Chapter 49: I’ll Introduce Her To Someone!
Director Hu waved his hand, stopping everyone’s discussions.
“Report the screening results, then get off work.”
When it was Shao Le and Lu Qiaoge’s turn, Director Hu was shocked. He and Old Huang had been busy outside and not in the office, so they naturally couldn’t receive the call from Cadre Liu.
So they still didn’t know the case was solved and the lost chickens and ducks had all been found back.
Thus, he praised the two of them, then waved his hand generously letting them get off work, but they had to come early in the afternoon to continue the screening.
At the same time, Qin Hengzhi had led his comrades to assist the residents in relocating and had already returned to the Military Representative Office.
After rushing through a shower, Secretary Xiao Su reported something to him: “Today some factory leader asked me if Master Lu’s mother came to the Military Representative Office to make a scene. They said it had already spread in the factory area that Master Lu’s mother declared you must take responsibility for Lu Qiaoge’s innocence. Deputy Director Lin said he’s preparing to send Women’s Federation cadres at noon to have a heart-to-heart talk with Master Lu’s mother…”
Qin Hengzhi frowned slightly. He had heard it from Lu Qiaoge, so he wasn’t surprised.
After pondering for a moment, he said faintly, “Go get some of the rice fish you picked up. I’m going to feed the cat.”
This morning, the warriors of the Military Representative Office chose the lakeside for morning exercise.
Qin Hengzhi had them all bring buckets and net bags. After training, they picked up quite a few fish and shrimp to add to the noon meal.
The Military Representative Office had its own canteen, not together with the factory’s big canteen.
Xiao Su was stunned: “Feed the cat? Whose cat?”
“Lu Qiaoge’s cat.”
The usually quick-witted Xiao Su had a bit of a mental short circuit and didn’t understand why Representative Qin wanted to feed the cat.
But executing orders was ingrained in his actions, so he turned to make the arrangements.
But Xiao Su felt again that there was something off about this matter.
But he didn’t dare to speculate casually.
At this time, Lu Qiaoge hadn’t left. She said to Old Hu, “Director Hu, I just asked around. This year’s unemployed youth have increased by about thirty percent compared to last year, and the educated youth not returning to the city are three times last year’s number. If we can’t give them job opportunities, I’m afraid the public security office will be busy in the future.”
Old Hu said, “The city’s Educated Youth Office is about to issue a document. Educated youth who stay without reason must all return to their insertion points, otherwise they’ll be treated as blind floating personnel.”
Lu Qiaoge blinked. Blind floating meant drifters. If her younger sister’s medical certificate was deemed invalid, she would be in that category and must be sent back to her insertion point.
That girl wouldn’t go back.
She didn’t want her to go back either.
“Director Hu, forced repatriation isn’t a long-term solution. They’ve already done remarkably by responding to the call for rural construction. Moreover, most educated youth left home at fifteen or sixteen. Rural conditions aren’t like the city’s. They’ll come back sooner or later. We might as well prepare early.”
Director Hu widened his eyeballs: “What kind of thought is this? My second son is also inserted in the rural area. I haven’t let him come back. Rural construction is very important. It’s right for them to go back.”
Lu Qiaoge didn’t refute Director Hu’s words. After all, that was the correct thought.
Director Hu was actually quite a character.
She just smiled and said, “Director Hu, I suggest the Neighborhood Committee establish a Volunteer Convenience Service Station. Initially recruit ten personnel, treated as temporary workers, affiliated with the Neighborhood Committee, but without establishment, without fixed salary, without welfare equal to the military factory’s, and sometimes requiring voluntary contribution. The purpose is to wholeheartedly serve the people. Generally, people with low awareness look down on this service station. How about this: I’ll give you a plan in the afternoon. You can decide after looking it over.”
With that, Lu Qiaoge left Director Hu’s office. By the time Director Hu thought to ask what the plan meant, Lu Qiaoge had already walked far away with lighthearted steps.
Old Hu grabbed a handful of his graying hair and was dazed for a moment.
Just as he was about to get off work, the telephone rang. He picked it up and it turned out to be Director Hao.
Director Hao had also just decided to call Director Hu.
Yesterday he and Old He had tried to keep him for half a day, but Qin Hengzhi said he had to follow the organization’s arrangement.
But he still meant to leave.
It seemed like it was to a very important place.
But just now he heard his secretary say that Qin Hengzhi and Lu Qiaoge should be familiar, not to mention the life-saving grace, but the restaurant rescue inevitably led to romantic thoughts, plus the morning chicken theft incident—his secretary happened to pass by and saw the whole thing. He felt there was more between Qin Hengzhi and Lu Qiaoge.
There were some other details he couldn’t figure out, but that didn’t stop Director Hao from calling Old Hu.
“Old Hu, how has Lu Qiaoge performed? Um, you don’t need to report to me now. Observe her for a week, then come to my office.”
Old Hu initially thought Director Hao had learned of Lu Qiaoge’s abilities and wanted to poach her.
Rightly so, both Old Hu and Old Huang felt Lu Qiaoge was a very capable comrade.
No need for long observation; a few incidents could show a person’s problem-handling level.
He hurriedly said, “Lu Qiaoge is a cadre at the Neighborhood Committee. She’s one of our key cultivation targets.”
Director Hao laughed heartily: “Don’t worry, I’m not poaching from you. If she passes the examination, I’ll introduce her a partner!”
At this time, Lu Qiaoge had no idea about this.
She pointed at the calico cat squatting on top of the wall waiting to eat fish: “I didn’t have time at noon today. After eating, I still have to write things. We’ll do it tomorrow at noon.”
But the calico cat suddenly jumped up and ran toward the front of the road.
Lu Qiaoge was puzzled, but after turning the street corner, she saw a jeep slowly pulling to a stop. A tall and straight figure got out of the car.
It was actually Qin Hengzhi.
He stood by the car door, seemingly watching with interest the calico cat jumping around at the trunk.
Lu Qiaoge hadn’t even gotten close when she heard the calico cat happily shout: 【There’s fish in the trunk, fish, so much fish.】
Lu Qiaoge didn’t find it strange. Cats’ sense of smell was much more sensitive than humans’ anyway.
Just the olfactory cells numbered over 240 million, especially after she raised Hua Hua, Hua Hua had become much better than before.
She silently looked at Qin Hengzhi.
Qin Hengzhi also shifted his gaze from the cat to its owner.
After a few seconds of stillness, Qin Hengzhi broke the silence first. He opened the trunk, uncovered the iron bucket with a lid, and let Lu Qiaoge see the fish inside.
“That day I heard your younger brother say Hua Hua likes to eat rice fish. These are basically all for Hua Hua as food.”
This time, it was Lu Qiaoge looking at Qin Hengzhi with probing eyes.
He wouldn’t do this for no reason.
Lu Qiaoge: “You’re really a good person. Not only did you save my life and help me out of the siege, but you also gave my younger brother a fishing rod. This time you even drove to bring fish for Hua Hua to eat. Our family doesn’t know how to express our endless gratitude to you. We’re truly too ashamed.”
Qin Hengzhi ignored her pretense, closed the trunk, picked up the meow meow meowing calico cat, opened the car door to put it in, and got in himself. He said to Lu Qiaoge, “Get in. There might be guests at your home looking for your grandmother to talk right now.”
Upon hearing this, Lu Qiaoge understood completely.
The rumors had definitely taken effect, and the factory leaders couldn’t sit still.
Lu Qiaoge got in the car neatly.
Qin Hengzhi curved the corners of his mouth, and the jeep slowly drove toward the Lu Family’s direction…
