Transmigration: On the Gossip Front-Chapter 1916 - 1917: The Female Intellectual Youth Passerby 59
Yao Ying came by at noon to bring lunch, "I got you a one-month leave."
What? Zhang Wei was stunned. He knew that with a doctor’s note, he could definitely get leave, but he was only thinking of taking half a month off.
Even if he didn’t take on new projects, there was still other work to do at the factory. Taking a month off, he didn’t know how the factory would handle the busy workload.
Taking a month off for just one surgery? That’s a really long time. "Can you get that approved?"
"Old Zheng was grumbling, not looking very willing. I just told Director Zheng, ’When did you ever take less than a month off for surgery?’" Yao Ying angrily mentioned how Director Zheng seemed to smile when he heard about Zhang Wei’s illness.
"I’ve mentioned before, Old Zheng isn’t very honest, but you insisted I was overthinking."
"Now I’m really wondering, you and Old Wu used to be quite close, so how did your relationship sour later? Could it be that Old Zheng stirred things up?" Yao Ying pondered this for a long time in the morning, feeling it was highly possible.
"When I was leaving Old Zheng’s office, Old Wu happened to come back from the workshop and asked about your condition."
At this point, Yao Ying stood up, "I always felt something was off, but couldn’t pinpoint it. Now I know, this is where the issue is."
"When I went to apply for leave, I handed over the medical certificate and the medical record card. Although your condition was written on it, that Old Zheng guy didn’t even bother to ask about your situation, he asked nothing at all." 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶
"When Old Wu met me, he thought you had a high fever and still asked a couple of questions. Later, I said you needed surgery and wanted to take a month off, he was shocked."
"Yes, shocked, asking why take such a long leave, not a hint of laughter or happiness."
"If it were someone else, I might think they were acting, but that’s Old Wu, he’s straightforward, wouldn’t know how to do such things."
Zhang Wei nodded, "Yes, that’s exactly how Old Wu is."
"So I’m wondering if there’s a misunderstanding somewhere," Yao Ying repeated, "But right now, the important thing is that you focus on getting better. Don’t worry about those trivial things at the factory."
"Don’t concern yourself, and don’t come to me later saying stuff like it’s not easy for Old Zheng. You’re always worrying about others’ difficulties."
"But now that you’re sick, did anyone think of you?"
"I think all they care about is that they lost a hard worker." Just the thought of it made Yao Ying angry.
"Every time, they sign guarantees with the leadership, promising to finish tasks early."
"There’s nothing wrong with you signing such things, it’s not a problem if everyone finishes together."
"But when it was his turn to join a task, he always had an excuse about not feeling well, while praising himself."
Zhang Yu, listening on the side, thought, "Isn’t that just blowing smoke?"
Yao Ying, hearing the term, said, "Yes, exactly, blowing smoke."
"What, they recommend you to become a Director or something? Just listen and don’t take it seriously."
"Who knows, he might have said that to Old Wu too," Yao Ying said, clearly annoyed.
Zhang Yu nodded along, it really was possible. There was no way around it; his skills and experience were strong, and it wouldn’t be hard to have a supposedly unhealthy Director Zhang bow out with three polite nods.
If you can’t be Technical Director, being moved to a more relaxing department doesn’t mean the same treatment. The salary might be the same, but the bonuses wouldn’t be.
Zhang Yu knew that the bonuses in the Technical Department were substantial, especially after completing tasks, they really were lucrative.
Similarly, among Directors, the position of Technical Director was ranked among the top, and they had priority in welfare housing allocation.
For example, why the Zhang Family could get a three-bedroom apartment, besides both being employees of the factory, it was because Zhang Wei led several major projects, and the factory leadership would give priority to taking care.
Old Wu came by at noon with things to see Zhang Wei, and although their relationship wasn’t as good as before over the years, since they were colleagues, he couldn’t not come to visit.
It turned out he overheard Yao Ying’s words at the door of the ward. He could be sure he came on a whim and hadn’t told anyone about it.
Which means it’s even less likely the Zhang Family knew he was coming, meaning those words were genuine, implying that Old Zheng was indeed stirring trouble.
"Did Old Zheng really tell you you’re his successor?" Old Wu directly pushed the door open.
The Zhang Family trio never expected someone to come see Zhang Wei at this time. With Spring Festival approaching, there weren’t many patients at the hospital, as no one wanted to spend the New Year in a hospital, so the three-person ward only had Zhang Wei, or else they wouldn’t have talked like that.
"Old Wu." Despite Yao Ying’s earlier commanding words, she flinched when she saw someone.
"Old Zheng mentioned to me to work hard, that he had faith in me, and once he retired, I’d become the Director."
"He also said you always steal the spotlight, grabbing projects."
"And that every time he went to sign that guarantee to complete tasks early, it was with your consent."
What? Upon hearing this, Yao Ying was so angry her face turned red, "I’ve never met such an outrageous person."
"How could someone like him exist? Whenever he and Old Zhang discussed, he never asked him, and always signed agreements before telling Old Zhang."
"Tasks were already rushed, and he added more trouble. If it weren’t for him, how could Old Zhang’s stomach get bad, let alone worsen?"
"He, he actually..." Yao Ying was so angry her face flushed, "I told you, Old Zheng is no good, but you insisted he was okay."
Zhang Yu was stunned on the side, imagining Director Zheng would stir some trouble, but never to this vile extent, truly shocked.
But what surprised Zhang Yu even more was, "You, you never mentioned it."
"You worked in the same office!" If they weren’t in the same office, a lack of communication would be understandable, but clearly, they were in the same office, and not just once or twice. How did nobody notice there was a problem?
Zhang Yu really didn’t know what to say, were these people never interacting? Did they never speak during work hours?
It seemed state-owned enterprises weren’t managed so strictly, and there were quite a few who slacked off.
"We, we were busy working, and..." Zhang Wei had been wondering if Yao Ying was seeing Old Zheng through tinted glasses.
But who would have thought his wife was right all along, it was truly unbelievable even now.
"Your dad, he’s just not talkative. If he doesn’t talk, we can’t ask." Old Wu quickly understood why Old Zheng could meddle so many times without anyone noticing.
"I knew that guy wasn’t any good," Old Wu said angrily.
