Chapter 41

After arranging the work tasks, Huang Juan asked Lu Qiaoge: "Why haven't you left yet? It will be time to get off work in a while."

Lu Qiaoge: "Sister Qiao and I just saw Representative Qin drive a jeep into the family courtyard of the military representative office. I don't know if he is at home or at the unit now."

Huang Juan pondered slightly: "Representative Qin probably went back to tidy up things; he basically lives in the dormitory."

Lu Qiaoge: "Then Shao Le and I will go to the military representative office. If he is not there, we will make an appointment with his secretary."

Huang Juan agreed happily.

Lu Qiaoge and Shao Le were the youngest comrades in the neighborhood office; letting them go to discuss with Representative Qin was more appropriate.

It was a farewell party, after all; the other party had to be satisfied.

Lu Qiaoge found Shao Le, who was helping at the security station: "Deputy Director Huang wants us to go to the military representative office."

Shao Le agreed happily.

Upon hearing this, Sister Qiao immediately called Lu Qiaoge: "Wait for me for a moment."

Then Sister Qiao walked out of the neighborhood office with them.

Sister Qiao said: "Qiaoge, you have to go to Qi Shuang's house with me first, and then there is a commuter bus at the intersection over there. You can just take the commuter bus to the military representative office."

Lu Qiaoge glanced at Shao Le, and Shao Le nodded in agreement immediately.

As a newcomer, the big sister arranged things; there was no reason to refute.

Sister Qiao said to Lu Qiaoge: "Mainly because you heard it at the time, and Qi Shuang likes and trusts you quite a bit. She needs to know about this. I don't know that man just now, but his thinking is incorrect. He isn't looking for a wife, he's looking for a maid."

Lu Qiaoge couldn't be filled with righteous indignation; even in the future, unless women didn't marry, there was no substantial difference from now.

When they arrived at Qi Shuang's house, Qi Shuang had just finished work. Lu Qiaoge was just about to follow Sister Qiao in when someone next door called Lu Qiaoge with a surprised voice: "Qiaoge."

Lu Qiaoge took a look; it was actually Zhou Li. It turned out that the place she rented was here.

Lu Qiaoge greeted her with a smile, and of course, there was the old black cat lying beside the child.

"Sister Zhou, hello Xiao Hei."

【Meow, meow, meow, I have a home.】 The old black cat jumped onto the wall happily.

Zhou Li held Lu Qiaoge's hand, her eyes moist, and said with a choked voice: "Thank you so much. If you hadn't helped me, I would have truly had nowhere to go."

Being sincerely thanked, Lu Qiaoge was very happy. She pointed to the old black cat: "The one you should thank most is your Xiao Hei."

Just then, Sister Qiao called Lu Qiaoge: "Qiaoge, come here."

Lu Qiaoge hurriedly walked over. Qi Shuang looked at Lu Qiaoge suspiciously and asked her: "That person... did he really say that?"

Sister Qiao reminded: "It's the words we heard when we came out of the family courtyard of the military representative office."

Lu Qiaoge nodded and repeated those words completely.

Qi Shuang's expression changed, then she smiled and thanked her in a low voice.

Shao Le, who was waiting at the gate, shouted: "The commuter bus is here."

Lu Qiaoge hurriedly waved to Zhou Li and Qi Shuang and ran toward the intersection with Shao Le.

Sister Qiao's eyes crinkled with a smile; youth is truly good, always so full of vitality.

When the two arrived at the gate of the military representative office, it was exactly five o'clock.

There was half an hour left until getting off work.

Beside the factory office was a red brick building; this was the office for the stationed military personnel.

Workers liked to call this place the military representative office.

Lu Qiaoge, standing on the cement steps, tidied her shirt collar. A dandelion that had sprouted from the cracks in the steps brushed against her trouser leg.

Lu Qiaoge lowered her head; she could go to the suburbs to dig wild vegetables.

Especially dandelions; they were very tender right now.

Shao Le didn't know that Lu Qiaoge looked serious, but in her heart, she was thinking about where to dig wild vegetables.

He couldn't help but put away the smile on his face.

This place gave people a sense of oppression and solemnity before even entering.

The two of them were formal cadres of the Xiang Yang Neighborhood Office and entered the military factory gate with work permits.

However, there were still guards here at the military representative office.

After registering again, they finally arrived at the military representative's office.

On the door frame of the military representative office was also written the slogan "Prepare for war, prepare for famine, for the people."

The door was slightly ajar, and Shao Le took the initiative to knock.

"Please come in."

It was Qin Hengzhi's voice, as clear as pine.

Shao Le seemed to be somewhat wary of Qin Hengzhi, completely unlike his usual playful self.

His action of pushing the door was also light.

Qin Hengzhi was standing by the window, his military uniform jacket neatly draped over the back of the chair, his shirt sleeves rolled up to his elbows. It looked casual, but because this was the military representative office, it carried an indescribable majesty.

Qin Hengzhi restrained his coldness, his expression very gentle, and invited the two to sit on the sofa.

Xiao Su came in to pour water for Lu Qiaoge and Shao Le, using enamel mugs.

Qin Hengzhi said with a smile: "Drink some water first before talking about business."

Xiao Su looked at his own Representative Qin and then at Lu Qiaoge sitting on the sofa without changing his expression.

This was Lu Qiaoge.

She was truly beautiful.

Xiao Su retreated with a complex expression.

Lu Qiaoge took a sip of water; she was indeed a bit thirsty, having been busy all afternoon.

Shao Le, however, gulped down all the water in the enamel mug.

He felt he was a male comrade, so he spoke first: "Representative Qin, the neighborhood office and the factory labor union are jointly organizing a farewell party. After thinking about it, we still want to seek your opinion. Is it better to perform a program, or should we organize a social dance?"

Speaking of the social dance, Shao Le's eyes immediately shone.

One had to know that the factory hadn't organized one for several years.

Qin Hengzhi glanced at Lu Qiaoge, who was sitting obediently on the sofa.

This girl was truly capable; she really did get into the neighborhood office.

And with the highest score at that.

In his mind, the image of Lu Qiaoge tearing with Shen Yun by the lake that day couldn't help but surface.

It didn't feel like the same person.

But in one week, had she changed so much?

Qin Hengzhi masked the surprise in his eyes and said gently: "I told Factory Director Hao that the time of my departure is uncertain. If work requires it, I might leave tomorrow. There is no need to make such a big fuss. I accept the kindness of the leaders and the neighborhood office."

He didn't choose either?

Shao Le was already a bit afraid of Qin Hengzhi; he couldn't say why, but standing in front of him made him particularly cautious.

Suddenly, his expression changed. When he got nervous, his old problem would flare up; he wanted to go to the bathroom.

Shao Le had to stand up and ask embarrassedly: "Representative Qin, I..."

Qin Hengzhi understood and pointed outside the office door: "Go find Xiao Su; he is in the office next door."

Unable to care about anything else, Shao Le walked out of the military representative's office in a hurry with a flushed face.

There was a momentary stagnation in the room.

There was also an indescribable smell quietly permeating the air.

Qin Hengzhi was the host; there was no reason to let the guest speak first.

He asked leisurely: "Have you officially entered the neighborhood office now?"

Lu Qiaoge took out her work permit: "Yes, this is my work permit."

What Qin Hengzhi saw at a glance was Lu Qiaoge's photo. The corners of his mouth curled up; two black braids, smiling very subtly.

This photo was taken at the photo studio on the morning of the day Lu Qiaoge reported to the neighborhood office.

She chose the rush service, then picked it up the next morning and pasted it onto the work permit that had been prepared long ago.