After explaining those matters to Zhang Wenwen, Bai Xiaotong went back home.
She lived in the third residential compound of the factory area, not far from the sixth compound—just a few minutes’ walk away.
Jiangcheng Textile Factory was one of the top state-owned enterprises in the province, with over five thousand employees alone. Within the factory area, there were more than a dozen employee dormitory buildings and over twenty residential compounds.
With so many people and such a chaotic environment, coupled with the fact that the textile factory was predominantly staffed by female workers, gossip and trivial conflicts were constantly unfolding. This made the factory area and residential compounds lively and bustling.
When Bai Xiaotong returned, the gossipy women queuing to use the restroom downstairs coincidentally happened to be talking about her.
“At the employee commendation meeting before the New Year, Comrade Chen sat side by side with the outstanding employee Hu Xiulan and publicly acknowledged their relationship. Bai Xiaotong was so furious she ran out crying on the spot.”
“Comrade Chen is skilled and educated—a talented young man in the factory. Bai Xiaotong is the factory beauty. On paper, they’re a good match. It’s just a shame Bai Xiaotong is too high-maintenance. Relying on her good looks, she doesn’t lift a finger at home, and outside, she’s both delicate and arrogant. A woman like that is fine to look at, but if you marry her, she’d be like a young mistress—can’t cook, can’t do housework, all delicate and fragile. She probably can’t even bear children—what use is she?”
“Exactly!”
“Comrade Chen is a practical man. Some things become clear if you think about them.”
“Right!”
“Although Hu Xiulan isn’t as pretty as Bai Xiaotong, she’s efficient, capable, sweet-talking, and likable. She became an outstanding employee after just two years at the factory. A woman like that is the kind who can build a life together after marriage.”
“Yes, I heard Chen Xiangjun’s mother, Liu Mei, really likes Hu Xiulan too. A few days ago, she even asked her son to bring her home for dinner. She’s very satisfied.”
“The Chen family is well-off—everyone in the family has a job. Liu Mei is an educated woman, so it’s only natural she doesn’t like someone like Bai Xiaotong.”
“When marrying a wife, virtue matters most. Not just Teacher Liu—even I wouldn’t agree.”
Several gossipy women shook their heads and sighed, their faces full of disdain.
Suddenly, Bai Xiaotong’s mother, Li Maihong, emerged from behind like a detective, pointing at a few of the older women and scolding them, “Mother of Liao Jun, if you really look down on my daughter, then keep your son in check. Don’t let him hang around my daughter like a lapdog all day—I find it annoying just watching.”
“And you, Zhou Lianhua, talking behind my daughter’s back all day long—isn’t it just because the factory chose my Xiaotong over your Tang Ying for the broadcaster position? That was over half a year ago, and you’re still holding a grudge. Your heart is smaller than the eye of a needle.”
Zhou Lianhua stiffened her neck and retorted, “Li Maihong, what nonsense are you spouting? What kind of person your daughter is, you know perfectly well. Do you need us to say it? Instead of arguing with us here, you should discipline Bai Xiaotong properly. Didn’t she stay out all night yesterday? A girl of eighteen or nineteen staying out overnight—only someone as careless as you wouldn’t take it seriously.”
Li Maihong pointed at Zhou Lianhua’s nose, “Whether my daughter comes home or not is none of your damn business! If you keep spreading rumors and causing trouble, I’ll tear your mouth apart!!”
The two were on the verge of a full-blown argument.
Bai Xiaotong appeared just in time, linking arms with Li Maihong and pulling her away.
“Mom, don’t argue with them. It’s not worth the energy.”
Li Maihong wasn’t ready to let the gossipy women off just yet. She turned her head and continued cursing, “I don’t have a job anyway, I’m free all day. I’ve got plenty of energy to fight with them.”
Bai Xiaotong couldn’t help but laugh. She shook Li Maihong’s arm and said, “Let’s save the arguing for later. I’m hungry.”
“Ah!”
Hearing her daughter was hungry, Li Maihong’s tone immediately softened. “Alright, let’s head back first. I’ve cooked porridge, and I’ll make some pancakes later.”
As the mother and daughter prepared to return home, Li Maihong shot another glare at the gossipy women, looking like a fierce tigress with an unfriendly expression.
The Bai family’s house was located at the far left side of the compound, with sunlight from three directions—a decent spot.
Bai Xiaotong’s father had passed away in an accident when she was three years old.
She also had an older sister named Bai Baozhu, who was already married. Her husband worked at the machinery factory, not too far from here—just a twenty-minute bike ride back to her parents’ home.
Currently, this small two-bedroom, one-living-room house was home to just Bai Xiaotong and her mother, Li Maihong.
Built in the 1950s as a Soviet-style structure, the water room and toilets were shared, and there were no private kitchens. Each family’s coal stoves were set up outside, so you could tell what everyone was eating for their three daily meals just by the smell.
Before they even reached their doorstep, Bai Xiaotong caught the distinct aroma of dried vegetable porridge.
Looking at her mother’s graying temples and listening to her nagging, Bai Xiaotong felt a lump in her throat.
After last night’s dream, she felt as if she had truly died once, having been away from home for nearly a decade.
Seeing her daughter’s reddened eyes, Li Maihong stopped cursing the gossipy women. She led Bai Xiaotong into the room, closed the door, and sighed as she asked, “What exactly did you do last night?”
Last night, there was a cultural performance at the factory, followed by a dance party.
Bai Xiaotong had sent word back that she would be staying at Zhang Wenwen’s place.
Zhang Wenwen lived in a single room allocated to her brother in the No. 6 family dormitory, and Bai Xiaotong occasionally stayed over to keep her company.
Last night, Li Maihong hadn’t thought much of it, but today, seeing her daughter return with red eyes, she knew something was wrong.
Bai Xiaotong didn’t dare mention what had happened last night—otherwise, her mother would chase her down with a feather duster and beat her half to death.
She rubbed her eyes and brushed it off, saying, “I already told you—it was too late, so I went to Zhang Wenwen’s place.”
Li Maihong looked serious. “You’re not telling me the truth?”
Bai Xiaotong sighed helplessly. “Mom, really, it’s such a small thing. Why would I lie to you?”
“Then why are you crying?”
Bai Xiaotong wiped away the tears that kept flowing, trying hard to suppress the ache in her heart. She sighed and said, “It’s nothing, really. I just feel like I was too foolish before—letting people gossip and laugh at me, letting down the people around me, and making you lose face in public.”
Over the past six months, in her efforts to be with Chen Xiangjun, Bai Xiaotong had embarrassed herself, become a laughingstock, and even lost her coveted job as a broadcaster, getting transferred to the dyeing workshop as a helper.
Although her mother had never said anything to her face, Bai Xiaotong knew that her actions had brought shame upon the family.
Now, having come to her senses and reflecting on the past, Bai Xiaotong couldn’t help but curse her own foolishness.
Had her brain been clogged with shit back then?
Why did she have to fixate on Chen Xiangjun?
There was no denying that he was exceptional.
But she was the factory belle—what kind of man couldn’t she find? Why did she have to obsess over Chen Xiangjun?
It was truly baffling.
Of course, it might have just been the plot’s doing—there was nothing she could do about living in a daze.
Bai Xiaotong decided not to dwell too much on the past anymore; it was better to focus on living well from now on.
Seeing her daughter suddenly become so sensible, Li Maihong felt a pang of emotion in her heart. She wrapped her arm around her daughter’s shoulder and said, “You’re my daughter, the acknowledged beauty of our textile mill. There’s nothing to be ashamed of—don’t overthink it. Whenever I go out, those young folks treat me like an empress dowager, giving me all the respect in the world.”
After boasting for a moment, Li Maihong squeezed her daughter’s hand and continued, “Xiaotong, let me be honest with you. Your looks are a gift from heaven. In the old days, you’d have been destined to enter the palace as a royal consort. Compared to you, what is Chen Xiangjun? He’s no crown prince or emperor—he’s simply not worthy of you…”