Liu Meiling never expected that in just this short time, Li Mingliang would actually come to her workplace to make trouble.
“Whether I take leave or not is none of your business—what are you doing here?”
Could he be here to cause a scene?
Liu Meiling’s heart skipped a beat, her body already tensing up in preparation.
If this old bastard dared to say anything unpleasant, she’d shut that filthy mouth of his herself!
But soon, she realized something was off.
She had spent a lifetime with Li Mingliang—she knew his little habits too well.
Right now, his eyes were darting around—clearly a sign of guilt.
Suspicion rose in her heart. Liu Meiling glared at him.
“What are you here for? Speak!”
Cold sweat instantly soaked Li Mingliang’s back. He stammered for a long time, but Liu Meiling couldn’t make sense of a single word.
“What exactly are you here for?”
Li Mingliang subconsciously took a step back and turned as if to run.
But when he saw Qin Xiangru standing at the door, he forced himself to straighten up—he couldn’t lose face.
“I’m here to handle your paperwork, of course!”
Director Wu chimed in cheerfully, “Meiling, if you’re planning to change jobs, you should’ve told me first—you really caught me off guard!”
…What?
Liu Meiling’s eyes widened in disbelief.
“Li Mingliang, what did you come here for? Say that again?”
There was no need to ask anymore. At that moment, Qin Xiangru had already walked in holding a form.
“Brother Liang, I brought it. Should I fill it out here?”
Qin Xiangru!
Liu Meiling frowned, stepped forward, and snatched the job transfer (replacement hiring) approval form from her hands.
Luckily, they had arrived early—Qin Xiangru hadn’t filled it out yet.
Without hesitation, Liu Meiling pulled Yu Tao over, stuffed a pen into her hand, then turned to Director Wu:
“Director, something came up at home recently. I’ve decided to transfer my job to this girl, Tao’er. I’ve watched her grow up. She was sent down to the countryside a few years ago and suffered quite a bit, but don’t worry—
I know the rules of our textile factory. I’ll make sure she’s fully trained before I leave. It won’t affect production.
I’ll have to trouble you to look after her in the future.”
Director Wu’s curious gaze shifted between Liu Meiling and Li Mingliang, but he smiled and nodded.
“No problem, no problem!”
Ma Xiulian let out a sigh of relief and signaled to Yu Tao. Mother and daughter quickly retreated to a corner to fill out the form.
“What? You’re giving your job to someone else?”
Li Mingliang stared at her as if she were insane.
“Liu Meiling, have you lost your mind?! Why give such a good job to an outsider?! Xiangru doesn’t have a job—you should just give it to her!
She’s my sister, after all—it’s not like you’re giving it to a stranger!”
Liu Meiling let out a cold laugh, hands on her hips as she stood in front of Yu Tao, blocking Li Mingliang from getting near the form.
“How is she not an outsider? She’s your sister, not mine! If you’re so capable, why don’t you give your job to her?”
Qin Xiangru put on a flattering smile.
“Sister-in-law, what are you saying? Aren’t you planning to go home and enjoy life, to be cared for by your children?
It’s perfect if I take over your job—keeping the benefits within the family.”
Enjoy life?
Liu Meiling rolled her eyes. Who wanted to “enjoy life”? That just meant going home to be a servant!
In her previous life, she had given her job to Qin Xiangru, stayed home to serve the entire family, lived frugally, took care of children, cooked, cleaned, worked from morning till night—and still got called a freeloader.
“If going home is so great, why don’t you stay home instead of coming out to suffer at work?”
Qin Xiangru’s face showed just the right amount of bitterness.
“Sister-in-law, I have no choice. I don’t have a husband, and I have two children to raise.
If I don’t work, how will the three of us survive?”
That only made Liu Meiling angrier. She put her hands on her hips and glared at her.
“I’d really like to see what your face is made of—it’s thicker than a city wall!
Raise children? As if no one knows those two kids survive by picking trash outside every day!
What kind of properly raised children are that skinny?
When you called them ‘bastards’ and beat them whenever you felt like it, did you remember you were their mother?
When you didn’t even feed them, did you remember?
Now that you want a job, suddenly you remember you’re their mother?
You say you don’t have a husband—but doesn’t your brother send you money every month? Who do you think you’re fooling?
I do have a husband—and for over ten years he hasn’t given me a single cent for the household!
I do have a husband—and I raised all the children alone with my own job!
Qin Xiangru, don’t you feel ashamed saying all this?”
Seeing that Yu Tao was almost done filling out the form, Qin Xiangru panicked and grabbed Liu Meiling.
“Sister-in-law, even if you’re unhappy with me, you can’t joke around with your job like this!
How can you give it to an outsider instead of me?
I just didn’t have the ability before! Once I earn money, I’ll definitely take good care of the children!
Sister-in-law!”
Her voice rose sharply as she watched Yu Tao hand the form to Director Wu. Her eyes turned red.
“That’s my job!You’re not allowed to sign it!”
Director Wu paused, then sighed.
“Meiling, you should handle your family matters properly—don’t cause trouble for the factory.”
Without hesitation, Liu Meiling kicked forward.
“Director, this is my job—I have the right to decide. Please go ahead and sign it!
I’ll handle things at home.”
Li Mingliang wanted to rush forward and snatch it, but fear held him back—he had been beaten by Liu Meiling too many times. He could only try to persuade her instead:
“Even if you don’t give the job to Xiangru, Baoqing is about to graduate.
Are you willing to let your own daughter end up without a job?
Besides, Xiangru isn’t an outsider.
Let her take your position for a few years, then pass it to Baoqing later—this way it stays in the family.
Meiling, think it through! If you give it to an outsider, you’ll gain nothing in the end—and Baoqing will resent you!
You don’t want your daughter to stop being filial, do you?”
Filial?
Liu Meiling spat.
Wasn’t that exactly what she did in her previous life?
What did she get in return?
She gave her whole heart to Li Baoqing, and when she was dying, all she got were a few heartless words from that ungrateful child.
Filial piety? She had never seen it!
She spat directly into Li Mingliang’s face.
“Isn’t there still you? You’ve got a job, don’t you?
In a couple of years when you retire, just give your job to Baoqing!”
Did he really think she was stupid—unaware that Li Baoqing was actually Qin Xiangru’s daughter?
In her past life, she had been too foolish to notice—and even felt grateful to Qin Xiangru in the end!
“Director—sign it!”
“Don’t sign it! That’s my job!”
Qin Xiangru scrambled up like a vengeful ghost. For this job, she had humbled herself and flattered Li Mingliang for so long—
How could it possibly be given to someone else?!