After leaving the hospital, Ling Ruoke planned to go to the office of Brother Zhang, the city's head. She had called Brother Zhang during lunch, so as soon as Ling Ruoke stepped out of the ward, she ran into Brother Zhang, who was bringing fruit to see Nuannuan.
Brother Zhang drove to pick up Ling Ruoke and stopped by to see Nuannuan. Being a man, he wasn't tactful enough and hurt the young woman's feelings, for which he apologized profusely.
Since Brother Zhang was already here, Ling Ruoke decided not to go to his office, but instead to check on the store operations in S City.
To be honest, Brother Zhang is a very capable person. A typical northerner, he's straightforward and outspoken. Perhaps that's why he inadvertently offended Nuannuan's family. The truth can be hurtful sometimes, so it's best to soften the blow with a little bit of gentleness.
Because Brother Zhang has a car, it was very convenient. In one afternoon, they visited nearly ten stores, and the execution was quite effective. All store staff were on duty, in good spirits, and had loud, clear voices. When introducing products to customers, they were very enthusiastic and skilled; it was obvious they had undergone rigorous training.
As Ling Ruoke left the store, she checked the time. It was getting late, and she was feeling a bit tired. "Let's stop here. I believe the other stores are doing just as well. Brother Zhang, you're really great. I feel very reassured leaving S City in your hands."
It was already dinnertime, and Brother Zhang said he would take her to eat the best food in S City.
At the dinner table, Ling Ruoke brought up Nuannuan's matter again. "Brother Zhang, didn't you keep saying that managing the stores in L City was too much for you? I have an idea now. I'd like Nuannuan to be the person in charge of L City, but you'd also mentor her for a while, which would help you share the burden. There will be more and more projects in the future, and if she's capable enough, she can become a valuable asset to you. What do you think?"
"This employee is indeed very good. If they can be developed into a full-time employee, that would be great. Don't we want to retain more people? If you keep them as temporary employees, it's impossible to retain them long-term, since there are gaps between projects. If they have better options during those gaps, they will definitely work for other companies. If we can have a long-term development plan, making them understand that this is not a temporary job, but a long-term career, then they will work harder and be more stable."
Ling Ruoke laughed. "Brother Zhang, that's a great idea! When I get back to the company, I'll call a meeting to discuss it thoroughly and come up with a comprehensive plan."
"I'll be waiting for your good news." Brother Zhang picked up his glass and clinked it with hers. He also liked this female boss very much; she looked petite and charming, yet she had a lot of guts. Most importantly, she genuinely treated her employees like family, and would do many things from their perspective, instead of only thinking about how to exploit them and maximize her own profits.
He already had many years of experience, and many large companies wanted to poach him with high salaries, but he chose Peho, a small startup. Besides seeing the company's potential, another reason was the beautiful female boss.
On the way, Ling Ruoke went to the restroom to pay the bill. But she didn't expect Brother Zhang to be so quick and had already paid.
Brother Zhang even planned to invite her to a massage or foot bath, but Ling Ruoke refused. She trusted that he wouldn't take her to any improper places, but going to a foot bath with a man who wasn't her husband was something she couldn't accept.
Finally, Brother Zhang had no choice but to take her to the hotel. "Sister Ruo, when are you going back to Z City?"
"It's not confirmed yet, it depends on Feng Nuan's situation. Don't worry, I'll definitely mooch a meal from you before I leave!" Ling Ruoke joked.
"Okay, that's what I've been waiting for you to say."
Back at the hotel, Ling Ruoke took out her laptop and wrote about Feng Nuan in her novel. After dealing with some emails, she lay down to sleep.
I slept well that night.
I woke up the next morning feeling refreshed. After washing up and having breakfast, I made a special call to Yang Ziyun.
Ling Ruoke didn't ask about her husband's whereabouts; the colonel wouldn't mention his mission to anyone. Yang Ziyun, upon learning she was in S City, urged her to be careful. She then brought up the topic of giving birth, making Ling Ruoke blush.
After hanging up the phone, Ling Ruoke thought helplessly, it seems that in their eyes, her most important thing right now is getting pregnant! Marrying a man older than herself definitely brings pressure to have children! Luckily, this is the era of the one-child policy, otherwise she would worry that they would urge her to increase her offspring to serve the country!
However, thinking about the Huo family's, especially the colonel's, expectations for the child, Ling Ruoke really wanted to get pregnant as soon as possible.
Speaking of children, she thought of Xiao Fu'an again. Since moving to T City, Yuan Meng would send them a text message once a month to let them know she was safe, but they didn't contact each other much otherwise. Ling Ruo knew that she wanted to have her own life, so she hoped there wouldn't be too much contact until she had adapted to her new life. Although she couldn't quite understand Yuan Meng's perspective, she could only respect it.
A lot has happened recently, and since she rarely gets to visit S City, Ling Ruoke thought she should relax a bit. So she looked it up online and found a tourist attraction that she figured could fill half a day. She also needed to go to the hospital in the afternoon to talk to Feng Nuan, and if everything was alright, she would head home in the evening.
S City isn't a tourist city; there are practically no attractions. Ling Ruoke chose a quaint little street, intending to buy some unique souvenirs to take back as gifts for everyone.
Ling Ruoke strolled to a small stall and picked out some wooden trinkets. These items were all handmade by the stall owner and were quite exquisite and cute. They came in all sorts of shapes and could be disassembled and reassembled to be displayed at home as decorations.
"This is for you." Someone approached her, picked up a small trinket, and handed it to her.
Just from the voice, Ling Ruoke knew who it was. She didn't take the things from his hand, but simply turned to look at him. "What are you doing here?"
"A coincidence." Cang Wei withdrew his hand, fiddling with the little trinket in his hand. "And you?"
"Work." Ling Ruoke looked away and continued looking at the things.
Cang Wei didn't say anything, just stood aside quietly watching her. It seemed he was waiting for her to calm down. Or perhaps, it would be more accurate to say he was quietly appreciating her beauty.
The woman before you wasn't exceptionally beautiful, yet she possessed a gentle and captivating charm. Especially her soft smile, which seemed to always reach your heart. Her profile was gentle and serene, bringing peace to your soul. If she turned around and gave you a radiant smile, you would feel that even the most beautiful flowers paled in comparison.
I still remember the first time we met. She danced gracefully on the lawn of University A, completely absorbed in the moment. That stunning moment when she rested her chin on her hand and looked up is still vivid in my mind.
I just saw her from afar; she was carrying a small backpack, wearing a denim baseball cap, jeans, a white t-shirt, and canvas shoes. She looked light and carefree, like a girl not yet twenty. That's how she looked when I first met her. Not exceptionally beautiful, but full of energy, drawing your attention.
The various changes that followed robbed her of her carefree, radiant smile; she seemed to mature and fall silent overnight. He knew that the departure of her parents and the changes in her love life had brought her down. And the person who had almost killed her was himself.
Now, she has returned to her youthful self. All of this is because of Huo Qingfeng. Reason tells her she should let go, but she can't do it emotionally.
Ling Ruoke browsed for a while longer before finally stopping and asking, "You're not going to come shopping with me, are you? Since it's a coincidence, you must be here on business. Why aren't you leaving?"
"It's lunchtime already. I'd like to invite you to lunch, is that not allowed?" Cang Wei looked at her with an innocent expression.
Ling Ruoke narrowed her eyes slightly, turned her head to take out her money, bought the things she had chosen, and held them in her hand. "Let's go." She knew that if he insisted on having dinner with her, she wouldn't be able to escape. Rather than leaving him with lingering hopes and making him more stubborn, it was better to sit down frankly and talk things out.
Cang Wei didn't take her anywhere else. There was a restaurant on the corner of this street that was said to be very good—Meiweixuan.
"What would you like to eat?" Cang Wei took the menu from the waitress and asked her.
Ling Ruoke, resting her chin on her hand, was looking around the restaurant. Hearing this, she said nonchalantly, "I'm not picky, you order."
Cang Wei didn't say anything, but looked down and flipped through the exquisite menu, ordering five dishes. "That's all, and two cans of Wanglaoji herbal tea."
This habit developed while we were together. She hates waste, so I never allow her to order too much food when we eat out. If we accidentally order too much, she insists on taking it home. The funniest thing is that sometimes there's not much left, and it's hard to pack it up, but she insists on eating it all. After eating, her stomach hurts, and she complains that she wants to walk home to digest.
Furthermore, every time she went to a restaurant, she would carefully observe the interior and make sure to locate the emergency exits. It's said that this stemmed from an international news report she saw in middle school about a fire at an entertainment venue where the majority of deaths were Chinese, and the fewest were Japanese. Later, people conducted a series of studies on these Japanese safety and self-rescue habits, which she also observed and diligently memorized. Over time, it became a habit.
Ling Ruoke glanced around the shop, then looked away and saw Cang Weiwo staring at her. She paused, then lowered her head to drink her tea. After a while, noticing he was still looking at her, she looked up, raised an eyebrow, and asked, "You invited me to dinner because you have something to say, not just staring at me, right?"
"The food hasn't arrived yet, so we have plenty of time. It's nice to admire the beauty first." Cang Weiwo raised an eyebrow, a half-smile on his face.
This familiar emphasis startled Ling Ruoke, who then retorted, "Boring."
Cang Wei simply smiled faintly, offering no rebuttal. In truth, he had nothing to say to begin with. He had already said enough, and it had proven pointless to waste words.
The food at Meiweixuan was indeed quite good, and Ling Ruoke ate with great relish. During the meal, Cang Weiwo didn't say anything that would spoil her appetite, so she enjoyed a comfortable lunch.
Wiping her mouth, Ling Ruoke asked calmly, "Do you have something to say? If not, I'll be going now. Thank you for lunch."
Cang Wei picked up his teacup and brought it to his lips, watching her slowly walk out of the restaurant, then turn the corner and disappear from his sight. He didn't stop her, because he couldn't.
He called it a coincidence, but he wasn't really lying to her. He had come to S City on business, and later heard that she was also in S City, so he asked for her address. It just so happened that she came here, so he followed her.
"If it's alright..." He slightly curved his lips, murmuring her name. What lay behind his hesitant expression, no one knew.
Ling Ruoke's mood wasn't affected by her encounter with Cang Weiwo. However, having already visited all the places she wanted to see, she bought some local specialties and then took a taxi back to the hotel.
After taking a nap, she tidied up and went to the hospital. If everything was alright, she needed to book a flight back to Z City immediately. Her home was in Z City, so she couldn't help but worry about it when she was in another city, even though the colonel wasn't home.
Feng Nuan's condition is much better than yesterday. Although she is still very sad, she no longer has that feeling of "not being able to go on living".
Looking at her, Ling Ruoke felt relieved. She was afraid that Feng Nuan might do something rash and commit suicide, otherwise she would never have peace of mind for the rest of her life.
"Nuan Nuan, I heard you've been a sales promoter for two years now, right? Do you handle all the procedures for entering the store and communicating with the store manager?"
Feng Nuan didn't understand why she asked that, but she still answered honestly, "Yes."
"If you had to manage a dozen or so stores, keep track of their sales promoters, and communicate with local customer managers, would you be confident you could do a good job?" Actually, the most important thing is the ability to communicate flexibly.
Feng Nuan thought about it seriously for a moment and nodded. "I can. Because I usually communicate with the store and the customer service manager you mentioned. Although we're no longer working at the same store, I believe I can do a good job."
“Our company also has events in L city, usually around 8 stores, no more than 10 stores in total. If we handed over the execution of this city to you, would you dare to do it? Of course, Brother Zhang will help you if necessary.”
Feng Nuan didn't answer her question, but instead widened her eyes in surprise and asked, "Sister Ruo, are you serious? You really entrust me with the execution of the law in L City?"
"As long as you are confident that you can do it well, I am willing to entrust it to you." Ling Ruoke likes these children from poor families and admires their spirit of self-improvement and striving.
Feng Nuan grabbed her hand and said anxiously, "Sister Ruo, I can, I really can!" She had previously worked as an assistant to the city manager at another company and had some experience with the work. She left because that person tried to take advantage of her.
Ling Ruoke loved hearing the words "I can," as they always made her feel an indestructible power erupt from them. "Okay, once you're better, I'll hand over L City to you to manage. As for salary and benefits, we can discuss that another day."
"Yes!" The little girl cried. For her, this was an amazing opportunity, a wonderful surprise!
Feng Nuan only completed junior high school, and without a formal education, finding a good job was very difficult. She didn't want to work on a factory assembly line, as it was hard to get ahead there; nor did she want to work as a waitress in a restaurant or hotel, feeling that such places could easily lead people astray; later, somehow, she became a sales promoter. The income was decent, so she continued doing it.
If Ling Ruoke really offered her the position of city manager, even for a small city, it would be a significant step forward for her. The advertising industry values experience above all else; once she becomes a full-time employee of Peihuo and gains sufficient experience, she won't have to worry about finding a job in the future!
Ling Ruoke never expected that her act of kindness today would save her life in a future calamity. Perhaps, this is what they mean by good deeds being rewarded.
...
After leaving the hospital, Ling Ruoke immediately called to book a plane ticket and then took a taxi to the airport. In the taxi, she called Brother Zhang and promised to treat him to a meal next time she visited S City.
I had originally planned to go straight back to Z City, but in the airport waiting hall, I happened to run into a group of elderly people who were going to Z City to visit their sons who were serving in the military. The elderly people spoke highly of their sons, but what they expressed most was their longing for them. Some of them could see their sons once a year, while others only saw them once every few years.
Ling Ruoke thought of her colonel, and of Yang Ziyun. For some reason, she suddenly felt like going to B City. Without much thought, she went out, canceled her plane ticket, and changed it to one for B City, but she had to wait three hours for takeoff.
Her flight was at 8 p.m., so arriving in B City wasn't too late; it would only take an hour and a half. After getting off the plane, she took a taxi directly to Ziyun Capital.
Whether it was because an elder of the Huo family had given instructions, or because she had been there before, the gatekeeper recognized her and greeted her. She was allowed in smoothly.
The nanny, Ahui, opened the door. She called out "Young Madam!" and then called out loudly into the house, "Madam, Young Madam is home!" She even took the things from Ahui's hands.
"Grandpa, Dad, Mom." This time, Ling Ruoke called out, though a little awkwardly. She had already brought the marriage certificate home and felt perfectly justified.
Yang Ziyun pulled her to sit down on the sofa and said, "Why didn't you call to let us know? We could have sent someone to pick you up. Have you had dinner yet?"
"I ate on the plane." Ling Ruoke finally felt like she was home.
Yang Ziyun glared. "That stuff is inedible. Ah Hui, quickly make something for the young mistress to eat."
"Oh, there's just a little bit of chicken soup left. I'll bring it up to the young mistress first, and then stir-fry a couple of dishes."
Ling Ruoke hurriedly called out to her. "Aunt Hui, it's so late, I can't eat much. Just give me a bowl of chicken soup and a small bowl of rice." She really didn't like the mashed potatoes and bread on the plane, so she only took a couple of bites.
"Ah Hui, let's do as the young mistress says."
Okay.
The old man chuckled and asked, "Ruo Ke, why did you suddenly come home? Can't you stay home alone while Qingfeng isn't here?"
Ling Ruoke stuck out her tongue. "I had some business at the company, so I went to S City. S City isn't far from B City, so I wanted to come back and visit. I was also worried that Grandpa would be playing chess and no one would be there to keep him company, so I came over."
"A clever and mischievous little girl!"
Yang Ziyun looked at her with a smile and said sourly, "Dad, look how eager your granddaughter-in-law is for you. I guess I have nothing to do with her father."
“No!” Ling Ruoke quickly retorted. “I originally wanted to go back to Z City, but I suddenly changed my ticket at the airport. I just wanted to come home and see you all.”
Yang Ziyun laughed out loud. "Just kidding, why are you taking it so seriously?"
Ah Hui quickly brought up the chicken soup and rice. On the other side were several pieces of tender, skinless chicken.
Ling Ruoke doesn't eat chicken skin, and I was so touched that she remembered that. Her eyes welled up with tears. I remember when my parents were still alive, they would always peel the skin off the chicken for me.
Take a breath to calm yourself. Lower your head and sip the warm chicken soup. Here, there is the warmth of home.
"Ruoke, how about you come with Grandpa to climb that wall tomorrow?"
“Okay. I’ll go with Grandpa wherever he wants to go.”
The old man stroked his chin with a sly smile. "Hehe, Grandpa wants to hold his great-grandson. When are you going to give Grandpa one?"
...
A special forces unit is about to engage in a large-scale war. At this moment, everyone is sitting in the classroom, listening to the person above analyze the enemy's characteristics and the arrangements for this operation.
This enemy is the powerful force led by the Gu family. This malignant tumor has existed for some time, and now it must be uprooted and completely eradicated!
Huo Qingfeng listened attentively, his face remaining expressionless as always. His eyes occasionally darted around, gleaming with a sharp light. He had wanted to eradicate this cancer for a long time, both publicly and privately.
The person on stage stopped, looked at him, and said, "Sharp Blade, what are your thoughts?"
Huo Qingfeng stood up, his face expressionless, yet radiant. Unlike his usual taciturn self, he spoke eloquently, his words eliciting nods of agreement from everyone present.
The person on the stage smiled and nodded. This was the charisma of Sharp Blade; he was a born leader. No matter the situation, he could calmly and meticulously analyze it, then direct the operation, which was why he almost never failed a mission. His calmness, decisiveness, and passionate spirit made everyone willing to fight alongside him—that was truly rare!
The Yangtze River flows on, with each wave pushing the one before it.
...
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