After the meeting, Nan Sheng called the military district and had someone relay a message to her family that she would be staying overnight in the county town.
Back in the office, Ou Yaosheng was nursing a headache. Dealing with such a stubborn individual was a nightmare—she had outright threatened to quit if he sent anyone to oversee her work. The entire meeting had been derailed because of her, leaving him so furious he forgot the rest of his agenda.
An assistant poured Ou Yaosheng a cup of tea to calm him down. "Director Ou, just fire her. Otherwise, it’ll damage your authority."
During the meeting, Nan Sheng had been unyielding, locking horns with every township revolutionary committee director without an ounce of fear. The assistant was convinced she’d bring nothing but trouble to the committee and needed to be removed sooner rather than later.
Ou Yaosheng wished he could, but he didn’t have the power. "Did you even look at the reassignment list? Do you realize who these people are and the connections behind them? I can’t touch her right now—I just can’t!"
Besides, Nan Sheng had ties to the military district. If he fired her, he might not live to see the next morning. This was something that required careful, long-term planning.
Meanwhile, Secretary Cai had just wrapped up his own meeting and was walking out with the county Party secretary, surrounded by a group of people who seemed to be heading for a meal. As he stepped outside, he glanced back and spotted Nan Sheng. "Director Nan, care to join us for dinner?"
Cao Guoxiang, noticing Nan Sheng’s sour expression, wondered if she’d been arguing or reprimanded. He chimed in, "Yes, Director Nan, come along."
Nan Sheng thought, Why not? Free food.
At the state-run restaurant, she took a seat beside Secretary Cai. Eight people sat at the table, seven of whom watched her sulk in silence.
Under subtle prompting from his superiors, Secretary Cai finally asked, "Director Nan, are you feeling unwell? You look terrible."
Nan Sheng scowled. "It’s nothing. Just starving—my stomach hurts."
Truthfully, everyone was hungry. The trip from the township to the county took hours, and if they didn’t hold the meetings immediately, they wouldn’t make it back by afternoon. What else could they do but endure?
Back-to-back meetings like today were rare, happening maybe two or three times a year. Of course, everyone understood that female comrades were a bit more delicate.
Still, they were all curious about what fresh chaos the revolutionary committee was cooking up this year. The task of probing fell, once again, to Secretary Cai.
When the first bowl of noodles arrived, Director Cao handed it to Nan Sheng, accommodating her "starving, stomach-aching" plight. After a few sips of broth and a couple of bites, she finally looked alive again.
"Director Nan, what took so long in your meeting? Any new directives from above?"
With her stomach settled, Nan Sheng’s expression softened, and her tone returned to normal.
"Yes. Every township is under strict scrutiny this year, especially regarding reassigned personnel. Sanwei Township is getting over thirty people. Director Ou suggested sending two people to assist me."
Secretary Cai looked even more tense than Nan Sheng. "Did you agree?"
"No. I refused!"
Ears around the table perked up. The revolutionary committee was tearing itself apart—what delightful news!
This time, someone else jumped in before Secretary Cai could speak. "And then what?" What drama followed the refusal?
"Then I said Sanwei Township’s staffing quota is full. If Director Ou isn’t satisfied with my work, he can reassign me."
Wow. That was bold—directly challenging her superior.
Put simply, unless Ou Yaosheng was ousted, Nan Sheng would be stuck as a minor director in Sanwei Township for the rest of her career.
The meal was thoroughly enjoyable, especially with the added entertainment of the revolutionary committee’s infighting. The food tasted even better.
Cao Guoxiang wondered if Nan Sheng, having angered Ou Yaosheng, might now seek his favor. But by the end of the meal, she hadn’t so much as glanced his way.
Hah. What a character.
After dinner, Nan Sheng left without paying a cent. The next morning, she mooched breakfast off Secretary Cai again, chatting as they ate.
Secretary Cai, at least somewhat considerate, asked, "After yesterday’s scene—and then broadcasting it to our side—how do you plan to stay in the revolutionary committee?"
He felt he and Nan Sheng were doomed to rot together in Sanwei Township: one incompetent, the other a troublemaker, both unwanted.
Nan Sheng gave him a look that said you don’t get it. "Just wait a few years. I’ll soar so high Ou Yaosheng won’t even be fit to shine my shoes. Believe me?"
She might work in the revolutionary committee, but she was "untainted by the filth." When the reckoning came, it wouldn’t touch her. As for Ou Yaosheng? He’d be crying soon enough.
Secretary Cai assumed this was just bravado. He played along, giving her a thumbs-up. Whether he believed her didn’t matter—as long as Director Nan had her confidence. He just wanted to retire peacefully in Sanwei Township.
Once he’d buttered her up, he seized the chance to ask what really bothered him. "Director Nan, since we’re so close now, could you tell me…"
Who ratted me out?
"No!" Nan Sheng stuffed the last bite of bun into her mouth, cutting him off before he could finish. She stood and left without another word.
Secretary Cai sighed. When will this miserable life finally end?
The bus back wouldn’t leave until afternoon, so Nan Sheng loitered around the county government all morning. Knowing no one else, she pestered Ou Yaosheng under the guise of "learning."
Ou Yaosheng smiled on the surface but fantasized about kicking her out the door.
He got nothing done all morning, too busy fielding Nan Sheng’s endless questions.
"Director Ou, what’s wrong with my reassigned personnel management plan?"
"It’s fine!"
"Then why won’t you support it?"
"I can’t support it!"
"Director Ou, who did you want to send to Sanwei Township again?"
"No one!"
"Director Ou, your workload seems light. Why not transfer me here too?"
"Absolutely not."
……
An aide, desperate to rescue Ou Yaosheng, brewed Nan Sheng three pots of premium tea. Every time she opened her mouth, he poured her another cup—finally granting Ou Yaosheng some peace.
