Chapter 69
Ye Manzhi was promoted to deputy director of the street office on the day of her wedding, which was definitely a pleasant surprise for the Ye family.
Chang Yue'e added two more meat dishes to the already sumptuous dinner, filling up the entire table to celebrate the couple's wedding.
Compared to getting married, she was actually more pleased to see her daughter become an official.
Chang Yue'e was really happy and took charge of all the subsequent wedding arrangements. She claimed that she would discuss anything with Wu Xiaogu, and let her daughter and son-in-law concentrate on their work and contribute to the cause of socialism!
All the two young people have to do is show up on the wedding day.
Wu Zhengrong, heavily intoxicated by his father-in-law and three uncles, staggered out of Yue's house, whispering to Ye Manzhi, "Marrying Director Xiao Ye has brought me some benefits."
It's not like he had never seen parents spoiling their children, but this was the first time he had experienced it himself. He could be said to have been influenced by the love that the parents had for their children.
"It's good that you know! You've really gotten a great deal by marrying me! Look how much my parents love you!"
The night was all around them. Ye Manzhi took advantage of the darkness to quietly hold his hand. Noticing his palm was burning hot, she couldn't help but complain, "My dad is such a jerk! Why did he let you drink so much again?"
"My dad was kind enough to let me walk out of the house today," Wu Zhengrong said in a serious tone. "If our daughter brings her son-in-law home in the future, I'll get the whole company to drink with him."
Ye Manzhi nudged him with her elbow and asked, "Where did you get your daughter?"
"I've already got a wife, so I'll always have a daughter." Wu Zhengrong pinched her fingertips and asked, "Are you cold wearing these? Come home with me for a while?"
Ye Manzhi is wearing a shirt and skirt today. It is still a bit cold to wear a skirt on an early summer night.
"My mom asked me to go home early!"
The two had just received their marriage certificate, and Ye Manzhi actually wanted to spend some time alone with him, but she was really afraid of Chang Yue'e. If she went back too late, she would definitely meet her meaningful and disappointed gaze again.
However, the military representative comrade was so handsome under the warm yellow street light. It would be a pity if there was not even a kiss on the wedding day.
Ye Manzhi was torn between his conscience and his conscience for a long time, and hesitated, "I can only stay for a short while!"
The newlyweds returned home under the cover of night.
The light wasn't on yet, and Ye Manzhi kicked something as he entered the door, making a loud bang.
"What did you pile up by the door?"
"It wasn't me who put it there. It was probably a gift from my colleagues in the Military Representative Office. They knew I was getting married today."
Wu Zhengrong couldn't find the light switch, so he simply picked up the person and walked into the room in the dark.
The skin exposed outside the skirt was a little cold. When the hot palm touched her calf, Ye Manyi shivered from the heat. She couldn't help but hug his neck tighter and instinctively searched for his lips.
The entanglement of lips and tongues, the wet, hot and soft touch made the man's scalp swell, and his muscles tensed up. He instinctively wanted to carry the person to the new bed.
Ye Manzhi tightened her legs slightly around his waist and tried to stop him vaguely, "My mom said I can't sit on the bed before the wedding!"
"Where is this custom from?"
"It's from here."
In fact, Chang Yue'e's original words were that outsiders were not allowed to sit on the newlyweds' bed, but Ye Manzhi felt panicky when she thought of that bed, and she didn't dare to lie down on it today.
Wu Zhengrong didn't know how to talk about the complicated wedding customs, but he was willing to follow her wishes for good luck, so he turned around and sat in the chair, holding the warmth in his arms and continued to explore.
Ye Manzhi pressed tightly against his broad chest, her upper jaw numbed by the licking, saliva overflowing from the corners of her lips and quickly swept away, the wet licking sound drilling into her ears, making her tremble uncontrollably.
She wrapped her arms around his neck tightly, panting hard, "I can't breathe..."
"Um."
The man obediently let go of her, his warm lips sliding across her jaw and kissing her neck inch by inch. Ye Manyi couldn't help but hum softly, her legs unconsciously tightened, and her whole body was steaming hot.
When the breath wanted to continue moving downward, it unexpectedly encountered an obstruction.
"What are you wearing?" he asked, looking up from the softness.
"You're well-read, aren't you? How come you don't even know this?"
Wu Zhengrong chuckled: "Which book teaches this?"
Ye Manzhi shivered slightly from the heat of his breath. She held his head and calmed down for a while. She thought that he would know sooner or later, so she whispered a few words in his ear.
"Su style what?" Wu Zhengrong thought he had misheard and couldn't help but confirm again.
"It doesn't matter if I didn't hear clearly."
Hearing this, the man picked her up and planned to turn on the light to take a closer look.
Ye Manzhi quickly grabbed hold of him and stopped him: "You are not allowed to turn on the light!"
Worried that he might still want to turn on the light to observe, she had no choice but to lean on his shoulder and repeat it in a low voice.
Wu Zhengrong was silent for a while, then lowered his head and kissed her soft flesh. He said with a smile, "It's quite descriptive, but why is it named 'Su-style bra'..."
Ye Manzhi covered his mouth in shame: "Why are you talking so loudly? This name is not mine, everyone calls it that..."
"Well, the Soviet Union is indeed quite advanced," the man touched the hook of the cloth, "even the breasts..."
He was stopped by a soft palm again in the middle of his words, and he obediently changed his words: "Even the hooks for clothes like this are made of fine steel."
"Your focus is strange."
"If I were focused on something else, you wouldn't have to go back tonight."
Wu Zhengrong didn't touch the steel hook again. He hugged her and kissed her greedily for a while, then let her go with a sigh and got up to turn on the light.
"Put on your clothes, I'll take you home."
Ye Manzhi's face flushed red. She turned back to adjust her shirt and skirt, then turned around and said, "Give me the cardigan you have."
Wu Zhengrong was staring at a darkening green spot on the fabric on his thigh in a daze. Hearing this, he glanced at the confused girl and raised his hand to rub his face hard a few times.
He took a deep breath and handed over the coat.
*
When the couple went out again, it was almost lights-out time.
On the way back to Ye's house, I happened to meet a few patrolling soldiers.
When Ye Manzhi saw him returning the gifts to the young soldiers, she knew that he wanted to act like a serious person outside, so she mistook his distraction for silence.
After the patrol left, he went to hold the other person's hand in a clingy manner.
Wu Zhengrong squeezed her fingertips hard, trying not to think about the wetness on his thighs, and diverting his thoughts away from the warm and soft jade.
"Director Mu has become District Chief Mu, and you're going to be working with Director Zhang. How did you two get along?"
"Not very good. He always found fault with me before. I was actually quite nervous about being his deputy director."
"I don't think he'll do that again," Wu Zhengrong reassured her. "He must have voted in favor of you becoming deputy director. Since he agreed, the comrades in the team should always give each other some respect. He's unlikely to find fault with you like he did before."
Ye Manzhi's eyes widened in disbelief. "Zhang Qinjian would vote for me? How is that possible?"
"He's the new director. The Organization Department will definitely consult his opinion on the selection of deputy director. If he strongly objects, a young cadre like you might not be able to become deputy director."
In fact, it is easy to understand why Zhang Qinjian voted in favor.
Among the current staff in Guangming Street, there is no candidate suitable to be the deputy director, so the district must transfer someone from other units.
The comrade who can be sent by the district to serve as deputy director should be close to him in age and may also have some background connections.
Zhang Qinjian may not be able to control such a deputy director.
Rather than having a stranger who doesn't know his own limits, it would be better to let Ye Manzhi be the deputy director.
Ye Manzhi is young and will not be promoted in the short term after becoming the deputy director.
The key is that she is very enterprising in her work, and Mulan has benefited from this and been promoted to the district.
If Zhang Qinjian was a smart person, he should have formed a good team with Ye Manzhi. No matter who made the achievements, the first beneficiary would be him, the director who was responsible for all the work.
Ye Manzhi pondered his words, and her resistance to Zhang Qinjian eased a little.
"According to what you said, we can still get along well."
"Of course. While you're learning how to be deputy director, he's also having to adjust to being director. He's probably thinking about how to get along with you right now."
When entering the building, Ye Manzhi's spirit had completely relaxed. She smiled and waved her hand: "I'm going upstairs, you should go back quickly."
Having to stay alone in the empty room after returning home, Wu Zhengrong sighed silently, pulled his new wife over, and kissed her twice.
"Alright, alright," Ye Manzhi raised her head to accept his kiss, and said insincerely, "Why are you so clingy!"
She actually likes to get close to the military representative.
But they had just explored some unknown areas today, which made her heart beat wildly when they were kissing each other. If the other party heard it, she would be the one who was embarrassed.
Ye Manzhi coaxed the person away and went home to toss and turn in bed.
Sometimes she thought of Wu Zhengrong, sometimes she thought of the trip to visit relatives after the wedding. Her laughter made the sleepy Ye Lihua meow, and she covered her furry face with her paws.
Ye Manzhi apologized to the kitten, then tried to calm herself down. Thinking about Zhang Qinjian's old face, she finally calmed down and fell asleep peacefully.
*
When he went to work the next day, Deputy Director Xiao Ye was in high spirits and his whole body was filled with joy.
Just as the military representative said, Zhang Qinjian seemed to be adapting to his new identity.
When talking to her, he looked much more amiable.
"For now, we'll continue with our previous division of labor. Once the vacancies are filled, we'll restructure the division." Zhang Qinjian handed her an account book and an aluminum lunch box. "Financial work has always been the responsibility of the deputy director. This is our unit's funds. You'll take over and keep it safe."
Ye Manzhi did not refuse and took it happily, then checked the accounts with him one by one.
"Okay, I'll take care of our office expenses first. I'll try to continue the director's tradition of being frugal and thrifty, increasing revenue and reducing expenditure."
Zhang Qinjian took a sip of tea and said slowly, "New people, new atmosphere. We are both newly appointed leaders and we want to bring refreshing changes to Guangming Street. However, work still requires people. The Street Office currently has three staff vacancies, and we need to fill them as soon as possible. We will recruit these three people ourselves. What do you think, Director Xiao Ye?"
He felt that young people like Ye Manzhi had just been recruited not long ago, so they should be sensible about personnel matters and not interfere too much.
However, before becoming deputy director, Ye Manzhi recruited workers and supply and marketing agents for the coal furnace factory, and she had her own ideas on employment issues.
"Director, leaving aside other tasks, I have no objection to hiring young graduates or experienced veterans. However, regarding welfare work, I think we should find someone with experience in this area to replace Wei Zhen."
“…”
"Sister Wei has laid a solid foundation for our welfare work, which is a major feature of our Guangming Subdistrict Office. I believe we should continue this strength by recruiting someone with outstanding abilities and experience in this area. There should be clear requirements for candidates for this position: first, extensive grassroots work experience; second, relevant work experience and understanding of the city's welfare and relief policies; and third, preferably, previous awards for welfare work."
Zhang Qinjian pondered her words, put down his teacup, and asked, "Director Xiao Ye, do you have a suitable candidate?"
"I can recommend someone, but she's doing quite well in her previous position. I'm not sure if she'd be happy to come." Ye Manzhi didn't give him a chance to interrupt and continued, "This comrade is a classmate of mine from the grassroots cadre training class. Her name is Lang Qinghong. She's a female cadre in her thirties, in the prime of her life, and currently works in Beijiang Town. Like Sister Wei, Lang Qinghong was also recognized as an advanced individual in her county last year for her work in welfare."
Zhang Qinjian frowned, blew away the tea leaves, and pondered without saying anything.
Welfare work is also one of the key tasks of the street office.
However, this kind of work is usually carried out step by step according to the city's policies, and it is difficult to achieve particularly outstanding results.
It is rare to find someone like Wei Zhen who was transferred to the district with the help of a nursing home.
Ye Manzhi waited for a while, and when he didn't express his opinion, she continued, "Apart from this candidate, I don't have any other talents to recommend. Other candidates will have to rely on job postings and recommendations from acquaintances."
In other words, she only wants this one spot.
She would not interfere in the selection of the other two vacancies.
Zhang Qinjian thought for a while. The two of them had just formed a team, and Ye Manzhi was the deputy director. If none of the three vacancies were given to her, it would indeed affect their newly harmonious relationship.
"I just don't know what Comrade Lang's family situation is like. Can her family arrange for her to be transferred from a township to a city street office?"
"I'm not really sure about her family situation. I'll have to call and ask."
Lang Qinghong's lover was transferred to work at the Municipal Hospital at the beginning of the year, and Sister Lang had long wanted to find a way to move to the city.
However, transferring from a township to work in the city not only involves job transfer, but also changes in household registration and food relations.
It is not easy to move from rural areas to the city.
Guangming Street is a bit far from the city center, but at least it is in the city.
Sister Lang would not let go of such an opportunity.
Ye Manzhi glanced at Zhang Qinjian's face.
Well, if someone else becomes the director, she can try to invite Sister Caixia back to work at home.
But Sister Caixia already had a job in logistics at a sporting goods company, with good benefits. She hated Zhang Qinjian so much that she never spoke to him during her visits to the neighborhood committee. Even if there were a vacancy, she wouldn't work under him.
Ye Manzhi withdrew his thoughts and, after calling Lang Qinghong, stopped expressing his opinion on the personnel issue.
Recruiting staff was originally the director's job. Although Director Mu was loose in management at the beginning, she almost had the final say in personnel matters.
Since Zhang Qinjian was willing to give her a place, she had nothing to be dissatisfied about.
She will hold her wedding on June 16th, and then she will take a long vacation to visit her relatives. She must achieve some remarkable results before taking the vacation.
While Zhang Qinjian was posting notices recruiting new people, Ye Manzhi calmed down and reviewed the work of the street.
The work of the streets is mostly pragmatic. Apart from regular study sessions organized for party members, cadres and activists, there is very little empty work.
But when she went to the district party committee organization department for a talk last time, she found that the superiors seemed to attach great importance to ideological work and cared about the ideological and political progress of young comrades.
When she talked to Vice Minister Lin about the achievements made in street work, the other party rarely interrupted or asked questions.
However, when talking about her studies in the grassroots cadre training class and what textbooks she had read, Vice Minister Lin raised several questions.
Ye Manzhi pondered this point for several days, and then when Zhang Qinjian was worried about a stack of recommendation letters, he found him again.
"Director, I've noticed that the residents of our neighborhood are very backward in their ideological and political studies. Some comrades don't even understand what socialism is or why unified purchase and marketing is implemented. Aside from those who work and can study at work or in school, the majority of unemployed residents or those engaged in home-based handicrafts have no chance to learn at all."
Zhang Qinjian nodded in agreement. "What you're talking about is a common phenomenon in every street and town. The key is that people don't have a strong desire to learn, and the staff are too scattered, making it difficult for us to organize study sessions."
"I think this kind of ideological and political study doesn't need to be taught in small classes like literacy classes. Instead, it should be taught in large classes, and the more people the better. Everyone has a herd mentality and likes to watch the fun. If we make the class bigger, there will definitely be people who want to watch the fun."
Ye Manzhi thought for a moment and said, "I have a preliminary idea. Our neighborhood could actually hold some 'socialist ideological and political education classes.' Every month or every quarter, we could invite experienced cadres to give a class on the large playground of the People's Stadium."
Zhang Qinjian has always been very supportive of organizing such activities. He nodded and said, "Well, I can tell the people about it when the time comes."
“…”
Ye Manzhi thought to himself, this is my idea, why should I let you take the spotlight?
She said cheerfully, "Director, it would be great if you could give us a lecture. However, if we were to offer classes every month, it would be best if we could invite comrades from different fields to give lectures. For example, the first lesson could be 'Correctly Understanding Democracy and Freedom,' and the second lesson could be 'Correctly Understanding the Problem of Unified Purchase and Marketing and Material Supply.' We could choose a few more topics that everyone is interested in and invite leaders from various units across the city to give lectures to the people."
Zhang Qinjian could tell she didn't want him to give a lecture, so he asked unhappily, "Then who do you want to invite to give a lecture?"
"If we really organize this event, it will be the city's first people's classroom," Ye Manzhi asked enthusiastically. "What do you think about inviting the mayor to give the first lecture?"
Zhang Qinjian: “…”
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