Chapter 10: The Discarded Letter

Lin Yingxian was quiet for a moment, then said, “A lot of people work hard. I can’t assume I deserve to be selected just because I’ve put in effort and dedication. The director must’ve made a decision after thorough consideration. If I wasn’t chosen, then I must have fallen short in some way. So I don’t feel frustrated or think it’s unfair.”

She believed that competition was a matter of skill and strength, and the one who came out on top must have what it takes to defeat the rest—whatever form that strength may take. The battle wasn’t over yet; it was still anyone’s game.

Secretary Li had a very good impression of Lin Yingxian. She was humble but not servile, spoke logically and clearly, and came across as honest and dependable. He began to harbor greater doubts about the list of candidates submitted by the tablet workshop director.

After a while, the director returned and saw Secretary Li.

The director spoke to him with great enthusiasm, while Lin Yingxian played the part of a smiling, nodding robot, remaining silent throughout.

Once Secretary Li left, the director turned to Lin Yingxian and said, “Comrade Lin, you’ve been performing well lately. I’ve taken note of it. Keep working hard. I won’t treat you unfairly.”

He acted like he valued her deeply.

Lin Yingxian showed a touched and encouraged expression. “Director, I won’t let you down.”

The director nodded with satisfaction. Young workers without connections were the easiest to manipulate. Then he turned and walked back into the workshop.

Lin Yingxian’s expression returned to its natural calm.

In the labor union chairman’s office, Secretary Li reported to Zhao Yijun what he had found during his visit to the tablet workshop.

After some thought, Zhao Yijun said, “Looks like Lin Yingxian really did write the article. She’s a responsible and selfless worker. It’s impressive that someone with less than two years’ experience can produce such a piece. We mustn’t let such a fine comrade go unrecognized. Go find the people in the inspection team. Tell them to investigate everyone on the list submitted by the tablet workshop—including the director. If there are issues, we absolutely cannot allow corruption to spread internally.”

A few days later, Lin Yingxian saw the workshop director being taken away by the inspection team. The women in the packaging section were buzzing with gossip, and Sister Peng’s face drained of color. She turned as quiet as Lin Yingxian.

Zhong Hong gloated. “A few days ago, the inspection team raided the director’s house and found loads of evidence of bribery. His wife was so scared she exposed everything on the spot—laid it all out. When the director got back, he beat her half to death. She packed up and went back to her parents’. With how things are now, they’re definitely getting divorced.”

One woman said, “You think the director’s going to start naming names? Drag people down with him?”

Another chimed in, “Good thing I’m broke. I’ve never had anything to bribe anyone with. Those who did must be worried sick now, scared the inspection team’s coming for them.”

Zhong Hong’s smile vanished. She suddenly became restless. The director hadn’t helped her with anything—hopefully she’d be fine. She consoled herself silently.

That evening, Lin Yingxian came home and saw her mother lighting the stove to cook instead of using the communal kitchen.

Smelling meat, she asked, “Mom, are we having meat today?”

“Soybean beef bone soup. Old Lu’s slaughterhouse processed a cow today. His wife invited me to go with her to buy meat. When we got there, only beef bones were left. We went early and managed to pick some with meat still on them.”

Old Lu was her father’s hometown friend. Whenever the textile factory had flawed fabric, her mother would tell Old Lu’s wife so she could buy it at a low price. Their families had grown close, always sharing good deals.

Lin Yingxian sat by the fire watching the flames. She took a letter from her shoulder bag and tossed it into the stove.

Her mother asked, “Why are you burning that letter?”

“Just a draft I messed up. No use keeping it.”

The letter and its envelope were reduced to ashes in the flames.

It was a report letter Lin Yingxian had written. To avoid her handwriting being recognized, she had practiced writing with her left hand to regain her old touch. In her original world, she was ambidextrous—naturally left-handed as a child, but forced to switch by adults who thought it was abnormal. She’d trained hard to make her right hand dominant.

When she submitted her article, she chose Workers’ Daily and Labor Daily—large circulation papers aimed at workers, more likely to be interested in her piece. Workers’ Daily was also a paper often read by the factory leadership.

She’d gathered details on the pharma factory’s key leaders from Jiang Lixia and from overhearing idle gossip, gaining a general understanding of their personalities and styles.

If Zhao Yijun or the factory director noticed her article first and took action, she’d lie low and not connect herself to it. Both were upright, fair, and disciplined men—former soldiers recently transferred in. Without deep roots in the factory, they still needed to establish their authority. She was handing them the knife to help them do that. The construction of new staff dormitories was their first big project at the factory.

If other veteran leaders—more entrenched in political games—noticed her article first and linked it to her workshop, she’d anonymously mail her report letter to the inspection office and let them expose the corruption, disrupting any attempts to cover it up.

Now that the director had fallen, her lost labor model nomination would naturally come back to her…

At dinner, her mother opened the soup pot. A rich, savory aroma filled the room, whetting everyone’s appetite.

Lin Yingwan and Zhou Donghong couldn’t help drooling. Lin Yingwan was known for her love of food, and Zhou Donghong, pregnant, had an increased appetite. Their obsession with candied kumquats the other day hadn’t been a surprise.

After that embarrassing incident, the two behaved much better, sitting properly and waiting for their soup.

The soybean beef bone soup was rich and flavorful. The meat on the bones was tender and soft, but the taste was fresh, not greasy.

Lin Yingxian thought it was delicious. Her crescent-shaped eyes curved even more into a smile.

Seeing her daughter enjoy it, her mother poured the rest of the soup into her bowl. “You’ve been working hard and look like you’ve lost weight. Drink more—this’ll help.”

Lin Yingxian accepted the bowl with both hands. “Thanks, Mom.”

Lin Yingwan and Zhou Donghong, who had been eyeing that last bit of soup, had no choice but to give up.