The report letter was written from a neighbor’s perspective, and the handwriting was unfamiliar.
Lin Zhengxian didn’t suspect Jiang Yunling and her daughter at all.
He only thought it was written by some nosy neighbor.
“Leader, look at this…” He put down the report letter. “What couple doesn’t argue?”
“This is completely fabricated—false accusations!”
“False accusations?” The factory director tapped the newspaper with his finger. “Take another look at this.”
Lin Zhengxian picked up the newspaper and skimmed it quickly, his hands trembling.
It was the latest issue of the neighboring textile factory’s paper, still smelling of fresh ink.
On the front page was a report about Secretary Wang from the Housing Department, highlighting how he properly arranged housing for a disabled worker and supported their livelihood.
The troublemaking antagonists mentioned—Yang and Lin—were none other than Yang Sufen and himself.
Lin Zhengxian didn’t quite understand why the factory was showing him this. Surely they wouldn’t deny him housing just because of this?
“Ah, leader, you see, this is just a family matter.”
“I admit I didn’t handle it well. Since the factory has raised the issue, I’ll definitely correct it.”
“This won’t affect my housing allocation, right?”
“Lin Zhengxian, do you even realize how serious this is?” The factory director almost laughed in anger.
“At this point, you’re still thinking about getting a house?”
“Do you know that all factories are moving toward enterprise reform now? They’re introducing performance systems and setting examples.”
“A few days ago, the stainless steel factory dismissed someone—and their case wasn’t even as serious as yours.”
The director looked at Lin Zhengxian’s careless expression with a stern face.
“Comrade Lin Zhengxian, due to your serious behavior that has damaged the factory’s reputation during your employment, after unanimous discussion among the leadership, it has been decided to dismiss you and publicly post a notice.”
“Dismissed!”
Hearing those two words, Lin Zhengxian’s legs went weak.
The factory had never dismissed a worker in all these years. Even someone who had stolen welding rods to sell outside had only been put under observation.
Why was it that when it came to him, they were dismissing him without hesitation?
“I refuse to accept this!” Lin Zhengxian stiffened his neck. “Handling my family matters—even if it has some impact—what does that have to do with the factory? Why should I be dismissed?”
As if expecting this reaction, the director pulled out an attendance record and flipped through it.
“There are 26 working days this month. Out of those, you were late or left early on 20 days and took leave on 5 days.”
“Lin Zhengxian, have you even read the factory’s attendance handbook? With this attendance rate, dismissing you is fully justified.”
Lin Zhengxian tried to argue, “But before, it was always—”
The director cut him off immediately.
“Before, we didn’t enforce it strictly because the factory showed leniency toward senior workers like you.”
“But you repeatedly violated the rules.”
“This is intolerable. Comrade Lin Zhengxian, this decision has already been unanimously approved by the entire factory.”
Lin Zhengxian lowered his head.
He had originally gotten into the welding rod factory through connections.
When the old factory director had gone to the countryside, he had nearly drowned in a ditch—if Lin Zhengxian hadn’t passed by and saved him, he would have died.
So after returning to the city, the old director arranged this position for him.
But the less skill required for a position, the more competitive it became.
The new factory director had long wanted to place his own relative in this role—he had just been waiting for an excuse. This divorce had practically handed him the opportunity.
“I’m not leaving.” Lin Zhengxian kept his head down, refusing to move.
Someone like him—with neither skills nor connections—was the easiest to deal with.
“Fine. But once the notice is posted, you’ll have no relation to the factory.”
“If you linger here, we’ll call the police.”
“You can stay if you want—but don’t blame the factory for being ruthless.”
After delivering the warning, the director’s tone softened again.
“Take my advice, Comrade Lin.”
“There’s no room left to turn this situation around.”
“Instead of making a scene and worsening the impact, it’s better to leave early and make your own plans, saving face for both sides.”
Lin Zhengxian left the office in a daze, not even remembering how he got out.
All he could think about was—if he left the factory, wouldn’t the housing be gone too?
Did that mean he would have to return to the countryside and farm with his younger brothers?
Then his status in the Lin family would plummet.
He refused.
By the time he returned to the work area, his bedding had already been thrown outside the factory gate by the security department.
His quilt and mattress were scattered everywhere, covered in dust.
Lin Zhengxian didn’t even have the energy to care.
He wanted to go back in and explain, but a row of people stood at the gate watching him.
He didn’t want to leave, but it would soon be the end of the workday.
If others saw him in such a miserable state, the entire street of factories would know he had been dismissed and thrown out.
Carrying his bedding, Lin Zhengxian wandered the streets numbly, with nowhere to go.
Return to the countryside?
Absolutely not.
Then where could he go?
Right—he could go to Jiang Yunling.
Yunling and Qiqi were soft-hearted. If nothing else worked, he could apologize and admit his mistakes.
What child in this world would deny their father?
Qiqi would definitely let him back into the house.
Thinking this, Lin Zhengxian headed toward the textile factory residential compound.
By the time he reached the alley entrance on foot, workers had already finished their shifts, and cooking smoke rose from every household.
His stomach growled loudly, and as he reached Jiang Yunling’s courtyard, it grew even louder.
From inside came Aunt Zhang’s voice.
“Come, come, everyone raise your cups!”
“I finally managed to get this soda—quick, cheers!”
Then came the sound of enamel mugs clinking together.
Who knew what they were celebrating.
Lin Zhengxian set down his bedding, straightened his clothes, picked up the chicken he brought, and knocked on the courtyard door.
Aunt Zhang called out, “Coming!”
But when she opened the door and saw him, her expression immediately fell.
“What are you doing here?”
She had never liked the Lin family. When Lin Zhengxian used to live here, their relationship had only been polite.
After he left, their relationship actually became closer—now they were practically like family.
Jiang Yunling’s divorce from Lin Zhengxian made Aunt Zhang genuinely happy.
But why had he come back again like a lingering ghost?
“Sister Zhang,” Lin Zhengxian said with a smile, lifting the chicken in his hand, “I came to see Yunling and Qiqi.”
After all, he was Lin Qiqi’s biological father, and as an outsider, Aunt Zhang couldn’t just drive him away.
She rolled her eyes secretly and stepped aside.
“Yunling, Qiqi—Lin Zhengxian is here to see you.”
Jiang Yunling’s hand tightened around her chopsticks. Lin Qiqi immediately held her hand reassuringly and asked softly, “Mom?”
“I don’t want to see him. Qiqi, make him leave. And don’t let him come again.”
With those words, Lin Qiqi knew exactly what to do.
She picked up the large bamboo broom from the corner of the yard, dragged it behind her, and walked toward the gate.