Chapter 53: Two Girls Fight, Educated Youth Suffers?
Deputy Captain Da Shuang, who was specially assigned to cooperate with Comrade Shen’s work, had a flicker in his eyes.
He was from the Security Department, and two people in his family worked in the logistics department of the military factory.
He didn’t actually want to be the deputy captain of this repatriation team.
He had never been sent down to the countryside himself, but he knew people who had.
Which educated youth would willingly go back?
Of course, he didn’t dare to say that or ask it.
But this was clearly something that would offend someone.
So, he immediately agreed neatly. Anyway, there were many officials in the Shen family, and it was said that there were relatives of hers in the provincial city compound.
If something happened, she would take the responsibility.
Moreover, since the New Year, although there had been no major incidents in the military compound, petty thefts, fights, and brawls had been increasing.
Some educated youth who couldn’t be resettled in the city really should return to where they had been sent down.
Thus, the group arrived at the neighborhood committee in a grand manner once again.
Seeing these people, Sister Qiao was stunned for a moment. When she learned what it was about, she looked at Comrade Shen with a strange glance.
Then she pointed toward the meeting room: “You go ahead, they’re having a meeting.”
Just as Old Hu was speaking passionately, a bunch of people entered the meeting room.
Everyone was startled by these people wearing red armbands.
Comrade Shen locked eyes on Lu Qiaoge first.
Lu Qiaoge only glanced at her faintly before indifferently shifting her gaze away.
516 was a key military industrial enterprise in Dragon Country, directly under the authorities.
Even the local government couldn’t interfere in the management of the military factory.
But today’s stance made people involuntarily uneasy.
Old Hu didn’t move, waiting for the leader to speak.
Lu Qiaoge even had a smile at the corner of her mouth, sitting quietly on the chair, her beautiful brows and eyes illuminated by a ray of sunlight like a poem in a painting.
Comrade Shen found this scene very dazzling.
She and Lu Qiaoge were primary school classmates, and they had both left school together in the first year of junior high.
A few years later, she was recommended to a vocational school in the province to study accounting, and after graduation, she entered Labor and Personnel Section One of the factory.
516 was high-level, and above Labor and Personnel Section One was the Labor and Personnel Department, which was at the division level.
Even so, Comrade Shen’s job was one of the best among her peers.
In principle, she and Liang Aishu lived upstairs and downstairs, so they could be considered childhood sweethearts, but the Liang family and the Lu family had an engagement, set by the late Old Master Liang.
The old master had valued the Lu family’s class background and family tradition.
But as they grew older, Liang Aishu, who had also been recommended to university, began to despise the worthless Lu Qiaoge.
Comrade Shen liked Liang Aishu, and Liang Aishu liked her.
The worthless Lu Qiaoge in between always made Comrade Shen feel like a fishbone in her throat.
She had good family conditions since childhood, and everyone in her family doted on her, basically giving her whatever she wanted.
Only Liang Aishu was the one she sought but could not obtain, just as Old Mrs. Lu had said.
Now, she had gotten her wish.
But like Liang Aishu, there was no joy or happiness; all because Lu Qiaoge acted too ruthlessly, not leaving any face for her and Brother Aishu.
Lu Qiaoge was too vicious, viciously outrageous.
If she had considered their childhood feelings even a little, and quietly canceled the engagement, it wouldn’t be this situation now.
Comrade Shen stared coldly at Lu Qiaoge, then maliciously sized up Lu Qiaoling who was glaring at her. She changed to a smile on her face, came to Director Hu, introduced herself, and then handed over the documents issued by Labor and Personnel Section One to Director Hu.
The neighborhood committee was a section-level unit, same level as Comrade Shen’s Labor and Personnel Section One.
She wasn’t overly respectful, but it was also decent. After repeating to Director Hu what she had said to Old Mrs. Lu, she said softly, “Director Hu, Lu Qiaoling is an educated youth who stayed in the countryside without reason. We hope Lu Qiaoling can cooperate with our work, otherwise the repatriation team will have to use tough measures, and if it causes a scene, it won’t look good for everyone.”
These words were meant for Lu Qiaoge and Lu Qiaoling to hear.
But Hu Ze almost jumped up.
Then he remembered, he had returned according to regulations, except for the grain relationship not back, everything else was normal procedures.
He looked at Lu Qiaoling, his glance filled with worry.
This young woman seemed to have returned by pretending to be ill.
Lu Qiaoling had been exhorted in advance, but hearing this, she couldn’t help feeling guilty and angry.
She glared at Comrade Shen with a gaze that wanted to devour her.
Comrade Shen’s mouth corners triumphantly curved up. That’s right. She looked at Lu Qiaoge, her glance carrying provocation: let’s see if you, Lu Qiaoge, righteously hand over Lu Qiaoling to her personally, or shamelessly refuse to let Lu Qiaoling go with her.
Either way, it was what she wanted to see.
Director Hu frowned, subtly glanced at Comrade Shen, then at Lu Qiaoge.
Was this two girls fighting, with the educated youth suffering?
He said, “First of all, I support and express gratitude for this decision from Labor and Personnel Section One. Unemployed youth and lingering educated youth are indeed increasing, bringing some difficulty to the neighborhood committee work, however…”
However was a very interesting word, usually signaling a reversal when it appeared.
Director Hu glanced at the so-called repatriation team eyeing them covetously: “Xiangyang Neighborhood Committee has established a volunteer convenience service station. Unfortunately, Comrade Lu Qiaoling is a volunteer at the service station, so she cannot go with you now.”
Comrade Shen suddenly widened her eyes, looking incredulously at Director Hu, then raised her voice: “How can you possibly establish this? Labor and Personnel Section One doesn’t even know about it.”
Lu Qiaoge stood up and said to Director Hu, “Director Hu, we are at the same level as Labor and Personnel Section One. Even if reporting, it should go to the factory’s Labor and Personnel Department. You drink some water and rest; I’ll talk to her.”
Director Hu originally didn’t want to deal with Comrade Shen. Although equality was emphasized now, a petty section clerk seeking personal vengeance wasn’t qualified to question him.
So, Director Hu picked up his enamel cup that had accompanied him for decades and slowly drank water.
Lu Qiaoge said, “First of all, to clarify, the service station established by our neighborhood committee has no salary, no establishment, no welfare. It’s a spontaneously formed activity group supervised by the neighborhood committee, with the purpose of serving the people. Personnel are not limited; as long as you have a heart to contribute to the military factory.”
Director Hu was somewhat puzzled. Yesterday it was about controlling numbers, today it’s unlimited personnel?
What medicine was this girl selling in her gourd?
Comrade Shen stared at Lu Qiaoge, gritting her teeth: “Your meaning is, as long as they sign up, even lingering educated youth can legitimately stay?”
Lu Qiaoge slowly walked to Comrade Shen, shook her head, and seriously corrected: “Comrade Shen, you’re wrong to say that. How can it be called legitimately staying? They are selfless, dedicating themselves by joining, asking for no salary, no welfare, no establishment. Such harsh conditions—you take a good look, we’ve only recruited five people, all mobilized by our neighborhood committee cadres exemplifying style.”
Comrade Shen knew Lu Qiaoge had changed and was mentally prepared: “That’s your behind-the-scenes manipulation. If it were open, the applicants would probably fill the meeting room.”
