Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
“Be truthful.” Qiao Nan sipped a mouthful of her drink. It had always been a rule to not play while Qiao Nan was driving. In her previous life, Qiao Nan had been knocked down by another car while she was outside. That was what led to her death. In this lifetime, Qiao Nan was thankfully sitting within the car, so she had to be even more responsible for the safety of herself and those sitting in her car.
This time, Qiao Dongliang did not try to defend the three children, only eying them comfortingly. “You really have to pay attention while driving. Don’t play around while your mother is driving. You’ll affect her. Do you understand?”
“Yes!”
The three children answered in unison, especially San Bao, who stuck her tongue out, because she knew she had violated her mom’s rule.
“All right, we’re here.” After driving into the school, Qiao Nan let the three children out. “I’ll come to pick you three up on Saturday. As to the things that you need in the bedroom, I’ve prepared everything. Do you still remember everything that I taught you?”
It was the first time the children were staying in a hostel, so Qiao Nan was no less worried or anxious than Qiao Dongliang.
Da Bao walked over to Qiao Nan’s side and comforted Qiao Nan. “Mom, don’t worry. When we lived in the army, we used to do everything ourselves. We’re already used to it.”
1
Fathers were indeed more ruthless than mothers. When the three of them first went into the army, their father had been so strict. The elder brothers had wanted to help these three young ones out, but in the end, they had been punished by their father to run ten rounds. After that incident, no one was willing to help them anymore.
Thinking about those times, Da Bao felt that that was truly a tough life.
“That’s right, Mom! Don’t look down on your children. We know to dust our quilts when it’s sunny and to wash our clothes after we change out of them. Mom! Do you think we’re three-year-old children that you have to teach us even that?” Even if they needed someone to teach them that, it was already seven or eight years late. When they were only five, they had entered the army. Whatever they could do, their father forbade anyone from helping them.
1
They felt that their mother’s care was like the gentle spring breeze, whereas their father’s strictness was like the brutal winter wind. Er Bao sighed. Children with mothers were blessed.
1
At this moment, San Bao said, “Don’t worry, Mom! The three of us will definitely be fine. I’ll go to the bedroom first. Mom, you’d better hurry off to work too. As the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, won’t you be embarrassed if you are late?” San Bao knew that there were some people in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs who despised her mom and were always trying to pick out her faults.
Now that San Bao herself already took the lead and headed to the bedroom, Da Bao and Er Bao wanted to go to the bedroom to place their things there too, immediately spoiling the atmosphere of reluctance. Qiao Nan and Qiao Dongliang were still reluctant to part with them, but the three children did not even turn back once.
Qiao Nan’s lips twitched and she could not speak for quite a while. “Dad, it’s about time. If we don’t leave now, I’ll be stuck in the jam at the school gate. Get in the car. I’ll send you back.”
After getting in the car, Qiao Dongliang said, “The three children are right. It’s quite late now. It’s more important for you to get to work. Once we get out of the school, just drop me off at the bus stop. I’ll take a slow ride back on the public bus to get familiar with the route around here. Next time when you’re busy and I have to pick the children up, we can take the public bus.”
Qiao Nan did not refuse. “All right, let’s go.”
After alighting Qiao Dongliang at the public bus stop, Qiao Nan no longer stopped so as to arrive at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as early as possible. Thankfully, the moment Qiao Nan arrived at the door of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was time for work.
Every time she sent the three children to school, this situation was bound to happen. Once it happened too frequently, it would be awkward for Qiao Nan herself. It was as though she was unwilling to waste just a minute more in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs now that she had become the director.
Indeed, as soon as Qiao Nan arrived, someone said sarcastically, “Minister Qiao, you’re really ‘on time’. How did you prepare to do that? You’ll have to teach us!” Li Dawei’s tone was weird, and he was obviously being sarcastic.
As a veteran of the workplace, Qiao Nan was not affected by a sarcastic remark from Li Dawei. “Comrade Li, you’ve been in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for quite a few years, right? But you can’t even compete with newbies who’ve been in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for only three years. How do you do it? But I guess our department doesn’t need to know about your experience. It’s best that no one learns from your attitude.”
1
One learned, and the other did not. It was immediately obvious who was superior.
Qiao Nan was the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Other than Li Dawei, who coveted the position of the minister, when other people were faced with such a situation, there was no hesitation as to which side they would help.
Many people’s taunting gazes fell on Li Dawei. They all felt that Li Dawei did not know his place. Even a few of the newbies in the department thought that Li Dawei was insane. Normally, the one who sucked up to Minister Qiao the most was Li Dawei. But every time Li Dawei failed, he never gave up.
Logically, within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Li Dawei should be Minister Qiao’s lackey. But in reality, it was the contrary. In the entire department, only Li Dawei shot back at Minister Qiao!
It was such an ironic contradiction that people sometimes felt confused when seeing Li Dawei’s behavior. They could not understand how Li Dawei could continue in his self-contradictory actions.
It was enough to be seen as a joke by the seniors in the department. After all, they were his seniors and it was normal to be mocked by people who had more experience than him. Li Dawei’s face paled. He felt that Qiao Nan was crushing his dignity by mocking him in front of so many people.
How could someone as unqualified as Qiao Nan become the minister? He did not believe that he would not be able to find a way to pull Qiao Nan down from her position. When he took over Qiao Nan’s position, he would see what these people who mocked him today would have to say.
Qiao Nan did not miss Li Dawei’s angry and indignant gaze.
Qiao Nan laughed coldly. Acting like this in the workplace was really just an expression of how foolish Li Dawei was. Did Li Dawei really think that everything would be fine as long as he tried to flatter Qiao Nan at the last minute just before his annual appraisal?
If that was the case, Qiao Nan could only say that Li Dawei was so naive that it was frightening.
“Hello, it’s me.” Ding Jiayi called Qiao Nan.
Upon receiving Ding Jiayi’s phone call, Qiao Nan was calm as usual and her expression remained unchanged. “What’s the matter? Speak!”