The next evening, after getting off work, Sangshen went to the Qi family's house in the backyard as Buling had suggested.
He didn't stay for long before a smile appeared on his lips. Ignoring the curious stares of his neighbors, he went back to the front yard.
He closed the door and burst into laughter: "Lingling, you didn't see the ugly look on Old Master Qi's face after I finished speaking!"
Bu Ling poured him a glass of hot water and then said, "Stop laughing, pack your things, we're going to stay at the county hospital tonight."
Sangshen tilted her head back and gulped down a glass of water, then wiped her mouth. "You're right, the show's over, let's go!" If we don't leave, they'll be the ones watching the spectacle.
The two were of one mind and acted swiftly, quickly evacuating the courtyard before the Qi family could devise a countermeasure.
By the time Old Master Qi finally came up with a solution in the backyard, the Buling family had already deserted. No matter how many methods he had, he couldn't use them, and in the end, he could only return to the backyard dejectedly.
Although Sangshen didn't help, Old Mrs. Shi was still released. According to Sangzi, it was Director Yu of the machinery factory who pleaded for her release, saying that Old Mrs. Shi and Hu Sigu were godparents and that everyone had misunderstood.
Sang Zi said, "This old lady is quite something. She's been at the Revolutionary Committee for two days and she still insists that nothing happened between the two of them. On the contrary, that Hu Sigu confessed everything."
As Bu Ling ate the fresh bananas that Grandpa Sang had brought, he asked, "What did he confess?"
Sangzi looked at her younger brother, who was diligently peeling bananas for Buling, and a hint of disdain flashed in her eyes. "He said that it was Grandma Shi who took the initiative to find him."
“Grandma Shi gives him food, and all he has to do is chat with her to get food. He naturally wouldn’t refuse such a good thing,” Sang Zi explained calmly.
Bu Ling ate the last bite of banana, and upon hearing this, she curled her lip. "Do you think this is something to fool idiots?" Could someone like Hu Sigu really believe what Old Madam Shi said?
Sang Zi pushed up her glasses, smiled, and said nothing.
In reality, he didn't care what they were saying at all. He hadn't intended to get involved in this mess from the start, simply because he was afraid of offending his ears.
After listening to the gossip in Sangzi, the next day, Buling went to the restaurant to listen to Wu Yuanyuan's gossip again.
"Ling, you have no idea, Grandma Shi is sick. She had a high fever last night and it hasn't gone down yet," Wu Yuanyuan said, her pregnant belly bulging, speaking with an air of authority.
“This time, she really offended the Qi family. Last night, she had a high fever, and only Aunt Qi took her to the hospital. The others didn’t say a word.” Wu Yuanyuan’s expression was quite sighing.
She still remembers when Grandma Shi first arrived; she was kind and benevolent, and made many friends. But in just a few years, the persona that Grandma Shi had created for herself completely collapsed.
After all these incidents, she became famous throughout the county. Now, when she walks down the street, countless people talk about Old Lady Shi, which shows how far her reputation has spread!
Just as the group was gossiping, Manager Zhu came in and said, "Xiao Ma, Xiao Zhu, you two help Comrade Zhao out. Our New Year's bonus is coming up."
Upon hearing this, Sister Ma and her companion immediately became incredibly enthusiastic, diligently helping Comrade Zhao, who was delivering supplies, move things in and out.
After moving the things and seeing Comrade Zhao off, Manager Zhu looked at the pile of things on the floor and pointed to a large pile on the right: "This is today's supply. Move it to the kitchen."
Sister Ma and Zhu Zhizhi did as instructed, and Bu Ling and Wu Yuanyuan also helped carry the lighter items.
With the four of them working together, half of the things on the ground were quickly removed. After they finished moving them, the four of them stood opposite Manager Zhu, looking at him with eager eyes.
Manager Zhu curled his lips into a smile. "Now, let's give out the New Year's bonuses." As he spoke, he bent down and picked up a few items from the ground, placing them aside: "These are for Old Tan."
"Xiao Bu, this is for you: ten catties of flour, three catties of rice, five catties of meat, a fish, half a duck, and two catties of cotton!" Manager Zhu said as he handed each item to Bu Ling.
As Manager Zhu handed over the items one by one, Bu Ling's smile grew even brighter. "You still have cotton this year? That's great!"
After Bu Ling, it was Sister Ma's turn. She was also a full-time employee, and her benefits were exactly the same as Bu Ling's. After receiving her benefits, Sister Ma looked through them one by one, and her eyes lit up more and more as she looked.
Next up were Wu Yuanyuan and Zhu Zhizhi, both of whom were still temporary workers. "Xiao Zhu and Xiao Wu, everything except pork is half price. This is for you."
The two of them didn't mind and happily accepted the perk that was rightfully theirs.
After distributing the benefits, Manager Zhu dropped another bombshell: "Given our restaurant's excellent performance over such a long period, the Supply Bureau has decided to give our restaurant a permanent position. Xiao Wu and Xiao Zhu, you two should seize this opportunity!"
Upon hearing the words "permanent position," Wu Yuanyuan's breathing quickened. She had been working at the restaurant for over two years as a temporary worker and thought that becoming a permanent employee was a long way off. Unexpectedly, Manager Zhu suddenly said that there were permanent positions available, and she clenched her fists in excitement.
After the initial excitement subsided, she calmed down. There were two of them, but only one position available for permanent employment. Wanting to bring them here, she looked at Manager Zhu, "Manager Zhu, this position...?"
Before Wu Yuanyuan could finish speaking, Manager Zhu said decisively, "To be fair, we'll have an exam. On the first day back to work after the New Year, I'll prepare a test paper. You and Xiao Zhu will take it together, and whoever gets the higher score will be promoted."
Manager Zhu had given this method careful consideration; it would ensure fairness and convince both parties.
Zhu Zhizhi and Wu Yuanyuan exchanged a glance, then said in unison, "We'll do as Manager Zhu says."
Manager Zhu nodded without saying anything, and took his New Year's bonus back to his office.
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