Chapter 424 Group Leader
Zhao Dongmei and Feng Xiaolong have had a daughter and a son in the past few years, so now they have a total of two sons and two daughters.
Because the winters were too cold the previous two years, Zhao Dongmei's son died of illness not long after giving birth to him.
Otherwise, Zhao Dongmei's family would have five children by now.
Four children, two adults, and six mouths to feed—it was only because the harvests in the 16th Regiment had been relatively good in recent years, and the regiment and nearby neighbors had been able to provide some assistance, that this large family managed to keep from starving to death.
Zhao Dongmei looked like she was just skin and bones.
She had several children in a row. While others get fatter with each birth, this kind of fat is different from the kind that comes from overeating; it looks like she's just bloated.
But Zhao Dongmei was different. She looked extremely thin, with a dark and yellowish complexion, and she had a weak and sickly appearance.
Recalling that dream, Zhao Dongmei's expression seemed to reflect the same thing. In the dream, she begged her to take care of her child, as if she knew her days were numbered.
"I've noticed you're rubbing your chest a lot, and your complexion is sallow. If you have any discomfort, you should go to the hospital to get it checked out."
Zhao Dongmei was taken aback, and one hand subconsciously began to rub the area below her shoulder again.
She said awkwardly, "It's nothing, it's just an old problem. I feel uncomfortable whenever I feed the baby."
In recent years, she has been either pregnant or taking care of her child, and her nutrition has been inadequate. She has many uncomfortable symptoms, and the symptoms in her chest are something she finds difficult to talk about.
She didn't know if other women who had many children experienced the same thing as her: their breasts became wrinkled and oozing black fluid, with lumps when touched, and pain everywhere they touched. Now, it wasn't just her breasts that hurt; many parts of her body ached.
Song Lubai disliked her having children recklessly and turning herself into a grotesque mess. She said, "If you don't have money, I'll lend you some. Go to the hospital and get checked out. Nothing is more important than your health."
Song Lubai wasn't just saying it; he immediately took out five yuan from his pocket and handed it to her.
"Keep the money safe and don't waste it on others. Whether you want to take care of your own health is up to you."
Zhao Dongmei looks sick now. Song Lubai thinks that if things go according to the dream, if she is sick and doesn't get treatment, she won't live for many more years.
If Zhao Dongmei dies, it will be so pitiful to leave behind a bunch of children. A man like Feng Xiaolong is biased by nature, and he certainly won't treat his non-biological son and daughter well.
Zhao Dongmei didn't know whether she should accept the money or not. She hadn't caused any trouble in the past few years and had kept to herself with Song Lubai. She never expected that Song Lubai would lend her money.
Seeing her hesitation, Song Lubai said bluntly, "If not for yourself, you have to think about your child. If you can't keep going, no one will be good to your child. You've been having children for the past few years. You know what kind of life you've been living with so many children. If you've thought it through, get an IUD and don't have any more children."
Song Lubai said no more and went into the courtyard of the food workshop.
Zhao Dongmei adjusted her position, holding the child in a more comfortable position.
She was in pain all over her body, and looking at the baby smacking his lips in her arms, she clutched the five yuan tightly.
She should go to the hospital to get checked out.
Last year, the workshop pickled a batch of green beans. Although it made money, the quantity was small, so they didn't actually earn much.
This year we've added a few more varieties, with more pickled items than last year, but not by much. We're selling them as a side dish, adding another option.
When Deng Hong saw Song Lubai arrive, she pulled her into a small office and said, "Do you know, Yu Lin is going back to the division headquarters."
Yu Lin's return to the division headquarters means that the position of group leader will be vacant.
Song Lubai had known about it a few days ago, but this was not something that could be rushed.
She wasn't in a hurry at all. She had attended meetings at the division headquarters and participated in accounting training in Shicheng, obtaining a college diploma. She had also had articles published in newspapers in recent years, and her food workshop's performance was outstanding. Unless the division headquarters sent another Yu Lin, what right did anyone have to surpass her?
Deng Hong said shyly in a low voice, "When you become the team leader, can you let me into the office?"
For the past few years, Deng Hong has remained an "unofficial" staff member.
Although she was quite dissatisfied and often complained, there were no vacant seats in the office, the organization wouldn't allow more people to be added, and Wu Jianying didn't ask for special privileges, so she had no choice but to accept it.
Song Lubai said, "No matter who becomes the group leader, I will try my best to help you."
Deng Hong has indeed worked diligently these past few years, and she deserves to be in the office.
Yu Lin is indeed leaving. At the meeting on Monday, Yu Lin publicly suggested that Song Lubai become the group leader.
Although Song Lubai is younger than Yang Xiue, she has made significant contributions, is quick-witted, has a respectable academic background, and is skilled at writing documents. Overall, Yu Lin felt that Song Lubai was more qualified than Yang Xiue, so there was no difficult choice at all.
Apart from Feng Gang, no one else had any objections.
We have meetings every week, and we've been meeting together for years. Who doesn't know Song Lubai's abilities?
Feng Gang's face fell. As he pondered how to recommend Yang Xiu'e, Yang Xiu'e herself spoke up:
“I strongly agree with Comrade Yu’s suggestion. Everyone has witnessed Xiao Song’s abilities. She is responsible, quick-witted, and very familiar with our shoemaking team. She is the perfect candidate to be the team leader. I believe that under Xiao Song’s leadership, our business office will get better and better.”
Yang Xiue was saying this to Feng Gang.
She was afraid that Feng Gang would make a fool of himself again, causing her to lose face as well.
Feng Gang shut up completely.
This woman is useless and always sucks up to others. If he objects, this stupid woman will say he is narrow-minded and a petty person!
And so Song Lubai became the team leader.
Yu Lin's desk, which was in the best spot by the window in the office, has now become Song Lubai's.
After Yu Lin finished handing over his work, he had to go to the city that afternoon.
Before leaving, Yu Lin said, "The 16th Regiment is considered a model company in our division. Wei Yang will be promoted sooner or later, and who knows, we might even meet again at the division headquarters in the future."
Song Lubai smiled and said, "Then I will continue to work under you and work with you. I can learn something from you, and I will feel at ease."
This isn't flattery; their collaboration was indeed quite pleasant. Whenever she made a suggestion, Yu Lin would always be the first to agree after considering it. It was also Yu Lin's idea for her to show her face to the division leaders before.
Song Lubai was truly reluctant to see such a supportive leader leave.
Yu Lin smiled and said, "We've helped each other out. Thanks to you, I've also been promoted. See you later."
Although I'm reluctant to leave, I've been promoted and my salary has increased, which is something to be happy about.
When Wei Yang arrived home around 8 o'clock, he had already slaughtered the chicken.
The two daughters ran up to Song Lubai to congratulate her on becoming the group leader.
Song Lubai's family was filled with joy and happiness, while the atmosphere at Feng Gang's family home was tense.
Because of Yu Qiaoqiao, Yang Xiu'e had long since separated from Feng Gang, sleeping in separate beds and eating in separate pots, and no longer washing his clothes.
Although the two still live under the same roof, their relationship has broken down.
Provoked by today's events, the two had an unprecedentedly fierce argument.
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