Chapter 5

Li Niu’er finished speaking and slammed Jiang Fei’s head against the wall a few more times, cursing, “You filthy slut, trying to seduce a man? I’ll beat you for being a homewrecker!”

Jiang Fei couldn’t break free and started crying loudly, begging for help, “Mom, Mom, help me!”

Li Chunhua lunged at Li Niu’er, flailing, but was met with a claw to the face that scratched her badly.

“Ow!” Li Chunhua cried, clutching her face. “Assaulting people in broad daylight—do you have no regard for the law? Zhao Qing, go call the security guard!”

Zhao Qing was still enjoying the drama and had no intention of calling anyone. She nodded in agreement but deliberately stalled, pretending to act while doing nothing. Eventually, a few men came over and pulled the women apart.

Seeing a middle-aged man, Jiang Fei immediately cried out like seeing a savior, “Director Liu, you must give me justice. Director Sun’s wife attacked me without warning!”

“She deserved it!” Li Niu’er lunged again.

Liu Peide, the director of the Ink Factory, had rushed over upon hearing about Director Sun’s accident. He hadn’t expected to walk into a brawl. He quickly separated them and said, “Alright, alright! Comrade Li, don’t hit anyone before we understand the situation!”

Li Niu’er spat on the ground. “Director Liu, I already figured everything out. This Jiang Fei has been clinging to Old Sun at the factory every day. It’s a rest day today, and she even arranged to meet him outside. Now something’s happened to him. Who else could it be if not her?!”

Jiang Fei immediately defended herself, “I didn’t! I was home all day!”

Li Chunhua backed her up. “Director Liu, my daughter really was at home. We were knitting together. The neighbors can vouch for it.”

“Like mother, like daughter!” Li Niu’er cursed and pulled out a small note. “Director Liu, look at this. This is a note Jiang Fei wrote to my husband, arranging to meet him. I’m not falsely accusing anyone.”

Director Liu read the note. It was indeed from Jiang Fei, inviting Director Sun to a cornfield by the lake, asking him to bring his car. Her name was signed at the bottom. Liu’s face darkened. “Jiang Fei, what do you have to say about this note?”

“No, I didn’t! I swear I didn’t!” Jiang Fei nearly jumped up in frustration. She almost said it was Jiang Ci who went with Director Sun but stopped, afraid the truth would get her arrested. She insisted, “I didn’t write it! Ask Director Sun if you don’t believe me!”

Li Niu’er wouldn’t back down. “Director Liu, she’s a homewrecker. I’m reporting her for hooliganism. Fire her! Arrest her!”

Jiang Fei shouted, “Director Liu, I didn’t do it! I was named a model worker just last year—I’d never do something like this!”

Li Chunhua added, “Director Liu, look at my daughter’s head! She’s bleeding. Please help us get justice.”

Three women making a scene gave Director Liu a headache. He yelled, “Enough! Quiet! Do you all have no shame? Making a scene like this while Old Sun is still in surgery—shame on all of you!”

“Everyone go wait outside the operating room!”

Li Chunhua muttered, “What does this have to do with us?”

Director Liu glared at her. “If your daughter can’t explain that note, we’ll go to the police!”

Li Chunhua inhaled sharply but dared not speak again.

They all went to wait outside the operating room. Li Chunhua, worried, pulled Jiang Fei aside and whispered, “What’s really going on?”

Jiang Fei, nervous, replied, “Nothing.”

Li Chunhua slapped her lightly. “Still hiding it from me? Wait till the police come—then you’ll be crying.”

Terrified, Jiang Fei confessed, “I did write the note, but it was Jiang Ci who went. It had nothing to do with me.”

Li Chunhua’s eyes widened in shock. “Jiang Ci was the one who…?”

Jiang Fei nodded. “Definitely.”

Li Chunhua quickly pieced things together and became sure Jiang Ci had done it. This wasn’t a small matter—it could ruin their whole family’s reputation. Jiang Fei wasn’t even married yet. If she got dragged into a scandal, who would want to marry her? Jiang Ci wasn’t even her biological daughter—she deserved it.

With that thought, Li Chunhua stepped forward. “Director Liu, I’d like to report something. It was Jiang Ci who did it.”

Director Liu was exasperated. “What do you mean?”

Li Chunhua explained, “Jiang Ci tricked Jiang Fei into writing the note to lure Director Sun out.”

Li Niu’er rushed over. “I knew it! Your whole family was plotting against my husband!”

Seeing another fight about to break out, Director Liu quickly separated them again and pulled Li Chunhua and Jiang Fei aside. He asked seriously, “Repeat what you just said.”

Li Chunhua reiterated her claim, and Jiang Fei added, “Director Liu, I can testify. Jiang Ci tricked me into writing that note. We can call the police and have her arrested.”

Director Liu thought hard for a moment. “This is tricky…”

“Tricky? How so?” Li Chunhua asked.

“Jiang Ci is the wife of a former military representative. She’s a military family member. You want me to call the police on a military dependent?”

Li Chunhua retorted, “So what? This is a new society—law comes before everything.”

Director Liu thought to himself, This woman really has no conscience. Even if Jiang Ci was involved, Li Chunhua’s cold-bloodedness was shocking. He had to be cautious—if this turned into a scandal, no one would come out looking good.

He asked, “Comrade Li, if the police come for evidence, will you testify?”

Li Chunhua patted her chest. “Of course. My husband and daughter both work at the factory—we’re upstanding citizens.”

“So you’re saying you knew about Jiang Ci’s plan beforehand?”

“Yes.”

Jiang Fei added fuel to the fire, “Director, when Jiang Ci tricked me into writing the note, my mom was right there.”

Li Chunhua nodded. “Yes, right there.”

Director Liu slammed his hands together. “What kind of mother are you? You knew your daughter was planning to harm someone and you didn’t stop her? You even helped her?”

Li Chunhua was stunned. What did he mean? Was he blaming her now? She cried, “Director Liu, you can’t say that—I’m innocent!”

“Stop shouting! Shut up!” Director Liu was furious. “Don’t think pinning this on Jiang Ci alone will solve everything. Once Old Sun wakes up, anyone involved won’t get off scot-free!”

Jiang Fei’s heart sank. She clutched her mother’s hand. “Mom, what do we do?”

Li Chunhua said, “Don’t panic. Go home and find your dad.”

“But will they let me go?”

“Stay here. I’ll talk to them.”

She approached Director Liu with a sweet tone, “Director, my son is home alone. I need to go back for a bit.”

But Li Niu’er grabbed her. “No one’s going anywhere until my husband is out of surgery!”