Lin Chuxia came in from outside and saw a few people surrounding Hou Xiaobao trying on a military coat. She nodded in satisfaction, “Not bad, it fits well, and looks much warmer.”
Hou Xiaobao smiled showing his uneven teeth, “Thank you, Mr. Lin.”
Lin Chuxia asked Zhang Guilan, “Where’s big brother?”
“He’s inside going over the accounts with Xiao Su.”
Each store has its accounts to settle every month, according to Lin Chuxia’s rules.
At this moment, Lin Chuxia also saw Qin Han and Su Wensong inside and walked directly towards them.
“Big brother, let’s not worry about this for now. I have a dinner at the State-Owned Restaurant tonight, see if you or Wensong would like to join me.”
“A dinner? What kind of dinner?”
It was the first time Qin Han had heard this term and was somewhat puzzled.
But Su Wensong’s expression became a bit more serious, “Is it the people from the food factory?”
Lin Chuxia nodded, “It should be a connection facilitated by the vegetable station, it’s a gathering organized by Li Jian’s group, including Director Liu from the food factory, Director Gao, and Vice Director Feng from the Market Supervision Bureau…”
This incident had passed for half a month now, and she hadn’t expected the other party to persist.
Hearing these names, Qin Han’s face turned slightly pale, “Are they… planning to force a deal?”
As an ordinary person, the highest official he had ever met was their village chief.
After starting to work with his younger sibling, he also met some minor leaders, but they were at most at the level of Directors like Li Jian.
Now he was about to have a meal at the same table as factory directors and bureau chiefs, aiming at their food formula.
Qin Han really wanted to help his younger sibling, but he also knew his abilities were limited.
“Sister, if it’s about fighting, I would spare no effort to help, but when it comes to talking at the dinner table, I’m not articulate and I’m afraid…”
Su Wensong stepped forward, “I will go with Manager Lin.”
Lin Chuxia wasn’t too concerned about who would accompany her and nodded, “Alright, then go home and change your clothes, I’ll wait for you in the office.”
Qin Han watched them leave, his heart filled with worry and guilt.
Qin Lihua didn’t know the details of the situation since they were standing far away and only heard a little.
She looked enviously at Lin Chuxia as she walked away, exclaiming “Auntie is really capable, being able to dine with factory directors and bureau chiefs. Uncle, you should have gone with her,” what a great opportunity, to meet so many important figures.
Zhang Guilan patted her shoulder, “Do your job well, and one day you’ll be as capable as your auntie.”
Qin Lihua firmly responded and hurried to greet the customers as they arrived.
Zhang Guilan turned her head and saw her husband sitting there, lost in thought with a downcast mood, knowing what he was thinking about.
She went over to comfort him, “This matter isn’t trivial, Su Wensong is well-educated and has seen the world, he’s suitable for this.”
Qin Han sighed, “Initially, when I joined the store, I thought I’d help my younger brother look after the place and assist my younger sibling, thinking that with me around, I definitely wouldn’t let anyone take advantage of them. Later, I felt that since my younger sibling opened such a big store, we, as her family, should contribute more. But now it seems, I’m just not capable,” of neither keeping people at bay nor of being any help.
Zhang Guilan disagreed, “How can you talk like this? This store is the biggest one your sister has opened, and she entrusted it to us, which shows she trusts your abilities. And whenever she has any issues, she always discusses them with us first. If you think what you’re doing isn’t enough, then put more thought into everything in the future, observe and learn more, and strive to be able to help your sister when occasions like this arise again.”
Qin Han looked down dejectedly and after a long while, suddenly stood up, “Is Houzi back yet? I’m going to check on him and also call Jia Liang. We’ll go to the State-Owned Restaurant to stand by.”
Although she couldn’t accompany her younger brother and sister-in-law to the dinner event, she had to be in the closest place to them.
In case of any matter, they needed to protect her younger brother and sister-in-law immediately.
………
The dinner event in the evening was at the State-Owned Restaurant. After Lin Chuxia finished her work, she prepared to head out.
Today, she wore a wine-red woolen coat, paired with a black wool sweater inside, low-key yet classy.
She deliberately wore high heels, instantly elevating her already tall stature among the girls, adding a sense of presence.
Her hair was styled in a low bun at the back of her head, unlike the small buns typical of the era; the low ponytail was gathered into a subdued bun, which was both understated and dignified.
As she left the office, Su Wensong was taken aback for a moment by Lin Chuxia’s appearance before he greeted, “Mr. Lin.”
Lin Chuxia gave a slight nod, “Let’s go.”
After she walked ahead, Su Wensong looked down at his own clothes.
Today, Lin Chuxia reminded him to change his clothes. This outfit, freshly bought from a shop, was a standard Sun Yat-sen suit, with a fountain pen purposely clipped into the pocket.
He knew he should have bought that jacket, or maybe he should have gone to the city to buy a suit.
Seeing Lin Chuxia was about to reach the door, he quickly strode to catch up.
“Mr. Lin, aren’t we a little late for our appointment?”
Lin Chuxia had mentioned before that the dinner was at six o’clock, and it was already five fifty. It would take them twenty minutes to get from their location to the State-Owned Restaurant.
Lin Chuxia glanced at her watch, “Not late, just in time.”
As something came to mind, she added two reminders, “Wensong, at the dinner table, merely be alert. Regarding the food factory, there’s no need for us to be too deferential; they are the ones seeking us out. As for the other invitees, we know Brother Li well, and we must give face to Brother Li. Vice Director Feng is in charge of our area; we will act accordingly to his demeanor.”
As the saying goes, the present official is not as good as the one in charge.
Vice Director Feng was in charge of their area, and the food factory invited guests to suppress them; they should not provoke deliberate conflict nor be intimidated.
Su Wensong nodded in understanding, “I’ve got it.”
They didn’t deliberately delay on the road and arrived at the State-Owned Restaurant just before six ten.
The State-Owned Restaurant only had two private rooms, and their location could be easily found after a brief inquiry.
No wonder the phrase ’the waiter’s response is based on the customer’s appearance’ was familiar; during average visits to the State-Owned Restaurant, asking one extra question would cause the waiter to roll their eyes.
But today, with Lin Chuxia dressed so elegantly and entering a private room to dine with a few leaders, the waitstaff’s attitude was exemplary, almost meriting the title of Worker of the Year.
As the door of the private room opened, Lin Chuxia clearly saw the people inside; all except them had arrived.
Director Gao was the first to stand up, “Speak of the devil, and he shall appear! Come in, Lin, we’ve been waiting for you.”
Lin Chuxia didn’t hurry in but stood at the doorway, taking in the few individuals inside the room.
Director Gao and Li Jian stood up to welcome her, whereas Vice Director Feng glanced at her and seemed apathetic, caught up in conversation with a chubby man as if not minding their arrival.
Vice Director Feng’s status meant he naturally did not have to get up to greet her, but if he was deliberately distracted to ignore her, it would be an obvious snub.
The chubby man, the director of the food factory, didn’t even offer her a glance, despite their event.
Lin Chuxia also disregarded Director Gao and set her eyes on Li Jian, striding over, “I apologize for being late. There were some last-minute matters at the restaurant. It’s rare for Brother Li to show me the ropes. Today is my first time sitting with Director Feng, so I’ll have to toast him a couple of rounds later.”