The three people standing there besides Yu Meijing all trembled simultaneously.
The manager’s face was stern. “Xiao Lin, don’t worry. I will definitely handle this matter. Our factory absolutely does not tolerate such despicable behavior!”
Lin Miaomiao looked at her as if gazing at a hero, her eyes shining. “Manager, you’re so kind. I don’t mind for myself, but I’m just worried about affecting you. After all, the factory is under such strict scrutiny right now. If this matter reaches Director Lu’s ears, I can accept it, but if it drags you down, my conscience would never be at peace for the rest of my life…”
Upon hearing this, the manager was outraged!
Lin Miaomiao had been insulted like this, yet she was still wholeheartedly thinking about her, the manager, afraid of implicating her. Such a kind and sensible comrade—how could these people bear to insult her like that? It was truly vicious. “I act with integrity and do what is right. Let’s see who dares to gossip about me! Xiao Lin, don’t worry either. As long as I’m here, I won’t let anything happen to you!”
Her tone was gentle and reassuring. She had always liked diligent and studious young people, let alone someone who cared so much about her as a leader. The manager felt genuinely moved, realizing how admired she was by her subordinates.
She was very pleased.
But when her gaze fell on Wang Xiulan and Chen Hongmei’s faces, it turned stormy again. “Wang Xiulan, Chen Hongmei, Liu Taohua, what do you three have to say?”
Wang Xiulan’s face flushed red. It wasn’t just the three of them who had said those things—everyone had. Why were they the only ones being singled out?
But facing the manager’s gloomy expression, she didn’t dare to get angry and could only say resentfully, “Manager, I know I was wrong. We didn’t mean it.”
“I don’t care whether you meant it or not. All of you must apologize properly to Xiao Lin!”
Wang Xiulan felt even more aggrieved. She had been hit, and now she had to apologize too? Was there no justice in the world?
Lin Miaomiao was truly a vixen. Not only did she seduce Director Lu, but she also flattered shamelessly. Knowing the manager liked studious people, she put on an act. What could someone without any education possibly learn?
Wang Xiulan’s face was full of disdain.
“What, all of you mute now? Weren’t you all quite talkative when you were badmouthing Xiao Lin earlier?” The manager saw their reluctance and sneered.
The three trembled. Though extremely unwilling, they feared the manager’s authority and could only force themselves to speak. “Lin Miaomiao, s-sorry.”
“We shouldn’t have spoken ill of you.”
“Louder!” The manager was dissatisfied.
“Sorry!” the three shouted, their eyes red with resentment after speaking. Only then did the manager look somewhat satisfied. “Consider this a warning! As colleagues, not only do you fail to help each other, but you also bully her behind her back! From now on, anyone who dares to gossip behind my back will be kicked out of the Finance Department!”
The three turned pale, truly not daring to do it again.
Lin Miaomiao looked at the manager sadly. “Manager, whether they help me or not doesn’t matter to me. I’m just afraid of implicating you. You’re so good to everyone, yet because of me, people are criticizing you behind your back. If this spreads, outsiders might think it’s your fault. When one prospers, all prosper; when one suffers, all suffer. Our entire department could be implicated because of this.”
The manager looked back with lingering fear and turned to the three of them: “Did you hear that? If any of you had even half of Xiao Lin’s awareness, our department wouldn’t have become a laughingstock. All of you, go write another thousand-word self-criticism and hand it in. I want to see your newfound awareness!”
The three of them were so angry their noses were practically crooked, glaring viciously at Lin Miaomiao.
Lin Miaomiao fearfully hid behind the manager. “Why are you glaring at me? If you really don’t want to do it, you can tell the manager. I believe the manager is understanding and won’t force you.”
“Still unwilling? If you’re unwilling, then get out!”
The three of them turned pale. Though they were seething with resentment inside, they no longer dared to provoke Lin Miaomiao and hurriedly said, “No, Manager, we’re willing! We’re ten thousand times willing!”
After the three were dismissed by the manager, Lin Miaomiao took the opportunity to bring up applying for a single dormitory.
The manager expressed understanding: “I’ll help you apply for this, but as you know, because many people in the past used connections to monopolize factory resources, the application process is now very strict. I’ll submit it for you, but it might not get approved. Be mentally prepared and don’t get your hopes up too high.”
Lin Miaomiao gratefully thanked him.
When she returned to her workstation, she clearly felt that everyone had become much more subdued; no one even dared to look at her.
After all, when Wang Xiulan and the others had returned earlier, everyone had assumed that since the three of them had been beaten so badly, Lin Miaomiao and Yu Meijing must have suffered even worse. Yet not only were these two unharmed, but Wang Xiulan and the others had been punished with writing self-criticisms.
When the three returned, everyone saw they were so angry they had cried.
Their faces were swollen, looking utterly miserable, and they didn’t dare say another word.
While Lin Miaomiao felt at ease, the others were trembling with fear, worried that this shameless woman might report them to the manager as well.
…
With many dormitories now vacant, it wasn’t just Lin Miaomiao who was tempted.
But the factory wasn’t foolish either; they wouldn’t make decisions based on hearsay alone.
Everyone had to be called in for questioning.
Lin Miaomiao remembered that dormitory assignments used to be handled by a manager, but she hadn’t expected to be summoned to the factory director’s office again.
Seriously, does he have nothing better to do? He personally conducts interviews for assessments, and now he’s personally reviewing dormitory applications too?
Lin Miaomiao had a bad feeling about this.
When she entered the office, besides her, there was another manager present.
Lin Miaomiao had heard about this manager before. Rumor had it that to get a good dormitory assignment, you had to bribe him under the table.
He had secretly accepted many gifts, but because he was a senior manager who had worked at the factory for ten years and had extensive connections, even the factory director had to show him some respect.
This time, with the factory director suddenly taking charge of the matter, his expression was rather unpleasant.
Still, he maintained a respectful attitude, knowing that this new factory director was not someone to be trifled with.
Seeing this scene upon entering, Lin Miaomiao was momentarily taken aback.
“Factory Director, Manager Liu, what did you need me for?”
“Lin Miaomiao, right? I see you’ve applied for a single dormitory this time, citing special circumstances and that you have a child with you. I want to ask you, since your situation is so inconvenient, why didn’t you apply earlier? Why only now?” Manager Liu asked disapprovingly.