Leaving the Mechanical Factory, Tian Xiang went to the residential committee of the family courtyard to inform Director Yang about her temporary suspension from volunteer work.
The day after tomorrow she has to attend a job interview at the Mechanical Factory’s workers’ union, and she has other things to busy herself with these couple of days, so she won’t be coming in.
Yang Qunying sighed as soon as she saw her and took her outside to have a private conversation.
What happened with Lu Feng and Widow Jiang last night had already spread, and Yang Qunying expressed relief that Tian Xiang missed the matchmaking with him. Otherwise, if they had gotten involved and then this kind of thing happened, Tian Xiang would also have lost face.
Yang Qunying had no idea that it was Tian Xiang who took the lead in last night’s catching in the act.
Tian Xiang didn’t explain much, she just smiled.
After resigning from volunteering, Tian Xiang went to a grocery store, took out her saved tickets and private money from the past two years, and bought some tea and fruit, carrying them to the Sanli Lane street theater troupe.
This troupe was spontaneously organized by the residents of Sanli Lane, a personal interest hobby, not part of any organization, but it held a name on the street, occupying the free space allocated by the street, representing Sanli Lane. Although it didn’t pay a salary, participants in activities and competitions usually received hard work fees and bonuses.
Tian Xiang, when she was young, would come over to play around when she had nothing to do, and sometimes she would practice a little.
As she grew up, there were more things to play with, and she gradually stopped coming.
It was just a while ago, when she almost ran into Lu Zazha, the fierce tiger inside Tian Xiang was awakened. Having avoided a calamity, she returned here to start kicking and practicing waist movements, preparing to hone her skills.
For this, she even acknowledged the troupe leader as her mentor.
Of course, anyone practicing here had to acknowledge the troupe leader as their master, which was just a title and formality.
At first, Tian Xiang didn’t pay much attention, just followed her senior brothers and sisters in practice, participating in the opening ceremony to worship together was sufficient.
However, after last night’s experience, almost being hit by a flowerpot, a bicycle collision, and being harassed by hooligans, Tian Xiang felt that she could no longer casually be a disciple, nor casually acknowledge a master.
The day after tomorrow, facing her would be a fierce battle at the Mechanical Factory.
Going against the male lead wasn’t an easy task, so she had to take it seriously.
Wearing practice clothes, with snow-white hair, rosy complexion, and an exuberant spirit, Zhou Jian was somewhat puzzled when he saw Tian Xiang handing over tea and fruit.
"Tian Xiang, what are you up to?"
Tian Xiang knelt down, "Master, please accept a bow from your disciple."
Afterward, she solemnly kowtowed three times.
Zhou Jian was stunned.
Beside her, seven or eight senior brothers and sisters of grandparent generation were bewildered.
What on earth is Tian Xiang doing?
Usually, they just did it perfunctorily, who knew this girl took it seriously!
Zhou Jian quickly recovered, feeling both excited and gratified as he helped Tian Xiang up.
"Child, I’m very moved by your sincerity. I’ll accept these things, and from now on, you’re my last disciple as Zhou Jian. Don’t worry, as a master, I will not keep anything hidden, I will pass on all my knowledge to you."
Tian Xiang was equally enthusiastic, "Master, I will work hard."
"Good."
"Come, dear disciple, first, let’s perform a section of the model opera ’The Ferry Crossing’, you play the role of Little Swallow, and I’ll be Grandpa."
Tian Xiang instantly got into character, "Grandpa~~"
...
In the afternoon.
After work, Hu Honglian didn’t even buy groceries and hurried home.
At the gate of the courtyard, Pan Yuzhen was waiting for her.
"Xiangxiang’s mother, did you hear about Lu Feng’s affair?"
Hu Honglian nodded gravely.
"Today’s customers who came for haircuts were all talking about it."
Pan Yuzhen sighed, "It’s spread both inside and outside the courtyard. Isn’t that Lu Feng an exemplary worker at the factory? In a large factory with thousands of people, only ten people are selected a year, and he made the list. His character shouldn’t be bad! How did he end up with a widow?"
Changing light bulbs for a widow late at night, a reason that hardly anyone believes.
Everyone knows it in their hearts, Lu Feng had sinful intentions and wanted to share a bed with her.
Look at him appearing well-mannered and polite, how could he be such a person?
Thank goodness...
Hu Honglian is immensely grateful now that her daughter is sharp-eyed and clear-minded, not like herself, who was once fooled by that man’s appearance.
Now that her daughter hasn’t revisited the matchmaking with Lu Feng, she doesn’t need to explain anything, just cut off ties completely.
Hu Honglian’s eyes widened, "How would I know other people’s affairs! You’re asking the wrong person."
Hu Honglian hurried away.
Pan Yuzhen chased after her, "Xiangxiang’s mother, Tian Xiang didn’t revisit the matchmaking with Lu Feng, right?"
"No, absolutely not. Who have you been hearing nonsense from? I’ll tear their mouth apart!"
"Good thing, I was just worried..."
Pan Yuzhen enjoys gossip, but she’s not a bad person.
Back at home, Hu Honglian turned around and closed the door.
This morning, Tian Weibing had an early shift and was already home.
Hu Honglian hurriedly told her husband about Lu Feng’s affair.
Tian Weibing works at a lumber factory on the city outskirts, surrounded entirely by men and not interested in such talks, so despite the rumors outside, he was unaware.
Hearing about Lu Feng rolling in the hay with a widow,
Tian Weibing also felt relieved, thank goodness.
Tian Weibing: "In the future, it’s better to find someone to introduce Xiangxiang’s marriage whom we know well. You can know a person’s face but not their heart. Just talking about Granny Liu, right? You’ve been making clothes for her family for two years, and in the end, is this who she recommended to us? It’s unclear if she even knew about Lu Feng’s affairs."
Speaking of Granny Liu, Hu Honglian clenched her fists.
"That old hag, I haven’t even settled accounts with her yet!"
Saying this, Hu Honglian rushed outside, just in time to bump into Tian Xiang returning to the courtyard.
"Mom, where are you going?"
Hu Honglian gritted her teeth, "Mom’s going out to handle something, you go back first."
This person clearly looked like she was going to pick a fight.
Tian Xiang widened her eyes and asked, "Who dares to mess with you? Lead the way, I’ll go with you."
The mother and daughter exchanged a look, about to set off together, when Tian Weibing came out and pulled them back.
"Just let it go with Granny Liu. Lu Feng’s matter is at its peak now, it originally had nothing to do with us. If you two cause a stir, who knows what kind of messy stories people outside might come up with."
This is also true...
Tian Xiang thought it was something serious, turns out it was just this!
"Mom, Dad is right, don’t go for now. As for Granny Liu, if she didn’t know about Lu Feng’s dirty deeds, it’s fine, it’s just that the person is too deceitful and fooled everyone. If she knew those things yet still introduced him to me, then that’s intentionally pushing me into the fire pit, we really need to stir her up if that’s the case."
Hu Honglian nodded, "Mom knows what to do."
They started talking about the matter with Lu Feng and Widow Jiang again.
"Xiangxiang, it’s great you’re smart and saw through his nature. Fortunately, there were enthusiastic citizens who exposed those two people’s scandal, without them..."
Realizing that she even let her daughter attend a ball at the Mechanical Factory last night, Hu Honglian felt uneasy.
Enthusiastic citizens?
Tian Xiang smiled and asked, "Dad, Mom, do you know who that enthusiastic citizen is?"