A whirlwind marriage with a high-ranking official: Lights out, don't force me to take the initi

"Yes. She specializes in doing things that others wouldn't even dare to dream of," Director Zhang said with a smile. "And she made it happen for you!"

"If you ask how capable she is, this girl is indeed smart, cautious, thoughtful, and very prudent in her actions."

"But if you're talking about people like that, I've actually seen quite a few. There are plenty of capable people, but none of them have the guts of hers," Director Zhang said, shaking his head.

"The clothing company was established by her own people, and she was able to leverage the resources of the military region. She also set up a mutual aid society to employ military dependents."

"She dared to start her own business and hire workers as soon as the policy was introduced," Director Zhang said, looking out the window as if recalling something.

"Logically speaking, who would dare? Even if they did, who would dare to do it so openly? What if they were labeled as speculators or bourgeois again?" She turned back to look at Song Xiaotang.

"But she dared to do it! And she didn't do it secretly. I heard she even did promotions inside a department store. That's a department store! When have you ever done a GG promotion? But she dared to do it so openly!" Director Zhang got more and more excited as he spoke.

Song Xiaotang remained silent, listening intently as Director Zhang recounted Ye Wenxi's "deeds".

She was shocked by what Director Zhang said, and even more shocked by the light in Director Zhang's eyes when he talked about Ye Wenxi.

Her eyes held not only admiration, but also a hint of pride and longing, as if she were talking about a heroine, and as if Ye Wenxi's courage and achievements were something that made Director Zhang proud.

After saying all this, Director Zhang let out a long "Oh dear!"

"Since Wenxi has agreed to act as the middleman, you can rest assured that she will definitely arrange everything properly for you," Director Zhang said.

Song Xiaotang chatted with Director Zhang and Wang Xiaoling for a while before leaving the mutual aid society.

She didn't immediately return to the office, nor did she go to the film set, nor did she go to the clothing store to pick out clothes with everyone.

With a head full of information, she subconsciously walked to the military family compound at the back.

Song Xiaotang walked aimlessly along the path in the residential compound. Director Zhang's words kept echoing in her mind.

"There are plenty of capable people out there, but I've never seen a woman as bold as her."

"She's so daring and bold."

Song Xiaotang was processing the series of news she had heard today from the Publicity Department, the Logistics Department, and the Mutual Aid Society.

All the opinions and impressions people have of Ye Wenxi, as well as her deeds.

Some of the information was too shocking, some was too... she couldn't quite put her finger on it.

Song Xiaotang walked aimlessly, her mind a battle of wits.

A voice said: "You are not fighting alone, you are not the loneliest person on this road."

Another voice, however, was pulling her back: 'Stay calm,' 'Have you forgotten the lesson from last time?'

She can't forget it.

Two years ago, she had just won the rights to shoot a patriotic film, and countless eyes in the film studio were watching her.

How can such a young female producer take on such a big project?

Those senior colleagues and male colleagues, though they didn't say it, were all waiting to see her make a fool of herself.

She was determined to make this film well and shut everyone up.

But it was at that time that she had an accident.

A business partner with whom I had a fairly good working relationship used personal connections to get one of their employees featured on camera.

It wasn't a big deal, but someone reported it.

The whistleblower letter was beautifully written, escalating from "irregular personnel appointments" all the way up to "bourgeois favoritism."

She was summoned for questioning, interrogated, and marginalized for three whole months.

For those three months, she sat in her office every day, watching others take over her work and listening to the whispers in the hallway.

"This woman is still no good; she can't handle things."

She gritted her teeth and didn't utter a single word in defense.

From then on, she learned to maintain boundaries. Boundaries with everyone.

Moreover, Song Xiaotang grew up in a strictly controlled era.

From a young age, I was taught that individual business is dangerous and that commercial advertising is a sign of capitalism.

Even now, 79 years later, when policies have loosened, she is still worried deep down.

They were afraid of getting too close to businessmen, afraid that the film would be tied to commerce, and afraid that the project they had worked so hard to establish would be labeled as "bourgeois".

So she wasn't sure.

The more I learn about Ye Wenxi, the less certain I become.

Ye Wenxi is too strong.

She wasn't the kind of aggressive type; the more Song Xiaotang got to know her, the more she discovered how meticulous and thorough her planning and actions were.

I think further ahead than you and do more than you.

Song Xiaotang didn't consider herself incapable, but in front of Ye Wenxi, she felt for the first time that she might really be inferior.

She had to be even more wary and careful when dealing with such a powerful businessman.

But another voice is saying: Is she really just a businesswoman?

She didn't know...

In a daze, Song Xiaotang looked up and realized that she had unknowingly walked to the gate of the military school.

The children, coming home from school, walked past her in twos and threes, chattering away, pulling her out of her thoughts.

She took a deep breath and decided to stop thinking about it for now and take it one step at a time.

Suddenly, she saw a very novel scene: among the crowd of people picking up their children, there was a female military dependent holding up a sign.

A simple sign with a piece of paper pasted on it reads "Small Dining Table" in large calligraphy characters.

Small catering service? Restaurant? Restaurant picking up students at the school gate?

Song Xiaotang was a little stunned by this scene.

Several children, some in elementary school and some in kindergarten, gradually emerged.

The children gathered one by one under the sign, chattering away as if they were waiting for someone.

"Wait a minute, there's a new student here today. He didn't come with us before. Once he arrives, we can go back," the woman holding the sign called out to the children.

"Aunt Liu, what are we having for dinner tonight?" a little girl with pigtails asked, looking up at her.

"Stewed fish!" Aunt Liu said with a smile.

"Great!" the children cheered.

A little boy who looked to be in second grade walked slowly out of the school gate with a small green backpack slung across his back.

He looked around and saw the sign for "Little Dining Table," so he walked over.

"Hello, are you Aunt Liu?" the little boy asked, looking up at him.

"Oh my, you must be Tiantian?" Aunt Liu bent down.

Tian Tian: "Yes, that's right, I'm Tian Tian."

Aunt Liu: "Yes, I'm Aunt Liu. Starting today, your mother asked me to pick you up for lunch and dinner at our after-school care center."

Aunt Liu: "Your mother hasn't finished get off work yet, so why don't you come with me, okay? Your mother will go home after the clothing store closes at five o'clock. Then I'll take you home."

Tian Tian: "Okay!"

Aunt Liu straightened up and called out to the crowd, "Xiangyang, come here and help the little boy. He just arrived today, so please take good care of him for me, okay?"

Zhang Xiangyang ran out from the group of children, nodded, and reached out to take Tiantian's hand: "Brother, come with us."

"Our mothers both work at a garment factory. Aunt Liu's cooking is delicious. After Mom gets off work, she can pick us up and take us home."

Two children held hands and walked out with a group of people.

Song Xiaotang stood there, watching this scene she had never seen before, and smiled softly.

She gleaned a few pieces of information from their conversation, a few words that subtly resonated with her.

The clothing store closes at around 5 p.m., and the children get out of school at 4 p.m., with only a little over an hour between them.

Letting the children go home on their own and cooking for them after they get off work—isn't this the norm for many working women with children?

Why hire a private dining service?