Chapter 65: A Happy Ending for All
Cao Hongmei looked at Wu Yanyan in disbelief. “What did you say? The official worker quota was given to Lü Xiaohua? She’s only been at the factory for a year—what makes her qualified?”
Wu Yanyan covered her mouth and giggled. “Of course it’s because our Sister Xiaohua has a good relationship with Director Meng. But honestly, this is all thanks to you. If it weren’t for you, our spinning workshop wouldn’t have gotten that official quota at all! Sister Xiaohua even said she wants to thank you in person someday!”
Cao Hongmei’s eyes reddened with rage. “Meng Yanjiao did this and isn’t afraid the factory will punish her?”
Wu Yanyan doubled over laughing. “Cao Hongmei, do you even think before you speak?
Director Meng is the workshop supervisor. She can give the quota to whoever she wants.
Our spinning workshop has been exceeding production targets for months. The factory is more likely to reward her than punish her…”
Just then, several officers from the local public security bureau walked up.
The factory gatekeeper quickly came out to greet them. “Comrades, who are you here to see?”
“We received a report that Meng Yanjiao from your factory is suspected of sabotaging state-owned property. We’re here to take her in for investigation.”
Wu Yanyan’s smug expression froze immediately. “Comrade, who did you say you’re looking for?”
“Meng Yanjiao, the supervisor of the spinning workshop. You know her?”
Wu Yanyan frantically shook her head. “No, no, I don’t know her.”
Meanwhile, Cao Hongmei was internally ecstatic—Xiao He really didn’t make empty promises! She said Meng Yanjiao would face consequences, and now it was happening!
If those charges stick, forget being a supervisor—Meng Yanjiao could be headed to prison!
As the officers entered the factory, Cao Hongmei turned to Wu Yanyan and said, “See? I told you that evil deeds would be punished. And now karma has come for her! If Meng Yanjiao is going down, her little cronies like you won’t be far behind!”
Wu Yanyan didn’t respond and hurriedly ran inside, flustered.
Cao Hongmei wanted to go in and watch the chaos but held back, worried about messing up Su He’s plans. So she found a spot nearby to quietly observe.
After a while, the officers came out—bringing not only Meng Yanjiao but also Lü Xiaohua and several others.
Cao Hongmei was confused—why were Lü Xiaohua and the others being taken too?
Her curiosity was killing her, but with no one to ask, she had no choice but to head home, distracted.
That evening, she finally got the full story from her close friend Lu Xiang.
“Hongmei, I always wondered why our spinning workshop suddenly started exceeding production targets every month. Turns out, Meng Yanjiao was tampering with the machines!
She’d cause machine malfunctions so that the performance criteria would be lowered. That way, the workshop could meet and exceed targets easily.”
“Remember when the machines all broke down that time?
Rumor has it Lü Xiaohua and her gang broke some parts during their sabotage, which escalated the whole situation.”
“No wonder Meng Yanjiao treated them so specially—they were accomplices!”
“She did it all so secretly it wouldn’t have been discovered, but Zhou Xiangcao, the statistician, noticed something odd in the data. And then the workshop manager Sun Yujie provided additional information. That’s how the whole thing got exposed.”
“I even heard that Meng Yanjiao is connected to Deputy Factory Director Zhao’s corruption case. There’s no way she’s not going to prison now!”
…
Cao Hongmei was dumbfounded. On one hand, she was gleeful at the poetic justice; on the other, she was puzzled—this didn’t seem to have anything to do with Xiao He!
Su He didn’t know Zhou Xiangcao or Sun Yujie, let alone influence them to report Meng Yanjiao.
But then again, the timing was just too perfect…
Regardless, with Meng Yanjiao’s downfall, things were looking up for Cao Hongmei.
Sure enough, the next day, workshop manager Sun Yujie sent word for her to resume work as normal.
Cao Hongmei was so pleased she could barely contain herself. If Su He hadn’t warned her to keep a low profile, she probably would’ve been grinning ear to ear all day.
Over the following days, the textile factory underwent several personnel changes:
Treasurer Wang Bailing was reassigned to accounting.
Zhou Xiangcao became the new treasurer.
Sun Yujie was promoted to workshop supervisor.
Newly recruited Shen Xiuxiu became the spinning workshop’s statistician—and she just so happened to be the beloved daughter of the loading workshop’s supervisor, Shen Gang.
Everyone along the chain got what they wanted. A happy ending for all.
That day, as soon as Su He stepped into the courtyard, Su Yongshi burst out of the house.
Yes—burst out.
For a moment, Su He thought a monkey had escaped into the house!
“Xiao He! Second Uncle finally got officially hired!”
“You’re really our lucky star!”
“I told your aunt to buy some pork belly—we’re having braised meat tonight!”
…
Cao Hongmei clutched Su He’s hand tightly. “Xiao He, Second Aunt got officially hired too!
We’ve been hoping and praying for this day for so long—it feels like a dream.
After how badly we treated you, you still helped us so much. No matter what, we’ll repay you—even if it means working like oxen and horses!”
Su He felt overwhelmed by the emotional outpouring and quickly changed the subject. “Second Aunt, if you really want to repay me, then hurry up and cook! I’m starving!”
“Okay, okay! I’ll go start the stew right away!”
*
In the capital, at a certain research institute—
Gu Chiyan was coldly scolding several researchers. Though they were all older than him, they stayed silent, like students before a strict teacher.
The reason was simple: Gu Chiyan was leagues ahead of them in skill—and he was the project lead. Of course they had to listen to him.
“Engineer Gu, you have a letter.”
Gu Chiyan took the envelope. When he saw the sender, his expression immediately softened.
“Retest the data and get it to me ASAP.”
With that, he strode out of the lab.
As soon as he was gone, the researchers went into gossip mode.
“That cold-faced devil definitely left in a rush to open the letter. I bet it’s from a girl.”
“No way! Everyone knows he’s all about science and has no time for romance. Otherwise, Professor Shen’s daughter, Shen Manli, would’ve won him over by now.”
“Well, you never know. Matters of the heart depend on fate. Maybe he really has taken a liking to someone.”
…
Gu Chiyan returned to his office, washed his hands, and then carefully opened the letter.
He read it over and over, front and back, before gently placing it back in the envelope and tucking it inside a book he often read.
*
The next morning, in a State-owned Mall in the capital, a young man showed up with a notebook in hand.
He not only inquired in detail about the prices of hair accessories, but also about sourcing channels—and even carefully sketched out the hairpin designs in his notebook…
