Jiang Shan: “!”
What a coincidence—Jiang Shan suddenly felt as if her throat had been grabbed too, her breathing nearly stopping.
One hand clutching her neck to catch her breath, she pointed at Jiang Zao angrily. “Jiang Zao, don’t go too far! You’re the one who had mental illness!”
She had finally managed to get into the food factory, even changing her household registration to rural for it. And now Jiang Zao was exposing her past in front of everyone.
Wasn’t her so-called mental illness all because of Jiang Zao? Jiang Zao had called the police on her, and she had only pretended to be insane to get out.
“Jiang Zao, put your hand on your conscience and tell the truth—did I ever have mental illness or not?”
Jiang Zao slowly raised her hand and placed it over her “conscience.” “You did.”
“If you weren’t mentally ill, why would you drug my partner with an aphrodisiac and try to violate him?”
“It’s understandable. After all, you’re not mentally sound. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have been released.”
In her previous life, she had been foolish enough to believe that putting family first and being good to others would mean being good to herself.
She had spent her whole life thinking of others, working tirelessly—what did she get in return?
Less money than her peers.
Worse health than her peers.
Before pitying others, she should pity herself first.
Ignoring Jiang Shan’s nervous, fearful, and faintly pleading gaze, Jiang Zao exposed everything.
The surrounding murmurs grew louder:
“Isn’t she Zhang Cuimiao’s niece? Why didn’t Aunt Zhang ever say her niece had mental illness?”
“I just got married—what if she sets her sights on my husband and drugs him?” one woman responsible for kneading dough said worriedly.
Young couples were deeply attached and watched each other closely.
“This is a food factory—if she tampers with food, someone could die!”
Qin Xuehua’s expression darkened, her displeasure evident. “What’s all this noise? Jiang Shan was approved personally by me to enter the factory. Her health has already returned to normal.”
“Jiang Zao, as her cousin, why are you being so aggressive?”
Jiang Zao’s eyes were filled with mockery. “Stating facts is considered aggressive, but you all ganging up to bully me is something I deserve?”
She continued, “Wang Meili slandered my relationship with Section Chief Zhang and Master Sun, damaging my reputation. If I win against her, she must apologize publicly to both of us.”
Wang Meili immediately said, “And if you lose, you leave the food factory!”
The things she had said on reporting day were already hard to clarify. If Jiang Zao dragged Section Chief Zhang into it, things would escalate. It would be better to drive Jiang Zao out entirely and let the matter die.
Over time, everyone would forget.
And even if some remembered—no one would offend her over Jiang Zao.
Chang Sanxi frowned. “If she wins, you apologize. If she loses, why should she leave the factory? That’s completely unfair.”
Jiang Zao smiled faintly at Chang Sanxi in gratitude.
“It’s fine. I won’t lose.”
They weren’t related and had only met a few times, yet Chang Sanxi was willing to speak up for her—it was rare.
Jiang Shan rolled her eyes. “Jiang Zao, stop bragging. You’re not even favored at home—you’ve barely had decent food, yet you boast like this.”
“If you know what’s good for you, kneel and admit your mistake. Beg Meili and the team leader to give you a chance to stay.”
Hearing Jiang Shan’s words, Wang Meili’s confidence shot from five to ten.
“It’s too late to back out now. Jiang Zao, you agreed to this yourself—you won’t act like a coward, will you?”
Jiang Zao remained calm. “Of course not.”
The stakes were unfair to Jiang Zao. Chang Sanxi spoke again, “Master Sun, say something. If Jiang Zao loses—”
Sun Ligen raised his hand, signaling her to stop.
“Let her compete.”
He turned, grabbed a piece of dough, and tossed it onto the scale. The needle settled at the position for three liang. “This is a three-liang portion. You’ll each have five minutes to pinch ten pieces. Whoever is more accurate wins.”
“No. Who knows if you secretly told Jiang Zao the test beforehand so she could practice?” Qin Xuehua eyed him suspiciously.
As a master, Sun Ligen no longer worked on the production line and didn’t interact much with Qin Xuehua.
He hadn’t expected her to be this troublesome. If it were his own matter, he would have walked away long ago.
Suppressing his irritation, he asked, “Then what weight do you suggest?”
Qin Xuehua said, “80 grams.”
A flash of excitement crossed Wang Meili’s eyes.
At home, she often helped her father make steamed buns—the dough portions were exactly 80 grams!
As expected of her aunt—clever and increasing her chances of winning.
Jiang Zao glanced at Wang Meili with a faint smile, her disdain undisguised. “Fine. 80 grams. Since you’re setting the question, don’t go back on your word later and claim I, a young woman in her twenties, bullied the two of you.”
Jiang Shan was stunned.
W-was this really Jiang Zao?
The Jiang Zao she remembered was obedient and simple-minded, believing whatever others said.
Now she was sharp all over, completely unyielding—arrogant and confident.
…Sigh.
Having such a relative was truly unlucky. If Jiang Zao embarrassed herself, would it drag her down too?
She hadn’t even made a move yet, and Jiang Zao was already setting herself up for failure.
Jiang Shan frowned and addressed the crowd, “Everyone, you saw and heard just now—my relationship with Jiang Zao is very bad. I tried to persuade her, but she wouldn’t listen. If she cries or kneels to beg later, it has nothing to do with me.”
Team Leader Qin rarely showed a smile. “Don’t worry. Everyone can see you’re a good comrade.”
Jiang Zao: “…”
She really spared no effort…
Master Sun said coldly, “Begin.”
He casually tore off another piece of dough and tossed it onto the empty scale.
Clack!
The needle pointed precisely at 80 grams.
The watching workers made space for two workstations.
Wang Meili took the left side first, and Jiang Zao stepped onto the right.
Sun Ligen said, “You have one minute to observe the size of an 80-gram portion. After that, you may only pinch ten pieces, and each one will count toward the result.”
Jiang Zao calmed herself and carefully observed the size, mimicking the volume in her hand to familiarize herself with the feel.
Wang Meili grew even more confident, her smile nearly reaching her ears.
“One minute is up. Begin.”
With only five minutes, Wang Meili grabbed the dough, adjusted it to a suitable thickness, and started pinching. Relying on her sense of touch, she successfully formed the first piece—after that, the rest came more easily.
One minute passed, and Jiang Zao had yet to move.
Jiang Shan couldn’t help but cover her mouth and laugh. “What’s wrong? Can’t keep up the act anymore?”
“Look, Sister Meili has already made three pieces, and you haven’t made even one. If I were you, I’d just turn around and leave now—it wouldn’t be so embarrassing. Why humiliate yourself?”