Early the next morning, after tidying up, I packed a pancake into my lunchbox and brought a dress for Wang Ailing as I cycled to work.
I greeted the doorman enthusiastically and returned to my office.
There was already a bespectacled female colleague in the office.
Jiang Xinyu thought this was the secretary assigned to Qian Jun from above.
Feeling a bit awkward, "Sorry, I haven’t been to work for several days."
"Yes, I’m Jiang Xinyu."
"Director Jiang, please have a seat. Mr. Qian will be here shortly."
Director Jiang? Is she calling me? Did I become a director?
She sat aside waiting for Qian Jun, noticing there were none of her belongings in the office.
Qian Jun came in and saw Jiang Xinyu sitting to the side.
"Jiang Xinyu, come to my office."
The two entered together, "Please have a seat, why didn’t you stay for a few more days?"
"I’ve rested enough. Mr. Qian, where will I be working?"
"You’ve been promoted to be the office director, both of our secretaries are under your wing. I’ll take you to meet the new deputy factory director in a while. Oh, your office is right next door."
"What will be my responsibilities?"
"You’ll be in charge of all the official seals, supervising the hierarchy, arranging work for us. Responsible for managing and supervising the logistics and security departments."
"That’s quite a lot of responsibility. Mr. Qian, I actually wanted to work in the labor union."
Qian Jun shook his head, "It’s all been arranged."
"Can I be responsible just for logistics or security department alone?"
Qian Jun still shook his head.
"Director Jiang, let’s go, I’ll introduce you to the new deputy factory director."
Jiang Xinyu stood up helplessly, following Qian Jun away.
"Mr. Qian." Another pretty young girl greeted them.
"Hmm, is Vice Director Yao here?"
"Mr. Qian, is this Director Jiang?"
"Yes, let me introduce you. This is Director Jiang, Jiang Xinyu. This is the new deputy factory director, Yao Shimin."
They shook hands, "Vice Director Yao, please take good care of me in the future."
"Director Jiang, it should be you taking good care of us in the future."
"You’re too kind, you’re the boss."
"Haha, Director Jiang, this is my secretary Pan Xiulan."
"Director Jiang, I’m Pan Xiulan. Please guide and criticize me in the future."
"Let’s work together to make a good job."
Jiang Xinyu returned to her office and still felt a bit unsettled with this rapid promotion. Now she’s the office director?
Looking at the neat desk, Jiang Xinyu leaned on it, thinking it’s not that she lacks ambition; she simply doesn’t want too much responsibility.
Oh well, as the office director, her role is mainly supervisory, it shouldn’t be too demanding.
Having her own office with a phone, that’s quite a perk. She plans to call Wei Kaiyun in a couple of days.
In the morning, she didn’t have much downtime as both the security and logistics procurement departments came to greet her.
Originally thinking it was a leisurely job, now realizing it wasn’t at all.
At noon, she took her two lunchboxes and a bag to the canteen.
She saw two workshop directors and several team leaders, all addressing her as Director Jiang.
Responding with a smile, she internally complained that promotions aren’t without some benefits.
"Xinyu, Xinyu, you’ve lost weight!"
"Sis, I’m tired. I’ll get the food first and wait for you by the side. I’ve brought you something tasty."
The two sat together while Wang Ailing ate the oily pancake.
"There’s egg inside? It’s so delicious. I’ll give you half since you’ve lost weight, you should replenish yourself."
"Sis, I have some myself, you eat it. I also brought you a dress; take it home later."
"Yes, it’s a dress that Russian women have."
Wang Ailing was thrilled, "Xinyu, I heard you were promoted to office director?"
"Yeah, you should eat quickly; I’m done."
"Does that mean you have your own office?"
"I’ll go back to your office with you."
After lunch, they both returned, and Jiang Xinyu made Wang Ailing a cup of malt milk.
"Sis, is there something you want to tell me?"
"Xinyu, Kong Mengjie became a team leader yesterday."
"Oh? Who was replaced?"
Just as expected, "What happened?"
"I knew Zhao Zhongshuo had made a mistake and got demoted, then Kong Mengjie became the team leader."
"Oh, I wasn’t aware of this. You’re about to apply for permanent position, right?"
"Yes, I’ve already submitted the application. It should be approved, I’m an advanced in our group."
"That’s good. Once you get a permanent position, try to switch jobs. The workshop is tiring and dangerous."
"But what can I do without a degree?"
"Sis, I think even cooking is better than working in a workshop."
Wang Ailing frowned, unable to figure out what she could do.
"Let’s talk after the permanent position is secured. Where’s the dress you mentioned?" She wouldn’t forget that.
"Here it is, along with a cut half-sleeve shirt. You can make it yourself."
"Great, are you going back this week?"
Jiang Xinyu shook her head, "No, I just came back two days ago."
"Then I’m not going back either; I’ll come to your place."
"Okay, I’ll make some good food for you."
After sending Wang Ailing away, Jiang Xinyu went to the inner office. It had space for two single beds with new bedding.
Jiang Xinyu found a sheet, laid it out, and lay down. It was indeed too hot inside, so she opened a window above the bed by stepping on it, feeling much cooler afterwards.
She slept for an hour, feeling more comfortable than napping at the desk.
The afternoon involved supervising the execution of orders from Vice Director Yao.
She chatted leisurely for a while with the union members in the office.
"Director Jiang, did you bring any nice things back from Russia?" Sister Meng asked.
"I don’t know, I don’t wear dresses. I’ve given one to my sister, you should see it at lunchtime tomorrow."
"Director Jiang, if the dress looks nice, would you spare me one? My daughter is dating and lacks a decent dress."
"Sure, I brought back quite a few."
"Director Jiang, how much for each?"
"That’s really not cheap, half a month’s salary."
"You’ll see it tomorrow; it’s definitely worth the price."
The end of work bell rang, and Jiang Xinyu hurriedly pushed her bike to leave, arriving two minutes late, preventing Yao Shimin from catching her.
Jiang Xinyu rode straight to the supply store, hoping Secretary She hadn’t left yet.
"Sister She, Sister She."
"Xinyu? Why are you here? Want to buy something?"
"Not yet, we finish late in summer; what’s up?"
"I brought you a dress!"
"Yes, want to check it out?"
"Let’s go to my office." She Xiaoyun waited for Jiang Xinyu to lock her bike, pulling her into the office together.