In the afternoon, they made dumplings with fillings of chives and eggs, as well as cabbage, tofu, and dried shrimp.

They cooked the dumplings, and Old Lady Jiang personally went to deliver them to her son.

“If you had a wife, you could eat dumplings every day.”

Jiang Weidong replied, “Neither my father nor my younger brother eat dumplings every day.”

Grandma Jiang was so angry that she almost wanted to take the dumplings back. “Forget it, then!”

Jiang Weidong quickly raised the bowl of dumplings and said, “You’re right, very right.”

At noon, when Lin Xia came back from work, Old Lady Jiang asked her to deliver another bowl of dumplings to the secretary’s house.

After all, they had made plenty.

A few leaders were eating dumplings in the secretary’s office.

The factory office director said, “Hmm, the chive and egg dumplings are very fresh. Even though they’re all chive and egg, why do they taste especially good? The cabbage filling doesn’t have pork; what a pity. Weidong, why don’t you go to the kitchen and get some pork for your aunt?”

Factory Director Hu said, “Even without meat, it tastes great. There are dried shrimp and scallion oil inside, very fresh.”

The factory office director found them incredibly sweet and delicious.

It was odd; he always thought that the cabbage dumplings made by his wife had a somewhat unpleasant taste, and the ones made in the kitchen were just average.

But this time, they were very tasty.

Lin Shu had already delivered Sichuan-style pickles to him separately, and he hadn’t dared to bring them out, fearing that others might take them.

The factory office director began talking about Qian Lisheng’s situation.

Given that “one’s mouth is short after eating,” he naturally had to help Lin Shu fulfill her wishes.

Besides, female electricians like Lin Xia were rare, while skilled workers like Qian Lisheng were not in short supply.

Factory Director Hu was enjoying his meal when he heard Qian Lisheng’s name and frowned, as if he had lost his appetite.

He said irritably, “Send him to the Huang County branch.”

The secretary didn’t comment on matters related to production.

Jiang Weidong also agreed.

The group quickly decided Qian Lisheng’s fate.

The factory office director and Fu Guihua invited Qian Lisheng and his mother to the office for a talk.

Qian Lisheng had been very dispirited these days and was not taking his work seriously.

The leaders were quite dissatisfied with him.

Compared to Lin Master’s performance, Qian Lisheng’s was too poor.

Qian Lisheng’s mother had returned to work at the factory, but it was tough for her.

At her age, having not worked for several years, she was struggling with the sudden return to work.

Fortunately, the factory didn’t assign her heavy tasks, just sorting parts in the warehouse, which was manageable.

However, she was still very dissatisfied, as her current salary was only 25 yuan, less than the previous 28 yuan, not to mention Lin Xia’s 42 yuan.

And she was getting older… Also, the younger daughter-in-law is pregnant and wants her to come and take care of her.

The old man’s legs aren’t in good shape.

Since he passed his work to the younger son, he spends his days fishing and listening to the radio and is not at all available to help care for the younger daughter-in-law.

The whole family is waiting for Qian’s mother to take care of things.

She doesn’t have time to take care of things with her job.

If she doesn’t go, the younger daughter-in-law is unhappy, the younger son is displeased, and the old man has objections.

The whole family complains about her.

She feels so aggrieved and inevitably has to complain a bit more about Qian Lisheng.

“Forget it. Let’s not bicker with a country bumpkin. As long as she comes back, I don’t want the money. The job will still be hers.”

“As long as she lives well with you, Mom will be more lenient with her in the future. Even… whether she has children or not, it’s up to her.”

Both mother and son thought that as long as the man didn’t back down, Lin Xia wouldn’t be able to get divorced.

The women’s director might help mediate.

When they arrived at the office, Qian’s mother was still acting high and mighty, shouting, “How’s the mediation going? Is she willing to apologize now? As long as she changes her ways, our Qian family will still be generous and won’t hold it against her.”

Fu Guihua retorted harshly, “The divorce certificate has already been processed. What are you talking about being generous for?”

Qian’s mother was taken aback and immediately became agitated, “What divorce certificate? My son didn’t agree!”

Qian Lisheng was both angry and anxious, “How can you divorce us without my consent?”

The factory office director slammed the table angrily, “What are you making a fuss about? Is this the place for you to shout? You still have the nerve to complain about the mess you’ve made?”

He slapped two test results on the table, sneering, “If you don’t have the brains, don’t dabble in shady practices. Let me tell you, these are test results from the hospital arranged by the factory leaders.”

Qian Lisheng’s face turned pale.

When Old Lady Jiang exposed him publicly, he had retreated to make himself appear as if he loved Lin Xia deeply.

He pretended to be disheartened and tried to tarnish his own image to avoid conflict.

He thought that since Old Lady Jiang hadn’t produced evidence, Jiang Weidong wouldn’t dare escalate the conflict, and perhaps Doctor Sui was intimidated and wouldn’t reveal his secrets.

He planned to quickly reconcile with Lin Xia, believing that as long as the couple was back together, everything else could be resolved.

Little did he know that Lin Xia was determined not to reconcile and was humiliating him with her sister.

Now they were going to the hospital to get test results—Lin Xia, Lin Shu, Jiang Weidong, and Doctor Sui were really pushing it too far!

How dare the doctor reveal his secrets so casually?

He wouldn’t let this go.

“That shameless doctor!”

He glared angrily, gritting his teeth. “What’s this about? Are they trying to drive someone to death? Is this how doctors at the hospital behave?”

The factory office director said calmly, “The factory’s Revolutionary Committee has the authority to investigate employees.”

It might not be illegal to falsify test results, but if it affects factory production and the factory’s assessment of your character, it’s a problem.

How can we know if you’re fit to be a team leader or promoted to deputy director without a background check?

Of course, the Revolutionary Committee has the right to investigate your issues.

Qian’s mother was immediately enraged, shouting, “Lisheng’s condition has been cured. Why are you still using this as an excuse?”

The day before, she had been shaking with anger after being scolded by Lin Shu.

She went home and complained to Qian Lisheng, asking him what was going on with the test results.

Qian Lisheng casually mentioned that he had a minor issue that was cured in Qizhou, and didn’t need surgery, unlike Lin Xia.

Despite Lin Xia having surgery with proof, she didn’t believe it was truly cured, and she believed her son’s casual lie without question.

The factory office director said, “Qian Lisheng, whether you’re trying to deceive someone or not, it doesn’t matter to me. But falsifying test results is a fact, and it’s a blemish on your character. Comrade Lin Xia didn’t take this opportunity to request a punishment; she just hopes that you won’t harass her again, and especially not distort the facts about the divorce or spread rumors. Otherwise, she will clarify the matter in the newspaper, request police intervention, and the factory leaders will also take disciplinary action against you!”

Qian’s mother felt as if she had been struck on the head with a heavy blow. “Why can’t people speak? Our Lisheng is cured, and you’re still bringing up old test results to create trouble? We might even sue them for slander!”

The factory office director said, “Qian Lisheng, based on the factory’s production arrangement, you are to go to the Huang County branch and bring an apprentice. You will depart next Monday.”

Qian Lisheng suddenly looked up. “Is this a punishment from the factory for Lin Xia?”

The factory office director said sternly, “This is a personnel transfer. You need to comply with the arrangement!”

Qian’s mother continued to argue about the slander issue with her son.

Fu Guihua could no longer hold back. “Why don’t you dare to let Qian Lisheng go to the hospital for another test?”

Qian Lisheng was, of course, afraid and quickly asked his mother to stop making a scene.

Only then did Qian’s mother realize that her son really couldn’t have children?

And that he had been lying and deceiving her?

Why would he lie to her, his own mother?

If he couldn’t have children, wouldn’t she have helped him figure out a solution?

Remembering how she had publicly accused Lin Xia of bribing doctors and falsifying results, she felt her face turn red and hot with shame.

She wasn’t inherently shameless; feeling guilty, she naturally felt ashamed.

It was embarrassing, and he couldn’t say anything more.

He quickly took the divorce certificate and left.

Seeing that the evidence was taken back by Lin Shu and she even complained to the factory leaders, Qian Lisheng felt utterly humiliated.

The thought of his reputation being tarnished and the prospect of people at the factory gossiping about him—whether men or women, pointing fingers and discussing his inability to have children, his deceit, his impotence, and calling him a useless man—made him feel as though his heart had plunged into an ice-cold abyss.

He was almost unable to move, feeling as if stepping out of the office would expose him to scorn and ridicule.

He feared that even three-year-olds would laugh at him: “Qian Lisheng, the man who can’t have children, no, no, Qian Lisheng, the impotent one!”

He couldn’t lift his head or move his feet, feeling as if he was being driven to the brink of despair.

“Director, I… I’ll go.”

He had previously resisted when the factory leaders suggested transferring him to a branch factory, but now he had no choice but to go.

He hoped to move to a new place where nobody knew him, didn’t understand his past, or see his scars.

Once Qian Lisheng was transferred to the branch factory, the pressure on Lin Xia was greatly reduced, and she felt much better.

Since the factory office director and Director Jiang had made it clear that no one—whether men, women, employees, or family members—was allowed to discuss the divorce, Lin Xia went to work happily, even when encountering Qian’s mother, who merely shot her a resentful look before turning away.

Seeing that her sister’s work wasn’t affected and her life had become easier, and with the factory leaders and Old Lady Jiang protecting her, Lin Shu felt completely reassured.

She knew Old Lady Jiang felt lonely on her own, so she thoughtfully played the role of her daughter for a few days.

She taught Old Lady Jiang and the cafeteria chef how to make Sichuan-style pickles, Korean spicy cabbage, and Northeast-style sauerkraut.

The cafeteria chef mentioned that these were secret recipes usually not shared with others, and as a gesture of thanks, he gave Lin Shu a cookbook he had compiled, which included recipes and ingredients for several secret medicinal dishes, main courses, pastries, and marinated meats.

Lin Shu didn’t refuse, thanked him, and happily accepted the book.

Feeling that it was about time, she said goodbye to Old Lady Jiang and her sister before dinner.

Her sister, knowing she had children at home, naturally didn’t insist on keeping her, but Old Lady Jiang was even more reluctant to part with her, holding her hand and shedding tears.

“Good girl, don’t make fun of the old lady. You need to go home early; there are still children at home.

“I just envy you.”

Lin Shu told Lin Xia, “Sister, you should come and visit the old lady every day.”

Lin Xia naturally agreed, and her relationship with Old Lady Jiang had also rapidly improved over these days.

In the evening, the factory office received a call from Yao Naiwen.

He was going to the commune the next day and asked if Lin Shu and her sister-in-law had left. If not, he would take them along.

This was just perfect.

Knowing that Lin Shu and her sister-in-law were about to leave, the factory office director decided to send them some New Year’s gifts on behalf of the factory.

After all, Lin Shu’s pickles had enriched the workers’ meals, so they no longer had to eat plain salted vegetables and potatoes every day.

It was a nice change of flavor and an encouragement for the workers.

Meat and white flour were the best gifts at that time.

The factory office director sent her thirty pounds of white flour, five pounds of pork ribs, and two pounds of pork belly.

There were also some dried mushrooms, black fungus, and other items packed into a bag.

Since there was a vehicle to deliver the goods, there was no worry about carrying them.

Lin Shu repeatedly thanked them, “This is such a big favor. When the production team gets some noodles later, I’ll send some to the director.”

In the twelfth lunar month, the production team would also be getting sweet potato noodles.

She could eat some and secretly exchange a little for money.

This year, there was a bumper harvest of sweet potatoes, so there would be plenty of noodles made.

Mrs. Jiang also prepared some things for Lin Shu: defective cloth bought from the textile factory, soap scraps from the chemical plant, and defective rubber shoe soles from the shoe factory.

These were better than what Lin Shu and her group could buy from the rural supply and marketing cooperative.

When Yao Naiwen came to pick up Lin Shu and her sister-in-law, he was stunned by the several bags of items.

This Lin Shu was truly… capable.

Look at how she managed to impress the leaders at the steel rolling mill, and now she’s being so generous.

After Lin Shu left, Mrs. Jiang didn’t let Lin Xia move away; she still let Jiang Weidong stay in the dormitory while she and Lin Xia lived together.

One day, when she came back from buying vegetables, she saw that Fu Xiumei and others were surrounding Lin Xia and arguing about something.

Old Lady Jiang immediately rushed over and shouted angrily, “What’s going on? Who is bullying our Lin Xia?”

Everyone quickly said that no one was bullying her.

Someone explained, “Aunt Qian fell while buying vegetables after work; her thigh was fractured. With Master Qian away at the branch factory and no one to take care of her, they said Lin Master should take care of her.”

Fu Xiumei and Aunt Lu as they were leaving and immediately came alive with a new issue, “It should be Lin Master taking care of her.”

Old Lady Jiang looked at her as if she were insane. “You’re so kind-hearted; why don’t you take care of her? Lin Xia is divorced and has nothing to do with the Qian family!”

Fu Xiumei replied, “Even if she’s divorced, she used to be a Qian family daughter-in-law. Now that Mrs. Qian is in trouble, isn’t it only right for her to help?”

Old Lady Jiang said, “You think it’s right? Then give me fifty yuan a month, and I’ll take care of her!”

Fu Xiumei asked, “Why should I give you money?”

Old Lady Jiang: “Shouldn’t you? You think Lin Xia, who’s divorced, should be the one to take care of the old lady at the Qian family. Why are you so enthusiastic? Why don’t you just give money to the Qian family yourself?”