Chapter 61: Su He Offers a Strategy
Cao Hongmei felt there was no chance of winning and couldn’t help falling into despair. She feared that she and Su Yongshi would have no choice but to go back to farming.
It seemed Su He was right—Meng Yanjiao had deliberately instigated her to introduce Zhao Bin to Su He last time. She must be one of Shen Ruyi’s people!
And now that she saw Su He and Cao Hongmei getting close, she struck directly.
That ungrateful traitor Shen Ruyi!
To think that Su He’s elder brother and sister-in-law had once run around trying to get her medical treatment. If they’d known this would happen, they might as well have let her die from her illness.
Just then, someone called out from outside the house, “Does Su He live here?”
As soon as Su He heard Tian Xiaotao’s voice, she quickly went outside.
It really was Tian Xiaotao.
She looked full of guilt. “I should have had my dad take you home yesterday. Then that horrible thing wouldn’t have happened. Luckily you’re okay—if anything had happened, how could I have ever faced you again?!”
Su He smiled. “How is this your fault? Lin Bo was determined to come after me. Even if he hadn’t found a chance yesterday, he would have done it another time.”
“There’s something going on at home, so I won’t keep you long today. I’ll treat you to a movie another day!”
Tian Xiaotao quickly asked, “What happened at home?”
Su He didn’t hide anything and told her about Cao Hongmei’s situation. Of course, she didn’t mention Shen Ruyi, only saying that Meng Yanjiao was deliberately targeting Cao Hongmei.
Tian Xiaotao was furious. “That Meng Yanjiao is going too far! This is clearly abuse of power and a personal vendetta! What are you going to do? You’re not just going to let it go, right?”
Su He sneered. “Of course not. If this kind of corrupt behavior isn’t checked, won’t the textile factory fall into chaos?”
“So, what’s your plan?”
“I haven’t figured one out yet.”
Tian Xiaotao: “…”
If you haven’t figured it out, what’s with that confident tone of yours?
Su He chatted with Tian Xiaotao a bit more before sending her off, visibly concerned.
Truth be told, Su He really hadn’t come up with a plan yet. Meng Yanjiao was a veteran workshop director. Even Master He and Director Gao might not be able to touch her.
But Su He was always optimistic. Although she didn’t have a solution just yet, she still comforted Cao Hongmei:
“Second Aunt, don’t worry too much. Even if I can’t resolve this, I can still arrange for you and Second Uncle to work at the Huaihua Commune. I won’t let you go back to farming.”
Hearing this, Cao Hongmei finally showed a faint smile.
Now that Su He was in Director Luo’s good graces, arranging jobs for them at the commune really wasn’t difficult. Of course, they wouldn’t be official positions—just something in logistics, like the cafeteria or as a gatekeeper.
Su He then asked in detail about Meng Yanjiao and Shen Gang’s situation, including their family backgrounds.
Nowadays, with not much entertainment, everyone gossiped for fun, so Cao Hongmei actually knew quite a bit about their families.
Early the next morning, Su He went to the textile factory to find Director Gao.
As soon as they met, Director Gao made his position clear:
“Xiao Su, although we get along well, I’m with the State-owned Mall’s Sales Department. I can’t interfere in production matters.”
Clearly, he already knew about Cao Hongmei’s issue and didn’t plan to get involved.
Su He smiled. “I wouldn’t put you in a difficult spot! I just came to ask for your help introducing someone.”
“Who?”
“Shen Gang, the director of the loading workshop.”
Director Gao’s eyes flickered—Su He wanted to see Shen Gang?
So she’d given up on saving Cao Hongmei and was now trying to secure Su Yongshi’s permanent position first?
It made sense—better to save one than lose both.
He smiled. “Alright, I’ll have someone call him over. But I happen to have something to take care of, so I’ll step out.”
Su He understood he didn’t want to get involved and quickly said, “Of course, I just need to borrow your office for a bit.”
Director Gao immediately had someone bring over Shen Gang. After making introductions, he found an excuse and left.
Shen Gang’s eyes flickered. “Xiao Su, you came to see me about your second uncle’s permanent position?
Let me explain—it’s not that I’m deliberately withholding my signature. I have to consider the entire workshop. Su Yongshi’s performance has been average, and if I approve his regularization, other temporary workers might have complaints. So I need to be cautious.”
Su He smiled. “You misunderstand. I just wanted to have a little chat. I heard your daughter is planning to join the factory?”
Shen Gang wasn’t sure why she brought up his daughter, but after thinking a bit, he said, “She is, but the factory isn’t recruiting right now, so we’ll have to wait.”
Su He nodded. “That is a bit tricky. The factory is pretty full right now, and who knows when recruitment will resume. But I might have a way to help her get in sooner—would you like to hear it?”
Shen Gang looked at Su He with suspicion. Not to brag, but even as a veteran in the factory, he didn’t have a way in—how could she?
Still, he said, “Go on.”
“Wei Qin used to be the factory’s accountant. Ever since she got into trouble, the cashier’s been doubling as accountant. That’s a big no-no—accountant and cashier roles aren’t supposed to be held by the same person…”
Before Su He finished, Shen Gang shook his head. “You want my daughter to be the accountant? That’s not going to work—she can’t handle it. Not even being a cashier.”
“Director Shen, your daughter may not be able to be an accountant or a cashier, but how about a workshop statistician?
I heard Zhou Xiangcao, the current spinning workshop statistician, has some connections and is trying to get promoted to cashier. Why not help her with that? Then the current cashier can move up to the accountant position.
That would leave the statistician role vacant, wouldn’t it?
With your influence, getting your daughter into that position shouldn’t be too hard, right?”
Shen Gang’s eyes lit up—this plan might actually work!
He had originally just wanted his daughter to start as a basic worker and slowly work her way up, with him helping her switch jobs along the way.
But if he followed Su He’s suggestion, it would be a shortcut straight to a better position!
Still, he quickly calmed down. Su He wouldn’t offer him such a clever plan for nothing—she must want something in return.
“What do you want me to do?”
Su He smiled. “It’s nothing major. Meng Yanjiao once urged my second aunt to set me up with Zhao Bin, and now she’s constantly targeting her. I don’t feel good about that.
Given her character, I’m sure she’s taken plenty of kickbacks. Zhou Xiangcao, as the spinning workshop’s statistician, probably knows everything. I’d like to team up with you to take her down!”
Shen Gang was startled. He looked at Su He in shock—this little girl really had guts!
An outsider wanting to take down a veteran workshop director like Meng Yanjiao?
His mind spun a few times. “Since you’ve already told me your plan and I know how to make it happen, why should I partner with you?”
