0p0 Chapter 221: The Difficult Life of Sister Zhang
Chapter 221: The Difficult Life of Sister Zhang
As for the other half, Huo Haocheng drove to the city as fast as possible.
Originally, he wanted to do as Ruan Ruan said and let Gu Jinghe do the job when he came back. However, he thought about it and realized that this was their own business, and no matter how Gu Jinghe did it, it would leave an impression on others. So he told Ruan Ruan that they would have to interact in the future, so the best way was for him to go there himself.
It would normally take more than an hour to get from the military area to the city, but perhaps because of the rain and the lack of pedestrians on the road, Huo Haocheng arrived in less than an hour.
He first followed Ruan Ruan's instructions and went to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy a pound of brown sugar for Sister Zhang. He felt that Ruan Ruan had only given her the job and it was just to show her care for her over the past two days. This was enough. Otherwise, it would be bad if her appetite was spoiled.
Afterwards, he bought a few feet of cloth for Director Tian. This thing is light and can't be seen when wrapped in newspaper. This helps to avoid giving her something expensive that might give her someone leverage over her. It would be a good thing in the beginning but turn into a bad thing in the end.
After buying the things, Huo Haocheng drove to the Women's Federation.
When he arrived, it was exactly 4:, and Director Tian was the only one in the office, which was just right.
As soon as he got out of the car, Director Tian saw him and immediately opened the door, "Comrade Huo, why are you here? Where is Ruan Ruan?" As she spoke, she looked into the car.
"Director Tian, Ruan Ruan has other things to do today, and she was afraid that it would delay the payment of wages to the aunts, so she asked me to come here specially." Of course he couldn't say that it rained today. My wife has the habit of not going out on rainy days. He is not stupid, so how could he say this to his wife in front of outsiders.
After hearing what Huo Haocheng said, Director Tian also thought of what their old Hu had told her before, that Ruan Ruan had taken over the matter of a patient. She thought that she should be busy with this matter, so she didn't think much about it.
"Is that so? You must have made such a long trip. Come on, sit inside."
After welcoming the person in and pouring him a glass of water, Huo Haocheng saw that there were not many people outside and then took out the thank-you gift he had prepared for her from his arms.
"Director Tian, my wife told me to give you this as a thank you gift, to thank you for all your hard work for her. It's not something expensive, just a few feet of cloth. My wife doesn't know how to make clothes, so you can only trouble yourself to make it."
As he said that, he placed the things on her desk and then retreated back to sit on the chair by the door.
Looking at his expression, Director Tian knew that if she returned the item, he would not accept it. If the two of them were to argue, they might even be gossiped about. After thinking about it, he realized that there would be another chance to make friends in the future. He would just accept it this time and find a way to return it later.
"Ruan Ruan is so polite. I didn't do anything. I'll just accept it this time. If you need me in the future, just come to me. I won't delay in helping her if I can."
Afterwards, he put the things into his bag. It would be bad if someone saw him.
Neither of them was good at talking, especially when the other person was of the opposite sex. Huo Haocheng could only hold the cup, stand up and wait outside. Seeing him like this, Director Tian thought he was a man who knew his limits, so he lowered his head and continued to work.
At about 5 o'clock, Sister Zhang and her friends came back after cleaning.
A group of people came back talking and laughing, and from a distance they saw the military vehicle parked in front of the Women's Federation and Huo Haocheng standing beside it.
They also walked over quickly.
Seeing them come back, Huo Haocheng turned and went into the office, put down the cup, then took out the list, put it on the table, borrowed a pen from Director Tian, put it on the table, and stood aside.
When I saw them come in, I said to them, "Everyone, I am Comrade Ruan Ruan's wife. She has other things to do today, so I am here to pay everyone's wages. Please excuse me, because of my position, I won't say much if there is too much. Please line up and sign one by one on this list in the place corresponding to your name, and then I will collect your wages."
After saying that, he took out the change he had exchanged at the supply and marketing cooperative from his bag.
Seeing this, they consciously lined up and collected their money. In less than two minutes, everything was done. After collecting their money, the others left because it was getting late. In the end, only Sister Zhang and her two older sisters who were usually on good terms were left.
"Comrade soldier, this is the key Comrade Ruan Ruan gave me before. Please take it back to her." The reason why Sister Zhang was the last one to collect the money was that she wanted to return the key.
She took the key and put it in her pocket, then took out the brown sugar she had bought earlier and said, "Sister Zhang, this is a thank-you gift from Ruan Ruan. Thank you for helping to open and close the door these two days. Otherwise, she is so busy and has to come here to open and close the door by herself, which is very tiring."
Although he said so, everyone knew that this was just an excuse. "No, no, soldier comrade, Comrade Ruan Ruan has helped us a lot by allowing us to earn some money to supplement our family income. I absolutely cannot accept this." Sister Zhang declined hurriedly. She was very grateful that others were willing to help her, so how could she accept things from them?
"Sister Zhang, please accept it first. I still need to trouble you with something. If you don't accept it, I will be embarrassed to tell you."
There was no other way; he had to complete the task assigned by Ruan Ruan.
Seeing him like this, Sister Zhang looked at Director Tian helplessly and said, "Just accept it. Comrade Huo said that he still needs to trouble you."
Seeing Director Tian said so, she couldn't refuse and accepted it. "Comrade, is there anything else you need my help with?" She was also worried that she was just an ordinary person and didn't have any special abilities, so how could she help them?
"After the charity opens, we will need someone to help with cleaning. If Sister Zhang is willing, I'll trouble you to help with the cleaning every day. Of course, as for the salary, when the person in charge arrives, he will discuss it with you in person."
"I do, I do, woooooo." Hearing Huo Haocheng's words, Sister Zhang burst into tears of joy.
"That's great, Cuiping, that's really great. Now the pressure on your family will be less. You finally made it through." The two older sisters who were waiting for her were also happy that she got this job.
Sister Zhang's family is also pitiful. Originally, her parents-in-law helped take care of the family and the children, and the couple worked and could barely maintain the living expenses of the whole family. But after the children grew up a little, her parents-in-law fell ill one after another. She had no choice but to sell her job and take care of her parents-in-law at home. Fortunately, the children were very sensible and would help her when they came home from school. But now, in their family, only her husband works, and he is just an ordinary workshop worker. How can this salary be enough?
In order to save money, the children were unwilling to go to school before. If they hadn't forced them to enroll their children and pay the tuition, they would really be unwilling to go to school now.
The two elderly people didn't want to be a burden to them, and they secretly packed up their things several times, wanting to go back to their hometown to fend for themselves. How could this be possible?
But now it's better. Ruan Ruan gave her a salary and she only has to do cleaning. She can go early or go in the evening after they get off work. In this way, she has free time to take care of the family and relieve her husband's pressure.
"Okay, we'll come find you in a couple of days when the person in charge arrives. It's getting late today, so I'll go back first."
After saying that, he immediately walked out of the office. He decided to leave the task of comforting people to Director Tian, as he had to go back to see his wife quickly.