Chapter 125
New Library Director Qiao Wei takes office, naturally she must look at the roster first.
She opens the Library’s personnel files and takes a look at the staff list.
Qiao Wei: “…”
Qiao Wei looks up at the people in front of her, counts them, and including herself, there are nine people, eight pairs of glasses.
“Is everyone here?” she asks.
A young male staff member wearing glasses replies: “Everyone is here.”
The voice isn’t loud, but the tone is certain.
Qiao Wei looks down at the staff list again. Although she always knew that these types of units have many people who just hang their names to collect a salary, she is still surprised by the quantity that puts the cart before the horse.
She looks up at the people in front of her again.
What you see is what you get; the people standing in front of her now are the only ones who actually work at the Library.
“I am Qiao Wei. I previously worked at the County Party Committee Office. The organization trusts me and has entrusted me with this heavy responsibility, appointing me as the director of our Library. In the future, I hope we can study together, improve together, and serve the people.”
Clapping sounds follow.
Qiao Wei says: “Let everyone introduce themselves so I can put names to faces.”
Everyone introduces themselves in order.
There are eight people, men and women, old and young. The common point is that their connections are relatively weak or they have no connections at all, which is why they are the ones who actually do the work.
Qiao Wei gets to know everyone, closes the roster, and asks: “Who can tell me about our work content here?”
Everyone looks at each other, and finally, they push the tall, glasses-wearing man from before forward.
His name is Librarian Zheng Ai, and it is clear he is the main worker.
He speaks hesitantly.
During the self-introductions earlier, the others were also like squeezing toothpaste, not very fluent.
This style is vastly different from the refined, sharp-witted people at the County Party Committee Office.
Qiao Wei scans them; regardless of age or gender, they are all shrinking their necks, avoiding eye contact.
Everyone wears glasses, everyone is socially anxious.
Although Librarian Zheng Ai’s speaking is hesitant and not very smooth, Qiao Wei hears that everyone’s daily work already has a very mature workflow.
She asks: “Is there a written version of this?”
“Yes.” An older sister quickly hands over another folder, “It’s all here.”
Qiao Wei opens it and browses through it quickly; it is everyone’s daily work schedule.
It is clear that the person who formulated this knows the Library’s work like the back of their hand and is very serious and responsible; there is absolutely no need for any changes.
Qiao Wei closes the folder: “Generally speaking, a new official lights three fires, but our place is special; we must pay attention to fire prevention. I won’t light these two fires; everyone keep working as you were before.”
A cold joke is fine as long as someone gets it.
Clearly, the Library staff is poked by this cold sense of humor; someone laughs, and you can feel everyone’s shoulders relax quite a bit.
At this moment, Yan Xiang runs over, pitter-patter.
His little face is flushed, his eyes are full of light, clearly wanting to say something.
But when he runs over and sees his mother standing there, with another group of people on the other side, it is clear his mother is speaking.
He slams on the brakes and stops there, not disturbing the adults’ serious business, but those expectant eyes clearly express: Mom, I have something to tell you!
Qiao Wei is amused; she pulls Yan Xiang over, strokes his head, and tells everyone: “This is my child, named Yan Xiang. He might be here often in the future. He loves reading very much and won’t damage the books. If he accidentally breaks something, everyone must tell me. Spoiling a child is like killing a child; to love a child is to teach a child. Everyone, don’t spoil him just because he is small.”
Hearing that Yan Xiang “loves reading very much,” everyone’s gaze becomes much kinder.
A little old man says: “He knows how to read at such a young age.”
Librarian Zheng Ai pushes his glasses: “Some children are precocious; I finished reciting the Two Hundred Tang Poems by the age of five.”
With his mother’s permission, Yan Xiang greets everyone: “Hello, uncles, aunties, and elders.”
But he immediately turns to look at Qiao Wei, the words he wants to say in those shining eyes are about to burst out.
Qiao Wei is curious: “What’s wrong? What do you want to tell Mom?”
Yan Xiang finally gets permission, and he is so excited his cheeks are red: “Mom! The books here! The books here!”
“Every book is in the category it should be in!”
This is simply not on the same level as the Library in the district government! That Library in the small town relied entirely on Little Comrade Yan Xiang to work hard every day to tidy up and organize!
Yan Lei is someone with a very strong sense of order.
He even wrings a towel in sequence from one end to the other, unlike some people who just squeeze a big lump with force.
Clearly, Yan Xiang inherited Yan Lei’s sense of order.
He can see the pattern in numbers at a glance, and he can also see a book that doesn’t belong in a sub-category under a major category.
He used to think the Library and the small Library were about the same. He didn’t expect this place to be managed so well.
He just went around the Library, and the sense of order in the display of those books made him feel completely comfortable.
He couldn’t hold back and had to come and tell his mom immediately!
This place is too good!
The air suddenly goes quiet.
Immediately, the awkward, tense, and uneasy atmosphere of facing the new leader disappears. The Library staff suddenly burst into curiosity and enthusiasm for the newcomer.
“Oh my, he really knows how to read!”
“And he understands classification!”
“Is it Yan Xiang? Yan Xiang, do you know what bibliography is?”
“Do you know the Library classification system?”
Librarian Zheng Ai pushes his thick glasses again, popularizing science for the newcomer leader: “Our Library is currently executing the 1963 draft of the classification system.”
Qiao Wei never expected that integrating into a new environment would rely on Yan Xiang.
These few people who actually work at the Library all know that the new director has a background. Speaking of her, not to mention who her husband is, or that she was personally arranged by the current Revolutionary Committee director, just the articles she published before, they have all read them.
Her writing style is very sharp; she knows how to grab people’s hearts and stir up emotions.
She also knows how to play politics.
In short, everyone put their heads together and researched, self-sketching an image of a scheming, black-bellied, capable, and manipulative powerful woman.
They felt that with such a person coming, she would inevitably toss them around hard to establish her authority.
That’s how new leaders are.
Who knew it wouldn’t be as they thought.
Librarian Zheng Ai is indeed the main worker, and everyone pushed him out to carry out further work handover with Qiao Wei.
Qiao Wei asks: “Why was the previous director criticized?”
That neat, clear daily work arrangement, without a doubt, must have come from the former leader.
Librarian Zheng Ai sighs: “He insisted that traditional culture is not all dross.”
Moreover, he said it at a Cultural Bureau meeting. This poked a hornet’s nest.
Qiao Wei understands.
Qiao Wei sighs long and hard.
With this long sigh, Librarian Zheng Ai immediately sees her as one of his own: “You understand! Right, right!”
Someone with that kind of writing style must be a book lover!
She understands.
Feeling like this is a bookworm. Qiao Wei is helpless, asking: “You don’t want to be targeted in a struggle session, right?”
Librarian Zheng Ai shakes his head like a rattle-drum in panic.
Qiao Wei says: “Then keep your mouth shut and don’t speak nonsense.”
Librarian Zheng Ai nods like a chicken pecking at rice.
Qiao Wei settles into the Library.
There are two primary schools and two middle schools in the county. She chooses the Second Primary School closest to the Library and goes there in person to meet the principal.
As soon as she states her identity, the principal knows her and shakes her hand: “Welcome, welcome. It is the honor of the Second Primary School that Library Director Qiao’s child has chosen us.”
People’s attitudes have changed from before.
Previously, when Qiao Wei worked at the County Party Committee Office, she had to contact many people while following Secretary Meng. She could share some of Secretary Meng’s power, but even so, people’s attitudes were not like this back then.
Even if there was flattery, it was driven by self-interest; there was no fear, no terror.
But now, people’s flattery has become cautious, their eyes uneasy.
In the principal’s eyes, anyone who rises during this period cannot be offended.
Qiao Wei chats with the principal, which allows the principal to relax.
Qiao Wei says: “Primary school is fine, after all, it’s small.”
The principal sighs and says: “Yes, over at the middle school… sigh, let’s not talk about it, let’s not talk about it.”
Qiao Wei also sighs.
“I don’t expect the child to learn anything at school either,” she says. “After all, one cannot cultivate successors for capitalism.”
“I just hope the child can interact more with people at school and learn how to handle social situations.”
Just like that, Yan Xiang is arranged into Bo City Second Primary School, which is closest to the Library.
The father who loves his son specially prepares a brand-new military satchel for Yan Xiang.
He even pins a five-pointed star on it for him.
But he still feels Yan Xiang is a bit small, because he is not yet six years old. Most children enter primary school at six or seven, and some even at eight. Plus, those who are held back for not being able to recite quotations, the age and height levels in a class can be very spread out.
“It’s time to strengthen your training.” The father says.
Qiao Wei: “…”
Ever since Yingzi courageously repelled the little hooligans, Yan Lei felt it was time to conduct some training for Yan Xiang as well.
Yan Xiang is also very willing to learn.
Hearing his dad say he wants to “strengthen,” his eyes light up.
One is willing to teach, the other is willing to learn.
The mother can only sit on the bamboo bed, eating a melon while sitting cross-legged and watching.
School starts in September, and Yan Xiang goes to school carrying his military satchel.
Because the central government called for reducing the burden, schools don’t have exams or homework now. Every day there is only school in the morning, and in the afternoon, they go to learn industry and agriculture.
But the first grade is too young, and they can’t do much, plus there’s fear they might get lost or hurt, so the first grade is dismissed directly in the afternoon.
Qiao Wei goes to pick up Yan Xiang after school every noon.
She asks Yan Xiang: “How is school?”
Yan Xiang indicates: “It’s quite good. During recess, I play soccer and games with my classmates, and I’m very happy.”
A few days later, when picking up the child, Qiao Wei specifically asks the homeroom teacher: “How is Yan Xiang doing?”
The teacher hesitates for a moment and says: “Not bad, not bad.”
But what did that moment of hesitation mean?
Qiao Wei is especially gentle: “If there is any situation with him, you must tell me. A child’s growth needs parents, but it needs teachers’ help even more.”
The teacher feels Yan Xiang’s parent is very sincere, so she tries to communicate: “Yan Xiang seems… um, that… have you noticed… his brain… um, um, there’s no big problem, right?”
Qiao Wei: “…”
Qiao Wei presses for an answer. Her attitude is good and patient, unlike some parents who manage their children roughly, so the teacher finally says: “He daydreams in class, for the whole class, the kind with his eyes staring blankly, sometimes I have to call him several times before he comes back to his senses. I’m a little worried about this child.”
Worried that he is a child with intellectual disabilities.
Ordinary children, although they also have situations where they don’t listen and daydream, are not so deep.
Yan Xiang can really daydream for an entire class; his gaze is not focused on the blackboard at all, only focused on the air.
Yan Xiang seems to want to say something after hearing this.
Qiao Wei calmly presses him down and asks the teacher: “What about during recess?”
The teacher says: “During recess, he is very normal, plays very well with classmates, and older classmates also like to play with him.”
So the teacher is also confused.
Qiao Wei thanks the teacher and leads Yan Xiang away holding his hand.
Once they are far away, she quietly asks: “What are you doing when you daydream in class?”
Sure enough, Yan Xiang says: “I’m reciting things, and deducing formulas.”
He can’t really learn 1+1=2 with others.
Qiao Wei: “Alright. I’ll tell the teacher later that you are just like this, let her not worry, and she doesn’t need to manage it.”
Because Yan Xiang still likes playing with his classmates very much. He has gradually reached the age where he likes to run and jump.
His IQ certainly crushes his peers, but his body does not. Teenagers like Gangzi and Yingzi wouldn’t take him to play. Only Huazi, who is also an elementary student, barely takes him to play.
Qiao Wei takes Yan Xiang back to the unit for lunch every day.
There are few Library staff, so there is no Cafeteria of their own. The unit that shares the old county school with them is the Agriculture Bureau, so the Library staff’s lunch is with the Agriculture Bureau, going to the Agriculture Bureau’s Cafeteria every day.
Qiao Wei takes Yan Xiang back to the Library, takes their lunch boxes, and walks through a connecting small door with her subordinates to the Agriculture Bureau, which is separated by a wall.
In the past, the Library staff would come to eat quietly.
But now, there is always someone greeting in the Cafeteria—
“Library Director Qiao.”
“Qiao.”
“Comrade Qiao Wei.”
Thus, every lunch time, one can see the newly appointed social butterfly director of the Library taking her string of socially anxious staff members.
The social butterfly director greets people along the way.
The socially anxious staff members shrink like quails, following behind the director.
Also following is a bouncing little tail, Yan Xiang.
Yan Xiang feels happier after entering primary school.
During class, the teacher lectures, the classmates study, and as for him, he studies his own things in his mind.
The things to play with during recess are much better than in Kindergarten. Because he is the youngest in the class, the children around him are all older than him.
Children at this age, half a year or a year older, their physical development is much stronger, and they can run much faster.
The games Yan Xiang plays with these classmates consume twice as much physical energy as in Kindergarten.
Happiness doubled.
But human joys and sorrows are never connected.
Because she heard that Yan Xiang was going to primary school, Sister Yang felt that Jun Jun was a year older than Yan Xiang, so he should be sent to primary school too.
Originally, children in the countryside go to school late, and she hadn’t planned to send him so early.
Now that Little Yan Xiang has gone, and seeing Jun Jun playing wildly outside all day, dirty every day, Sister Yang finds him an eyesore and chases him to the primary school in Xiahekou District.
Both entering primary school, Yan Xiang feels happiness doubled.
Jun Jun is miserably painful.
In the evening, Qiao Wei stands inside the window, eavesdropping on the two little friends chatting while eating milk biscuits on the bamboo bed.
Jun Jun complains—
“Have to sit for such a long time, not allowed to drink water, not allowed to go to the bathroom, not allowed to stand up casually, and not allowed to talk casually.”
“I just strolled around the classroom during class, and the teacher made me stand in the doorway as punishment.”
“My second brother went home and complained to my big brother and big sister.”
“Big brother said big sister has a light hand, so he let big sister beat me. Where does my big sister have a light hand? She is someone who can beat two people at once!”
“Sob sob sob, why do people have to grow up, why do you have to go to school when you grow up, sob sob sob…”
Yan Xiang gently comforts: “Don’t cry, here, have some candy.”
“Sob sob sob, are there any more?”
“Alright, I’ll give you this piece too.”
“Sob sob sob, are there any more?”
“This is the last piece!”
“Sob~”
