Chapter 168: The Cost Of Breaking The Cauldrons And Sinking The Boats
Ding Jianshe saw Lu Qiaoge standing in the doorway, and he didn’t know what to do.
He just felt that life was bleak and without a way out.
Lu Qiaoge stepped forward and said, “Uncle Ding, someone called the Neighborhood Committee, and it happened to be me who answered. The caller seemed to be in their forties, said this matter, and then hung up.”
Now calls are transferred around, and it would be possible to find out who called, but the cost was too high, so Ding Jianshe wouldn’t even consider it.
“I didn’t tell the director or other colleagues,” Lu Qiaoge added.
Hearing this, Ding Jianshe was stunned, thought for a moment, and said, “I’ll think about it.”
Lu Qiaoge had always felt that Ding Jianshe’s matter was hard to handle.
Mainly because the cost of breaking the boats and sinking the cauldrons was a bit high.
Ding Jianshe was still working overtime over there. He gratefully glanced at Lu Qiaoge: “Thank you for not telling others. It’s time to get off work now, so hurry home.”
Lu Qiaoge watched Ding Jianshe enter the Factory Department and asked the Little Yellow Dog that had been watching his back: “What do you want to do now?”
【I want to go back to accompany my little master. Thank you, Little Fairy.】
Hua Hua: 【That’s right, hurry up and go. Run faster and you might get home before dark.】
Little Yellow Dog backed away several steps, barked woof woof woof several times, then looked at Lu Qiaoge and whimpered for a long time before running toward the corner of the Family Courtyard wall.
There was a small door there. Although it was always closed during the day, little cats and little dogs could crawl out under the iron railings.
Of course, bigger ones couldn’t.
Lu Qiaoge called out to Little Yellow Dog: “Come home with me. You haven’t eaten all day, have you? I’ll fix you something to eat. Eat your fill before you go.”
Little Yellow Dog was anxious, but its belly was starved flat. When Lu Qiaoge mentioned it, it couldn’t stand the hunger even more.
But it was very anxious and wagged its tail: 【No, I can hold on. I’m going.】
After saying that, Little Yellow Dog quickly ran toward the small door.
Lu Qiaoge told Grey Pigeon to go home. When passing near the Factory Department with Xiao Cangcang, she let it down, and Xiao Cangcang said it was going to the Scrap Workshop.
Xiao Cangcang said: 【Wait until autumn, and I’ll take you to Yuanbao Mountain. The medicinal herbs will definitely be mature by then.】
It had found the location of the medicinal herbs but couldn’t be 100% sure, since they were still in the growing period. It was said that harvesting when snow falls was the best.
Lu Qiaoge exhorted it to be careful.
After Xiao Cangcang flew away, Lu Qiaoge rode her bicycle home.
Now that summer had arrived, the weather was extremely hot and stuffy, but Meng Xia’s courtyard was very lively.
Meng Xia was on summer vacation now. Apart from occasionally cleaning, she had nothing else to do. She was someone who couldn’t stay idle and had gone back to her old trade of making paper boxes.
However, Xiao Si didn’t help; he was reviewing his lessons to prepare for school. Even so, Meng Xia’s place was lively. After Grandma Sun came by chance and was shocked to discover how cool the Lu Family Courtyard was, she brought things over and made paper boxes with Meng Xia.
In just a few days, it turned into a team here.
Meng Xia didn’t become the team leader; Grandma Sun became the team leader.
These people chatted while making paper boxes, and Old Mrs. Lu was the happiest.
She said to Meng Xia, “Qiao Ge works at the Neighborhood Committee. She’s young and pretty, not only excels at work but is also dating Representative Qin. If someone likes her, someone will be jealous. That’s normal. We can’t say all those who are jealous are bad people. There are always people in any era who hate others’ happiness because they have none, so let these people come if they like. It can also build mass support for our Qiao Ge.”
Meng Xia looked at her mother-in-law in shock.
“Mom, that’s amazing. You put it so reasonably. Okay, I’ll listen to you.”
At this time, these people had all taken their things home to cook. Those encountered halfway greeted Lu Qiaoge warmly.
Lu Qiaoge also smiled and called out to them one by one.
Entering the courtyard, the fragrance hit her nose.
Su Hui was now on the early shift and came back early, but with Meng Xia at home, she basically didn’t need to do much.
The fragrance came from pan-fried tofu. Although this method used a lot of oil, Lu Qiaoge liked to eat it, so the Lu Family basically ignored that point.
The fried tofu cubes were thickened with sauce and sprinkled with tender green scallion leaves—absolutely a feast for the eyes, nose, and taste buds.
Paired with a mouthful of rice, it could make anyone dizzy with delight.
After dinner, Lu Qiaoling sat there and talked about the Food Factory. These sixteen workers were all very good and basically didn’t need Lu Qiaoge to worry.
Lu Qiaoling wrinkled her nose and said, “Second Sister, why are people’s mouths so annoying sometimes?”
Lu Qiaoge asked her, “Someone said something to you?”
Lu Qiaoling nodded and then shook her head, thought for a moment, and said, “Some people just say weird things. For example, on my way home from work, I ran into a classmate and her mom, and then her mom said, ‘Oh, Qiao Ling, you have a good second sister who’s really gone all out for you. Look, she set up a whole Food Factory and finally got you a job.'”
Lu Qiaoge said indifferently, “If it weren’t for you and Sister-in-law, they might say I’m doing it to curry favor with Director Hu. But if it weren’t for Hu Ze, they might speculate from those few people and think either I fancy someone or took someone’s money. Many people like to speculate about others with dirty minds. That’s human nature. Let them talk; don’t take it to heart.”
Meng Xia over there said, “People’s mouths are two flaps of skin—whatever they say sounds reasonable. Your second sister is right. Why take fart words to heart? Aren’t you afraid it’ll stink?”
Lu Da had been secretly preparing for the eighth-grade worker exam these days and came back very late every day after overtime.
He was eating now and knew Lu Qiaoge was going to attend the welcome banquet. He felt very honored and proud.
“Qiao Ling, remember: work well, be a good person, be down-to-earth and hardworking, and no one will dare say bad things about you to your face.”
Yeah, that was the common view of elders.
Lu Da added, “If you’re upright, you won’t fear your shadow being slanted!”
This was said for Lu Qiaoge to hear. Lu Qiaoge nodded immediately: “Dad, I’ve got it!”
Lu Da chuckled: “I heard about you saving Ding Jianshe even in Workshop One. The factory will definitely vigorously publicize your good deed. You must be humble.”
Lu Qiaoge mumbled an agreement.
Intuitively, Lu Qiaoge felt that something was probably going to happen with Ding Jianshe.
Maybe a big problem, maybe a small one.
But in any case, her act of saving someone accompanied by gossip wouldn’t be so positive and exemplary.
So when Lu Qiaoge saw Qin Hengzhi, she told him directly: “Rewards are fine, but skip the commendation. Ding Jianshe’s situation is a bit complicated.”
Qin Hengzhi raised an eyebrow.
As far as he knew, the interview was just this afternoon—how had it changed by evening?
“Ding Jianshe himself has a problem?” Qin Hengzhi asked gravely.
Lu Qiaoge didn’t tell Qin Hengzhi that he had actually attempted suicide.
Lu Qiaoge: “Yes, he has a problem.”
Qin Hengzhi didn’t ask what happened and just nodded: “Okay, I’ll go talk to Director Hao and have him give a heads-up to the Propaganda Section.”
