Chapter 84 2/2

Qiao Wei first asked, “How long will the secondment last? When can I come back?”

Secretary Gao said, “It’s hard to say… uh… about a month?”

Lies. Don’t trust leaders when they say things like this. When a leader says one thing, you need to consider three to five possibilities. Don’t believe them when they say one is just one.

She could work diligently, but she couldn’t be bullied. She had to be rewarded for her work, and she had to receive the benefits she deserved. The difficulties she encountered couldn’t be left for her to solve alone; whoever brought them up had to help her solve them.

Qiao Wei said, “I really have many objective difficulties. To work for a higher-level unit, the leaders need to support and help me overcome these difficulties. Otherwise, as a mother with a child, it’s really too hard for me.”

As long as she didn’t throw a tantrum, everything else could be resolved. Besides, she didn’t want to go deep down; she wanted to be on the same page as the town committee.

Secretary Gao was willing to protect her, “You say.”

Qiao Wei listed her demands one by one.

Secretary Gao said, “Director Fang, make a call.”

The entire phone system of the town committee was on one line, and each office had an extension. Director Fang picked up the phone and told the operator, “Connect me to the county committee.”

The operator in the next room connected Director Fang to the county committee.

Director Fang said to the operator on the other end, “I’m Director Fang of the Xiahekou Town Committee Office. Please transfer me to Secretary Huang.”

The office was quiet, and Qiao Wei listened as Director Fang discussed her matter with Secretary Huang from the county committee.

At times like this, she couldn’t speak, so Qiao Wei gestured to express her thoughts. Director Fang nodded while talking to Secretary Huang.

Believe it or not, office directors were experts in dealing with such matters.

Finally, after hanging up the phone, the final terms were settled.

During Qiao Wei’s secondment, all benefits from her original unit would continue as usual.

During her long-distance commute, she would receive a transportation allowance of 20 cents per day but wouldn’t enjoy additional travel allowances.

Considering specific issues, Qiao Wei’s start time would be 9 a.m., one hour later than others. If Yanxiang needed it, he could enter the county committee’s kindergarten tomorrow.

Considering the lack of streetlights on the commute route and the safety of young female comrades, before National Day, Qiao Wei’s quitting time would be 4 p.m., one hour earlier than others. After National Day, with the nights getting darker earlier, Qiao Wei’s quitting time would be 3:30 p.m. to prevent any danger on the darkened route.

During rainy and snowy days, Qiao Wei chose not to go to the county but to work in the town government office. If there were tasks, she could be remotely commanded via telephone, and she ensured that she could work on time and as required.

This was because a long stretch of road from the town to the county was unpaved, only turning into an asphalt road at a major intersection. Rain and snow were not conducive for bicycles.

At this time, bicycles were considered luxury items, even to the extent that the practice of “three turns, one ring” hadn’t become popular yet, and it would take a few more years. Since bicycles were not common, there were no specialized raincoats for them either. Only those long raincoats were available, which were very inconvenient for cycling and couldn’t accommodate children.

Qiao Wei was basically satisfied with this outcome, and the leaders genuinely fought for her. She expressed sincere gratitude.

Capable subordinates received protection from their own side and were willing to bow down, and leaders were also willing to protect them. They couldn’t let their own people be bullied by outsiders; otherwise, it would make the leaders seem weak and lose their prestige.

Regarding the issue of treatment, Qiao Wei followed Director Fang to his office and watched him write a note. When she took the note and transfer letter back to the radio station and told Manman, Manman felt as if her world had collapsed!

She had only been happy for a few days, and Qiao Wei was about to be seconded away!

“For how long? When will you come back?” she asked repeatedly.

Qiao Wei said, “The secretary said one month.”

Station Chief Lu sighed, obviously understanding that this timeframe might not be accurate.

Manman was so angry that she stomped her feet. After stomping, she said, “Secondment is the most annoying. They will keep pushing you there. Be careful and don’t complete your work too quickly. If you do, they will give you even more work.”

Station Chief Lu said, “Listen to Manman.”

“Okay,” Qiao Wei agreed readily. “I’m not stupid. It’s not like here. I’ll drag it out as much as I can and try to come back soon.”

Hu Sui asked, “What about Yan Xiang?”

Yan Xiang also looked at her eagerly.

“Yan Xiang, come here,” Qiao Wei called him over and asked, “Do you want to go to the nursery in the compound, or do you want to go to the county with Mom? But even if you go to the county, it’s the nursery at the county committee. It’s just inside the county committee compound, and Mom can check on you from time to time.”

Yan Xiang said, “I want to go with Mom.”

The compound was a familiar place, and he had peeked at the nursery inside the compound through the railings before, so it wasn’t unfamiliar to him.

He wanted to explore new unknown places.

Qiao Wei also leaned towards taking Yanxiang with her.

It was only a journey of forty to fifty minutes, which big city folks considered normal.

But everyone felt especially sorry for Yan Xiang. Hu Sui even said, “Otherwise, let Yan Xiang stay…”

If it were another child, she wouldn’t have said this, taking on something for herself. She was also a cadre’s family member, not someone’s nanny to look after children.

But Yan Xiang really required no fuss.

Apart from not being able to pour water into his own bottle, needing help from adults, everything else, including going to the bathroom and eating, required no assistance.

He kept his desk in the office even tidier than Manman’s. Manman was mocked by the entire office because of this.

He could also run errands for everyone, conveying messages clearly. Often during errands, he would receive candies from aunties and elder ladies.

Of course, the price he paid was getting his head rubbed and his face touched.

Everyone genuinely felt sorry for Yan Xiang, but Qiao Wei couldn’t really leave her child with someone else. After all, they were just colleagues.

She politely declined.

The note about the treatment conditions written by Director Fang was taken to Station Chief Lu for signing.

Lu Station Chief looked at it and laughed, signing his name, “You’re good.”

This kind of treatment wouldn’t have been given voluntarily by the leaders; undoubtedly, Qiao Wei had fought for it herself.

Qiao Wei smiled.

After Lu Station Chief signed, Qiao Wei took it to find Chief Xie.

After explaining the situation, Chief Xie let out a long sigh, “Alas—”

Someone sarcastically said, “There’s always someone better.”

Qiao Wei didn’t bother responding to such people.

She said to Chief Xie, “Leader, you have to find a way for me. I’m your soldier. When I go out, I will never embarrass you over there. But you can’t just leave me alone and let me be used like a workhorse. You have to figure out a way to bring me back soon. Don’t forget that I exist.”

Chief Xie felt relieved in his heart and comforted her, “You also do well over there.”

When he looked at the conditions of the treatment written on the note, he glanced at Qiao Wei.

Qiao Wei smiled softly.

Chief Xie smiled back.

Just now, when someone tried to come closer to take a look, Qiao Wei sidestepped to block him, reaching out to point at Chief Xie and said, “You sign here…”

Chief Xie signed his name gracefully, and Qiao Wei took the note to the personnel department.

The person asked, “Chief, what did she sign?”

“Nothing much, just secondment…” Chief Xie picked up the teapot, blew on the tea leaves, and drank his tea leisurely.