Chapter 41: No Need For Such A Big Fuss
After arranging the work tasks, Huang Juan asked Lu Qiaoge: “Why haven’t you left yet? It’s almost time to get off work.”
Lu Qiaoge: “Sister Qiao and I just saw Representative Qin drive a jeep into the Family Courtyard of the Military Representative Office. I don’t know if he’s at home now or at the work unit.”
Huang Juan thought for a moment: “Representative Qin went back probably to pack things. He basically lives in the dormitory.”
Lu Qiaoge: “Then Shao Le and I will go to the Military Representative Office. If he’s not there, we’ll make an appointment with his secretary.”
Huang Juan gladly agreed.
Lu Qiaoge and Shao Le were the youngest comrades at the Neighborhood Committee, so it was more appropriate for them to discuss with Representative Qin.
For a farewell party, the other side had to be satisfied after all.
Lu Qiaoge found Shao Le who was helping at the Public Security Office: “Deputy Director Huang asked us to go to the Military Representative Office.”
Shao Le happily agreed.
After hearing this, Sister Qiao immediately called out to Lu Qiaoge: “Wait for me a moment first.”
Then Sister Qiao walked out of the Neighborhood Committee with them.
Sister Qiao said: “Qiao Ge, you need to come with me to Qi Shuang’s home first, then there’s a commute car at the crossroads over there, perfect for you to take it to the Military Representative Office.”
Lu Qiaoge glanced at Shao Le, and Shao Le immediately nodded in agreement.
As a newcomer, he had no reason to refute when an elder sister was arranging things.
Sister Qiao said to Lu Qiaoge: “Mainly because you heard it too at the time, plus Qi Shuang likes you and trusts you quite a bit. She needs to know about this. I don’t know that man from earlier, but his thoughts are incorrect. He’s not looking for a wife; he wants an old lady.”
Lu Qiaoge couldn’t feel righteous indignation. Even in the future, women wouldn’t have any substantial difference from now unless they didn’t get married.
When they arrived at Qi Shuang’s home, Qi Shuang had just gotten off work. Lu Qiaoge was about to follow Sister Qiao inside when someone from next door called out to Lu Qiaoge in a surprised voice: “Qiao Ge.”
Lu Qiaoge looked and saw it was Zhou Li. So she rented a place here.
Lu Qiaoge greeted her with a smile, and of course, there was the old black cat lying beside the child.
“Sister Zhou, hello Little Black.”
【Meow meow meow, I have a home now.】The old black cat happily jumped onto the top of the wall.
Zhou Li held Lu Qiaoge’s hand, her eyes moist, and said somewhat choking: “Thank you so much. If you hadn’t helped me, I really would have had nowhere to go.”
Being sincerely thanked made Lu Qiaoge very happy. She pointed at the old black cat: “The one you should thank most is your Little Black.”
At this time, Sister Qiao called Lu Qiaoge: “Qiao Ge, come here.”
Lu Qiaoge hurried over. Qi Shuang looked at Lu Qiaoge suspiciously and asked her: “That person… really said that?”
Sister Qiao reminded: “It’s the words we heard when we came out of the Family Courtyard of the Military Representative Office.”
Lu Qiaoge nodded and fully recounted those words.
Qi Shuang’s expression changed a bit, then she smiled and softly thanked her.
Shao Le, waiting at the main door, shouted: “The commute car is here.”
Lu Qiaoge hurriedly waved to Zhou Li and Qi Shuang, then ran toward the crossroads with Shao Le.
Sister Qiao smiled with narrowed eyes. Youth is great, always so full of vitality.
When the two arrived at the main door of the Military Representative Office, it was exactly five o’clock.
There was still half an hour until getting off work.
Next to the Factory Office was a red brick small building, which was the office for the officers stationed at the factory.
The workers liked to call it the Military Representative Office.
Standing on the cement steps, Lu Qiaoge straightened her shirt collar. Dandelions growing from the gaps in the steps brushed against her pant legs.
Lu Qiaoge looked down. She could go to the suburbs to dig for wild vegetables.
Especially dandelions, right now they were tender.
Shao Le didn’t know that Lu Qiaoge seemed serious on the surface, but in her mind she was thinking about where to dig for wild vegetables.
He couldn’t help but restrain the smile on his face.
This place gave people a sense of oppression and solemnity even before entering.
The two of them were formal cadres from Xiangyang Neighborhood Committee and entered the military factory gate with work permits.
But there were still sentries at the Military Representative Office.
After registering once again, they finally arrived at the military representative’s office.
There was still a slogan on the doorframe of the Military Representative Office: Prepare for war and famine for the people.
The door was ajar, and Shao Le took the initiative to knock.
“Please come in.”
It was Qin Hengzhi’s clear voice like pine.
Shao Le seemed somewhat dread of Qin Hengzhi, completely unlike his usual playful smile.
His action of pushing the door was also gentler.
Qin Hengzhi was standing by the window, his military uniform coat neatly draped over the chair back, shirt sleeves rolled to the elbows. It seemed casual, but because it was the Military Representative Office, it exuded an indescribable dignity.
Qin Hengzhi softened his cold demeanor, his brows and eyes very gentle, and invited the two to sit on the sofa.
Xiao Su came in to pour water for Lu Qiaoge and Shao Le, using enamel cups.
Qin Hengzhi smiled and said: “Have some water first before talking business.”
Xiao Su glanced motionlessly at his own Representative Qin and then at Lu Qiaoge sitting on the sofa.
This was Lu Qiaoge.
She was really pretty.
Xiao Su retreated with a complicated expression.
Lu Qiaoge took a sip of water; she was indeed a bit thirsty after being busy all afternoon.
Shao Le, however, gulped down all the water in the enamel cup.
Feeling he was a male comrade, he spoke first: “Representative Qin, the Neighborhood Committee and the factory labor union are jointly organizing a farewell party. After thinking it over, we still want to solicit your opinion: is it better to perform programs, or should we organize a ballroom dance?”
When mentioning the ballroom dance, Shao Le’s eyes immediately sparkled.
You know, the factory hadn’t organized one for several years.
Qin Hengzhi glanced at Lu Qiaoge sitting obediently on the sofa.
This young woman was impressive; she really got into the Neighborhood Committee.
And with the first-place grades.
Unavoidably, the image of Lu Qiaoge hysterically tearing at Shen Yun by the lakeside that day appeared before his eyes.
It felt like it wasn’t the same person.
Just one week, such a big change?
Qin Hengzhi concealed the surprise in his eyes and said mildly: “I talked to Director Hao. My departure time is uncertain. If work requires it, I might leave tomorrow. No need to make such a fuss. I appreciate the intentions of the leaders and the Neighborhood Committee.”
He actually chose neither?
Shao Le was already a bit intimidated by Qin Hengzhi and couldn’t explain why, but standing before him made him particularly constrained.
Suddenly, his expression changed. In his tension, his old problem acted up; he needed to use the toilet.
Shao Le had to stand up and asked awkwardly: “Representative Qin, I…”
Qin Hengzhi understood and pointed toward the door of the office: “Go find Xiao Su; he’s in the office next door.”
Without caring about anything else, Shao Le flushed red and hurriedly left the military representative office.
There was a moment of stillness in the room.
And a certain indescribable flavor quietly permeated.
Qin Hengzhi was the host, so there was no reason for the guest to speak first.
He asked leisurely: “You’ve now formally entered the Neighborhood Committee?”
Lu Qiaoge took out her work permit: “Yes, this is my work permit.”
What Qin Hengzhi saw at first glance was Lu Qiaoge’s photo. The corners of his mouth curved up: two black braids, smiling quite reservedly.
This photo was taken by Lu Qiaoge at the photo studio on the morning she reported to the Neighborhood Committee.
She chose express processing, picked it up the next morning, and pasted it on the work permit she had prepared in advance.
