“Uncle Zhang, since you want the job, you can name the price. Don’t I trust you? I believe you certainly wouldn’t let me lose out…” Luo Keke smiled warmly, her eyes filled with trust.
“You little girl, you really know how to talk. Since you trust me so much, I’ll give you 2,000 yuan. How does that sound?” Section Chief Zhang looked at Luo Keke kindly.
“Sounds good!” Luo Keke agreed without the slightest hesitation.
These days, an ordinary job could usually be transferred for around 1,000 yuan. Although her position as the hospital director’s assistant was quite valuable, 2,000 yuan was already an extremely generous offer from Section Chief Zhang.
An ordinary family might pay at most 1,500 yuan, yet Section Chief Zhang had directly offered 2,000. Clearly, he was using the purchase of the job as an opportunity to help her.
“Then it’s settled! I only have 200 yuan on me right now. After work, I’ll have your aunt bring you the remaining 1,800 yuan.”
Section Chief Zhang beamed as he quickly pulled out a neatly folded stack of 200 yuan from his pocket and handed it to Luo Keke.
“Alright!” Luo Keke accepted the money without hesitation. Then, with a swift motion, she took the employment certificate for the hospital director’s assistant position from her pocket and handed it to Section Chief Zhang.
“This…” Section Chief Zhang froze for a moment, his face showing a mixture of embarrassment and surprise.
He had only just paid 200 yuan as a deposit, yet this girl trusted him enough to hand over the certificate immediately. Wasn’t she even worried that he might go back on his word and refuse to pay the remaining money?
Luo Keke immediately noticed his hesitation and suspicion and hurriedly smiled as she explained, “Uncle Zhang, please feel free to take it! How could I not trust you? Besides, there’s no way I can keep this certificate with me. My stepsister is still waiting eagerly outside for me to call her in. So I’ll have to trouble you to cooperate with me and help me put on a convincing show later.”
Hearing this, the trace of uneasiness in Section Chief Zhang’s heart immediately disappeared, and he reached out to take the employment certificate.
“Keke, just tell me what you need! Whatever you want me to do, I’ll do it.”
Seeing how straightforward Section Chief Zhang was, Luo Keke told him every detail of the plan she had already worked out.
As he listened, Section Chief Zhang nodded repeatedly and said, “Don’t worry. Since your stepsister is forcing you to give up your job, I’ll make sure she takes a serious fall…”
Only after hearing Section Chief Zhang’s assurance did Luo Keke open the door and let Ye Shiyao in.
The moment Ye Shiyao stepped inside, she immediately fixed her gaze on Luo Keke and asked anxiously, speaking rapidly, “Keke, how did things go with the job? What did you discuss with this official?”
Luo Keke wore a perfectly measured smile and said unhurriedly, “Sister, don’t be so anxious. I’ve already discussed everything with Section Chief Zhang. After hearing about our family situation, he agreed to speak with Director Wang and ask him to let you take over my position. However, we still have to go through the formal procedures. You’ll need to submit your documents first.”
Hearing this, Ye Shiyao hurriedly pulled out her high school diploma and several supporting documents from her handbag and placed them all on Section Chief Zhang’s desk.
Section Chief Zhang put on a serious expression, picked up the documents one by one, and pretended to examine them carefully. Afterward, he said slowly, “Alright, you can go home for now. I’ll submit these documents to Director Wang as soon as possible. As for the result, that will depend on what the director decides.”
“How long will it take to get a result?” Ye Shiyao was extremely anxious. She had been eagerly waiting for this job for a long time, and to her, this position was undoubtedly a crucial turning point that would determine her future.
“About a week,” Section Chief Zhang replied casually, as though it were nothing unusual.
“Why does it take so long?” Ye Shiyao’s voice immediately rose, her sharp tone sounding especially jarring in the office.
A trace of impatience appeared on Section Chief Zhang’s face. He said irritably, “What, you think that’s too long? Could it be that you don’t want the job anymore? If it weren’t for Comrade Xiao Luo repeatedly pleading on your behalf, do you think this hospital director’s assistant position could simply be transferred to someone else? Besides, I have to make a special trip to Director Wang and persuade him on your behalf. Do you think that’s easy?”
Seeing Section Chief Zhang say this, Ye Shiyao immediately dared not say anything more. Though her heart was filled with anxiety and resentment, she could only swallow it down.
She bit her lip, forced out a smile, and said, “Section Chief Zhang, please don’t be angry. That’s not what I meant. I just want this job so badly that I got a little anxious. I’ll have to trouble you with this, then. I’ll go home and wait for the news.”
With that, Ye Shiyao shot Luo Keke a fierce glare, as though blaming her for not handling things properly, before turning around and hurriedly leaving the office.
Watching Ye Shiyao’s retreating figure, Luo Keke secretly laughed to herself, but on the surface, she maintained a worried expression and said to Section Chief Zhang, “Uncle Zhang, what do you think about this…”
“Keke, just relax! With your Uncle Zhang here, everything is taken care of. Nothing will go wrong,” Section Chief Zhang said confidently, patting his chest.
Hearing his firm assurance, the tension in Luo Keke’s heart finally eased somewhat. She smiled gratefully and said softly, “Then I’ll have to rely on you, Uncle Zhang.”
With that, she finally turned around and left with peace of mind.
After leaving the hospital, Luo Keke immediately took a bus toward Chengxi Village. She remembered that her grandfather’s sworn younger brother, Old Zhao, lived in a courtyard house in the western part of the city.
Old Zhao was only in his sixties this year and was the youngest of her grandfather’s sworn brothers. When she was little, Old Zhao had even carried her in his arms.
Sadly, the original Luo Keke had been kept under such tight control by Zhou Wangzheng and Shen Biyun all these years that, despite suffering so much, she had never once thought of seeking him out.
If Old Zhao knew how badly Zhou Wangzheng and Shen Biyun had treated her, he would certainly have stood up for her. Yet the original owner had foolishly never come to him.
Luo Keke’s visit this time could also be considered a way of fulfilling the bond between the original owner and Old Zhao.
After getting off the bus, she immediately found a secluded place and slipped into her space. From the medicinal herb storage area, she took out a pound of medicinal herbs, a ginseng root, and two bottles of fine liquor before heading toward the courtyard where Old Zhao lived.
Following the narrow path through Chengxi Village, Luo Keke soon arrived at the courtyard.
The vermilion-red gate was slightly weathered, yet it still exuded an old-fashioned charm. She took a deep breath and gently knocked on the door ring.
“Who is it?” A slightly weathered yet powerful voice came from inside the courtyard.
The door creaked open, and a vigorous-looking elderly man appeared in the doorway.
It was Old Zhao.
When Old Zhao saw Luo Keke, he froze for a moment. Then, surprise and confusion flashed across his eyes.
“Keke? Is that really you?”
Luo Keke’s eyes grew warm, and she quickly smiled.
“Grandpa Zhao, it’s me. Keke came to see you!”