Chapter 42: Was the Job Stolen?  

Just then, Su Wenyen walked in and said to Li Xia, “Sister Li, what brings you here?” 

The apple-faced female comrade pointed at Su Wenyen and asked Li Xia, “You two know each other? She’s the one we hired yesterday for the broadcasting station.” 

Su Wenyen’s face showed a look of surprise. “Ah, Sister Li, were you also here for the job? I didn’t know you were applying too. You’re not going to blame me for taking your job, are you?” 

She bit her lip, her expression full of grievance, as if Li Xia was being completely unreasonable. 

Li Xia saw through her act instantly. Su Wenyen was playing the delicate and innocent role, making herself seem like the victim, as if she were being bullied.

Li Xia was not buying into her act and said, “Look at what you’re saying. If someone didn’t know better, they’d think I’m the unreasonable one here.”

The apple-faced female comrade’s expression shifted when she heard Su Wenyen’s words. She thought to herself, this girl is so pretty, but her personality is so domineering.

However, after hearing Li Xia’s words, her expression softened, and she looked at Su Wenyen with a realization.

Before anyone else had even spoken, Su Wenyen was already accusing others of blaming her. Wasn’t she just trying to throw dirt on someone’s reputation?

It seemed that in the future, she would need to keep her distance from Su Wenyen while working. She didn’t seem like a good person.

Su Wenyen hadn’t expected Li Xia to speak so directly, and her expression became awkward. “I—I didn’t mean it that way. Sister Li, you’ve misunderstood me…”

Li Xia smiled knowingly and said lightly, “Whether I’ve misunderstood or not, you know best in your heart.”

After saying that, she nodded at the apple-faced female comrade and said, “Since the position has been filled, I’ll be leaving now.” 

She suspected that Su Wenyen’s getting into the broadcasting station before her was no mere coincidence. 

But since the station was no longer hiring, there was no point in staying and making things awkward.

…

After Li Xia left, the broadcasting station director, Cao, received a call from the Organization Department. 

Cao looked at Su Wenyen, who had just walked into the office, and asked, “The Organization Department just called. They said the military spouse they assigned was supposed to come for the interview this morning. Weren’t you sent by them?” 

The previous evening, before the end of the workday, Su Wenyen had come to the broadcasting station, saying she was looking for a job. 

Coincidentally, the Organization Department had informed Cao earlier that they would be arranging for a military spouse to join them within the next couple of days. 

Since Su Wenyen had claimed to be a military spouse, Cao had assumed she was the one sent by the Organization Department. 

But now, the Organization Department had just called again, stating that their assigned candidate was only coming this morning. 

Su Wenyen felt a pang of guilt. She hadn’t originally planned on finding a job so soon, but upon unexpectedly learning that Li Xia was interested in working at the broadcasting station, she had rushed ahead to snatch the position before Li Xia could.

Yesterday, when Director Cao mistakenly assumed she had been sent by the Organization Department, Su Wenyen had simply gone along with it without offering any clarification. 

“Director Cao, the person you’re referring to is probably Sister Li,” Su Wenyen said. 

Cao glanced at her. “You know her? Then tell me, what’s her educational background?” 

He had already agreed to accept the candidate assigned by the Organization Department. If she was qualified, he could always consider hiring an additional person. 

Su Wenyen replied, “I think she only graduated from middle school.” 

Hearing this, Director Cao’s expression darkened. 

“Just a middle school graduate? Then she definitely won’t be up to the task. Our Publicity Department requires staff who can write articles.”

“These scripts have to be broadcast. With just a middle school education, she definitely won’t meet the standard. If we air something poorly written, the county’s broadcasting station will mock us for not having competent staff. No, no, she’s not suitable.” 

Even if the Organization Department of the military had recommended her, Director Cao wouldn’t approve. 

Many government offices were already plagued by nepotism, turning internal operations into a complete mess. As the director of the broadcasting station, he had to uphold standards and prevent their station from going down that path. 

Hearing Director Cao’s outright rejection, Su Wenyen was secretly overjoyed. 

However, she put on a concerned expression and said, “Director Cao, can’t we make an exception just this once? If Sister Li struggles with writing, I can teach her. I don’t even mind helping her write the scripts myself.”

Director Cao’s expression darkened as he said, “Enough, Xiao Su. I know you mean well, but if we do that, how would she be any different from someone freeloading off us?” 

Hearing Director Cao liken Li Xia to a parasite, Su Wenyen sneered inwardly. 

With this, Li Xia could forget about working at the broadcasting station. Even if Gu Weicheng tried to pull some strings for her, it wouldn’t work. 

…

When Li Xia returned home, Sister-in-law Tao was washing clothes, while An An sat in her courtyard reading a book, behaving exceptionally well. 

“An An, Mommy’s back. Come here,” Li Xia called out, waving to her. “Sister-in-law Tao, thank you for looking after An An.” 

Sister-in-law Tao waved a hand dismissively and said, “Oh, don’t mention it! We’re neighbors, after all. Besides, An An is such a well-behaved child, not troublesome in the least.”

She then asked, “Huh? Weren’t you supposed to start working at the broadcasting station? Why are you back so early? Or does the job officially start tomorrow?” 

Li Xia gave a helpless smile. “The broadcasting station already hired someone, so I just came back.” 

Sister-in-law Tao frowned. “How did they already hire someone? Didn’t Commander Gu put in a word with the Organization Department? Who did they hire? There haven’t been any new military family relocations to our unit recently. Could it be someone from town?” 

“Su Wenyen, Commander Su’s younger sister,” Li Xia replied. 

Sister-in-law Tao’s brows knitted together. “Her? How did she end up there? I remember hearing her tell her brother that she didn’t want to work. And now, all of a sudden, she’s taken a job at the broadcasting station? That’s way too much of a coincidence.”

After saying this, Sister-in-law Tao lowered her voice and asked, “Why do I feel like she did it on purpose? Like she knew you were going to the broadcasting station and deliberately took your spot!” 

It wasn’t unreasonable for her to think this way—Commander Gu had just spoken to the organization department, and then, all of a sudden, the job was snatched away. How could that be a coincidence? 

“What’s the deal with Commander Su’s sister anyway? Didn’t you two meet for the first time at the housewarming gathering? Why would she go out of her way to steal your job?” 

Sister-in-law Tao couldn’t wrap her head around it. “Back when her brother got into trouble, it was your Commander Gu who stepped in and spoke on his behalf. And now, Commander Su is letting his sister act recklessly like this?” 

Although the housewarming gathering was indeed the first time Li Xia had met Su Wenyen, Su Wenyen had already regarded her as an enemy long before that. 

Li Xia, on the other hand, had no intention of being at odds with her. She just wanted to live her own life. That’s why, when she first encountered this seemingly gentle woman, she had been nothing but kind.

However, Su Wenyen’s actions clearly showed that she intended to go against her. But Li Xia wasn’t afraid of her in the slightest. 

She thought of the article she had written. Originally, she had planned to submit it to a magazine, but now she had changed her mind. 

She would submit it to a newspaper—specifically, the Military Gazette! 

The current military district leaders read newspapers every day, especially military publications. 

If her article was published in the newspaper, there was a high chance that the leadership would see it! 

Rather than struggling to find a job and facing rejection, she might as well use her true talent to impress them—so much that they would come looking for her instead.