Chapter 103: The New Team Leader

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Xiao Weiguo rode the vehicle he had just taken out from the space, pondering over future matters. Before long, he arrived at his doorstep and, as usual, climbed over the wall to enter. Familiar with the route, he returned home and lay down on his bed, intending to catch a bit more sleep.

Xiao Weiguo well remembered that he still had to go to the factory to work today.

It felt like only a few minutes had passed when he was awakened by various noises from the yard.

With blurry eyes, he glanced at his watch—it was already half past six. Hastily, he got up, dressed, and washed up.

Since the factory was a bit far, if he wanted to arrive before eight o’clock, he would need to leave an hour earlier.

Fortunately, his job was special; otherwise, if he had to commute to the factory every day, this travel time would surely drive him mad. He truly couldn’t understand how those outstanding people in the future who commuted four hours daily managed to endure it.

He took out two large meat buns he had stored in the space, quickly ate them with some hot water, and hurriedly pushed his vehicle outside.

As he left the yard, some people greeted him from time to time. After the recent whole-yard meeting, everyone basically knew this newly arrived purchasing agent from the textile factory.

Rushing along, he finally reached the factory gate just before eight, coinciding with a large crowd of workers heading in together.

Xiao Weiguo recalled the first time he came here, when a group of female workers had blocked him at the gate, and he no longer felt nervous. He strolled in leisurely at the tail end of the crowd.

Suddenly, he heard someone calling his name. Looking around, he saw a female worker loudly calling him and walking toward him.

Xiao Weiguo wondered who it could be, as all the female workers wore the same uniform, making it hard to recognize anyone from a distance.

As she got closer, he recognized her—Hou Xiaoshuang, one of the three female workers he had met in the factory cafeteria that time.

He still clearly remembered one of them, a quiet beauty named Liu Yanran.

“It really is you, Xiao Weiguo! I’m Hou Xiaoshuang, do you remember? We said we’d go boating in Red Scarf Park together, but it’s been almost a month, and you two have vanished without a trace,” Hou Xiaoshuang said with a hint of grievance.

She had been hoping to develop a good relationship with Xiao Weiguo’s colleague, Liu Yicheng, aiming to marry into the city as soon as possible.

But it had been almost a month without any sign of them, neither near the office building nor anywhere else.

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Xiao Weiguo dispelled the image of Liu Yanran in his mind and replied to Hou Xiaoshuang, “Comrade Hou Xiaoshuang, you know we’re purchasing agents who have to travel far and wide, enduring hardship to meet everyone’s material needs. It’s normal you can’t find us easily in the factory.”

Hou Xiaoshuang thought it over and agreed — otherwise, how else could she have had a chance to meet Liu Yicheng?

She then said, “Do you have time today? Let’s meet at the third canteen at noon. Remember to tell Liu Yicheng; I’ll bring Yanran along too.”

When mentioning Liu Yanran, she gave Xiao Weiguo a meaningful look.

Without waiting for his reply, she hurried off.

Xiao Weiguo swallowed his words, thinking he’d have to talk to Liu Yicheng later to figure out how to handle this.

Unconsciously, the image of Quan Linglan appeared in his mind again.

He silently compared Quan Linglan and Liu Yanran in his heart.

Arriving at the office area, he saw Liu Yicheng and a few others hadn’t arrived yet; only Sister Ling and Xiao He were there.

After greeting the two, he found a chair and casually picked up a newspaper on the table to read.

Shortly after, he heard Liu Yicheng’s distinctive chattering voice in the corridor, sounding quite cheerful.

“Oh, man, long time no see! I just got back and heard you’ve been officially promoted, even a level higher than me. I’m only at level 27. Where’s the justice?” Liu Yicheng, upon seeing Xiao Weiguo in the office, pounced on him like a resentful housewife and began to scold him.

Xiao Weiguo quickly stood up and cheerfully listened to Liu Yicheng’s complaints, saying, “I’ve really been working hard through wind and rain to reach level 26. Do you think it was easy for me?”

He nodded toward Ge Xu behind him and greeted him.

Ge Xu came in, looking as if he had many questions for Xiao Weiguo but, out of habit, couldn’t utter a word.

The three sat together chatting, mainly Liu Yicheng talking and the others listening.

Soon, another young colleague, Li Xuetie, arrived but didn’t greet anyone. After a quick scan, he found an empty seat and sat down, lost in thought.

The colleague named Shao Jiefang, a middle-aged man, was still nowhere to be seen.

Shi Guanglin was probably still at a meeting; today’s meeting seemed unusually long, and after waiting a long time, he still hadn’t returned.

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Eventually, Sister Qin and Xiao He also joined them, chatting together with Xiao Weiguo and the others.

This only made Li Xuetie seem even lonelier and more isolated.

Xiao Weiguo nearly went over several times to greet Li Xuetie, but seeing the group around him and fearing unnecessary misunderstandings, he refrained.

When trying to blend into a group, sometimes staying still is better than making a move.

Taking the opportunity, Xiao Weiguo mentioned to Liu Yicheng what Hou Xiaoshuang had told him: meeting at the third canteen at noon for a group gathering, and possibly an afternoon outing at Red Scarf Park.

After hearing this, Liu Yicheng excitedly jumped up and said, “Brother, you’re awesome! I only come back a few times and wanted to find them, but last time we didn’t leave a specific workshop address, so I couldn’t find them. I regretted it so much.

“No doubt, lunch is on me today!”

Yixiao He, standing nearby, also seemed very interested—after all, he wasn’t married yet either.

Sister Qin seemed to notice her young apprentice Yixiao He’s thoughts and said to Liu Yicheng, “Yicheng, if you’re going at noon, bring Xiao He along to gain some experience. He’s nearly at the age to settle down.”

Shy, Xiao He immediately gave his master a grateful look.

Liu Yicheng, hearing this, clapped Xiao He on the shoulder and said no problem.

Seeing Liu Yicheng taking charge of everything, Xiao Weiguo decided he’d just join in to eat, drink, and have fun today.

At that moment, Shi Guanglin led the way, surprisingly followed by Shao Jiefang, and the two entered the office together.

Shi Guanglin gathered everyone around.

He said, “You might have heard last week that I’ve been promoted to deputy section chief. I will probably oversee groups two and three. That means group three will be without a leader.

“I hereby announce: by unanimous decision of the factory leadership, Comrade Shao Jiefang is appointed as the leader of Purchasing Section Group Three. Let’s give him a round of applause.”

After saying this, he took the lead in applauding.