Director Leng also saw Lu Nong's reaction and frowned unconsciously. Could it be that she guessed wrong, and Lu Nong was not a low-key cultured person with a brilliant mind, but a pretentious person with a shiny surface?
When she heard about the exam, her competitor Hu Mei had been preparing for it for a long time, so she got stage fright?
Director Leng felt a flash of disappointment, but then she comforted herself that she had expected too much from Lu Nong, and it was normal for Lu Nong to shrink back when facing an opponent who had been preparing for a long time.
She asked Lu Nong gently, "Comrade Lu Nong, do you have any difficulties?"
Lu Nong was sweating profusely, which meant that she was now in a dilemma.
She originally agreed to Director Leng's job offer because she didn't want to disappoint Director Leng's kindness. In addition, she was not familiar with the military area at the moment. Director Leng recommended that she work as a primary school teacher, which sounded easier than other jobs and also gave her a buffer period.
Lu Nong intends to seriously consider the job recommended by Director Leng.
Unexpectedly, a Cheng Yaojin Hu Mei appeared in the middle and insisted on taking the exam and competing for the position with her.
If Lu Nong agreed to take part in the examination, it would be unfair for her, a Peking University student with the best test scores, to compete with Hu Mei for a primary school teacher position.
But if she did not agree to take the exam or compete for the elementary school teacher position, even if she declined politely, Hu Mei and Director Leng would think she was afraid. After all, she had agreed before. After Hu Mei stood up, Lu Nong immediately changed her mind, and everyone would think she was afraid of Hu Mei.
Hu Mei and Director Leng's words had put her in a difficult position. If she refused, it would mean she was afraid.
Lu Nong had to explain the reason for his refusal.
If he explained in person the reason for not participating, he would have to say that he was not suitable to compete with Hu Mei because of his higher education, which would make him look down on Hu Mei.
Neither the left nor the right answer was appropriate. Lu Nong hesitated for a moment, glanced at Hu Mei, whose face was flushed with joy because she thought she had won, and said to Director Leng, "Director Leng, I have no difficulty, but after thinking about it, I decided not to take this exam."
"Comrade Lu Nong, have you thought it through?" Director Leng asked.
Hu Mei let out a long sigh and looked at Lu Nong with a smug look on her face. She shook off Liu Erniu's hand that was pulling her hand and ignored Liu Erniu's eyes that were urging her to keep a low profile.
However, although Liu Erniu advised Hu Mei, it was actually Lu Nong, as the wife of the deputy division commander, who was the first to bow her head and admit defeat to Hu Mei, the wife of the regiment commander. Several regiment commanders' wives had waves of varying degrees in their hearts, and they consciously or unconsciously looked down on Lu Nong in their hearts.
This is normal. The reason why Director Leng is respected is, on the one hand, because of her identity as a division commander's wife. On the other hand, her personality and work ability are good for the people, and she does not lose the title of a division commander's wife. This is why she is respected and loved by military wives.
Compared with him, Lu Nong is too young. People respected her at first because of Pei Ji'an, but after getting along for a long time, whether she can maintain this respect in the future depends on herself.
Today's drama can be said to be a test. It is self-evident who instigated it. Lu Nong has a clear understanding of the pros and cons. She chose to withdraw from the exam and not compete for the moment for future considerations. However, this drama has not yet completely ended.
Lu Nong was calm, as if he hadn't noticed Hu Mei's provocation, and said to Director Leng sincerely, "I've thought it over. I'm sorry, Director Leng, I failed to live up to your expectations. Director Zhou came to see me a few days ago, and I decided to try out for a job in the army's publicity department after the Chinese New Year."
In fact, it was not just the Propaganda Department. Lu Nong's file was transferred to the military region along with Pei Jinan. The comrades from the Personnel Department who managed the files were acquaintances of the Propaganda Department Director Lao Zhou and the Organization Department Director. They secretly gossiped about Lu Nong's academic qualifications while drinking.
What does the army lack now? It must be talent.
Several directors wanted to recruit Lu Nong, but they were afraid that this talent would be snatched away by others, so they all kept Lu Nong's academic qualifications and work experience in a secret file.
He met Lu Nong by chance in private and invited her to work in his department. However, after Lu Nong came to the military region, she was obsessed with building her own paradise. He was afraid that too much work in these departments would interfere with her main business, so he kept thinking about it... and then nothing happened.
After Pei Ji'an found out, he comforted her and told her to just do what she wanted. Upon hearing that, Lu Nong let herself go even more.
Director Leng: “…” There’s no need to apologize. Any normal person would choose the Publicity Department.
Hu Mei:!? Impossible!
Liu Erniu/Wang Xiuzhi: OO
Director Leng looked carefully at Lu Nong's expression. He didn't seem to be lying, but the gap from being an elementary school teacher to working in the propaganda department of the army was indeed a bit big.
We cannot say that primary school teachers are necessarily worse than those in the army's propaganda department, but the main subjects taught in primary schools nowadays are very simple, not to mention the supplementary subjects, which are basically just taking the children out to play.
But getting into the Propaganda Department is not as simple as studying from textbooks and raising children. You need to write various materials and promotional articles, and first of all, you need to have talent.
Secondly, you must also have organizational skills, publicity skills, certain eloquence and social skills, and interview skills.
From an elementary school teacher to the propaganda department of the army, it is like going from playing house to adult society. What is tested is not only the cultural level, but more importantly the ability, and the cultural level is only the most basic one.
Why do most military wives want to be teachers instead of working in propaganda departments or trade unions?
Isn't it because you are too nervous to open your mouth?
In the final analysis, I lack the ability to handle big occasions and dare not even think about that kind of work.
Hu Mei looked at Lu Nong in disbelief. Was she crazy? How could she tell such a lie that would be exposed at the slightest provocation? Did Lu Nong know what he was talking about?
"You're lying!" Hu Mei blurted out in anger. If what Lu Nong said was true, then wouldn't her previous ridicule of Lu Nong's remarks be just an ugly act, making others laugh at her for nothing?
Lu Nong smiled faintly, with Pei Ji'an's attitude of not looking down on others but making them feel like trash: "Comrade Hu Mei can go and find out for yourself."
Hu Mei was shocked by Lu Nong's aura. After all, she didn't dare to offend the wife of the deputy mayor.
Director Leng became serious. She knew Director Zhou. He seemed to be a nonchalant and uninterested person, but people without talent were generally not in his eyes.
She couldn't help but ponder Lu Nong's response.
Lu Nong's reply was very interesting, and it omitted many hidden meanings that were not expressed.
First, she rejected the position of primary school teacher, seemingly because she was afraid of Hu Mei and so she gave in. But later she said that she "decided to apply for a job in the propaganda department of the army first."
What does this mean?
This shows that she is not afraid. She even has the courage to join the publicity department. How can she be afraid of the primary school entrance examination?
Unless she doesn't want to compete with Hu Mei, or she is too disdainful to compete with Hu Mei.
In view of Hu Mei's previous provocative behavior, most people would not be able to withstand the provocation and might agree to compete with Hu Mei in the exam and teach her a lesson.
Even if they don't argue with Hu Mei, people who can't stand this tone will say something to express their anger, such as "poor Hu Mei, I have a better opportunity, so give the opportunity to Hu Mei."
For example, Lu Nong could say, "I have thought it over. I will not compete with Comrade Hu Mei. She needs the job of elementary school teacher more than I do. I have decided to apply for a job in the propaganda department of the army first."
Don’t underestimate the sentence that Lu Nong omitted in the middle. Saying it or not saying it is actually the difference between making a point directly and making a point implicitly.
To put it bluntly, although he vented his anger and made Hu Mei lose face, his words and deeds always expressed a condescending attitude.
If we omit this sentence, it will be a little more obscure, but the meaning is almost the same. It shows that he is not willing to argue with Hu Mei, but his attitude is not too arrogant and looks down on others.
Of course there was some bad temper.
If Lu Nong really wanted to save face for Hu Mei, she could have just said nothing and not mentioned going to the Propaganda Department. Although she might have been laughed at for a few days, once Lu Nong really went to work in the Propaganda Department, all the rumors would have been refuted.
But you will definitely have to endure a few days of idleness.
So in Director Leng's opinion, Lu Nong's control of the "degree" was extremely accurate. Not only did he vent his anger, but he also made people convinced, and his attitude was just right.
After she said this, Liu Erniu, who did not understand Lu Nong's strategy, was filled with admiration and conviction. At the same time, she and Wang Xiuzhi, who both understood Lu Nong's strategy, either admired him or respected him even more.
A person's character can be seen in the situations he or she faces. Lu Nong was the first to give in, which showed that she is upright, generous and not aggressive. However, when facing the success of Hu Mei's villain, she showed her edge and did not give in too weakly.
It is enough to show that she is very capable and handles things rationally and calmly. Director Leng sighed that the difference between Hu Mei and her is obvious. Pei Ji'an is like a tiger with wings after having such a daughter-in-law.
And what about Hu Mei?
Intellectually, Hu Mei knew that what Lu Nong said was probably true. Director Zhou of the Propaganda Department came in person to invite her to work in the Propaganda Department. Who would dare to lie about such a thing? She could find out clearly by going out and asking around.
But she couldn't accept it emotionally. She couldn't accept that she not only lost to Lu Nong at work, but also lost to her in character. Director Leng's unconcealed admiration for Lu Nong, Liu Erniu and Wang Xiuzhi's admiration and respect for Lu Nong, all made her sad and jealous.
Hu Mei secretly hoped that Lu Nong was lying.
Finally, Director Leng came out to smooth things over and said, "What are you apologizing for? Why didn't Xiao Lu tell Lao Zhou earlier that he had approached you? If I had known that you had the talent to join the Propaganda Department, I wouldn't have rushed to introduce you to a job. Well, you'll have more room to develop in the Propaganda Department, so do your best!"
"I understand, Director Leng." Lu Nong replied with a smile.
Director Leng looked at his watch, raised his head and asked Liu Erniu and the others, "It's getting late. I have to go home to cook for Xianglan and Xiaopeng. What about you? Do you want to go home together or stay here with Xiaozhou and talk for a while?"
Liu Erniu and Wang Xiuzhi looked at each other and said they would go together. Hu Mei's expression was still pale and she didn't want to stay in Pei's house even more.
"No, the children at home are hungry. Let's go back and cook for our little ancestors."
Several people walked out of Pei's house. Director Leng and the other three took different paths. They parted ways at a fork in the road, leaving only Liu Erniu, Wang Xiuzhi and Hu Mei.
The atmosphere was silent and awkward.
What Hu Mei did this time was too much. Relying on Director Leng's power, she even dared to take advantage of the deputy division commander's wife. Although Director Leng didn't say anything, she had a scale in her heart. She knew that she was being used by Hu Mei.
Didn't you see that Director Leng looked at Hu Mei before they separated?
In Wang Xiuzhi's opinion, that look was called "take care of yourself".
In addition, everyone knew that they had a good relationship with Hu Mei, and Hu Mei also made things difficult for Lu Nong in front of them. What if Lu Nong misunderstood that the three of them were doing bad things together, wouldn't she and Liu Erniu be blamed for nothing?
Thinking about it carefully, Wang Xiuzhi shuddered and decided to stay away from Hu Mei in the future, otherwise she might be sold out one day and still help others count money.
Liu Erniu, who had the best relationship with Hu Mei, was also silent. She wanted to speak several times but couldn't open her mouth.
Her brain was not as good as Wang Xiuzhi and Hu Mei, but she knew good from bad and could always distinguish between good and bad people.
She could not see anything else from what happened just now. She just saw that Hu Mei said strange things and did strange things several times. The mean face on her face made her want to hit her and make her angry.
What about Comrade Lu Nong? He was tolerant and generous. She was really blind before and thought Hu Mei was a good person.
Hu Mei was still immersed in her own emotions, and she didn't even notice the look in Director Leng's eyes when he left. She didn't notice the weirdness of Liu Erniu and Wang Xiuzhi. After Director Leng left, she couldn't help but said angrily: "I want to see whether our deputy division commander's wife is telling the truth or lying."
"Wait, if Lu Nong doesn't join the Propaganda Department after the New Year, it will be a big joke."
There are only a few days left before the New Year, and Hu Mei originally planned to go to the elementary school for a second interview after the New Year.
Liu Erniu couldn't bear it any longer, so she said, "Shut up for a while, why did Comrade Lu lie to you?"
"Look at you, you've been jumping up and down these days, and you have to pick on Comrade Lu. What's wrong? It's over? What do you want?"
Liu Erniu didn't understand, but Wang Xiuzhi could generally understand Hu Mei's mentality. Today's move seemed to be a job grab, but the root of the problem was still with Deputy Division Commander Pei.
Deputy Division Commander Pei parachuted in and grabbed Hu Mei's husband's promotion opportunity. Hu Mei couldn't become the deputy division commander's wife, and the new deputy division commander's wife looked so much younger than Hu Mei.
Would Hu Mei accept it?
Definitely not, she couldn't swallow this breath, and wanted to compete with Lu Nong everywhere.
She even couldn't help but test Lu Nong and suppress him, just in case Lu Nong was weak in character and overpowered her, and sidelined Lu Nong, the wife of the deputy division commander...
The plan worked, but unfortunately Lu Nong was not someone who could be easily bullied, just take this incident as an example.
Hu Mei wanted to embarrass Lu Nong, but Lu Nong turned the tables on her, causing Hu Mei to lose the trust of Director Leng and creating a rift between the three of them, and their friendship was gone.
Hu Mei still hasn't realized that she has lost the hearts of the people.
It turns out that you can't play tricks with intellectuals. If you really play tricks on them, they will play you to death, but you are still innocent. Anyone who hears about what happened today will have to praise her for being open-minded.
This is what her husband always says. What is it called?
Conspiracy.
Yes, it is conspiracy.
Wang Xiuzhi, considering their good relationship and neighbors, finally advised Hu Mei, "Xiao Hu, don't quarrel with Comrade Lu anymore. You can't beat him. The matter with Old Song is a foregone conclusion. What's the point of quarreling?"
Hu Mei didn't appreciate it and was angry. "Okay, I see. You two are trying to curry favor with Lu Nong and are now turning your guns on me?"
"I'm jumping up and down. I'm quarreling. , didn't you see that Director Leng gave my job to Lu Nong as soon as she arrived?"
Liu Erniu was so angry at Hu Mei's righteous look, "How did it become yours? Didn't you fail the exam? There's nothing wrong with Director Leng letting Lu Nong try?"
Hu Mei was sure that Liu Erniu and Wang Xiuzhi had turned to Lu Nong's camp. When they were at Pei's house, they didn't help her speak up, but instead hindered her, and blamed her again after leaving Pei's house.
Hu Mei clenched her fists, turned around and left, leaving Liu Erniu and Wang Xiuzhi where they were.
"Who are you?" Liu Erniu was so angry that her chest hurt, "If I advise her again in the future, my mother-in-law will kill me."
Wang Xiuzhi: "..." There's no need to swear such an oath.
Director Leng returned home and thought about it. He couldn't help laughing when he thought about how Lu Nong's words could turn the situation around.
This little Lu is a little bit shy. Hu Mei is not her opponent at all.
"Mom, what's so funny?" Director Leng's daughter Li Li asked her curiously. Her son Li Ke, who was reading a newspaper, couldn't help looking at his mother.
Director Leng smiled and told her what happened in the Pei family. Li Li became more curious about Lu Nong. She only knew that Lu Nong was good-looking. After hearing what her mother said, Lu Nong was also a good person with good character and temperament. She was a good person to make friends with.
Li Ke, on the other hand, smiled and shook his head just like Director Leng after hearing this, and said, "He is worldly-wise but not worldly-wise, and he is tactful but still innocent."
Director Leng nodded and praised his son's evaluation, "He is such a likable and smart person, Pei Ji'an is lucky."
"What are you talking about?" Li Li looked at her mother and then at her brother.
Li Ke shrugged, Director Leng tapped Li Li's forehead, "I told you to study more, but you just wouldn't listen. Xianglan can't learn from you in the future. She loves to study. You are not allowed to let her take care of Xiaopeng anymore. Do you hear me?"
Li Li was so annoyed by her mother's scolding, "What's the point of a girl studying? You can live the same life by marrying a good husband in the future. Look, I am doing well now, aren't I?"
Director Leng frowned, "You are living a good life because of your father."
"Yes, whether a woman lives a good life or not depends on her father and brothers in the end. What's the point of studying? Even the college entrance examination has been stopped." Li Li has her own reason.
Director Leng choked up and sighed in his heart. The daughter was born more than ten years earlier than the son. When she was a child, the country was in flames. During the war, the couple feared that the daughter would suffer with them, so they placed her in their hometown to be raised.
Who knew that when the country was peaceful and they brought her back, the child's thoughts were influenced by the sayings of the hometown that men were valued over girls and that women's education was useless. She didn't like to study and didn't make progress.
Because of their guilt towards their daughter, the couple was restrained in disciplining her. In the end, the daughter couldn't change at all. She was already an adult, but she still couldn't read a few words.
There was no choice but to find an honest and decent husband for her, hoping that she would live a peaceful life.
It is impossible to change the daughter's mind now, but she cannot let her daughter delay her granddaughter.
Director Leng hardened his heart and said coldly, "You can live a comfortable life relying on your father, can your daughter rely on her father all her life?"
Li Li was embarrassed. Her husband was honest and dutiful, but if he was compared with her father, he was not even as good as her little finger.
"You picked him for me, but now you despise him for being incompetent," Li Li complained, and said confidently, "Our Xianglan will rely on her brother and Xiaopeng in the future."
Director Leng laughed at her, "You also have a brother, ask your brother if he lets you rely on him?"
Li Li glared at Li Ke, asking him to say something good.
Li Ke was calm and said to Li Li in a serious tone, "Don't you always bring up grandma's old saying? As the old saying goes, a daughter who is married off is like water spilled out. I will have to support my wife and daughter-in-law in the future, so don't try to hit on me."
Li Li was so angry that she picked up a book and threw it at Li Ke.
"After talking for so long, isn't it just to let Xianglan study?" Li Li said unconvinced, "Didn't mom say that Lu Nong is a smart person? How many years of study has she had? Mom, tell me about it?"
Director Leng was stunned. She really didn't know what Lu Nong's education was, and she forgot to ask before.
Li Li smiled proudly, "My mother doesn't know it herself, but she's using her as an excuse to squeeze me. Maybe she's just naturally smart without even reading a book."
"Wait, I'll call now," Director Leng was so angry about the bad girl that he picked up the phone and called the personnel department, "Hello, is that Lao Zhang? I want to ask about Lu Nong, the file of Deputy Commander Pei's wife Lu Nong..."
Lu Nong's identity file is not top secret, at least someone at Director Leng's level is qualified to know it.
"Okay, I'll wait here, um, waiting for you, sorry to bother you, Lao Zhang."
Director Leng put down the phone and said to the girl unhappily, "Wait, you'll know whether studying is useful or not in a while."
Li Li and Li Ke stopped laughing, stopped their work, and waited quietly for the call.
After a while, the phone rang.
Li Li picked up the phone before Director Leng, and she mouthed, "I'm afraid you're cheating."
Director Leng rolled his eyes.
"Hey, Uncle Zhang, my mother is next to me, you go ahead, I'm listening for her, okay, you go ahead."
After listening for a while, Li Li opened her mouth wide, speechless in shock.
Director Leng asked, "What's going on? What's going on?"
Li Li and Director Leng stared at each other, then closed their mouths and kept silent.
"This kid," Director Leng took the phone, "Hello, Lao Zhang, it's me, say it again, um, I'm listening, yes, just tell me about your education."
"Comrade Lu Nong has a college degree, graduated from the History Department of Peking University, amazing, the file records that she was admitted to Peking University at the age of fourteen, and then I don't know why she dropped out of school, and didn't complete her studies until last year."
"And what else..."
Director Leng was stunned after hearing this, she was sure that Lu Nong must have been educated, but she didn't expect that her education was so high, which scared her. Now think about it, she let him become a primary school teacher is simply a waste of talent.
No wonder Lu Nong didn't compete with Hu Mei, it would be cheap if she did.
Li Ke saw that none of his mother and sister had a happy reaction after listening to the phone call. This was not right. He frowned slightly, "What kind of education?"
Li Li said in a dreamy manner, "Graduated from Peking University, said to be a genius... It seems that studying is really useful, at least she married the deputy division commander at a young age."
Li Ke: "..." The first part is right, but the second part is wrong, his annoying sister.
Pei's family.
After Director Leng and the other four left, Lu Nong collapsed on the sofa. Today's Haikou was exaggerated, and he had to go to the work of the Propaganda Department.
Lost his life of slacking off.
Lu Nong was sighing that his leisure time was about to pass away when the signalman shouted from outside the door, "Auntie Wu, there's a letter from your family."
Lu Nong stood up and walked to the door. The signalman handed the letter to Lu Nong with a red face, then rode away on his bicycle.
There were two letters in total, one from Beijing and one from the army, neither of which had a signature or address.
Lu Nong's heart moved, and he first opened the letter with the army seal on it. It was indeed sent by Pei Ji'an.
The content of the letter was concise and to the point. It was a letter to report that he was safe. There was no extra elaboration. It only said that he was fine now and asked his family not to worry about him and there was no need to reply.
Lu Nong read the letter of just a few hundred words many times, and after reading it, he couldn't help but pick up a pen and write a reply.
Lu Nong wrote down all the interesting and aggrieved things that had happened to him recently. After finishing, he lost interest and could not send the letter.
She shoved the letter into a book on the shelf.
Then he opened the envelope from Pei Zheng in Beijing, and it was good news. Pei Zheng had graduated early and had already left Beijing. According to calculations, he would almost arrive at the army.
Lu Nong:! ?
It’s amazing, Pei Xiaozheng, he graduated without even saying a word.
Outside the mountains, Pei Zheng limped along the country road carrying his luggage.
Unfortunately, the car Pei Zheng was riding in broke down. His fellow villagers who were traveling with him had often encountered such a thing. They asked the ticket collector to return their ticket money and without saying a word, they got off the car carrying their luggage and walked home.
Pei Zheng was kicked off the bus by the conductor and the driver.
He had no choice but to ask his fellow villagers about the final stop of the bus to the garrison troops, and then carried his luggage and walked with everyone.
As they walked, everyone separated, and in the end Pei Zheng was the only one left on the road, still more than ten miles away from the final stop in Laoxiangzuili.
To make matters worse, he accidentally fell into a mud pit and fell flat on his face.
Pei Zheng sighed and thought, it would be nice to have a car.
Just as he was thinking about it, suddenly a donkey cart came from not far away and walked towards Pei Zheng.
Pei Zheng: “…” Is it okay to wish for a car now?
The donkey cart was also surprised enough. When the donkey cart approached, Pei Zheng waved his hand quickly, "Fellow countryman, can you give me a ride?"
An old farmer got off the donkey cart. He could actually speak some Mandarin. Seeing Pei Zheng carrying a big bag and panting, he couldn't bear to refuse him and said, "Young man, where are you going? We are going to Yushui Brigade. We can't take you if it's not on the right route."
"The troops stationed here, sir, do you think it's a good idea?" Pei Zheng said.
The old farmer said, "Let's go in the same direction. You can put the things on the bus. You can sit on it for a while and rest. Then you can get off. There are several young educated youth girls on the bus."
Pei Zheng had noticed the girls on the donkey cart before, but he didn't look closely. When he heard what the old man said, he immediately nodded and agreed, "Don't worry, I won't take the cart. Just put the luggage on the cart."
"Okay, put it up." said the old farmer.
Pei Zheng put the luggage on the donkey cart. He did not notice the sharp gleam in the eyes of several girls when they saw him.
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