Chapter 40, Holiday
"Did you see how Zhao Lan looked just now? She was trembling with fear!" After returning to the dormitory and closing the door, Li Juan felt relieved thinking about Zhao Lan and said to Lin Qingqing, "She was so arrogant before, she regrets it now!"
Before anyone else could speak, Li Juan snorted, "It's too late to regret it now! Good riddance, let her learn a lesson. Otherwise, if she keeps reporting everyone she doesn't like, how can we live like this!"
Lin Qingqing found her lunchbox and prepared to eat. She gave a curt reply, her gaze sweeping over Wang Fengxia, who was sitting on the edge of the bed. From the moment she entered the dormitory, Lin Qingqing could sense that Wang Fengxia was avoiding her gaze…
"By the way, Qingqing, was the person you traded grain with really Commander Xie?" Li Juan asked as if she had suddenly remembered.
Lin Qingqing looked away, nodded, and said, "It's him. What's wrong?"
"So you two started dating a long time ago?" Li Juan looked at Lin Qingqing with shining eyes. She had previously thought that they started dating the day they were caught by the educated youth team, but now she thought it must have been even earlier.
“It’s been a while,” Lin Qingqing said.
Although she spoke vaguely, Li Juan took it as an admission. Thinking back to how she had advised her before, she looked somewhat embarrassed: "Why didn't you tell me before? I had to talk to you about all that nonsense."
Lin Qingqing explained, "At the time, I hadn't decided whether or not to go public."
"Why not make it public? It would be so great to be dating Commander Xie!" Li Juan didn't understand. "So many girls in our brigade envy you!"
Lin Qingqing smiled and said, "We had just gotten together back then, let's not talk about these things anymore, it's all in the past."
Although Li Juan didn't quite understand what Lin Qingqing was thinking, she felt that what she said made sense. It was all in the past, so she didn't ask any more questions. Instead, she said with envy, "But speaking of which, Commander Xie is really good to you."
"Yes," Lin Qingqing nodded, then suddenly added, "By the way, did you tell Zhao Lan about my shoe-making business?"
"No, what's wrong?" Li Juan asked, puzzled.
Wang Fengxia was startled and asked, "What's wrong?"
“I saw her letter of complaint today. It not only mentioned my shoe business, but also listed all the things I’ve bought recently,” Lin Qingqing said, feigning confusion. “She hasn’t come to our dorm since Wang Li moved out, so I didn’t think of her at first.”
“I don’t get along with her, why would I say these things to her?” Li Juan said, frowning. “Could it be something she heard from someone who’s been to our room? Has anyone been here recently?”
"Their room?"
Li Juan had no suspicion of Wang Fengxia, while Lin Qingqing, seeing that Wang Fengxia seemed hesitant to speak, said without pointing it out, "Never mind, she probably said it unintentionally. I was just asking."
After saying that, Lin Qingqing took the lunchbox and went out.
Lin Qingqing didn't intend to pursue the matter, but Li Juan was very curious. After Lin Qingqing left, she whispered to Wang Fengxia, "Sister Wang, who do you think told Zhao Lan these things?"
Wang Fengxia was lost in thought and didn't hear Li Juan's words until Li Juan came over and nudged her when she didn't get a response. Only then did she suddenly come to her senses and ask, "What did you just say?"
"What are you thinking about?" Li Juan asked, puzzled. "I've called you so many times and you haven't answered."
Wang Fengxia shook her head: "It's nothing, I was just thinking about something."
Li Juan didn't press further, but lowered her voice and repeated the question from before, saying, "Although Qingqing said there's no need to pursue it, I find it quite frightening. Qingqing was lucky to get away with it today, but what about next time, or the time after that?"
“…Hmm,” Wang Fengxia said, lowering her eyes.
Seeing her agree, Li Juan quickly said, "Right? So I think we should stop letting people visit our dorm from now on, and we shouldn't tell anyone about what's going on in the dorm when we go out, otherwise I'll have to live in constant fear."
Wang Fengxia said softly, "I have no objection."
"Okay, I'll tell Qingqing about this when she gets back."
Wang Fengxia nodded silently, and after a long while, she stood up and said, "I'm going out for a bit."
...
Because Zhao Lan was delayed by finding something to do, the food was a bit cold when Lin Qingqing arrived at the canteen. The educated youth who was in charge of cooking was very good-natured and asked her if she wanted the food heated up.
Lin Qingqing tasted the rice and found it wasn't completely cold, so she said it wasn't too much trouble and asked someone to give her some hot water to soak the rice in and eat it as is.
Halfway through the meal, Wang Fengxia walked into the cafeteria and sat opposite her, not saying a word, just quietly watching her.
Lin Qingqing swallowed the rice in her mouth and asked, "Why did you come here?"
"I...I have something I want to tell you." Wang Fengxia spoke hesitantly, her eyes lowered, not daring to look Lin Qingqing in the eye. "I told Zhao Lan about your shoe-making business...I also told her about the things you've bought recently."
Wang Fengxia twisted her fingers together: "She came to see me yesterday and talked about your new clothes, then started asking what you'd bought lately. I told her without thinking much about it... I never expected her to write a letter reporting you. Qingqing, I'm so sorry, can you forgive me?"
After she finished speaking, she looked at Lin Qingqing with an uneasy expression.
Did you really not expect that?
Lin Qingqing looked down at her reflection in the bowl and thought, sometimes digging too deep can be hurtful; perhaps it's better to remain oblivious. She smiled and said, "Since it was unintentional, of course I won't blame you. Besides, I've been very grateful for your help during this time."
Perhaps Wang Fengxia had other thoughts in mind when she said those words. But Lin Qingqing still wanted to believe that she was just confused for a moment, so she characterized the matter as an "unintentional mistake."
"Thank you." Wang Fengxia said with a sigh of relief, her eyes red with tears. "I'm so glad you can forgive me."
...
What happened at the youth settlement that night spread throughout the brigade the next day.
In the afternoon, Lin Qingqing and Xie Wei returned from the mountain. As soon as they got out of the car, Xie Baoshan called them over to find out what had happened. After a meeting of the brigade cadres, it was decided to criticize and educate Zhao Lan, and the results would be announced over the loudspeaker.
Although she did not receive a substantial lesson, Zhao Lan was young and felt too ashamed to face anyone after the announcement, so she couldn't bear it any longer and asked for leave to go home.
Lin Qingqing had been too busy lately to notice the changes in personnel at the educated youth settlement; she only learned about it from Li Juan. Previously, Li Juan had felt relieved when Zhao Lan was criticized and educated, but now she felt sorry for her, saying, "What's the use of her taking leave to go back? She'll have to come back sooner or later anyway. Sigh, if only she had known this earlier."
Lin Qingqing remained silent after hearing this. Her position was sensitive, and saying anything more would sound like a victor's boast, so she simply kept quiet.
Apart from Zhao Lan taking leave to go home, there were no other changes at the educated youth settlement. However, the resettlement site underwent a major transformation thanks to the hard work of Lin Qingqing and the others. Not only was the roof renovated, but the doors and windows were replaced with new ones, and all the necessary repairs were made.
New beds were placed in both rooms, along with cabinets, tables, chairs, and benches. Although the beds were newly made from felled trees and simply sanded without being painted, and the cabinets were old and unused, taken from someone else's home, making it difficult to discern their original color, Li Dongmei couldn't help but tear up when she saw the dramatic changes in the rooms.
However, after the resettlement site was tidied up, Li Dongmei did not move in until the second Women's Federation meeting was held in the middle of the month, after which Director Yang announced the establishment of the women's resettlement site.
After the first Women's Federation meeting, some women, like Li Dongmei, began to resist leaving their families, but many more chose to remain silent due to uncertainty about the future. However, after the second Women's Federation meeting, the establishment of resettlement centers rekindled their hope. Li Dongmei, after leaving home and settling in the resettlement center, was still able to earn work points in the fields, which relieved many of their worries and prevented them from continuing their work.
He continued to swallow his anger.
This time, even more people came to the Women's Federation office for help than before, and Lin Qingqing was extremely busy.
On the afternoon of the 24th of the lunar year, Lin Qingqing had just finished organizing the visitor information and was gently massaging her shoulders and neck when she suddenly heard Director Yang ask, "Is the day after tomorrow your engagement day?"
Lin Qingqing was taken aback for a moment, then nodded: "Yes, what's wrong?"
Seeing her looking a little silly, Director Yang couldn't help but laugh and said, "I'm giving you a day off. You can rest well tomorrow and prepare for your engagement."
Lin Qingqing usually doesn't feel tired, but when Director Yang brought it up, she realized that she hadn't taken a day off since New Year's Day. Working like two people had indeed made her feel quite exhausted. Thinking about the engagement banquet the day after tomorrow, she also felt that she needed to rest for a day, so she smiled and said, "Then thank you very much, Director Yang."
"Don't be too happy yet. You still have to come back to work after the engagement. On the 28th of the lunar year, come over and help me finish up. Once you're done, it'll be time for the New Year."
Lin Qingqing thought that a three-day holiday—the 25th was a break and the 28th a workday—was enough, and nodded, saying, "Okay!"
Director Yang pondered for a moment, his expression becoming slightly serious: "By the way, I plan to apply for a formal position for you with the commune's women's federation after the New Year. If it goes through, you will officially become a women's federation officer. In the future, when I retire or have the opportunity to be promoted, you will take over my position."
Although Lin Qingqing now comes to the Women's Federation office every day and does Women's Federation work, she doesn't have a formal position and is essentially a probationary employee. Whether she stays or leaves is entirely up to Director Yang. Applying for a formal position is like submitting a formal employment application; if approved, she will have a permanent position.
Thinking of this, even the usually composed Lin Qingqing couldn't suppress the joy in her heart: "Thank you, Director Yang, I will definitely do my best."
Director Yang nodded, then hesitated, "However... I'd like to know if you plan to stay after we get married, or go with the military?"
"Will this have any impact?" Lin Qingqing was taken aback.
“It’s not necessarily going to have an impact,” Director Yang said thoughtfully, “but your situation is special, and the higher-ups might have other considerations after they understand the situation.”
Listening to Director Yang's words, Lin Qingqing's feverish mind calmed down: "Yes, Xie Wei and I have discussed it. After we get married, I will go to the army with him to avoid being separated for a long time."
Although Director Yang felt it was a pity, he also felt that her choice was understandable. Marrying a soldier meant that you wouldn't see them for two or three years if you didn't accompany them. Given the opportunity, it was definitely better to accompany them. After a moment's thought, he said, "Okay, I understand the situation. I'll submit the application after the New Year."
I'll tell you the result later.
When Lin Qingqing first heard about the opportunity to become a full-fledged employee, she was indeed very happy, as it meant her efforts would be rewarded. However, after calming down and thinking about it, she realized that she didn't actually need this opportunity that much, since the military would be able to arrange work for her after she joined the unit. So she said with a relaxed attitude, "No matter what, I still want to thank you."
Director Yang smiled and saw Xie Wei coming towards the door. He said with a smile, "Wei Zi is here to pick you up. You should go back now. I'll take care of the rest."
Lin Qingqing also saw Xie Wei. Hearing her words, she blushed, packed her things, and said, "Then I'll be going now."
Author's Note: Second update.
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