In the morning,
Li Chuchu was so sleepy that she could hardly keep her eyes open. Shen Yanshan even helped her get dressed.
Shen Yanshan seemed to enjoy serving her. He took care of everything from dressing her to helping her wash up.
Apart from being intermittently deaf in bed, he was the most loyal servant to Li Chuchu the rest of the time, always willing to work hard without complaint. Shen Yanshan took her to work. On the way, he reminded her, "I might be unable to come at noon today. If you don't see me, just go first."
Li Chuchu nodded absent - mindedly. Sitting on the back of the bicycle, she wrapped her arms around Shen Yanshan's waist. Her head kept bobbing like a pecking chicken and then slumped onto Shen Yanshan's shoulder as she fell asleep.
Feeling the extra weight on his back, Shen Yanshan knew she hadn't really listened. He could only smile helplessly. Li Chuchu vaguely heard him say something in her drowsiness, but she didn't catch it clearly.
When they arrived at the broadcasting studio,
Li Chuchu stretched to refresh herself and prepared for today's broadcast scripts.
The Mid - Autumn Gala had just ended.
The factory was still immersed in a happy atmosphere. The Lotus Steel Factory had good welfare, and everywhere was filled with joy. Thanks to Li Chuchu's outstanding performance at the gala, many people came to visit and congratulate her.
"Chuchu, are you interested in joining our publicity department? We really need someone like you."
"Oh, no. Our labor union department is a better fit. Some workers came to us today and said that the program you organized was very much in line with the workers' needs. Everyone hopes that you can join our department to seek benefits for the workers."
Li Chuchu sat at her office chair, rubbing her aching temples. These jobs didn't match her major at all.
Wasn't this just making a fuss?
Li Chuchu sent those people away and then looked to the right. A few young comrades from the foreign affairs department were standing there silently, their eyes full of eagerness.
Li Chuchu said helplessly, "Are you also here to invite me to the foreign affairs department?"
The young comrade, probably a new employee, showed an embarrassed smile, scratched the back of his head, and blushed a little. "No. Your deeds of representing the Lotus Factory in negotiations with foreign experts and dealing with foreign journalists last night have spread throughout our department. So our department told us to come and learn negotiation and communication skills from you whenever we have time."
Li Chuchu thought to herself: Do they think I'm a jack - of - all - trades?
The factory required communication and exchanges among different departments, and she had no reason to refuse. So she patiently explained some communication skills to them, such as the circuitous tactic and feigning ignorance.
The young comrades were very respectful. They listened intently, each taking notes in their small notebooks.
Seeing this,
Li Chuchu actually felt a sense of pleasure as a teacher.
No wonder some middle - aged men like to play the role of a teacher and lecture others. It felt so great to have others look at you with admiration the whole time!
After the young comrades from the foreign affairs department left,
Li Chuchu let out a long breath and quickly took a sip of water.
She had been talking all morning, and her mouth was almost dry.
She saw an invitation on the table and suddenly remembered that it was left by someone from the labor union.
She heard that there would be a political study and a report meeting in the conference hall today.
The army had sent a delegation of model soldiers to exchange and learn with the Lotus Steel Factory. The labor union had sent its cadres, publicity department comrades, and outstanding Party and Youth League members to welcome them. The vice - chairperson of the labor union still remembered her, so he specially sent an invitation.
This could be seen as a gesture of goodwill and recognition towards her.
Li Chuchu thought she should go. She couldn't ignore the vice - chairperson's face, so she got up and left.
When she arrived, she found that the people from the labor union were already there.
The vice - chairperson of the labor union saw Li Chuchu and gave her a polite smile. Since he was very busy at the moment, he immediately went back to his work.
Li Chuchu had to wander around the conference hall by herself.
The teacher from the Youth League Committee happened to be there.
When she saw Li Chuchu, an embarrassed smile appeared on her face.
"Chuchu, you're here too."
Li Chuchu responded with a polite smile.
Li Chuchu didn't say a word, but the teacher couldn't hold back. She couldn't help but explain, "You did a really good job hosting the gala this time. Your on - the - spot reaction was very quick. I have to give you a thumbs up. The problem with the foreign journalists was Zhu Yuxi's work mistake. She didn't inquire about the foreign journalists' movements in advance. She has been punished and is now in self - reflection. Her qualification to perform on stage next year has been cancelled."
This was an obvious gesture of goodwill.
However, when the situation was against her, this teacher had left her in the cold together with Zhu Yuxi. Now, it seemed too hypocritical to come and say this.
But most people were like this. Li Chuchu had seen too many such things, so she didn't take it to heart. She just showed a smile that didn't waver at all. "Really? That's such a pity. I saw that her dance was really good. She has a solid foundation. It's a shame that she can't perform on stage."
This sentence left the teacher from the Youth League Committee confused.
Was she being sarcastic or simply didn't care at all?
After a while, the soldiers came in.
The soldiers in the front were valiant and heroic.
They were dressed in neat military uniforms, with an imposing manner. Each of them had a dark complexion and a resolute look on their faces.
These were real soldiers who had been on the battlefield. Only model soldiers like Lei Feng had the opportunity to represent their divisions or regiments to visit various factories for exchanges and learning, telling heroic deeds and advanced ideas.
The chairperson of the labor union and the Party members immediately showed enthusiastic smiles and went to shake hands with them.
"Wow, the man next to the team leader is so handsome! He looks so refreshing and good - looking. He should not be a regular soldier, right?"
"Didn't you see that his uniform has two upper pockets? He should be a military cadre."
"No wonder. I said he didn't look like those ordinary soldiers."
Li Chuchu was curious about who was so handsome. She wanted to take a look too.
When she saw the faces of the people in the team, her mood suddenly turned sour.
Why was Duan Jingqi here?
What was he doing here?
Based on Li Chuchu's experience from reading books, there were only two possibilities when Duan Jingqi appeared: either he was planning to chase a girl; or he would have a chance encounter with a new girl and then try to chase her.
He deliberately dressed in a flashy way. His leather shoes were polished brightly, his hair was waxed, and there was a neatly folded handkerchief in his breast pocket. He didn't look like he was here for exchanges and learning, but more like a peacock showing off its feathers.
Li Chuchu couldn't bear to look anymore.
She even wanted to leave on the spot.
Duan Jingqi stood on the stage and casually scanned the factory. Unexpectedly, he saw Li Chuchu at once. His eyes lit up, and he quickly straightened his waist, posing in what he thought was his most handsome way.
Before coming here, he had inquired and knew that Li Chuchu had indeed been a broadcaster for a few months. But she was not a member of the Youth League or the labor union. Logically, she should not have the qualification to receive the soldiers. So why was she here?
The conference room of the Lotus Steel Factory was so big, and there were many people inside.
Not everyone knew each other, so it seemed possible for someone to sneak in.
Did she know he was coming and wait for him here on purpose?
Thinking of this,
Duan Jingqi felt a surge of pride. He knew Li Chuchu couldn't really let him go.
He was sure of it this time.