"Okay, Sister Li, don't worry, go and do your thing first."
Xu Qinghe's sweet and sensible smile stirred up maternal tenderness in Manager Li's heart.
However, when the door opened slightly, Manager Li unexpectedly found that Deputy Director Liu was standing at the door with a bad look on his face, obviously waiting for an opportunity. His wretched look was still there, which made him feel unhappy.
Director Li looked at Deputy Director Liu, who was eager to show off, and couldn't help feeling an indescribable irritation in his heart.
He knew very well that ever since his personal problems had caused the factory to terminate its cooperation with the supply and marketing cooperative, there were fewer fresh and juicy vegetables on the canteen tables, and the workers' plates had become more monotonous and less homely.
This not only affected the quality of everyone's food, but also made the workers' emotions like weeds blown by the autumn wind, gradually breeding dissatisfaction and complaints, like a sky covered with dark clouds, depressing and heavy.
"Deputy Director Liu," Director Li's voice was a bit cold, interrupting Deputy Director Liu's flattering smile, "Your sense of time seems to need to be re-adjusted. It's clearly working hours now. Why are you not doing your job diligently and conscientiously, but coming to me? What on earth is your purpose?"
Deputy Director Liu's face instantly transformed into an even more flattering smile, as if he were a chameleon. He apologized with a smile, "Oh, Director, what are you talking about? I'm worried that someone is using sweet talk to try to deceive you, a clear-headed leader. Look, Comrade Xu Qinghe, young but ignorant, is vying for attention with the village chief. People who don't know the inside story might think she's the village chief himself..."
His words were full of contempt and disdain for Xu Qinghe, as if they were a script that had been prepared long ago, waiting to be performed at this moment.
In his opinion, Xu Qinghe must have come here to file a complaint. If he didn't take the initiative, he would probably fall into a passive position and become a target of attack.
"Furthermore, right at the factory gate, I just kindly reminded her a few words, but she turned around and slapped me. She's completely uneducated. Director, you must not be fooled by her appearance!"
Deputy Director Liu's tone was mixed with indignation and urgency. He completely ignored the fact that Xu Qinghe was standing beside him, as if he was eager to throw all the dirty water at her in order to protect himself.
Xu Qinghe, a woman from the countryside, seemed extremely calm in the face of all this.
She did not choose to refute, but just sat there quietly, her eyes revealing a firm trust that Director Li would treat her fairly.
Director Li's eyes moved back and forth between Xu Qinghe and Deputy Director Liu. He noticed Xu Qinghe's calmness, which was in sharp contrast to Deputy Director Liu's awkwardness and uneasiness.
Director Li's eyes sharpened as he stared directly at Deputy Director Liu, his voice filled with undeniable authority. "I've already arranged for someone to investigate the entire matter. As a man, you're not addressing the factory's real problems. Instead, you're constantly pestering a young girl, causing the cafeteria to run out of fresh vegetables. I haven't even come to terms with you yet, and yet you're already jumping out?"
"Old Liu, there should be a bottom line in what we do. We should be reasonable when solving problems, right? Everyone praises Comrade Jian for her ability, so why are you the only one who points fingers at her? Do you think this is appropriate?"
Director Li's words contained both blame and disappointment.
"I'm telling you clearly, no matter what the reason, you must go to the supply and marketing cooperative today to resolve the cooperation issue and ensure that the factory can use fresh vegetables tomorrow morning. If you fail to do so, I will report your actions directly to your superiors. As for the punishment, it will be up to them to decide."
The reason why Director Li stood so firmly on Xu Qinghe's side was, on the one hand, because Xu Qinghe had helped her before, and on the other hand, it was based on their newly established cooperative relationship.
No matter from which perspective, protecting Xu Qinghe is her inevitable choice to show her sincerity.
Upon hearing this, Deputy Director Liu's face turned pale and blue. Although he knew that Director Li and Xu Qinghe had some connections, he never expected that Director Li would be so ruthless for Xu Qinghe.
In his mind, Xu Qinghe was just an ignorant village girl from the countryside. How could she suddenly be able to promote rural development and establish such a close relationship with Director Li? This immediately put all his carefully planned strategies into a dilemma.
"She just slapped me at the factory gate! Director, are you going to protect her?"
Deputy Director Liu's voice was filled with anger and unwillingness. He stared at Xu Qinghe's back, as if he wanted to pour out all his anger.
Director Li was not aware of the beating.
She turned to look at Xu Qinghe with questioning eyes, waiting for a reasonable explanation.
Xu Qinghe didn't shy away. She bravely met Director Li's gaze and spoke frankly, "Deputy Director Liu was pulling me at the door. I tried to break free, but to no avail. I had no choice but to take action out of desperation. Sister Li, as you know, I'm a married woman. Deputy Director Liu's behavior is truly inappropriate."
When Xu Qinghe said this, she lowered her head slightly in embarrassment, but she didn't need to say much. The look in Director Li's eyes when he looked at Deputy Director Liu was already full of obvious displeasure and doubt.
Upon seeing this, Deputy Director Liu quickly defended himself: "I just wanted to have a good talk with her, but she ignored me, so I just pulled her a little..."
There was a hint of helplessness in his words, but more of indignation at being misunderstood. He felt that he was full of grievances but had nowhere to appeal.
Director Li's frown deepened. "They don't want to talk to you, and you're forcing them? Old Liu, what's the difference between this and bullying? As the deputy director of the garment factory, you should always lead by example. How could you do such a disgraceful thing? I'm so disappointed in you! After you're done with the supply and marketing cooperative, write me a profound self-criticism and I'll deduct half a month's salary from you. Otherwise, you won't remember this lesson."
When Deputy Director Liu heard this, he felt dizzy. Not only did he have to write a self-criticism, but he would also have to have half a month's salary deducted. This was a bolt from the blue!
"Director, how can you be so disloyal? We've worked together for so many years..."
However, before he could finish his defense, he was ruthlessly interrupted by Director Li and pushed out of the office door.
In fact, the undercurrent between the two has been surging for a long time. Deputy Director Liu has been coveting Director Li's position for a long time, and Director Li has always been highly vigilant against him, worrying that he can't find a suitable opportunity to give him a warning.
The appearance of Xu Qinghe undoubtedly gave her an excellent opportunity.
Therefore, helping Xu Qinghe is, to some extent, also consolidating one's own position.
After seeing off Deputy Director Liu, Director Li turned to Xu Qinghe and said comfortingly, "Don't worry, I will take care of this matter and will definitely give you justice."
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