Director Li’s face was flushed, sweat pouring down as he pleaded, “Comrade Jiang Manyue, please calm down—don’t jump.”

“As long as you come down, we can talk about your job!”

The standoff continued, but Jiang Manyue remained firm, refusing to back down.

The hospital, worried that things might escalate, called the police. Soon, two uniformed officers arrived at the scene.

Jiang Manyue was still perched on the windowsill, and the others, sweating profusely, didn’t dare approach her.

They were experienced in dealing with suicide attempts and knew better than to rush in.

“Comrade,” one officer said gently, keeping his distance, “if you’re facing any difficulties, we can help you resolve them.”

“But this is a dangerous height. If you fall, the consequences will be unimaginable.”

Jiang Manyue saw the police approaching and scooted even farther out the window. “Don’t come any closer.”

“I only want my job back. If I don’t get it, I’ll jump.”

Ma Xiangyang finally dropped the act. “Jiang Manyue, it’s just a job, isn’t it?”

“I’ll have Director Li withdraw your resignation right now. The job is still yours, okay?”

“There are so many people watching—stop throwing a tantrum and come down already!”

He couldn’t save face anymore and was worried that if she kept making a scene, he’d be utterly humiliated.

His so-called compromise was nothing more than a temporary tactic. Whether she kept the job or not was still up to them.

Bai Wanrou pursed her lips with obvious discontent. All that trouble, and now the job was going back to Jiang Manyue?

But Jiang Manyue saw through their little game. The textile factory’s quality inspector role was as good as lost.

Even if they promised to return it to her, they could easily find an excuse later to fire her again.

This was 1983. At most, she’d only be able to hold onto the job for another ten years before the wave of layoffs hit.

After all, Ma Xiangyang was later laid off too, and the entire textile factory eventually shut down.

Besides, her university admission letter would arrive in just half a month. She didn’t even need this job anymore.

In a sudden turn, Jiang Manyue declared, “Fine! I don’t want the job anymore.”

Everyone looked at each other, confused by her change of heart.

Bai Wanrou let out a barely noticeable sneer. It seemed Jiang Manyue had finally realized she couldn’t keep the position.

But then Jiang Manyue changed her tone.

“Since Bai Wanrou wants it so badly, I’ll sell her the job.”

“Three thousand yuan—not a cent less.”

“What?” Bai Wanrou had just started to feel smug, but the moment she heard the number, she froze.

“Three thousand yuan?” Her smile vanished as she exclaimed, “I don’t have that kind of money!”

Ma Xiangyang exploded. “Jiang Manyue, are you crazy? You want to sell the job for money?!”

“I’m telling you right now, you’re not getting a single cent. Asking your sister-in-law for three thousand yuan? Keep dreaming!”

The quality inspector job was leisurely and respectable. Plenty of people had their eyes on it. Three thousand yuan was the going rate.

But Bai Wanrou really didn’t have the money. She didn’t even have thirty yuan, let alone three thousand.

“No money and still want the job? Then I might as well die!” Jiang Manyue shifted her foot closer to the edge of the window.

She made a show of preparing to jump, sending the crowd below into a panic.

Downstairs, someone from the hospital rushed to spread mattresses on the ground as a safety precaution.

“Calm down!” the police officer snapped, turning on Ma Xiangyang angrily.

“What’s wrong with you people? If she really jumps, can you take responsibility?”

Exactly. If Jiang Manyue actually jumped, the fallout would be massive.

Ma Xiangyang had worked hard for years to become deputy secretary. He couldn’t let her destroy everything.

“Jiang Manyue, your sister-in-law doesn’t have the money. You’re making things difficult for her on purpose!”

Jiang Manyue scoffed coldly. “I’m making things difficult?”

“She wants my job, and I’m asking for payment—what’s wrong with that?”

“Or are you hoping for a free ride? If you’re going to mooch, at least don’t be so shameless about it!”

Her retort made Ma Xiangyang’s face turn bright red.

“Forget it, Xiangyang,” Bai Wanrou said softly, putting on her weak and gentle act. “This job isn’t worth it.”

“I don’t want to cause problems between you two. It’s already gotten to the point where she’s threatening suicide.”

“Sister-in-law, don’t say that. She’s the one being unreasonable!”

She pretended to decline, but in reality, she just didn’t want to pay. And of course, Ma Xiangyang fell for her manipulative act completely.

For the sake of his beloved woman, he gritted his teeth and softened his tone.

“Manyue, be good and come down. We can talk things through.”

“I don’t have the money right now, but your sister-in-law can borrow it. Will that work?”

A delay tactic, but that no longer worked on Jiang Manyue.

She turned to Director Li with cold eyes. “You might not have the money, but the textile factory does.”

Director Li immediately caught on and nodded quickly. “Yes, yes—we can help you get the money!”

“You, go! Find the factory director and bring back three thousand yuan!”

“Yes!” An employee immediately bolted out of the room.

Seeing someone actually run off to fetch the money, Ma Xiangyang’s face darkened. He tried to stop them, but it was too late.

The standoff dragged on for nearly half an hour. Despite repeated attempts to calm her down, Jiang Manyue stayed indifferent.

“Here they come!” someone shouted, just as the factory director rushed in, panting.

“We’ve got the money, Comrade Jiang!”

Even the factory director had been dragged into this mess, riding his bike over in a hurry.

“Here’s three thousand yuan. Please count it.”

The police officer also chimed in, “Comrade, they’ve brought the money you requested. Please come down now.”

See? Kindness only gets you trampled. Only madness brings justice.

Once she snapped, the world suddenly became a much fairer place.

Jiang Manyue pointed at Bai Wanrou. “You. Bring the money over.”

Bai Wanrou’s face darkened. Reluctantly, she walked over and handed her the money.

Jiang Manyue finally got the three thousand yuan. Sitting on the windowsill, she counted it note by note.

Right in front of the entire crowd, she officially sold the job.

Ma Xiangyang had lost all patience. His true colors finally showed. “Satisfied now, Jiang Manyue? Come down already!”

Thanks to her scene, he had completely lost face.

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief, thinking it was finally over.

But Jiang Manyue stuffed the money into her inner pocket and said, “No.”

“Officer, I want to report a theft.”

“What?” Everyone stared in shock. She changed her mind again?

Jiang Manyue locked eyes with Ma Xiangyang. “Three thousand yuan went missing from my house—it was my parents’ death compensation.”

“I noticed it was gone last night.”

“I suspect someone in my household stole it. I want the thief brought to justice.”

Theft? Ma Xiangyang’s face turned pale. “W-What are you talking about? What money?”

“The money in the metal box under my bed. Or are you saying you took it?”

His chest heaved with rage. “How could I possibly steal money?”

Bai Wanrou looked guilty. “Manyue, maybe you just didn’t check carefully. I’ll go back with you and help you look.”

But Jiang Manyue pointed straight at Bai Wanrou, Ma Xiangyang, and Liu Cuihua—who had just come running over, soaking wet and about to start a fight.

Before she could swing, Jiang Manyue pointed at her and declared,

“Officers, these two, along with that old woman are all suspects.”

“They live under the same roof as me, and that’s where the money disappeared.”

The officers frowned. First, they tried to scam her out of her job, and now they were suspected of theft?

Their attitude instantly changed.

“You three, come with us to the station for investigation.”

Three thousand yuan was more than enough to file a formal case. If proven guilty, they’d be spending at least three years behind bars.