Chapter 48: A Surprise

The pharmaceutical factory had been extremely busy recently. Why? It was October, and the factory was celebrating National Day.

The factory even opened its auditorium, inviting everyone to watch a show and a movie in the evening.

As soon as Wen Jiajia arrived at the office that morning, Sha Yue pulled her aside and said, “Jiajia, it’s such a pity you missed last night’s event. Our factory showed a new movie.”

“What movie?” Wen Jiajia asked curiously.

“I heard ‘Sunny Days’ was shown. It was just released this year and isn’t even in theaters yet!” Sha Yue said it with excitement. “I was dreaming about it last night.”

Wen Jiajia took off her backpack and put it in her desk cabinet. “So, did you stay at your mother’s house last night?”

Sha Yue nodded. “There’s a movie tonight too. I heard it’s a rare dubbed film. Do you want to stay and watch it?”

Wen Jiajia was intrigued. Dubbed films are foreign or imported films. In this era, it’s quite rare to see dubbed films in China, and most imports are from friendly countries.

Sha Yue continued, “Have you heard of ‘Never Give Up’? It’s said to be a great movie. It was released two or three years ago, but it’s never been shown in our local cinemas.”

Wen Jiajia shook her head. “I haven’t heard of it.”

Not even in the original owner’s memory.

“It’s an Albanian movie. Do you want to stay and watch it tonight?” Sha Yue asked. “We can find someone to stay in the dormitory with us. Since we’re from the factory, it’s okay for us to stay overnight.”

Wen Jiajia was tempted, but eventually declined. “I’d prefer not to stay in the dormitory. My two children are going to labor class today, and with the hot weather, I need to go home and make sure they don’t get heatstroke.”

She didn’t really want to stay in the dormitory.

The bed there was too small, and she couldn’t get used to sharing it. Besides, she needed to take a bath at night.

Sha Yue sighed, “Having a child is troublesome.”

Wen Jiajia agreed, “Isn’t it?”

As they were talking, Qiao He walked in, knocked on Wen Jiajia’s desk, and said with a serious look, “Comrade Wen, Director Xue wants to see you.”

Wen Jiajia was surprised. “Okay.”

She didn’t ask further and hurried to Director Xue’s office.

“Director,” Wen Jiajia said as she entered.

Director Xue greeted her with a faint smile and gestured to the chair beside her. “Sit down.”

He then poured Wen Jiajia a cup of tea.

Wen Jiajia was somewhat nervous. Director Xue had always been a serious and tough figure in the office, rarely showing any warmth.

This sudden change surprised Wen Jiajia more than it made him happy. Was there something difficult she needed to do?

However, the reality exceeded her expectations. Director Xue took out an envelope and slid it toward her. “Look, this just arrived today.”

Wen Jiajia looked puzzled as she picked up the envelope. It was addressed to “No. 61, Ande Road, Capital City.”

She was even more confused when she saw that the sender was Workers’ Daily.

Then, it hit her. She froze for a moment, then broke into a smile. “The manuscript I sent last month was accepted?”

Director Xue smiled. “I haven’t opened it; you can read it yourself.”

Since the letter had arrived, it meant her manuscript was accepted.

Wen Jiajia couldn’t hide her joy as she opened the envelope and unfolded the letter.

Sure enough! Her manuscript was accepted. The newspaper staff praised her choice of topic and content, noting how clearly she had written about the development of drugs and its connection to social progress.

Wen Jiajia said happily, “Director, they accepted it, and the article will be published in the newspaper on the 3rd.”

Director Xue clapped his hands and said, “That’s tomorrow!”

With a gleam in his eye, he added, “This is the first time someone from our factory has had an article published in the Workers’ Daily. Even those renowned writers from the Propaganda Department could only manage to get their articles published in provincial newspapers.”

The Propaganda Department had gained significant influence in recent years, and Director Xue, a practical person, looked down on those who could only flatter and praise others. He also had some conflicts with the leaders there, which made him disdain for them even greater.

Now, the factory employees who had not been working in his workshop for long were reading the Workers’ Daily, making those people look insignificant. For a moment, Director Xue was beaming with pride, unable to hide his smile.

He laughed and then added, “Fortunately, you didn’t listen to me and insisted on sending it to the Workers’ Daily.”

At the time, she had considered sending it to the provincial newspaper first to increase the chances of acceptance and align with National Day. However, Wen Jiajia decided to send it directly to Workers’ Daily, planning to try the provincial newspaper if it wasn’t accepted.

Although the article didn’t make it to the National Day issue, it was still great to see it published on the 3rd.

Wen Jiajia finished reading the letter, put it back in the envelope, and said, “Thank you for your guidance, Director. I wouldn’t have had the courage to send it otherwise.”

“Oh, you’re too modest. I only made a few adjustments; the content is all yours. You can go now,” Director Xue said. “When the new newspaper arrives tomorrow, I’ll have someone post it at the entrance of our factory, the cafeteria entrance, and the entrance of the Propaganda Department.”

This way, everyone in the factory would know that only by immersing oneself in the front line can one produce excellent work.

Wen Jiajia didn’t mind that Director Xue was using her achievement to provoke the Propaganda Department. She had little regard for them herself; few there did practical work. She simply said, “Oh,” left happily, and returned to her office with the envelope.

In the office, Li Haijun asked Qiao He, “What did the director want to see Wen Jiajia about?”

Qiao He replied, “How should I know? I was just passing by and got caught in the middle of it.”

Li Haijun felt a bit disappointed.

His uncle had mentioned that Director Xue might be up for a promotion.

Director Xue had a solid background. Born into a poor peasant family and having served in the army, if not for his family responsibilities and the search for his children lost in the war, he would have advanced further in his career. Since joining the pharmaceutical factory in its early days, Director Xue had achieved significant success. Workshop 6, under his leadership, had seen continuous victories. Unlike other workshops that depended on the research department, Workshop 6’s flagship products were developed by the front-line workers themselves—a genuine political achievement.

Li Haijun was concerned that Wen Jiajia might be positioned to take over.

As he pondered this, Wen Jiajia dashed into the office like a gust of wind.

Sha Yue, always keen on gossip, noticed the office’s tense atmosphere and decided not to question Wen Jiajia on the spot.

However, Li Haijun’s curiosity got the better of him, and he asked Wen Jiajia. Without hesitation, she replied, “Oh, it’s nothing much. The manuscript I sent to the newspaper last month was accepted. Director Xue had the letter delivered to her office, and she asked me to pick it up.”

Li Haijun asked quickly, “The one you sent to Workers’ Daily?”

Wen Jiajia looked at him in surprise. “How did you know?” She hadn’t mentioned it to anyone, not even Sha Yue or Director Xue.

Li Haijun was momentarily taken aback. “I saw it by accident.”

He then turned and left the office, leaving no clue as to where he was going.

Wen Jiajia was deep in thought.

Although she had sent the manuscript to Workers’ Daily, she had never disclosed this to anyone. It was only when she had finished writing, put it in an envelope, and affixed the stamp that she wrote the address on the envelope.

She realized that Li Haijun must have learned about it when Director Xue received the letter.

Wen Jiajia resolved to be more cautious in the future.

Afternoon

The ginkgo leaves gradually turned yellow in the autumn wind, making them even more striking.

Sha Yue left after lunch, saying her sister-in-law was giving birth in the hospital and she needed to visit her.

Li Haijun was still missing from the office, but Qiao He was present when Wen Jiajia returned.

“Hey, Comrade Qiao, you didn’t go back to the dormitory today?”

Wen Jiajia placed her lunch box on the table and moved the flower pot from outside the window inside.

She had been growing aloe vera recently and was determined that such a resilient plant would not succumb to her care.

“I have work today,” Qiao He said.

Wen Jiajia noticed his desk was cluttered with materials that looked like they had just been borrowed from the library.

Qiao He looked out the window, hesitated, and said, “In the future, you should send important documents yourself. Li Haijun’s aunt works in the mailroom.”

Wen Jiajia paused, placing the flower pot on the edge of her desk, and asked, “Is she the tall woman who often sits by the door reading newspapers and has a large mole on her left eyebrow?”

The mailroom was located at the entrance of the pharmaceutical factory, and Wen Jiajia passed it daily on her way to and from work. She had become familiar with the people working there.

Qiao He nodded. “Yes, she is the wife of his uncle.”

Understanding now, Wen Jiajia realized that the mailroom, responsible for receiving and sending the factory’s mail, would have known about her manuscript. Thus, Li Haijun would naturally be aware of it.

Qiao He continued, “There was an incident in the mailroom before where someone’s manuscript was peeped at. The person who looked at it delayed the manuscript for a day, then sent out a copycat version first.”

“What happened next?” Wen Jiajia asked, shocked.

Qiao He said, “It’s still an unresolved case. The manuscripts were similar but not identical. The two parties have been arguing for months, each claiming they wrote it first.”

“And the mailroom should be held responsible for this?” Wen Jiajia inquired.

“Yes, but the mailroom couldn’t provide a clear explanation. Since they didn’t catch anyone in the act, the higher-ups just criticized the mailroom staff.”

Such matters are difficult to resolve thoroughly without a full investigation by the Security Department. But can a thorough investigation truly be conducted? Ultimately, the factory’s reputation is at stake, and how rigorously can the pharmaceutical company investigate?

Wen Jiajia took a deep breath.

She had thought she was being careful, but didn’t realize there could be such significant issues in unseen places.

“Can we send it ourselves?” she asked.

Qiao He replied, “Yes, but you’ll need to pay for it yourself. For non-urgent documents, we usually ask the mailroom to handle it.”

Wen Jiajia resolved that, from now on, she would personally handle the mailing of any important manuscripts.

She thanked him sincerely, “Thank you, Comrade Qiao. If you hadn’t told me, I wouldn’t have known about this.”

Qiao He replied, “It’s nothing. We’re the only ones in our office who got in based on our abilities. The other two’s articles aren’t even fit to be posted on the factory bulletin board. There’s no point in discussing them.”

“…”

Qiao He certainly had a way with words that could offend people. It was no wonder he was less popular in the workshop compared to Li Haijun.