Chapter 9: She Is No Longer a Helpless Heiress

Zheng Baohua dared not provoke him further. “Here’s the thing, sister-in-law. I heard from Old Gu that you’re a top student returned from overseas. We’re facing a difficult problem right now, and I wonder if you could help us?”

Lu Jianwei quickly replied, “Of course! But, if it involves the military, we must be cautious. I’m not sure if Huaizheng has mentioned it to you—my background isn’t considered good. If it’s something too confidential, I’m afraid my involvement might cause trouble for you.”

Her openness was deeply moving.

Zheng Baohua said, “I’m aware of your background. We’ll handle that and report it as needed. If you’re allowed to see it, it won’t bring any trouble to you or us.”

Naturally, Lu Jianwei saw no reason to refuse. If she could have any connection to the military, or even enter the system, it would be nothing but beneficial—for her and her family.

According to the theory of parallel worlds, if you live well in this world, your counterpart in another world will prosper too.

If Xia Country thrives here, so will the motherland in the other world.

She hoped her knowledge from the future could be of help to Xia Country.

“If I can be of any use, I would be delighted.”

Gu Huaizheng spoke from the side, “This is additional work. You’ll be compensated separately for it later.”

Zheng Baohua’s eyes widened, unable to believe Gu Huaizheng would say such a thing.

Gu Huaizheng had never been one to fuss about gains and losses.

Lu Jianwei smiled, “Alright.”

Zheng Baohua stood and said to her, “Little Lu, I have to get back to work. Please help me entertain Huaizheng.”

Gu Huaizheng didn’t give him the chance to watch the show, standing up as well. “I need to go out, too. Go to work, I’ll pick you up after your shift.”

“Okay!”

Zheng Baohua added, “Little Lu, help me see Huaizheng off. He’s still our factory’s resident representative—don’t offend him, or he’ll make things difficult for us.”

Clearly, he was teasing again.

Lu Jianwei smiled, “Yes, Director!”

Gu Huaizheng kept a stern face, but a smile flickered beneath his eyes. “You’re always making trouble!”

Yet he didn’t refuse her company. When they descended the office steps, he said, “The sun’s strong. Go back inside—I can leave on my own.”

Lu Jianwei wanted to walk with him a bit longer. “Let me walk you to the gate. I’m afraid the Director will say I’m shirking and make things hard for me.”

“He wouldn’t dare!”

Gu Huaizheng smiled—a fleeting moment, but Lu Jianwei caught it. It was like snow melting, spring returning, flowers bursting into bloom—a stunning sight.

There was no denying it: in terms of appearance, this man was truly blessed.

Her small infatuation did not escape Gu Huaizheng’s notice. He touched his face, wishing this road had no end, that they could always walk side by side.

But no matter how slowly he walked, they reached the gate in the blink of an eye.

“It’s hot. Go back now,” Gu Huaizheng said, a hint of reluctance in his tone.

Lu Jianwei pressed her lips together, dimples appearing, and though a bit bold, she wanted to tease this old cadre. “Gu Huaizheng, I have something to say to you!”

His heart skipped a beat, afraid she was about to address Zheng Baohua’s earlier “sister-in-law” remark. Panic flashed in his eyes. “I just told Old Zheng we’re seeing each other, and he…”

“You look wonderful when you smile!”

Lu Jianwei saw his stunned expression and burst out laughing. Before he could react, she turned and ran off. “I’m off!”

Gu Huaizheng’s lips curled high, his eyes full of laughter.

Lu Jianwei returned to the office to find a mess of shattered teacups before her desk. She demanded sternly, “Who did this?”

There had only been three people in the office earlier. Since she entered, Yang Hongyan’s gaze had followed her. Xu Xinmin was always preoccupied with Yang Hongyan’s affairs, rarely interacting with others.

It shouldn’t be either of them.

Song Zhaodi sat with one leg crossed, munching on sunflower seeds. Seeing Lu Jianwei return, she perked up, like a fighting cock ready for the arena, radar up, waiting for Lu Jianwei to make a move.

The desk was strewn with documents and little items in utter chaos; a small mirror lay broken.

Yang Hongyan timidly raised her hand. “Lu Jianwei, your things accidentally fell to the floor. I picked them up for you, but I didn’t know how to arrange them, so I didn’t organize them properly.”

“Thank you!” Lu Jianwei replied coolly, then repeated her stern question, “Let me ask again—who did this? Are you too cowardly to own up?”

Song Zhaodi turned around slowly, her tone mocking, “Sorry, Miss Lu. I didn’t mean it—I just accidentally overturned your desk. If you think one apology isn’t enough, go ahead and report me to the leadership, get me fired!”

“That won’t be necessary.”

Lu Jianwei walked over, toe nudging her chair, smiling gently. “We’re all in the same office. It’s just a desk overturned—no need to take it to the leadership, right, Sister Song?”

Suddenly, she kicked the chair, and it slid out from under Song Zhaodi. With inertia, Song Zhaodi landed hard on the floor, raising a cloud of dust.

“Ouch! Ouch, that hurts!”

Song Zhaodi’s father was the director of the meat processing plant, so her family never lacked meat. In this era of widespread hunger, she was unusually plump.

“Lu Jianwei, you little wretch! You dare injure me—just wait. If I don’t get back at you today, I won’t be called Song!”

Lu Jianwei looked down at her. “Sister Song, sorry, I really didn’t mean it. I just accidentally bumped your chair. If you think one apology isn’t enough, you can go to the leadership too… get me fired!”

She leaned in close to Song Zhaodi’s ear, whispering the last few words with a sly chuckle.

Song Zhaodi felt a surge of anger shoot straight to her head. “Fine, fine, Lu Jianwei! This factory has you or me, not both. If I don’t drive you out, I won’t be called Song!”

The factory canteen’s meat procurement depended on the meat plant. Otherwise, Song Zhaodi, a middle school graduate who couldn’t recognize all the characters, wouldn’t have survived so many years in the publicity department.

Soon, the head of personnel arrived in person. “You aren’t children. This is a factory, not a school. Still squabbling and causing trouble? If you want to work, behave yourselves and focus on your job. If not, just leave.”

Lu Jianwei quickly said, “Yes, sir, you’re right. I also think Sister Song needs to improve. Even if her writing isn’t good, she can learn—if not in one year, then two, or three. But always knitting, sewing soles, munching seeds, and chatting in the office—she’ll never learn that way.”

Qiu Dongyun’s heart sank, sensing trouble.

Everyone knew what was going on, but no one spoke openly. Once it was brought to the surface, it couldn’t be ignored.

Song Zhaodi wasn’t stupid. She shot up, “Lu Jianwei, you just threw me to the floor, and now you want to brush it off? No way!”

Qiu Dongyun asked, “Comrade Lu, is this true?”

Lu Jianwei shook her head, earnest and obedient. “I didn’t throw her. She overturned my desk, I came to ask, stood next to her for a moment, and she sat down on the floor herself, insisting it was my fault.”

“If you hadn’t kicked my chair, would I have fallen?”

“I didn’t kick it. I just nudged it with my toe. I didn’t kick.” She lifted her foot, showing her slender ankle.

A nudge and a kick produce the same result, but they mean different things.

Qiu Dongyun looked at the delicate arms and legs of the young lady. With Song Zhaodi’s heft, even she couldn’t have kicked her off a chair.

“She sat on the floor for no reason?”

“She said there’s no place for both of us in this factory, and she’s determined to drive me out.” Lu Jianwei’s eyes brimmed with tears. “Director Qiu, maybe the factory should just fire me. Though Sister Song’s constant personal work in the office isn’t right, at least she’s a veteran.”