Su Caiqing suddenly released the full force of her presence, and everyone in the room was stunned into silence. Even Zhu Yinglan looked at her in surprise.
Taking a deep breath, Su Caiqing continued, “Your concern for Zhang Min is fake, and your so-called concern for the public good is fake too. The only thing that’s real is the calculation you’ve made for yourselves. Listening to your hypocritical words makes me feel sick. Director, as Zhang Min’s widow, I am the person with the most right to handle this matter. I am willing to give this opportunity to someone who will be more useful to the factory, to the person the factory needs most.”
After hearing Su Caiqing’s words, the factory director felt a deep sense of satisfaction. He had never expected that a woman who could barely read would possess such a high level of awareness.
Just as he was about to speak, Zhu Yinglan suddenly jumped to her feet. She pointed a finger at Su Caiqing, glaring at her fiercely, her whole body trembling.
Su Dazhuang thought she might attack Su Caiqing, so he immediately pulled Su Caiqing behind him and glared right back at her.
Su Caiqing, however, was not frightened by her furious and vicious appearance.
Instead, Zhu Yinglan startled her own sons, who hurriedly supported her on either side.
Gao Juxiang immediately shouted, “Su Wumei! You’ve angered our mother! You unfilial daughter-in-law! How can you face the Fourth Brother? How can you face the Zhang family?!”
Before Su Caiqing could say anything, Director Zhao snapped, “Shut up! What nonsense are you spouting? Your mother was angered by her own shamelessness!”
Su Caiqing nearly burst out laughing when she heard that, and Director Wang was clearly stunned for a moment before pressing his lips together to suppress a laugh. He dared not laugh out loud, so he endured it with great difficulty.
After being scolded by Director Zhao, Gao Juxiang felt both aggrieved and humiliated, yet she did not dare to argue back.
As for Zhu Yinglan, her face looked even worse. She could no longer keep up her act.
The factory director suppressed his laughter for a while before clearing his throat and smoothing things over. “I believe both sides have good intentions. You are all thinking about the factory’s interests, and your goals are the same, though your approaches differ slightly. Ever since Comrade Zhang Min passed away, I have truly realized how important he was. The factory feels the same way. Now that his position is vacant, someone does need to take over his work. Considering both the family’s opinion and the factory’s needs, I think we should follow Comrade Su Caiqing’s suggestion.”
These words were impossible for Zhu Yinglan and her group to accept. This was not the result they wanted.
Though the director spoke lightly, his meaning was obvious. An outsider would take Zhang Min’s position, and the Zhang family would have no chance.
Yet the reasoning he used came directly from what both sides had said themselves: everything should be for the good of the factory and the public.
Once words are spoken, they cannot be taken back.
Realizing this, Zhu Yinglan felt a surge of hatred. She had never imagined that the carefully crafted speech she had prepared would be dismantled by Su Caiqing. That woman was truly detestable.
With this thought, the look she gave Su Caiqing became even more venomous.
Su Caiqing met Zhu Yinglan’s fierce gaze calmly and said naturally, “I’ll follow the director’s decision.”
Grinding her teeth, Zhu Yinglan replied unwillingly, “We’ll follow the director’s decision too.”
She had no choice. She herself, her husband, and her second son all worked at the machinery factory. Offending the director would be a dead end.
The director nodded with satisfaction. “Very good. Considering the concession and sacrifice you’ve made, the factory will provide some appropriate subsidies. After all, it is not easy for a woman to raise seven children.”
At the first half of this statement, Zhu Yinglan felt somewhat relieved. At least they might gain some benefit and not leave empty-handed. But after hearing the rest, she sensed something wrong and quickly asked, “Director, what do you mean?”
The director turned toward her and explained, “Taking into account Su Caiqing’s situation, raising seven young children on her own, the factory has decided to provide her with some subsidies. It’s the least we can do for Zhang Min.”
Zhu Yinglan asked anxiously, “What about my family?”
The director frowned. “Your family? The organization does not believe your family is facing any major financial difficulty. None of your men have died, and you do not have a group of young children to raise.”
“But… but Zhang Min was my son, Director…” Zhu Yinglan said stiffly.
The director’s face immediately darkened. “Of course we know Zhang Min was your son. But didn’t you divide the household long ago? The ones who formed a family with Zhang Min were Su Caiqing and the seven children. Moreover, those seven children are all descendants of your Zhang family. Are you really trying to force your own grandchildren into desperation?”
Zhu Yinglan was immediately speechless.
Director Zhao smiled with satisfaction, feeling deeply vindicated. Su Dazhuang felt the same.
Before anyone else could speak, the factory director stood up. “I have another meeting, so I’ll be leaving now.”
Everyone rose to see him off.
As soon as he stepped out of the door, Zhu Yinglan and the others revealed fierce expressions. Gao Juxiang rushed forward, trying to strike Su Caiqing.
Su Dazhuang pushed her aside without hesitation. Gao Juxiang fell heavily onto the floor, landing squarely on her backside. It felt as though her whole bottom had split open, and she immediately began wailing in pain.
Director Zhao shouted, “What are you doing?! Do you want me to take all of you to the public security brigade?!”
The two men from the Zhang family immediately stopped moving. The public security brigade was not a place anyone wanted to visit.
Zhu Yinglan looked at Su Caiqing, then at Director Zhao. Though she was furious, she could do nothing to Su Caiqing. In the end, she stormed off with her sons and daughter-in-law.
Looking at the dusty imprint on Gao Juxiang’s backside, Su Caiqing finally burst into laughter.
Director Zhao looked at her with both worry and helplessness. “And you’re still laughing. Have you thought about how you and the children will live from now on?”
Su Dazhuang was worried about the same thing and quickly looked at Su Caiqing.
Su Caiqing smoothed her hair and said, “This time, Liang Qiheng asked me to make ten sets of clothes. Aunt Zhao, calculate how much that will be.”
Director Zhao froze for a moment, but Su Caiqing had already stepped out of the meeting room.
Director Zhao and Su Dazhuang hurried after her.
As soon as they stepped outside, they saw the director’s secretary waiting at the corner.
“Comrade Su Caiqing, this is the approval slip from the director.”
Su Caiqing took it and glanced at it. The ink was still fresh, clearly written just moments ago.
“The director said the subsidy amount has been increased slightly as compensation for you giving up the chance to work at the factory.”
Su Caiqing nodded. “Understood. Please pass along my thanks to the director.”
“Of course.”
The secretary turned and left. Director Zhao looped her arm through Su Caiqing’s and said, “Let’s go to the finance office and collect the money now. Otherwise if you go alone later, they might give you trouble.”
She meant she would go along to support her.
Su Caiqing thought it was a good idea and would save her another trip.
At the finance office, they received several hundred yuan. For Su Caiqing’s family, it was quite a substantial sum.
“Now that your matter is settled, one of my worries is gone as well. I’ll head back now,” Director Zhao said.
Su Caiqing took her hand and said, “Thank you so much for today. I’m planning to move today, and tonight I’ll host dinner at the new place. You and the principal must come.”
Director Zhao’s face immediately lit up. “Really? That’s wonderful! You should have moved there long ago.”
“Then you must come tonight,” Su Caiqing said.
“Of course! We’ll definitely come!”
After Director Zhao left, Su Caiqing and Su Dazhuang walked back.
Su Dazhuang had been holding back his thoughts for a long time and finally found a chance to speak. “Fifth Sister, how could you give up the chance to work at the factory? Once this money runs out, how will your family live?”
“I already had a plan before I did that,” Su Caiqing replied. “Brother, workers in the workshop only earn thirty or forty yuan a month. I have seven children. We can’t eat plain white rice every day. Besides, they’ll need money for school later. There will be many expenses. I have to find other ways to make money instead of being tied to factory work.”
If she didn’t explain clearly, once Su Dazhuang returned to the countryside and told their parents, they would surely worry.
“So what’s your plan to make money?”
“I’ve been helping people make clothes recently. I can earn several yuan for each piece.”
Su Caiqing had further plans in mind, but she could not reveal everything to Su Dazhuang.
Su Dazhuang finally understood a little. “You mean the ten sets of clothes you just mentioned? How long will that take?”
“If the designs are prepared in advance, including pattern making, cutting fabric, and sewing, it will probably take about ten days.”
Hearing this, Su Dazhuang felt somewhat relieved.
When they returned home, Su Caiqing quickly prepared a simple lunch and fed the children. Then she announced, “Today, we’re moving.”
The children all reacted strongly. Zhang Yunbing was the first to shout, “Moving? Why are we moving?!”
“Because your mother didn’t take the factory job, so we have to vacate this place and return it to the factory.”
These houses were allocated by the factory. If someone did not work for the machinery factory, they had no right to live here. There was no rent, which saved quite a bit of money each month.
But Su Caiqing would rather spend more money than have the whole family squeezed together on one large sleeping platform without any privacy.
Zhang Yunyang asked calmly, “Where are we moving? Is the new place good?”
Su Caiqing nodded. “We’re moving to Niujiao Street. It’s just a few steps away from Grandma Zhao’s house. There are three rooms there, plus a separate kitchen and toilet. What do you think?”
Except for the younger ones, the older children all showed happy expressions. Even if they did not fully understand the concept of privacy, constantly bumping into each other in crowded space was uncomfortable.
“Good! Of course it’s good! Let’s move right away!” Zhang Yunbing said.
Su Caiqing nodded. “Alright! Then start helping me pack our things. We’ll move everything over in one go.”