Meanwhile, Xu Laidi, tasked with finding Zhu Yuanyuan, immediately sprang into action.
She was honest and didn’t overthink it, believing that Shi Chuncao’s concern was genuine—that perhaps something had really happened to Zhu Yuanyuan.
Although Zhu Yuanyuan usually slacked off in the cafeteria, not seeing her for such a long time was indeed worrisome.
Xu Laidi first checked the women’s restroom thoroughly, leaving no corner unchecked, but naturally found nothing.
Next, she asked people along the paths connecting the cafeteria, dormitory, and workshops:
“Comrades, have you seen our new cafeteria worker, Zhu Yuanyuan? She’s the round-faced girl with little dimples when she smiles. It’s been the whole morning and no sign of her—Master Shi is worried she might be unwell or fainted, so we’re looking for her.”
“Oh! I’ll go ask in the workshop for you…” Someone offered.
“No, I haven’t seen her.”
“I think I saw her during breakfast, but didn’t notice after that.”
“Maybe she went to rest somewhere?”
“I’ll help you look—many hands make light work.”
Xu Laidi’s concern was sincere, her face showing worry, and she didn’t appear to be lying. Workers who heard that a colleague’s safety was at stake were eager to help, recalling information or even offering to join the search.
After asking around, the common responses were: “Haven’t seen her,” or “Saw her at breakfast.” Xu Laidi’s face showed concern, and several available workers now followed her to check the dormitory.
Inside the dorm, the air seemed to freeze for a moment.
“Zhu Yuanyuan! What do you think you’re doing?” Shi Chuncao’s furious roar nearly lifted the roof off. “You said you were going to the restroom, but you ended up on the dorm bed?”
Seeing the comic books and candy wrappers scattered across the floor, her anger surged.
Startled by the sudden shouting, Zhu Yuanyuan froze for a moment, then hurriedly sat up.
Seeing Shi Chuncao’s face twisted with rage, she knew it was over—but the pampered girl’s instinct was to respond in the worst possible way: with excuses and defiance.
“I… I was just tired, not feeling well, so I lay down for a bit. What’s wrong? The cafeteria won’t stop just because I’m gone. If a worker is tired or sick, do they have to force themselves to work?” Her voice shrill, she tried to mask her guilt with volume.
“Tired? Sick? Just lying down a bit?” Shi Chuncao trembled with fury, now pinning the label of “not caring about comrades” on her.
Pointing to the comic books and candy wrappers, she said, “Sick and still reading this? Eating candy? Zhu Yuanyuan, do you take everyone here for fools? The cafeteria is bustling, yet you sneak back to the dorm to enjoy yourself, lying and deceiving others. This is serious absenteeism! Deceiving the organization!”
“I didn’t! Stop falsely accusing me!” Zhu Yuanyuan shouted, both scared and angry. “Who are you to say this? My dad is Zhu Youfu, head of logistics! The entire cafeteria reports to him! What can you do to me? Fire me?”
“Fine! Very well!” Shi Chuncao laughed coldly through her anger. “The daughter of Zhu Youfu, so mighty! Leaving your post during work hours, slacking off… caught red-handed, and you still try to use your father to pressure me?
Do you think this is your family’s factory, huh?”
The shouting of Shi Chuncao and Liu Dalan at the dorm spread through the corridor, echoing and amplifying.
Downstairs, Xu Laidi and the workers searching for Zhu Yuanyuan reached the dorm, just as they heard the intense argument and phrases like “head of logistics.”
“Could something really have happened? They’re yelling so loudly!” one curious factory office worker frowned.
“Quick, go check!” Xu Laidi’s heart skipped a beat—this was clearly Shi Chuncao. Trouble had started.
She led the way up, followed by several confused but eager workers.
As they reached the second floor, they saw the crowd gathered outside Dorm 208. Everyone was craning their necks, whispering among themselves.
“Excuse me, please move! What’s going on?” Xu Laidi pushed through. The sight left her and the others stunned.
Inside, Shi Chuncao’s face was red, her neck strained with anger, left hand on her hip, right finger nearly poking Zhu Yuanyuan’s face.
Liu Dalan stood aside, equally displeased.
And the object of the search, Zhu Yuanyuan? She showed no sign of injury or illness. Her clothes slightly wrinkled, face flushed, neck stiffened in defiance, glaring right back at Shi Chuncao.
She muttered rudely, “…Go ahead, report me! Let’s see what you can do!”
On the floor lay comic books and candy wrappers, silently telling the story of her previously carefree indulgence.
This was no accident or illness—she was caught slacking red-handed and now defiantly arguing with the master cook.
The workers who had accompanied Xu Laidi went from concern to shock, then to understanding and disdain.
They had mobilized across the factory, worried about her safety, only to find her comfortably hiding in the dorm, reading and snacking—and still defiant when caught.
“Is… this Zhu Yuanyuan?” one senior office worker muttered in disbelief. “I thought she was in danger? She looks… healthier than all of us!”
“Hmph! Running to the dorm to read comics during work hours,” another worker scoffed. “And she got caught! No wonder they’re yelling so loudly.”
Shi Chuncao scanned the crowd forming at the dorm doorway, her voice booming even louder.
“I, Shi Chuncao, have worked in the cafeteria for twenty years and never falsely accused anyone. Today, Zhu Yuanyuan, you left your post without reason, snuck back to the dorm to read comics and eat snacks, and I caught you red-handed.
Not only do you refuse to admit your mistake and apologize, you even threaten me with your father, Zhu Youfu, the head of logistics! Today I will go speak to your father and the union! We’ll see if just having an official for a parent means you can do whatever you want in this factory!”
Every word Shi Chuncao spoke was reasonable, especially the last few, which stirred the crowd.
After all, most workers did not have officials in their families—who wouldn’t want fair treatment?