“This matchmaking event was the largest one held in the Huyang District in the past two years. More than 100 unmarried male military officers participated, and more than 70 female textile factory workers also participated. The garment factory had relatively fewer people, but there were also 36, which was almost double the number of the matchmaking event with the hardware factory at the beginning of the year. 

In addition, compared to the matchmaking event with the hardware factory workers at the beginning of the year, the success rate of this matchmaking event was also higher. After the first Sunday after the matchmaking event, half of the female workers had found partners. 

For the union leaders, this result was not unexpected. In this era, the family background of those who could join the army was definitely not a problem, and there was no need to mention their ideological awareness, which was strictly controlled by the military. Moreover, those who participated in this blind date were at least squad leaders. 

Moreover, soldiers had to train every day, and their bodies looked stronger and more energetic than ordinary people. After all, they were going to spend their lives together, and who didn’t want to find someone who looked handsome? 

Among these female workers who found partners, the most eye-catching was Fang Yalan – her partner was a battalion commander! 

Although there were many officers among the soldiers who participated in the blind date this time, most of them were just platoon leaders, and those with higher ranks were only deputy company commanders. There were very few people at or above the deputy battalion level, and they could be counted on one hand. 

Although it was said that it was difficult for soldiers to find partners, that referred to conscripts. As long as those who could be promoted didn’t have too high standards, it wouldn’t be too difficult to find a partner. Moreover, the military promotion came one level at a time. Being promoted to deputy battalion at the age of 27 or 28 was considered very promising, but people at this time got married early, and most of those at the deputy battalion level had already had wives, children, and warm beds, so naturally they didn’t need to come to the blind date. 

It could be said that Fang Yalan’s partner was the highest-ranking officer who participated in this matchmaking event! 

Fang Yalan had already been at the center of public opinion recently, and when the news that she was dating a battalion commander spread, everyone discussed it even more enthusiastically. Some envied Fang Yalan’s good luck, some said sourly that Fang Yalan’s partner didn’t have good eyes, and some wanted to stir up trouble and watch a good show. 

As soon as Lin Jing sat down at her workstation, she heard Wang Xiaoli lower her voice and ask, “Have you heard?” 

“What?” Lin Jing asked in confusion. 

Wang Xiaoli pointed to Group Three in the back and said, “Fang Yalan’s partner is a battalion commander, do you know about this?” 

When Fang Yalan arrived at the workshop in the morning, she was eating a cream cake. In this era, cakes were good things, and they were basically sold out quickly as soon as they were made and put out, not to mention that they were also added with cream, which couldn’t be bought without some connections. Fang Yalan suddenly eating cream cake aroused the curiosity of others, so they inquired about it, and some wanted her to help buy some. 

Since her lies were exposed by Lin Jing last time, Fang Yalan’s life had not been easy during this period. When colleagues asked, she didn’t hide it, and explained the situation in a few words. 

It turned out that the cake was bought by her partner through someone. 

Fang Yalan was also someone who participated in the matchmaking event, and she had previously plotted against Lin Jing to miss the matchmaking event. Hearing her take the initiative to talk about her partner, everyone perked up and continued to ask. 

This question was amazing. Fang Yalan was actually dating a battalion commander! 

Battalion commander, his rank was similar to that of their factory director, and he was not even 30 years old. His rank might be promoted before he was transferred. Fang Yalan was going to make a fortune! 

In less than a morning, the news that Fang Yalan had dated a battalion commander spread throughout the garment factory. Although Lin Jing came late in the morning, everyone was in the same workshop, so they had heard about this. 

Lin Jing hummed and asked, “Then what?” 

Seeing her expression so calm, Wang Xiaoli thought she hadn’t understood, and couldn’t help but say, “Are you stupid! That’s a battalion commander! I was wondering before, so many people participated in the matchmaking event, why did Fang Yalan target you? She must have known long ago that there was a battalion commander participating in this matchmaking event, and she was afraid that you would steal her limelight, so she deliberately wet your clothes and made you miss the matchmaking event!” 

As Wang Xiaoli spoke, she looked Lin Jing up and down. It had to be said that although Lin Jing was a bit dull, she was really good-looking, with an oval face, willow eyebrows, and big, dark, bright eyes. Her skin was fair and smooth, and she was tempted even as a woman. It was no wonder that Fang Yalan had a sense of crisis. 

The more Wang Xiaoli looked, the more she couldn’t help but sympathize with Lin Jing, and said with pity, “If you could have participated in the matchmaking event, what would have been Fang Yalan’s business!” 

Wang Xiaoli’s words seemed to be speaking up for Lin Jing, but in reality, she was putting her on the fire. Once she didn’t respond properly, even if these words weren’t said by her, others would only think that she was feeling uneasy and thinking about Fang Yalan’s partner! 

In this era, it was not a good thing to be involved with a man who had a partner. Even if Lin Jing had no thoughts in her heart, once rumors spread and she was labeled as having a problem with her lifestyle, she would be sent down for reform if it was serious! 

Lin Jing’s expression became serious: “I think what you said is wrong.” 

“What?” Wang Xiaoli was stunned. 

“Marriage is about finding someone to spend a lifetime with. The selection criteria are not only limited to good looks and family background, but also have a lot to do with personality. Being suitable for this person doesn’t mean that it will be more suitable to change to someone with similar or even better conditions.” Lin Jing’s lips curled up, as if joking, “Or are you saying that for Sister Wang, as long as a person with better conditions appears, you can unhesitatingly abandon your current husband?” 

When Wang Xiaoli first spoke to Lin Jing, the people on both sides of the workstation hadn’t arrived yet, and she deliberately lowered her voice, so not many people heard their conversation.

But it was the peak period of work in the afternoon, and there were more people in the workshop as they spoke. Lin Jing also wanted to solve this matter once and for all, so that no one would come to her to stir up trouble later, so she opened her voice when she spoke. 

Although most people didn’t hear the whole process, the information revealed in Lin Jing’s words, combined with what happened today, was enough for everyone to understand the cause and effect, and they couldn’t help but laugh out loud. Some people also looked at Fang Yalan with flickering eyes. 

Wang Xiaoli’s face froze because of everyone’s laughter, and said, “I’m already married, how can it be the same as you?” 

“So, in Sister Wang’s heart, unmarried young people fall in love with one person after another, and can change partners at will, right?” Lin Jing said with a helpless expression, “Sister Wang, you have a big misunderstanding about us unmarried young people.” 

This was like poking a hornet’s nest, and for a time, everyone’s eyes were filled with accusations towards Wang Xiaoli. 

Although there were many old employees in the Second Workshop, most of these people had unmarried children. If Wang Xiaoli’s words that overturned a boatload of people spread, how would their children find partners? 

Wang Xiaoli wasn’t stupid, and she quickly understood Lin Jing’s meaning. She hated Lin Jing in her heart, feeling that Lin Jing was biting the hand that fed her, but she squeezed out a smile on her face and said, “Jingjing, you misunderstood, I didn’t mean that.” Saying this, she glanced at Fang Yalan, and said meaningfully, “I feel sorry for you!” 

Wang Xiaoli’s trick of diverting disaster to the east made Fang Yalan angry enough. Although she revealed Zhao Hongyi’s rank in front of everyone in the morning, she also meant to show off and make Lin Jing regret it, but she didn’t want to have a head-on conflict with Lin Jing for the time being.

Therefore, although she cursed Wang Xiaoli for being a troublemaker in her heart, she remained calm on the surface, pretending that she didn’t understand Wang Xiaoli’s meaning. 

Lin Jing also felt that Wang Xiaoli was a troublemaker. She had to get involved in everything, and when others got involved, they would help to comfort people, but she didn’t. She would use a set of combination punches to fan the flames and provoke discord. Even a small matter could be stirred up by her to end in a quarrel. Over time, Wang Xiaoli’s popularity in the factory was not very good. 

Perhaps Wang Xiaoli herself also had a feeling that although she couldn’t change her bad habit of loving to stir up trouble, she had restrained herself a lot this year compared to the past. In addition, Lin Jing didn’t like to cause trouble, and she was also concerned that the two of them were facing each other, and they would see each other every day, so she had always been able to endure it, so the two had been getting along well this year, and they hadn’t had any conflicts. 

Perhaps it was because of this that Wang Xiaoli felt that Lin Jing was weak and easy to bully and had no opinion, and she didn’t hide her malice at all when provoking discord in front of Lin Jing. 

But in fact, being able to endure didn’t mean that Lin Jing was really cowardly, just because she hadn’t been stepped on the bottom line.

But now, Lin Jing was unwilling to endure it any longer and directly said, “It should be me who feels sorry for you. Comrade Xiang’s younger brother is taller than him, has a higher education than him, and has a better job than him. More importantly, they are not two years apart…” Saying this, Lin Jing looked Wang Xiaoli up and down and said in the same pitying tone, “It’s a pity, you’re already married.” 

The relationship between a sister-in-law and her husband’s younger brother had always been sensitive, and Lin Jing’s words were much more serious than what Wang Xiaoli said. But Wang Xiaoli’s popularity was already bad, and her words just now had offended many people, so no one felt that Lin Jing’s words were excessive, and they all laughed. 

Wang Xiaoli was angry enough, sneered and said, “I said these words to you out of good intentions, you don’t appreciate it, so why bother to provoke discord in front of me. You’re so sharp-tongued at such a young age, I really don’t know who taught you.” 

This was Wang Xiaoli’s usual trick. Every time someone she stirred up came back to their senses, she would turn around and say that others didn’t know good people and turn herself into an enthusiastic person. If she met someone with a thin skin, she would also attack the other person and make them cry. 

Lin Jing didn’t cry, she just smiled and said, “I have to thank Sister Wang for her good guidance.” 

“Pfft–” 

This time everyone couldn’t help it and burst out laughing, and some people joked, “Yeah, sitting opposite Xiao Wang, even the most dull person becomes eloquent!” 

“Xiao Wang, you’re embarrassed to say others, if you’re talking about being sharp-tongued, if you call yourself second, who in our garment factory dares to recognize first?” 

Listening to everyone’s discussions, Wang Xiaoli trembled with anger. If it weren’t for the factory’s strict prohibition of fighting, she would have liked to pounce on her and fight with Lin Jing. But now, she could only restrain her emotions and point at Lin Jing and say, “You, you…” 

“Yo, what are you all talking about, why are you all gathered here?” The suddenly appearing union cadre Wang Aifang interrupted Wang Xiaoli’s words. Seeing her pointing at Lin Jing with an unkind expression, Wang Aifang asked, “What’s wrong? Are you arguing?” 

Although the union didn’t manage discipline, it was also a leader for the people in the workshop. Wang Xiaoli didn’t want to make things bigger, so she could only swallow the words that came to her mouth and squeezed out a stiff smile and said, “Cadre Wang, you misunderstood, I’m talking to Xiao Lin, we’re not arguing.” As she spoke, she winked at Lin Jing. 

Lin Jing didn’t want to make things bigger either, nodded and said, “Yeah, we’re not arguing.” 

“It’s good if you’re not arguing. Everyone is a colleague, it’s so good to be harmonious.” Wang Aifang walked to Lin Jing’s side and asked with a smile, “Comrade Xiao Lin, are you free now? I have something I want to talk to you about.” 

Although the union was for the welfare of the workers, Lin Jing was an apprentice and didn’t like to stand out. Except for the last matchmaking event, she hadn’t really had any dealings with Wang Aifang. She hesitated and looked at Chen Xiulan, who had just sat down at her workstation. 

Although Chen Xiulan didn’t know what was going on, she saw the smile on Wang Aifang’s face and guessed that it shouldn’t be anything bad, so she nodded and said, “Go ahead.” 

The leader had approved it, so Lin Jing naturally wouldn’t refuse, got up and followed Wang Aifang out of the workshop. 

After Lin Jing and the others left, Chen Xiulan’s face wasn’t very good when she looked at Wang Xiaoli. Although she had just arrived at the workshop and didn’t know the situation, Wang Xiaoli was assigned to Group Two as soon as she entered the garment factory. How could she not understand Wang Xiaoli’s nature? 

This was a troublemaker who could never see anyone doing well. If it weren’t for the fact that someone would come to Chen Xiulan every time she caused trouble and ask her to restrain her, she wouldn’t have moved her workstation next to her in order to keep an eye on Wang Xiaoli and let her be quiet during work hours. 

Not to mention that the one who had a dispute with Wang Xiaoli was Lin Jing, who had always been well-behaved. Chen Xiulan didn’t need to think to know who started the matter. She glanced at Wang Xiaoli, who was still staring at Lin Jing’s back, and said, “What are you looking at? Don’t you know to start working?” 

Wang Xiaoli felt even more annoyed after being scolded. She knew that Chen Xiulan was biased, but it was too much for her to scold herself without asking a question! But she picked the soft persimmon to pinch. Wang Xiaoli didn’t dare to offend Chen Xiulan, so she had to hatefully withdraw her gaze, thinking that she would see her in the future! 

Fang Yalan was also annoyed. Although Lin Jing said those words to clear her relationship with Zhao Hongyi and was targeting Wang Xiaoli, the mocking meaning in Lin Jing’s words was full of meaning when she thought of her previous actions, and the meaningful gazes that others swept over from time to time confirmed this. 

But they didn’t know that although Fang Yalan participated in this matchmaking event in the original book, Zhao Hongyi only had Lin Jing in his eyes and didn’t pay attention to her from beginning to end. 

So, Lin Jing was wrong, and Wang Xiaoli’s provocation was right! 

But Fang Yalan, who knew the plot of the original book, wouldn’t tell them the truth. She just pursed her lips and told herself again in her heart – 

One day, she would step Lin Jing under her feet and let these people who once looked down on her know how stupid they were.”