Chapter 14: Suitable

At the Division Commander Li’s home, the duty officer brought the food from the canteen and set it on the dining table before leaving.

The Division Commander’s wife worked at the hospital and had to work the night shift, so tonight, the Division Commander would be eating alone.

Just after finishing his meal and putting down his bowl and chopsticks, he heard a knock on the door.

“Old Yu, Comrade Cuilan, why are you here? Come on in.”

Commissioner Yu entered, glanced around the living room, and saw the bowls and chopsticks on the table. He awkwardly said, “Commander, sorry to interrupt your meal.”

The Division Commander replied, “No, I just finished eating.”

Wang Cuilan looked around and asked, “Where’s Doctor Huang? Did she go to her night shift again?” She was referring to the Division Commander’s wife, Doctor Huang.

The Division Commander nodded, gesturing for the two to sit. “Comrade Cuilan, did you come for something?”

He raised his hand to pour tea for them, and Wang Cuilan immediately took the teapot and poured three cups.

“Commander, how did you know I came for something?”

The Division Commander pointed at Commissioner Yu and smiled. “Old Yu always brings up work matters during office hours, but when you two come at this time, either Comrade Cuilan has something to discuss, or it’s about something personal at your home. Either way, it’s something you’re in charge of, Comrade Cuilan.”

Wang Cuilan smiled back, “You really know how to guess, Commander. I came today to report on the issuance of ration coupons to the family members.”

The Division Commander paused with his tea cup in hand, then said, “I think I’ve heard some discussions about this recently. Is there a problem?”

Wang Cuilan slapped her thigh angrily and said, “Oh, you don’t know! Since last month, some of the family members have been complaining that the ration coupons were issued incorrectly, and by this month, half of them still haven’t received theirs.”

The Division Commander frowned and said, “What’s going on? Doesn’t the family compound have a finance department? I remember they just transferred a math teacher from the school, right? How could such a mistake happen?”

Wang Cuilan replied, “I went to see that accountant, Xiao Zhou, today. Guess what? She resigned and went home.”

The Division Commander asked, “She’s only been there for a short time, and she just resigned? Did this lead to the ration coupons not being distributed?”

Wang Cuilan explained, “I also found it strange. I went to inquire this morning, and I was told that a family member went to the finance department a few days ago. She said her family had received fewer ration coupons for six months and demanded they be made up. Xiao Zhou said she had no record of it in her account books, so she couldn’t fix it. The two of them got into an argument.”

“The family member who caused the trouble is a sharp-tongued person with no manners, cursing and yelling without hesitation. Xiao Zhou, being a young woman and educated, couldn’t stand it and, angered, resigned and went home.”

Listening to Wang Cuilan’s explanation, the Division Commander lightly tapped his finger on the armrest and said, “That family member said they’ve received fewer ration coupons for half a year—how could they not have noticed this for so long?”

Commissioner Yu handed her a tea cup, and upon hearing the Division Commander’s question, explained, “I found this situation strange when I heard about it at noon, too. Moreover, the head of the finance department at the family compound’s logistics office was the previous Division Commander’s wife. If this matter wasn’t handled properly, it could have a bad impact. This afternoon, I had someone discreetly investigate and even asked the family member who caused the trouble. Her husband is the captain of the Second Battalion, Qin.”

The Division Commander asked, “What did they say?”

Commissioner Yu replied, “She said the missing ration coupons were for her younger son, who turned ten six months ago. His ration coupons was supposed to increase from 18 to 25 pounds per month.”

“Six months ago, she told the then deputy head of the finance department about it, and the deputy head said he would have the person in charge of distributing the coupons make a note. However, when the ration coupons were distributed, the increase never happened.”

The Division Commander Li asked in confusion, “Then why didn’t she go and ask what the reason was?”

Commissioner Yu replied, “Six months ago, the Second Regiment was preparing to promote a vice-battalion commander, and Qin, the captain’s family, was afraid that if she spoke up, it might delay her husband’s promotion.”

Division Commander Li asked, “What does that have to do with it?”

Commissioner Yu explained, “The deputy head of the finance department was a family member of the former battalion commander. I’m not sure if she forgot about this issue or if the person responsible for issuing the coupons forgot. The family of Battalion Commander Qin didn’t ask about it at the time. Now that the former brigade commander and the second battalion commander have been reassigned, and their families have left, Qin’s wife remembered this matter again.”

Wang Cuilan put down her tea cup and said, “I think she’s just someone who bullies the weak and fears the strong. She didn’t dare to ask the former brigade commander’s wife or the former battalion commander’s wife, but now seeing Xiao Zhou is young and in a position like her husband’s, she started to make trouble.”

Division Commander Li asked Commissioner Yu, “Who was in charge of issuing the coupons in the finance department before? Have you asked them?”

Commissioner Yu shook his head, and Wang Cuilan quickly replied, “Accountant Zheng just had a baby and went back to Qiongzhou to rest.”

Division Commander Li thought for a moment and said, “This issue still needs to be handled properly. It’s not just about Battalion Commander Qin’s family, those family members who haven’t received their coupons need to be addressed quickly.”

Commissioner Yu said, “But, the finance department at the family compound currently has no one available.”

Division Commander Li replied, “If it’s really necessary, we can transfer two people from the unit to help out.”

Commissioner Yu hesitated and said, “That might not be in line with the rules.”

Division Commander Li said, “Old Yu, you’re such a stickler for the rules. Rules are dead, but people are alive. At the very least, let’s distribute the coupons for the past two months. The family members came all the way to this island to follow the troops, and we can’t even let them have their food coupons. How can that be acceptable?”

At this point, Wang Cuilan spoke up, “Commander, I have a suitable candidate for the position in the finance department at the family compound.”

Division Commander Li looked at the two of them and laughed, “Ah, so you two came prepared. You’ve been talking to me for so long, and now you have a solution.”

He pointed at Wang Cuilan and said, “Comrade Cuilan, you’re starting to pick up on Old Yu’s ways, with all these roundabout explanations. Who is the person you’re recommending? Tell me.”

Wang Cuilan smiled, “Commander, this person is also a military spouse, and she’s a university graduate from Tongji University. She has worked for several years at the People’s Bank of Haishi. You see, having her work in the finance department at our family compound is just perfect.”

She had specifically visited the personnel department during the day to inquire about Meng Yufei’s school major and her previous job, and found that it was a perfect fit.

Hearing this, Division Commander Li nodded and said, “I didn’t expect our family compound to have such hidden talent. A university graduate, huh? Which family is she from?”

Wang Cuilan replied, “You should be more familiar with this. She’s the wife of Regiment Commander Xia from the First Regiment.”

Division Commander Li was somewhat surprised but then smiled, “That guy, I heard his wife came to the island a few days ago. I didn’t realize she’s a university graduate.”

Wang Cuilan asked, “Commander, do you think this is a good fit?”

Division Commander Li said, “It does seem like a good fit. Here’s what we’ll do, transfer her temporarily to the finance department. You tell her that as long as she solves this issue, she’ll be officially assigned to the family compound’s logistics office finance department.”

After leaving Division Commander Li’s home, Wang Cuilan curiously asked Commissioner Yu, “Old Yu, why didn’t the Division Commander just let Xiao Meng go to the finance department directly? Why the temporary transfer? She’s a university graduate with work experience. Giving her a permanent position wouldn’t have been unusual, and it wouldn’t have violated any rules.”

Commissioner Yu explained, “The Division Commander has his reasons. Xiao Meng is Regiment Commander Xia’s wife, and Regiment Commander Xia was personally reassigned here by the Division Commander. To outsiders, Regiment Commander Xia is already the Division Commander’s trusted confidant, so if his family member is placed in the finance department, it could lead to people speculating that the Division Commander is appointing his relatives.”

Wang Cuilan asked, “How could that be? Is there anyone else in the family compound more suitable than Xiao Meng?”

Commissioner Yu smiled and said, “Since the Division Commander has already made his decision, let’s go along with what he said. By the way, have you spoken to Xiao Meng about this?”

Wang Cuilan paused, then clapped her hands and said, “Ah, I was planning to wait until the Division Commander agreed before talking to her. Now that it’s a temporary position, I don’t even know if she’ll accept…”

Next door to Division Commander Li’s house was Commissioner Yu’s home. After arriving at his doorstep, Commissioner Yu went inside, while Wang Cuilan turned towards Regiment Commander Xia’s house.

On the way, she bumped into Qi Huiying, who was walking toward her.

“Sister-in-law, where are you going? I was just about to visit you and Commissioner Yu,” Qi Huiying greeted with a smile.

Wang Cuilan frowned and replied, “Didn’t you just come to my house last week? What’s going on now?”

Qi Huiying often visited her house and every time had no real purpose, just chatting aimlessly about all sorts of irrelevant things.

Qi Huiying’s smile stiffened, but she continued, “I just wanted to chat with you.”

Wang Cuilan said, “If you have family issues and need my help, come to the Women’s Committee tomorrow morning. I’m busy right now, so I can’t talk to you.”

As she turned to leave, Qi Huiying hurriedly grabbed her, “Hey, sister-in-law, why are you in such a hurry?”

Wang Cuilan, a bit impatient, responded, “I’m going to Regiment Commander Xia’s house. The Division Commander gave me a task to inform Regiment Commander Xia’s family to report to work tomorrow. I need to go and tell them quickly.”

“Work?” Qi Huiying asked, her mouth falling open in surprise. “What… what kind of work?”

Wang Cuilan said, “You don’t need to worry about that. You’ll find out later. I have to go now.” She quickly pulled her hand away and walked off in a hurry.

Qi Huiying stood there watching her leave, murmuring to herself, “Did the Division Commander give her the teacher’s position? How could that be…”

“No, I have to do something about this. I can’t just let the job go to her!” Qi Huiying’s eyes shifted, and it seemed she had come up with an idea.

—

After dinner, the Xia family of three cleaned up the table, with Xia Junshan busily washing the dishes.

Having walked a lot today, Xia Qinqin immediately started yawning after dinner. Meng Yufei took her to bathe and then let her go to bed. Tonight, Xia Qinqin didn’t ask for a bedtime story, and after lying down, she quickly fell asleep.

Once she was sure Xia Qinqin was asleep, Meng Yufei quietly closed the bedroom door and went to the living room. She directed Xia Junshan to tie a rope above the window for hanging the curtains.

“Crooked, it’s crooked, move it to the left more.”

“Yes, yes, that’s perfect.”

The light green curtains had already been pre-cut by the supply and marketing cooperative. A few small holes were made at the top, and the rope was threaded through to hang them.

Looking at the light green curtains, it felt like the house had become much fresher.

Meng Yufei nodded in satisfaction, “This color is perfect for the weather here.”

Xia Junshan stood beside her and nodded as well, “Yes, it’s very fitting.”