Chapter 26

Lin Xiang had heard many people mention that Food Factory No. 2 was on the verge of collapse and was completely incomparable to Factory No. 1.

Currently, the military mainly relied on state funding. However, the 1970s were still a challenging period of development—better than the 50s and 60s, but with limited improvements.

To maximize resources and cut unnecessary expenses, the military sought ways to ensure soldiers had enough to eat while also providing jobs for military families. They collaborated with the Jinbian City government to take over an old, struggling food factory with decades of history. By implementing the military’s strict management style, they revived the factory, leveraging its secret canned food recipes to expand production. The factory utilized the unique resources of the island, increasing production efficiency. This not only generated additional funding for the military and improved soldiers’ food supplies but also stabilized the livelihoods of military families—a win-win situation.

However, due to rushed development and missteps in establishing Factory No. 2, mistakes similar to those made nationwide were repeated. As a result, the factory never flourished. Its facilities continued to shrink over time, leaving Factory No. 2 as little more than an empty shell. There were even rumors that it wouldn’t last much longer. If it shut down, its workers might be merged into Factory No. 1 but wouldn’t be given good positions—some might even lose their jobs entirely.

This was why military spouses dreaded being assigned to Factory No. 2 whenever recruitment took place.

Lin Xiang had never considered the possibility of being placed in Factory No. 2. Among all the military spouses applying, her education level was among the highest—likely only she and Shen Chunli had a high school diploma. Combined with her strong performance in both the written exam and interview, there was no reason she shouldn’t have secured a position in Factory No. 1.

As Lin Xiang frowned at her name on the Factory No. 2 recruitment list, Zhou Yuezhu caught sight of it and nearly gasped in shock.

“How is this possible?! This—” Zhou Yuezhu was outraged. How could Lin Xiang be assigned to Factory No. 2? That was a complete waste of talent!

Lin Xiang grabbed Zhou Yuezhu’s hand and headed toward the food factory. “Come on, let’s go ask.”

She needed an explanation.

The factory was bustling since it was the day recruitment results were announced. The administrative staff handling the hiring process were verifying new employees and informing them that they had three days to report for work.

As they walked, Zhou Yuezhu reassured Lin Xiang, “Sister Xiang Xiang, there must have been a mistake. There’s no way you were assigned to Factory No. 2.”

But Lin Xiang felt an ominous sense of foreboding. “I’m afraid it wasn’t a mistake.”

She suspected it was deliberate.

The food factory covered a vast 1,300 square meters, with Factory No. 1 occupying the majority of the space. Factory No. 2 had originally been allocated a section, but as it was gradually abandoned, its area shrank repeatedly. Now, it was little more than a tiny annex, separated from Factory No. 1 by a single wall—just one-tenth its size.

The verification process for the newly hired workers was taking place in an open area outside the Factory No. 1 administrative office. Four long tables were set up, and factory staff were cross-checking the list with the workers’ household registration documents.

As Lin Xiang and Zhou Yuezhu entered, Lin Xiang immediately spotted the person who had collected her application form that day—the only familiar face in the room.

Just as she was about to step forward to inquire, Shen Chunli suddenly appeared out of nowhere.

“Comrade Lin Xiang, you got in too? What position were you assigned?”

Shen Chunli had been given the role of publicity officer in the Factory No. 1 administrative office—the most sought-after position in this round of hiring. She was in an excellent mood. Seeing Lin Xiang enter, she decided to set aside her earlier resentment about being deceived by Lin Xiang’s appearance. After all, they were going to be colleagues now.

Lin Xiang, preoccupied with getting answers, responded vaguely, “There are some issues I need to clarify first.”

Watching Lin Xiang rush off, Shen Chunli pursed her lips. What an unfriendly person. Not even a little enthusiasm toward her future colleagues!

At one of the tables, He Fen was busy verifying workers’ information. When she looked up, she saw Lin Xiang approaching.

She tucked her short hair more securely behind her ear and smiled politely. “Comrade, how can I help you?”

“Hello, Comrade. My name is Lin Xiang. I have some questions about the job assignment process for this recruitment.”

He Fen had clearly anticipated this and calmly pulled out Lin Xiang’s application form. Pointing to the section where the preferred factory was indicated, she said, “You originally applied for Factory No. 2. We simply followed your stated preference.”

Lin Xiang looked closely. She had written Factory No. 1 in clear handwriting when she applied, but now, the form showed Factory No. 2 instead.

Further down, the checkmark for Publicity Officer had been crossed out and replaced with Workshop Worker.

Just then, another worker at a nearby table stood up in a hurry. “He Fen, are you done with verification? I need to step out for a moment. Can you cover for me?”

“Sure,” He Fen agreed with a nod.

Lin Xiang was about to protest that she had never written Factory No. 2 when she noticed He Fen’s faint, knowing smile. Then, she recalled the other worker addressing her as He Fen.

He Fen?

The name sounded familiar.

She thought hard for a moment, then it suddenly hit her—wasn’t the person who had been arrested for drugging someone named He Fang?

He Fen. He Fang.

Could they be related?

As the pieces clicked together, Lin Xiang lowered her gaze to the altered application form in her hands. The smile on He Fen’s face no longer seemed polite—it had an unmistakable hint of amusement, as if she were enjoying the show.

In a flash, Lin Xiang had a theory.

The place was crowded, filled with military spouses verifying their employment details. In this era, there were no duplicate records of applications. Even if she raised a fuss and accused someone of tampering with her form, she had no proof. Instead, people might assume she was just bitter about being assigned to Factory No. 2 and now regretted it, trying to fight for a spot in Factory No. 1.

Especially since all the positions had already been assigned, if she managed to switch from the Factory No.2 to the first, someone who had just secured a spot in the Factory No.1 would lose their place, potentially making her an enemy of the other military spouses.

Calming herself, she chose not to make a public scene or confront He Fen directly. Instead, while He Fen was helping out next door, she took the application form and went to find the factory office director.

Zhou Yuezhu had been stuck on the outskirts of the crowd. Later, when Lin Xiang told her someone had altered her application form, she became furious—especially since the culprit was likely a relative of the person who had drugged her. A wave of guilt surged in her heart.

“I’ll go find out right away and see what her relationship is with that person!”

Zhou Yuezhu acted swiftly. At the time of the incident, no one had bothered to investigate He Fang’s sister and brother-in-law, assuming that one person’s wrongdoing shouldn’t implicate their family.

As a result, neither Zhou Yuezhu nor Lin Xiang knew the full names of He Fang’s sister and brother-in-law.

A short while later, Zhou Yuezhu returned with the news. “Sister Xiang, He Fen really is He Fang’s biological sister! Now it all makes sense—she’s deliberately taking revenge on you! But wait, that doesn’t add up. What did you even do to her? You saved me, and you’ve never even met her sister, so why would she do this to you?”

Seeing how worked up Zhou Yuezhu was getting, Lin Xiang, on the other hand, remained calm. It was just as she had suspected. “Her husband is a regiment commander, so he surely knows how to assess situations. In this matter, it was your cousin who investigated and reported He Fang, leading to her being sent to the police. Then, your father used his connections to urge the authorities to punish her severely. My guess is that He Fen and her husband tried to pull some strings but failed, leaving them resentful. But your cousin and your father are both people they can’t afford to offend—one is her husband’s equal in rank, and the other is a superior officer. When they weighed their options, I was the only easy target, someone without powerful backing. And since I happened to be applying for a job, it was the perfect opportunity for her to strike.”

“This is outrageous!” Zhou Yuezhu was unwilling to let Sister Xiang suffer just because she had saved her. “No way, I have to tell my parents!”

She couldn’t just let Sister Xiang take this loss quietly.

Lin Xiang considered the situation—it could be both easy and difficult to resolve. The first step was to report it to the authorities. Since she and Yuezhu were both young women, they might not be taken seriously by the factory director. So, they decided to bring along Feng Li.

Feng Li had been living in the military family compound for years, was well-liked, and, being the wife of a brigade commander, was someone people were inclined to respect.

Upon hearing what had happened to Lin Xiang, Feng Li’s expression darkened, and she was visibly angered. “That Li Jun’s wife really has no sense!”

The director of the factory office, Director Tian, had not been present at the recruitment site and was currently working from home.

Upon learning that Brigade Captain Zhou’s wife, Feng Li, had come by, she immediately set aside her work to greet her.

Feng Li and Director Tian had some personal rapport, so after a few pleasantries, she got straight to the point. “Sister Tian, I’m here today with these two young ladies to report an issue.”

She briefly explained the situation and concluded, “This is outright bullying, which is why we came to you.”

Lin Xiang then handed over the application form, pointing to the extra stroke in the character for “Factory No.2.” “Director Tian, I originally submitted this form to Comrade He Fen. It originally said ‘First Food Factory.’ The horizontal stroke in the ‘one’ was centered. If I had written ‘Factory No.2’ from the start, the character would look strange. You can see the difference—the added stroke has a different penmanship from the original. It’s clear that someone tampered with my application.”

The factory office, under Director Tian’s leadership, was responsible for recruitment. While she wasn’t involved in every minor detail, there had never been a major mishap. Now, being confronted with an altered application form, her brows furrowed as she examined it closely and indeed noticed irregularities.

Still, she wasn’t about to admit to any negligence on the factory office’s part—doing so would damage its credibility among the military families.

“Director Tian, we came to you privately instead of causing a public stir because we want to clarify whether this was just a misunderstanding.” Lin Xiang, noticing Director Tian’s hesitation and concern that she might try to downplay the issue, quickly showed her sincerity. If the problem could be resolved quietly, that would be ideal.

Since Director Tian was worried about her department’s reputation, Lin Xiang gave her an out—after all, her ultimate goal was to secure her job.

“I understand the situation. I’ll need to investigate this matter.” With Feng Li present, Director Tian had to show some consideration. Having a witness meant she couldn’t simply brush the matter aside. “Once I have a conclusion, I’ll let you know. In the meantime, please don’t spread any rumors.”

Leaders were always mindful of the collective image and interests of their organizations.

Feng Li assured her, “I’ve already told Xiang Xiang that Director Tian is the fairest among the military families and will certainly stand up for her! Xiang Xiang, you and Yuezhu are about the same age—don’t be so formal with all this ‘Director Tian’ business. That’s too distant. Call her Aunt Tian.”

Lin Xiang silently acknowledged that Aunt Feng was quite skilled—within a few words, she had flattered Director Tian, reinforcing her reputation for fairness and subtly reminding her of the importance of doing the right thing.

Naturally, Lin Xiang followed suit and, along with Yuezhu, called out, “Thank you, Aunt Tian.”

After seeing them off, Director Tian’s expression darkened.

Lin Xiang and the others had been tactful, giving the factory office a chance to handle the matter internally without making a scene. Even so, Director Tian was still upset—who in her office had been pulling these underhanded tricks?

Fortunately, the culprit wouldn’t be hard to find.

That evening, Director Tian called a meeting with the factory office staff. After a few inquiries about how applications were collected, she produced Lin Xiang’s form and carefully observed everyone’s reactions.

Immediately, He Fen’s face changed.

Based on Lin Xiang’s specific mention that she had submitted her application form to He Fen, Director Tian immediately had a sense of what was going on.

However, He Fen was adamantly denying everything, insisting that Lin Xiang had simply changed her mind and was now making up nonsense. She claimed Lin Xiang had altered her own application to apply for Factory No. 2 instead.

At the very least, who could produce any evidence to prove He Fen was responsible?

When He Fen altered Lin Xiang’s application, she had already calculated that even if Lin Xiang found out and confronted her, she could block her arguments. There was only one copy of the application form—who could prove what Lin Xiang had originally written?

Besides, all the job positions had already been allocated. If Lin Xiang wanted to cause a scene and demand a position at Factory No. 1, who would be willing to give theirs up? As long as He Fen stirred things up a little, the wives of the soldiers would drown Lin Xiang in their criticism. After all, no one would willingly give up a hard-earned position at Factory No. 1.

She was certain that Lin Xiang would have no choice but to suffer in silence.

Who told her to stir up trouble and harm He Fen’s younger sister? Afang was just a young girl who had made a careless mistake. It wasn’t as if she had committed some great crime—she could have just been reprimanded and educated. Was it really necessary to send her to the Public Security Bureau?

Thinking about this, He Fen’s initial nervousness in front of Director Tian gradually eased.

Besides, her husband had fought for his life on the battlefield. She refused to believe that someone would truly make things difficult for her over a mere distant relative of the He family!

“Comrade He Fen, this application form was clearly tampered with. Tell me, did you alter it yourself, or did someone take it and change it while it was under your management?”

He Fen stiffened her neck and stubbornly retorted, “Director Tian, even if it was altered, why couldn’t Lin Xiang have changed it herself? After all, no one saw anything. And now that all the job positions have been assigned, do you really intend to cause panic among hundreds of military wives just for Lin Xiang and redistribute everything?”

He Fen had indeed grasped Director Tian’s concerns—this matter was not easy to handle!

---

After leaving the factory office, He Fen returned home carrying her bag. Her husband, Li Jun, had just returned from his unit.

As soon as he entered the house, he saw his wife looking deeply troubled, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. Startled, he quickly stepped forward to comfort her. “Afen, what’s wrong?”

Ever since her younger sister had come to visit, a series of problems had erupted. Li Jun had been exhausted trying to handle it all—pleading for leniency had failed, pulling strings hadn’t worked either. He knew his wife was upset, but there was truly nothing he could do.

He Hongyuan was rigidly impartial, and Captain Zhou was even higher in rank. What could he possibly do?

“Jun, I altered Lin Xiang’s job application form. Now that she’s found out, she’s gone to Director Tian to hold me accountable.”

Li Jun was momentarily confused. “Who’s Lin Xiang?”

“That little wench who harmed Afang!” He Fen’s expression twisted with resentment as she gritted her teeth. “If she hadn’t meddled, would Afang have been sent to the Public Security Bureau?”

“You mean that woman who discovered the incident with He Hongyuan?” Li Jun finally recalled.

He knew about the matter too. The evidence against his sister-in-law had been collected and submitted by He Hongyuan, and later, Captain Zhou had directly blocked his attempts to use connections to intervene.

But his wife was still fuming about it. Since they couldn’t touch He Hongyuan or Zhou Shenghuai, Lin Xiang was the easiest target.

“Jun, if this situation blows up, I might end up humiliated and severely punished by Director Tian. I don’t want to drag you down with me. If it comes to that, we should just get divorced, and you can find someone else.” He Fen looked utterly dejected.

“What nonsense are you talking about!” Although Li Jun didn’t approve of what she had done, she was still his wife—how could he just stand by and do nothing? “Things have already come to this, so stop talking nonsense. At the end of the day, Lin Xiang is just some minor relative of the He family. The higher-ups won’t make a big deal out of this for the sake of some insignificant girl. You’re still a regiment commander’s wife. Your husband still has some influence!”

He Fen’s face brightened as she saw her husband’s rare smile. “Really? That’s what I was thinking too! We’re husband and wife—who does Lin Xiang think she is? If she really dares to make a big fuss and cause a scandal, He Hongyuan might find it embarrassing and just send her back to her hometown.”

Li Jun nodded. “He Hongyuan isn’t the type to meddle in everything. He’s probably fed up with relatives foisted upon him from his hometown. The only reason he tolerates Zhou Yuezhu is because of his special relationship with the Zhou family. Don’t worry—I’ll go talk to the commander about this.”

Both He Hongyuan and Li Jun served in the Second Brigade, with He Hongyuan commanding the Fifth Regiment while Li Jun commanded the First Regiment. Li Jun had seniority, being eight years older, and often took a mentor-like stance toward younger officers.

The director of the factory office, Director Tian, was married to Captain Yang of the Second Brigade, making it safest to speak with him about the matter.

---

The next day, Director Tian called He Fen in for another conversation. To her surprise, this time He Fen admitted to everything without resistance, claiming it had been an unintentional mistake. This infuriated Director Tian.

It was embarrassing for her as a leader to have such a mess happen under her watch.

There was only one day left before the final three-day period for confirming recruitment results ended. She sternly reprimanded He Fen, then went home to deliberate on the best way to handle the situation.

He Fen would undoubtedly face some form of punishment, whether it was an internal reprimand or a written self-criticism. But how could she also give Lin Xiang a fair resolution?

Just as she was pondering this, her husband, Captain Yang, returned home.

Usually, the couple avoided discussing work matters at home, but today, Captain Yang unexpectedly brought up the issue of He Fen and Lin Xiang.

“How did you find out?” Director Tian immediately thought of something. “Could it be that Li Jun came to plead with you?”

“I shouldn’t be interfering in your factory office matters in the first place,” Yang Lu said as he took off his military jacket and hung it on the drying rack, speaking in a deep voice. “But that kid Li Jun came directly to me. He said his wife has been overwhelmed dealing with the trouble her younger sister caused. In her distraction, she mistakenly altered the application form of some distant relative of He Hongyuan. Because of this, she hasn’t been able to sleep well for days.”

Director Tian knew full well—who would believe it was just an accident? Changing an application form wasn’t something that happened by mistake. But she played along. “A reprimand and some education are necessary, and Lin Xiang’s situation also needs to be addressed. But why is Li Jun coming to you about this?”

She had always disliked anyone interfering in her work, even her own husband.

“He Fen is even threatening to divorce Li Jun, saying she’s worried about the negative impact on him and that she doesn’t want to bring him shame if this gets out,” Yang Lu said, clearly frustrated with the situation. Normally, dealing with military personnel and their families’ ideological issues was the commissar’s responsibility. But ensuring military family stability was also important. “Li Jun has followed me for years. He’s been through multiple battles, nearly losing his life more than once. This is the first time he’s ever asked me for anything. This matter isn’t exactly a huge deal, but it’s not trivial either. If it really affects the stability and unity of a military family, wouldn’t that be a loss for all of us?”

Director Tian understood the underlying message and got straight to the point. “So what do you want to do?”

“Let’s just make a big issue into a small one and then make it disappear altogether,” Yang Lu, being someone who knew how to weigh pros and cons, had already made up his mind. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have reached the rank of brigade commander. “On one side, we have the wife of a regiment commander. On the other, just a distant relative of another regiment commander. We have to know which carries more weight. We can’t alienate the military wives who are actually supporting the army’s logistical work. Besides, what’s wrong with working at the Factory No.2? There are already all kinds of rumors going around among the military families, and jobs are hard to come by. Many people would love to have a position in the Factory No.2. It’s not like we’re treating Lin Xiang unfairly. If necessary, you can arrange for her to receive a little extra in her salary as compensation.”

With that, Captain Yang had essentially decided how this matter would be handled, leaving Director Tian with little room to argue.

Rationally speaking, it made sense, but…

Sigh. She had no choice but to let it go. A firm but gentle approach—this, too, was a way to manage people.

—

Lin Xiang met Director Tian and He Fen again at the Zhou family home. The two of them concluded that the issue was simply an oversight by the staff collecting application forms, leading to an accidental alteration.

It was a flimsy excuse, but since the leadership had spoken, no one dared to challenge it.

Having spent years in the workforce in her previous life, Lin Xiang had encountered plenty of situations like this—where leaders manipulated the truth, favored their own people, and left ordinary employees with no choice but to endure.

She just hadn’t expected to run into such an incident before even officially starting her job in this era.

She could already predict the outcome—He Fen was, after all, the wife of a regiment commander, while she herself was… just an ordinary citizen with no strong backing.

“Comrade Lin Xiang, I understand this situation might be difficult for you to accept,” Director Tian took her hand and said warmly. “But no one did this intentionally. After all, with so many applicants, our factory office staff worked hard to manage everything, and occasional errors are unavoidable. I hope you can understand the challenges the organization faces. Besides, all the positions have already been finalized, and making adjustments now would only create more controversy among the military families. The Factory No.2 is not as bad as the rumors suggest. It is currently developing and needs capable, educated young people like you to contribute to its growth! This is also a sign of the organization’s trust in you! Rest assured, we will provide you with an additional monthly stipend so that you won’t be at a loss.”

Director Tian had held the position of factory office director for many years, and her skill in handling people was impressive. She not only framed the issue as an unavoidable mistake but also subtly pressured Lin Xiang to accept the decision by emphasizing the organization’s struggles. Then, she flattered Lin Xiang, making it sound like working at the Factory No.2 was a privilege, before finally offering a small financial incentive.

Her words were polished and well-crafted.

Lin Xiang couldn’t help but admire her skill.

But before she could respond, the young and outspoken Zhou Yuezhu immediately spoke up. “Auntie Tian, how can a mistake just so happen to change a ‘1’ into a ‘2’? This was obviously done on purpose!”

Adults often tried to save face, and Director Tian hadn’t expected the Zhou family’s daughter to suddenly jump in and voice her objections. This little girl was too naive, speaking her mind without considering the consequences.

Her expression stiffened, and just as she was about to say something, He Fen spoke up.

“Comrade Xiao Zhou, I swear I didn’t do it on purpose. I have no personal grudge against Lin Xiang—why would I try to harm her?”

“That’s because—”

—“Yuezhu!” Lin Xiang quickly interrupted her.

—“Yuezhu, the adults are talking. Don’t interrupt. Go outside and take a walk.” Feng Li also stopped her daughter.

He Fen’s confidence came from knowing that Lin Xiang wouldn’t dare expose the real reason behind all of this. If the truth came out—that Zhou Yuezhu had been drugged and left alone in a room with a similarly drugged young man—the gossip would spread like wildfire. No matter how innocent the situation actually was, the rumors would take on a life of their own, damaging Zhou Yuezhu’s reputation.

People’s imagination was wild and often cruel.

That was why both Lin Xiang and Feng Li stopped Zhou Yuezhu from saying anything more.

Zhou Yuezhu, feeling frustrated and angry, saw that there was no way to argue further. If things went on like this, it really would end with Lin Xiang having to suffer in silence.

Enraged, she turned and ran straight outside.

Feng Li glanced at her daughter’s retreating figure and turned to Director Tian. “Kids don’t always think before they speak.”

Director Tian smiled. “Yuezhu is straightforward; she says whatever’s on her mind. It’s refreshing.”

Feng Li, a seasoned conversationalist, countered, “Young people may be straightforward, but that also makes them vulnerable to being taken advantage of. Xiao Lin came from another city; she doesn’t know anyone here and is even more likely to be bullied.”

Hearing this, both Director Tian and He Fen’s smiles faded.

Lin Xiang was a pragmatic person. In her previous life, she had been quick to assess situations at work. Now that things had reached this point, she intended to leverage the mistake made against her to gain something in return.

“Director Tian, I heard that newly recruited workers are only hired as temporary employees. Even though they don’t easily lose their jobs, they have to go through multiple evaluations to become permanent staff. And the number of permanent positions is limited, with most allocated to Factory No.1. Factory No.2 hardly gets any. If I go to Factory No.2, then…”

Director Tian hadn’t expected this young woman to be so sharp. The additional stipend offered hadn’t satisfied her—she was aiming for a permanent position.

Becoming a permanent worker was indeed difficult. Positions were scarce, and every year people fought fiercely for them. Factory No.2, in particular, rarely had any openings.

Lin Xiang, who appeared soft and delicate, had pinpointed the real issue immediately.

Still, this whole incident had been mishandled by the factory administration. By Director Tian’s usual standards, she would have corrected the injustice and given Lin Xiang a fair chance.

However, Old Yang had already intervened on Li Jun’s behalf, emphasizing the soldier’s past sacrifices. With that pressure, she had no choice but to let this slide.

Wanting to make amends, and also irritated that He Fen had involved her husband in this mess, Director Tian made a decisive offer. “Alright, let’s settle it this way. I’ll give you a permanent position. You scored the highest in both rounds of the recruitment exam. The organization assigned you to Factory No.2 because they saw your potential. Granting you a permanent position isn’t unreasonable.”

“Director Tian!”

He Fen, who had been watching smugly, assuming Lin Xiang had no choice but to swallow this injustice, was caught off guard. So what if she had sabotaged Lin Xiang? The organization wouldn’t side against a regiment commander’s wife over a distant relative of another officer.

Favoritism was inevitable—some people simply had higher priority.

But a permanent position for Lin Xiang?

That was unacceptable.

Permanent employment was highly coveted. Many people pulled strings and gave bribes just to get one. Moving from a temporary to a permanent position required years of assessments. Once secured, the salary, bonuses, and benefits all doubled.

If Lin Xiang got a permanent job just like that, what was the point of all He Fen’s efforts to push her into Factory No.2?

“Director Tian, how can you just give Lin Xiang a permanent position? That’s… that’s against the rules!” He Fen’s frustration and discontent were written all over her face.

Lin Xiang didn’t know all the behind-the-scenes maneuvering, but she had been in enough negotiations to read the room.

She quickly picked up on the unspoken tensions between Director Tian and He Fen.

“He Fen, from the way you’re talking, one would think you were the factory director,” Lin Xiang remarked casually.

“You’re talking nonsense!” He Fen snapped.

Director Tian had already been annoyed. Now, with Lin Xiang’s pointed remark, her irritation flared up even more. She knew the girl had said it on purpose, but the words hit a nerve—no one liked having their authority undermined.

How frustrating!

“He Fen, are you saying that falsifying someone’s application was within the rules?” Director Tian’s response was sharp and decisive.

The situation had taken many turns, but in the end, He Fen was left speechless.

As she followed Director Tian out, she couldn’t even tell if she had harmed Lin Xiang or helped her.

Originally, a new recruit had to work as a temporary employee for at least three to five years—longer if they wanted a chance to transition into a permanent role. But now, somehow, Lin Xiang had been directly granted permanent employment!

Her head ached. Her chest ached.

——

Lin Xiang was satisfied with the outcome. She had no power or influence here—how much trouble could she really stir up?

But now, thanks to this incident, she had secured a permanent position. That alone was a win.

She wasn’t the type to dwell on negativity. Factory No.2 wasn’t exactly a nightmare, was it? In the past two days, she had quietly asked around. It seemed like the place was full of people just coasting along, doing the bare minimum. It actually sounded kind of relaxing.

Regardless, locking down a stable job was never a bad thing!

Feng Li still felt guilty and had wanted to argue further on Lin Xiang’s behalf, but after exchanging a look with her, she decided to drop it.

Instead, Lin Xiang reassured her, “Auntie Feng, you and Yuezhu have already helped me a lot. Director Tian even did you a favor. I already got a permanent position—that’s more than enough. If you keep pushing, you might strain your relationship with her, and that wouldn’t be good.”

Besides, despite appearances, Director Tian was already irritated with He Fen.

Lin Xiang didn’t think He Fen had won anything in the end.

“You’re surprisingly level-headed,” Feng Li remarked. Today, she had truly come to appreciate Lin Xiang’s intelligence—her courage to negotiate, her ability to push just enough without overstepping, and her knack for turning the situation in her favor. “If Yuezhu had even half your ability, I’d be overjoyed.”

“Yuezhu is just straightforward and kind-hearted. That’s a good thing too.” Different circumstances shaped different personalities. Lin Xiang had always relied on herself, finding ways to navigate every challenge.

“Speaking of which, where did she run off to?”

Both of them turned to look outside.

Zhou Yuezhu stormed out of the house in frustration. The more she thought about Director Tian and He Fen’s words, the angrier she became. Unable to shake off the resentment in her heart, she resorted to her favorite tactic—complaining.

“Brother!” She knocked urgently on He Hongyuan’s office door, her voice filled with urgency. “Someone is bullying Sister Xiangxiang! It’s outrageous!”