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.
胡梅這次做的事太過分了，仗着冷主任的勢，連副師長夫人的面子都敢下，冷主任雖然不說，可她心裏不是沒有一杆秤，人家不是不知道自己被胡梅利用了。
沒看臨分開之前冷主任特意看了胡梅一眼嗎？
那一眼在王秀枝看來，叫做“好自為之”。
還有，大家都知道她倆和胡梅關系好，胡梅還當着她倆在場的時候為難陸濃，萬一陸濃誤會她們三個一起使壞，她和劉二妞豈不是平白背鍋？
細想起來，王秀枝不寒而栗，打定主意日後離胡梅遠點，否則說不定哪天被人賣了還在幫人數錢。
和胡梅關系最好的劉二妞也沉默了，幾次想說話卻張不開嘴。
她腦子不如王秀枝和胡梅好使，但識好歹，好人和壞人總能分清楚。
剛才的事，她看不出別的，就看出了胡梅好幾次說怪話做怪事臉上那副小人嘴臉連她看了都想打她，氣死個人。
人家陸濃同志呢？寬容大度，她以前真是瞎了眼了，以為胡梅是個好人。
胡梅還沉浸在自己的情緒中，連冷主任走時的眼神都沒看到，自己沒有注意劉二妞和王秀枝的怪異，等冷主任走後忍不住憤懑道：“我倒要看看咱們這位副師長媳婦兒到底是說真話還是撒謊。”
“等着吧，要是過完年陸濃沒進宣傳部，那才是天大的笑話。”
離過年也就剩下幾天時間了，胡梅本也是打算年後再去小學第二次面試。
劉二妞實在忍無可忍，開口說，“你消停會兒吧，人家陸同志騙你幹什麽？”
“你瞅瞅你這些日子上蹿下跳，非要和人家陸同志過不去，咋滴？不過了？你到底圖啥？”
劉二妞看不懂，王秀枝大體上能明白胡梅的心理，今天這出看似是搶工作，根子還是在裴副師長那裏。
裴副師長空降，搶了胡梅丈夫的升遷機會，胡梅當不成副師長夫人，新來的副師長夫人看着比胡梅小那麽多歲。
胡梅能服？
指定不能，她咽不下這口氣，處處想和陸濃別苗頭。
甚至忍不住試探陸濃、打壓陸濃，萬一陸濃性格軟弱，氣勢上壓過她，把陸濃這個副師長夫人架空……
算盤打的響，可惜陸濃不是好欺負的主兒，就拿這件事來說。
胡梅想讓陸濃沒臉，結果被陸濃反将一軍，既讓胡梅失去冷主任的信任，還讓她們三個之間産生嫌隙裂痕，友情不再。
胡梅到現在還沒意識到自己失去了人心。
果然不能和文化人玩心眼，動了真格，人家把你玩死了，還是一身清白，誰聽了今天的事，也要誇她一句敞亮。
這就是她家那口子天天挂在嘴邊的話，叫什麽來着？
陽謀。
對，就是陽謀。
王秀枝看在這幾年關系好又是鄰居的份上，到底勸了胡梅一句，“小胡，恁別再和陸同志鬧了，胳膊拗不過大腿，老宋那事兒都成了定局，再鬧有個啥子意思？”
胡梅卻不領情，惱羞成怒，“好啊，我看出來了，你倆現在開始巴結陸濃，調轉槍口朝我發作了？”
“我上蹿下跳，我鬧，你們沒看見陸濃一來冷主任就把我的工作給了她？”
劉二妞被胡梅理直氣壯的樣子氣死，“那咋成了你的呢？你不是沒考過嗎？人家冷主任讓陸濃去試試沒毛病啊？”
胡梅認定了劉二妞和王秀枝轉向陸濃陣營，在裴家的時候不幫着自己說話，反而扯她後腿，出了裴家又來責怪她。
胡梅握了握拳頭，扭頭就走，把劉二妞和王秀枝甩在原地。
“什麽人啊？”劉二妞氣的胸口疼，“以後老娘要是再勸她一句，就被俺婆婆作踐死。”
王秀枝：“……”也不用發這種誓。
那邊冷主任回到家後，左思右想，一想到陸濃一句話逆轉局勢就忍不住想笑。
這個小陸，也是有那麽一點狹促，胡梅壓根不是她的對手。
“媽，什麽事這麽好笑？”冷主任的閨女李麗好奇問她，一旁看報紙的兒子李恪也忍不住看向母親。
冷主任笑着把裴家發生的事說了一遍，搞得李麗對陸濃越發好奇，光知道陸濃長得好，聽她娘這麽一說，陸濃人品性子也不錯，是個可交對象。
倒是李恪聽罷和冷主任和一樣笑着搖搖頭，說了一句話，“知世故卻不世故，歷圓滑而彌天真。”
冷主任對兒子的評價點頭稱贊，“真是個讨人喜歡的聰明人，裴寂安賺了。”
“你們打什麽啞謎？”李麗看看親媽又看看弟弟。
李恪聳肩，冷主任點點李麗的額頭，“讓你多讀書，你就是不聽，香蘭以後可不能學你，她愛學習，你不準再讓她帶小鵬，聽到沒有？”
李麗被親媽念的頭都大了，“女孩子讀書有什麽用？将來嫁個好丈夫一樣過日子，你看我現在不也好好的嗎？”
冷主任皺眉，“你過得好靠的是你爹。”
“是啊，女人過得好不好最後還不是靠親爹兄弟，讀書有什麽用，連高考都停了。”李麗自有一番道理。
冷主任哽住，心裏嘆息，閨女比兒子早生了十幾年，她小時候正值國家烽火連天，戰亂年代，他們夫妻怕閨女跟着他們受苦，于是将她放在老家養。
誰知等國家太平接回來的時候，孩子思想受老家重男輕女、女人讀書無用那一套說辭影響，不愛讀書也不上進。
他們夫妻因對女兒愧疚，管教起來束手束腳，到最後女兒徹底扳不過來，老大不小了，仍舊大字不識幾個。
沒辦法只好給她找了個老實本分的丈夫，盼她一輩子平平安安。
如今改變閨女的想法是不可能了，但她不能讓閨女耽誤外孫女。
冷主任狠狠心，冷下臉說，“你能靠你爹活得滋潤，你閨女也能一輩子靠她爹嗎？”
李麗讪讪，她丈夫論老實本分可圈可點，但要是把他和她爹一比，連根小拇指都比不上。
“那還不是你們給我挑的，現在倒嫌棄人家沒本事，”李麗嘟囔抱怨完，振振有詞地說，“咱們香蘭以後靠她弟弟，靠小鵬。”
冷主任嘲笑她，“你也有弟弟，你問問你弟弟讓你靠嗎？”
李麗瞪李恪，讓他說點好話。
李恪老神在在，一本正經地對李麗說，“你不是總把奶奶的老話搬出來說嗎？老話說了，嫁出去的女兒潑出去的水，我以後是要給我媳婦閨女撐腰的，你別打我主意。”
李麗氣死，拿起一本書朝李恪扔過去。
“說了半天，不就是想讓香蘭讀書？”李麗不服氣地說，“媽不是說那個叫陸濃是個聰明人嗎？她讀過幾年書？媽倒是說來聽聽？”
冷主任愣住，她還真不知道陸濃什麽學歷，先前也忘記打聽。
李麗見狀得意笑道，“媽自己都不知道，還拿她說項，擠兌我。說不定人家一本書沒看，天生聰明。”
“你等着，我現在就打電話，”冷主任被糟心閨女氣得頭疼，拿起電話打給人事部門，“喂，老張嗎？我想問一下陸濃，就是裴副師長的妻子陸濃的檔案……”
陸濃的身份檔案不是絕密，最起碼冷主任這個級別的人是有資格知道的。
“好，我在這等着，嗯嗯，等着你，麻煩你了老張。”
冷主任放下電話，沒好氣地對閨女說，“等着吧，一會兒就知道讀書到底有沒有用了。”
李麗、李恪不再笑鬧，停下手頭的活兒，安靜等着電話打過來。
過了一會兒，“鈴鈴鈴”電話響起。
李麗先于冷主任接起電話，她用嘴型說，“我怕您耍賴。”
冷主任翻了個白眼。
“喂，張叔，我媽在旁邊呢，您說吧，我替她聽着呢，好，您說吧。”
聽了半晌，李麗嘴巴大張，驚的說不出話來。
一旁冷主任問，“怎麽樣啊？到底什麽？”
李麗和冷主任大眼瞪小眼，阖上嘴巴自閉了。
“這孩子，”冷主任拿過電話，“喂，老張，是我，你再說一遍，嗯嗯，我聽着呢，對，只說學歷。”
“陸濃同志大學學歷，畢業于北京大學歷史系，了不起喲，檔案裏記載她十四歲就考上了北大，後來不知道什麽原因休學，直到去年才完成學業。”
“還有啊……”
冷主任聽完愣住了，她能肯定陸濃必定是讀過書的，但沒想到學歷如此高，吓了她一跳，現在想想，她讓人家去當小學老師簡直屈大才了。
怪不得陸濃不和胡梅争，争了才掉價。
李恪見親媽親姐聽完電話後沒一個是高興的反應，這不對啊，他淺淺皺眉，“到底什麽學歷？”
李麗夢游一樣說，“北大畢業，說是個什麽天才……好像讀書真有點用哈，最起碼年紀輕輕就嫁給了副師長。”
李恪：“……”前面的話對，後面的話又不對味了，他這個糟心姐姐喲。
裴家。
冷主任四人走後，陸濃癱倒在沙發上，今天海口都誇出去了，宣傳部的工作是不去也得去了。
痛失摸魚人生。
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.