Su Wanqing cursed inwardly at the shamelessness. If not for his position, she would have already let loose a torrent of abuse.
She replied calmly, “Deputy Factory Director Gao, which eye of yours saw me bringing people to beat them up? They were the ones who started trouble and hit me first. Later, a coworker helped me and called her family for assistance—that’s how they ended up like this.”
Gao Weiguo said, “So you admit it was you who beat them up.”
Wang Dafu thought to himself, This isn’t good. Su Wanqing has fallen into this old fox’s trap.
But Su Wanqing remained neither submissive nor overbearing: “They hit me first. If I hadn’t fought back, I’d be the one injured now. This is called self-defense.”
Gao Weiguo said, “Regardless, workers fighting in the factory is serious misconduct.” He turned to Ding Jinbao. “Secretary Ding, I suggest we dismiss all three of them. Fighting and brawling set a bad example for the factory’s atmosphere and could encourage other workers to follow suit.”
Su Daqiang and his son were stunned on the spot. Su Daqiang hurriedly defended himself: “Secretary Sun, that’s not what you told me yesterday. You said…”
Before Su Daqiang could finish, Gao Weiguo cut him off roughly. “No matter what Secretary Sun said, it doesn’t change the fact that you were fighting and brawling. Secretary Ding, please deal with these three individuals.”
Su Wanqing hadn’t expected this old schemer to be so ruthless. She replied steadily, “Deputy Factory Director Gao’s statement is incorrect. It was the two from the Su Family who struck first. I acted in self-defense. If that’s grounds for dismissal, I’ll go to Director Hu at the Industrial Bureau and ask him to judge whether I have the right to defend myself or not.”
Gao Weiguo hadn’t expected her to dare bring up Hu Mancang. He said angrily, “This is our factory’s internal matter. Why involve Director Hu? Don’t think you’re something special just because you know a bit of English. I’m telling you, anyone who disrupts the factory’s atmosphere will be dismissed.”
Su Wanqing sneered, “Secretary Ding hasn’t even spoken yet. Who are you to put on such a show here? Is it just because I reserved the factory car yesterday, forcing you to ride a bicycle, that you’re so petty as to want me dismissed?”
Ding Jinbao had listened for a while and roughly understood the ins and outs of the matter.
The friction between Gao Weiguo and Wang Dafu wasn’t new—it had been going on for some time. He had always enjoyed watching the two clash; the more they fought, the better.
Ding Jinbao said with a thin, insincere smile, “Comrade Su Wanqing, regarding your claim of self-defense, do you have anyone who can testify?”
Su Wanqing answered immediately, “Yes. Call Comrade Xia Yue from the Workshop. You’ll understand as soon as you ask her.”
Su Daqiang shouted, “You gave Xia Yue two extra dishes yesterday! Who knows if you bribed her?”
Su Wanqing said, “If two dishes can bribe someone, then you try buying her four dishes.”
Wang Dafu stepped forward. “Comrade Xia Yue is an outstanding worker in the Workshop. Her character is excellent.”
Xia Yue was called over and recounted exactly what had happened the previous night.
Ding Jinbao said, “Comrade Su Wanqing did indeed act in self-defense. Comrades Su Daqiang and Su Jianjun, your fighting and brawling were serious offenses. However, considering you are long-time employees of the factory, at the next Staff Assembly, you will make a self-criticism and apologize to Comrade Su Wanqing. Comrade Xia Yue acted bravely for a just cause, and the factory will commend you for it.”
Su Daqiang and Su Jianjun felt that not being dismissed was already a good outcome and hurriedly replied, “Thank you, Secretary.”
Su Wanqing also said, “Secretary Ding is truly a reincarnated Judge Bao, restoring my innocence.”
Ding Jinbao and Wang Dafu were both amused. Ding Jinbao said, “Comrade Su Wanqing, you speak in a very interesting way. If I wronged you today, would that make me the treacherous official Pan Renmei?”
Su Wanqing smiled and replied, “How could someone as wise and capable as Secretary Ding ever wrong an innocent person?” Flattery never fails to please.
After leaving Ding Jinbao’s office, Gao Weiguo glared at Wang Dafu. “Don’t think that just because you protected that fat woman, you can lord it over the whole factory. Once I secure the order from Feiliya Company, you’ll be crying!”
Wang Dafu was no pushover either. “Anyone can boast. Talk to me after you’ve actually secured it.”
On the way back to the office, Su Wanqing reflected on recent events and warned Wang Dafu, “Cadre Liu might be on Gao Weiguo’s side. That day when Smith and the others came, he pretended to have a car accident and deliberately didn’t show up.”
Wang Dafu clenched his fist. “If it weren’t for your timely help that day, the deal with Rockefeller would have definitely fallen through.” He still felt a chill thinking about it.
Su Wanqing said, “To defeat an enemy, take away what they care about most. Director, why don’t we try to snatch the Feiliya order?”
After all, her feud with Gao Weiguo and Sun Ningde was already set. From here on out, it was either them or her.
Su Wanqing had never been afraid of a fight—the more she fought, the more spirited she became.
Wang Dafu said, “As long as you have the ability, I’ll fully support you.”
“Great, Director.”
Back in the office, Su Wanqing first called Lu Changfeng’s office. This time, Ma Shengli answered, and not hearing Lin Yunshi’s voice lifted Su Wanqing’s mood a little.
Su Wanqing said, “Could you please get Lu Changfeng for me? This is Red Star Machinery Factory.”
Ma Shengli replied, “Hold on, I’ll call him.”
After a while, Lu Changfeng came to the phone. “Su Wanqing, what is it?”
Su Wanqing was surprised. “How did you know it was me?”
Lu Changfeng said calmly, “Aren’t you the only one at your factory who has my office number? What’s the matter today?”
Su Wanqing said, “Yesterday, the Industrial Bureau leadership called your leadership. They said your project will take over three more months to finish. I wanted to ask if you could work overtime and finish by the end of the year so we can respond to Smith.”
Lu Changfeng said, “I’m already working overtime every day. I can’t guarantee anything about the project, but I’ll do my best.”
Su Wanqing understood the hardships of researchers. “If it’s not possible, it’s fine. I’ll explain your situation to Smith. Take care of yourself at the Research Institute.”
“Okay!” It was rare for her to show concern. Was she after money again?
Sure enough, Su Wanqing’s next words were, “I want to buy a television for the family. All three kids love watching it, and I feel it’s not good to keep going to your leader’s house to watch.”
Lu Changfeng took a sharp breath. “Fine, I’ll give you four hundred.”
Su Wanqing quickly said, “No need! I have money. Don’t you remember I still have over three thousand? I just wanted to let you know since it’s a big purchase for the family.”
Now it was Lu Changfeng’s turn to be surprised. She wasn’t asking him for money.
“Hmm, you don’t need to tell me specifically when you buy things. Just buy what you like.”
Su Wanqing thought, He really doesn’t care about me at all.
“Got it!”
After hanging up, Su Wanqing finished the summary report from yesterday. To make it easier for Wang Dafu to understand, she specifically explained the meanings of year-on-year and month-on-month comparisons.
She then delivered it to Wang Dafu.
Wang Dafu’s eyes lit up at such a novel summary report, and he couldn’t stop praising Su Wanqing.
“Comrade Su, your report is exceptionally well done. By the way, what did your husband say about it?”
Su Wanqing relayed Lu Changfeng’s words, and Wang Dafu said, “Then you should go explain it to Smith in person.”
“Alright.”
Just before she left, Wang Dafu added, “I’ve already obtained the contact number of the liaison person at Filiya Company. Try reaching out to him.”
Su Wanqing beamed with joy. “Thank you, Director.”