Lu Qiaoge said gently again, "I have a very good memory. If you want to hear it, I can describe the scene from that time to you exactly as it happened."
Cai Xiaohe actually wanted to listen very much.
But she knew she couldn't listen at a time like this.
Because looking at Lu Qiaoge's expression, she knew that if she forced Lu Qiaoge to speak, she wouldn't gain the gratitude of Liang Aishu and Shen Yun; instead, she would be resented.
Lu Qiaoge was neither angry nor rushed, even maintaining a slight smile at the corners of her mouth: "Comrade Cai Xiaohe, it was a bit inappropriate for Director Hao to preside over the meeting that day; he should have invited you to preside instead."
Cai Xiaohe's face instantly flushed red. How could she not understand the implication in Lu Qiaoge's words? She hadn't expected Lu Qiaoge to be so difficult to deal with.
She was so anxious she felt like crying: "I... I didn't mean it that way."
She wasn't worried about Lu Qiaoge; she was worried about Director Hao finding out about these words.
Lu Qiaoge's voice turned cold: "Then what did you mean by intercepting me during my working hours to question me about topics unrelated to work?"
Cai Xiaohe was speechless.
The other girls were stunned; not one of them spoke.
Shao Le sneered. Usually, people flattered them as the "Four Flowers of the Radio Station," making them so high and mighty that they didn't know their own place.
Lu Qiaoge?
Even though she was a newcomer just like him.
But Lu Qiaoge's work ability was much stronger than his. Setting aside everything else, her tongue was a hundred times sharper than his.
Why provoke her for no reason?
She wouldn't let them get away with anything.
Lu Qiaoge withdrew the smile from her face and said meaningfully, "Your factory department's radio station is quite leisurely, isn't it? You can wander around and intercept people to play the righteous advocate during working hours. Since when did the work discipline of our military factory become so lax? Does your leadership know?"
The faces of the girls changed.
At this moment, not far away in the Military Representative's Office—though it was only a small two-story building, its special location meant that Qin Hengzhi, standing by the window, happened to see this scene.
His dark, deep eyes looked toward the upright figure of the young woman.
It seemed this girl had been intercepted and was being targeted.
Qin Hengzhi's fingers tapped unconsciously on the windowsill. Watching Lu Qiaoge take on five people at once, a faint smile appeared at the corners of his mouth.
For some reason, every time he saw Lu Qiaoge, his perception of her was refreshed.
That feeling was something he had never experienced before—it was very novel and mysterious.
At this moment, Lu Qiaoge had no idea that Representative Qin was watching the spectacle.
She pointed at Shao Le, who was about to speak: "Comrade Shao, on my first day of work, Director Hu once said that as long as you step into your post, you must remember that you are a public servant. You are here to serve the people, not to handle private affairs. Do not bring matters unrelated to work to your post. Do you think that statement is correct?"
Sweat began to bead on Shao Le's forehead.
He gritted his teeth and stomped his foot, pointing at Cai Xiaohe: "You... why haven't you apologized to Comrade Lu yet?"
Chen Zhi felt very uncomfortable, sensing that her partner seemed to be siding with Lu Qiaoge.
Just as she was about to say something out of spite, Xia Lan, who had been silent, hurriedly said, "Comrade Lu, Cai Xiaohe is just outspoken; please don't take it to heart."
She then gave Cai Xiaohe a pinch.
But Cai Xiaohe bit her lip and refused to speak.
Lu Qiaoge waved her hand: "This isn't your fault, Cai Xiaohe. It's only because my family is an ordinary working-class family and I lack the capital to make you wary. I only hope that you won't seek retaliation against me like Shen Yun did. As for an apology, there is absolutely no need!"
Lu Qiaoge then said to Shao Le: "Don't go to the archives anymore. Resolve the matter here; do not bring trouble to me. I am not like you; I love and cherish this job very much."
After saying this, Lu Qoge turned and walked away.
Shao Le was somewhat exasperated: "What is wrong with you girls? Have you swallowed gunpowder? You don't even know Lu Qiaoge, so why are you accusing her without reason?"
Xia Lan frowned: "I didn't say anything. Besides, wasn't it just Lu Qiaoge there blabbering non-stop?"
Chen Zhi immediately chimed in: "Exactly, exactly!"
Shao Le angrily ran a hand through his hair: "Tell me, which word of hers was wrong? I guarantee I'll report it to Director Hu... Speak! You were so capable just now, playing the righteous advocate. Do you even know what's going on? You call that being righteous?"
Cai Xiaohe wiped her tears in shame and indignation: "Why are you shouting at me? I was only giving her a warning just now. Why don't you scold her instead?"
Shao Le had always thought his childhood playmates were very clever, especially Cai Xiaohe. She had joined the radio station not just because of her clear pronunciation, but also because of her high level of education and good memory. Sometimes she could even perform without a script and without making mistakes, which was quite impressive.
But today, he realized that Cai Xiaohe was a bit too self-righteous.
Shao Le had originally intended to chase after Lu Qiaoge to the archives, as it was his job, but now he stopped, laughing out of sheer anger: "Comrade Cai Xiaohe, in what capacity are you warning Lu Qiaoge? What did she do that warrants a warning from you?"
Cai Xiaohe clenched her hands tightly, rendered speechless by Shao Le's confrontation. She pulled on the eldest, Xia Lan, and said, "Look at Shao Le, he's not even on our side anymore."
Tears flowed down Chen Zhi's face as she sobbed, "Shao Le, what do you mean? You are criticizing my best friend for the sake of Lu Qiaoge. You don't respect us at all."
Before entering the office building, Lu Qiaoge heard the low sobbing of Shao Le's partner mixed with Cai Xiaohe's mutterings: "What's she so proud of? She's just a lowly street mediator..."
A coldness settled in Lu Qiaoge's eyes. These delicate flowers who knew nothing of worldly suffering—even in this era of scarcity, because of the protection of their fathers and the special nature of the military factory, they had basically never suffered.
She didn't know if this world was the 1970s of her original time, but before the apocalypse arrived, she was not only born into a prestigious family but was also a group heir, the treasure of the Lu family.
She had never suffered a bit either.
After the natural disasters came, the entire world was turned upside down.
Tsunamis, earthquakes, extreme heat, extreme cold, gales, rainstorms, floods, and ubiquitous viruses left humans gasping for breath like ants.
When she traveled to this world, she remembered what her parents had said to her before they passed away: that they would always meet again.
Lu Qiaoge was still Lu Qiaoge; her appearance hadn't changed, and her parents' features actually bore a thirty-percent resemblance to hers.
She felt that this must be the "meeting again" her parents had spoken of.
She not only cherished this job but also cherished this warm and peaceful family.
Lu Qiaoge took her letter of introduction and knocked on the door of the archives. It seemed the lady in the archives already knew about Master Liu's family situation, so she helped very quickly.
Lu Qiaoge noted down the basic information, thanked the lady, and left the factory building.
Just as she stepped out of the main gate, she saw Qin Hengzhi walking toward her with a stack of documents.
The military factory was truly huge—so large that she and certain acquaintances might not see each other for ten years.
Yet, it also felt very small—so small that she could see Qin Hengzhi just by stepping out the door!
Lu Qiaoge smiled brightly and greeted him proactively: "Representative Qin."
Qin Hengzhi stopped and looked down at Lu Qiaoge.
*Good combat power. Made two of them cry!*