Chapter 133: Does Taking a Five-Mile Detour Count?
Jiang Cheng glanced outside, and Director Lu’s angry face suddenly changed to a smile.
"No problem, no problem, I’ll be back after a quick trip!"
Director Lu ran out, and Jiang Cheng withdrew her gaze and continued working.
After running a few meters, Director Lu asked, "Where are they?"
The young man running behind him panted to catch up.
"What?"
"What, what, what! I said, where are the people from the machinery factory?"
The young man pointed in a direction and said, "Second-floor meeting room."
Hearing this, Director Lu raced towards the meeting room.
His speed made the young man behind him question his own youth.
Who exactly is the young one here??
Director Lu charged all the way to the second floor.
After tidying his hair and clothes on the second floor, he walked towards the office at a measured pace.
With a "bang" sound, Director Lu pushed the door open with a fake smile on his face.
"Oh, isn’t this Vice Factory Director Cheng from the machinery factory? How do you have time to visit our food factory today?"
Director Lu walked into the meeting room, and the man called Vice Factory Director Cheng looked past him, not seeing a trace of Jiang Cheng.
"Director Lu, Ms. Jiang Cheng?"
"What about Ms. Jiang Cheng?"
Director Lu pretended to be clueless as he sat in the main seat, and the secretary serving Vice Factory Director Cheng immediately poured tea.
Vice Factory Director Cheng understood that Director Lu was unwilling to let her go.
But he really had urgent business!
Currently, the machinery factory was vying for the position of factory director, Director Sun brought in a production line before he left, but it required a translator.
Director Sun mentioned Jiang Cheng during a meeting.
For the appointment of the next factory director, Director Sun had significant influence.
So those interested in the position were competing to find Jiang Cheng.
Even though it might not make a difference, at least it could build goodwill.
"Director Lu, our machinery factory has a new production line, and it’s a critical time for production. We need Ms. Jiang Cheng’s help. Why not let us borrow her for a while?"
Director Lu, hearing this, put his teacup down with a clang.
"Borrow her? Jiang Cheng is a person, not an object. Besides, she’s not the only translator. Your large machinery factory can surely find another one."
Director Lu knew that the fight for the machinery factory’s director had reached a critical point, and he didn’t want Jiang Cheng to get caught up in it.
Vice Factory Director Cheng realized Director Lu’s reluctance to let her go.
Maintaining his fake smile, he said, "Director Lu, there are translators, but the nearest one is right here. Why not call Ms. Jiang Cheng? Maybe she personally wants to come."
Director Lu wiped the fake smile off his face, unwilling to continue pretenses.
"Lao Cheng, your disputes are your business. Ms. Jiang Cheng shouldn’t be caught in the middle."
"She’s a truly patriotic comrade. I don’t want her sincerity to be exploited."
Vice Factory Director Cheng was surprised by Director Lu’s frankness and protection of Jiang Cheng.
"Lao Lu— you—"
"I will ask Comrade Jiang. If she wants to go, I won’t stop her. If she doesn’t want to go, you can’t force it."
Director Lu stood up and said seriously to Vice Factory Director Cheng, "Even if I’m not capable, I’m still a director."
After speaking, Director Lu left the meeting room first.
Vice Factory Director Cheng sighed, returning with nothing accomplished.
Returning from the meeting room to the production line, Director Lu really did ask Jiang Cheng.
"Director Lu, I promised you first. I’ll finish this work here and then let’s talk."
Jiang Cheng’s response made Director Lu beam with joy and happily say, "Great! I’ll have the chef cook you some good dishes, as an extra meal!"
Director Lu left, and Jiang Cheng continued working with several masters.
They worked until five in the evening when Director Lu ended Jiang Cheng’s workday, letting her go home to rest.
Jiang Cheng gladly agreed, carrying a bag of small apples given by Director Lu as she left the food factory.
Upon exiting the factory, Jiang Cheng immediately saw Shen Que pushing his bicycle.
She walked up with a smile, jokingly asking, "Heading the same way?"
Understanding Jiang Cheng’s smile, Shen Que replied, "I came five miles out of the way, does that count?"
Jiang Cheng laughed brightly, replying, "It counts!"
The two walked, pushing their bicycles, more than a meter apart.
"New bike?"
"Yeah, it’s more convenient back and forth."
"It is indeed."
They continued walking; when Jiang Cheng asked questions, Shen Que would answer. When she didn’t, he was unsure what to say.
Shen Que was conflicted, with so much to say, unsure where to begin.
Jiang Cheng didn’t mind Shen Que’s silence, but she was concerned they were walking too slowly.
"Let’s ride back."
"Sure!"
The two rode their bikes, one ahead, one behind, heading to the community courtyard.
It was rush hour, and there were many bikes on the road.
The bicycle army was not an exaggeration.
Upon reaching the community courtyard, even though many saw them one after another, they assumed the two just happened to meet.
As soon as they entered the courtyard, the popular Jiang Cheng was busy exchanging greetings without pause.
Shen Que helped Jiang Cheng push her bicycle inside, then started helping Grandma Shen with the stove.
Shen Xing was studying inside, and Shen Yue had gone to art class.
After greeting everyone, Jiang Cheng finally returned inside and freshened up.
"Knock-knock—"
There was a knock on the door.
Jiang Cheng opened the door.
Frowning.
Grandma Lin and Mr. Lin?
Did they knock on the wrong door?
"Jiang Cheng...come over for dinner? I’m celebrating my birthday, let’s gather."
After Grandma Lin spoke, Mr. Lin immediately added, "Right, we’ve lived together for years now and we’re in the same courtyard again. We bump into each other all the time, let’s not make things awkward."
Listening to them, Jiang Cheng only had one thought: A weasel giving a New Year’s greeting to a chicken has no good intentions.
"No thanks, I think our current mutual dislike is pretty good. At least I don’t have to worry about being sold in my sleep."
"So, I won’t see you off."
After she spoke, Jiang Cheng was about to close the door, but Mr. Lin’s arm stopped it.
"Hey, hey—"
"I’m kindly inviting you to dinner, why are you like this!"
Mr. Lin cried out in pain and played the victim, drawing the attention of many onlookers.
Grandma Shen, Shen Xing, and Shen Que had already come out, standing by without interfering with Jiang Cheng’s performance.
They were ready to step in if anything went wrong.
Not just them, but also the Sun family and Li family.
Even some others in the community were ready to support.
Prepared to side with Jiang Cheng.
Jiang Cheng showed no courtesy to Mr. Lin, immediately confronting him.
"Trying to guilt-trip me? You Lin family, talk about morality?"
"Even a three-year-old knows not to reach for a closing door. Who’s to blame for your own foolishness?"
"Whatever scheme you’re plotting, forget it. I won’t help the Lin family with anything."
Jiang Cheng directly blocked the Lin family’s requests, leaving Mr. Lin with an ugly expression.
"Jiang Cheng, do you really have to be so heartless?"
Jiang Cheng openly rolled her eyes at Mr. Lin.
"Don’t disgust me. The Lin family and I have no ties. If you won’t leave, I’m going to throw out the slop!"