After a relaxing trip, National Day was back to busy work.
Documents were issued to specially recruit pilots, but there were very few spots in the entire county. As soon as the news came out, all the pressure converged on Zhao Dashan.
As an employee down below, he also wasn’t having an easy time. The work arrangements for the remaining disabled veterans were soon to be over, yet trouble arose.
Faced with the requests of this old veteran, Zhao Dashan quickly called a meeting with everyone.
The meeting was still focused on figuring out ways to coordinate work, solve subsequent life problems, and calm the other party down.
National Day looked at the crowd in the meeting room arguing all at once, feeling a headache. He understood deep down that everyone couldn’t understand Zhao Dashan’s approach. By rights, the other’s work had been arranged, and the Armed Forces Department’s work was already over. The other’s marriage, living arrangements, those weren’t matters their department should handle.
"It’s better to let his unit’s union solve it, have the Women’s Federation assist. Boss, isn’t your wife in charge of the Women’s Federation? How about letting Old Wu take Xiao Wu for a visit? Housing shouldn’t be a problem." One of the section chiefs summarized after listening.
National Day kept silent with his head down. He secretly retorted, housing isn’t an issue? The problem is the house. If there’s housing, there’s no fear of not finding a wife. Especially since the other’s unit is the postal service, he was more aware than anyone about the few dormitories there.
Old Wu chuckled, "It’s fine for us to go. But housing won’t work. Isn’t he living in a dormitory now? I heard he doesn’t get along well with people. I suggest not bothering the wife for now."
Zhao Dashan looked around, listening to everyone’s suggestions, nodding without saying if he agreed or not. This made everyone gradually lower their voices.
"Haha... Shouldn’t you young guys say something too? Just watching the show with your mouths shut?"
The few people below looked at each other, quietly nudging National Day to speak first.
National Day rolled his eyes at them helplessly, stood up, and said, "Minister, how about letting the person switch units. Change to the pottery factory, lumber factory, these units can surely provide housing."
As soon as he finished speaking, the meeting room erupted in laughter—only National Day could come up with such a terrible idea.
National Day ignored it and continued, "Once there’s housing, let those units’ unions play matchmaker. If there’s no union, find the neighborhood committees’ ladies. The resettlement results for this batch of veterans should also be reported to the province; delaying too long isn’t good."
Everyone immediately circled him, directly asking if National Day was serious.
"I didn’t plan on being serious. It depends if that person wants to play along. Since he’s come several times asking for housing and a wife, we have to coordinate based on his requests," National Day laughed.
Zhao Dashan shook his head and laughed. He knew National Day was losing patience and planned to sideline the other person. "Everyone, see if there are any other solutions? Try to make people satisfied, if really nothing works, we can only use Xiao Wu’s method."
National Day saw that everyone agreed after considering. He raised his eyebrows, smiled, and said, "Then Uncle Wu, I’ll trouble you to accompany me to the post office. Let them know it’s not that we’re not doing it, but we’re limited in capability."
Old Wu joked around, responding to his colleagues’ teasing, and took National Day out the door.
The two, with Mr. Zheng the retired veteran, went to the post office.
Sure enough, it didn’t work...
Faced with the dissatisfied Mr. Zheng, Old Wu smiled without getting angry, offering the previous suggestions.
On the final day, the meeting finally ended with the smiling fox’s "Since we can’t decide, let’s just leave it at that this time. Next time, I’ll notify you in advance."
National Day cracked a smile at this. Pushing it to next year, how far-reaching.
Entering the meeting room yesterday, National Day quickly noticed something was off. He hurriedly hinted to Zhao Dashan not to raise opinions, not to participate in their free-speaking, self-entertaining faction forming.
After the meeting, sure enough, the smiling fox made a move. The most active minister was named and criticized, his work was not up to par, his report to be reorganized back home.
After the group meal, farewells were said. Zhao Dashan took National Day and company back to the guest house, everyone sighed relief. This meeting truly wasted time.
Seeing it was still early, Zhao Dashan granted them some leave, planning to visit some old friends, have dinner before returning.
This arrangement made Xiao Wu beam with joy, waving the ticket in his hand, hastily dragging National Day to hit the streets. Original plans of organizing notes by National Day had to be set aside.
Xiao Wu was two years older than National Day, still unmarried but already engaged, planning to wed on May 1st Labor Day this year. He had prepared to buy major items during this trip to the provincial city.
At the department store, after purchasing a ladies’ wristwatch and bicycle, Xiao Wu’s ticket was completely used up. He reluctantly looked at fabric, whispering to National Day that his girlfriend’s family didn’t want any dowry money. He fretted over mistreating her.
National Day jokingly rolled his eyes at him. This dude coveted the tickets in his hand but didn’t directly say. Last night, when he accidentally exposed his ticket before bed, he knew he couldn’t hold onto them for long.
Fortunately, due to the hurried trip, he didn’t bring many. Since he revealed his cards, he simply used up all the tickets he carried. Otherwise, with this big mouth advertising, he couldn’t keep them tomorrow.

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