Chapter 162: I Was Just Bluffing a Bit
Su He tucked the note back into her small satchel and looked at Nie Wenjie’s face.
He didn’t look more than forty. Teacher Yuan was clearly robbing the cradle!
Then again, maybe this Professor Nie just aged well.
As her mind wandered, Nie Wenjie’s voice trembled with rage: “Shut up! Do you have any idea how important the data on those sheets you destroyed was?
That was crucial to the progress on the coated fabric project!
I’ve told you time and again not to touch anything on my desk. But not only did you ignore me—you even pried open my locked drawer…”
Before she could finish, her sister-in-law, Yang Chunhua, screeched, “That’s right! I’m the one who broke the lock! We’re family—who are you trying to guard against?!
All this talk about data—don’t try to fool me. You’re just upset about those love letters!
You’ve been trying to drive us out—must be because you want to shack up with some wild man!”
Yang Chunhua’s insults grew increasingly vile. Nie Wenjie was trembling with fury, but every time she tried to speak, Yang Chunhua cut her off again.
Seeing herself gaining the upper hand, Yang Chunhua got even bolder.
“I’ll say this now: there’s no way we’re moving out! If anyone’s leaving, it’s you! If you’ve got the guts, go live with your wild man…”
Just as she was ranting with glee, a clear voice cut through the commotion, “Professor Nie, did you just say that critical data for the coated fabric project was maliciously destroyed?”
Everyone turned toward the speaker—Nie Wenjie included.
A very pretty young girl stood there, her expression solemn.
Nie Wenjie assumed Su He was a student from Mordu University of Technology. Though surprised by the abrupt question, she was actually grateful someone had interrupted Yang Chunhua’s tirade, so she nodded.
Su He’s expression immediately turned colder, “Professor Nie, our Textile No. 1 Factory commissioned you to research this coated fabric. The deadline is fast approaching. That’s why the factory sent me to check in on your progress. And from the looks of it, you clearly won’t be able to deliver the results on time. Professor Nie, don’t forget we signed a binding agreement! If you fail to submit the research results by the deadline, you must compensate Textile No. 1 Factory with a penalty of 10,000 yuan.
Let’s keep this strictly business. First, you’ll need to pay the 10,000 yuan. The remaining balance can be deducted from your monthly salary. Second, those who destroyed the data have committed an offense against national research. They must be taken to the station for questioning and sentencing. Do you have any objections?”
Principal Chen: … Little Su, what on earth are you doing?! Why are you getting involved in this mess?! Even if you want to stand up for someone, why drag Textile No. 1 into it?! If this blows up, how are we going to handle it?!
Nie Wenjie was stunned too!
What on earth was going on here?
But she quickly realized that this girl was throwing her a lifeline.
Backed into a corner, Nie Wenjie steeled herself and nodded. “No objections.”
Su He immediately followed up. “Then please start gathering the funds. The shortfall will be deducted from your wages monthly. Also—these three are the ones who destroyed the research data, correct?”
She turned to Yang Chunhua’s group and sneered, “Do you even know what that data represented? It represented the rise of China’s textile industry—the hope of boosting our foreign trade earnings! And thanks to your ignorance and greed, you’ve caused major losses to the country! And you, old lady—your precious backside sure is delicate! That wasn’t paper you used—it was shining U.S. dollars! Dollars that could have bought us production lines and critical materials! You’re traitors to the nation—criminals against our people!”
At first, the gathered onlookers were just there to watch the drama. But Su He’s words stirred a righteous fury in them.
A few elderly women rushed over and started spitting at Yang Chunhua.
“Ptui! You shameless old hag! Hogging your sister-in-law’s property like a vulture—I’ve had enough of you! And now you’re sabotaging national research? You’re rotten to the core!”
“You say you’re here to help Professor Nie? Ha! You’re all just lazy freeloaders living off her salary! It’s one thing to mooch, but to destroy research data? You’ve got a death wish!”
“Honestly, I bet they’re foreign spies—planted next to Professor Nie to sabotage her work!”
…
Yang Chunhua and her family were completely dumbfounded.
“I didn’t! I’m not—!”
But no one cared for their excuses anymore. Some people spat on them, others threw pebbles, and one old lady even took off her shoe and started beating Yang Chunhua with it…
The scene was turning into chaos.
Su He: … I was just bluffing a little—why is everyone taking it so seriously?!
To be fair, this was understandable. People have a strong sense of justice, and many had already disliked Yang Chunhua’s family—it just wasn’t their place to interfere in someone else’s household.
But more importantly, people in this era had a strong sense of national pride. And Su He’s speech was extremely rousing.
Just like that, Yang Chunhua’s family was branded as enemies of the state.
Worried things might get out of hand, Su He quickly shouted, “I understand everyone’s anger, but let’s handle this according to the law! Could a few kind folks help escort them to the police station so they can face proper legal consequences?”
No sooner had she said it than a few young men stepped out from the crowd—among them, the guy who had tried chatting her up earlier and his friends.
Yang Chunhua’s family looked utterly pitiful by now.
They never imagined things would spiral out of control like this. Yang Chunhua’s daughter-in-law, Yu Xiaoqin, gritted her teeth and said, “It was my mother-in-law who took the paper! It had nothing to do with us!”
Her husband, Nie Dagang, quickly chimed in, “Yes, yes, it was my mother who destroyed the data! I didn’t do anything!”
Yang Chunhua nearly passed out from rage.
“Bullshit! It was you two who said there was money in the drawer! You’re the ones who broke the lock!”
…
As the three of them began to turn on each other like dogs fighting over scraps, the guy who had flirted with Su He kicked Nie Dagang and snapped, “Save it for the station! Move it—or we won’t be so polite next time!”
Yang Chunhua looked like she wanted to throw a tantrum, but when she saw the grannies still holding their shoes, she wilted.
She turned to Nie Wenjie and begged, “Wenjie, please, help us! We’re family, aren’t we? Blood is thicker than water—you can’t just stand by and let this happen!”
Nie Wenjie gave a bitter, self-mocking smile, “Family? When have you ever treated me like family? Let’s settle this through the proper channels.”
Truth be told, Su He had been worried Nie Wenjie might waver at the last moment. But clearly, this professor still had a firm grasp of the situation.
As for why she’d been bullied before? Probably because she was a scholar trying to reason with people who didn’t care for logic.
A large crowd escorted the culprits to the police station, with Nie Wenjie and Su He bringing up the rear.
Only then did Nie Wenjie whisper, “Young lady, thank you for helping me back there. You are…?”
Su He blinked innocently,“Shimu (Teacher’s wife), it’s me—Little He!”
