Chapter 105: First Watch

Chapter 105: First Watch

The three exchanged glances, trying to remember if the nurse had mentioned the baby's gender. Just then, the delivery room door opened again, and the nurse pushed Shen Moer's bed out. Fu Mingze quickly stepped forward with the baby in his arms.

"The mother is asleep," the nurse said, instructing them to push the bed to the ward.

In rural areas, it was common for women to give birth at home with the help of a midwife or a village doctor. Few went to the hospital, and even fewer stayed for a few days after giving birth. However, Fu Mingze insisted that Shen Moer stay in the hospital for a couple of days.

Liu Guizhi opened her mouth, wanting to say it wasn't necessary, but seeing how nervous both the father-in-law and son-in-law were, she decided not to say anything.

She thought to herself that Fu Mingze, being from a big city like the capital, was meticulous in every way. She had heard his family was poor, but she wondered how much more refined the wealthy in the capital must be.

Fu Mingze went out to pay the additional fees and happened to run into Shen YinYin, who was rushing over with a net bag in hand. Shen YinYin anxiously asked, "How is it? Has she given birth yet? I thought giving birth would be exhausting. The elders always say that in the past, wealthy families would give the mother ginseng soup. We can't afford ginseng soup, but chicken soup is doable. I made some and brought it over as quickly as I could..."

Fu Mingze smiled, "Thanks, Auntie. Moer has already given birth."

"What? Already?!" Shen YinYin was stunned for a moment, then immediately said, "Good, good, good. This child knows how to take care of its mom. Let's hurry and get Moer some chicken soup to help her recover."

"By the way, is it a boy or a girl?"

Fu Mingze paused, "The nurse didn't say. I didn't think to ask."

When his wife came out, who would think to ask about the baby's gender? After all, the baby was already born, and whether it was a boy or a girl, it was still their child.

Shen YinYin found it amusing but not entirely surprising.

Shen Shaoyuan and Fu Mingze, the father-in-law and son-in-law, were indeed different from most. Both preferred girls, but they were fine with a boy too.

Perhaps because they didn't care much, unlike other families who first asked if it was a boy.

In the ward.

"Moer, it's a little princess, very beautiful, just like you when you were a child."

Shen Moer was already awake. Shen Shaoyuan held the baby for her to see. Shen Moer opened her tired eyes and smiled, "Fu Mingze must be thrilled."

Liu Guizhi wrung out a hot towel and wiped Shen Moer's face, saying, "Of course, I've never seen such a beautiful baby girl. Fu Mingze must be over the moon."

She was a bit puzzled why Shen Shaoyuan called the baby a 'little princess,' but since she was from a distant hometown and wasn't very familiar with the customs of Liuqiao Commune, she guessed it might be a local term.

Just then, Fu Mingze and Shen YinYin entered. Shen YinYin quickly pulled out the chicken soup from the net bag for Shen Moer to drink.

After eating a bit, Shen Moer soon fell back asleep.

Meanwhile, at the Second Embroidery Factory.

Liu Yingshuang knocked on Xing Fangjie's office door. Xing Fangjie looked up from her desk and smiled when she saw Liu Yingshuang, "What brings you by?"

Liu Yingshuang smiled, "I heard someone saw Fu Mingze riding a tricycle to take Director Shen to the commune hospital. I thought Director Shen might be in labor, so I came to ask if you wanted to go to the hospital to see her?"

Xing Fangjie was startled, then stood up in delight, "Oh, I was wondering why she hadn't made any moves yet. Let's go, let's go see her. She only has a little aunt helping her, right? Let's go see if there's anything we can do to help."

Liu Yingshuang, "That's what I thought too."

These women had been with Shen Moer from the beginning, fighting side by side for so many years, so their bond was naturally different.

"Let's ask around on the way."

Xing Fangjie gathered her things and left. As she walked along the corridor, she ran into Deputy Factory Director Feng Wei. When Feng Wei heard this, he smiled and said, "As a man, I won’t join in the celebration. Please pass on my congratulations to Director Shen."

Xing Fangjie smiled and replied, "Sure, I'll definitely pass on your congratulations."

She glanced at Jin Caifei's office, which was locked tight. They had been talking in the hallway, but no one emerged, so she assumed Jin wasn't in.

Xing Fangjie didn’t think much of it and left with Liu Yingshuang.

After Xing Fangjie and Liu Yingshuang left, Feng Wei also glanced at Jin Caifei's office. He had just come back from outside and had seen Jin’s door open earlier. However, after going in to pour some water, he came out to find her door closed.

As the only leader in the factory not from the local area, Jin Caifei always seemed to keep a certain distance from the others.

Feng Wei frowned. It was one thing if the relationship wasn’t close, but he was worried about something more. He entered his office, left the door slightly open, and sipped tea while pacing the room.

A few minutes later, there was a creak from the neighboring office, followed by the sound of leather shoes tapping on the corridor floor.

Feng Wei’s eyes flickered, and he set the enamel cup back on his desk.

Jin Caifei headed straight to the document room after leaving her office. As she neared, she slowed down, tightened her grip on the documents, took a deep breath, and entered.

Inside the document room sat two people: an older man named Zhang Ming and a younger woman named Zhao Danqiu, who had only been in the factory for two years.

The official seal of Southern Province No. 2 Embroidery Garment Factory was in Zhao Danqiu’s care.

When Jin Caifei entered, she called out, "Xiao Zhao." Zhao Danqiu responded, "Deputy Factory Director Jin, how can I help you?"

Jin Caifei handed over the documents and said, "This is a report for the relevant authorities. It needs the official seal."

Zhao Danqiu took a look. Though it was called a report, Jin Caifei had only brought the last page, with a few formal sentences and the factory’s signature.

There were three identical copies.

From these pages alone, the report’s content was impossible to discern.

Such a document couldn’t possibly be stamped. Zhao Danqiu hesitated. She was just a junior clerk and naturally didn’t want to upset the factory’s leadership. But if she stamped it and it caused trouble later, she, as a low-level employee, couldn’t handle the responsibility.

After some thought, Zhao Danqiu decided to speak plainly: "Deputy Factory Director Jin, this doesn’t meet our factory’s seal regulations. Could you bring the full report? The document room needs a copy for the records."

Jin Caifei’s expression darkened immediately. "This is a confidential document that needs to be reported to the superiors as soon as possible. It's not suitable for others to see. When Director Shen returns, I will give her the backup draft for her review. She will decide whether to archive it or destroy it directly. You just need to do your job. Or do you think that as a deputy factory director, I don't even have the authority to submit a report?"

Her words were harsh, immediately escalating the situation to the point where Zhao Danqiu was being accused of disrespecting her as a deputy factory director.

Zhao Danqiu was flustered. The job of a clerk was usually straightforward, with detailed regulations in the factory. She just needed to follow the rules. This was the first time she had encountered a leader making an unreasonable request.

She pursed her lips and insisted, "But this really doesn't comply with the regulations. Could you please report it to Director Shen first?"

Jin Caifei had thought that this usually soft-spoken young girl would be intimidated by her harsh words.

To her surprise, the girl wasn't scared and even stood her ground. Jin Caifei was now also angry and slammed the table. "Regulations are rigid, but people are flexible! If we followed every rule, would the factory have grown to its current scale?!"

She continued angrily, "Director Shen is currently giving birth at the commune health center. You might not know this, but giving birth takes at least several hours, and sometimes even more than ten or twenty hours. This document needs to be sent to the province today. Where do you expect me to find Director Shen to report to her? Should I go to the delivery room to report to her?! If this delays important work from the superiors, will you take responsibility, or will I?!"

Zhao Danqiu's eyes reddened. The young girl, with her thin skin, was both shocked and frightened by the leader slamming the table in front of her. Her voice trembled as she spoke, "But, but..."

Zhang Ming, sitting across from her, quickly tried to mediate, "Deputy Factory Director Jin, please don't be angry. Xiao Zhao is just a bit stubborn. But as you know, being in charge of the factory's official seal, she is under a lot of pressure and doesn't dare to stamp things lightly. She may not be flexible, but it's all to do her job better, right? How about this: you sit down and have a cup of tea, and I'll go call Deputy Factory Director Feng and Deputy Factory Director Xing over. You leaders can discuss it together, and everyone can witness it. That way, Xiao Zhao won't feel so much pressure, right?"

Jin Caifei's eyes flickered. "Deputy Factory Director Xing has gone to the health center to visit Director Shen, and Deputy Factory Director Feng is also not in the factory. This document is very urgent. Once stamped, it needs to be sent out immediately. We can't wait for them to return. This is a report on procurement and sales for the next three years, involving confidential data, so it can't be shown to others. This task falls under my responsibility and has nothing to do with the work of Deputy Factory Director Xing or Deputy Factory Director Feng."

She said in a softer tone, "Comrade Zhao Danqiu, your diligent and responsible work ethic is commendable, but being too rigid and inflexible won't help you perform well at your job. Here, let me write you a note, with Comrade Zhang Ming as a witness. If any issues arise later, you can bring this note to me."

Deputy Factory Director Xing had gone to the health center, and Deputy Factory Director Feng was also away. Zhang Ming thought to himself, how could things just happen to be so coincidental?

He thought for a moment and sensed something was amiss. Since Deputy Factory Director Xing went to the health center to visit Director Shen, why didn't Deputy Factory Director Jin, also a female comrade, go as well?

Oh, maybe this report is too urgent. But if that's the case, why didn't they hold a meeting earlier to settle this matter?

Moreover, logically, it's just a document about procurement and sales. Deputy Factory Director Jin could have drafted and signed it herself, following standard procedures. Zhao Danqiu, as a clerk, naturally has access to confidential documents. Insisting that Zhao Danqiu not see it seems a bit unreasonable.

Unless this document involves more than just procurement and sales.

Zhang Ming guessed that this document might be unfavorable to the work overseen by Feng Wei and Xing Fangjie, which is why Jin Caifei didn't want the other two deputy directors to see it.

He suspected it was a power struggle among the deputy directors, but he didn't dare to consider that it might be harmful to the entire factory.

Even so, Zhang Ming thought that Zhao Danqiu was right not to stamp the document.

When the higher-ups fight, the lower-level employees suffer. As low-level employees, they should follow the rules and do their jobs properly to avoid getting caught up in it.

Thinking this, Zhang Ming gave Zhao Danqiu a significant look.

Zhao Danqiu was flustered, her mind in disarray. She didn't quite grasp what Zhang Ming meant, but she was stubborn and insisted, "Stamping a blank document is not allowed."

Jin Caifei felt a surge of frustration, not expecting this little clerk to be so stubborn. Fortunately, she wasn't unprepared. She said angrily, "Fine, I'll go get the document."

She walked out, her heels clicking on the floor.

Zhang Ming and Zhao Danqiu looked at each other. After a while, Zhang Ming said, "You were right not to stamp it."

Zhao Danqiu slumped in her chair, dejected, "I've completely offended Deputy Factory Director Jin this time."

Before she could finish, Feng Wei walked in. Seeing Zhao Danqiu looking utterly defeated, he chuckled and asked, "What's wrong, Xiao Zhao?"

Zhao Danqiu jumped up, "Deputy Factory Director Feng, why are you here? Deputy Factory Director Jin said you weren't in the factory!"

Feng Wei's eyes flickered, "Deputy Factory Director Jin said I wasn't here? Oh, I just got back."

The factory office was under Feng Wei's supervision. Seeing him, Zhao Danqiu felt as if she had found her backbone and immediately recounted the whole incident to him. She concluded, "Deputy Factory Director Feng, I didn't mean to oppose Deputy Factory Director Jin, but this really doesn't comply with the regulations."

Feng Wei pondered for a moment and asked, "She said she went to get the document?"

Zhao Danqiu nodded.

Feng Wei thought for a while, then took a wooden seal from his pocket and placed it on Zhao Danqiu's desk, "If she comes back, stamp this seal for her, but press lightly."

"What?!"

Zhao Danqiu picked up the seal and saw it was the seal of the Southern Province No. 2 Embroidery Garment Factory office. Why did Deputy Factory Director Feng have this seal?

More importantly, why did Deputy Factory Director Feng want her to stamp this seal for Deputy Factory Director Jin?!

"Don't tell anyone I was here."

Feng Wei left in a hurry, leaving Zhao Danqiu dumbfounded. Using a different seal for Deputy Factory Director Jin also didn't comply with the regulations!

She looked at Zhang Ming in confusion, "Brother Zhang, what should I do...?"

Zhang Ming's gaze was filled with sympathy; it was clear that without Director Shen around, the deputy directors had started their power struggles. As they say, when the immortals fight, the lesser spirits suffer. Zhao Danqiu was truly in a tough spot.

But after some consideration, the seasoned Zhang Ming felt it would be better to follow Feng Wei’s advice. For one, Feng Wei was their direct supervisor and wouldn't deliberately put them in harm's way. Secondly, Jin Caifei's recent behavior had been suspicious, and there was no telling if her document might cause some serious trouble.

Moreover, the seal of the office of the Southern Province No. 2 Embroidery Garment Factory did have some authority. For ordinary requests or reports, using the office seal was acceptable and not strictly wrong.

Jin Caifei might get angry, but if she found out, Zhao Danqiu could just claim she had accidentally used the wrong seal.

Of course, Zhang Ming had a hunch that Feng Wei was confident Jin Caifei wouldn’t discover it, or if she did, she wouldn’t dare to make a big fuss.

Hearing this, Zhao Danqiu thought it made sense. Before she could think further, Jin Caifei returned with the document.

"Take a look, but don't examine the clauses and data closely, and remember, don't disclose any information," Jin Caifei said sternly.

Zhao Danqiu nodded seriously and skimmed through the document. It was indeed a report on procurement and sales... However, she couldn’t understand why Jin Caifei hadn’t let her see it before. She had seen documents that were even more confidential.

Muttering to herself, Zhao Danqiu was unsure whether to use the factory seal or the one Feng Wei had given her. After a few seconds of hesitation, she impulsively took out the stamp Feng Wei had given her, dipped it nervously in the ink pad, and gently pressed it onto the document’s signature line.

She remembered Feng Wei telling her to press lightly.

Then, Zhao Danqiu’s eyes widened in disbelief as she stared at the bright red stamp on the document.

The characters for “office” were barely visible.

If you didn’t look closely, you wouldn’t notice that it was actually the office seal.

"..."

After stamping the document three times, Jin Caifei quickly left with it.

Zhao Danqiu was dazed, her face full of confusion about who she was, where she was, and what had just happened.

"What's wrong with you? Is there something wrong with the document?" Seeing her state, Zhang Ming couldn't help but ask.

Zhao Danqiu casually stamped a piece of scrap paper and handed it to him. After reading it, Zhang Ming was speechless for a moment.

After a while, he sighed, "No wonder they can be leaders; none of them are easy to deal with. We, the little people, just have to be careful and keep our heads down."