Chapter 307: Turning Weapons into Jade and Silk
Su He strolled back into the hotel lobby, where Director Tian and the others were already waiting for her, having finished the check-in formalities.
Back in those days, they didn’t have the room cards of later generations—everything used keys.
Director Tian handed Su He a key attached to a wooden token marked with the room number: 301.
“We’re all paired up two to a room. Since the other units didn’t have any single female comrades, you get a room all to yourself.”
As Su He heard this, she happened to see the female receptionist at the front desk offering her an eager, polite smile.
Su He nodded back at her. Whatever the underlying reality was didn’t matter; what mattered was that she enjoyed the single-room treatment.
Su He then asked Director Tian and the others about their rooms. They were staying two to a room—Director Tian and Principal Chen in one, and Director Feng and Director Hu in the other.
One was 303, the other was 305, all right next to each other.
Once they got upstairs, Director Feng couldn’t wait to ask, “Little Su, what is Section Chief Luo to you?”
Su He replied, “A relative.”
Director Feng: “…”
I obviously know he’s your relative. I’m asking what kind of relative exactly!
Director Tian nearly burst out laughing!
Old Feng, you absolute blockhead!
Anyone could tell from Section Chief Luo’s constipated expression earlier that he was being swindled into a kinship by Little Su!
This girl just loves recognizing relatives all over the place!
Still, today’s little scene was quite good. At the very least, it let people know that their An County was not to be trifled with, saving them from having people make passive-aggressive, nauseating remarks for no reason.
As these thoughts crossed his mind, Director Tian spoke up, “There aren’t any arrangements here for this afternoon, so why don’t we go out for a stroll?”
Director Hu asked, “Where to? It’s not far from the park.”
Director Tian was just about to nod when he heard Su He say, “Let’s take a stroll over to the seafood company!”
Director Tian and the other three: “…”
No, wait—didn’t you already drop the matter? Why on earth are we going to the seafood company?
Principal Chen spoke with earnest, well-meaning gravity, “Little Su, where you can let someone off, let them off. Since the other party already apologized, don’t keep holding onto it.”
Su He pursed her lips and smiled. “I’m not going there to lodge a complaint. I just want to broaden my horizons and learn a thing or two from their seafood company.”
Of those present, aside from Director Feng who half-believed and half-doubted her, the other three didn’t believe a single punctuation mark of what she said.
This girl definitely had some design!
As for what she was plotting, they genuinely couldn’t guess.
However, since there were no other arrangements anyway, going for a stroll was fine.
Su He told them to wait in their rooms while she headed over to the room of those two men from the seafood company.
As for how she knew their room number—it was very simple. Director Tian had overheard it when the two were checking in.
It had to be said that compared to the other three old men, Director Tian’s mind was vastly more flexible.
Inside the room, Zhao Damao lay on the bed with a face full of thoroughly defeated dejection.
To think that coming to attend a training session would end up offending Section Chief Luo from the foreign trade department!
It was all to blame on his wretched mouth!
His colleague, Luo Strong, comforted him, “Damao, what’s past is past. You apologized too, so they won’t keep holding onto it.”
The exact moment his voice fell, a knock sounded at the door.
Luo Strong assumed it was a member of the staff, taking a few quick steps to open the door.
Then, he beheld a thoroughly beaming Su He.
Luo Strong received a fright, and Zhao Damao leapt straight up from the bed.
“You—what did you come here for? Didn’t I already offer you an apology earlier?”
Su He wore a face full of deep shame. “Just now, Uncle Luo criticized me severely, and I’ve also realized my own mistakes. Although we had some prior misunderstandings, I shouldn’t have spoken with such heavy words either. I came here to apologize to you.”
Zhao Damao simply could not believe his own ears. Apologize to me?
Yet, Su He actually did offer a solemn and proper apology, even actively introducing herself: “I didn’t introduce myself properly earlier. I am Su He from the An County Joint Exhibition Delegation. I serve as the secretary to the factory directors of the An County Food Factory and the An County Machinery Factory, and I concurrently hold the post of director for the Huaihua Branch of the An County Textile Factory.”
In truth, Zhao Damao had long since guessed she was Su He. After all, An County had only produced a single monster of talent like her.
Feeling somewhat overwhelmed by the sudden favor, he hurriedly said, “I am Zhao Damao, the section chief of the foreign trade department at the provincial seafood company, and this is Luo Strong, the section chief of the sales department.”
Su He smiled and extended her hand. “A pleasure, a pleasure! I came over, for one, wanting to offer an apology, and for another, I have an unreasonable request. I don’t know if I should voice it?”
Zhao Damao hurriedly replied, “Please speak, please speak!”
Su He rubbed her hands together. “Ever since I was a child, I’ve loved fish and shrimp, but unfortunately I’ve never been to the seaside, let alone seen many things from the ocean. Since there happen to be no arrangements this afternoon, I wanted to pay a visit to your esteemed unit for a tour. I don’t know if it’s convenient?”
Zhao Damao’s mind revolved several times. To tell the absolute truth, he naturally didn’t want to agree!
Who would willingly court extra chores for themselves when they had nothing better to do!
But if he didn’t agree, he was terrified that Su He would keep holding onto the prior business, not to mention there was still a Section Chief Luo to consider!
Therefore, he said with a smile, “Of course it’s convenient! We are all brother units; it is only right that we move about and interact more.”
Su He exchanged a few generic pleasantries, then went to fetch Director Tian and the other four to join them as well.
Although things had been unpleasant previously, with Director Tian and Su He around, the atmosphere very quickly turned entirely harmonious.
When the group reached the lobby, as luck would have it, they ran into Luo Dongchuan once more.
Luo Dongchuan looked at the crowd chatting and laughing together: “…”
No, wait—weren’t you arguing until your eyes turned black just now? How did you turn this affectionate all of a sudden?
Su He said with a beaming smile, “Uncle Luo, Section Chief Zhao has invited us to the provincial seafood company for a tour. Would you like to come along with us?”
Luo Dongchuan: “…You go ahead, I still have matters to attend to.”
Zhao Damao’s brain must have flooded with water!
Regardless of what he thought, Su He’s group took a public bus and arrived at the provincial seafood company.
Once they reached the seafood company, with two section chiefs accompanying them, there was naturally no need for any letters of introduction, and they enjoyed smooth, unobstructed passage the whole way.
Zhao Damao brought Su He and the others straight to the production workshop.
The seafood company’s rules and regulations were still relatively comprehensive. Not only did the group need to wash and disinfect their hands, but they also had to change into specialized work uniforms and boots.
Zhao Damao even specially summoned a tour guide to provide them with introductions.
Because it was an export enterprise for foreign trade, foreign merchants occasionally came over to conduct inspections, so their personnel staffing could be considered complete.
Su He listened very intently. Director Tian and the others were also beholding the production workflow of marine products for the very first time, so they were all highly interested as well.
The seafood company’s current export products were primarily jellyfish products, frozen fish and shrimp, and dried products like dried shrimp and purple seaweed.
Once the tour concluded, Su He gave a big thumbs-up: “No wonder the seafood company represents an old-timer in our Beiliao Province’s exports. Whether it’s product quality or production management, everything is exceptionally solid!
“Section Chief Zhao, I understand now why you were dissatisfied with our An County exhibiting previously. Your seafood company is indeed stronger than us by a margin that is far from small!”
Zhao Damao smiled bitterly. “Comrade Little Su, please stop making fun of me!”
Su He hurriedly said, “Section Chief Zhao, I’m speaking from the absolute bottom of my heart! Your factory possesses a great many areas worthy of our emulation. I’ll bound to ask you for guidance often in the future, so you mustn’t withhold your secrets from me…”
Flattery never goes out of style, let alone when Zhao Damao had been argued down into a submissive quail by Su He just a moment ago!
Zhao Damao’s mouth split into a grin that nearly reached his ears!
