Chapter 231 Arrived in the Capital
Raindrops pattered against the windows as the train traveled through the deepening dusk.
Chen Yuru had fallen asleep beside her. Jiang Haitang covered her with a thin sheet and continued to write and draw under the dim light.
I don’t know how much time passed before the train arrived at the station. Jiang Haitang rubbed his sore eyes and looked away from the technical drawings.
The stop at this station was relatively short, and Jiang Haitang had no intention of getting off.
She stood up and returned with a glass of water, just then a sharp quarrel broke out.
"This is my seat! It's clearly written on the ticket!" A young girl with two thick braids, carrying her luggage, argued with someone with a red face.
She was wearing washed-out overalls, patched at the knees but starched clean, and her calloused fingers tightly grasped a wrinkled train ticket.
The burly man occupying the seat crossed his legs lazily and sneered contemptuously.
Obviously, he didn't take such a little girl seriously.
"Little girl, get out of here if you know what's best for you."
The blue dragon tattoo on his arm looked particularly ferocious in the dim light.
Jiang Haitang noticed that the girl's lips were trembling slightly, but her eyes were very stubborn.
Obviously, even though the girl knew that the person occupying the seat opposite her was not someone to be trifled with, she had no intention of giving up.
"Comrade," Jiang Haitang put down his water cup and said in a low but clear voice, "could I see your ticket?"
The big man glanced at her sideways and said, "None of your business! Mind your own business, or I'll kill you!"
"I am the volunteer safety officer of this train." Jiang Haitang took out a red armband from his pocket without changing his expression.
This was given to her and Lu Liangchen by the train conductor on behalf of the train crew during their last business trip.
The armband is a bit old, but the words "Safety Supervision" on it are still eye-catching.
The big man's momentum suddenly weakened a bit.
Jiang Haitang took the opportunity to observe him carefully, his greasy hair, the black mud between his nails, and the mixed smell of cheap tobacco and sweat on his body.
The most eye-catching thing is the scar on the base of his right hand - it looks like it was cut by a sharp weapon.
"Where's your ticket?" Jiang Haitang asked again, and at the same time secretly winked at the conductor standing in the aisle.
"It's lost! Someone stole it. Maybe she stole it."
The big man waved his hand impatiently and pointed at the young girl.
A brand new Shanghai watch was visible on his wrist. Even with the strap buckled at the tightest position, it still looked ill-fitting and obviously not his own.
Jiang Haitang understood and suddenly changed the subject: "Comrade, are you going to Beijing to attend the Model Worker Conference? I think you have the temperament of an advanced worker."
The big man was stunned for a moment, then puffed out his chest: "Of course! I am..."
When the young girl heard Jiang Haitang say this, she looked at her in confusion.
How does this man in front of me look like an advanced worker?
Jiang Haitang understood the look in the girl's eyes. The girl seemed to be questioning whether she was a fool.
Jiang Haitang smiled lightly.
"Where's your Model Worker badge?" Jiang Haitang interrupted him. "Regulations require you to wear it at all times."
The young girl understood that Jiang Haitang did it on purpose.
Not only did the young girl understand, but the other people in the car also understood, and immediately a few chuckles were heard.
The big man's face turned from red to blue. He stood up suddenly and stared down at Jiang Haitang.
"You bitch, are you looking for death?"
Jiang Haitang picked up the teacup calmly, her eyes particularly sharp in the steamy air.
"Last year, our factory caught a thief who loved to impersonate a cadre on the train."
"That man also has a scar on the base of his right hand. It's said he got it from the shuttle when he was trying to steal the spindle."
Jiang Haitang stared at the big man and spoke nonsense, but it was obvious that Jiang Haitang was right.
When the big man heard about stealing the spindle, he subconsciously hid his right hand behind his back.
At this time, the conductor had already arrived with the police, and immediately grabbed his shoulders when he saw this.
"What are you going to do?" The big man struggled immediately.
"We suspect you of theft. Please cooperate with our investigation." The conductor said seriously and took the man away.
After the big man left, the young girl shook Jiang Haitang's hand gratefully: "Thank you so much!"
"You're welcome. I also suspect that there is something wrong with this person." Jiang Haitang had a faint smile on her face.
"Are you really a supervisor on the railway? My name is Wang Xiu Lan, and I'm a train stopper at Changhong Textile Factory." Her palms were covered with thick calluses, but they were warm and strong.
"I'm Jiang Haitang from Jincheng Textile Factory." Jiang Haitang responded with a smile.
When Wang Xiulan heard that Jiang Haitang also worked in the textile factory, she immediately became interested. Since there was no one next to Jiang Haitang, she simply sat next to Jiang Haitang and chatted with her.
Chen Yuru had been woken up and was listening to the two young female comrades talking.
Jiang Haitang noticed a corner of a technical book sticking out of Wang Xiulan's luggage bag. "Going to Beijing to take the technical assessment?"
Wang Xiulan's eyes suddenly lit up: "How did you know? Our factory is going to introduce new equipment, and we're selecting people to learn..."
"That's great! With advanced machines, our textile production will improve, and we'll be able to produce more cloth for the country."
Wang Xiulan said sadly, "But several people in our factory said that female workers can't learn those imported machines."
"Don't listen to them. There are so many female textile workers across the country. How many outstanding workers and technical experts are worthy of our learning?" Jiang Haitang could tell from Wang Xiulan's words that the person who said this must be a man.
Although we have been liberated for so many years and the country is promoting gender equality, in reality, there is still a long way to go before truly achieving gender equality.
Ideas that have been passed down for thousands of years cannot be changed in just a few decades.
"You're right. I won't listen to their nonsense. I will just be myself and be an excellent textile worker." Wang Xiulan tilted her head back, and a bright smile appeared on her face again.
The two of them got along better and better as they talked.
Chen Yuru would occasionally say a few words about the business, and before she knew it, it was already past ten o'clock and the lights on the train were about to be turned off.
Jiang Haitang packed up all her belongings and leaned back in her seat, ready to sleep.
Although Wang Xiulan felt a little unsatisfied, she thought that the train ride was already tiring. If she continued talking, she would not only disturb Jiang Haitang but also others, so she closed her eyes and prepared to sleep.
There was no conversation that night. The next morning, when Jiang Haitang woke up, Wang Xiulan was already awake. Seeing her wake up, Wang Xiulan smiled.
"Comrade Haitang, are you awake? Let's have breakfast together. I brought some sesame cakes that my mom made. They're delicious."
Jiang Haitang did not refuse Wang Xiulan's kindness. She took out her own food and put it on the table, and invited Chen Yuru to eat together.
After dinner, the three continued to discuss mechanical transformation. Unexpectedly, although Wang Xiulan was just a female worker, she knew a lot about textile machinery and could raise many meaningful questions.
Jiang Haitang didn't expect that this journey, which she thought would be very tiring, would become much more meaningful because of meeting these two people.
Some difficult problems that she had previously been unable to solve no matter how hard she tried were successfully solved with the help of Chen Yuru and Wang Xiulan.
The three of them were all going to Beijing. When they got off the bus, they left their contact addresses and then left separately.
Jiang Haitang and Chen Yuru were traveling together and were both going to the Ministry of Industry. The car that came to pick up Chen Yuru also picked up Jiang Haitang as well.
The magnolias in front of the Ministry of Industry building were in full bloom. Jiang Haitang unconsciously straightened his collar as he followed Chen Yuru through the lobby.
Large production schedules are hung on the walls on both sides of the corridor, with red arrows pointing upwards, recording each indicator that has been exceeded.
It was the first time in Jiang Haitang's two lifetimes that she came to such a grand place. She felt her legs were a little weak and her body couldn't help but tremble slightly.
"Nervous?" Chen Yuru smiled and patted her shoulder. "Don't be afraid. The people here are very nice. Besides, I believe that people that Vice Minister Zhou admires are definitely outstanding and won't be afraid of such a small incident."
Jiang Haitang smiled, her fingers unconsciously stroking her bag.
The last time I met Vice Minister Zhou was at the Canton Fair. It was because of her performance at the Canton Fair that I got this opportunity.
"It's not that I'm scared, but I've never been here before and I'm a little awed!"
"We're here." Chen Yuru stopped in front of a brightly painted wooden door and knocked gently.
"Come in!" A loud voice penetrated the door.
When I opened the door, sunlight poured into the entire office through the floor-to-ceiling windows.
Vice Minister Zhou was on the phone. Even when he was sitting, his posture was as straight as a pine tree, and his navy blue Mao suit made him look energetic.
When he saw the person coming, his eyes lit up and he hung up the phone in a hurry.
"Old Chen! Didn't the doctor tell you to rest more?" He walked over quickly with a reproachful tone in his voice, but first pulled a chair for Chen Yuru.
Turning around and seeing Jiang Haitang, Deputy Minister Zhou immediately smiled: "Hey, Old Chen, why are you here with Comrade Xiao Jiang?"
"We met on the way. We sat in the same seat."
When Vice Minister Zhou heard Chen Yuru mention the seat, he immediately asked with a stern face, "Did you come back in the hard seat car? Your legs are not good, why didn't you buy a sleeper?"
"It's just a short distance, we can get back if we hold on. Why bother buying sleeper berths?" Chen Yuru still had a gentle smile on her face.
"Forget it, that's just your personality. I won't say anything more to save myself from getting angry." After Deputy Minister Zhou finished speaking, he pointed at Jiang Haitang and said, "Old Chen, this Comrade Jiang is quite extraordinary. Let me introduce him to you..."
Although Chen Yuru already knew Jiang Haitang clearly, she did not interrupt Vice Minister Zhou, but let him introduce her.
Vice Minister Zhou praised Jiang Haitang highly. At the end, Jiang Haitang's cheeks were slightly hot. "Minister Zhou, you are too kind. That is what I should do."
When Vice Minister Zhou finally finished speaking, he was surprised to find that the guest was still standing.
"Have a seat." Vice Minister Zhou personally brewed tea, and the emerald green tea leaves in the white porcelain cup spread out. "Try it! This is Longjing tea specially sent by an old tea farmer in Hangzhou."
Chen Yuru smiled and joked, "Comrade Xiao Jiang, you have to try this. This is the treatment you get as a distinguished guest here at Vice Minister Zhou's place. I don't usually get treated like this."
Deputy Minister Zhou rolled his eyes at Chen Yuru and said, "It's as if I've given you less of the good stuff I have here."
Jiang Haitang just maintained a decent smile.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
