Chapter 53: Two Girls Fighting, Are the Educated Youth Caught in the Crossfire?

Deputy Captain Dashuang, who had been specifically assigned to cooperate with Shen Yun's work, had a glint in his eyes.

He was from the Security Department, and two members of his family worked in the military factory's logistics department.

To be honest, he was reluctant to serve as the deputy captain of this repatriation team.

He had never been sent to the countryside himself, but he knew people who had.

One had to ask: which educated youth could ever be willing to go back?

Of course, he didn't dare say or ask such things.

But this was clearly a matter that would offend people.

Therefore, he agreed promptly and efficiently. After all, the Shen family had many officials, and it was said that her relatives even resided in the provincial capital's compound.

If something went wrong, she would be the one to shoulder the responsibility.

Furthermore, since the New Year had passed, although there had been no major incidents in the military factory compound, petty thefts and brawls had been increasing.

Some educated youths who could not be accommodated in the city truly should return to the places where they had been stationed.

Thus, the group arrived at the Sub-district Office in a grand procession.

Seeing these people, Sister Qiao was momentarily stunned. Once she realized what was happening, she looked at Shen Yun with a strange expression.

She then pointed toward the conference room: "Go on in, they are in a meeting."

Just as Old Hu was speaking with great passion, a crowd entered the conference room.

Everyone was startled by the sight of these people wearing red armbands.

Shen Yun's eyes immediately locked onto Lu Qiaoge.

Lu Qiaoge merely gave her a faint glance before indifferently averting her gaze.

516 was a key national military industrial enterprise, reporting directly to the higher authorities.

Even the local government could not interfere in the management of the military factory.

But the current display was enough to make one's heart skip a beat.

Old Hu did not move, waiting for the leader to speak.

A slight smile even played at the corners of Lu Qiaoge's mouth as she sat quietly in her chair, her beautiful features framed by a ray of sunlight like a poetic painting.

Shen Yun found this scene eyesore.

She and Lu Qiaoge had been elementary school classmates and had left school together in the seventh grade.

Years later, Shen Yun had been recommended to a technical college in the province to study accounting, and after graduation, she joined the factory's Labor and Personnel Section 1.

516 was a high-level enterprise; above Labor and Personnel Section 1 was the Labor and Personnel Department, which was a division-level unit.

Even so, Shen Yun's job was among the best among her peers.

In principle, she and Liang Aishu were childhood sweethearts, living in adjacent buildings. However, the Liang and Lu families had an engagement arranged by the late Old Master Liang.

The old man had chosen the Lu family based on their social background and family values.

But as time passed, Liang Aishu—who had also been recommended to university—began to grow weary of the useless Lu Qiaoge.

Shen Yun liked Liang Aishu, and Liang Aishu liked her.

The presence of the "useless" Lu Qiaoge between them always felt like a thorn in Shen Yun's throat.

She had grown up in a good family, pampered and loved by her relatives, getting almost everything she wanted.

There was only one thing: Liang Aishu, who, as Old Lady Lu said, was the one thing she could never have.

Now, her wish had come true.

Yet, just like Liang Aishu, she felt no joy or happiness. The reason was that Lu Qiaoge acted too ruthlessly, leaving neither her nor Brother Aishu any dignity.

Lu Qiaoge was too malicious—malicious to a degree that was appalling.

If she had shown even a shred of consideration for their childhood friendship and quietly broken off the engagement, things wouldn't have reached this state.

Shen Yun shot a cold glare at Lu Qiaoge, then maliciously scrutinized Lu Qiaoling, who was staring back at her. Her expression shifted into a smile as she approached Director Hu, introduced herself, and then handed him a document issued by Labor and Personnel Section 1.

The Sub-district Office was a section-level unit, the same level as Shen Yun's Labor and Personnel Section 1.

She wasn't overly respectful, but she acted with professional decorum. After relaying what she had said to Old Lady Lu to Director Hu, she spoke in a soft, gentle voice: "Director Hu, Lu Qiaoling is an educated youth staying behind without cause. We hope Lu Qiaoling can cooperate with our work; otherwise, the repatriation team will have to use forceful measures. If things escalate, it won't look good for anyone."

These words were clearly directed at Lu Qiaoge and Lu Qiaoling.

Hu Ze nearly jumped out of his seat.

He then remembered that he had returned according to regulations; except for his grain relationship, all other procedures were normal.

He looked at Lu Qiaoling, his eyes filled with concern.

It seemed this girl had returned under the guise of being ill.

Lu Qiaoling had been warned in advance, but hearing this, she couldn't help but feel both guilty and furious.

She glared at Shen Yun with a look that suggested she wanted to devour her.

The corners of Shen Yun's mouth curled up triumphantly. *This is more like it.* She turned her gaze to Lu Qiaoge with a provocative look, waiting to see if Lu Qiaoge would heroically hand Lu Qiaoling over to her, or shamelessly refuse to let her go.

Whichever it was, it was exactly what she wanted to see.

Director Hu frowned, casting a subtle glance at Shen Yun and then at Lu Qiaoge.

Was this a case of two girls fighting causing an innocent youth to suffer?

He said, "First of all, I express my support and gratitude for this decision by Labor and Personnel Section 1. The number of unemployed youth and lingering educated youths is indeed increasing, which has added difficulty to the Sub-district Office's work. However..."

"However" was a very interesting word; when it appeared, it usually signaled a reversal.

Director Hu glanced at the predatory so-called repatriation team: "The Xiangyang Sub-district Office has established a Voluntary Public Service Station. As it happens, Comrade Lu Qiaoling is a volunteer at the station, so she cannot leave with you at this time."

Shen Yun's eyes widened in shock. She looked at Director Hu in disbelief and then raised her voice: "How could you possibly have established such a thing? Even our Labor and Personnel Section 1 didn't know about it!"

Lu Qiaoge stood up and said to Director Hu, "Director Hu, we are on the same level as Labor and Personnel Section 1. Even if a report needs to be made, it should be sent to the factory's Labor and Personnel Department. Please have some water and rest; I will speak with her."

Director Hu hadn't wanted to deal with Shen Yun in the first place. Although equality was emphasized now, a petty clerk using her position for a personal vendetta was not worthy of questioning him.

Thus, Director Hu picked up his enamel mug, which had accompanied him for decades, and slowly sipped his water.

Lu Qiaoge said, "Let me clarify first: the service station established by our Sub-district Office has no salary, no official status, and no benefits. It is a spontaneously formed activity group supervised by the Sub-district Office. Its purpose is to serve the people. There are no restrictions on personnel—as long as you have a heart willing to work for the military factory, you are welcome."

Director Hu was somewhat puzzled. Just yesterday they were talking about controlling the number of people, and today there were no restrictions?

What was this girl up to?

Shen Yun stared at Lu Qiaoge and said through gritted teeth, "Are you saying that as long as they sign up, even lingering educated youths can stay legitimately?"

Lu Qiaoge walked slowly toward Shen Yun, shook her head, and corrected her earnestly: "Comrade Shen, that is incorrect. How can you call it 'staying legitimately'? They are joining out of pure selflessness and sacrifice. No salary, no benefits, and no official status—what harsh conditions! Look closely, we have only recruited five people, and they were even mobilized by our own Sub-district officials setting an example."

Shen Yun knew Lu Qiaoge had changed and was prepared for this: "That's just because you're operating behind the scenes. If this were made public, I'm afraid the people signing up would overflow this conference room."