Chapter 97
Yan Lei wanted to catch up on some sleep at home, so he asked Qiao Wei to give Secretary Meng a heads-up about it.
The Military District would certainly notify Secretary Meng officially, but it would be better for Qiao Wei to give a heads-up in advance.
After arriving at her unit, Qiao Wei dropped Yan Xiang off at the Kindergarten and went straight to report the matter to Secretary Meng.
Secretary Meng found it hard to believe.
It was such a coincidence; he had also gone to watch that newly released movie yesterday.
Having just experienced anti-espionage propaganda yesterday, he was informed by a subordinate today that there was a spy under his jurisdiction.
When he asked for the details and learned that it was Yan Xiang who had discovered it, he found it even more incredible.
“This is truly…” Secretary Meng sighed, “A tiger father produces no dog sons.”
Sure enough, in the morning, the Military District commander called to officially notify Secretary Meng.
Secretary Meng, accompanied by the standing committee member who also served as the County Public Security Bureau Chief, picked up his briefcase and left.
Officer Pan followed, attending to his every need.
Secretary Huang was also in the know and chatted with Qiao Wei: “How old is your child? Is he five yet?”
“No. He is just tall; he is not even four yet,” Qiao Wei said.
“He is a year older than my eldest,” he praised, “That is so impressive.”
Whenever parents start talking about their children, they have a lot to say.
Qiao Wei learned that Secretary Huang was about the same age as Yan Lei, but he already had three children.
The youngest was just a month old, and his wife was still on maternity leave. At this time, women had 56 days of maternity leave.
“She works at the steel pipe factory and is also in charge of propaganda,” he said. “She is good at drawing and is very skilled at creating blackboard newspapers. She will go back to work after her maternity leave ends.”
When Qiao Wei asked about the children, the two older ones were both at the County Government Kindergarten.
For the newborn, he planned to have his wife put the baby in the steel pipe factory’s nursery after her maternity leave.
The County Party Committee Kindergarten certainly had better conditions than other Kindergartens; the children here even had fruit to eat in the afternoon.
But the child was too young, and as a mother, she was worried and wanted to keep the baby nearby so she could check on them at any time. They would move the baby to the father’s side when they were a bit older.
“My parents haven’t retired yet, so they can’t help us take care of the children. We are a red-blooded working-class family.”
“She doesn’t want to just stay home and raise children; it’s better to go to work and earn a salary,” Secretary Huang said. “I also don’t like her just staying at home. Although she is not as capable as you, she is still an excellent comrade. She should shine and contribute at her post, not be trapped by childcare.”
Qiao Wei’s impression of Secretary Huang improved significantly.
“Stop flattering me, or I might fall,” she said with a laugh. “Nurseries and Kindergartens are truly wonderful. With these institutions, there is no need to trap female comrades at home. Of course, female comrades at home shoulder a lot of labor, which is also valuable. However, this value is often not seen. The value of female comrades should be displayed just like that of male comrades, for everyone to see.”
Actually, Qiao Wei really wanted to say that since they already had three children, they shouldn’t let his wife have any more.
But she held back and swallowed those words because, for her, it was a bit over the line. Moreover, at this time, the emphasis was on “more people, more production” and “more people, more strength”; it was a time when women were encouraged to have more children.
That was the mainstream ideology.
“You are right,” Secretary Huang smiled, showing his teeth. “My wife is very good; she shouldn’t be trapped at home. That is exactly what I think.”
At this moment, he seemed a bit like an ordinary young man.
He was no longer the inscrutable confidential secretary to the top leader, the one whom no one could find fault with or catch off guard.
Qiao Wei took the opportunity to say to him: “The bus service starts on the 3rd? I was thinking that once the bus is running, I can take it to commute. Then my shift hours can be the same as everyone else’s.”
Secretary Huang understood her implication immediately and nodded: “Fine, you can leave work at 3:30 today.”
Qiao Wei just wanted to remind Secretary Huang that she could leave at 3:30 today. As long as he knew, it was fine.
The top leader wouldn’t bother with the trivial matters of the office, and the standing committee member who held the concurrent post of Office Director only held a nominal title; the actual office affairs were all managed by Secretary Huang. Such trivial matters had to be communicated to him.
While Secretary Meng hadn’t returned yet, Qiao Wei wrote down the incident about the spy in advance.
After Secretary Meng returned, he called Secretary Huang and Qiao Wei into his office and sighed to them: “Sigh, such a big credit, and it was picked up by the Military District.”
“There is nothing we can do about that,” Qiao Wei said with a laugh, spreading her hands. “The child told his father directly; I couldn’t help it.”
Secretary Meng laughed heartily and said: “You must reward your child well.”
Although he didn’t get the credit, if the spy had actually managed to pass on any useful information, and it was investigated in the future, he would certainly have to bear the responsibility for this oversight during his term and under his jurisdiction.
Fortunately, it was discovered now.
Having no faults is as good as having merit.
“They are still interrogating and checking to see if there was any leakage of information. Many military dependents have had contact with him, and they all have to be screened,” Secretary Meng said. “I also saw your husband. He is definitely going to get a Third-Class Merit.”
Just lying at home, and a Third-Class Merit fell from the sky.
Although he was already a combat hero, who would complain about having too many medals?
What a blessing.
“Qiao Wei, it goes without saying that you must write the draft this time,” Secretary Meng said. “The matter will only be settled in a few days. Coordinate with the City Newspaper in advance so it can be published as soon as the verdict is out.”
With the task assigned to her, Qiao Wei said: “Alright.”
She had already prepared the draft.
Taking advantage of the fact that the bus service hadn’t started yet, Qiao Wei enjoyed the privilege of leaving work at 3:30.
She went to the Kindergarten to pick up Yan Xiang, but a teacher came out and said awkwardly: “He hasn’t finished telling the story yet. Why don’t you wait a moment?”
Qiao Wei: “?”
Yan Xiang had been in the county with Qiao Wei for half a month.
Every time, every single time Qiao Wei asked him what they did at the Kindergarten, he would usually answer, “Play games, tell stories.”
Until today, because she got off work at 3:30 and arrived early, Qiao Wei realized that the “telling stories” Yan Xiang spoke of wasn’t the teacher telling him stories, but Yan Xiang telling stories to the other children!
Qiao Wei: “???”
“Oh my, you didn’t know? We thought Yan Xiang would tell you,” the teacher covered her mouth and laughed. “Come, I’ll take you to see.”
Qiao Wei saw with her own eyes her son vividly telling the other children the stories he had heard from his mother. His articulation was clear, and his retelling was accurate.
The children were all listening, mesmerized.
“He also leads the children in games,” the teacher said. “He knows so much—pretending to dig trenches, setting up bunkers… what to do if an atomic bomb comes… The children all love to play with him and listen to him.”
So that was why, later on, when she sent Yan Xiang to the Kindergarten every day, the smiles on the teachers’ faces were so sincere.
Qiao Wei had thought it was because she bought snacks for the teachers; well, that was certainly part of the reason, but Yan Xiang had truly saved the teachers a lot of effort.
The children would sit in a row and listen to him tell stories, while the teachers could just rest on the side.
He would also manage the people, making the children count off and stand in military posture. He trained the children just like his father trained him.
He was practically a Kindergarten teaching assistant.
The teachers were happy to see it.
“You are really something,” Qiao Wei said, riding her bicycle fast in the autumn wind. “Why didn’t you tell Mom?”
Yan Xiang sat on the back seat, looking very innocent: “I said it every time—play games, tell stories.”
Qiao Wei: “…”
If you insist on putting it that way, it seems…
When she returned to the town, it was earlier than usual, and the Town Committee hadn’t finished work yet.
She went directly to the Town Committee to find Secretary Gao.
“Oh, Qiao Wei!” Secretary Gao was very happy to see her. “I heard you have already gone to the County Party Committee Office?”
Director Fang also came over to exchange pleasantries.
Their attitudes were subtly different from before.
Qiao Wei didn’t feel it deeply when she was at the County Party Committee, because she was interacting with many people at the County Party Committee for the first time, so there was no basis for comparison.
But once she returned to the town and interacted with the people she knew before, this subtle change in attitude became apparent.
She had only gone to the County Party Committee Office, the large room outside Secretary Meng’s door, yet the attitude of her former leaders toward her was different.
Qiao Wei said: “When exactly are you going to bring me back?”
Secretary Gao chided: “Look at you, why are you so anxious? It’s work wherever you are; just work steadily and do a good job.”
Director Fang also said: “We have all read your articles; they are getting better and better.”
They also asked why she came today.
Qiao Wei said: “The bus service starts tomorrow, right? I was just checking to see if we have any preparations here.”
She took out a piece of paper and gave it to them: “One is Driver Song, and the other is Driver Wang. Just the two of them will be on rotation. I just hope that this bus can be on time in the future. If this bus can be on time, it will be very convenient for everyone to travel to and from the county town; they can time it right. They won’t have to waste time waiting foolishly at the station.”
“Whether it’s on time or not depends on the drivers, so I was thinking, should our town show some appreciation to the drivers?”
Secretary Gao and Director Fang pondered for a moment and said: “That makes sense.”
They hadn’t thought of it because they were born in the town and worked in the town; they didn’t have this daily need at all.
But punctuality was very important to the town workers who had to travel between the town and the factory area, as well as to Qiao Wei, who traveled between the town and the county.
Qiao Wei had to give them a push.
“Alright, leave it to us. Rest assured,” Secretary Gao agreed. “Director Fang, look at the time, while we haven’t finished work yet, hurry up and make arrangements.”
Director Fang left.
Qiao Wei actually wanted to mention the tailor matter.
But she realized that since Secretary Gao didn’t bring it up proactively, it was highly likely that he didn’t know yet.
They were still investigating. What if someone in the Town Committee was involved? Qiao Wei kept her mouth shut and didn’t mention it.
When she returned home, Yan Lei was already home.
The investigation was indeed not in vain. A military dependent of a battalion commander had leaked information.
Most of the dependents were not very interested in guns or artillery, but this dependent was different. Before following her husband to the Military Unit, she was a female militia member, and an excellent one at that. She could handle both guns and artillery and was an expert at hitting the bullseye in target practice.
To be honest, she could be considered a heroine among women.
It just so happened that because she was interested, she would often ask about military affairs.
Her husband felt he had quite a lot in common with his wife, so sometimes he would voluntarily talk to her about it.
“A new batch of tanks has arrived.”
“The guns this time are truly a major upgrade.”
And so on.
When she went to have clothes tailored, she was led by the Old Tailor to talk about the new tanks.
Of course, she also had a bit of a desire to show off.
She didn’t think that the Military District receiving a new batch of tanks should be a secret to ordinary people.
But the Old Tailor was a person from the other side.
During the interrogation, she and her husband’s faces turned pale.
“How will it be handled?” Qiao Wei asked.
“Discharged from the military,” Yan Lei said.
It wasn’t even a transfer to civilian work; they were directly dismissed.
Qiao Wei sighed: “Fortunately, I never ask about military affairs.”
Yan Lei smiled and said: “Everyone is praising you and Xiangxiang.”
Military dependent Qiao Wei was now a legendary figure in the Military District.
A pen-pusher who fought her way from the town to the county.
She had actually reported another spy.
Regimental Commander Yan’s wife was truly amazing.
In fact, it could be said that this was entirely Yan Xiang’s credit, but people habitually felt it was the adult’s credit.
Because they felt that when a child says something casually, many adults wouldn’t take it seriously. They might even go to the Old Tailor and say, “It’s hilarious, my child said you are a spy; you wouldn’t really be a spy, would you?”
Qiao Wei sighed: “So, propaganda is really very useful.”
If it hadn’t been for the coincidence of watching that movie, how would Yan Xiang have realized the Old Tailor was a spy? This was all the power of propaganda.
Yan Lei said: “Never mind that, I brought back milk. Should we drink this directly or what?”
“Heat it up before drinking, and add some sugar.”
“Xiangxiang—come quickly, drink your milk!”
“Coming~ Mom, is the milk delicious?”
“You will know in a moment.”
