Chapter 138
Inside the old house of the Wu family.
Grandma Wu sat on the sofa crocheting socks, and every few minutes she couldn't help but glance out the door.
"Don't read it. I guess he won't be back until tonight." Grandpa Wu said, staring at the newspaper.
"Just wait and see. Youyan will definitely come back crying." Grandma Wu threw down her crochet hook and complained, "Zhengrong is getting more and more ridiculous as he grows older. How can the miniature train be the same as a real train? The miniature train only takes more than ten minutes to get off. Wouldn't the child be even more upset if he didn't see his mother at Beijing Station?"
A two-kilometer-long railway track has been laid in the Binjiang Children's Park. The train departs from "Binjiang Station", passes through "Shanhai Pass", and arrives at "Beijing Station".
A children's train has fulfilled the dreams of many children to go to Beijing.
Today is the weekend, and Wu Zhengrong took Youyan out in the morning to ride the train at the children's park.
Grandpa Wu said, "Didn't you stop him when he took the child out?"
"I was thinking that Youyan's birthday is tomorrow, and taking a train ride would make her happy. But the more I thought about it, the more I felt something was wrong. Zhengrong said he would take her to Beijing by train, and Youyan thought she could go to Beijing to see her mother. She even asked for dumplings this morning and packed her own luggage..."
Their family is used to celebrating birthdays according to the lunar calendar, but Wu Yuzhuo's birthday is July 1st according to the solar calendar.
Because it is the same day as the Party’s birthday, it has commemorative significance. For the past two years, her family has been celebrating her birthday according to the Gregorian calendar.
The fourth birthday should have been a happy occasion for the child, who thought she could go to Beijing to reunite with her mother. However, her father tricked her into riding a children's train.
Just by imagining the scene, Grandma Wu felt sad for her great-granddaughter.
Grandpa Wu was annoyed by her nagging and took off his reading glasses to comfort her: "Youyan is very clever now. She may not be fooled by her father. Don't worry about it."
While the old couple was worried at home, young comrade Wu Yuzhuo ran in from outside carrying a round paper box.
As soon as he entered the door, he shouted "Grandpa and Grandma".
Grandma Wu hurriedly agreed and turned back to observe her situation. Grandpa Wu also put down the newspaper and carefully observed the child's expression.
Seeing that he didn't look like he had been crying, the old couple felt relieved.
"Grandma! My dad bought me a cream cake!" Young Comrade Wu Yuzhuo showed the paper box to the old lady like a treasure. "The two of us, along with my aunt, let's eat it together!"
The grandfather and grandson went to the dinner table to open the cake box. Grandpa Wu looked at his grandson walking behind and asked, "Youyan didn't cry because you didn't see Xiaoye, did you?"
"No, you've been teaching her to read quite well," Wu Zhengrong put down his schoolbag and sat on the sofa. "I had just walked her to the park entrance when she realized something was wrong."
Above the park gate hangs a huge sign that reads "Children's Park," with Chinese pinyin written below to keep up with the times.
Comrade Wu Yuzhuo, who was about to turn four, soon discovered that he had been deceived.
Grandpa Wu was quite proud of his teaching achievements and asked with a smile, "Did Youyan get angry with you?"
"It's a commotion. But she's not stupid."
Wu Zhengrong thought of the confrontation at the park entrance that morning and couldn't help but smile.
Wu Yuzhuo had a large military water bottle slung over his left side and his small schoolbag slung over his right side. It was said that he was squatting at the park gate, pouting and sulking, when he went to the park to ride the train.
Seeing tears welling up in her eyes, Wu Zhengrong explained, "Mom will be back in three days, and it takes nearly two days to get to Beijing by train. By the time we get to Beijing, Mom will have already boarded the train home."
Wu Yuzhuo squatted on the ground and thought for a while, then wiped away his tears with the back of his hand. His long eyelashes, which were exactly the same as his father's, fluttered wetly.
"Can I still eat dumplings then?"
Wu Zhengrong: “…”
How can this be all you can do!
"You can eat and ride a miniature train. The train is almost the same as a real train. When you get to Beijing, you can take pictures at Beijing Railway Station. My mom has also taken pictures at Beijing Railway Station."
"Then can I eat cream popsicles and drink soda?" Comrade Wu Yuzhuo asked again.
Brother Cheche gave her a bite of a cream popsicle, but the weather was a bit cold at the time, and she coughed for two days after eating it.
I never ate popsicles again after that.
"Can."
Wu Zhengrong is quite tolerant towards his daughter who will be celebrating her fourth birthday tomorrow.
Since mom can't come back to celebrate her birthday with her, dad can fulfill her every wish.
So, the little birthday girl Wu Yuzhuo not only took the train, ate popsicles and drank soda, and played in the park for most of the day, but was also taken to the Friendship Store by her father to buy a small cream cake.
Nowadays, the city is still using a high-price policy for cakes and bread. A small piece of cream cake costs four yuan, which can buy several pots of steamed bread.
Wu Yuzhuo ran to wash his hands, then leaned his elbows on the dining table, staring at the pink flowers on the small cake, reluctant to eat it.
She used her fingertips to pick up a little bit of the white cream next to her, licked it, and winked at her grandmother with joy.
"Is it delicious?" Grandma Wu asked. "Didn't you cry outside today?"
"No," Wu Yuzhuo denied that he had cried. He scooped a spoonful of cream with a spoon and handed it to his grandmother. "I'm taking the train to Beijing. There are a lot of children on the train."
She treated riding the train as playing house. She studied the map of Beijing and ate dumplings on the train. After getting off the train, she saw the sign for "Beijing Station".
It feels like I really went to Beijing.
My only regret is that I didn’t get to see my mother.
*
Ye Manzhi returned to Binjiang three days later.
Her business trip to Beijing this time, including the time spent on the road, lasted only about ten days in total.
She was busy in the capital, eating and drinking well, and living a carefree life. It felt like the days passed in a flash.
But her little girl felt that time was particularly long. She hugged her mother's neck as if she hadn't seen her for several years.
Ye Manzhi cupped her daughter's cheeks and kissed her several times, then patted her on the back and said, "Mom has brought you a gift. Look for it in your bag."
This time she accompanied her leader on a business trip and received a travel allowance of 90 cents per day, in addition to national food coupons and industrial coupons.
She had been busy taking care of Xia Zhuyun during her illness, so Xia Zhuyun gave her her industrial voucher.
Ye Manzhi used the travel allowance to buy a pair of lambskin shoes for her mother, and two little skirts and a pair of new leather shoes for her daughter.
The skirt was bought according to the size of the older child. She could come back and have the size altered herself. Even if her daughter grew taller, there was no need to worry, as the two skirts could be worn for several years.
Little Wu Yuzhuo took out a pair of red leather shoes from his bag, stared at the bow on the shoes, and exclaimed, "Wow!"
"Haha, doesn't it look good?" Ye Manzhi was quite satisfied with her taste. "I picked this out in Wangfujing. The salesperson said it was from Shanghai. I think the style is indeed more fashionable than here."
Little Wu Yuzhuo ran around the house twice in his new shoes, then took them off and put them away carefully.
"Baby, put on your new shoes now."
The new shoes Ye Manzhi bought for her child were only half a size larger. She estimated that the child would need to change the size after wearing it for a year at most.
In this case, the shoes should definitely be worn as many times as possible; it is only cost-effective to wear them every day.
Wu Yuzhuo shook his head and said, "I'll wear it before I go to bed at night."
"..." Wu Zhengrong tapped her forehead, "How can you wear shoes while sleeping? What a weird thing!"
"Yiyi is wearing a new pair of sandals! She said she wears them to sleep at night!"
Ye Manzhi: “…”
The Zhou family next door has four children. Yi Yi is the youngest girl. She has to pick up her older brothers and sisters' clothes and shoes to wear. Of course, she feels very precious when she finally gets a pair of new shoes.
But there was only Wu Yuzhuo in their family, so he couldn't even pick up the older children's shoes.
Although there are only two pairs of shoes, they are both new.
It's really not necessary to wear shoes when sleeping.
Despite this, Comrade Wu Yuzhuo, who received the beautiful new shoes, still put the shoes next to her little bed and placed the new skirt neatly next to her pillow.
Then, I didn’t even listen to the daily entertainment program “Little Trumpet” radio, and went to bed before eight o’clock.
I just look forward to getting up early tomorrow morning and wearing my new shoes and new skirt to go to kindergarten.
Ye Manzhi: “…”
The size of the skirt hasn't been changed yet.
never mind.
She helped her daughter turn off the lights, closed the door, and walked out of the room.
It is very friendly for adults if children go to bed early.
The couple felt like they were newlyweds after a short separation. When the lights-out signal blew, they had just finished a set of gymnastics.
Ye Manzhi lay on the man, and after her breathing stabilized, she picked at the bulge in front of her and told him about her experiences in Beijing.
"Xiu Lan knitted two small sweaters for our baby and gave me a box of hairpins and hair ornaments. She said she made them herself during her free time. The workmanship looks quite fine, on par with those sold in department stores."
"Yeah." Wu Zhengrong held down her moving fingers to stop her from scratching.
Ye Manzhi freed his hand and continued digging, then asked, "Do you know Cheng Xuesong? I heard he's the son of our father's old comrade-in-arms."
"I've heard of it, but I haven't seen it."
Wu Zhengrong has never lived with his parents and is not familiar with their circle of friends.
Ye Manzhi recounted what she had seen that day and said to him, "I think Cheng Xuesong's family background is just okay; in other respects, he's no match for Xiu Lan. But our Xiu Lan's family background isn't bad either. Why would she settle for being with a man like that? Xiu Lan doesn't like him, and he actually went to the workplace to block her!"
Wu Zhengrong frowned. He didn't have a good impression of Cheng Xuesong, and he didn't want to talk about this topic in bed.
He was getting irritated by the touching, so he grabbed the two plump and soft petals and squeezed in again.
Then he sealed her sighing lips and whispered to her, "I'll call Commander Wu tomorrow. Just worry about me and the child, and don't meddle in other people's affairs."
Ye Manyi nodded and obediently stopped mentioning outsiders.
*
She felt as if she had walked on water for half the night, and when she went to work the next day, she could still recall the bumpy and seasick feeling.
Ye Manzhi calmed down and went to the office to cancel leave for herself and Xia Ting.
Then I took out the manuscript paper and wrote a work summary of my trip to Beijing.
She accompanied her leader to a political work meeting, and there was actually nothing to summarize.
But she found a reporter from Guangming Daily to discuss the inter-provincial competition and also asked Xia Zhuyun to be interviewed.
There is still something to write about this matter.
After Qi Li finished the interview that day, she was unable to publish their news in the newspaper immediately.
The group waited for two days, and just as they were about to leave Beijing, they saw an article in the newspaper titled "Who Dares to Take on Such a Competition?"
Ye Manzhi unzipped her backpack, took out the newspaper, and read the news again.
The news focused on several innovative ideas in this socialist production competition.
For example, if we only select companies that produce a single product to participate in the competition, it can be two companies or several companies in two provinces or cities, and they can sign a competition agreement for the production of the same product.
For example, both sides could send personnel to exchange technology, promote technological innovation, and practice basic skills. After the competition, they could hold an exhibition comparing actual products and relevant indicators.
In addition, Xia Zhuyun emphasized in the interview that each enterprise should form a four-in-one team headed by the party committee secretary, factory director, engineer, and veteran workers. They should not only learn technology, but also learn advanced ideas, styles, and management experience.
Ye Manzhi felt that this competition still had some new highlights, but he didn't know if there were any companies in Beijing willing to take the initiative.
Department Xia has already reached a cooperation intention with comrades from the Tianjin Industrial Bureau. If Beijing can also join in, the industrial production competition between the three provinces and cities will definitely be very interesting.
Ye Manzhi opened the desk calendar and folded the footer of the page for the day after tomorrow, reminding herself to call the Beijing Office when the time comes to see how many companies have contacted the Beijing Office to register.
She and Xia Zhujun had been gone for about ten days, and there was a lot of work left to be done in the unit. There was a huge pile of documents waiting for Director Xia's signature.
Ye Manzhi was busy with her leader for the whole morning and it was a little late when she went to the cafeteria for lunch.
When she was looking for a seat with her lunch box, she saw Peng Jiayin waving at her.
"Sister Jiayin, how are you doing lately? Is the tenth anniversary essay contest over?"
"No," Peng Jiayin whispered. "The office has been bustling while you've been away. We've just completed the personnel adjustments in the Chemical and Light Industry Department."
After becoming the secretary of the deputy director, Ye Manzhi was strictly speaking a member of the Party Committee Office, but Peng Jiayin still habitually classified her as part of the Chemical and Light Industry Department.
Ye Manzhi had been busy for more than half a month and had long forgotten about the personnel adjustments in the Chemical and Light Industry Department.
Hearing her mention it now, he hurriedly asked, "How is it? Can I call him Director Zhao now?"
"Don't yell at him when you see him!" Peng Jiayin warned, "Our Section Chief Zhao's position remains unchanged. Director Qin is in poor health and is nearing retirement, so he voluntarily withdrew from the selection for director. This time, Director Shao has filled Director Xia's position, but our section chief didn't get promoted. The new deputy director is Section Chief Lu of the General Affairs Section."
Ye Manzhi: “!!!”
Zhao Guilin was Xia Zhuyun's first pawn, but he failed in this personnel adjustment?
Is this a big upset?
"He really didn't become deputy director?"
"Well, I've been afraid to speak in the office lately."
Zhao Guilin failed to be promoted to deputy director, and the other people in Comprehensive Section 3 were also unable to move.
The atmosphere in the whole office is very weird
Peng Jiayin knew that he could not compete with He Ping and Wang Qin, so he originally pinned his hopes on the adjustment after Director Qin retired.
However, this time Zhao Guilin was unsuccessful, and no one in the three comprehensive subjects made any progress, which made her future a little unclear.
Peng Jiayin looked at Ye Manyi with envy.
She didn't know that Ye Manzhi got the secretary job by herself, and could only sigh again that Xiao Ye was so lucky to be personally appointed by Director Xia and jump out of the Comprehensive Three Departments, where there was a vast world outside.
Because Ye Manzhi knew the result of the personnel adjustment from Peng Jiayin, when he saw Zhao Guilin at the door of the secretary's office in the afternoon, he did not call out "Director Zhao".
Zhao Guilin still had the same cheerful look as before, and his eyes narrowed to just slits when he smiled.
I don’t know if it’s a psychological effect, but Ye Manzhi always feels that the other person has a sense of vicissitudes of life.
She stood up from behind the desk and called out "Section Chief" as before.
Zhao Guilin smiled and said, "Xiao Ye, is the leader busy now? I want to report a work to the leader. Can you help me inform him?"
"Mr. Xia has already said that you don't need to announce your arrival. Just knock on the door and come in."
After all, he was once the most popular person, so the treatment he received in front of Xia Ting must be different.
Ye Manzhi said this to comfort Zhao Guilin.
Although he failed to become the deputy director, he held an extraordinary position in the leader's heart.
She felt that the reason why Zhao Guilin was so unlucky was probably because of the involvement of He Ping and Wang Qin.
There are four people in a department, and three of them have been reported in recent months.
How will outsiders view the three comprehensive subjects in such a chaotic environment?
What do you think of Zhao Guilin, the section chief?
He and Section Chief Lu are on equal footing. They started from similar points, and there is no one holding him back, so he is definitely more favored by the organization.
Ye Manzhi felt sorry for Zhao Guilin in her heart, took tea leaves and a thermos, and went into the office to make tea for the guest.
After Xia Zhujun became the deputy director, he treated his old subordinates more gently than before.
When Ye Manzhi poured tea for Zhao Guilin, she was talking about the personnel adjustment issue.
"Guilin, your work ability is unquestionable. I emphasized this point when I recommended you to the department. But it's not enough for you to just handle the business. You also have to manage the department. A department with only four or five people is full of leaks. How can you expect the organization to trust you with this responsibility?"
Zhao Guilin narrowed his eyes and smiled: "Leader, I will definitely learn from this lesson and strengthen management in the future so that everyone can focus their energy on socialist construction."
"No need for formalities," Xia Zhujun waved her hand. "Let me be clear: the department intends to abolish Comprehensive Section 2 and establish a Provincial Textile Industry Company, a multi-faceted company. Furthermore, the leather business of Comprehensive Section 3 may also be separated to form the Provincial Leather Industry Company. At that time, all leather and shoe factories in the province will be directly under the Provincial Leather Company, managing the entire province's leather and fur products industry."
"Really?" Zhao Guilin's eyes flashed.
"Yes. By then, the heads of these two companies will most likely be transferred from our department. You..."
Before Xia Zhujun could finish her words, Zhao Guilin promised, "Leader, I will complete my work according to plan and proceed with caution when I return. I will definitely not embarrass you this time!"
Ye Manzhi went out carrying the thermos, thinking that she should not feel sorry for Section Chief Zhao.
If I could really become the top or second in command in a provincial textile industry company or a leather industry company, it would definitely be better than being a deputy director in the Industry Department.
There are less than twenty people in the entire Chemical and Light Industry Department. Even if you become a deputy director, you still have directors and department heads above you, several layers of superiors.
But when he became a manager at Quanneng Company, he had hundreds of people under him and was able to manage all the directly affiliated enterprises and industries in the province.
Ye Manzhi was sitting in the secretary's office, thinking about something. When Zhao Guilin came out of the leader's office, he looked full of energy, and the sense of vicissitudes on his body was strangely gone.
She envied Section Chief Zhao in her heart and admired Xia Zhuyun at the same time.
Just a few words and a piece of news can make the former first pawn regain his vitality and become more loyal.
Why.
Ye Manzhi quickly took out the manuscript paper and wrote a speech for the leader.
She also has to perform well and learn from the ready-made role model Zhao Guilin!
*
Unlike the last time Director Guo was transferred, the news that the Department of Industry was going to set up two all-round companies did not spread widely this time.
At least no one came rushing over to ask what was going on.
The hot topic in the department recently is "how to spend eight hours."
The director held a meeting for all cadres, requiring everyone to revolutionize their spare time. Recently, he has been asking comrades to discuss how to spend their spare time.
Ye Manzhi is now an office worker, and she has to attend office meetings and discussions.
However, there is really nothing much to say about everyone's spare time after get off work.
There is not much entertainment at the moment, so watching a movie or listening to the radio is enough for entertainment.
Most people go home to cook, eat and take care of their children.
Ye Manzhi has a relatively rich spare time life. She joined the agency dance team and dances twice a week.
Besides, it was a bit interesting to have sex with her husband, Dr. Wu, but this kind of thing was not acceptable in public and she couldn't talk about it.
A few people gathered together and had a short, dry meeting, but no one could make sense of it.
Finally, Director Xie gave a closing speech, suggesting that everyone make their spare time more fulfilling and meaningful.
Study, engage in cultural entertainment, exercise, visit parks, take walks, in any case, be full of revolutionary vigor.
Ye Manzhi didn't understand how taking a walk or visiting the park could be so revolutionary, so she went home that day and took her whole family, cats and dogs for a walk after dinner.
She originally thought that this kind of thing would only be promoted once, but within two days, the Party Committee Office suddenly issued a document requiring everyone to respond to the call of the Provincial Party Committee and travel on rivers, lakes and seas with the general public!
The cadres and staff of the department must train their bodies and willpower in the wind and waves and against the current!
Ye Manzhi was dumbfounded and asked, "Director Xie, what does it mean to travel across rivers, lakes, and seas?"
"It means swimming in rivers, lakes, and seas! For us, it means swimming in Binjiang! Now that the weather is getting warmer, the department should respond to the Provincial Party Committee's call and participate in the 'Cross-Binjiang Swimming Competition'!" Director Xie asked, holding a notebook. "Our department is organizing a Women's Swimming Team to participate in the provincial competition. Xiaoye, do you want to sign up?"
Ye Manzhi: “…”
Although she can swim, the river is so wide that she is afraid she doesn't have the strength to cross it successfully!
However, when Secretary Xiao Ye heard that Xia Ting had taken the lead in signing up and was going to be the captain of the March 8th Women's Swimming Team, she, who was determined to learn from Zhao Guilin, immediately decided to risk her life to accompany the gentleman and signed up for herself.
This time, her spare time can finally be revolutionized!
When Wu Zhengrong learned that she was going to cross the Binjiang River, he enthusiastically developed a swimming training plan for her.
He also inquired about the location of the military academy's swimming pool, planning to accompany her to the swimming pool for training every day in order to successfully swim across the river.
Of course, little Wu Yuzhuo, who couldn't swim yet, was also taken to the pool by his parents to soak.
Ye Manzhi was deeply touched by Dr. Wu's thoughtful gesture.
You should know that Wu Zhengrong is the deputy director of the institute and is very busy in his spare time, often having to work overtime at the company.
She was so moved by the man that she took the initiative to adjust her schedule to two days on and one day off, and she has not had a day off in the past week.
However, after work that day, she picked up her little girl from kindergarten, took their swimsuits, and went to the swimming pool of the military academy together.
As soon as I walked through the gate, I saw a notice on the wall with black words on a red background -
[Conquer the rivers, lakes, and seas! Conquer all difficulties! Conquer all enemies!]
[Carry forward the fearless revolutionary spirit and hone your will and skills amidst the storms!]
Our troops must practice aquatic combat with a strong awareness of the enemy situation...
Ye Manzhi: “…”
What does it mean?
The 1062 Institute is also considered part of "our army", right?
Does that bastard Wu Zhengrong also have to conquer rivers, lakes and seas?
Who is accompanying whom between them?
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