Seeing that Su Mulan was neither swayed by soft nor hard tactics, Zhao Shengli quickly tugged at Zhuang Chuntao and stepped forward: “Mulan, your Auntie Zhuang was just too anxious and misspoke. Don’t hold it against her.”
Su Mulan glanced at Zhao Shengli: “Since she misspoke, she should at least show some sincerity.”
Zhuang Chuntao stood with her hands on her hips, utterly defiant: “Who misspoke—”
“Shut up! Don’t forget why you’re here today,” Zhao Shengli forcefully cut her off. “Hurry up and apologize to Mulan!”
Pressed by Zhao Shengli, Zhuang Chuntao finally relented.
But Su Mulan demanded that Zhuang Chuntao stand at the doorway and apologize in front of the neighbors.
“Su Mulan, don’t push your luck!”
Zhuang Chuntao glared fiercely at Su Mulan, her hatred unmistakable.
Su Mulan crossed her arms and sneered: “If you won’t apologize, that’s fine. I’ll call the police to investigate. They’ll surely clear my name.
During this crackdown period, the police are showing no leniency toward any crime. They definitely won’t let me be slandered.”
Right, the crackdown.
That was exactly why Zhao Shengli and Zhuang Chuntao were so desperate to reconcile with Su Mulan.
If Su Mulan didn’t relent, their son would be finished!
Thinking of their only son, Zhuang Chuntao finally walked to the doorway: “Mulan, I’m sorry…”
“Louder!” Su Mulan seized the chance to kick her while she was down. “That’s so quiet, are you talking to mosquitoes?”
Zhuang Chuntao’s eyes nearly spat fire, but for her son’s sake, she raised her voice: “Mulan, I’m sorry. I was too anxious just now and talked nonsense. I misunderstood you. Please be magnanimous and don’t hold it against me.”
Su Mulan leaned out the window, looking at Zhuang Chuntao at the door: “Auntie Zhuang, for the sake of being neighbors, let me remind you: when you go back, remember to check carefully where your son’s money is really being spent—on which vixen.
Hiding it like this and using me as a cover, could it be he’s fallen for some widow?
A widow is one thing, but what if he’s fallen for a married woman? That would be real trouble.
That’s practically volunteering to be the adulterer. If the woman’s husband finds out and he gets beaten to death someday, you won’t have anywhere to seek justice.”
Su Mulan’s voice was loud enough for everyone in the hallway to hear clearly.
Compared to Su Mulan spending Zhao Zhenhua’s money, they were clearly more inclined to believe the latter.
Auntie Yuan was the first to respond: “Chuntao, what Mulan eats, wears, and spends—everyone has eyes and can see.
Your Zhenhua’s money must have been swindled by some woman outside.”
The neighbor next to the Su family also said: “Mulan is so frugal. Things like face cream, going to the movies, or eating out—those aren’t things she’d do.
If you said it was Huilan, that would make a bit more sense.”
Hearing this, Su Mulan turned to look at the speaker. It seemed there were still perceptive people.
Zhao Zhenhua’s wages were most likely quietly spent on Su Huilan.
Who knows if Su Huilan once saved his life, or why else he’d be so devoted to her.
“Mulan is definitely a good child. Chuntao just misspoke.”
Zhao Shengli apologized again, hoping to quickly end this dispute and discuss the most urgent matter.
But Song Yumei gave no more chances. She picked up a broom and chased Zhao Shengli out, then shut the doors and windows, ignoring their shouts from outside.
“Mulan…”
Song Yumei looked at her daughter, her eyes slightly red.
So much had happened over the past two days that she didn’t even know where to begin.
Su Mulan sensed her mother’s distress and spoke up first, “Mom, I’m definitely going to pursue Zhao Zhenhua’s case to the end.”
“Of course you should.”
Song Yumei grasped her daughter’s hand. “That Zhao scoundrel bullied you like this—we absolutely can’t let him off!”
“But… but Zhao Zhenhua’s parents definitely won’t give up easily. They’ll surely come again, and might even ask the factory leaders to intervene and plead on their behalf.”
After a moment’s hesitation, Su Mulan changed the name she had intended to mention from Su Guoqiang to Zhao Shengli and his wife.
She knew that a large part of her mother’s distress was because of Su Guoqiang.
She didn’t want to add fuel to the fire at this moment. She needed to give her mother some breathing room to gradually accept the fact that Su Guoqiang was a scumbag.
Song Yumei sighed and raised her hand to pat her daughter’s head in comfort, only to realize with a start that her daughter was now taller than her.
“Mulan, no matter who steps in, as long as you don’t back down, I will never bow to them.
I’m a permanent employee at the factory. As long as I haven’t made any serious mistakes, no one can do anything to me. At worst, I just won’t get any awards or raises.
But my current salary is enough to let you retake the college entrance exam and send you to university.”
These words made Su Mulan smile from the bottom of her heart.
She had the best mother in the world and the toughest armor, enough to help her withstand any difficulty.
So that evening, when the deputy factory director accompanied Zhao Shengli and Zhuang Chuntao, she remained perfectly calm.
The deputy director said some polite words, but his meaning was straightforward: since they were all from the same factory and would see each other often, there was no need to make relations too tense. He suggested the two families first discuss terms.
However, the deputy director didn’t interfere with the details of their negotiation. After saying this, he went out and stood in the corridor to smoke.
From this, Su Mulan roughly guessed the deputy director’s stance and felt more assured.
She still planned to earn her first pot of gold from the garment factory and didn’t want to fall out with the factory for now.
Zhao Shengli didn’t dare let Zhuang Chuntao speak again and spoke first, “Mulan, what’s done is done. We have to find a way to resolve this.
Here’s what we’ll do: our Zhao family will compensate you.
As long as you agree to withdraw the case at the police station and get Zhenhua out, we’ll give you five hundred yuan.
With that money, whether you retake the exam or do something else, you’ll have much more flexibility.”
For a student, five hundred yuan was no small sum. Zhao Shengli felt he was offering a hefty price.
But Su Mulan didn’t even lift her eyelids. “I thought Zhao Zhenhua meant so much to you. Turns out he’s not even worth a year’s salary.”
Hearing this, Zhao Shengli secretly felt pleased.
As long as there was room for negotiation, there was hope for Zhenhua.
Gritting his teeth, he skipped the bargaining and went straight to a high offer: “One thousand yuan—that’s all the money our family can come up with!
With that amount, you’d have almost enough for your university expenses.”
Su Mulan smiled, neither accepting nor refusing.
Zhao Shengli couldn’t figure out what Su Mulan was thinking and grew very uneasy.
But remembering what had happened during the day, he didn’t dare speak harshly. Wiping sweat from his brow, he turned to Song Yumei. “Yumei, what are your thoughts? Why don’t you speak up so we can have a proper discussion?”