Chapter 51: Every Sentence A Trap
Xia Juan was stopped by her colleague Gao Lan, and the questioning words were forcefully swallowed back.
Coming back to her senses, her complexion became somewhat unpleasant.
This trip of theirs seemed like a joke.
Gao Lan could see it clearly, how could she not see it clearly?
For a moment, she stood awkwardly in the Lu Family courtyard, unable to leave or stay.
Old Mrs. Lu snorted coldly and asked the two: “What else do you want to ask me?”
Xia Juan shook her head and could only say dryly: “No… nothing.”
What to ask the old lady? Didn’t they hear Representative Qin call her Grandma Lu?
Old Mrs. Lu rubbed her forehead impatiently and said: “Qiao Ge, entertain the guests. I have a headache and will go inside to lie down for a while.”
Xia Juan and Gao Lan exchanged a glance. The old lady was advanced in age; if they upset her, it wouldn’t be good.
Lu Qiaoge’s eyes turned, and she walked forward with a beaming smile: “I don’t know yet which work units you two comrades are from. Let me introduce myself first. I work at the neighborhood committee. My name is Lu Qiaoge.”
Xia Juan had to state her own name and Gao Lan’s name along with their work units.
Lu Qiaoge said enthusiastically: “So you’re comrades from the Women’s Federation. You’ve come a long way; that must have been hard. Sit down and have some water.”
With that, she was about to pour water for the two.
Gao Lan quickly stopped her. Lu Qiaoge had indeed gotten into the neighborhood committee; so the rumor was true.
“No trouble. We should be going.”
How could Lu Qiaoge let them leave just like that? She restrained the smile on her face and said: “I was at the doorway earlier and vaguely heard some things, so can you explain why you came to my home to find my grandma?”
Xia Juan didn’t speak, but Gao Lan was very straightforward and stated the purpose of their visit.
Lu Qiaoge frowned: “Who is this ‘someone’? It’s clearly stirring up trouble and sabotaging relationships between comrades. If Representative Qin hadn’t happened to pass by, my grandma might have been splashed with dirty water.”
“It was our misunderstanding. Sorry about that, Comrade Lu.” Gao Lan took the initiative to apologize.
“I wouldn’t dare say someone is using your Women’s Federation or you two as guns, but it’s close enough. My grandma never had such an idea and hasn’t said a single improper word to anyone. My family members haven’t either. But you came here all serious to question us—that’s too much. My dad will be back tonight, and I will definitely mention this to him. Although he’s just a powerless old worker, he can still report to the factory director that someone is framing him, right?”
Xia Juan was stunned for a moment and quickly said: “Didn’t we already say it’s a misunderstanding?”
Lu Qiaoge shook her head: “We can’t let the person spreading rumors go without being caught. What if this person has ulterior motives and is a local special agent trying to sabotage military-civilian relations? Would you still call it a misunderstanding?”
Local special agents?
Both of their faces changed simultaneously.
“You also know, my dad is a level seven worker in Workshop One, and Workshop One is a key workshop. My dad’s welding technology may not be the most impressive, but it has been specifically praised by Representative Qin and the high leader above.”
Gao Lan immediately said: “When your dad comes back tonight, tell him that we will definitely handle this seriously and root out the person spreading the rumor.”
Lu Qiaoge smiled slightly.
Will they handle it seriously?
Not very likely.
The one who heard it must be Deputy Director Lin, not some granny by the roadside, right?
Let them make a fuss first; once it’s out, it will be easier to handle.
After the two left, Old Mrs. Lu trotted out to look at Lu Qiaoge.
Lu Qiaoge was washing the muddy paws of the calico cat. After washing, she dried them with an old towel before letting it down to eat fish.
Cats and dogs nowadays are rarely pampered. The calico cat used to belong to Engineer Chen’s family. Later, when Engineer Chen was transferred away, it was abandoned, with an experience similar to the old black cat’s.
Xiao Si brought the gap-toothed sea bowl that Hua Hua used specifically for eating rice and put several motionless small fish inside.
The others were all carried by Lu Qiaoge and dumped into the large water basin in the shady spot.
Old Mrs. Lu hesitated, seemingly thinking about how to ask properly.
Lu Qiaoge still needed to write the plan to hand to Director Hu in the afternoon.
She said straightforwardly: “Grandma, Qin Hengzhi must have known in advance that the Women’s Federation was coming to talk to you. He didn’t want the situation to escalate, so he simply came to our home himself. Nothing is better than showing up in person, right?”
Old Mrs. Lu glanced at her second granddaughter, thought about it again and again, and finally shook her head and stopped asking.
Meng Xia was not at home. Although she had filled out the form, she still felt uneasy, so she took Lu Qiaoling to the first residents’ committee to make paper boxes.
The one cooking was Su Hui. Lu Da and his wife had told Su Hui not to do odd jobs, but how could Su Hui possibly sit still? She had started preparing lunch early.
Steamed buns made from mixed flour, cabbage tofu soup, and a plate of sliced pickled vegetables.
Seeing Lu Qiaoge come in, Su Hui quickly said: “Qiao Ge, no need for you. Do whatever you should be doing.”
Lu Qiaoge asked with concern: “Sister-in-law, how are you feeling? Is there anything you want to eat?”
Su Hui shook her head busily: “This is already very good, very good.”
By the standards of ordinary families now, it was actually really pretty good.
Lu Qiaoge smiled brightly: “When I’m not busy, I’ll go to Guzi Village and make something delicious for sister-in-law.”
Lu Qiaoge wasn’t just saying it casually; when she handed the plan to Old Hu, she had already thought about what the service station should do first.
She had said this to Old Hu.
“Director Hu, I’ve asked around, and this kind of grassroots self-organized group without formal establishment has very simple approval; as long as you agree here, that’s fine. I want to report to you first about what we would do if the service station is established—what our first task would be.”
Old Hu held the three-page plan in his hand and had to admit that Lu Qiaoge’s calligraphy was really good.
But strictly speaking, it was really the first time he had seen a plan.
But the service station wasn’t even a shadow yet, and Lu Qiaoge already had things she wanted to do?
Old Hu became interested: “Then tell me about it.”
This girl, who knew where she got these clever ideas from; it made him feel a bit unable to keep up with the situation.
“My plan’s first task is to organize the Xiangyang Neighborhood Committee to hold a Serving the People Fair, lasting three days. We can cooperate with the members from Guzi Village, still in the form of barter, but this time face-to-face. The supplies exchanged must go through your review and approval before the transaction, with trading standards specified in advance to avoid conflicts due to differences in supplies. Of course, all this is premised on your approval of establishing the service station.”
Old Hu only felt his scalp tingling.
After so many years of working, it had always been methodical and by the book.
This was the first time he had a feeling of not following the rules.
Lu Qiaoge continued: “Director Hu, educated youth returning to the city and the increase in unemployed youth are facts we cannot ignore, so our neighborhood committee must think ahead. Even if it’s approved, with no salary, no establishment, no welfare—basically voluntary contribution—you feel how many would sign up. So at that time, Director Hu, you must lead by example, call back your second son to build the hometown. Of course, I will definitely sign up my younger sister.”
Director Hu gripped the plan tightly.
He only felt that every sentence from Lu Qiaoge was a trap, as if just waiting for him to jump in.
Have him call back his second son—wouldn’t his old wife be overjoyed to tears?
In the end, Director Hu told Lu Qiaoge to quickly continue the screening; he needed to discuss it with Deputy Director Huang.
Director Hu felt uneasy inside; Director Hao had him assess Lu Qiaoge’s character—how was he supposed to report in a week?
