Chapter 93
Xie Jinxuan hesitated for a moment and said, "I can't really say. Maybe I saw it wrong."
"What did you see wrong?"
"When Yang Dachuan saw you today, his eyes lit up, and he was determined to get you. I'm a man, and I know that look very well, even though it was only for a moment, and he quickly covered it up afterwards. But if I'm not mistaken, given his personality, if he was still interested in you in the past few years, I'm afraid he would have taken action no matter what."
Xia Qingtang said, "What are you afraid of? He's not the only one who's after me. Yang Dachuan, the secretary of a city trade union chairman, can live such a good life. I don't believe he has no problems. If you're worried, just pay more attention to him from now on. Also, don't underestimate me. If he dares to mess with me, I won't let him go."
Xia Qingtang paused for two seconds and then said, "Of course. Although I don't know how to deal with him yet, there is no rush. There is still time to think about it slowly. My principle is that it is good to plan ahead, but don't worry about things that haven't happened yet."
Hearing this, Xie Jinxuan couldn't help laughing. He rubbed Xia Qingtang's head and whispered, "You're right. I just need to be prepared in advance. He's not a piece of iron without any loopholes. If he really messes with me, he will definitely lose."
Xia Qingtang nodded vigorously: "That's right! This is you!"
The whole family returned to the small western-style building. Xie Jinxuan and Xia Qingtang went in and sat for a while. Seeing that their grandparents still had gloomy faces and the atmosphere at home seemed like they were about to have a quarrel at any time, they found an excuse to slip back home and take a shower.
Living separately from the elders has this advantage. If the atmosphere is not right, you can always go back to your own home. Even if the housework is usually busier, it is worry-free.
As usual, Xia Qingtang washed first. When she came out after washing, Xie Jinxuan had already set up tables and chairs for cooling off in the yard and lit mosquito coils.
The neighbors had almost all taken a bath. Some of them moved out their bamboo beds, while others spread mats in the corridor and chatted outside to enjoy the cool air.
Xia Qingtang was wearing cool pajamas, sitting cross-legged on a chair, fanning herself with a palm-leaf fan, and listening to the radio. Just as she was listening to the exciting part, she heard her aunt's voice from the other end: "Jinxuan! Jinxuan, come and help me! Jinxuan!"
Before she finished her voice, she saw her aunt rushing to the gate of the courtyard with disheveled hair, and then pushed it in regardless of anything. When she found that she couldn't push it in, she shouted, "Where's Jinxuan? Where's Jinxuan?"
"He's taking a shower. He just went in a while ago. What's wrong, aunt? What do you want Jinxuan to help you with?"
Under the light of the street lamp, Xia Qingtang saw that her aunt's eyes were red and there were traces of tears on her face. She wondered if she had been scolded by Grandpa Xie.
But this was not the first time that Grandpa Xie had taught her a lesson, so she shouldn't have to ask Xie Jinxuan for help.
Seeing Xia Qingtang looking so relaxed, and not opening the courtyard door for her even though she was already at the door, the aunt immediately shouted, "Do you still have manners? Don't you know how to open the door for your elders? I'm not going back over there tonight, I want to sleep here!"
Xia Qingtang widened her eyes and asked subconsciously: "What? Aunt, you want to sleep here? Why?"
"Why do you care? This is my nephew's home. Can't I come over and stay for a night and sleep?" The aunt looked very angry.
It must be okay to stay for one night, and there was indeed an empty room in the house, so Xia Qingtang stood up, opened the yard door and let her aunt in.
But she still felt very strange. What kind of chaos would make her aunt hide here to sleep?
But Xia Qingtang didn't plan to ask her directly, because she wouldn't tell him even if he asked.
"Aunt, please sit down. Would you like something to eat? There is no fruit at home, only some biscuits. Or I can make you a cup of tea?" Xia Qingtang still acted like a host entertaining guests.
My aunt stood in the small courtyard, holding her chest and calming herself down for a while. When Xia Qingtang asked her questions, she didn't answer. After she calmed down, she went to the sink in the corridor to wash her face.
Then, she casually wiped the water off her face with the hem of her clothes and sat down on the empty chair next to Xia Qingtang.
Seeing that she had no intention of talking to him, Xia Qingtang lost interest in talking and continued listening to the radio.
After listening for a while, Xie Jinxuan came out of the bathroom with a basin in his hand, which contained the clothes he and Xia Qingtang had taken off. He was about to wash them and hang them out to dry in the corridor.
As soon as he came out, he was slightly startled: "Why is my aunt here?"
The aunt looked up at him and said, "I will stay at your house tonight, but I haven't taken a shower yet, and I haven't brought my clothes over yet. Please go over there and ask Sixth Sister to bring me my clothes. I'll take a shower here."
Xie Jinxuan said: "Auntie, are you going to stay at my house tonight?"
"Yes, isn't it?"
"Of course." Xie Jinxuan put down the basin by the pool and said, "Wait a moment, I'll soak the clothes and then go over there."
My aunt looked impatient: "Can't your wife do the laundry? Why do you have to waste time doing it?"
Xie Jinxuan was still quite calm. He soaked the clothes calmly and then said, "It won't take long to soak the clothes. I'll go over now."
Having said that, he walked out.
Xia Qingtang was still listening to the radio leisurely, but out of the corner of her eye she could see her aunt glaring at her.
Not knowing what had happened to irritate this young lady again, Xia Qingtang sneered in his heart and pretended to be unaware and continued to listen to the news.
There is always a lot of good news in the news this year, and these news also show that times are indeed changing.
Xia Qingtang was trying hard to recall the year when the street vendors appeared, when suddenly a sarcastic voice came from the side: "Why are you still sitting here? Jinxuan has soaked the clothes, go wash them quickly."
Xia Qingtang didn't say anything. When her aunt said it again in a rage, she said, "Oh, Jinxuan and I take turns to wash clothes. Today it's his turn."
"Take turns to wash clothes? Take turns to wash clothes?" Auntie raised her voice, "How dare you take turns to wash clothes with Jinxuan?"
"Is there any problem?" Xia Qingtang asked knowingly.
"Problem? It's a big problem! You are his wife. He is so busy at work, and he still has to wash clothes when he comes home from get off work? Are you ashamed to be someone else's wife?" The aunt got so excited that she suddenly stood up.
Xia Qingtang found it a little funny. Her aunt was really nosy. She was just an aunt, not Xie Jinxuan's parents. How could she have the nerve to interfere to such an extent?
Seeing Xia Qingtang's mocking smile, her aunt became even more furious. She said, "You are so shameless! You married into such a good family and lived such a good life, and you still dare not serve Jinxuan?"
"I want to know how my aunt usually serves my uncle at home?" Xia Qingtang suddenly asked with a smile.
The aunt was stunned: "Me? Of course I take care of everything at home! Whether it's doing housework or taking care of the children, my wife doesn't have to worry about it! You have to know that their men are working hard outside, and they should be allowed to have a good rest when they come home. As a woman, you should take good care of their food and daily life, so that the family can be harmonious! You are a person who doesn't know how high the sky is and how deep the earth is. You can marry into the Xie family, but you are not grateful, and you dare to let us Jinxuan serve you?"
"It can't be helped. After all, Jinxuan and I are both working hard for our careers. I'm doing very well in my career, and I'm very tired at work. So Jinxuan and I have already discussed that we should do the housework together. He does more housework when he is free, and I do more when I am free. It's not easy for a family like ours, as both of us are working hard for our careers, so this is the only way." Xia Qingtang still smiled. "I'm different from my aunt. My aunt is like the good wives and mothers of the past. She is suitable for taking care of everything at home, serving her husband well, and naturally having a harmonious family. But I don't have the blessing of my aunt. I can only work hard. Alas, I am a miserable person, unlike my aunt."
Auntie was confused by her words. Sometimes she felt that she was praising herself, and sometimes she felt that she was mocking herself. Although she didn't understand, Auntie still asked: "You work hard? What's the point of you being a factory worker? Can you be a factory manager? With your little work, do you have the nerve to compare it with our Jinxuan?"
"Why can't we compare? Are there still distinctions between high and low jobs? Oh, my aunt said today that I was a member of the bourgeoisie. I think her opinion is wrong!" Xia Qingtang said, "Besides, what's wrong with my job? I work very hard and am very motivated. I was transferred from the workshop to the factory union to work in the office. Next month, I was seconded by the municipal union to work there for a month. If I perform well, maybe I can be transferred to the municipal union next year! Aunt, what's wrong with not doing housework when I have such a promising job?"
My aunt was stunned: "You were seconded to the Municipal Federation of Trade Unions? Do you have such a skill?"
"Of course I have. I am a well-known writer. I write very well. I have published several articles in the Workers' Daily. Aunt, do you want to see the clipping book? Xie Jinxuan specially made one for me as a souvenir!"
My aunt put her hands on her waist, gasped for breath and stopped talking.
At this time, Xie Jinxuan came back from the other end, holding a cloth bag in his hand. He walked in and said, "Aunt, Aunt Liu packed your spare clothes, toothbrush and towel. But we don't have hot water at home now. I'll go boil a pot of hot water so that you can take a bath."
Only then did my aunt nod and say, "I understand."
Xie Jinxuan handed the cloth bag to her aunt, went to the kitchen to turn on the coal stove to boil water again, then came out with the soap box and washed clothes in the corridor.
He was quite efficient in his work and quickly washed all the clothes that the two people had taken off.
Today is a sunny day with a bright moon hanging high in the sky. It will probably not rain at night, so Xie Jinxuan hung the clothes on the bamboo poles in the small yard.
When he finished all these, Xia Qingtang smiled and said, "Thank you for your hard work."
Xie Jinxuan smiled and leaned over, kissing her on the face: "How hard is this? Climbing the mountain today is tiring, do you want to go to bed early?"
Xia Qingtang didn't want to stay with her aunt for a long time. When she saw Xie Jinxuan deliberately mentioned going to bed early, she immediately said, "Of course, I'm really tired today. I have to hand over my work tomorrow. I'm going to bed now."
As she spoke, she stood up and said, "Aunt, our guest room is ready. Let Xie Jinxuan wipe the mat and you can go to sleep. I'm a little tired. Let Jinxuan talk to you. I'll go to bed now."
After saying that, Xia Qingtang ran straight into the house without waiting for her aunt to react.
She quickly brushed her teeth and went back to her bedroom to lie down.
Although the bedroom was not as cool as the corridor, there were no weird relatives here, so Xia Qingtang turned on the small desk lamp and began to read with relish.
After a long while, Xie Jinxuan knocked on the door and came in: "Auntie went to take a shower."
"I know, otherwise you wouldn't have come in." Xia Qingtang said, "What happened over there? Did they have a fight?"
"Not only did they quarrel, but grandpa almost hit me." Xie Jinxuan said, "Sixth Aunt said that grandpa asked my little cousin a lot of questions, and only then did he know how my aunt and uncle usually talked about me at home."
"My grandfather, who is so good-tempered, was so angry that he almost hit someone. They must have said something really nasty."
"That should be the case. No one in the family came to help my aunt. My grandmother cried sadly, and my father was also very angry. My mother was an outsider, so she hid upstairs and didn't say anything. Although my grandfather was very angry, he didn't really do anything. But my aunt still felt guilty, so she ran out and wanted to stay with us for one night."
"You can hide for a while, but you can't hide forever. Fortunately, they will take the train back tomorrow afternoon. Maybe by next year, grandpa won't be angry anymore."
Xie Jinxuan said: "Maybe next year, grandpa won't allow aunt to come over."
"So serious?"
"From what Aunt Six said, it's really serious. Even Grandma doesn't want Aunt to come over again."
Xia Qingtang said: "I used to think your family was a model family, with a loving father and filial son, a harmonious family, and everyone being reasonable and understanding. Now that I've seen my aunt, I understand that no family is perfect."
Xie Jinxuan said: "Fortunately, she married far away and we don't see each other often."
"Then go and talk to her for a while. I plan to go to bed first."
"Okay, you go to sleep first." Xie Jinxuan walked over, gave Xia Qingtang a light kiss on the forehead, and walked out.
Xia Qingtang fell asleep quickly. Like usual, she slept soundly and had a very comfortable dream.
Just when she was sleeping soundly, there was a sudden knock on the door.
Xia Qingtang listened to the drum-like sound and didn't react for a long time.
After a long while, she remembered that there was a guest at home last night, and she must be the one knocking on the door.
Looking at the alarm clock, it was still early. At this time of day, Xie Jinxuan had not bought breakfast yet. Xia Qingtang originally planned to continue lying down, but he did not expect that his aunt would keep knocking on the door outside and could not stop at all.
Xia Qingtang could only rub his eyes and get up. He walked to the bedroom door and suddenly opened it. Then he said loudly, "Why are you knocking so early in the morning? It's not time to get up yet!"
After the people outside were startled by her loud voice, Xia Qingtang said, "Oh, isn't this my aunt? Usually there are no guests at home, and I forgot that my aunt stayed here yesterday. Is there anything wrong with my aunt? If you are looking for Jinxuan, he will be back in a while."
"Of course I know he won't be back for a while. He has to go for early exercise every morning!" said my aunt with a dark face.
"Why did Auntie knock on the door?"
"I knocked on the door to ask you to hurry up and make breakfast! What time is it, why haven't you made breakfast yet? Whose wife is as lazy as you?"
"As the daughter-in-law of our family, I am just lazy. I am different from my aunt. I cannot be diligent." Xia Qingtang said, "But anyway, I am the daughter-in-law of the Xie family. My grandparents, parents don't mind my laziness. My aunt is no longer a member of the Xie family, so there is no need to worry about it."
"What did you say?!" My aunt frowned and her face started to turn red.
"Aunt, please stop interfering in our family's affairs. My parents-in-law don't care about me." Xia Qingtang said with a smile, "Besides, our family doesn't make breakfast. Xie Jinxuan will buy breakfast from the cafeteria after her morning exercise, so Aunt, don't worry. There will be ready-made breakfast in a while. If you are really hungry, I will make you a glass of milk?"
My aunt was so angry that she was shaking all over: "You are really not a good person! You are simply lawless!"
"Yes, I am. So what?" Xia Qingtang said, then closed the door indifferently and went to the bathroom to wash up.
They could have lived in peace until the moment when her aunt left, but she insisted on moving in. Not only did she move in, but she also had to find fault. Who could tolerate that? Xia Qingtang thought that he had given her a lot of face.
She washed up slowly, put on some face cream and then went out.
In summer, many people are not used to applying face cream, but Xia Qingtang believes that skin care is a year-round thing, so she will always take good care of her skin even in summer.
She was about to head to the kitchen when she saw her aunt standing at the desk in the master bedroom, rummaging through her drawers.
Xia Qingtang's face darkened, and he strode over and said sternly: "This is my home, this is my drawer and my things, aunt, what are you doing?"
"What's wrong with me checking my nephew's drawer? This is my nephew's home!" The aunt was quite righteous.
Xia Qingtang stretched out his hand and made a gesture for you to leave: "Then on behalf of your nephew, I would like to express that you are not welcome. You can leave now."
"You are qualified to drive me out? This yard was allocated to my brother. What qualifications do you have to drive me out?" The aunt said, "If you have the guts, let my brother drive me out!"
Xia Qingtang's eyes flashed with anger: "I am taller than you and stronger than you. If I drag you out, you will have no ability to resist. But you are Xie Jinxuan's aunt after all, so I will give you some face. Now, I ask you one last time, do you want me to drag you out, or do you walk out with dignity?"
My aunt crossed her arms, looking disdainful: "Just try it, I really don't believe you dare to do that to me!"
Xia Qingtang stopped talking. She walked forward, pulled her aunt's arms back with both hands, and then dragged her out while she screamed.
Although Xia Qingtang looks slender, she is very strong. My aunt is petite, less than 1.6 meters tall, so she was easily pulled out.
She screamed and yelled as if someone had died.
Xia Qingtang didn't care how she shouted. Under the curious gaze of the neighbors next door, he dragged the person out of the yard gate in one go, locked the door, and turned back.
My aunt had never been treated like this in her life. She was angry and ashamed, and stood there crying.
Just then, Xie Jinxuan came back carrying a tin pot. When she heard the noise from the other end of the road, she immediately ran over: "What happened?"
"Your wife! That woman... kicked me out! And told me to get out!" Aunt burst into tears. "I'm telling you, Xie Jinxuan, if you don't teach her a lesson today, don't call me aunt anymore!"
Xie Jinxuan said calmly: "What did aunt do?"
"Huh? What?" The aunt didn't understand what he meant. She stared at him with a pair of doubtful eyes, obviously not understanding why her nephew didn't just rush in and teach the woman a lesson.
Xie Jinxuan said: "Qingtang is the most reasonable person. She would not do such a thing for no reason. You must have done something to make her so angry."
My aunt was so angry that her eyes almost popped out. She pointed at Xie Jinxuan and cursed her countless times, saying "ungrateful".
"Have you forgotten how I took care of you when you were a child? Now you treat me like this for a woman? I am your aunt, and you treat me like this!"
"Of course I haven't forgotten how good my aunt was to me. Not only I haven't forgotten, my father, my mother, and even Qingtang all remember it in their hearts. Otherwise, do you think we would tolerate you for so long?" Xie Jinxuan said, "But family affection is one thing, and being good to me is another, but you can't offend us indefinitely and be unreasonable to us. Besides, you are my relative, and Qingtang is also my family. You are rude to my family, so should I thank you? Aunt always says that she is very good to me, but you have been bullying my mother, and now you are bullying Qingtang. Do you know that all these things you have done may cause my marriage to break down? You bullied Qingtang, and then you patted your butt and left. How should I deal with these things? Aunt, you are also a middle-aged person. You can understand such a simple truth, right? Or do you understand these truths, but you just don't want me, your nephew, to live a happy life, so you deliberately destroy my marriage and family?"
When the neighbors who were watching nearby heard this, someone whispered, "There are relatives like this. They can't stand seeing other people's happy families, so they always come to destroy them."
When my aunt heard what was said, she became even angrier. She cried and said, "When have I ever bullied your wife? Don't wrongly accuse me!"
"Aunt, ask yourself honestly, did you really not bully Qingtang? Or should we go to our grandparents now and ask them for their judgment?" Xie Jinxuan said in a deep voice.
"I won't go over! Don't try to use my dad to pressure me! My dad isn't a good man either. He's always been more partial to you, his eldest grandson!"
"Okay, then I have nothing to say to you." Xie Jinxuan lowered her eyes, "This is my home. Since my wife doesn't welcome you, I won't welcome you either. Please do as you please, aunt."
After saying that, Xie Jinxuan placed the tin pot next to the wall of the yard gate, then climbed over the iron gate and went in alone.
After he went in, he really ignored his aunt and went in with the tin pot.
Xia Qingtang was actually cooking vegetable soup in the kitchen, so she heard everything that happened outside.
When Xie Jinxuan came in, she whispered, "I was sleeping, and she came over and knocked on the door. After I left, she asked me to make breakfast, but I didn't want to, so I went to the bathroom to wash up. When I came out, I found her rummaging through my drawers and my notebook in our room, and she also said a lot of nasty things, so I kicked her out. I can tolerate nasty words, but I really can't accept her deliberately rummaging through my drawers."
Even when Xia Qingtang was a nanny in her previous life, she had a separate nanny room to live in. Although her cousin was very picky, her family at least respected her privacy and never entered the nanny room casually, let alone went in to look through her things.
Xie Jinxuan walked over, put the tin pot on the table, and whispered, "I'm sorry, I didn't expect my aunt to do such an outrageous thing."
Xia Qingtang sighed and said, "Did I go too far? No matter what, I am still a junior, and she is your aunt..."
"It's not excessive. I know you have been enduring for a long time. You have been enduring for me. If you were not forced, you would not do this." Xie Jinxuan said: "Let's eat first, then you go to work, and I will go to grandpa to tell him."
"Okay." Xia Qingtang said, "I will go there to apologize to grandpa and grandma after get off work in the evening, but I will definitely not apologize to your aunt."
Just assume that she has no manners and doesn't respect elders, but rummaging through the drawers really crossed her bottom line.
Afterwards, she and Xie Jinxuan started to eat breakfast with vegetable soup. After eating, Xia Qingtang pushed her bicycle to go out to work and found that her aunt was still standing at the door, wiping her tears.
Xia Qingtang rode away from her with an expressionless face, but when he met his neighbors, he greeted them with a smile on his face.
After a while, Xie Jinxuan also came out, holding a cloth bag in his hand, and stuffed it directly into his aunt's hand: "I am going to my grandfather's house now to talk about this matter. I know what you did to Qingtang. If you think you are not wrong, then come with me."
The aunt didn't dare to move, but still argued: "What did I do? Isn't this your home? Is it not okay for me, an elder, to visit your house?"
Xie Jinxuan smiled: "Looking through drawers and looking through notebooks is not the same as touring the house."
"Let me see if she's hiding anything! A woman like that might be hiding something shameful! I saw a lot of things written in her notebook that I couldn't understand. I tell you, you've got to be careful of her!" My aunt acted very anxious.
Xie Jinxuan finally stopped talking to her, locked the yard door, and rode her bicycle to her grandfather's place.
Afterwards, because he also had to go to work, he didn't know what happened next.
He waited until he got off work in the afternoon and picked up Xia Qingtang at the gate of the compound before going to the small Western-style building with her.
My aunt and the other two had already boarded the return train by this time. The house was quiet. Sixth Aunt was sitting at the kitchen door picking vegetables, and grandma was leaning on the sofa, looking very tired.
"Grandma." Xia Qingtang called out.
Grandma then slowly raised her head and showed a tired smile: "Are you back from get off work? Come and sit down."
Xia Qingtang sat next to grandma and held her hand: "Grandma, didn't you sleep well?"
"Yes, I didn't sleep much last night. This morning I heard that she was rummaging through your drawers in your room. I was so angry..." Grandma sighed and said, "I really wronged you."
"I don't feel wronged. I kicked her out. Actually, I feel a little embarrassed and think I was too impulsive. But I was really angry at the time because that drawer was full of my things and Jinxuan would never look through it normally," said Xia Qingtang.
"I know. Jinxuan told me everything. Later I asked her and she admitted it. She said that she did it for Jinxuan's sake and wanted to find out if you had anything shameful... I really... didn't teach my daughter well, and I don't know why she became like this. Your grandfather was also very angry last night, and I felt so bad..." As grandma spoke, her eyes became red.
Xie Jinxuan said immediately, "Grandma, don't be too sad. Auntie is already in her forties. How can this be considered as a poor parenting? When she was young, she ran away to another place to find uncle without telling you. Later, she insisted on staying there to get married, and you all gave in to her. You haven't lived together for a long time. Now her every move and even the way she speaks is very similar to uncle. Grandma, please don't take the responsibility on yourself."
Sixth Aunt also came over and said, "Yes, that's what I said. She's not a child anymore, so how can she blame her parents? If the old man doesn't allow her to come over next year, then she can just not come over. I can go with the old lady to see them."
Xia Qingtang understood: "Grandpa doesn't allow Aunt to come again next time, so Grandma is sad. Sixth Aunt is right. She doesn't allow Aunt to come, but she didn't say that you can't go there. Next summer vacation, Grandma and Sixth Aunt will go to Aunt's place to play. It just so happens that Jinxuan will also have summer vacation in the future, so you can let Jinxuan take you there."
When grandma heard this, she immediately felt much better.
Auntie hurt Grandpa's heart, and also hurt her heart, but she was still thinking about her child, so she was worried all day. Now when she heard this, she immediately agreed: "Yes, we can go to see her. I just don't know...whether the uncle will welcome us..."
Xie Jinxuan explained: "My uncle has never liked grandpa and grandma very much, because when my aunt went to live with him, grandpa and grandma were strongly opposed."
"So many years have passed. Is there any grudge that can't be resolved?" Xia Qingtang said.
"I'm afraid it will take a lifetime to resolve. My little cousin said that my uncle is just waiting for grandpa to retire. He said that he will come to see grandpa's joke when he retires and has no real power."
Sixth Aunt said, "Your uncle is not a good man. He came once many years ago and always spoke in a sarcastic tone. If you didn't know him, you would think that the old man had done something to him. In fact, he opposed their marriage at the beginning. But who wouldn't object in that situation? Whose parents wouldn't feel bad for a little girl who left her hometown to marry far away? It's a pity that he comes from a cadre family and he is also a cadre. How can he not have a good heart?"
Grandma sighed and said, "Anyway, let's go over there next year. If he doesn't welcome us, we can stay in a guest house for five or six days, spend some time with the two children, and then come back."
"Okay, I'll go with you then." Aunt Six said, "Now there's a solution. Don't be sad. You've been sad all day."
Xia Qingtang said quickly: "Yes, grandma, don't be sad. How can a family hold a grudge overnight? Maybe grandpa will forgive aunt in a few days."
But this time, Grandpa Xie's attitude was very firm. He didn't even allow anyone to mention my aunt and uncle at home. Even if grandma mentioned them, grandpa would immediately stop talking and express his opposition.
Aunt Six said that the family had been feeling very depressed these past few days. Fortunately, Xia Qingtang and Xie Jinxuan did not live here, and were busy with work, so they did not feel the atmosphere there much.
Xia Qingtang finished all the work on hand and handed over those that he could not handle to other colleagues. August was over.
September 1st happened to be a Saturday, and Chairman Qin personally took her to report to the Municipal Federation of Trade Unions.
After I got there, I found out that this time the Municipal Federation of Trade Unions had found four staff members from below to help. The other three were from the steel plant, pharmaceutical plant and fertilizer plant.
The clerk from the fertilizer factory was also an acquaintance, Li Yan, whom I had met before at a meeting in the city.
She was originally an acquaintance of Yang Dachuan, so it was reasonable for her to appear here now.
The staff member who was responsible for receiving them was named Zhang Ke, a young girl with a round face and glasses. She spoke softly and had a good temper.
Chairman Qin accompanied Xia Qingtang to complete the registration, then took a form and asked them to stamp it, and was about to go back.
Xia Qingtang sent her out, and Chairman Qin said softly: "For this month, you just work hard here. If you don't understand anything, just ask more, read more, and learn more. You are a smart person, and I believe you will perform well."
Xia Qingtang said: "Please rest assured, I promise not to bring shame to the cotton mill."
Chairman Qin smiled and patted her shoulder, saying, "Then I'll go back. You work hard."
After seeing off Chairman Qin, Xia Qingtang returned to Zhang Ke. Zhang Ke said, "Comrade Xia, there's an empty table in the corner. You can use that."
"Okay, thank you Comrade Zhang." Xia Qingtang walked to the corner with his bag and sat down at an old table.
The four people who came this time were assigned to different departments. For example, Li Yan went to the very busy Organization Department to help out, and Xia Qingtang was assigned to the office. Next to her was Yang Dachuan, and next to that were the vice chairman and chairman.
At this point, Xia Qingtang realized that Yang Dachuan was actually a deputy secretary, and above him was a full-time secretary named Liu. The two of them were Chairman Wu's right-hand men, but Yang Dachuan spent more time with Chairman Wu.
The Municipal Federation of Trade Unions manages many things and there are many people in the office. It took Xia Qingtang a while to remember the names of all the colleagues he dealt with.
Afterwards, she worked with Zhang Ke to help her organize an urgently needed document.
Before they knew it, the morning had passed and Xia Qingtang handed the documents he had sorted out to Zhang Ke.
Zhang Ke took a look at her neat and beautiful handwriting, then flipped through it briefly and said, "Oh, you're really quick. You sorted it out so quickly. I thought I had to wait until the afternoon."
"I was afraid you would wait too long, so I sped up the process." Xia Qingtang said, "Please ask Comrade Zhang to check it. If there are any mistakes or omissions, please point them out."
Zhang Ke smiled and said, "Okay, then I'll check now. Are you hungry?"
One always gets hungry quickly in an unfamiliar environment. Xia Qingtang's stomach had actually been growling for a long time, but since Zhang Ke asked her, she could only say, "Not really hungry yet."
"Then wait for me. I'll check it and give it to the leader, then I'll take you to the cafeteria." Zhang Ke said, "There are a lot of people in the cafeteria right now, and you have to queue. It's better to go later."
Xia Qingtang nodded and said, "Okay, I'll wait for Comrade Zhang."
Zhang Ke began to check it carefully. It took her about 20 minutes to finish. She looked up and said, "You did a very good job. There is not even a single typo. And it is concise and clear. You are really a capable person."
"Thank you Comrade Zhang for the compliment." Xia Qingtang smiled shyly, like a student who was ignorant of the world.
Zhang Ke said, "I've seen your information. You're 21 this year, four years younger than me. You don't have to be so reserved about calling me Comrade Zhang. Just call me Sister Zhang. We're familiar with each other here, so we call each other sister and brother. You can get used to it."
"Okay, then I will call you Sister Zhang." Xia Qingtang smiled even more obediently.
Zhang Ke first delivered the documents to his leader, then hurried back and took Xia Qingtang to the cafeteria for dinner.
She explained: "If you have been here for a meeting, you may have been to the small cafeteria, but we all eat in the big cafeteria. There are more people here, and there are more varieties of dishes. If you want to eat meat, we have it too."
Xia Qingtang smiled and nodded: "I eat everything, I'm not picky, and I have a good appetite."
"Oh, then you're the same as me." Zhang Ke was obviously a kind-hearted person. Not only did she tell Xia Qingtang which chef gave more dishes, she also talked about the habits and temperaments of everyone in the office.
Xia Qingtang was very grateful to her and cooperated more closely with her in the subsequent work.
At the end of the day, Xia Qingtang was also waiting for Zhang Ke to leave the office together.
"Xia, how are you going home?"
"I came here by bicycle."
"That's good. It's really convenient to have your own bicycle."
As they were talking, Chairman Wu and Yang Dachuan came towards them, and Zhang Ke quickly took the lead in calling for help.
Chairman Wu looked at Xia Qingtang and said, "Is this young comrade seconded here to help?"
Zhang Ke said: "Yes, this is Comrade Xia Qingtang from the cotton mill. She is very efficient and responsible in her work."
"That's great, keep up the good work." Chairman Wu said, then walked away with a smile.
Yang Dachuan smiled brightly at Xia Qingtang and quickly followed.
Later, she found that she rarely met Yang Dachuan when she was working here.
Chairman Wu was very busy, so Yang Dachuan who accompanied him was also very busy. They only met occasionally and there was no chance for them to have private conversations, so Xia Qingtang gradually felt at ease.
After a week, all the work was handled properly. Xia Qingtang was efficient and not afraid of hard work, so some older colleagues were willing to let her do the work.
That morning, when Xia Qingtang just arrived at the office, Zhang Ke said, "Xiao Xia, Chairman Wu is going to take someone out to meet with several important guests today, and he needs someone to take minutes. Aren't you good at taking minutes? Secretary Yang asked you to go with them to the meeting, so you should bring your stuff with you, because you probably won't be back by noon."
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