We arrived at the courtyard.
Xu Ningyan felt both strange and familiar.
The vegetable garden in the yard was abandoned and looked bare.
It was clean, though.
Sister Hu greeted us with a smile from inside the house: "It's cold outside, come in quickly! I came over this morning and lit the fire for you! It's very warm inside!"
Xu Ningyan entered the house and found it warm; the stove was well-filled with firewood, and a pot of hot water was sitting on it.
Sister Hu took the cotton-padded coat that Xu Ningyan had taken off and hung it on the hanger, saying, "I've washed all your basins and scalded them with boiling water. The towels are all new too. Quickly wash your face, and I'll make you some noodles."
He then went outside.
Xu Ningyan picked up the kettle, poured in a small basin of hot water, soaked a towel, wrung it out, and held it to her face. The steaming hot water warmed her cheeks, which had been chilled by the morning wind while riding the bicycle.
After washing up, I applied moisturizing cream.
When Xu Ningyan came out, Sister Hu had already cooked a large pot of noodles.
Although it's winter, there's no shortage of fresh vegetables in Jingshan County.
The slightly yellow noodles, topped with two golden-brown fried eggs and a handful of blanched, vibrant green vegetables, looked incredibly appetizing.
The noodles were placed on the table next to the stove, and each of the three of them had a bowl. After eating, they felt completely revitalized.
Li Jianguo had to rush to work, but Sister Hu, who had taken leave, wasn't in a hurry. While tidying up the kitchen, she asked about Xu Ningyan's health.
I had only heard that she was fine, but she still needed to recuperate in the capital. Doesn't that make people worry?
Now that I've finally met him in person, I have to ask him all sorts of questions!
That incident caused a bigger stir than the spy case!
Several large trucks hauled several loads of green military uniforms to the county, and like a sieve, they searched and questioned people back and forth, thoroughly examining the entire county three times.
Every household's background was thoroughly investigated. Not only were people's ancestors traced back eight generations, but even the breeder of their dogs was known.
During that period, there were no petty thefts or minor disturbances on the streets, and people didn't even dare to speak loudly.
The county's leadership was completely replaced, not to mention the lower-level leaders.
Because of this incident, Li Jianguo has now been promoted to deputy director of the department store, in charge of supply and sales and warehousing.
Sister Yang's husband, Deputy County Chief Ding, actually benefited from the misfortune and became the official County Chief Ding.
On the Lin family's side, Lin's father is now the acting director of the county machinery factory. If nothing unexpected happens, he will be able to remove the "acting" title after the New Year.
There was an old traditional Chinese medicine doctor in Hongqi Commune, the one who escorted Xu Ningyan to Beijing. After his trip to Beijing, he was immediately appointed as the director of the commune's health center, and his family members who had been sent down to the countryside also returned to work at the hospital.
The county hospital, even the top surgeon Dr. Zhang, was transferred to the provincial capital half a month ago.
Sister Hu told Xu Ningyan everything that had happened while Xu Ningyan was away from Jingshan County.
Whether Xu Ningyan knew it or not, she knew it anyway, and she definitely had to tell Xu Ningyan.
She now regards Xu Ningyan as if she were a deity, wishing she could worship her.
The personnel changes after this incident clearly show that those who had a good relationship with Xu Ningyan and played a role after she was poisoned all benefited this time.
For example, her husband Li Jianguo, the Lin family, County Chief Ding, and that old Chinese medicine doctor and Doctor Zhang, who isn't like that?
While the military certainly played a part in this, it's likely that Jiang Zhiyuan also put in a lot of effort in Beijing.
After all, her husband had seen it all back then: Jiang Zhiyuan was no ordinary person.
Not to mention that after her husband became the deputy director of the department store, County Chief Ding, through Sister Yang's words, subtly hinted that their promotion was due to Jiang Zhiyuan's help.
Needless to say, County Chief Ding was fortunate enough to be able to curry favor with Jiang Zhiyuan, a powerful figure in the industry—a stroke of luck that many people would dream of.
He believed that his abilities were no worse than others in any way; what he lacked was luck and someone to promote him.
Now that they have this opportunity, they are naturally completely devoted to Jiang Zhiyuan and consider themselves part of Jiang Zhiyuan's team.
Although we can't help much right now, if he keeps working hard to climb higher, we might be able to help each other succeed in the future.
He also knew that Li Jianguo had a closer relationship with Jiang Zhiyuan because of Xu Ningyan.
Xu Ningyan is Jiang Zhiyuan's fiancée. With this pillow talk, her future looks bright!
So recently, there's been a lot of talk about winning people over and getting closer, implying that we're all on the same side and should take care of each other in the future.
Sister Yang, now the county magistrate's wife, never puts on airs with me and is even more amiable than before.
They were implying that they hoped their family would put in a good word for them with Xu Ningyan, so that the two families could work together in the future.
Sister Hu never dreamed in her life that she would have such a dignified day.
Fortunately, although she was a bit arrogant, she knew her own man and didn't dare to agree rashly. She only said that she would ask Li Jianguo when she got home.
When she got home and told him about it, Li Jianguo got angry and told her to mind her own business.
Li Jianguo has traveled all over the country for many years and has a lot of tricks up his sleeve.
However, he was self-aware enough to know what kind of help he could offer Jiang Zhiyuan with his limited abilities. The fact that he received this benefit now was probably because Jiang Zhiyuan felt that he was sincere in taking care of Xu Ningyan.
He didn't have the brains to get involved in the affairs of those higher-ups, and he dared not interfere.
I'd be content to just stay quietly and honestly in the department store.
He dared not accept, nor dare he refuse, the overtures from County Chief Ding.
He was having a major headache when Xu Ningyan announced her return, and he breathed a huge sigh of relief.
The reason he asked his wife to take a day off to receive Xu Ningyan was twofold: firstly, out of concern and care, and secondly, to have his wife find out what Xu Ningyan meant.
Xu Ningyan had no idea that while she was recuperating in the capital, Jiang Zhiyuan had already done so much behind the scenes.
He didn't mention a single word to her.
Perhaps he didn't think these things needed to be mentioned?
However, she still appreciated the sentiment. After all, if Li Jianguo and his wife could see things that others could see clearly, they would understand even more clearly.
Of course, based on Xu Ningyan's understanding of Jiang Zhiyuan, although the promotion was related to her, it wasn't something that happened casually.
They all probably met the promotion criteria, but Jiang Zhiyuan could change their fate with just a few words.
Who in this world is without selfishness? Given the same circumstances, what's wrong with choosing the one who favors you?
After patiently listening to Sister Hu finish speaking, Xu Ningyan smiled and said, "I don't understand these things very well, and everyone's success today is definitely due to their own abilities and the good relationships they've built with the community! Take our Uncle Jianguo, for example. He's worked diligently for the department store all these years. The department store's performance has improved year after year in the last two years, which is inseparable from Uncle Jianguo's efforts. To be appointed as the deputy director, the organization must have conducted a strict review and knew that our uncle was capable of this position before appointing him! This is all due to Uncle Jianguo's own abilities. How could Uncle Jianguo have anything to do with me? Auntie, please don't joke around! It wouldn't be good if people took it seriously!"
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