"That’s true, there will be many meetings in the future, and there might even be visits to other factories to learn. It’s a hassle without a bicycle."
"Secretary She, is there still an opportunity to visit and learn?"
"Of course, there used to be good food and drinks in the past; it’s just the last couple of years that haven’t been as good.
I used to love going to learn; now, although it’s not as great, it’s still nice."
Jiang Xinyu thought that the job of a secretary is quite good.
Soon they arrived at the restaurant entrance, with just a few bicycles parked outside, and Jiang Xinyu followed She Xiaoyun inside.
Surprisingly, there was a private room, and the people inside were quietly chatting and laughing. Seeing the two female colleagues enter, everyone stood up and smilingly invited them to sit down.
"Secretary Jiang, let me introduce myself first. I’m Liu Yuwei from the grain station."
"Hello, Secretary Liu, please take care of me in the future!" Jiang Xinyu greeted with a smile.
"Secretary Jiang, I am Wang Fangtian, secretary of the county steel plant."
"Hello, Secretary Wang, please take care of me in the future."
"Certainly, you look quite young; we’re all like big brothers and sisters, it’s only right to take care of you."
"Secretary Jiang, I’m Hou Wenquan, the secretary of the ceramics factory."
"Hello, Secretary Hou, I might trouble you with something in the future."
"No problem, come to me whenever you need."
"I’m Cao Xuelian, the secretary of the cement plant, feel free to come to me if you need anything."
"Thank you, Secretary Cao."
"Xiao Jiang, I’m Hao Shichao, the secretary of the furniture factory.
And he is Meng Fanxing, the secretary of the lumber mill."
"Hello, Secretary Hao and Secretary Meng."
Now everyone was acquainted, and after sitting down, Jiang Xinyu listened with a smile as the senior colleagues talked enthusiastically.
In less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, a middle-aged man came in. "Your presence really brightens up this humble place. Oh, this newcomer must be the secretary from the textile factory, right?"
Jiang Xinyu hurriedly stood up, displaying the appropriate demeanor of a junior. "Hello, I am Jiang Xinyu, the secretary of the textile factory. It’s our first meeting, please take care of me in the future."
It was important to build a good relationship with the restaurant, as they might offer good food in the future.
"Haha, young lady, very nice, come find your brother in the future, I’m Ding Shihong.
Everyone, the restaurant has meat today, I’ve reserved the best for you. It will be served soon, and it’s on me to welcome the new colleague."
"Wow, Old Ding is being generous today, that’s great, but it doesn’t all have to be on you." Hao Shichao laughed, teasing Ding Shihong.
"Is there any need to be polite among us? Alright, there’s not much supply today, but between you guys, it’ll be enough to eat. However, there’s no wine. By the way, why didn’t Lv Beiguang from the brewery come today?"
"Haha, he didn’t even show up for the meeting today; I suspect he might be avoiding our Secretary She, right?" Liu Yuwei teased with a smile.
She Xiaoyun glared at Liu Yuwei. "What does it have to do with me? I’m not throwing myself at him, he’s second-hand merchandise, I’m not that willing to attach myself to him."
Everyone laughed, Jiang Xinyu did not know the details, so she could only smile throughout.
Ding Shihong said a few words and went out to prepare. The food arrived very quickly, with a big pot of meat on the table, immediately filling the small private room with a rich aroma.
Jiang Xinyu glanced at it, it wasn’t pork, she wondered what it was.
"Xiao Jiang, smells good, right? This is dog meat, Chef Ding from the restaurant is best known for his dog stew, didn’t expect Old Ding to be so generous today."
Dog meat? Jiang Xinyu thought with some discomfort in her heart; in her previous life, she never ate dog meat or rabbit meat.
"Sister She, is this dog meat okay to eat?"
"Haha, little girl, scared? It’s fine, try it, it’s delicious."
Jiang Xinyu shook her head. "Sister She, you guys eat, I don’t dare to eat it."
"It’s a rare opportunity."
Jiang Xinyu still firmly shook her head; she always believed that dogs are man’s best friend, eating dog meat felt like a burden.
"Xiao Jiang, you’ll miss out if you don’t eat it."
"No problem, you guys eat."
Jiang Xinyu really didn’t take a single bite; one hour later, everyone had eaten their fill. Liu Yuwei went out once, and in the end, everyone paid one yuan and six cents each, and one jin of food tickets.
Jiang Xinyu took out money and food tickets and handed them to Liu Yuwei. This straightforwardness left the few people there feeling quite satisfied.
"Xiao Jiang, are you going to buy a bicycle? I can give you a ride."
"Thank you, Sister She, saves me from walking."
At the supply and marketing cooperative, Jiang Xinyu picked out a Phoenix 26 women’s bicycle.
The listed price was two hundred and two, but because of She Xiaoyun, although the price didn’t drop, they included a basket and a lock for free.
"Sister She, thank you so much."
"No worries, as long as you know how things work, head back quickly. Come find me to hang out when you have time."
Jiang Xinyu rode her new ride, suddenly recalling a bicycle advertisement with a beautiful woman in a chiffon dress, and long hair flowing in the wind.
Although she wasn’t as elegant, she rode with her head held high, feeling quite pleased.
Back at the textile factory, she went straight to Wei Kaiyun to report on her work.
"Did you get the bicycle?"
"Yes, had lunch with a few factory secretaries today, Secretary She from the supply and marketing cooperative helped, threw in a basket and a lock."
Wei Kaiyun looked at the little girl who seemed like she had gotten some huge bargain and found it quite amusing.
"Did they invite you to lunch?"
"Yeah, ate dog meat, but I didn’t dare to try it."
Wei Kaiyun flipped through Jiang Xinyu’s meeting notes; it was the same old stuff with nothing special.
Jiang Xinyu was curious about the issue with Lai Zhiqiang, but as a secretary, she knew not to ask. When Wei Kaiyun handed back the notebook, she excused herself and left.
Secretary Qian was not in the office; Jiang Xinyu thought to herself and lay on the desk to rest for a while. She wondered if the secretary job wasn’t difficult at all; if it were just meetings, eating, and drinking all the time, it would be quite nice.
While she was daydreaming, Qian Jun rushed in.
"Xiao Jiang, you’re back?"
"Yes, half a day of meetings in the morning, came back after lunch."
"Come with me to see Director Wei, there are some things that need your attention."
Jiang Xinyu was taken aback. Being a newcomer, what could need her attention? However, she didn’t ask. She followed Qian Jun into Wei Kaiyun’s office.
"Director Wei, our investigation confirmed that Lai Zhiqiang indeed kept good materials as defective, and all these defective items were bought back by Zhao Zhongshuo.
Someone disclosed that a woman named Kong Mengjie purchased defective items together with Zhao Zhongshuo."
Wei Kaiyun raised an eyebrow. So Kong Mengjie had such a time too; in his dreams, it was her who harmed him, but nothing else.
Now that there’s this opportunity, he hoped to get her out of the textile factory. He wondered if that would be beneficial to him in the future.
Thinking of this, Wei Kaiyun glanced at Jiang Xinyu; this little girl seemed lost in thought, he wondered what she was thinking about. He always felt like she knew something.