Chapter 71
Now that the couple’s exercise was balanced, it wasn’t like when Qiao Wei had first arrived, when both of them had been deprived for too long and were too intense, often leaving Qiao Wei unable to get up in the morning.
Now, they both woke up full of energy and went jogging together.
Qiao Wei’s physical stamina had improved significantly.
After jogging back, she asked Yan Lei, “Have I become firmer?”
She could feel it herself; her arms and legs didn’t feel as soft anymore, and her muscles had become more toned.
Her appetite had opened up, her digestion was stronger, and her body’s metabolic rate had increased. Yan Lei had a particular right to speak on this matter.
He praised her, “Your waist has become firmer and is especially strong. Your legs are stronger, too.”
No one felt it more deeply than he did.
A man’s focus was really… Qiao Wei rolled her eyes at him.
Yan Lei emphasized, “Really.”
“Your complexion has also improved,” he said, racking his brains for an adjective, “Rosy white.”
He wasn’t wrong about that.
When Qiao Wei had first arrived, she often felt her complexion was too pale when looking in the mirror, lacking blood, unhealthy, and she didn’t look energetic.
After a month of persistent exercise, she now had good color and bright eyes.
She was full of energy, healthy, and rosy.
This was the state she had dreamed of in her other life, and now she possessed it. It was worth more than gold.
When Yan Lei was about to leave, he leaned through the courtyard gate and said, “You should thank me. I shared my yang energy with you.”
He said it so seriously.
Qiao Wei laughed and scolded him, “Pah! Get going!”
Yan Lei put on his hat and left with a smile.
Today was the day to submit the draft. After Qiao Wei finished grocery shopping with Yan Xiang, she didn’t cut it close; she went to the unit early and handed the draft to Station Chief Lu.
Station Chief Lu was very satisfied. He flicked the manuscript with his fingers, and this time it passed without a single word changed, “That’s it. If Section Chief Xie wants it this afternoon, just hand it to him like this.”
Qiao Wei replied crisply, “Okay.”
Sure enough, in the afternoon, Section Chief Xie said, “The Broadcasting Station also needs to prepare a propaganda draft.”
“I arranged this after the meeting yesterday,” Station Chief Lu said, standing straight, “We have already prepared it.”
As he said this, he gave Qiao Wei a wink.
Qiao Wei presented the draft.
Section Chief Xie was a bit surprised by the Broadcasting Station’s high efficiency. He took it and quickly scanned it, discovering that this draft wasn’t just something thrown together to appease people; it was a serious piece of popular science propaganda.
Lu Manman was his wife’s cousin’s daughter, and they were very familiar with each other. He knew exactly what her level was. This definitely wasn’t written by Lu Manman.
He glanced at Qiao Wei, “Did you write this draft, Qiao Wei?”
Station Chief Lu answered for Qiao Wei, “Although Qiao Wei is a newcomer, she has a positive and serious work attitude and took the initiative to take on this task. The little article is written beautifully!”
Section Chief Xie understood. In just one week, this military spouse, Qiao Weiwei, whom the Military District had stuffed in, had already established a firm foothold in the Broadcasting Station. She had even gained the trust of Station Chief Lu.
This was very good. The Broadcasting Station was also under the jurisdiction of the Propaganda Section. If the Broadcasting Station gained a capable worker, it meant he gained a capable worker. As a leader, he was naturally happy.
“Everyone should learn from this positive and proactive attitude toward work. Don’t act like you’re half-dead.” Section Chief Xie returned the draft to Qiao Wei, “Qiao Wei, come read it once. Everyone listen and offer your opinions.”
It seemed there would be no roll call today to talk about study reflections. It was equivalent to a teacher telling students that the exam was canceled and they would have self-study instead.
Everyone clapped happily.
Qiao Wei read with clear and resonant pronunciation.
Colleagues occasionally made “Oh~” sounds.
“That sounds quite scary.”
“Are mosquitoes really that powerful?”
“My great-uncle died of malaria, and we never knew how he got it. Maybe it was a mosquito bite.”
Even Section Chief Xie asked, “Qiao Wei, is this all true?”
“It is true,” Qiao Wei said without changing her expression, “The materials are all in the Library. Although they are scattered, they can be looked up. Everyone can go and flip through them yourself.”
Actually, the resources in the Library were limited at this time, and there were more books on political study. Some of the content was written by Qiao Wei based on her own memory.
However, given that everyone was half-asleep whenever there was a meeting, Qiao Wei knew that no one would be diligent enough to actually check the sources of the content she mentioned in her article one by one.
Section Chief Xie was moved, “You flipped through them one by one?”
The Military District really did things right this time! If they sent over more military spouses like this, they would be willing to accept them!
“Everyone, perk up! Learn from this. Work requires this kind of attitude, this kind of spirit!”
Everyone nodded like chickens pecking at rice, eyes half-open and half-closed. Who knew if I was dozing off? This skill had long been mastered. If suddenly woken up by applause, it didn’t matter; just clap along.
“I am new here and have many shortcomings. I hope everyone will give me more feedback,” Qiao Wei smiled, “to urge me to progress quickly and catch up with everyone sooner.”
Upon hearing this, everyone’s expressions became subtle.
‘Don’t do that…’
If you progress any further, you’ll be running faster than a tractor. Who knows who will be chasing whom then? Clap, clap, clap, clap.
Only the two leaders and the people from the Broadcasting Station clapped most sincerely.
Leaders are happiest when they have diligent and capable subordinates.
The more capable Qiao Wei was, and the more she did, the less Lu Manman had to do. It didn’t affect her salary either. Lu Manman clapped hard.
Hu Sui and Lu Tianming were used to being the supporting cast, but the star was in the same room as them, and if she gained prestige, it was for the whole Broadcasting Station, so they had to clap.
Of course, this draft had to be taken away by Section Chief Xie in the end, “I’ll look it over and make some changes where it’s not suitable.”
This draft had been approved by Station Chief Lu without a single word changed.
But this was the first time, it was a bit like a pledge of allegiance, or perhaps a killing-prestige stick; you have to dampen someone’s spirit. How could he let it pass directly? It was the same for Station Chief Lu before. People who have experienced the workplace understand.
Qiao Wei said, “Section Chief, be strict with me. I need the leader’s supervision and guidance.”
Oh, that sounded pleasing to Section Chief Xie’s ears. The pledge was successfully submitted.
On Wednesday morning, someone from the Propaganda Section returned the draft, “The Section Chief finished editing it and said it can be finalized. Go ahead and broadcast it.”
Station Chief Lu took it, glanced at it, and gave it to Qiao Wei, “Broadcast it today. Let’s get mobilized.”
Qiao Wei took it and looked.
In one place, it read “…work together, follow instructions,” and Section Chief Xie had drawn a transposition symbol with a red pen, changing it to “follow instructions, work together.”
Qiao Wei curled her lips.
She asked the colleague from the Propaganda Section, “…When will the specific arrangements arrive? I need the procedures to explain the specific operations.”
The Propaganda Section colleague said, “I don’t know. The county hasn’t sent them yet. Don’t worry, as soon as they arrive, I’ll give them to you; Section Chief Xie gave instructions.”
“Thanks a lot.”
“No problem.”
The Propaganda Section colleague walked to the door and couldn’t help but look back at this female colleague.
She had a strong scholarly air, spoke with a smile, was confident and sunny, and was beautiful.
What a pity.
The colleague sighed slightly, shook his head, and left.
Lu Manman happened to see it and asked Lu Tianming, “What’s wrong with Xie Houshan? Why did he sigh? Is something wrong at home?”
“I don’t think so?” Lu Tianming said, “I went swimming in the river with Xie Houlin after work yesterday, and I didn’t hear him say anything was wrong at home.”
The two of them went from talking about the Xie brothers to other people with the surname Xie, and then to people with the surname Xu. The whole circle of people, if you traced it back, could all be related. There were also naming conventions based on generations. The complex kinship relations made Qiao Wei dizzy listening to them.
The draft was finalized, and it was broadcast in the afternoon to warm up the townspeople.
Middle-aged and elderly women gathered in the shade of the trees, bringing their bare-bottomed grandchildren, fanning themselves with cattail fans, and saying, “That sounds quite scary.”
“Some mosquitoes are just poisonous, especially autumn mosquitoes.”
“Yes, that year I was bitten by a black-and-white patterned mosquito, and it swelled up this big, this—big.”
“Tsk—nonsense, how could it be that big.”
“If I’m lying, I’m a dog!”
“How many times have you been a dog already?”
Even when Section Chief Xie went home, his wife chased after him asking, “What day is the mosquito eradication set for? Hurry it up.”
The effect of this first round of warm-up was very good.
On Thursday, when reporting to Secretary Gao, Secretary Gao even praised the Propaganda Section. Section Chief Xie was radiant.
Secretary Gao asked, “The new military spouse at the Broadcasting Station is doing pretty well, right?”
“More than pretty well,” Section Chief Xie said, “The Military District finally did something right this time.”
Secretary Gao was a cadre who had transferred from the military. The army was almost entirely composed of soldiers from rural areas, so he knew very well what the families were like.
“Let capable comrades shine and give them opportunities,” he nodded.
Station Chief Lu went to Section Chief Xie’s office and, upon returning, asked Qiao Wei, “Do you know how to ride a bicycle?”
Qiao Wei almost opened her mouth to say “Yes,” but fortunately, her brain reacted quickly, and she changed her tune, “I can’t handle a 28-inch bike.”
The 28-inch heavy-duty bike was too famous. Riding that bike had requirements for height. And the way to get on the bike wasn’t the straddle mount that everyone would be used to in later generations. This bike could only be mounted by stepping on the pedal with the left foot and sliding with one leg. Then, the right leg would either sweep across from the back or swing over the large horizontal bar. For someone who only knew how to ride shared bikes, this was too difficult!
Station Chief Lu said, “There is a ladies’ bike, a 26-inch one. Can you ride that?”
“A 26-inch one should be no problem,” Qiao Wei asked, “Why do you want me to ride a bike?”
Lu Manman asked first, “Are we going to the county?”
The Town Committee didn’t have a car. They didn’t have that kind of thing. Only the county had them.
The Town Committee had four bicycles: three 28-inch heavy-duty bikes and one 26-inch ladies’ bike. The ladies’ bike was exclusively for female colleagues.
This was public transportation. When everyone went to the county on business for meetings, delivering things, or picking things up, they would take a business trip slip approved by the leader, go to the warehouse to get the bike, and could ride it to the county.
“Yes, Qiao Wei, tomorrow you, Section Chief Xie, myself, and Section Chief Li will go to the county for a meeting. It’s about this mosquito eradication, a mobilization meeting.”
They were still in the mobilization period, which was mainly the work of the Propaganda Section.
Although Lu Manman also wanted to go to the county, she knew that the person who actually did the work had to go. Qiao Wei had carried the main burden this time, so she had to go on the business trip.
“Go, go. The County Health Center is next to the County Party Committee, and their Cafeteria is better than ours,” she said.
Station Chief Lu also said, “There is a 20-cent transportation subsidy and a 30-cent allowance.”
Being out for a day meant earning an extra 50 cents.
Qiao Wei was a bit confused, “Can’t we take the bus?”
“That bus, who knows when it will come,” Station Chief Lu said, “Sometimes it’s once every two hours, sometimes once every four hours. If you rely on it, don’t even think about being on time for the meeting.”
So that was it.
Qiao Wei said, “Okay, then I’ll ride the bike.”
