Xie Changning's words made Yue Yihan stiffen. His face instantly flushed red. He stammered, "Should... should we buy... a double?"
'Was his wife agreeing to let him sleep in the house?'
'Actually, he didn't have to sleep in a double bed. He could just stay in the outer room.'
Yue Yihan's reaction made Xie Changning realize that they were husband and wife now. What she'd said could be easily misunderstood. She coughed lightly and explained, "I'm used to sleeping in a big bed at home. The small bed here is uncomfortable."
'I'm really not trying to share a bed with him!'
At Xie Changning's words, the blush on Yue Yihan's face instantly faded. The tension and anticipation in his eyes turned to disappointment, and it was as if all the life had been drained from him.
He looked utterly pitiful, like a puppy abandoned in the rain.
Xie Changning couldn't help but steal a few more glances at him, completely baffled.
'Why did he suddenly get so upset?'
The two of them arrived at the furniture department of the state-owned department store and looked at the furniture inside.
It had to be said, the quality and craftsmanship of the furniture of this era were excellent. The styles just weren't as beautiful as those in later generations, but that didn't stop Xie Changning from appreciating them.
While appreciating the furniture, Xie Changning bought a double bed.
"Just the bed?" Yue Yihan asked.
Xie Changning nodded, then pulled Yue Yihan out of the furniture department.
Only after they had left the state-owned department store did she say to Yue Yihan, "My identity is very sensitive right now. Even though the Xie Family hasn't been officially sent down or denounced, I still need to keep a low profile."
'Besides, I have everything else I need. It's just that Yue Yihan has been coming over so often these past two days, I couldn't just suddenly pull things out of my space.'
"I have to take things slowly."
Only then did Yue Yihan nod.
The next day, Xie Changning woke up early and was picked up by Wang Lisheng and taken to the factory. Seeing his excited expression, she knew without needing to guess that the screws had passed inspection.
When she arrived at the Chuncheng Screw Factory, Xie Changning noticed the workers looking at her with new admiration and envy.
'A woman this young can actually fix boilers, and so well at that!'
'Most importantly, her welding is incredible!'
Arriving at the boiler area, Xie Changning saw Li Guodong excitedly fiddling with the screws, muttering, "Uniform in size, not easy to break..."
Hearing footsteps, he stopped muttering and turned around.
He saw Xie Changning and Wang Lisheng standing nearby. Composing his excited expression, he put down the screws, walked up to Xie Changning, and said in all seriousness, "I admit defeat. The position of vice factory director is yours!"
He, Li Guodong, was a man of his word. If he said he would give up the vice director position, he would give it up!
"I've already submitted my resignation report, and the letter of recommendation is included. Director Wang's nomination application has also been sent to the Industrial Bureau. We should hear back soon," Li Guodong continued.
As of now, he was no longer the vice director of the screw factory, but an ordinary workshop supervisor, an eighth-grade fitter.
His straightforwardness made Xie Changning grow serious. "Vice Factory Director Li, my original intention was to prove myself, not to take your position..."
'My political background check probably won't pass...'
"However, I would still like to be an external consultant. After all, I don't have a job right now, and I'm afraid I can't support myself and the baby in my belly on Yue Yihan's stipend alone."
It wasn't that Xie Changning didn't want to be the vice director. She just felt that becoming one would require passing multiple levels of review, and the background check alone would probably...
A state-owned factory was no joking matter.
"You have to at least try," Wang Lisheng said. He knew what Xie Changning was worried about and encouraged her to give it a shot.
What if it actually worked out?
"Even if it doesn't go through, I'll still invite you to be the technical consultant for our Chuncheng Screw Factory, in charge of all internal maintenance and repairs!" Wang Lisheng said to Xie Changning.
'No matter what, I have to keep someone this technically skilled at the factory!'
Xie Changning understood Wang Lisheng's intentions. She thanked him gratefully before going with him to inspect the other boiler.
Now that Li Guodong was thoroughly convinced of Xie Changning's abilities, he took notes in his notebook on every issue she pointed out, afraid he would forget.
The factory worker's eagerness to learn was infectious, and Xie Changning couldn't help but say a few more things. She began to speak of "visions for the future," and everyone just thought she was being a typical young person, talking about what's to come.
But they didn't know that, given the right conditions, Xie Changning could actually make her words a reality.
"That's right. As long as everyone operates the boilers according to my instructions, we'll have no problem delivering the order on schedule. We might even finish ahead of time."
Xie Changning's words excited everyone.
This was a huge order. After its completion, the factory's balance would multiply several times over!
The Chuncheng Screw Factory hadn't landed an order this big in a very long time!
After discussing the technical matters, Wang Lisheng invited Xie Changning into his office. "Little Sister, you said today you wanted to be a consultant instead of the vice director. Is there something you're worried about?"
He knew her worry was her background, but he had to have a frank conversation with her and not hide anything.
"I think you know my concerns, Brother Wang. To be honest, it's a lie to say I don't want to be vice director, but whether I can be is the real question."
The higher-ups had to approve it, and her suspected "Black Five Categories" background was a huge minefield.
Because of her background, she had already dragged down Yue Yihan's own path to promotion...
"That's easy enough to handle. Everyone has witnessed your skills. An advanced talent who can promote national progress can't be buried because of this! 'If the higher-ups really reject my recommendation and nomination application...'"
'...I'll go pound on the leader's desk!'
'In any case, we can't let a talent like this slip away, especially a technical talent who can drive technological development!'
Wang Lisheng could tell that Xie Changning's abilities didn't stop here. She probably had even more incredible skills she hadn't shown yet, and even...
'She might even be able to do R&D!'
The thought of those two letters, R&D, made Wang Lisheng's heart race. He yearned for the day their country would have its own indigenously developed advanced machinery!
"Then I must thank you, Brother Wang."
...
Xie Changning's nomination to become the vice factory director of the Chuncheng Screw Factory was, as expected, rejected by the higher-ups.
The number one reason: an unclean background.
Upon receiving the result, Wang Lisheng hopped on his 28-inch bicycle and headed straight for the Industrial Bureau to find the director.
"Director Wang, what brings you here?" Secretary Liu saw Wang Lisheng rushing over and knew something was up.
Wang Lisheng didn't waste words with him, simply asking, "Where's the Director?"
"In his office."
"Good."
Wang Lisheng charged directly toward the director's office, making Secretary Liu's heart pound. He couldn't help but suspect that Wang Lisheng was there to pick a fight.
'But then again, that seemed impossible.'
Wang Lisheng burst into the director's office. The director frowned and looked up. "You old rascal, not knocking again, are we?"
"My letter of recommendation and nomination application, why were they rejected? Isn't the state supposed to be promoting the introduction of advanced talents and cultivating developmental technical personnel?"