sbdcsierra Chapter 1374 Farewell
Chapter 1374 Farewell
Chapter 1374 Farewell
If there is no Dehua, then create Dehua.
Li Xue will not look after or take care of her second brother's children. Even if she agrees, Li Shu will not agree.
Li Shu had said it before: a family can't have two little devils. Either she or her aunt would be better.
"Second brother, Yaping, why don't you stay with me?"
After having lunch and drinks, Zhao Gen and Yin Mancang rested for a while before heading back.
They were just visiting, to see their in-laws and also to visit the old lady, since both sides have elderly relatives.
In this day and age, this is the proper etiquette: relatives should take the initiative to visit the elderly.
Li Xuewen never missed a year's visit. Zhao Yafang didn't come home after she became pregnant and gave birth, but as her son-in-law, he still had to prepare New Year's gifts.
Actually, the customs aren't that complicated: once for the Dragon Boat Festival, once for the Lunar New Year, and once each for the father-in-law's and mother-in-law's birthdays.
Even if you're reluctant to spend money on gifts, you should still remember these four dates of the year; it's a token of your affection, no matter how small.
What else?
If there are elderly people in the other family, you can't go empty-handed; you have to bring something with you.
If you're on good terms with someone who has children, you should buy them some snacks; you can't be stingy.
The Li family and the Zhao family are related by marriage, so it's only natural for Li Xuewen to send gifts and visit his father-in-law's family every year; they are indeed relatives.
Then look at Li Xuewu. A couple of years ago, he went to Hongxing Village, either to buy things for the elderly or to bring things for the children. If it were before, when his family was poor and city people looked down on rural things, Zhao Gen could still convince himself not to come. But now, how could he possibly bring himself to do it?
Li Xuewu wasn't even a son-in-law, and he had already done more than enough by taking care of the Zhao family, yet he also took care of Yin Qun.
Zhao Gen and Yin Mancang knew that Li Xuewu was capable; arranging for their two children to work in the factory was nothing to them, but it was an immense favor to them.
Putting aside everything else, in recent years, Li Xuewu's home and the company's guesthouse have never lacked wild game and poultry.
Autumn has arrived, and the family doesn't need to buy firewood or winter vegetables themselves, as Yin Mancang has already prepared them for them well in advance.
After winter sets in, they would send any good things that could be found in the mountains—gay sheep, rabbits, pheasants—to Li Xuewu.
During the years Li Shun and Li Xuecai lived on the mountain, their clothes were taken away by Zhao Gen's family or Yin Mancang's wife, Zhao Li, to wash. Whenever there was good food, they would always invite the father and son to their home for a meal.
Gratitude and reciprocation are the keys to lasting relationships.
Why did Li Xuewu do this? In their eyes, it was because he valued loyalty and truly considered them relatives.
To put it more deeply, the nominal head of the Li family is still Li Shun, after all, he's only in his forties and still quite young. But the one who actually makes the decisions has long since changed to Li Xuewu.
Why is the Li family's life getting better and better, and making more and more progress? It's all because Li Xuewu is the pillar of the family, and harmony in the family brings prosperity.
Putting everything else aside, Zhao Yafang used to be quite headstrong, and during her early married life, she always thought about moving out and living alone.
But look at what she thinks now.
Li Xuewu, being the younger brother-in-law, took care of both her younger brother and her cousin. Furthermore, leveraging the advantages of the Hongxing Factory, he established several projects in Hongxing Village.
Zhao Yafang is such a fool; how could she not see that it was her brother-in-law taking care of their family and their relatives?
Even considering her current job, Li Xuewen's previous arrangements, and her current progress, it would take a lot of shame for her to think that it wasn't related to Li Xuewu.
With Li Xuewu's influence at the Hongxing Factory, everyone at Huaqing, from the vice principal to the security manager, was connected to him. Given the current situation, would anyone dare to mess with the couple?
Once the public outcry subsided, the couple returned to school to teach as usual and pursue their career advancement as needed. Did someone come looking for trouble later?
She dared to say that with her brother-in-law's support, this connection was more effective than the backgrounds of many of her colleagues. Especially given the current cooperative relationship between Hongxing Steel Group and Tsinghua University, everyone knew that her brother-in-law was a leader at Hongxing Steel Group, so who would dare not give her a second glance?
Now that I'm the deputy head of the department, with this ability, my future advancement will be a matter of course. Isn't that a convenience?
Li Xuewen was easygoing and didn't meddle in other people's business. Zhao Yafang also softened her edges and became the most straightforward person in the family.
She was respectful and gentle to her grandmother, and showed great care for her younger brother, sister-in-law, and sister-in-law. The school house was properly renovated, but she never mentioned moving out again.
She couldn't help with Li Xuewu's class affairs, but she had always been in charge of the accounts at the recycling station, which were very reliable.
Although the recycling system cannot be described as huge, it has many branches, and Li Xuewu cannot manage it without a trusted person.
It was only because of his sister-in-law's help that he dared to look at the reports once a week; otherwise, he wouldn't be able to live so carefree.
Li Shu and Li Ning brought it over here, and if she's home, she'll help watch it. If she's not home, whatever she buys for Li Tang, she'll make sure to include Li Shu and Li Ning's share—buying three of each item.
Buying three of something seems to have become a habit in the Li family when raising children. Even if the children don't live together, they'll still buy treats and toys and send them to each other's homes.
Zhao Yafang was not a stingy person to begin with. With Li Xuewu taking the lead, she, as his sister-in-law, couldn't fall behind.
If her second brother-in-law could give her ten parts of his heart, she would give him twelve parts of hers. Money was no object, but a lack of commitment was not.
It's strange, really. The Li family has clearly split up, but they live more closely together than families that haven't split up.
Li Xuewu was in charge of external affairs, while Zhao Yafang was in charge of internal affairs. They weren't a couple, but their decisive and efficient ways of making decisions made them work together very well.
Sometimes when something happens at home, the two of them can understand each other's thoughts with just a glance, and the matter is settled.
Li Shun and Liu Yin couldn't even voice their opinions, because the two of them had already thought of everything they could think of.
It's not exactly frustrating, but it's also a bit of a relief. The children are growing up so fast, and they all feel old.
Li Xuewen, as the eldest brother, wanted to give up, but he felt embarrassed in front of his younger brothers and sisters, so he started to work hard and improve himself.
Not to mention Li Xuecai, Ji Yuxiu, and Li Xue. With a capable and efficient eldest sister-in-law and a wise and mature second brother leading the way, it would be impossible for them not to become successful and mature.
The reason Li Shun dared to go to the mountains for two or three years and not care about anything at home was because he saw that his children could stand on their own.
Without the children causing trouble, even Liu Yin and the old lady felt at ease. In the past few years, there have been no quarrels or conflicts, and they have been free from illness and disaster, and everything has gone smoothly.
No matter how capable Li Xuewu is, he can't possibly handle everything. The only person the family can rely on is his sister-in-law, Zhao Yafang.
He never complained about his sister-in-law's personality before. If a man doesn't have that kind of magnanimity, he shouldn't be out doing business.
He was generous and modest, and he also managed to appease his sister-in-law. The two of them worked together to manage the large family and take care of their own small family. How could the Li family's life not be prosperous?
When a brother-in-law can do this much, then as the wife's family, both Zhao Gen and Yin Mancang will remember the kindness.
They remembered Li Xuewu's kindness, but didn't say anything about repaying the favor, because they already knew they couldn't. They each understood that he was a true relative, and they could only maintain a good relationship.
Neither Zhao Gen nor Yin Mancang showed any intention of asking for favors or doing anything when they came to the Li family's house for dinner today.
Speaking of Zhao Yaping was completely unintentional; if she hadn't drunk a bit too much, she wouldn't have gotten that gap in her mouth.
After leaving the house, Zhao Gen had a problem with his brother-in-law, blaming him for bringing up the matter at the dinner table and causing trouble for his in-laws.
Yin Mancang was also a little embarrassed. He really didn't expect this matter to be handled so quickly; he had only mentioned it because he felt sorry for his niece.
Looking back, it really shouldn't have been done, especially since Zhao Yajun and his wife were still at the dinner table. Bringing it up in front of the Li family seemed like forcing the young couple to bring their girlfriend to the city. It also seemed like they were implying the young couple weren't taking care of their home and asking the Li family to help take care of the child.
In any case, he would please neither side. Zhao Yajun was honest and simple and wouldn't say anything, but as his uncle, he couldn't remain silent, lest the young couple feel upset about this.
Zhao Yajun and Wang Lu were also in a dilemma. Before they could even speak, their eldest sister and second brother changed the subject.
They settled Ya Ping's arrangements after entering the city in just a few words; if they spoke any further, it would seem like they weren't sincere.
The uncle's apology and explanation made the young couple feel guilty and remorseful, making the meal quite uncomfortable.
Looking at the Li family, after seeing off her father and uncle, and then her younger brother and sister-in-law, Zhao Yafang felt quite guilty.
"Yaping will only be thirteen after the New Year, and Xiaoning is already overwhelmed taking care of two children by herself at home..."
"I was just worried you'd feel uncomfortable."
Li Xuewu smiled and, seeing his sister-in-law walk a few steps slower as she returned to the house, he took the initiative to stand in the yard and listen to her talk.
“I can tell that your uncle meant well. You don’t need to be embarrassed. Your parents are not stingy people.”
"Yes, I didn't think much about that."
Although she said that, Zhao Yafang still raised her hand somewhat shyly to tidy her hair behind her ear.
When her uncle brought this up at the dinner table, the one who felt most awkward wasn't her second brother, but rather her, as the eldest sister.
On one side is her husband's family, on the other side is her own family, and on the other side are her younger brother and sister-in-law. Being caught in the middle is not a good situation.
"Don't worry about it. It's not like we don't need you."
Li Xuewu, with his hands in his coat pockets, said to his sister-in-law, "We only have two rooms in our house. Where do you want Yaping to stay?"
Although my older brother and sister-in-law have Li Tang, they've only been married for four years. It's fine for my sister-in-law to come over for a couple of days, but if she stays for too long, she'll get restless.
Besides, in the countryside, there's no such thing as a single kang (heated brick bed) for the whole family to sleep on, but that's not so good in the city.
Zhao Yaping will be thirteen years old after the New Year. She will sleep on the same kang (a heated brick bed) with her older sister and brother-in-law. If this goes on for too long, people will gossip about her.
Zhao Yafang also thought of this, and frowned slightly, saying, "I want her to live in the east courtyard with Li Xue and Yuxiu."
"Well, our house has plenty of space in both the front and back yards, but do you think it's suitable?"
Li Xuewu raised an eyebrow and said, "Yuxiu and Li Xue both work, and after work, their lives and rest are not in sync with the students' schedules."
He cautioned, "My backyard house is empty, but would you dare let her live there alone?"
“This—” Zhao Yafang frowned slightly.
Let alone letting her younger sister live alone in the backyard, even if Li Xue were to move to the backyard, her in-laws would not allow it.
Don't be fooled by how secure this courtyard is, where it's not easy for anyone to get in. What if someone does? Li Xue is a young lady, after all.
Another thing is that many families have moved away from this compound, making it empty and deserted. If something happens, people won't even know where to call for help.
It's really ruined their reputation; it'll be too late to regret it then.
So when Li Xuewu asked her, she hesitated and couldn't answer.
“It’s rare for Uncle to be so kind to the girl. Don’t take what Uncle Gen says to heart. Just let her go to my place.”
Li Xuewu comforted her, saying, "If we can really support another student to go to university, you, as the older sister, will also be honored."
"Sigh—how could I even dream of that?" Zhao Yafang sighed and looked at Li Xuewu, saying, "Even if I went to study in the city, what good would it do? Nowadays, all the city kids are going to the countryside."
"This is different, don't overthink it."
Li Xuewu's expression became more serious, but he lowered his voice and said, "The education system will be restored sooner or later, in just two or three years at most. It is the foundation of development."
“Really!” Zhao Yafang had no doubt about her second brother-in-law’s keen insight into the political situation and the circumstances. She was just surprised by his confidence and his judgment of the future.
"If enrollment could really resume..."
Hope returned to her eyes; she thought that if her family could raise another college student, it would be more than just an honor.
My younger sister got to study in the city because of her, and she felt proud when she went home, even though that pride came from her second brother-in-law.
“It’s inconvenient for her to go to school while living at home. You can’t just take her to school yourself, can you?” Li Xuewu nodded and said, “That would be such a long detour, and my older brother doesn’t have the time.”
“What if Xuecai and Yuxiu get married this year?” He reminded his sister-in-law, “Even Li Xue has to go back home to live. I was thinking of having my parents move to the backyard.”
"Yes, it's hard to believe that the third brother is getting married soon."
Zhao Yafang holds an administrative position at the school. Although her understanding of the situation and policies is not as advanced as Li Xuewu's, she can tell from the current situation of junior and senior high school graduates being resettled in rural areas that college students should also be assigned jobs after graduation.
Once Li Xuecai gets a job, Ji Yuxiu, who has been waiting for the third son for several years, will definitely be able to marry into the family.
With the third son getting married and Li Xue growing up, there was a lot of preparation and arrangement to be made for the family.
Think about it, her younger sister was only 9 years old when she got married, and now she's all grown up. Time really flies.
“There’s a school bus from my house to the United School. Li Shu is going to school now, so it’s good that someone can take care of her, so she won’t always be thinking about playing.”
Seeing his sister-in-law's distress, Li Xuewu smiled and comforted her, "Don't say I have no ulterior motives. You should go home more often this weekend. I'm worried about leaving my mother and children at home."
"What are you talking about? You think I won't go if you don't say anything?" Zhao Yafang scolded him. "Mom was just saying the other day, what will happen to the family if you go to Gangcheng?"
“There’s no other way, Xiao Ning lives there because it’s closer to her workplace.” Li Xuewu nodded and said, “If it weren’t for this, I would have let her come home to live.”
"And you? When are you leaving?"
Zhao Yafang looked at him and asked, "Even if you're busy with work, can't you come back once every ten days or half a month?"
"How can you say for sure? I won't feel at ease when I come back until I've sorted out the work."
Li Xuewu shook his head slightly, glanced at the house, and instructed, "You should ask around more on the mountain. Don't make Uncle Gen feel embarrassed. Try to give the girl a chance."
"I've already arranged the rest with Wang Lu. She'll handle the transfer procedures at the joint school. It'll be a lot of work for her."
This arrangement does not mean that Li Xuewu has no connections in the education system. On the contrary, he only needs to make a phone call to Ran Qiuye to help Zhao Yaping get into school.
Then why does Wang Lu still need to handle the paperwork?
It's very simple. He has to make the call. He can't keep Ran Qiuye in the dark, otherwise it will cause trouble if there's a misunderstanding.
But we can't ignore Wang Lu and Zhao Yajun, otherwise the guilt in our hearts will turn into resentment.
It's a good idea to use a sister-in-law's help; no one can say anything wrong with that, and it saves Li Xuewu the trouble of getting involved.
If he were to make the arrangements, it might not be a good thing for Zhao Yaping, as many eyes would be watching her.
***
Tuesday, January 14th.
Since the two levels of regulatory authorities issued consecutive notices and the investigation team withdrew, the atmosphere in the unit has recovered somewhat.
However, the corridor was still not lively, and everyone spoke cautiously, fearing that if the city gate caught fire, the innocent bystanders would be affected.
Even the group's leaders have saved themselves a lot of trips for research and inspections, staying in their offices to avoid trouble, let alone them.
It's always a case of the devils fighting, and the underlings suffer. The case involves so many people, and the authorities are still investigating it.
The major cases have already been let off the hook, but Director Li said that if we're going to investigate, we must investigate to the end and eradicate all evil.
I don't know where all this "evil" comes from amidst the group's promising future of rapid growth. Anyway, just be careful.
The atmosphere was a bit too tense today, especially after the factory newspaper announced the final results of the group's Top Ten Youths and Top Ten Golden Flowers selection, which began last month.
hum-
Not long after I started work, I heard a low murmur in the hallway; there were too many people talking.
Li Xuewu also noticed the newspapers stacked on his desk, one corner pointing directly to the front page headline of the United Industries Daily.
In those days, almost every workplace held award selection events, such as the standard ones like "Advanced Individual," "Production Model Worker," and "Outstanding Cadre." There were also less mainstream ones, like the Hongxing Steel Group, which held events like "Top Ten Youths" and "Ten Golden Flowers."
In previous years, units and factories would have awards for outstanding individuals and production pacesetters, which were distributed proportionally.
This year, we have completed the initial transformation of our group-level organizational structure, which has been stretched from a factory-level management structure to a group-level management structure.
In the process of formulating and selecting honorary titles, it is necessary to focus on the work of the unit. Using titles such as "production pacesetter" for evaluation would seem somewhat undeserving.
Therefore, Li Xuewu proposed at the meeting that a separate competition be held within the three-tiered unit management system. There would be a total of twenty slots, and those who made the list would naturally receive focused training.
Other leaders in the group also felt that this was appropriate, as it neither took up the honorary quota of the production unit nor deviated from the principle of innovation.
If we can truly make this new honor valuable, I believe that the unit's cadres and staff will also have the same work enthusiasm as production workers.
Well, here we are! Twenty rising stars have been selected, just as everyone has been eagerly anticipating.
This is what everyone's been talking about most lately; nobody wants to be on the list.
Whether it's organizational recommendation, self-recommendation, or organizational review, the multiple selection channels give young cadres a sense of purpose in their efforts.
And you know what? This last month of the year is the busiest and most tiring, because something always seems to happen somewhere.
But this year, the young cadres worked diligently, and their attitude prevented any potential problems from arising.
Li Huaide also remarked at the meeting that if young cadres could maintain the work attitude and spirit they displayed this month, the three-year plan, which was about to be completed, would soon yield results. Even the five-year plan could have its timeframe significantly shortened, and its tasks exceeded.
That's what he thought, but he also knew it was impossible. Without the incentive of honor, these young people wouldn't be willing to put in their heart and effort.
If there's a monthly evaluation, then the honor becomes worthless, and young people won't pursue it anymore.
Therefore, while encouraging young cadres to work enthusiastically, we must also fully guarantee the value of honor.
Coordinating the relevant relationships is crucial, and the first batch of "Top Ten" and "Golden Flowers" are all the more precious, given that the selection is held every three years.
Have you read the United Industries Daily?
Fan Hua passed by the office and saw Wang Lu there, so he walked in and whispered to her, "Your Zhao Yajun is on the list."
"I saw it a long time ago, just waiting for Comrade Wang Lu to treat us—" a young secretary joked in the office.
"Hehehe——"
Whether it was genuine or just envy and jealousy, everyone burst into laughter.
At this point, no one would be so foolish as to say anything irrelevant. Leaving aside Wang Lu's background and connections, we also need to consider who brought up the topic.
Fan Hua is the director of the External Affairs Office of the Comprehensive Management Department, a junior leader.
"Okay, okay, I'll treat you then."
Wang Lu was quite generous, smiling as she told everyone, "But we should also be modest; celebrating at this time would be too ostentatious."
"Who can say no now!"
An older woman in the office exclaimed, "Your Captain Zhao truly accomplished a special mission last year, and this honor is well-deserved. Anyone who goesssips about it is asking for trouble."
"That's right—that's right—"
Regardless of what others think, Wang Lu is already satisfied as long as they can say these words.
These ten outstanding young people and ten outstanding young women may seem to be living a glamorous life, but in reality, they have become targets in the eyes of the younger employees in their workplaces.
Of course, newspapers promote role models, but sometimes role models are just targets.
She didn't want to offend her office colleagues, so she went along with what they were saying and offered to treat them to a meal, partly to shut them up.
I don't expect them to say anything good about Zhao Yajun when they go out; I just hope they won't say anything bad about her.
Fan Hua, being a clever man, watched their interaction with a smile, patted her on the shoulder, and reminded her, "Don't forget to invite me when you treat us." Then he left.
Even the department head offered to treat her to a meal; she was truly showing off her status. Everyone looked at Wang Lu with even greater enthusiasm.
A good reputation can sometimes be like oil on a hot stove—it's not all good. Don't be overly cautious, but also don't flaunt it everywhere.
Wang Lu's humility and politeness finally put her colleagues at ease. They had praised her and complimented her, but she didn't become arrogant, so they gave up on her.
Do you really think they were just being kind and praising Wang Lu?
Stop joking around. There are no good people in this workplace. They'd love for Zhao Yajun to gain power while Wang Lu is arrogant and losing ground.
They are unwilling and unable to support someone's progress, but it is far too easy for them to ruin someone.
Wang Lu also felt mentally exhausted, because this time the winners were all around thirty years old, too young and dazzling.
Top Ten Youths:
Xu Ning, Deputy General Manager of the Energy Corporation.
Zhao Yajun, Training Supervisor of the Group's Security Department.
Han Zhan, manager of the security department of the metallurgical plant.
Han Tianfu, Vice President of Beijing United Hospital.
Liu Xinhua, supervisor of the construction company.
Li Yang, deputy director of Gangcheng Automobile Manufacturing Plant.
Zhou Jianshe, Production Supervisor at Beijing Steel Rolling Mill.
Zhou Tan, Deputy Head of the Technical Section of the Group's Technical Department.
Chen Fengshou, Product Department, Steel City Electronics Manufacturing Plant.
Han Wenming, Labor Protection Department of the Group's Workers' Union.
If the work resumes of the Ten Outstanding Young People featured in the United Industries Daily were eye-catching, then the introductions of the Ten Outstanding Women were even more noteworthy.
Ten Golden Flowers:
Li Xue, Deputy Head of the Finance Section of the Group's Finance Department.
Yu Haitang, Director of the Radio Station of the Literature and Art Publishing House.
Zhou Yao, Manager of the Group's Security Department.
Wang Xiaotang, Deputy Director of the Organization Department of the Energy Corporation.
Zhang Songying, Deputy General Manager of the Sales Headquarters.
Shangguan Qi, Project Manager of the Group's Scientific Research Institute.
Ran Qiuye, Principal of the Secondary School of the United School.
Han Yating, General Manager of Hongxing International Hotel.
Wang Meiqi, Deputy Director of the Supervision Department of the Food Corporation.
Zhu Chaoying, Deputy Chief Designer of Yingcheng Shipbuilding.
Is there any sarcastic remark?
Yes, there are all sorts of people in any workplace, with varying personalities, so it's not surprising that sarcastic remarks might come out.
However, the United Industrial News not only published the list of the top ten young people and the top ten golden flowers, but also posted the reasons for the selection and evaluation, as well as their personal work experience.
Looking at those who didn't get elected, and comparing them to the names in the newspaper, even if you want to say something sarcastic, you have to find a secluded place to say it.
If I were to say it out loud, I'm afraid people would laugh at me.
Of these twenty people, who can they choose to be picky about?
Xu Ning started as a security guard in the security department. Over four years, he experienced a great deal, working in a guesthouse, the security department of a metallurgical plant, and a border office. He was then sent by the group to the port city for training.
At the age of 27, he has reached the position of deputy manager-level vice president. His resume is truly impressive.
The person who gave him the evaluation in the United Industrial News was not Li Xuewu, the old leader of the Security Department, but Director Li, the top leader of the group.
Director Li spoke highly of him, praising his achievements at the frontier office and his success in sales, which led to his being ranked first among the top ten young people.
Of course, the top ten youths are not ranked, only ordered. But having his name listed first is already a privilege.
Zhao Yajun had served in Japan on security duties for a training course; Han Zhan was the group's toughest cadre in the Liaodong Industrial Zone; Han Tianfu was the best doctor at the Joint Hospital...
If there's one person among the top ten youths who's worth talking about, it's probably Zhou Tan, the deputy head of the technical section of the technical department.
However, to be fair, one cannot say his skills are lacking, nor can one say his achievements are insufficient. His resume contains numerous design achievements that are clearly marked, leaving no room for criticism.
But there is one thing: his lover is Zhou Miaomiao.
Zhou Miaomiao's reputation speaks for itself, and even if Zhou Tan's resume is dazzling, it will still raise suspicions when compared to this.
As for what he suspects, I won't explain; those who know, know. If you really wanted to say that he got those ten spots on the list of top ten youths by sleeping with his wife, he'd probably be spitting blood.
However, Zhou Tan has always been humble and low-key, and even if he happens to overhear some gossip, he pretends not to hear it.
It wasn't that he was a coward, but he felt it wasn't worth it. His life was his own, and other people's gossip was their business. If he really wanted to get angry and upset them, could he deny Zhou Miaomiao's past?
In the end, the couple still drifted apart, making a spectacle for others to watch.
He lives in a big house, rides a small motorcycle, and is the deputy head of the design department, a key young member of the design team. With these advantages and abilities, let others say what they want.
The heated discussion surrounding the "Top Ten Outstanding Young People" stems from the benefits associated with this honorary title; these individuals are expected to receive special attention and development.
Unlike the "Ten Golden Flowers," the male comrades are more energetic and have more room for advancement. In the next few years, these "Ten Young People" are very likely to represent the group's cadre training direction.
Whether it's a deputy supervisor or a deputy manager, the term lasts three years. By then, they'll probably be at least deputy managers.
So everyone felt a sour taste in their mouths, a mixture of envy, jealousy, and hatred.
People now comment on the names in the newspapers, but perhaps in less than three years, they'll be calling those names "leader."
Compared to the "Top Ten Outstanding Youths," the discussion of the "Ten Golden Flowers" carries less weight, but it is much more diverse in its themes.
The title of "Golden Flower" is not based on beauty; otherwise, what would the group's activities become?
The "Golden Flower" award represents the outstanding qualities of young female cadres in the Hongxing Steel Group, and is awarded based on work performance.
Coincidentally, the women selected this time not only have outstanding work performance, but also generally have striking appearances.
If we're talking about who's ugly, there's only one: Zhu Chaoying, the deputy chief designer of Yingcheng Shipbuilding. She has a masculine appearance, is resolute and serious, and shows no trace of feminine gentleness. She's also quite meticulous in her work.
Looking at the other "golden flowers," Li Xue is young and promising, Yu Haitang was once the "factory flower," and Shangguan Qi is also a great beauty.
Like Zhu Chaoying, Zhou Yao also has short hair and works in the security department, but she looks more dashing and feminine.
Others, such as Han Yating and Zhang Songying, also know how to dress up and look very beautiful and elegant in the photos.
This did cause some gossip, not because it questioned the selection criteria, but because it coincided with the results of a group beauty pageant that some idle people had been organizing in private recently.
At the time, opinions varied, but everyone's eyes were on the performing arts troupe, knowing that it was a place known for its beautiful women.
Even Zhou Miaomiao, who had already been transferred out of the performing arts troupe, was being discussed; they didn't seem to care about her reputation.
Even Director Li couldn't help but call her a woman with a disease, so of course they felt she deserved to be in a beauty pageant.
It was precisely the idle and pointless actions of these people that led to the addition of a woman to the gossip, someone who had nothing to do with the Ten Golden Flowers.
Who? Wang Yajuan, deputy head of the cultural troupe.
Wang Yajuan used to be very low-key. After arriving at the Red Star Factory, she quickly left the dance troupe and never wore a bodysuit again.
That's why many people don't know there's such a beautiful woman in the performing arts troupe.
Wang Yajuan's ability to stand out among the young women of the hutongs and win Li Xuewu's heart is certainly not without merit.
Having practiced dance for many years, coupled with the poise she developed after being promoted, she is very attractive.
As the topic of her story spread, it took a turn for the worse. Some busybodies dug into her private life and discovered that she was "going" to get married.
If yes, why is it enclosed in quotation marks?
It's quite simple. When the busybodies found out, Wang Yajuan was originally going to get married, but when it came time for the selection, for some reason she decided not to get married and canceled the engagement.
The man she went on a blind date with was confused and angry, not knowing what she was thinking. All the preparations for the wedding were complete, and the wedding day was at the end of the month, when she suddenly said she didn't want to get married anymore.
Marriage is a matter of personal freedom, and no one can interfere with her decision. However, this sudden cancellation of the engagement still made her "hot" again due to the beauty pageant topic brought about by the "Ten Golden Flowers" incident.
Gossip only sparks discussion when it's highly topical. Saying that Zhou Yao, the security manager, once threw a leader of the work group over her shoulder and stomped on him at a large meeting is too boring. If it were a story like "After Breaking Off the Engagement, I Became the CEO's Darling," everyone would be ready with their little stools!
However, rumors come and go quickly.
The reason people say they left quickly isn't because they stopped gossiping about Wang Yajuan, but because they suddenly found they had nothing left to say.
Because Wang Yajuan walked fast.
After the transfer order came down, he left, being transferred from the position of deputy head of the group's cultural troupe to the position of head of the metallurgical plant's cultural troupe in Gangcheng.
It's hard to say whether it's progress or just a choice to avoid the rumors. Anyway, the person is gone, so there's nothing more to say.
However, some speculate that perhaps Wang Yajuan knew she was being transferred, or that she and her partner had a disagreement about it. After all, there are many examples of people choosing between work and family.
On one hand, there's progress and separation; on the other, there's family and giving up opportunities. This seems to provide a justification, and the rumors gradually dissipated amidst a few sighs.
******
"Hey! Don't say I'm being unreasonable!"
Xiao Jianjun smiled and shook hands with Li Yuanchao, then nodded to Zhang Haiyang and said, "Isn't that a good friend?"
"No doubt about it, they came all the way from afar to see us off."
Dressed in a light green outfit, Zhang Haiyang said cheerfully, "Even our journey here can't compare to yours."
"Hahaha--"
Li Yuanchao and the others laughed. He patted Zhang Haiyang on the shoulder and pointed at Xiao Jianjun, saying, "He's cunning!"
"You can tell me if I've come to see you off."
Xiao Jianjun smiled and looked at them, saying, "I rushed back from the border and only rested for one night before coming to see you off, is that right?"
"Alright, buddy, I appreciate your kindness."
Li Yuanchao smiled, put his arm around his shoulder and gave him a hug, saying with emotion, "But who knows when we'll see each other again, buddy."
"You'll have to leave again this time, won't you?"
He shook his head slightly and said, "It's not easy for us to go to the frontier, and it's even harder for you to come back. If we were to come back to visit our families and you happened to be back in Beijing, that would be incredibly difficult."
"Fate brings us together from afar. As long as our friendship remains, we'll meet again sooner or later."
Xiao Jianjun could see the desolation on his face, and said with a smile, "Do you, Li Yuanchao, need to be so petty?"
"Sigh, looking at you, I know I really have to go through this process and go out to train for a few years."
Li Yuanchao and Xiao Jianjun had known each other for a long time, but they weren't that close. They got to know each other again at the club.
Xiao Jianjun happened to be back this time and knew they were leaving today, so he thought he would come and see them off.
More than half of the club's youth club members have left, and Zuo Jie has been busy seeing them off these past few days.
Moreover, Zuo Jie had something on his mind and didn't want to see such a farewell scene, so he inevitably thought of Luo Yun.
Luo Yun had already left, having left the capital around the same time as Zhou Xiaobai, and he did not go to see him off.
Luo Yun didn't say "break up," but he knew it didn't mean Luo Yun would still remember him. Maybe he'd receive a breakup letter in a month, maybe he wouldn't receive one for a year.
If no letters are received, it means that the two have completely broken up.
Xiao Jianjun returned to register his marriage with Su Yu, and then the two of them went to the border region together.
He was conscripted by Zuo Jie to escort Li Yuanchao and his party, so he wasn't a stranger.
That's why this scene happened on the train station platform.
At this time, Xiao Jianjun had long since shed the naivety of four years ago; his skin was somewhat dark, and he was no longer as impetuous as before.
He wasn't intimidated at all talking to a seasoned veteran like Li Yuanchao; in fact, he seemed quite at ease.
Li Yuanchao has been living off his family for the past two years and envies those with real abilities the most.
When Xiao Jianjun returned after several years of training, not only was his expensive leather jacket a shocking sight, but his entire outfit was also quite intimidating.
Putting money aside, it's not that he's short of money; he sold his car and still has several thousand yuan in hand.
But if he really wanted to dress with the same flair as Xiao Jianjun, he felt he really needed to follow his father's advice and go out and train.
What's the old saying?
Even if you were dressed in a dragon robe, you wouldn't look like a prince. Without charisma, no matter how fine the clothes are, your true nature won't be revealed.
“It would be good to go out and train for a few years.” Xiao Jianjun patted his shoulder and said, “You’ve always been in the capital and haven’t seen the customs and culture outside. A good man should have ambitions beyond his hometown.”
"Now that you say that, I feel much better."
Li Yuanchao chuckled and sized up Xiao Jianjun, saying, "I don't want to be like you, going back to the capital to choose horses even after arriving at the Tianshan Grassland. I want to conquer the entire grassland."
"Hehehe—" Zhang Haiyang chuckled and winked, "Don't say that. If you were really assigned to the grasslands, you wouldn't be happy about it."
“Then send me to the frontier,” Li Yuanchao said with a grin. “Send me to Xiao Jianjun’s yurt. I’m going to show up in front of him and give him a big scare!”
"Stop talking nonsense. Who told you I live in a yurt?" Xiao Jianjun glared at him, amused and annoyed, and said, "If you are really sent to the frontier, I promise to treat you well. I'm just afraid you won't want to go, or you won't be able to stay there."
“Don’t tell me—” Li Yuanchao raised an eyebrow and said, “I’ll stand guard for you then!”
"Come on, someone like you?"
Xiao Jianjun glanced at him, then laughed and said, "I was afraid you'd lose sight of the gate!"
……
Jianguomen Railway Station in Beijing.
From the plaza outside the station to the platform.
The bustling station squares and platforms are always filled with heartbreaking scenes of bidding farewell to loved ones.
At this moment, the square and platform were not just a random scene in some corner, but the entire station was immersed in the melancholy of parting.
However, this somber atmosphere was completely out of place with the overall decoration of the station.
The square was surrounded by colorful flags fluttering in the wind, the sky above the square was filled with colorful balloons, and a huge red banner hung on the station platform.
The sound of gongs and drums resounded throughout the square...
(End of this chapter)