The next day, when Tian Xiang woke up, Tian Weibing had already gone to work.
Hu Honglian had made porridge and cooked a few scallion pancakes. She had already eaten and was preparing to go to work.
"By the way, Xiangxiang, you’re not going out this morning, are you? Your elder brother sent a telegram a few days ago, saying your sister-in-law is due to give birth next month. I’ve exchanged some tickets, and you can go to the post office later to send the items."
Tian Xiang’s two older brothers were sent to the countryside for work placement. Elder brother Tian Haiyun got married in the village where he was stationed, and the sister-in-law is from there.
Tian Xiang: "Mom, find some time to send it at noon. I have things to do this morning."
She still had to go to the police station to ask about the situation later.
A night had passed, and she didn’t know how the case was going.
"You child, you’re not even working, why do you have so much to do?"
Hu Honglian was displeased, "Instead of volunteering, why not look at some job listings? If you find anything interesting, tell us, and your dad and I will figure something out."
She thought her daughter still wanted to volunteer on Red Fifth Street.
Last night, when Tian Xiang was talking to Tian Chuying, Hu Honglian was right beside them.
Over the past ten days, her daughter’s impression of Lu Feng hadn’t changed. She even went to the dance, hoping the two could clear up their misunderstanding and interact a bit, but it didn’t seem to work out.
It was also the first time Hu Honglian saw her daughter despise someone so much.
Oh well, if her daughter doesn’t like him, then so be it.
Since this introduction failed, let’s put the matchmaking aside for now and focus on work.
Jobs are scarce in the city these days. Most young graduates follow in their parents’ footsteps or enter their parents’ factories as temporary workers, hoping to eventually secure a permanent position.
But Tian Weibing is a carpenter, and the lumber mill only hires men.
Hu Honglian’s work couldn’t be passed on to her daughter either. She’s a cleaner; it doesn’t matter for her to do the job, but thinking of her delicate daughter cleaning floors made her heart ache.
Tian Xiang could indeed become a hairdresser, learning to cut hair from the master inside.
Hu Honglian had mentioned it to her daughter after middle school graduation, but Tian Xiang was adamantly against it, so they had no choice but to let her continue to high school, thinking they’d reconsider in two years.
It was during these two years that Hu Honglian thought of getting her daughter into one of the big five factories and befriended Granny Liu at the Qiaonan Convenience Store, making clothes for her for two years.
An opportunity arose, but unfortunately...
Forget it, no point thinking about it.
Tian Xiang: "Mom, I got it, don’t worry."
Tian Xiang also wanted to find a job soon; she couldn’t just freeload at home every day.
After eating, Tian Xiang washed the dishes and then rode her bike to the police station in the Red Fifth Street resettlement area.
She was an eyewitness to last night’s case. The other party didn’t hide anything and told her the situation in detail.
Widow Jiang and Lu Feng were alone together late at night; there were indeed issues with their personal conduct. They had already notified the neighborhood committee and their work units, and they believed the higher-ups would give them a reprimand and education on the matter.
Tian Xiang frowned, "Just a reprimand and education?"
The investigator nodded.
"How can it just be a reprimand and education?" Tian Xiang was about to explode, "I saw them hugging each other; it was definitely..."
Tian Xiang didn’t know how to describe it, so she held up her hands in front of her, moving her thumbs up and down.
"Comrade, you get it, right?"
It was pitch black inside; they must have done something!
The investigator, who was also a young man without any dating experience, turned red at seeing Tian Xiang’s gesture.
He coughed slightly and said, "I just said that their personal conduct was indeed problematic, and their work units will handle it. As for us, since they are in a relationship, we can’t say much."
"They are a couple?"
Tian Xiang laughed.
The investigator said, "They both claimed they recently confirmed their relationship."
A young man dating a widow?
Anyone with a bit of brains would know this is nonsense.
But to avoid losing his job or being punished, Lu Feng had no choice.
Tian Xiang: "Last night, Lu Feng’s mom was still scolding them. Those two are just making excuses!"
The investigator replied helplessly, "Lu Feng’s mom also said Lu Feng had mentioned it to her, but she disagreed, which is why she reacted so strongly last night..."
When Tian Xiang left the police station, she was still in a daze.
So, after working so late last night, Lu Feng would only get a reprimand, and that was only from the work unit.
No wonder the two were so calm when caught in the act last night; they must have already discussed their strategy before opening the door.
Impressive, no doubt the male lead thinks quickly.
But Tian Xiang felt this wasn’t enough.
The "female lead" label on her forehead hadn’t been removed yet. With Lu Feng as the male lead of this world, even if he lost face, he would find a way to come back.
In Tian Xiang’s expectations, even if Lu Feng didn’t go to jail, he surely couldn’t keep his job, could he?
Without a job, his halo would fade, and it wouldn’t be so easy to gather a harem.
But in the end, it was just a personal indiscretion, with notice to the unit for reprimand and education!
With Lu Feng’s filthy intentions, nine years of moral education hadn’t straightened his desire for a harem. Could some superficial factory education possibly work?
"No way, the factory can’t handle it so casually."
Tian Xiang pushed her bike, intending to go to the Mechanical Factory, just getting to the main road when someone called out to her.
Jiang Peiqin, carrying a vegetable basket, walked over slowly, smiling at Tian Xiang, "Thank you for last night. If it weren’t for your stir-up, how could I and Lu Feng be together? Little sister, you truly helped your sister-in-law!"
Tian Xiang looked at the label on her forehead.
At some point, Widow Jiang’s role had moved from female supporting role number 8 to 6.
It was just a 6, what was she gloating about?
Tian Xiang: "What? Do you really think you can marry Lu Feng?"
That idea was too naive.
Jiang Peiqin laughed at herself, "Getting married or not is too far-fetched. Enjoy the moment, and see about the future when it comes."
What was in her mind? Knowing it’s impossible, yet still willing to play these games with Lu Feng.
Could it be she was truly smitten, only he would do?
Tian Xiang: "If money can’t buy happiness, do as you please."
As they were willing, what could she do?
She could only wish them well!
Tian Xiang rode off to the Mechanical Factory to find Chairman Jiang.
Back at the police station, Chairman Jiang had said there would be no cover-ups.
Lu Feng was with the factory’s union; she wanted to see if Chairman Jiang could truly be fair and just.
The gatekeeper was a little curious, "You’re not looking for Mr. Meng anymore?"
This gatekeeper had a remarkably good memory!
Tian Xiang: "I’m looking for Chairman Jiang, for something important."
The gatekeeper handed her a notebook, "Okay, sign in, and I’ll call to check."
Tian Xiang wrote down her name, leaving the unit section blank.
"Grandpa, just mention my name, and Chairman Jiang will know everything."
"Alright."
The gatekeeper called the internal line to the union office.
"Hello, gatekeeper here, a young lady named Tian Xiang wants to see Chairman Jiang. Yes, yes, okay."
Soon, the call ended.
The gatekeeper said, "First left after entering, administration on the second floor, you can go up."