a sense of right and wrong and knows what he should and shouldn't do. We don't need to interfere too much."
Zhou Xiangyang has gotten bolder now, daring to threaten them and say things like there's nothing to worry about. Nobody would believe him.
Although it would be difficult for Deputy Factory Director Mao to make them lose their jobs, it would be easy to teach them a lesson.
He really missed the old Zhou Xiangyang, who always agreed with whatever he said and never argued back. Even if he disagreed with them, he would just remain silent.
Seeing that his eldest son had given him a way out, Zhou Dafu didn't continue to throw a tantrum, since it wouldn't do any good anyway, as Zhou Xiangyang wasn't as easy to control as before.
He earnestly advised, "Xiangyang, I'm saying all this for your own good. We don't want Xiao Er's wife to go to the epidemic area for her safety, not for any other purpose. A son is no longer under his father's control once he grows up. Since you don't want me to interfere in your affairs, then I won't. As long as you feel happy, that's all that matters. As your father, I'm willing to take a step back for you."
His purpose in coming here was to get Zhou Xiangyang to promise him that he would notify him immediately no matter what happened in the future. He didn't expect that Zhou Xiangyang had become so unruly, just like Lin Yuanshu, and didn't take his words to heart at all.
"One who stays near vermilion gets stained red, and one who stays near ink gets stained black." Zhou Xiangyang is now starting to do things his own way. His youngest son really will never learn to do the right thing at the right time.
He was not tough when he should have been, and tough when he shouldn't have been. Luckily, he has an older son. His older son is the best; he is obedient and filial.
Hearing such false words, Zhou Xiangyang could only laugh. He took a deep breath and said emphatically, "Dad, I understand your thoughts very well. I am only doing this for your own good, which is why I hope you can come home early. It is really not safe to walk at night."
He has nothing to say to his father now, because his father won't change his mind because of his words. Making a scene will only make him a laughing stock, so it's better to send him away sooner rather than later.
Zhou Dafu, with a serious expression, said in a defiant tone, "Fine, since you're so unwelcoming to us, we'll be leaving now, and never see you again."
Zhou Xiangyang stared at Zhou Dafu and the others without saying a word, his eyes seeming to say, "Why aren't you leaving yet?"
Zhou Dafu glared at the stubborn Zhou Xiangyang, stormed out of the living room, and the others quickly followed behind him.
After Zhou Dafu and the others left, Zhou Xiangyang slowly returned to his room to read. He did not regret what he had said. He liked life after moving away from the Zhou family and naturally did not want his parents to come and disrupt his life.
Just like his wife said, he has to accept that some parents just don't love their children, and what he has to do is love himself.
On the way home, Zhou Dafu couldn't help but complain, "Look at the good son you raised. He's completely out of control now. He's even trying to pee on my head."
Aunt Zhou retorted in a low voice, "What does this have to do with me? This is your child."
Chow Tai Fook: "..."
Seeing this, Sister-in-law Xue sighed inwardly. What happened today made her realize one thing: her parents-in-law could not control Lin Yuanshu, nor could they control her younger brother.
She could only hope that Lin Yuanshu would be willing to slip some benefits to her through his fingers; she couldn't get any more benefits from Lin Yuanshu by taking advantage of her in-laws.
The eldest brother didn't care at all. He had long seen through Lin Yuanshu's true nature and knew that they wouldn't get any benefits from Lin Yuanshu. So from the beginning, he didn't expect to build a good relationship with Lin Yuanshu or his underlings in order to gain any advantage.
Zhou Xiangyang came with his parents this time to see how much they meant to him, but he didn't expect the result to be so unexpected. Zhou Xiangyang now seemed to completely disregard his parents, a stark contrast to his previous behavior.
Sure enough, he's been corrupted by Lin Yuanshu.
Zhou Dafu lost face in front of Zhou Xiangyang this time, and for a long time he didn't want to see Zhou Xiangyang. It was shameful for a father not to be able to control his son.
Two days passed in a flash. Apart from sleeping, Lin Yuanshu spent most of his time in the research institute's archives, frantically absorbing knowledge.
After all, they can't possibly bring all the information about schistosomiasis with them when they go to the epidemic area. It's better to learn more now than to regret not learning more later.
After boarding the train to Yueyang, Lin Yuanshu first put his luggage away, and then sat down to rest in the hard sleeper compartment.
Not long after, Li Lin entered the compartment. Her hard sleeper was right opposite Lin Yuanshu's. She followed Lin Yuanshu's example, sat down on the hard sleeper, and then slowly said, "Comrade Lin Yuanshu, do you know that Director Cao plans to select a group leader from among us?"
Upon hearing this, Lin Yuanshu looked at Li Lin in shock and asked in confusion, "Isn't Director Cao leading the team? Why do we need to select another team leader? Isn't this a bit redundant?"
Even if Director Cao wanted help, he could have chosen a deputy team leader! Why would he think of choosing a team leader?
Li Lin was not surprised at all by Lin Yuanshu's confusion. She knew that Lin Yuanshu had been obediently reading in the archives these past two days, unlike Qu Zhigang, who was jumping around the research institute as if afraid that others would not notice him.
“The person in charge of the temporary research site in Yueyang has run into some trouble and is now unable to manage the site. So the higher-ups have put Director Cao in charge of it, which means that Director Cao can’t focus on leading us right now. Our work arrangements will definitely be handed over to a suitable person to manage. I just don’t know if it will be decided by a vote or if Director Cao will decide for himself…” Li Lin explained with a smile.
Lin Yuanshu nodded thoughtfully. It seemed that Director Cao was really lucky, getting this good opportunity so easily.
Li Lin stared at Lin Yuanshu with a serious expression and asked earnestly, "Comrade Lin Yuanshu, who do you think is more suitable to be the group leader, me or Comrade Qu Zhigang?"
Lin Yuanshu paused for a moment, then said ambiguously, "I think you two are quite suitable, each with your own advantages. I really can't choose one."
Li Lin sighed and joked, "Looks like I still haven't done well enough! In your eyes, I'm on the same level as Comrade Qu Zhigang."
Lin Yuanshu didn't want to say anything that would offend others, so he simply smiled and pretended to be clueless.
Li Lin didn't force Lin Yuanshu to give a reason; she came to test Lin Yuanshu's thoughts, not to offend him or to give Qu Zhigang another ally.
To be honest, if Qu Zhigang hadn't been getting quite close to Director Cao and the deputy director these past few days, she wouldn't have taken Qu Zhigang seriously at all. After all, she had been to the epidemic area and participated in the research and development of the nitrate cyanamide project. Apart from her, no one was more suitable to be the team leader.
Li Lin got off the sleeper berth and sat down next to Lin Yuanshu. She said sincerely, "Actually, we are in similar situations. It is really difficult for female researchers to climb up the ranks. They have to put in more effort than ordinary people. It is precisely because it is so difficult that we should help each other. As long as I become the team leader, I will not ignore your existence and will not let you do any menial work. If Director Cao wants to vote on the matter, will you be willing to stand on my side?"
Lin Yuanshu thought for a moment, nodded in agreement, and said solemnly, "If it's Director Cao's decision to vote, I will choose you. But if it's based solely on personal ability, I won't support you, because I also want to be the team leader."
After all, most of the researchers in the medical team came from the Xiangcheng Research Institute. If it were a vote, she would have no hope of winning. It would be better to support Li Lin!
If it were another way, she would definitely try to get it.
Li Lin couldn't help but burst into laughter, tears streaming down her face. "Comrade Lin Yuanshu, I never knew you had a talent for telling jokes! You're killing me with laughter!"
If we only consider individual ability, how could she possibly lose to others! She knows perfectly well that Lin Yuanshu has been cramming on schistosomiasis and nitrothionine these past two days, so how could Director Cao possibly let Lin Yuanshu be the team leader!
Lin Yuanshu: "..."
Was what she said really that funny? She didn't even say anything.
After Li Lin's laughter stopped, Lin Yuanshu continued, "I'm not joking, I'm very serious."
Li Lin patted Lin Yuanshu on the shoulder and encouraged him, "Well, good luck then. I still have high hopes for you. When the vote is on, don't forget what you promised me."
Seeing that Li Lin didn't seem to take her words seriously, Lin Yuanshu stopped talking. She didn't need to prove her work ability to Li Lin; it was enough that Director Cao knew.
The two chatted for a while longer before Li Lin left the cubicle.
As soon as Li Lin stepped out of the cubicle, she ran into Wang Daniu. She immediately pulled him aside and said earnestly, "Comrade Wang Daniu, actually, we're in pretty much the same boat. From an intern to an assistant researcher, climbing the ladder is incredibly difficult, and the challenges we face are countless..."
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