Zhao Xiaoting looked up at her aunt in disbelief. What was wrong with her aunt? Hadn’t she always doted on her? How could she hit her for the sake of an outsider?
But when she saw the warning in her aunt’s eyes, Zhao Xiaoting shrank back.
It was a look she had never seen before. Instinctively, she hunched her shoulders.
She knew that if she didn’t apologize today, this matter would not be easily resolved.
She gritted her teeth in resentment, her gaze involuntarily drifting toward the two teeth lying on the ground, mixed with blood.
She felt utterly humiliated and wronged.
With her face swollen like a pig’s head, tears and snot streaming down, she looked utterly pathetic.
The onlookers felt a twinge of sympathy for her—she really was in a sorry state.
But then, remembering what she had done, their sympathy quickly faded.
She deserved it!
Why couldn’t she just be a proper salesperson?
Why did she have to stir up trouble for no reason?
Zhao Xiaoting was filled with resentment. It took her a long time to finally speak.
“Aunt, take a good look at me. I’m the one who got beaten up, and you’re still asking me to apologize? What kind of logic is that?” Zhao Xiaoting was indignant.
Why should she apologize after being beaten? Just because the other person was the orphan of a martyr?
Why? The more she thought about it, the angrier she became.
She would rather die than apologize, unless the sun rose from the west.
The director of the Supply and Marketing Cooperative was Jiang Lingling, a woman who knew how to read the situation. She wasn’t a bad person, but she was shrewd.
She knew that in this situation, if Zhao Xiaoting didn’t apologize, this matter would not end well.
“Even if you got beaten up, you deserved it. Who told you to run your mouth? I’ve warned you time and again not to speak carelessly or offend people unnecessarily. But you never listen. I’m telling you now—apologize immediately. Do you hear me?” Jiang Lingling’s tone was severe.
An aura of undeniable authority emanated from her, befitting someone who could serve as the director of the Supply and Marketing Cooperative.
Zhao Xiaoting was initially intimidated, but she quickly snapped out of it.
What could they do to her if she refused to apologize?
Filled with resentment, her face—already swollen like a pig’s head—turned red and puffy with anger, making it almost unbearable to look at.
At that moment, she felt utterly humiliated. Since when had she ever suffered such indignity?
She would rather die than apologize.
Stubbornly, she refused to apologize, glaring at Ruan Sui’an with eyes full of hatred.
It was all because of this little wretch. Couldn’t she just have ignored a few words? Why did she have to cause trouble?
Besides, she had only said a few things. Was it really necessary to make such a big deal out of it?
Ruan Sui’an couldn’t possibly miss Zhao Xiaoting’s glare. It seemed she still wasn’t convinced.
Ruan Sui’an loved teaching a lesson to those who refused to admit their mistakes.
“It seems I didn’t hit her hard enough. Otherwise, she wouldn’t still be so clueless,” Ruan Sui’an said, waving her hand as if she were about to charge forward and strike again.
Zhao Xiaoting, now afraid of being hit again, shrank back despite her lingering resentment and hid behind Jiang Lingling, seeking her aunt’s protection.
Jiang Lingling stood motionless, seething with anger.
At that moment, she also wanted to slap Zhao Xiaoting across the face to vent her frustration.
She tugged at Zhao Xiaoting and, through gritted teeth, demanded once more that she apologize.
"Zhao Xiaoting, apologize."
How angry she was at this moment could be heard from the gritted teeth with which she spoke these words.
The people around all felt a bit sorry for this Supply and Marketing Cooperative director—truly, she must have had the worst luck for eight lifetimes.
To end up with such a niece.
"This director really is unlucky. How could she have such an unreasonable niece?"
"She really is quite unlucky. Why couldn't you just work honestly as a salesclerk? You had to go looking for trouble. Now look—not only do you have to apologize yourself, but you've also dragged your aunt into it."
"Already grown up and still so clueless. It must be really hard on the aunt."
…
Ruan Sui'an thought what the people around were saying was indeed right—this Supply and Marketing Cooperative director really was unlucky.
Actually, Ruan Sui'an didn't necessarily insist on this apology, because she knew even if an apology came, it wouldn't be sincere.
Better to get more compensation instead—money was more practical.
She looked at Jiang Lingling and said without any politeness, "Forget it, you don't have to force her. I don't need her apology either. But the compensation has to satisfy me. The 100 yuan you mentioned isn't enough."
100 yuan—that was like tossing coins to a beggar. She wasn't that cheap.
Her hand hurt from hitting someone just now—she needed compensation for her delicate, boneless little hand.
If the people around knew what Ruan Sui'an was thinking at this moment, they would surely call her shameless.
Hitting someone until your hand hurts, and still having the nerve to ask for compensation.
Never mind how badly you beat up the other person.
Jiang Lingling had a terrible headache right now. Her niece was just stubborn and arrogant, used to throwing her weight around—there was no way she would apologize.
And she didn't even realize her own mistake at all.
It looked like today would be a major loss. Whatever compensation she gave out today, she would have to get it back from her sister-in-law no matter what.
She couldn't be the one to take this loss.
She forced a smile and asked Ruan Sui'an, "Then, miss, how much compensation would you like?"
Ruan Sui'an unapologetically held up a hand—at least 500 yuan.
The 100 yuan mentioned earlier was far too little.
Jiang Lingling closed her eyes, then opened them again. Seeing the five fingers in front of her, she gritted her teeth, clenched her fists, and nodded with a pained heart.
"500 yuan is fine." Jiang Lingling just wanted to resolve this matter quickly now.
Even though she had to pay out 500 yuan and her heart was bleeding, she still had to put on a brave face.
After all, there were so many people watching around her—she couldn't lose her composure. She was, after all, the director of the Supply and Marketing Cooperative.
She agreed, but Zhao Xiaoting did not. She rushed out from behind Jiang Lingling!
Pointing at Ruan Sui'an, she shouted loudly, "No, absolutely not! I don't agree! Don't go too far—500 yuan? Are you robbing us?"
After shouting at Ruan Sui'an, she turned to her aunt and said, "Aunt, how could you agree? That's 500 yuan! It would take me two years to earn 500. No, I absolutely don't agree."
The people around also gasped in shock—that was 500 yuan! Their whole family might not even earn 500 in a year. This girl really dared to ask for it.
But none of them thought it was excessive. The young lady was the daughter of a hero—how dare someone spread rumors calling a hero's daughter a "broken shoe"? She had to pay the price.
Even though they also thought 500 yuan was a bit much, they didn't feel the slightest sympathy for Zhao Xiaoting.
She deserved it—who told her to talk nonsense?
They believed that from now on, this salesperson would certainly rein herself in.
Jiang Lingling watched this wretched girl still making a scene here and angrily grabbed her hand, shoving her aside.
Zhao Xiaoting hadn't expected her aunt to push her. Caught off guard, she fell flat on her face.
She lay on the ground for a long time, unable to get up, but no one paid her any attention, leaving her sprawled there.
"Shut your mouth! It's all your fault. If you dare spout nonsense again, I'll slap you," Jiang Lingling had lost all composure in her anger.
Losing 500 yuan was painful enough, and now this wretched girl was still jumping around—did she think the compensation wasn't enough?
Didn't she realize that if they went to the police station, not only would they have to pay compensation, but they might even lose their jobs?
If she lost her job, she would also lose her say at home. She absolutely would not let that happen.
Ruan Sui'an hadn't expected the director of the Supply and Marketing Cooperative to be so straightforward, saving her from having to argue further.
She reached out to Jiang Lingling, her mood much improved, and her tone softened considerably. "In that case, give me the money!"
She had already wasted enough time on these irrelevant people.
Her time was precious and couldn't be wasted any longer.
Jiang Lingling pulled a handkerchief from her pocket, unfolded it, and inside were a stack of money and a few ration coupons.
She counted the money and coupons and found it was only a little over 200 yuan. Adding a sewing machine coupon and a bicycle coupon, it barely made 500 yuan.
But these sewing machine and bicycle coupons were meant for her brother's betrothal gifts when she took them back to her parents' home.
She couldn't give them away.
"Young lady, I don’t have that much money on me right now. I’ll give you 200 first, then go home to get the rest. You can look around the Supply and Marketing Cooperative in the meantime. How does that sound?"
Ruan Sui'an had also seen the bicycle and sewing machine coupons in Jiang Lingling’s hand. She had initially thought it would be acceptable if Jiang Lingling used them to make up the difference.
But she could understand why Jiang Lingling was unwilling to part with them. After all, these industrial coupons weren’t something you could buy even if you had the money.
The others were somewhat envious of Jiang Lingling. They only had a few dozen yuan at most, while Jiang Lingling could produce over 200 yuan at once, along with bicycle and sewing machine coupons.
Bicycle and sewing machine coupons weren’t something just anyone could get.
Even with money, you might not be able to buy them.
Ruan Sui’an wasn’t the type to press someone too hard, so she readily agreed.
"Sure, I’ll wait for you."
She wasn’t worried that Jiang Lingling would leave and not return. After all, as the director of the Supply and Marketing Cooperative, she wouldn’t risk her job over 300 yuan.
The others were a bit envious of Ruan Sui’an. After being subjected to a few slanderous rumors, she had received 500 yuan in compensation.
If they were in her shoes, would they also get 500 yuan? But upon second thought, it was impossible.
After all, they were different from this young lady. She was the daughter of a hero.
They couldn’t compare to her. Hadn’t they seen how the director of the Supply and Marketing Cooperative would rather pay compensation than report it to the Public Security?
Jiang Lingling strode toward the entrance of the Supply and Marketing Cooperative. After taking two steps, she seemed to remember something and turned back, walking over with a fierce expression.
Everyone looked at Jiang Lingling in confusion, wondering what she intended to do with such a menacing look.
Under the puzzled gazes of the crowd, Jiang Lingling walked up to Zhao Xiaoting, grabbed her hand, and once again strode away.
Zhao Xiaoting had just gotten up and wanted to struggle, but she couldn’t break free from Jiang Lingling, who was in a fit of anger.
She shouted, "Aunt, what are you doing? I still have to go to work!"
Without even turning her head, Jiang Lingling snapped loudly, "Work? You’re not going to work anymore. The Supply and Marketing Cooperative is too small to hold a big shot like you."
"No, I want to work at the Supply and Marketing Cooperative. Aunt, how can you do this?" Zhao Xiaoting struggled, unwilling to leave the cooperative.
This time, Jiang Lingling absolutely couldn’t let this troublemaker stay at the Supply and Marketing Cooperative. If she stayed any longer, Jiang Lingling felt she might lose several years of her life.