“Thank you, Aunt Wang, but I won’t trouble you for dinner. The main reason I came today is to sort out the issue of my dad’s debt.”
At this, Wei Nan gave a bitter smile. “The leadership already knows our family’s situation.
My parents are gone, I just returned to the city, I have no job, no income, and I can’t even afford the injections at the hospital.
I thought I’d come to claim my dad’s funeral allowance, but as soon as I arrived, I’m being asked to sign an IOU…
Chairperson, it’s not that I’m ignorant or trying to trouble the factory; it’s really that there’s no way out.”
Wang Qiuping exchanged a glance with Wei Nan.
In that single look, she could see that this girl had made up her mind, she was determined to go all in.
Having worked in the union for over a decade, she had seen countless people.
Some would cry and make a fuss when faced with difficulties, but they often lacked a plan; others were quiet, but their resolve and plans ran deep.
Wei Nan was clearly the latter type.
Wang Qiuping didn’t try to dissuade her, but nodded and sighed, saying, “I understand, I understand. It’s not easy for a young girl like you.”
Then, in a concerned tone, she asked, “So, Xiao Nan, how do you want the factory to help you?”
She didn’t mention the provincial women’s federation at all, nor did she glance at the letter of appeal on the table.
But her words clearly conveyed to Wei Nan that the union was willing to intervene, and there was no need to go higher.
This also aligned with Wei Nan’s intention, resolving it as quickly as possible was best.
Wei Nan immediately said, “I want the factory to help me demand from my second uncle, Wei Shuangquan, the 400 yuan my dad paid on his behalf.”
Then she looked around. “When my dad retired due to illness, he borrowed 500 yuan from the finance office.
One hundred was used to purchase supplies for the noodle shop, and the remaining 400 was borrowed on behalf of my second uncle.
We definitely repaid the money for the shop supplies, and my dad also repaid his own part. But the money borrowed for my second uncle shouldn’t be our responsibility.
At the time, Wei Shuangquan was in a hurry to buy a house and hadn’t taken over the position yet, so he couldn’t borrow from the factory himself.
As the eldest brother, my dad had no choice but to borrow the money in his own name from the factory to cover the house payment for him.
Everyone in the factory knows about this. My dad gave him the money right here in this office.”
“Yes, we all saw it. As soon as Wei Damin got the money, he counted out 400 yuan and handed it directly to Wei Shuangquan.
It wasn’t just us; the finance department staff also saw it.”
Sister Li immediately agreed.
Those nearby nodded in agreement as well.
When Wei Damin did this at the time, he never intended to hide it from anyone.
Moreover, Wang Sanhua always liked to show off how filial her sons were and how important her position was at home.
The fact that the eldest son followed her instructions to buy a house for the second son was a way for her to flaunt her authority; she had made sure everyone knew about it.
Since everyone knew, there was no need to cover it up for anyone.
The only thing is, when Wei Damin originally wrote the IOU, he intended to repay it himself. But now, in Wei Nan’s words, it became that the money was borrowed on behalf of her uncle.
It was because Wei Shuangquan urgently needed to buy a house and couldn’t borrow the money himself, so as the eldest brother, Wei Damin borrowed it on his behalf.
Since the money was used by Wei Shuangquan, it’s only right that he repay the debt.
There’s no reason for Wei Nan to bear this debt!
Wang Qiuping understood exactly what she meant, but to be honest, there’s really no solid proof.
It’s one of those cases where both sides have a point.
In the end, the outcome depends entirely on who is stronger.
Wei Nan clearly wanted the factory’s support, but her family matriarch was difficult to deal with.
Brazen enough to defy even the factory director and secretary, who would want to get involved in this mess?
It wouldn’t earn anyone any gratitude, and if she started causing trouble again, it was almost the New Year; everyone was busy to the point of exhaustion. Who would want to argue with such an obstinate old woman?
Wang Qiuping didn’t want to take the responsibility, but she also couldn’t let Wei Nan actually go to the women’s federation.
She forced a troubled expression. “Xiao Nan, this involves money, so I really can’t make the decision. How about this: I’ll report it to the factory leadership and get back to you with an answer?”
Wei Nan nodded. “Okay, Aunt Wang, thank you. But don’t delay, just today. I heard from Secretary Liu that the director went to the workshop. If not, I’ll wait a bit later.”
At this point, she ignored Wang Qiuping’s awkwardness, pressed her lips tightly, and a mist slowly formed in her eyes.
She lowered her head and said, “Aunt Wang, please don’t be annoyed with me. I just want to get the money back as soon as possible so I can bring my little sister home.
When I went to the countryside for the work assignment, my sister had just reached her hundredth day. Six years have passed, and I haven’t seen her at all, I don’t even know what she looks like now.”
Her voice was low and heavy, and the room immediately fell silent.
Wei Nan had never seen her sister, but many of those present had.
Wang Sanhua had caused several scenes over Wei Damin’s funeral allowance, and to gain sympathy, she had always brought Wei Pei along.
The little girl, yellow-skinned and frail, looking like a bean sprout, had left a deep impression on everyone.
Hearing Wei Nan speak now, it was impossible for them not to feel a pang of sympathy.
Wang Qiuping, who had been slightly annoyed at being contradicted, softened upon hearing this.
She turned to Mei, a union officer nearby, and said, “Xiao Mei, go ask Secretary Liu which workshop the director is in, and then go find him. Tell him I have an urgent matter to report.”
“Okay,” Xiao Mei agreed and started to head out.
But just as she turned, someone at the office door impatiently shouted, “Complain! Let her complain! What’s the big deal about some little girl?
Am I wrong? The factory schedule is so tight, everyone is busy enough with their work. Which leader has time to deal with her trivial issues?
Go, go, go, don’t just stand here. The director isn’t here; if she causes trouble, let her go to Wang Qiuping. Why should she bother the director with this nonsense?”
Wang Qiuping straightened her back immediately.
Having come from a military cadre background, she had always been strong-willed.
When she had transferred to the textile factory to work in the union due to her family background, she had felt frustrated, thinking it was a waste of her talent.
But because of that, she cared deeply about others’ disrespect toward the union and could not stand any belittling of its work.
Wei Nan’s situation was already a big problem.
And she had heard that the escalation of this problem was entirely because of that Liu Qiangquan!
Already mentally exhausted, hearing Liu Qiangquan spout such nonsense pushed her temper to the limit.
She shouted toward the door, “Secretary Liu, if you have something to say, say it inside! You’re a senior secretary, shouting like this at the door, aren’t you afraid people will laugh at you?”
Liu Qiangquan froze for a moment.
Earlier, when Accountant Qiao had embarrassed him in front of so many people, he had been seething inside.
But since she was a family member of a leader from the Industrial Bureau, he had to swallow his pride and endure it.
Finally, after her shouting, she had left for her own matters, and Liu Qiangquan thought he could finally relax, only to hear that Wei Nan was going to file a complaint and report to the factory director.
How could he tolerate that?!
The problem was, he had no idea Wang Qiuping was actually in the main office, he thought she had gone to the workshop.
When Wang Qiuping called him in, Liu Qiangquan ground his teeth in anger, thinking that Wei Nan was nothing but a jinx. Running into her today felt like the worst luck he could have.
But Wang Qiuping was the union chairperson, several ranks higher than him.
No matter how unwilling he was, he had to grit his teeth and walk into the main office.
He entered, forced a smile at Wang Qiuping, and offered an explanation: “Chairperson Wang, what I just said was in the heat of the moment. Please don’t take it to heart. I was just provoked.”
Then he turned to Wei Nan, his face brimming with barely suppressed anger.
“I’m telling you, you may be young, but your shameless stubbornness is impressive! What are you making such a fuss about? Keep it up, and I’ll call the security department immediately. Do you really think no one can deal with you?!”
“Liu Qiangquan!”
Wang Qiuping slammed her hand on the desk with a sharp crack.
“Watch your words! Do you think being the factory director’s secretary makes you special? You’re not the director yet!
I’m telling you, if you keep this up, you’re going to make a serious mistake, and no one will be able to save you then!”
Wang Qiuping’s chest heaved with anger. After calming herself for so long, this bastard had just undone it all with a single sentence.
If Wei Nan really got so mad by his words that she went to the Provincial Women’s Federation, it wouldn’t just be him in trouble, she’d drag everyone else down with her.
Liu Qiangquan sneered, saying nothing. On the surface, he appeared to accept the warning, but his eyes betrayed complete indifference; clearly, he hadn’t taken Wang Qiuping’s words to heart at all.
He was a university graduate assigned to the factory from the Textile University, not some rough ex-military like Wang Qiuping.
University graduates were highly prized these days. For the sake of chasing away a complainer, how could he possibly make a serious mistake? Who was she trying to scare with that?
In his mind, he was helping the leadership, solving a problem.
Wei Nan stepped forward, looking at Wang Qiuping calmly. “Chairperson Wang, the first request I made just now was for Wei Shuangquan to repay the money. Now I want to make a second request.”
A second one?
Wang Qiuping immediately gathered herself and asked, “What is it? Go ahead.”
Wei Nan glanced at Liu Qiangquan, then back at Wang Qiuping. “My second request is that Secretary Liu publicly apologize to me in front of all the factory staff, workers, and family members.”
In the context of the whole factory, staff and workers, apologies were usually handled by writing a letter of apology and posting it on the bulletin board at the factory entrance so everyone passing by could see it.
If family members were also to know, it would require reading the apology over the factory PA system during mealtime, so the illiterate elders could hear it.
If it really came to that, aside from the embarrassment, Liu Qiangquan’s career prospects would be completely ruined.