Lin Yingxian remained silent for a moment before saying, “Many people have put in effort. I cannot assume that just because I’ve invested my heart and energy, I’m guaranteed a spot in the selection. The workshop director must have finalized the list of candidates for the Model Worker selection after comprehensive consideration. If I wasn’t selected, it must be because some aspect of my performance fell short. So, I don’t feel frustrated or unfairly treated.”
Lin Yingxian believed that competition was about each person relying on their own abilities. The ultimate winner would surely possess the strength to defeat their rivals, regardless of what form that strength took. It wasn’t yet time to determine victory or defeat—who would emerge victorious was still uncertain.
Secretary Li had a favorable impression of Lin Yingxian. She was neither subservient nor arrogant, spoke with clarity and logic, and was an honest and diligent person. He harbored even greater doubts and suspicions about the list of Model Worker candidates submitted by the tablet workshop director.
After the two had spoken for a while, the workshop director returned and saw Secretary Li.
The workshop director eagerly engaged Secretary Li in conversation, while Lin Yingxian acted like a robot who only nodded and smiled, saying nothing more.
Watching Secretary Li’s departing figure, the workshop director said to Lin Yingxian, “Comrade Xiao Lin, your recent performance has been quite good. I’ve taken note of it. Keep up the good work, and I won’t let you down.” The workshop director appeared to hold Lin Yingxian in high regard.
Hearing the workshop director’s words, Lin Yingxian showed an expression of being moved and greatly encouraged. “Director, I will definitely live up to your expectations.”
The workshop director nodded with satisfaction. Such a young person without any backing was easiest to control. He then turned and entered the workshop.
Lin Yingxian’s expression returned to normal.
In the office of the labor union chairman, Secretary Li reported to Zhao Yijun on the situation he had investigated and learned about in the tablet workshop.
After pondering for a moment, Zhao Yijun said, “It seems the article was indeed written by Lin Yingxian. She is also a dedicated and selfless comrade, which is why she could write such an article with less than two years of work experience. We must not let down such an outstanding comrade. Go find the inspection team and tell them to investigate everyone on the Model Worker candidate list submitted by the tablet workshop, as well as the workshop director himself. If there are problems, we absolutely cannot allow corrupt elements to spread and erode from within, corrupting our ranks.”
Not long after, one day, Lin Yingxian saw the workshop director being taken away by the inspection team. Several of the packaging female workers were buzzing with discussion. Sister Peng’s face instantly drained of color, and she became as quiet as Lin Yingxian.
Zhong Hong said with schadenfreude, “The other day, a whole group from the inspection team searched the director’s home and found a lot of evidence of bribery. The director’s wife was terrified and immediately turned against him, confessing all the details of his bribery. When the director returned, he beat his wife half to death. She packed her things and went back to her parents’ home. Given the director’s current state, they’ll surely divorce.”
Suddenly, one of the female workers said, “Do you think the director will name everyone who gave him gifts? When facing death, dragging others down with him—that sounds just like the director’s style.”
Another female worker chimed in, “Thank goodness people like me don’t have money to engage in gift-giving. Those who did give gifts must be terrified now, afraid the inspection team will come knocking on their doors.”
Zhong Hong instantly lost her smile and became restless. Even the director couldn't handle the matter for her, so she should be fine. Zhong Hong silently comforted herself.
In the evening, Lin Yingxian returned home and saw Mother Lin lighting the stove to cook something, instead of using the communal kitchen.
Lin Yingxian smelled meat. "Mom, what meat are we having today?"
"Soybean and beef bone soup. Old Lu's slaughterhouse killed a cow today, and his wife invited me to go with her to buy meat. When we got to the slaughterhouse, there was only a pile of beef bones left. We went early, so we managed to pick some with meat still on them."
The Old Lu mentioned by Mother Lin was a fellow townsman of Father Lin. Whenever the textile factory had defective fabric, Mother Lin would notify Old Lu's wife so she could buy it at a low price. The two women helped each other out, and their relationship grew closer. Whenever there was something affordable, they would inform each other.
Lin Yingxian stayed by the stove to tend the fire. She took a letter from her crossbody bag and threw it into the stove to burn.
Mother Lin asked, "Why are you burning the letter?"
"It's a discarded draft. No use keeping it." The envelope and the letter inside turned to ashes in the stove.
This was a whistleblower letter Lin Yingxian had written. To avoid anyone recognizing her handwriting, she had practiced writing with her left hand for a while to regain the feel. In her previous world, Lin Yingxian could write with both hands because she had been left-handed as a child. Her parents couldn't stand her being left-handed, thinking it abnormal. Lin Yingxian had practiced for a long time to switch her dominant hand to her right.
When submitting her article, Lin Yingxian deliberately sent it to newspapers like the Workers' Daily and Labor News, which primarily targeted workers and had large circulations. Moreover, these newspapers would be more interested in her article. The Workers' Daily was also one of the publications most frequently read by factory leaders and cadres.
Based on information from Jiang Lixia and overheard gossip among female workers about the main leaders of the Pharmaceutical Factory, Lin Yingxian had a general understanding of their personalities and working styles.
If Zhao Yijun and the factory director were the first to take an interest in her published article and take action, she would stay put and completely distance herself. This was because they were leaders who valued fairness, justice, and integrity. Moreover, they were military transfers who had been assigned to the Pharmaceutical Factory relatively recently, so they had fewer convoluted connections and complex networks. They were also looking for opportunities to solidify their positions and establish authority in the factory. She would take the chance to hand them a knife. Building new staff dormitories was their first major move after arriving at the Jiangcheng Pharmaceutical Factory.
If other leaders, long immersed in political struggles, were the first to discover her article in the newspaper and take note of her and the tablet workshop, she would anonymously send the whistleblower letter to the inspection team office. This would expose the workshop director's bribery and disrupt any plans by those leaders to downplay or cover up the matter.
Once the workshop director was ousted, the Model Worker nomination that belonged to her would also fall into her hands…
At dinnertime, Mother Lin lifted the lid of the soup pot, and a rich, savory aroma wafted out, whetting everyone's appetite.
Lin Yingwan and Zhou Donghong were particularly tempted. Lin Yingwan had always been fond of good food, while Zhou Donghong's appetite had improved due to her pregnancy. It was no surprise that they had quickly become addicted to the dried kumquats last time.
Having learned their lesson from the previous incident, the two restrained themselves and no longer dared to show too much eagerness. They waited properly for Mother Lin to serve everyone their soup.
The soybean and beef bone soup was rich in aroma, with the soybeans and meat on the bones stewed to a tender softness, yet its flavor remained refreshingly sweet without being greasy.
Lin Yingxian found the soup delicious, her eyes curving even more like crescent moons. Seeing Lin Yingxian's enjoyment, Mother Lin poured the remaining soup from the pot into her bowl. "You've been working hard lately and have lost some weight. Drink more beef bone soup to nourish yourself."
Lin Yingxian held the bowl with both hands. "Thank you, Mom."
Lin Yingwan and Zhou Donghong, who had originally intended to compete for the remaining soup in the pot, could only give up upon seeing this.