Chapter 54: Spitting Blood to Show Her

Lu Qiaoge clapped her hands, her face beaming with smiles. "You've hit the nail on the head."

Shen Yun froze, staring at Lu Qiaoge in confusion. For some reason, facing this cheerful and smiling Lu Qiaoge was even more loathsome than facing the one who insulted her.

Shen Yun: "What... what do you mean?"

Lu Qiaoge: "We were originally planning to start recruiting volunteers once we were officially established. It just so happens that you've arrived. Since you are the captain of the repatriation squad and the organizer of this activity, you must have the list of detained educated youths in your hands. So, I'll have to trouble Comrade Shen to inform them of their return to the countryside, and while you're at it, please inform them of the mission of our Voluntary Public Service Station. Building the countryside and building our hometown are both ways of building the motherland; there is no conflict there. However, our requirements are strict. Once they join, they must strictly abide by the station's rules and regulations. Any violation will result in expulsion. I also kindly request Comrade Shen and the members of your squad to help us spread the word. We would be very grateful to you."

Shen Yun:...

*In your dreams! You actually want me to help you promote this?*

*Dream on!*

Yet, she found herself unable to refuse.

Shen Yun, who had felt so certain of victory, finally turned pale with rage.

Lu Qiaoge frowned slightly. "Why aren't you saying anything?"

Old Hu looked at Lu Qiaoge thoughtfully, thinking she must have another move up her sleeve. He continued to sip his water leisurely.

Ren Xiaocui suppressed a laugh. How could Shen Yun speak? If she agreed, she would feel aggrieved; if she refused, she would be seen as unsupportive of the service station's work. Nowadays, everyone was encouraged to follow Lei Feng's example and do good deeds.

Shen Yun glared fiercely at Lu Qiaoge, momentarily at a loss for words.

Deputy Captain Dashuang immediately asked, "Then could you tell us what your voluntary service station actually does?"

Shen Yun finally snapped back to reality and said in a shrill voice, "Yes, you talk so beautifully about 'voluntary service,' but what exactly can you people do? Don't tell me some people are just using this as a front for their own selfish interests."

Lu Qiaoge had been waiting for them to ask. If they hadn't, she wouldn't have known how to promote her plan.

Lu Qiaoge cleared her throat and said in a clear voice, "Although the service station was only established today, we have already formulated an action plan for the first month. Originally, our first task was to promote the station to the detained educated youths and unemployed youth. Since you are here, and our work overlaps, we'll have to trouble the members of the repatriation squad to help notify them. Our director will call your leaders to commend you."

Before Shen Yun could respond, Lu Qiaoge continued, "Part of the military factory compound was affected by heavy rains, and the Street Office has a list of affected households. First, our service station will spend a few days helping disadvantaged households with voluntary repairs to their roofs and yards. Second, due to the heavy rain, many drainage ditches in our compound are clogged. Because the service station has limited manpower, we can only focus on cleaning the three areas near the Street Office. Third, the Xiangyang Night School suffered a collapse due to the rain. Since there are residents and many children nearby, the service station plans to use the upcoming time to carry out repairs to eliminate safety hazards."

After Lu Qiaoge finished speaking, everyone except Director Hu, Ren Xiaocui, and the main cadres was stunned into silence. This included the five newly appointed volunteers.

However, they didn't show fear; instead, they became excited. This was wonderful—they actually had so much to do this month!

Old Hu suddenly straightened his back and slowly placed the lid back on his large tea mug. At this moment, the significance of the service station suddenly became grand and lofty. That trace of guilt he felt for calling his second son back vanished completely.

The members of the repatriation squad looked at each other. *So much work? And with nothing provided? They really are just doing good deeds.*

What could they say?

Shen Yun stared at Lu Qiaoge, dumbfounded. She desperately wanted to expose this as Lu Qiaoge's scheme. Wasn't all this elaborate effort just a way to use public resources for private gain to keep Lu Qiaoling there?

But did she have proof?

Lu Qiaoge kept talking about dedication, service, and doing good deeds. Everything she just mentioned was real. Was she supposed to forcibly take Lu Qiaoling away? On what grounds could she prevent Lu Qiaoling from contributing her energy through voluntary service? Furthermore, no one from Lu Qiaoling's brigade had called the military factory or urged her to return to work.

Not only could she not take Lu Qiaoling away, she would have to help Lu Qiaoge promote the station for free. What was the point of her working so hard to organize this repatriation squad?

Shen Yun's face turned a sickly shade of purple; she felt like spitting blood at Lu Qiaoge.

Old Hu set his tea mug down with moderate force and said with a smile, "We need to continue our meeting. We'll trouble the comrades of the repatriation squad then. Thank you."

He looked at Lu Qiaoge with appreciation. The things she had mentioned were indeed practical difficulties, but there wasn't enough manpower. Organizing a "Learn from Lei Feng" activity wasn't easy; everyone was busy, working from dawn till dusk, so where would they find the time? And if there was no benefit to being idle, who would be willing to work for free?

Dashuang sighed silently and gave Shen Yun a subtle glance. Compared to Lu Qiaoge, Shen Yun seemed petty. At a time like this, shouldn't she be learning from Lu Qiaoge—pretending the grievances didn't exist and maintaining a facade of enthusiasm to respond?

He couldn't quite understand it. Lu Qiaoge was clearly excellent, so why did everyone say she was as stupid as a pig?

Shen Yun's expression was stiff. Even though her mind was in chaos, she knew Director Hu was dismissing them. She could only say dryly, "Continue your meeting. We won't disturb you."

With that, she turned and left the Street Office meeting room with unsteady steps.

Lu Qiaoling breathed a complete sigh of relief, looking at her second sister with eyes full of admiration. She knew her sister was going through all this trouble specifically for her. She would definitely work hard and not hold her sister back.

Meanwhile, in the factory director's office, Old Lu had come to see Director Hao.

Director Hao was very warm toward him, but Old Lu did not sit down or drink water. Instead, he said to Director Hao, "Director Hao, I have never made demands of the factory, have I?"

Director Hao nodded immediately. "Master Lu, you are our factory's most outstanding veteran worker. All these years, you have never asked us for a single favor or made a single demand."

Old Lu wasn't sure if Director Hao was aware of "that matter," but he still stated his point concisely. "I am only here today to request one thing: I hope the factory leadership can root out the person spreading rumors."

Director Hao's expression soured, but not toward Old Lu. It was toward Deputy Director Lin.

Representative Qin and Master Lu had a very good relationship. Old Lady Lu was such a magnanimous family member of a martyr; how could she possibly be acting unreasonably and demand that Representative Qin take responsibility for Lu Qiaoge's reputation? He also knew that Representative Qin had gone to the Lu house that day to prove through action that the rumors were baseless.

And yet, some people even went to try and persuade Old Lady Lu? In those years, Old Lady Lu had served as a Women's Captain and led villagers to treat many wounded soldiers.

Old Lu continued, "They say there is no wind without waves. It's impossible for Deputy Director Lin to have just made things up out of thin air, is it?"

Director Hao promised immediately, "Rest assured, Master Lu, I will definitely root this person out."