The Fiery Era: Becoming an Industrial Giant

Chapter 4 Introducing to Colleagues

"I'm exhausted. I'm constantly counting medicines. There's only so little medicine, and we have to hold meetings every day to count it."

After leaving the hospital, Guo Yuting went to Zhou Zhiqiang's side and began to complain about her work.

She was the logistics clerk in charge of the pharmacy, and also handled personnel records and other miscellaneous tasks in the office.

Simply put, besides inventorying the medicines, I have to do a little bit of everything else.

"You've worked hard, but the capable should do more. The fact that you've done a lot shows that you're very capable."

Zhou Zhiqiang casually praised, "If the hospital's logistics department were to lose you, the elderly would probably be without a cane and wouldn't be able to walk as fast."

Don't be stingy with compliments. Even if it only wastes a little breath, it can make the people around you happy. It's a win-win situation no matter how you look at it.

As expected, Guo Yuting couldn't help but show some pride after hearing Zhou Zhiqiang's words, but she still said modestly, "It's not that exaggerated, but it is indeed very important to check the medicines."

"Get in the car. You've had a long day. Let's go back and have some dinner first."

Zhou Zhiqiang gestured to Guo Yuting, who quickly sat on the back of the bicycle.

Just as Zhou Zhiqiang was about to ride his bike home, a group of women came up behind him. Upon seeing Guo Yuting, they immediately greeted her, "Hey, Yuting, who's this? I've never seen her before."

Guo Yuting turned around and saw that it was her colleague.

As he approached, he leaned close to her and asked about Zhou Zhiqiang, making her a little embarrassed. However, Guo Yuting still blushed slightly and introduced him, saying, "He is my husband."

Zhou Zhiqiang is a college graduate, handsome, and Guo Yuting also discovered that he knows how to comfort people.
It's something I'd be proud to show off to her colleagues.

You're married!?

Guo Yuting's colleagues were shocked upon hearing this, as they had no idea about it.

"Yuting, when did this happen? You've been very good at keeping it a secret!"
"Comrade, my name is Lan Yun, and I'm Yu Ting's colleague at the hospital."

Lan Yun, in a cheerful and generous manner, reached out her hand to Zhou Zhiqiang as he introduced himself.

Zhou Zhiqiang shook hands with Lan Yun and said with a smile, "Hello, I am Zhou Zhiqiang, a technician from Dafeng Machinery Manufacturing Plant."

"Dafa Machinery Manufacturing Plant? I've heard of it. It's a large factory with over a thousand employees, and I've heard the benefits are quite good."

After thinking for a moment, Lan Yun said that she seemed to have a relative who worked at Dafeng Machinery Manufacturing Plant.

A factory with thousands of employees at that time was considered a large factory; although Dafeng Machinery Manufacturing Plant belonged to the Sijiucheng Industrial Bureau, it was not a factory directly under the Ministry of Machinery.

However, it is also a major factory that receives key support from the Industrial Bureau. Last year, the agricultural machinery parts it developed and manufactured were very popular, and the factory performed very well.

Guo Yuting said somewhat shyly, "Zhiqiang is my father's student, also from the Beijing Industrial University. I've met him before. My father wanted to see me get married before he passed away, so we got our marriage certificate."

Lan Yun had heard Guo Yuting mention Guo Linhua's aid work in Northwest China, but she only learned about Guo's marriage today.

Moreover, Guo Yuting's husband sounds quite good: a college graduate and a technician at a large factory.

He was quite handsome, especially when he smiled and greeted people, which made Lan Yun almost speechless. If she hadn't reacted, she would have embarrassed herself in front of her friends.

Lan Yun jokingly laughed, "Yu Ting, you have to make up for the wedding candy. How can you keep this a secret?"

Just as Guo Yuting was about to say something, Zhou Zhiqiang spoke up first, saying, "It was my oversight. I was supposed to buy it after dropping my father-in-law off at the station today, but I forgot for a moment."

Yuting and I will go buy the supplies later. We'll definitely hold a wedding banquet for you tomorrow. Since we don't have any elders in Beijing, Yuting and I don't plan to have one. Please understand.

His words were polite and his reasons were sound, making Lan Yun and her colleagues feel comfortable and unable to find fault with him. "Okay, then we'll wait for the wedding candy tomorrow."

"Yuting, we'll be waiting for your wedding candy tomorrow. We're leaving now."

"See you tomorrow."

After greeting everyone, Zhou Zhiqiang rode his bicycle and took Guo Yuting home.

However, halfway there, Zhou Zhiqiang took a detour and then looked up slightly at Guo Yuting in the back seat and said, "Let's go to the supply and marketing cooperative first. I forgot to buy candy this afternoon, but I didn't forget tonight. I brought the candy coupons with me."

The wedding banquet can be skipped, but some wedding candy should still be distributed. Also, I have something to discuss with you tonight.

Guo Yuting asked curiously, "What is it?"

"It's not convenient to talk about this outside, let's talk about it when we get home."

After saying that, Zhou Zhiqiang focused on riding his bicycle.

Before long, the two arrived at the supply and marketing cooperative. Without looking at anything else, they went straight to the candy counter.

After looking at it for a while, Zhou Zhiqiang turned to Guo Yuting and whispered, "How about two catties of fruit candy and one catty of milk candy?"
I also want to give candy to my colleagues at the factory. We'll each take half, and then wrap it up in the wrappers when we get home tonight.

After listening, Guo Yuting nodded, thinking it was a good idea, and said, "It's up to you to decide."

"Now that we're husband and wife, we need to discuss things together. If you think it's okay, then it's fine."

Zhou Zhiqiang then took out his money and said to the sales clerk at the counter with a smile, "Comrade, please pack me a pound of milk candy and two pounds of fruit candy. Thank you."

"Okay, wait a moment."

The sales clerk quickly packed two brown paper packages, containing two pounds of fruit candy and one pound of milk candy, and tied them together with rope after packing them in paper.

Zhou Zhiqiang handed over the money and took the paper packet at the same time, then turned and handed it to Guo Yuting, saying, "You take it, I need to ride my bike later."

"Row."

After Guo Yuting finished speaking, she obediently accepted the milk candy and then followed Zhou Zhiqiang outside.

After leaving the supply and marketing cooperative and sitting on the back of the bicycle, Guo Yuting realized why she was listening to Zhou Zhiqiang so much now.
I've clearly only met him a handful of times; even though we're husband and wife, it's only been three or four meetings if you count them carefully.
Guo Yuting kept thinking about this on the way home, but even after returning home, she still couldn't figure out why her daughter was suddenly so obedient.

Zhou Zhiqiang parked the bicycle and then said to Guo Yuting, "I've replaced your old bicycle. Although it's secondhand, I bought it less than half a month ago. I cleaned it for you, and it looks brand new now. You can ride this bike to work tomorrow."

"I'll go cook now. If you're free, help me distribute some candy. I'm going to ask the factory for ten paper-wrapped candies; you can divide them equally."

"Row"

It wasn't until she agreed and went to look at the bicycle that Guo Yuting realized what had happened.

However, after glancing at the kitchen, her attention was drawn to the bicycle in front of her.

The bike was indeed very new, and Zhou Zhiqiang even wiped it down after riding it back; it was practically brand new.

Guo Yuting even took it out for a couple of rides; the fact that it didn't have a crossbar made it so convenient for her to ride.

After riding two laps, Guo Yuting still wasn't satisfied, so Zhou Zhiqiang came to the alley entrance to call her back. Otherwise, she might have ridden all the way to Beihai Park.

Zhou Zhiqiang found it amusing; this person's energy showed no signs of having worked a full day, indicating that work wasn't too busy.

(End of this chapter)