Chapter 163: End-of-Month Assessment Review Meeting

Lin Zhenfeng didn't realize his daughter was standing behind him; he was squatting there, picking up a leftover bone from the ground and chewing it again.

When Lin Qingyan saw the scene, tears fell down in an instant.

She covered her mouth, refusing to make a sound, then gently stepped back.

In her heart, her father had always been a towering figure; she just wanted to pretend she hadn't seen anything, so he wouldn't be embarrassed.

But she didn't notice and stepped on a branch, breaking it.

Hearing the noise, Lin Zhenfeng suddenly turned his head, and when he saw it was his daughter, he was startled.

He first hurriedly threw the bone away, then stood there, anxiously rubbing his trouser leg, looking embarrassed like a child who had done something wrong.

Thinking back, he was young then and already held the position of Deputy Bureau Chief of the Metallurgical Bureau; at that time he was full of vigor.

Every New Year, guests at home could stay from the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month to the fifteenth day of the first lunar month.

But now his daughter saw him eating a bone picked from a trash heap; it was beyond embarrassing.

"I… I was just… afraid you wouldn't finish it cleanly, would waste it…"

Lin Qingyan shook her head slightly, stepped forward two steps, and embraced her father.

She wasn't embarrassed by her father's behavior; she only felt heartache.

"Dad, when I get to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, I'll find a way to get you rehabilitated."

Lin Zhenfeng gently patted his daughter's shoulder: "Silly child, you mustn't do that; getting this job opportunity isn't easy."

If it were the past, there would be no worry about his daughter finding a job; with a single word, every unit could let her pick freely.

"Alright, child, stop crying; Dad just showed you a joke."

Lin Qingyan rested her head on her father's shoulder and shook her head: "It's my fault; I couldn't help you."

"Silly child, it's Dad who has held you back; if it weren't for me, you'd be very happy."

Lin Qingyan lifted her head, tears glistening in her eyes: "Dad, I'm already very happy now."

Lin Zhenfeng understood what his daughter meant; coincidentally, he also wanted to have a proper talk with her.

They went up to the hill above and sat there, father and daughter.

"Yan Yan, you don't need to worry about Mom and Dad; look how nice the environment is here. Honestly, if Dad's problem can't be solved, I think retiring here wouldn't be bad."

Lin Qingyan rested her head on her father's shoulder; the ink‑blue night sky held stars and a moon.

Seeing his daughter silent, Lin Zhenfeng turned his head and said: "Yan Yan, don't blame your mother; she's not easy either. Think about it—your mother used to live a life of silk clothes and jade food, now she can only curl up here and nibble on porridge."

Lin Qingyan was indifferent, pouting and muttering: "She just has the mindset of a capitalist lady, looking down on this and that."

Lin Zhenfeng laughed: "Your mother is just like that; it's not a matter of one or two days, sometimes people's mindsets are hard to change. Anyway, let's not talk about your mother; tell Dad about Lu Cheng."

Lin Qingyan sat up straight: "He… there's not much to say about him."

"Then talk about his job; that will reassure Dad."

Lin Qingyan lowered her head, pulling at a grass root on the ground: "His work is still quite serious; he's now a Squad Leader, overseeing four people."

Lin Zhenfeng exclaimed in surprise: "Oh, is it that impressive?"

Lin Qingyan pursed her lips; Lin Zhenfeng, smiling, asked: "What's wrong? Isn't praising him enough?"

"What's more? I can see it—you and my mother, one playing the good guy, the other the bad guy. If my mother heard Lu Cheng became a Squad Leader, who knows what she'd say."

"Ha ha, what Dad says is also true; Lu Cheng is still young, and at such a young age becoming a Squad Leader shows the organization values him, and there will be many opportunities ahead."

Hearing only praise for Lu Cheng, Lin Qingyan hugged her father's arm: "I still like listening to Dad."

"Then Dad will teach you the first principle of life."

"What principle?"

"The way for a married couple to survive! Like me and your mother—one plays the good guy, the other the bad guy; only then can a marriage last."

Lin Qingyan rolled her eyes: "Mom's right; you just know how to muddle things."

"Ha ha, being able to muddle things is also a skill."

Lin Zhenfeng looked up at the night: "It's getting late; let's go back and sleep."

"I won't, I want to stay with Dad and talk until dawn."

Lin Qingyan swayed her arms coquily; feeling happy, Lin Zhenfeng only thought that these past years had been unfair to his daughter.

According to the agreed schedule, two days later Lin Qingyan would take a train back.

At the moment of parting, though there was much reluctance, just seeing her parents once was enough to satisfy Lin Qingyan.

As the train moved farther away, in the Bunk Car, Lu Cheng noticed Lin Qingyan's mood was very downcast.

"Uncle and aunt should be fine, right?"

Lin Qingyan shook her head slightly: "They're fine; my dad is now teaching local children, and the people there respect him."

"Mm, since they're fine, you can be at ease. If you have time, I'll have Captain Lei issue you an Introduction Letter so you can visit more."

Lu Cheng was about to go on duty when Lin Qingyan suddenly stood up and said: "Lu Cheng, I mentioned you to my parents and also talked about our marriage."

Lu Cheng didn't really mind the matter; he hadn't expected Lin Qingyan to bring it up.

"Then Uncle and aunt must have a terrible impression of me, right?"

"That's not the case," Lin Qingyan hurried to explain: "They actually have a good impression of you; my dad even praised you."

"Is that so? Then thank your dad for me. I'm a bit busy here, heading to duty first; we'll talk later."

Lin Qingyan chased after him for two steps, watching Lu Cheng's hurried back as a feeling of loss rose in her heart.

She cared so much about her parents' attitude toward Lu Cheng that when her mother said something unkind, she didn't hesitate to argue with her mother.

But why did Lu Cheng seem completely indifferent?

When they returned to the Capital City, Lin Qingyan was asked to bring some things and went home first, while Lu Cheng wanted to take a bath to loosen his muscles.

Just as he was about to leave the Platform, Ding Han Zhen came over and called him.

"Group Leader Lu, you're the last to arrive; now everyone is present, and Captain Lei is about to hold a meeting."

Lu Cheng was speechless: "What kind of meeting is this? I just arrived at the station; you have to let me rest for a day, right?"

"It's the end‑of‑month assessment meeting; you must attend," they said.

Upon hearing that it was the end‑of‑month team evaluation, Lu Cheng shook off his fatigue, and he guessed the other team leaders would do the same.

After a month of hard work, who wouldn't want to earn that one point in the end‑of‑month assessment, but according to the assessment system, only one outstanding team can obtain that point.

Lu Cheng rushed over immediately, though he didn't expect to get that point, because this month's key assessment criterion was the capture of smugglers.

He didn't catch a single one, and it would be fine if he didn't have to endure Captain Lei's criticism afterward.

But the reason he had to endure the scolding was that Ding Jingzhang also said that after the meeting they'd issue salaries and the New Year benefits.

I have to admit, Captain Lei really knows how to pick the timing; anyone who fears being scolded and skips the meeting can forget about the salary and benefits.