Chapter 71 Fool
Mentioning Gu Xiao, Nan Zhiyi's face unconsciously lit up with a smile: "Fifth Brother is very good. Really very good. If it weren't for him... I would be..."
She didn't continue, but simply shook her head slightly, the meaning of which was self-evident.
Zhou Zhengping felt a pang of regret and bitterness.
He lowered his eyes, concealing his surging emotions: "...That's good. If...if he...he treats you badly in the future, you must tell me. I...I will always be your...brother."
Seeing him trying so hard to hold back his tears, Nan Zhiyi felt a pang of pity.
This bond, forged since childhood, can never be completely severed.
She sighed, didn't respond, and instead picked up her notebook and pen: "Give me Anping's work unit's phone number, so we can contact each other easily."
Zhou Zhengping took the pen and notebook, struggled to steady his wrist, and wrote down a string of clear numbers.
As they returned the notebook and pen, their fingertips touched lightly.
That brief contact was as fleeting as an illusion.
In Nan Zhiyi's view, this was just an ordinary item being delivered.
In Zhou Zhengping's heart, however, a bitter ripple spread.
Since the hospital wasn't far from the family compound, Nan Zhiyi decided to send the things back first.
Zhou Zhengping helped Nan Zhiyi tie the canvas bag and tools to the bicycle, saying, "Be careful."
"Okay." She waved and rode off in the direction of home.
Zhou Zhengping stood in front of the bulletin board for a while before silently leaving.
Watching his dejected figure, Lu Linlang, hiding in the corner, let out a mocking laugh through her teeth.
What a despicable couple!
She desperately wanted to run to the regimental headquarters, call Gu Xiao over, and let him see with his own eyes how the "lover" he held in the palm of his hand was secretly flirting with another man behind his back.
She really wanted to see if Gu Xiao's cold face would shatter completely when he witnessed this scene!
Lu Linlang remained expressionless, only her eyes concealing a cold calculation.
When Nan Zhiyi returned home, she placed the travel bag in the corner of the wall, not having time to check what was inside.
She broke off only half a peach shortbread and stuffed it into her mouth, filled her military water bottle, and then hurriedly rode her bicycle to the bulletin board next to the military service center.
She made a pledge to finish the bulletin board in two days; time was of the essence, and she had to complete it that afternoon.
The next day, Sun Xiaobing continued to help. The two arrived at the bulletin board at the entrance of the government canteen early in the morning and got to work. With the experience of the previous days, their cooperation became increasingly smooth, and the progress was encouraging.
Around noon, Zhao Yaqin came over with two lunchboxes: "Zhiyi! I brought your lunchbox."
"Thank you, Sister Yaqin."
Nan Zhiyi put down her paintbrush and wiped away her sweat.
After getting their food, the two casually found a seat and sat down.
Zhao Yaqin lowered her voice: "This morning in the office, Zhang Aihong was all smiles, humming a little tune! She was acting all mysterious, I wonder what mischief she's up to!"
Nan Zhiyi didn't pay much attention: "Maybe it's some good news."
She scooped up a spoonful of rice, her gaze inadvertently sweeping over the crowds coming and going at the canteen entrance, and happened to see Zhang Aihong sitting together eating with several female cadres.
Zhang Aihong was talking animatedly, her eyes occasionally glancing in Nan Zhiyi's direction.
That inexplicable malice made Nan Zhiyi uneasy, and even the food in her mouth lost its flavor.
By 3 p.m., the last bulletin board was completed.
Nan Zhiyi and Sun Xiaobing returned to the office and reported their work to Li Mei.
After get off work, Li Mei personally went to several bulletin boards to check on their effectiveness.
The following morning, she directly praised Nan Zhiyi: "All five bulletin boards were completed to a high standard, with excellent efficiency and outstanding results. Thank you for your hard work!"
She handed Nan Zhiyi a document, saying, "Write a reflection on your learning from the Iron Man's deeds and hand it in to me by next Tuesday."
"Yes, Section Chief."
Nan Zhiyi took the document.
Zhang Aihong, standing to the side, sneered sarcastically, "Oh, no wonder she's a capitalist's daughter. She's been raised in luxury since childhood, so she's quite talented. She's doing this temporary job really 'beautifully'."
A capitalist's daughter?!
Nan Zhiyi suddenly looked up at Zhang Aihong, her face pale.
How did Zhang Aihong know about her background?
She subconsciously looked at Li Mei.
Li Mei frowned deeply and gave Zhang Aihong a stern look.
But Li Mei didn't react on the spot. She just raised her hand and gently patted Nan Zhiyi's shoulder: "Comrade Nan Zhiyi, do your job well. Don't think about anything else."
After saying that, she turned and went back to her office.
Li Mei's attitude reassured Nan Zhiyi somewhat. She ignored Zhang Aihong's provocative gaze and silently continued working.
During the lunch break, Zhao Yaqin comforted her, "Don't worry, the fact that you can marry Fifth Brother means that your political background check was fine."
Nan Zhiyi shook her head; she wasn't worried about herself.
However, by the afternoon, the rumors had intensified.
In the corridor outside the office, there were always subtle glances directed at Nan Zhiyi, filled with curiosity and discussion.
Even when she was getting hot water from the water dispenser, she happened to see Zhang Aihong whispering with several other female cadres.
"...That's her! She looks innocent, but she's filthy inside! A capitalist! A bad element who exploits the working people!"
"...That's right, it's not legitimate! Who knows if her work ability is just hype? How did she even get into the publicity department?"
"Exactly, how can they have the nerve to work here? They have no shame!"
"...I heard he got in through Commander Gu's connections? Tsk, they managed to squeeze him in with that kind of background..."
They just had to drag Gu Xiao into it…
Nan Zhiyi's hands were trembling as she held the enamel mug. She turned around and said, "Comrade Zhang Aihong! What are you talking about? My work was personally arranged and inspected by Section Chief Li. The results are on the bulletin board, and all the comrades in the camp can see them."
My affairs are for the organization to investigate; it's none of your business to gossip here. What kind of problem is it that you're making baseless accusations, spreading rumors, and slandering comrades?!
Her barrage of questions left Zhang Aihong and the other female cadres speechless, their faces flushed.
Zhang Aihong, feeling humiliated and enraged, decided to throw away her pretense and shrieked, "I'm spreading rumors? Aren't you from a capitalist family? Aren't your parents capitalists?!"
"What right do people like you have to work in our revolutionary ranks? You're a bad element who got in through connections! I'm going to see Section Chief Li! I'll ask her why someone like you is allowed to stay in the propaganda section!"
As he spoke, he actually stormed off to Li Mei's office.
Nan Zhiyi stood still, her lips pressed tightly together.
She was completely wrong!
Knowing that Zhang Aihong was stupid, she still confronted Zhang Aihong in front of everyone.
You really can't provoke fools; no one can predict their next move.
Nan Zhiyi glanced around and saw that many people in the surrounding offices had already looked over after hearing the sound, pointing and whispering.
It seems... I'm not going to keep this job.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com