Qian Lisheng and Lin Xia’s marital discord had drawn many workers over to watch the commotion.

The cafeteria had prepared meals that couldn’t be sold, and the situation was reported to the leadership because no one knew what was going on.

Jiang Weidong quickly came to investigate.

When they arrived, the scene was surrounded by people, with layers of spectators.

Jiang Weidong saw his mother, an elderly woman, pulling Lin Xia by the arm.

Her eyes were as bright as a hundred-watt light bulb at night, which immediately gave him a headache.

“Mother, what are you meddling in this divorce for? Isn’t this just causing trouble for your son?”

The women’s director squeezed her way in and told everyone to disperse.

She then turned to Lin Xia with a serious tone, “Comrade Lin Xia, I need to criticize you. Let me talk to you properly. Our women comrades work hard all day and take care of children at night, working tirelessly. How can you just decide to get a divorce like this?”

Lin Xia was puzzled: “Director, what does my divorce have to do with the hardworking women comrades?”

Moreover, if these women are working so hard, you should be talking to their husbands, not me!

The women’s director spoke earnestly, “Even though they work so hard, they don’t get divorced. You don’t have much to do, no children to take care of, no in-laws to serve, and your mother-in-law even helps out. Why are you still getting a divorce?”

The director’s repeated point was clear: divorce was not acceptable as it would have a bad influence.

It was not good for the stability of women comrades, not good for the stability of men comrades, and not good for…

Jiang Weidong couldn’t stand it any longer. “Director Fu, let’s stick to the point and not expand the scope.”

Old Lady Jiang was even more displeased. “Alright, you leaders do your talking. I’ll have Lin Xia come stay at my house for a few days.”

She pulled Lin Xia towards the exit.

Qian Lisheng had already been helped up. His face was pale and lacked any vitality. “Lin Xia!”

Lin Xia turned to Old Lady Jiang and said, “Aunt, I need to go to the factory office to explain the situation.”

Old Lady Jiang replied, “Let’s go, Aunt will go with you.”

A few young men from the electrical group also followed, determined not to let Master Lin suffer.

Fu Xiumei and others also surrounded Qian Lisheng, trying to find someone who could mediate the divorce.

Fu Xiumei even sent someone to notify Qian’s mother to come over immediately.

She couldn’t believe that so many people couldn’t deal with just Lin Xia!

Jiang Weidong watched all this unfold and couldn’t help frowning.

He said to the women’s director, “Director Fu, Master Lin is a key employee in our steel rolling factory, not some unrelated outsider. Let’s not let people form cliques against her.”

The women’s director sighed, helplessly saying, “Factory Director Jiang, I’m worried about this, which is why I’m trying to prevent the divorce.”

Marriage, huh?

As a country girl with no connections here, once she gets divorced, it’s not just about people gossiping.

There will be a lot of trouble.

Jiang Weidong looked at Qian Lisheng and said, “Qian, come here. I need to talk to you.”

Qian Lisheng instinctively felt that Jiang Weidong wanted to threaten him.

His resentment grew, and he looked even more distressed, “If Factory Director Jiang is here to persuade me to get a divorce, then forget it. I won’t get a divorce.”

If Jiang Weidong dared to make his personal affairs public, he would post a big character poster accusing Jiang Weidong of having an affair with Lin Xia.

Otherwise, why meddle in this matter?

Why is it that you, as a man, are siding with a woman instead of supporting another man?

The doctors haven’t exposed my issues, so why should you? Aren’t you a man?

A crowd gathered at the factory office.

The secretary and the factory office director had gone home for dinner, and the factory director was out inspecting another branch.

Now, both the secretary and the office director had been called back.

Fu Xiumei shouted, “Just today, the leaders promoted Lin Xia to group leader, and now she’s getting arrogant, wanting a divorce, and even demanding that the job be returned to the Qian family. Not only does she disregard Qian Master, but she’s also disrespecting the leaders!”

She glared at Lin Xia, “Lin Xia, what’s wrong? What’s so unbearable? Did Qian Master make you go hungry or beat you?”

Lin Xia remained silent.

No matter what she said, they wouldn’t listen.

They didn’t care why she found it unbearable; they only saw that she wasn’t hungry or beaten.

So why should she be dissatisfied?

Isn’t she being too picky?

But since she has already mentioned divorce, she must go through with it.

If she listens to the women’s director’s mediation and goes back to compromise, that would be foolish.

If a couple needs others to mediate for them to stay together, how much compromise and awkwardness would there be?

What love are we talking about?

It’s more like enmity.

She said nothing more, only insisting on the divorce.

The women’s director was getting anxious, “Lin Xia, why are you like this? Speak up. Don’t stay silent.”

Qian Lisheng’s face was dark.

He looked at Lin Xia with a sense of unfamiliarity, thinking she might have always been this scheming, but he had been too naive to see it.

Is this because she got promoted and got a raise, so she despises him?

Wants to climb up the social ladder?

No way.

He would rather die than get a divorce.

He proclaimed his deep feelings, saying that as a couple, their bond was strong, and he would never want a divorce.

“Lin Xia, say something! What’s wrong with me? Tell me, and I’ll change. I will definitely change!”

He was sure Lin Xia wouldn’t be able to pinpoint anything specific.

Did she dislike his mother?

But whenever his mother came over she doesn’t serve her?

Now she doesn’t even ask for money and still helps with cooking and washing clothes.

What’s wrong with that?

Dislike him?

He works hard, earns money to support the family—how has he wronged her?

The only possibility is that she’s fallen for someone else, like Jiang Weidong?

No matter how much he once liked her, once there’s hatred in his heart, he will speculate about her with the greatest malice and the most vicious words.

Factory Office Director: “It’s common for young couples to argue and have disputes. Don’t let this hurt your feelings. Resolve any conflicts and go back to living your life well.”

The factory secretary was more understanding and asked Lin Xia: “Lin Xia, please explain your reasons.”

Lin Xia felt some pain.

She wasn’t very articulate and didn’t have a rich vocabulary, so she couldn’t express her thoughts very accurately.

If it were her third sister, she would certainly be able to.

She recalled the tone her third sister used and tried to imitate her, saying: “Leaders, living together isn’t just about being full and not being beaten. Some things build up over time and make me increasingly uncomfortable. I get distracted at work and fear making mistakes.”

Before Qian Lisheng could say anything, Fu Xiumei snorted, “Listen, how pretentious. It’s as if these country folks are more cultured than us. If you feel oppressed, why don’t you just oppress him in return?”

Several people around her laughed lewdly.

Jiang Weidong frowned and said sternly, “Be serious. Everyone except the parties involved, please leave.”

With that, the security team started to push people out, especially Fu Xiumei and her group who were talking nonsense.

Fu Xiumei was being pushed out and was still unwilling to give up. “Master Lin, I’m also feeling suffocated every day, like something is pressing on me. Why don’t you tell me what’s pressing on you? Maybe I can learn something.”

The factory secretary looked at Lin Xia, “Master Lin, please continue.”

Lin Xia said, “I’ve said it before. You might think I’m being pretentious or ungrateful. The Qian family gave me a job. On the surface, it seems like I’m benefiting, but we’re supposed to be a family. I’m working to support the family, so how am I benefiting at their expense? They openly and secretly accuse me of being a bloodsucker and an ungrateful wolf. Living together, who wouldn’t feel uncomfortable with constant disdain? I just couldn’t bear it anymore.”

Even though Qian’s mother no longer needed money, every time she came, she was always angry and hostile.

When she was unhappy, Qian Lisheng would ask her to be more magnanimous and not to argue with the old lady.

Qian Lisheng: “Lin Xia, why do you think this way? My parents have never given you any disdain. Our mother is just eager to have a grandchild and asked you to try some folk remedies. But didn’t I talk to her about it? And besides, it’s not because…”

“Work? Isn’t it that she wants to have grandchildren?”

The factory secretary, being experienced, understood Lin Xia’s feelings.

He often overheard conversations from Qian’s mother and others, which were even more unpleasant than what Lin Xia had said.

This was a problem.

If Lin Xia had no job and relied on Qian Lisheng for support, she would have to endure Qian’s mother’s comments.

But now that Lin Xia was capable of supporting herself, and the Qian family still treated her this way, it was unbearable.