Chapter 11
Seeing Xia Qingtang talking like this, Yao Rong looked even more helpless. She gently patted Xia Qingtang on the shoulder and whispered, "Don't be so pessimistic for now. Let's think of other ways."
But Xia Qingtang had already thought of another way, but she couldn't say it out loud for the time being, so she just smiled naively, which made the workers in the workshop sympathize with her even more. After knowing that Xia Daming was injured and went to the hospital because he had to do the work of two people, the workers became even more angry.
Wen Xiaoli's eyes even turned red. "Uncle Xia and Qingtang are both hard-working workers. What did they do wrong to deserve being bullied like this? What kind of world is this? Are we just... just going to let that person bully our co-workers in our factory?"
"What can we do? The factory manager won't pay any attention to us!" said another young female worker.
Wen Xiaoli said, "Then let's go to the factory director every day! Doesn't he listen to the voices of us workers?"
Xia Qingtang hugged Wen Xiaoli with emotion, and then said loudly: "Xiaoli, thank you. But don't say that, no one bullied us, it was all my fault, I was useless, that's why my dad got hurt. When I go back to the warehouse later, even if I break a leg, I will work hard and strive to be a qualified porter!"
As soon as these words were spoken, the onlookers were all shocked, but Xia Qingtang did not wait for them to say anything and went back to the warehouse under the sympathetic and angry gazes of everyone.
Less than fifteen minutes into the work, Xia Qingtang successfully pressed himself under a large bag of cotton and quickly lost consciousness.
The workers in the warehouse were in a panic again. Director Feng, who had never lost his temper before, couldn't help but get angry: "What on earth does the factory want to do? Do they want someone to die in our warehouse?"
After scolding, Director Feng did not dare to delay and quickly had Xia Qingtang carried to the hospital.
The workers in workshop 1 were originally worried about Xia Qingtang, so some people had been paying attention to the situation here. When they saw a simple stretcher being carried out, someone immediately came over to take a look. Finding that Xia Qingtang was indeed in trouble, they ran to workshop 1.
When Xia Qingtang woke up in the hospital, he saw several workers from the workshop standing beside his bed. Their eyes were slightly red. Wen Xiaoli was holding the hand of the union chairman and whispering something.
"Wake up, wake up!" Seeing Xia Qingtang wake up, everyone immediately gathered around.
"Qingtang, how are you?"
"Are you feeling uncomfortable anywhere else?"
Xia Qingtang asked knowingly, pretending to be confused and said weakly: "I...what's wrong? I'm at work..."
"You were knocked unconscious by the impact in the warehouse, but luckily nothing serious happened. The doctor examined you and found bruises all over your body, but your bones are fine. Are you feeling any other discomfort?"
Xia Qingtang frowned in pain deliberately: "Headache..."
The doctor came over and checked again, and said that it was probably a concussion caused by a hit on the head. The workers burst into tears again, until the doctor said that she would definitely get better if she just rested and received treatment, only then did Wen Xiaoli and the others feel a little better.
After the doctor left, the union chairman walked to the bedside and said with concern: "Xiao Xia, I have heard about your situation from everyone. Your transfer does not comply with the factory regulations. Our union will definitely help you solve it. As for you, just rest here and recuperate. Don't worry about anything else. Your health is the first priority. Don't worry about your father. His back injury is not serious and he has gone home to recuperate."
The trade union is directly under the municipal trade union and is not under the control of the factory director, so the union chairman can challenge Director Qi. If any problems arise with the employees and it is useless to go to the factory, they will then ask the trade union for help.
Seeing that the union chairman had given a guarantee, Xia Qingtang stayed in the hospital to recover peacefully. Although she was hit at the right angle, she still had many bruises all over her body. In addition, she had been pretending to have a headache, so she had to stay in the hospital for a while.
Wen Xiaoli went to the steel plant to deliver a message to Hu Yanni so that they wouldn't worry. A neighbor also went to inform Zhao Meizhen, but Xia Qingtang estimated that she would not come to see her, so she didn't take it to heart.
Hu Yanni and her mother came that evening to give her some spare clothes, toiletries, toilet paper and other necessities for hospitalization. Her mother also brought a message saying that she had found a suitable partner for her and had found several, and was waiting for Xia Qingtang to meet them before deciding on one.
"You found so many so quickly?" Xia Qingtang leaned against the head of the bed, still a little surprised.
"You live in our house, and everyone knows you. They know you are Yanni's pretty classmate. I don't know how many people want you to be their daughter-in-law after I mentioned it today." Mother Hu said, "But I have chosen three tall ones after careful selection. You can go meet them after you are discharged from the hospital."
"No need to wait until you are discharged from the hospital. I just happen to have nothing to do while I am in the hospital. Please ask the three of them to take some time to come over and chat tomorrow." Xia Qingtang said, "One person can come at noon, one in the afternoon, and one in the evening. We can meet at different times."
Mother Hu said, "But when he was in the hospital, he didn't look very good, did he?"
"If you dislike the way I look in the hospital, then there's no need to choose this person." Xia Qingtang said with a smile: "This is also one of my ways of choosing."
"That makes sense. Okay, I'll make arrangements for you and have all three of them come tomorrow."
The next day at noon, after Xia Qingtang had lunch in the hospital cafeteria, she met the first male comrade who came to meet her in the ward. He was wearing a simple, half-worn white shirt, a pair of army green pants, and a pair of Liberation shoes. He was very tall, and his handsome face was filled with a gentle and sincere smile. He was Comrade Xie Jinxuan, the good man who had helped her twice.
"Comrade Xie? Why are you here?" Xia Qingtang was very surprised and hurried to get off the bed.
"Hurry up and lie down. I heard that you were seriously injured this time. How are you now? What did the doctor say?" Xie Jinxuan walked over and put a clean old cloth bag on the bedside table. She said, "There are peaches and fruit candies in it. They are for you."
Xia Qingtang was a little unsure of Xie Jinxuan's purpose for coming: "Thank you, the doctor said that I didn't hurt any bones, just a little concussion and bruise. I will be discharged from the hospital in about a week. But...you came here..."
"I came here to meet you. Aunt Li introduced me here." Xie Jinxuan said, "I heard that you were looking for a partner and you were not picky about the family conditions or the person's conditions. You just wanted the person to be tall, hardworking and kind. So I came here because I think I completely meet your requirements."
"Ah... Did Aunt Li tell you my basic situation?"
"She said that you had a conflict with your family and offended a person of some importance, so the factory changed your position. If I stay with you, I will definitely not get any help from my family, and I may not make any progress in my work."
Xia Qingtang said, "That's pretty much the situation, so I want to get married as soon as possible so I can apply for a house to live in. It's so inappropriate to always live in someone else's house. Anyway, that's my situation, and I don't know what you think, and whether you can accept getting married as soon as possible. If we've agreed, the sooner the better."
"I want to get married soon, too. My grandmother got seriously ill and became weak all of a sudden. She wants me to get married sooner. In fact, I've been looking for a partner for half a year, but it hasn't worked out yet." Xie Jinxuan said, "There's one more thing... Comrade Xia, don't you remember? When we were in middle school, I was your senior."
Xia Qingtang was stunned: "Really? You are also from the No. 1 Middle School in the city?"
"Yes, I am two years older than you. I knew you when you first entered the school, so I was very happy to see you on the basketball court that day. When I heard that you were looking for a partner, I immediately recommended myself."
Xie Jinxuan's words were very clear. He must have fallen in love with Xia Qingtang when he was in middle school.
From this perspective, he really is the chosen marriage partner: tall, kind and enthusiastic, eager to get married... and he also likes Xia Qingtang.
Xia Qingtang was very happy. People of their generation would feel very close to their alumni when talking about them. She said, "Since we are alumni, that's even better. Comrade Xie, please tell me more about your specific situation."
"I am 22 years old this year. I am the eldest son in my family. I have a younger brother who is eight years younger than me and is still studying. I served in the army for several years. After returning from the army, I was assigned to work in the provincial party committee because of my meritorious service."
It turns out that Xie Jinxuan works in the provincial party committee. No wonder she pointed in the direction of the department store that day. Going from there, it is indeed the workplace of the provincial government.
Xie Jinxuan continued, "At present, I live with my family, including my grandparents, parents, my younger brother, and a relative. There are a lot of people. But our company can allocate houses after marriage, and I should be able to get the row of bungalows at the corner of the compound on Huanghe Road. If you agree, I will apply for housing after we get the marriage certificate, but there is only one bungalow, which may be unfair to you."
When Xia Qingtang heard that there were so many people living in his house, he already knew why it was difficult for him to find a partner. Given the current housing conditions, it was impossible to squeeze a new wife into his home.
However, after getting a marriage certificate, they can only be allocated a bungalow, which means that they can't think about having children until they get promoted and move into a bigger house. So his situation is very difficult.
But it would be better if the conditions were like this. Otherwise, why would a tall and handsome young man be eager to date someone like me?
Xia Qingtang said happily: "A bungalow is also good, it's a case of hardship first and sweetness later. I will also apply for housing from our factory, but there is no vacant room in our family quarters, and I don't know how long I have to wait before I can get a house."
"Then apply from my company, and after two months of following the procedures, you will get the allocation."
"That's great!" Xia Qingtang was very happy.
Xie Jinxuan looked at her gently and smiled: "Comrade Xia, what you mean by this is that you are willing to marry me?"
Xia Qingtang nodded seriously: "I am very satisfied with you, but I have one last request."
"Just say it."
"I am in good health. I had a lot of tests yesterday. You can ask the doctor about my physical condition. Therefore, I also need you to do some physical examinations to prove that you are healthy. Moreover, the examination report from one hospital is not enough, at least two hospitals are required. As long as you are in good health, wait until I am discharged from the hospital, and we will go to get a certificate to get married immediately." Xia Qingtang looked very serious.
Xie Jinxuan ran out immediately: "I'm going to check my body now, wait for me!"
He walked out a few steps and suddenly turned back, lowered his head and whispered in front of the bed: "Comrade Xia, you only need to wait for me, and don't meet with the rest of the people, okay?"
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