Without even looking, Jiang Zao knew they were talking about her.
Her face turned cold as she asked calmly, “Comrade, which eye of yours saw me flirting around? We’re all raised by our parents—there’s no reason for me to be insulted by you. If you don’t explain yourself clearly today, don’t think about leaving.”
She carried herself upright and had no reason to swallow such humiliation.
Besides, she remembered this female comrade—she had reported earlier than her. Her name was Wang Meili.
They had both been admitted together and would be colleagues in the future. If she endured insults now, there would only be endless grievances waiting for her later.
Grievances… she had already suffered enough of them in her previous life!
Seeing Jiang Zao stand her ground, Wang Meili became even more sarcastic. “Oh my, and you say you’re not flirting? A poor nobody like you dares to challenge me—aren’t you just relying on Master Sun personally taking you under his wing?”
“My father is a head pastry chef at a state-run restaurant. Even when he invited Master Sun for drinks, he didn’t agree to teach me. Who do you think you are? If you hadn’t been fawning over him, why would he teach you personally?”
“And Section Chief Zhang—he didn’t even smile much at me. Why does he smile at you?”
Jiang Zao’s eyes were cold. “Do you think the whole world revolves around your parents?”
“Your father spoils you—that’s his business. This is a food factory. No one here is obligated to indulge you. I passed the exam on my own merit. If I’m capable, I naturally receive attention.”
The contempt and disdain on Wang Meili’s face deepened, as if she had heard a joke. “Your ability? Do you even know that I’ve been kneading dough with my father since I was three? What about you? Have you ever trained before?”
Jiang Zao answered honestly, “Not formally.”
Wang Meili’s tone turned harsher. “Exactly! No matter how capable you think you are, could you possibly be better than me?”
The two of them arguing in front of the personnel office couldn’t be ignored.
Zhang Jisheng stepped out and asked sternly, “You haven’t even officially started work, and you’re already arguing like this?”
“Is there no sense of unity at all?”
Jiang Zao immediately responded, “Section Chief Zhang, I also want to maintain unity with Comrade Wang and improve together. But Comrade Wang has serious doubts about my results. She believes that because her father is better than mine, she must also be better than me.”
“She also has serious doubts about my relationship with you, and with Master Sun.”
If the Jiang family saw how sharp Jiang Zao was now, they might think she had been possessed.
With the door closed earlier, Zhang Jisheng hadn’t heard what they were arguing about.
Hearing Jiang Zao’s words, he immediately stepped back three paces, afraid of being implicated in baseless rumors.
He turned and scolded Wang Meili, “Comrade Jiang passed through her own ability. Out of the five dough portions she weighed by hand, three were exactly 50 grams, and the other two were 49.5 grams. You only had one at 50 grams—the rest were inaccurate. Master Sun is personally teaching her because she has excellent hand control!”
Wang Meili stomped her foot. “Impossible! Even my father can’t achieve that level of precision by hand. She’s never trained—how could she do it?”
Zhang Jisheng snorted. “Wang Meili, don’t be so narrow-minded. There are plenty of geniuses in this world.”
“If you don’t believe it, once you officially start work, compare your skills—you’ll see.”
Wang Meili lifted her chin and challenged Jiang Zao, “Do you dare to compete with me?”
Jiang Zao had nothing to fear. “Then let’s compete.”
Some things were better proven early. This was a strict era—she didn’t want any dirty rumors spreading.
Wang Meili left confidently, determined to expose Jiang Zao’s “fake” results in front of everyone.
Zhang Jisheng rubbed his temples and didn’t dare say too much to Jiang Zao. “Go home early. Don’t take her words to heart. If you don’t want to compete, you don’t have to.”
Jiang Zao shook her head slowly, her voice firm. “We must compete. Only then can we shut her up.”
“I have nothing to be afraid of.”
Although she hadn’t undergone formal training, her hands were skillful. Once she saw something and remembered its volume, she could estimate nearly the same weight by hand.
Zhang Jisheng nodded. “Alright, do your best.”
If Jiang Zao could defeat Wang Meili publicly, all the rumors and slander would collapse on their own.
“Section Chief Zhang, I’ll be going now. My partner is waiting for me outside.”
Those words reassured Zhang Jisheng even more. The young woman had a partner—if anything spread, it would clearly be Wang Meili’s fault.
After leaving the food factory, Jiang Zao passed several workers around her age. When they saw her, their eyes were filled with admiration.
This era was more conservative. Even if impressed, they wouldn’t approach her. They would simply take note and, if they met again later, quietly inquire whether she was already taken.
If not, they might casually strike up a conversation and see where things could go.
Xiao Shuisheng stood outside the factory gates. Tall, broad-shouldered, with a narrow waist and long legs, he was like a towering tree capable of holding up the world.
Standing under the shade, his features were sharp and handsome—thick brows, slightly upturned eyes, deep and bright gaze.
Seeing the male workers repeatedly glance back at Jiang Zao, his eyes narrowed dangerously.
But when Jiang Zao approached, he switched back to his gentle, approachable demeanor, hiding all traces of jealousy. “Stand on my left—I’ll block the sun for you.”
Jiang Zao was indeed feeling hot. “I successfully registered. Oh, and about the job—later, just say you arranged it for me.”
She didn’t mention the argument with Wang Meili. Wang Meili seemed simple-minded and reckless—offending the personnel chief on her very first day. Though trouble might come later, there was no need to complain and make Xiao Shuisheng worry.
As for the job, she had already planned it. “Just tell my family that the job is part of the bride price.”
Things like the sewing machine, fabric, tables, and chairs—once taken home, none of them could be brought out again.
Xiao Shuisheng didn’t interfere much with family matters, but that didn’t mean he didn’t understand why she said this.
His girl was thinking ahead for their future home.
“Alright. I’ll listen to you.”
“When we get married, my savings and allowance will all go to you. You’ll manage everything in our home.”
Under Xiao Shuisheng’s intense gaze, Jiang Zao’s face instantly turned red.
With a straight face, he teased her, “The weather is really hot—it’s turned my little Zao’er’s face all red. There’s a popsicle vendor ahead. I’ll buy you one to cool down.”
Jiang Zao was usually quite articulate, but in front of Xiao Shuisheng, she lost her words.
Every time, he teased her until her face flushed, leaving her unsure what to say.
Xiao Shuisheng bought two popsicles and a bottle of orange soda.
As Jiang Zao ate her popsicle, someone held the soda for her. When she finished and felt less hot, the soda was handed to her.
Each time, Xiao Shuisheng would pass things to her and then step a few paces away.
Before marriage, he was always careful to protect Jiang Zao’s reputation.
Jiang Zao took a sip of the soda and sighed, “I’ve never had this at home.”