Chapter Thirty-Seven: Let Me Transfer to Your Department

Seeing that Yang Yue had agreed, Director Yu immediately continued, “Yang Yue, since you’ve accepted this project, you are now the chief designer.” True to his word, Director Yu directly appointed Yang Yue as the chief designer of the model aircraft project, granting her full responsibility for the institute’s upcoming work. In an instant, she had been promoted to a position equal to that of Yang Hui.

“Alright, the institute has appointed you chief designer. As for the rest of the team, you’ll have to recruit them yourself. Just report their names to the institute once you’ve found them.”

It became clear that Director Yu had his reasons for appointing Yang Yue as chief designer—he wanted to hand off the troublesome task of assembling a team to her.

As a young person, Yang Yue was overjoyed at her sudden promotion and didn’t worry about the difficulty of recruitment; she agreed enthusiastically without hesitation.

Director Bai opened his mouth as if to say something, but after a moment’s thought, he decided against it. After all, he couldn’t undermine the arrangements of an old friend; perhaps there were other plans at work.

Yet the truth was, Director Bai was overthinking it. Chief Yu truly had no other plan—he simply wanted to push this headache onto Yang Yue and let her experience a few setbacks.

“Alright, that’s all. You can leave now. Once you’ve recruited your team, report directly to me,” he said, without waiting for Yang Yue’s response, and then called Director Bai to join him for a meal. Old friends shouldn’t miss the chance to share a drink—last time they’d postponed their meal, but today, hospitality must be observed.

·········

Meanwhile, Yang Yue, unaware of the full story, went off dutifully and cheerfully to recruit people for the model aircraft project. The outcome, of course, was already determined.

“Sorry, our team’s busy—we’re short on hands.”

“What? Model aircraft? You want us, actual aircraft designers, to work on toys?”

“No, no time.”

“Excuse me, don’t bother me. I’m busy.”

...

Fortunately, Yang Yue was a woman; otherwise, the ridicule would have been even harsher. Even though the rejections were polite, they still stung.

An entire afternoon spent running from department to department, facing rejection at every turn—by the end of the day, she was thoroughly infamous, at least among the new graduates at Institute One. She was certainly the center of attention.

With no choice, she dragged her exhausted body to Chief Yu’s office, arriving just as Director Bai was about to leave. The three of them met again, but Yang Yue’s spirits were clearly much lower than they’d been at noon.

It was obvious things hadn’t gone well with recruitment, and both directors seemed to have expected this. Before Yang Yue could speak, Chief Yu asked, “Well, did you find anyone?”

Though she’d guessed this would be the outcome, the question still stung. She forced a bitter smile. What people? She’d been given the cold shoulder all afternoon and hadn’t found a single recruit. “Chief Yu, you know how difficult this is. I spent the whole afternoon asking, but no one was willing to join.”

Yang Yue was on the verge of tears. It was truly disheartening. A fresh graduate, following her boyfriend to the remote southwest to ‘pioneer a career,’ she’d been delighted to help when she heard he needed her, setting off with high hopes. Who would have thought she’d run into a wall at every turn? Nothing was as easy as it seemed.

“That’s exactly the point. I sent you on this nearly impossible task so you’d understand that nothing in this world comes easily. Only by calming down can you truly help Yang Hui—and bring this project to success.” This was Chief Yu’s real intention.

“Director Yu, it’s Xiao Bo. I have something to discuss with you.” The voice arrived before the man himself, and as soon as the door opened, he stated his business.

All three in the office saw this unexpected visitor. Entering without knocking was hardly good manners, but after seeing who it was, Chief Yu said nothing. Young people have their flaws; those can be corrected in time.

“Xiao Bo, say what you need to. I have other matters to attend to.” Though he wasn’t annoyed, he made it clear to be brief.

Only then did Xiao Bo notice there were others in the office. Glancing around, his face lit up with a smile.

“Director, I heard Comrade Yang Yue is recruiting for a model aircraft project. I’d like to join, if the institute approves.”

This was a significant decision, but Xiao Bo showed no hesitation. After all, he’d been pursuing Yang Yue since their days at the southern aviation university. Now they’d both been assigned to the same institute—what decision could he not make?

Yang Yue, seeing this, could only feel helpless. In all honesty, Xiao Bo was truly persistent, but she’d liked Yang Hui for years, and now their relationship was about to bear fruit. Xiao Bo never had a chance.

“Xiao Bo, why insist? You’re doing well in the flight control team; there’s no need to come here for model aircraft. They need you over there.” As the person responsible for the model aircraft project, Yang Yue had the right to state her opinion and ask Chief Yu to deny Xiao Bo’s request for transfer.

Chief Yu, shrewd as ever, saw through the situation immediately. He thought highly of Xiao Bo—his technical skills were solid, and among this cohort of new graduates, he was the best. Allowing him to leave a key post was out of the question.

Director Bai sat quietly aside, watching. This was an internal matter for Institute One; as someone from Institute Two, he was content to be a silent observer.

After a long silence, Xiao Bo remained undeterred. This was a rare opportunity—he couldn’t let it slip by.

“Chief Yu, no one’s willing to join the model aircraft project right now. Someone needs to take the lead, or else Yang Yue will be left in command of no one.”

As the saying goes, if you want something, you’ll always find an excuse. Xiao Bo, being clever, of course found one.

It was clear—Xiao Bo harbored feelings for Yang Yue, but she and Yang Hui had grown up together and were deeply in love. Poor Xiao Bo was hopelessly infatuated, perhaps still unaware of Yang Yue’s real reason for coming to Base 011. If he knew, he would be heartbroken for a long time.

So be it. Matters of young love can’t be resolved by words alone; only experience can teach. Just as Yang Yue had needed to face setbacks that morning to gain clarity, so too must Xiao Bo. While they’re young, it’s best to let them work it out themselves.

Chief Yu decided to help the three of them reach a conclusion. Once their personal matters were settled, they could devote themselves to their work. For now, the institute didn’t depend on these two newcomers; they could be spared to resolve their affairs.

“Alright, Xiao Bo, I approve your request. If you really want to join the project, go ahead.”

It was almost unbelievable—didn’t the chief see through Xiao Bo’s motives? To grant his request was to invite trouble. Yang Yue was willing to do this alone; why bring in Xiao Bo?

No, she had to get rid of him. “Director, this—”

Before Yang Yue could finish, Chief Yu cut her off with a gesture, glancing at Director Bai to see if he understood.

Longtime friends, Director Bai immediately caught Chief Yu’s meaning and nodded in agreement.

“Alright, let me be frank with you both. Aside from you two, there’s no one else in the institute willing to take on this project. So after discussing with Director Bai, we’ve decided you’ll both be temporarily seconded to Institute Two to help complete the model aircraft project. Institute Two will assign people to work with you.”

So that was it. Institute One had no one else for the project, so the solution was to involve Institute Two—send two people with the right technical background, and Institute Two could provide the rest. After all, this was still aviation—there would be overlap. At worst, everyone involved worked in mechanics; at the end of the day, a plane is still a machine.

“This...” Yang Yue and Xiao Bo were both stunned, but Yang Yue’s surprise quickly turned to delight—being transferred to Institute Two meant...

“Alright, it’s settled. You’re both new here and shouldn’t have many personal things to pack. Go get ready, and leave with Director Bai in the institute car.”

As the two left the office, the two old directors exchanged a glance and a wry smile, shaking their heads in resignation.

“You’re really passing the buck—sending this headache to my Institute Two. There’s bound to be some turbulence ahead.”

“I had no choice. This had to be resolved sooner or later. Since your institute isn’t too busy, please help settle it. We’ll forgo that thirty percent share—just make sure these three sort out their affairs.”

...

“Work hard, and don’t let Institute One down.”

Watching the car drive off, Chief Yu shook his head and silently wished them well. He hoped this time both business and personal matters could be resolved.

For Xiao Bo, this was destined to be an ordeal—if he could overcome it, there would be bright prospects ahead. Chief Yu could only hope this fine young man would weather his trial of the heart.