Chapter 81

In the sweltering heat of May in Beijing, the clock on the wall of the Propaganda Department ticked steadily. Zhuang Zhixi glanced at it and noticed that it was almost time for the legendary hour: two o'clock.0

He remained calm, as if nothing was out of the ordinary. After all, he was the victim in this situation, so naturally, he knew nothing. Who could predict what would happen?0

Zhuang Zhixi leaned back in his chair, organizing the documents for the year. As part of the Propaganda Department, it was essential to thoroughly understand the directives from above and grasp the various spirits of the times to work more effectively.0

He was a man who could stay focused, and as he was reading intently, he heard a commotion outside. Sister Cui rushed to the window and exclaimed, "There's a fight at the small warehouse!"0

From their vantage point, they could only see a vague crowd, but not the details. Sister Cui darted out like a rabbit, and a few other curious onlookers quickly followed.0

Zhuang Zhixi thought to himself, "I might as well go and see the commotion."0

He quickly descended the stairs and caught up with Sister Cui and the others. The seven or eight people from the Propaganda Department arrived at the small warehouse, which was already surrounded by layers of onlookers. Aside from those from the workshop who couldn't leave, people from the Security Section, the Medical Office, the Office, the Canteen, and others had all gathered. It was so crowded that it was difficult to squeeze in.0

Zhuang Zhixi, being tall, jumped around to get a better view. He saw a chaotic scene: Bai Father and Son were both beaten, their faces bruised and swollen. Security personnel were holding them back, while Zhou Qun and his wife, Jiang Lu, were also injured. Zhou Qun had a black eye and was glaring furiously at Bai Father and Son.0

The two sides were in a standoff.0

The surrounding onlookers held their breath, not daring to make a sound, as if speaking could escalate the conflict. No one dared to utter a word.0

At this moment, Deputy Factory Director Zhang arrived and shouted, "Make way, everyone! What's going on here?"0

Everyone quickly made way, and Deputy Factory Director Zhang squeezed in. Seeing the situation, he stood in the middle and cursed, "What do you think this place is? A boxing ring? If you don't want to work here anymore, then go home! This is not a place for you to fight!"0

As he was ranting, Section Chief Liu from the Security Section quickly pulled him aside and whispered something in his ear.0

Deputy Factory Director Zhang's eyes nearly popped out of his head: "What the hell!"0

He looked incredulously at Bai Father and Son and said, "Are you two out of your minds?"0

As soon as he said this, Zhou Qun suddenly erupted and charged forward, furiously slapping Bai Father and Son: "You two are despicable! You're shameless! You're vile and beastly!" His slaps were so loud that even Zhuang Zhixi, standing at the edge, could hear the smacking sounds.0

Zhuang Zhixi winced and thought to himself, "They deserve it!"0

Bai Fendou, feeling wronged, shouted, "Zhou Qun, are you done yet? I was just joking!"0

SMACK! A heavy slap landed on Bai Fendou's face, causing his nose to bleed.0

Zhou Qun roared, "Joking? You're fooling no one! I knew you had ulterior motives. You've been eyeing my wife! That's why you didn't marry Wang Xiangxiu. That's why you've been staring at our house. I thought you just didn't like me, but it turns out you were after my wife! Now that I've caught you in the act, you call it a joke? If I hadn't arrived, who knows what would have happened to my wife! Look at them, they even brought a lock! If they hadn't had bad intentions, why would they lure her here? If I hadn't shown up, who knows what kind of beastly things they would have done! They're colluding, the two of them, and they deserve to be executed!"0

Zhou Qun's eyes were bloodshot, and he looked like he wanted to tear them apart.0

Although he had affairs outside, that didn't mean he wanted to be humiliated in this way.0

Bai Fendou wasn't having it.0

He shouted, "Who's after your wife? Am I blind? Would I want your wife? She's an idiot! Don't flatter yourself..."0

THWACK! A big rock smashed into Bai Fendou's head, and blood gushed out like a fountain.0

Jiang Lu trembled and screamed, "I'll kill you! You beast!"0

She picked up another rock and was about to throw it again when the Security Section quickly restrained her. However, due to the gender difference, they didn't dare to use too much force, only grabbing her wrist. Jiang Lu struggled fiercely, "Let go of me! I'll kill him!"0

Despite being held, her feet kept kicking, aiming repeatedly at Bai Fendou's most vulnerable spot. The force was so intense that it seemed like she wouldn't stop until she had crippled him.0

All the male onlookers winced, even those who hadn't experienced it felt the pain just by watching. Bai Fendou, in agony, crouched down and then rolled on the ground.0

The wound on his head bleeding profusely seemed insignificant compared to the pain he was experiencing.0

Even so, Jiang Lu continued to kick, aiming relentlessly at his vulnerable spot, causing Bai Fendou to howl in pain.0

"My son hasn't had any children yet! He doesn't have an heir!" Old Man Bai wailed, trying to reason with Jiang Lu. But as soon as he spoke, Jiang Lu, like lightning, broke free from the Security Section. She threw the rock at Old Man Bai, who barely dodged it. Just as he was about to breathe a sigh of relief, Jiang Lu kicked him, four times in quick succession!0

"AAAAHHHH!" The screams echoed through the sky.0

All the male onlookers instinctively took a step back, and even the Security Section forgot to restrain her. Jiang Lu continued her assault, focusing on the most vulnerable parts of the men.0

It seemed she had discovered a new way to fight men, targeting their weakest points.0

Old Man Bai's screams joined Bai Fendou's, creating a duet of agony that reverberated through the sky.0

The male onlookers took another step back, feeling the terror.0

Sister Cui and the other female onlookers seized the opportunity to push forward, finding these men, indeed, not very impressive.0

Jiang Lu was still in a frenzy when Deputy Factory Director Zhang finally snapped out of it and shouted, "What are you all doing just watching? Quickly, pull Jiang Lu away!"0

The men, no longer caring about the gender difference, dragged her to the side. Jiang Lu struggled and screamed, "Let go of me! I'll kill them!"0

Deputy Factory Director Zhang quickly tried to calm her down, "Jiang Lu, calm down! If you kill them, you'll be committing a crime, too. We understand you're angry, and we know you're the victim here, but we need to teach these people a lesson without killing them. Is it worth it to throw your life away for these people? You still have a great future ahead of you. As long as they live, you're the righteous one. But if you lose your life, it's not worth it."0

He had some acquaintance with Jiang Lu's father, so he couldn't let anything happen to her in their factory. Kicking was one thing, but using a rock to hit someone's head could be fatal. He comforted her, "Don't worry, the factory will give you a proper resolution. You won't be wronged."0n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Jiang Lu's eyes were bloodshot, her hair disheveled, "I want them to rot in prison! Forever!"0

She shouted, "Forever!"0

Deputy Factory Director Zhang glanced at Sister Cui, who was in front, and gave her a meaningful look. Jiang Lu's state needed to be calmed, and Sister Cui, though a bit scared, was still warm-hearted. She stepped forward, "Jiang Lu, come here. I see you're really upset. Don't worry, with the factory leadership and the Security Section here, this won't be left unresolved. Just calm down a bit. Look, your hands are scratched. We can't let ourselves get hurt in our anger."0

She did her best to comfort Jiang Lu, who finally couldn't hold back and burst into tears, saying, "Old Man Bai, Old Man Bai told me that Zhou Qun was injured and asked me to come over. I didn't suspect him at all and came with him without a second thought. But when we got there, only Bai Fendou was in the room, and Zhou Qun even suspected that I was ambiguous with the Bai father and son. Do I look that desperate? Am I blind? Who would ever look at such trash? Even dogs wouldn't touch them..."0

Hearing Jiang Lu's words, everyone's expression changed when they looked at the Bai father and son. Many people who arrived late didn't know what was going on, but Jiang Lu's words were loud and clear. Looking at these two bachelors again, everyone's eyes were filled with disgust.0

Anyone who tried to trick women and take advantage of them was looked down upon, even by small-time hoodlums!0

"If Zhou Qun hadn't shown up, I wouldn't have known what would have happened to me. I wouldn't have known!" Jiang Lu cried out, but suddenly her anger flared up again. She quickly rushed forward and kicked the spot a few more times.0

"Ah!"0

Zhuang Zhixi watched from a distance, wincing in sympathy. As a man, he knew how vulnerable that area was. But I have to say, Jiang Lu...well done!0

As Zhuang Zhixi was enjoying the spectacle, he saw Yang Lixin squeeze in beside him, looking quite shaken. Zhuang Zhixi quickly grabbed Yang Lixin and whispered, "Yang Ge, what's going on?"0

Yang Lixin was truly at a loss for words. He opened his mouth, but no words came out. It wasn't that he didn't want to say anything, but he simply didn't know how to explain. In his eyes, the Bai father and son had gone completely mad.0

"What happened?"0

Yang Lixin: "Well, this story..."0

It all started at noon. Zhou Qun had come straight to the kitchen and found Yang Lixin.0

Zhou Qun was a bit cunning. He had noticed that Yang Lixin and Bai Fendou didn't get along, even though neither family had openly shown it. So this time, wanting to team up against Bai Fendou, he directly approached Yang Lixin.0

He pulled Yang Lixin to the backyard and asked, "Yang Ge, is there something you need from me?"0

Zhou Qun got straight to the point: "I heard that Bai Fendou and Wang Xiangxiu might be having an affair in the small warehouse at two o'clock this afternoon. How about we catch them in the act together?" He smiled and said, "I know you don't like Bai Fendou either. Let's give him a taste of his own medicine, what do you say?"0

Yang Lixin clenched his fists and tried to stay calm, asking, "How do you know they'll be in the small warehouse at two?"0

Zhou Qun: "You don't need to know how I found out. I just did. It's a rare opportunity, and since we both dislike Bai Fendou, let's take this chance. I know you're on good terms with Wang Erlaizi from the security department. Call a few more people from the security department, and we'll catch them red-handed. Bai Fendou will definitely be humiliated."0

Yang Lixin, being more rational than Zhou Qun and Bai Fendou, said, "If they're caught, they'll be finished. What if they're labeled as hooligans and sent to jail? Even though I don't like him, I don't want to go that far."0

Zhou Qun's eyes flickered, and he calmly said, "Bai Fendou and Wang Xiangxiu, one is unmarried and the other is not married. To protect themselves, they'll probably get married. Then there's no talk of being hooligans. Our factory, for the sake of its reputation, won't pursue it too much. At most, they'll be criticized and have a record."0

Yang Lixin couldn't help but laugh, saying, "So we go through all this trouble, and he ends up getting what he wants? Am I punishing him or helping him?"0

Zhou Qun remained calm: "Of course, it's punishing him. Do you think marrying Wang Xiangxiu is a good thing for him? Not to mention the pile of colorful hats Wang Xiangxiu has given him, just look at all the baggage she brings. Do you think his life will be good? Marrying Wang Xiangxiu isn't getting what he wants; it's the start of a nightmare."0

Yang Lixin: "!!!"0

Damn, Zhou Qun's argument actually made sense.0

"One word, are you in or not?"0

"I'm in!" Yang Lixin took a deep breath and agreed.0

He really couldn't stand Bai Fendou. This was his chance to get back at him.0

"So, what's the plan?"0

"You gather people. We'll set up an ambush at the small warehouse at one-thirty and catch them in the act."0

"Got it."0

The two men acted without delay. Yang Lixin quickly contacted his acquaintances in the security department, and word spread, adding a few more people to the group. Despite being in the same security department, it was clear that Bai Fendou didn't have many friends, as none of them warned him. Bai Fendou had no idea he was being targeted. He was supposed to patrol in the afternoon, but after a brief walk, he looked around, confirmed no one was watching, and hurried toward the small warehouse.0

Bai Fendou had planned to get there early and hide, waiting for Zhuang Zhixi to arrive so he could take him by surprise. If he didn't do this, there was a good chance he'd be discovered, as Zhuang Zhixi was tall and lanky, with long arms and legs, making him harder to subdue.0

So Bai Fendou arrived early, sneaking into the small warehouse and hiding by the door. He had originally thought about hiding in the cabinet, but the cabinet was shaky and unreliable. Plus, getting out of the cabinet would waste time, so he decided to stand by the door.0

Bai Fendou entered the room and hid by the door.0

Yang Lixin and Zhou Qun, along with the others, were on edge. They knew what was going to happen, but seeing Bai Fendou arrive still shocked them. Yang Lixin couldn't understand what was wrong with Bai Fendou. Did he not have enough space at home? Why did he have to sneak around with Wang Xiangxiu at the factory? Was it just for the thrill?0

It was truly bizarre.0

The colleagues from the security department who were watching were equally speechless. However, since this was happening, they naturally wanted to see the show. Their goal wasn't necessarily to catch them in the act but more to enjoy the spectacle.0

Bai Fendou was always picking on others in the security department, so his reputation was terrible. Many people were waiting to see him fall.0

Everyone focused on the small warehouse. As their hearts raced and time seemed to drag on, they suddenly heard a woman's voice. It was Jiang Lu, who asked worriedly, "Uncle Bai, why is my husband Zhou Qun here? How did he get injured?"0

Everyone was hiding nearby and could hear clearly.0

No one expected that the person who arrived would be Jiang Lu.0

They had thought Bai Fendou was going to have an affair with Wang Xiangxiu. Even Zhou Qun was caught off guard.0

Jiang Lu continued, "Since Zhou Qun is injured, why not take him to the clinic?"0

Despite her worry, Jiang Lu hurried forward quickly.0

Zhou Qun: Injured? He wasn't injured...0

But before he could think further, he saw Old Man Bai leading Jiang Lu over. As soon as the door opened, Old Man Bai pushed Jiang Lu inside with a forceful push.0

Jiang Lu: "Ah!"0

Bai Fendou: "Ah!"0

What he was waiting for was Zhuang Zhixi, but unexpectedly, it was Jiang Lu who arrived first. His father had no idea about this and followed their plan, pushing Jiang Lu into the room.0

Jiang Lu stumbled and almost fell. Looking around, she saw only Bai Fendou in the room, with no one else.0

Her face turned pale instantly!0

No matter what, the situation in front of her was terrifying.0

She screamed, "Bai Fendou, what do you want to do! Help! Someone, help me!"0

This unexpected turn of events left the Bai father and son, as well as Zhou Qun and the others, completely stunned. Zhou Qun had come to catch Bai Fendou, but he never expected that Bai Fendou would try to "take advantage" of his wife. This was something he couldn't tolerate. His eyes widened in rage, and he let out a roar before charging out.0

He rushed to the door, and when Old Man Bai saw it was Zhou Qun, he even smiled, thinking the situation was even better. But he had no idea that Zhuang Zhixi hadn't shown up, and Bai Fendou's plan had completely failed.0

He was about to force a smile and say something when Zhou Qun suddenly threw a punch at him. This time, Zhou Qun wasn't the usual weakling; he landed two solid punches. Old Man Bai, already weakened by a cold, tumbled to the ground.0

Zhou Qun kicked the door open and stormed in.0

"Bai Fendou, Jiang Lu, what are you doing? How could you do this to me?"0

This sudden turn of events left Bai Fendou with no time to explain, but Jiang Lu quickly threw herself at Zhou Qun, crying, "Qun Ge, I'm innocent! I was tricked into coming here."0

Being alone in a room with Bai Fendou, a man and a woman, would ruin her reputation if word got out. So, Jiang Lu immediately shouted, "They tricked me! They said you were injured."0

Tears streamed down her face, tears of fear.0

After all, Jiang Lu was just a woman. How could she not be terrified in such a situation?0

Hearing this, Zhou Qun's anger flared even more. He let out a roar and lunged at Bai Fendou.0

Punch after punch landed on Bai Fendou. Finally, after taking a couple of hits, Bai Fendou snapped out of it. He was furious: "Zhou Qun, why are you hitting me?"0

He retaliated with a punch of his own. Being from the security department, Bai Fendou was stronger than Zhou Qun, and with one hit, he sent Zhou Qun sprawling to the ground.0

Jiang Lu's eyes turned red as she screamed, "I'll kill you!"0

She too charged forward. By this time, others had also reacted. To be honest, everyone looked down on Bai Fendou. Although Zhou Qun's reputation in the factory was already that of a rat running through the streets, Bai Fendou's actions were even more despicable.0

Zhou Qun's actions, at least, could be seen as mutual and consensual, even if they hadn't caught anything concrete.0

But Bai Fendou—everyone had seen Bai Father and Son trick Jiang Lu into coming here. What they intended to do was clear to every man present. In short, the disdain for Bai Fendou was off the charts.0

If you're so capable, go catch spies, go catch criminals, go be a hero.0

Trying to take advantage of a woman here is the lowest of the low.0

Many in the security department were military veterans, and seeing this made them feel like vomiting up last night's dinner. The fact that Bai Fendou dared to fight back only made him more despicable in their eyes. Wang Erlazi and a few others quickly moved in, pinning Bai Fendou down: "You think you can still fight after doing something like that? Do you think we don't exist?"0

"What a trash."0

"Quick, go get Section Chief Liu!"0

The security officers restrained Bai Fendou, while Zhou Qun and Jiang Lu, like madmen, rushed forward, punching and kicking wildly. Especially Zhou Qun, who felt the pain of having his wife stolen. He would have killed Bai Fendou if he could!0

Earlier, he couldn't win in a fight, but now that Bai Fendou was held down, Zhou Qun unleashed his fury.0

"Let me go! Who are you siding with? Letting him beat me like this!" Bai Fendou shouted.0

"We're not on your side. We're decent people, not like you, a sneaky scoundrel. Never thought you were such a piece of work. Beating you? They should beat you to death, it's what you deserve."0

"I didn't do anything!" Bai Fendou finally started to realize what was happening and howled, "I was just joking!"0

"I'll let you joke!" Zhou Qun slapped him hard: "I'll let you say it was a joke!"0

Another slap followed.0

With the help of the security department, Zhou Qun single-handedly beat up Bai Father and Son. In no time, the two old men were bruised and battered. As for Yang Lixin, he had been stunned from the beginning. Before he could react, the situation had escalated to this point.0

He had come to catch them in the act, but instead, he witnessed a premeditated crime.0

Yang Lixin, deeply shocked, didn't hold back. He spilled everything to Zhuang Zhixi like pouring beans from a sack. Zhuang Zhixi finally pieced together the entire story. He hadn't expected things to unfold this way, but it made sense.0

Those who hadn't fully understood the situation now got the full story from Yang Lixin. Looking at Bai Father and Son, they felt as if they were staring at two piles of excrement.0

While Yang Lixin recounted the events, Jiang Lu, unable to contain her anger, charged forward to kick them again.0

The heart-wrenching screams made everyone feel a pang of pain in their own bodies, but deep down, they all thought the father and son deserved it.0

However... Deputy Factory Director Zhang, seeing Bai Fendou's head still bleeding, worried about someone dying, said, "Alright, everyone, disperse. Zhou Qun, Jiang Lu, I know you two have been wronged. The factory will definitely give you an explanation. Li Si, you guys take them to the infirmary first. At least stop the bleeding."0

Doctor Wang had also come to watch the spectacle, not really wanting to help. Women held even more contempt for such actions. She said, "It'd be better if they died. Dying would be a contribution to society. Treating them is a waste of medicine."0

Deputy Factory Director Zhang rubbed his temples, cursing the unreliable Bai Father and Son in his heart. But as a factory leader, he couldn't just ignore it.0

He thought, why is it always me handling these logistical issues?0

I'd rather manage production!0

He took a deep breath and said, "Let's go, first stop the bleeding. Everyone, go back now. The factory will investigate this matter thoroughly."0

Despite Deputy Factory Director Zhang's words, no one moved. After all, such a spectacle was a once-in-a-lifetime event, especially since it involved people they knew.0

Yang Lixin, supporting Zhuang Zhixi, could barely stand.0

Zhuang Zhixi: "Are you okay?"0

Yang Lixin: "Help me stand, my legs are weak."0

He wasn't someone who hadn't seen the world. After all, he had even seen someone fall into a pit of excrement. They were all quite experienced in their neighborhood, but today's events were too shocking.0

Jiang Lu, in her frenzy, kept kicking at that particular spot. As a man, Yang Lixin felt completely unnerved, even though it had nothing to do with him. It didn't stop his legs from going weak.0

Zhuang Zhixi helped Yang Lixin and said, "Should I take you back to the kitchen?"0

Yang Lixin: "No!"0

He was quite determined: "Go to the infirmary."0

He wanted to be the first to know what happened.0

Zhuang Zhixi looked at Yang Lixin in surprise, impressed by the man's determination. Even with legs like jelly, he still wanted to stay in the loop.0

He whispered, "Deputy Factory Director Zhang's face is black with anger."0

Yang Lixin: "The law doesn't punish the masses."0

Everyone was staying, so Deputy Factory Director Zhang couldn't punish them all, could he?0

Zhuang Zhixi: "..."0

You think pretty thoroughly.0

He said, "Alright then, let's go."0

Ignoring Deputy Factory Director Zhang's grim expression, the crowd marched toward the infirmary.0

Normally, Deputy Factory Director Zhang would have chased them away, but today, he simply didn't have the energy. Bai Father and Son were carried to the infirmary. Doctor Wang called out, "Director, come take a look."0

The head of the infirmary was a bald, middle-aged man in his fifties, treating the job as a retirement gig.0

It was because of this attitude that the infirmary had such low visibility. The bald director had been napping during lunch and hurried out, half-asleep: "Oh, wow."0

He was surprised to see so many people.0

Doctor Wang: "Director, you take a look at these two... uh, these two people. My skills aren't enough, I can't handle it." She didn't want to deal with them at all.0

Everyone's lips twitched. Don't think we didn't catch that slip about "dog things."0

You're insulting dogs.0

The director: "I'll handle it, I'll handle it."0

Bai Father and Bai Fendou were still clutching their groins, howling in pain.0

The director: "What happened?"0

He said, "I'll start by treating the head. Can't let the bleeding continue."0

Though both were bruised and swollen like pigs' heads, Bai Fendou's head was still bleeding, which needed attention. His nose was also bleeding... The bald director didn't know what had happened, but seeing the others not only not helping but also glaring at Bai Father and Son with disgust, he could guess they hadn't done anything good.0

He quickly dealt with the situation and noticed that they were all still clutching their groins.0

He said, "Everyone out, out! Stop crowding around. I need to check the critical area, and it's not appropriate for all of you to stay here."0

Old Man Bai: "Ouch, ouch, ouch."0

Bai Fendou: "Ouch, ouch, ouch."0

They were in so much pain that they couldn't speak.0

"Everyone out, out!"0

He pulled the curtains shut. Deputy Factory Director Zhang said, "I'll stay. As the deputy factory director in charge of logistics, I need to know the specifics. Otherwise, I won't be able to communicate with the rest of the factory."0

Section Chief Liu immediately chimed in, "Then I'll stay too. These two made a mistake and not only didn't repent but even fought back. We can't rule out the possibility of them suddenly lashing out and hurting you. That would be disastrous."0

The security team added, "We'll stay as well. Our job is to protect the safety of anyone in the factory. If Bai Father and Son go crazy, we can stop them in time."0

Bald Director: "...0

You all just want to stay and watch the drama, don't you?"0

He nodded. "Fine, stay if you want, but all the women should leave, okay?"0

The onlookers were finally kept outside, but even though they couldn't see anything, they still craned their necks to catch a glimpse. Zhuang Zhixi was among the crowd. From inside the room, a series of sharp intakes of breath could be heard.0

Yang Lixin: "What's going on?"0

Zhuang Zhixi: "How would I know?"0

He was curious too, but he didn't have x-ray vision. He couldn't see through the door.0

But they didn't have to wait long. The door soon opened.0

The security team members maintained order, shouting, "Make way, everyone, make way! We need to send them to the hospital."0

"Ah? The clinic can't handle it?"0

"How serious must it be? Are they... done for?"0

"Probably not, our clinic is only good for minor ailments. The medical skills are average."0

At this, Bald Director was not convinced. He said, "How can you say our clinic's skills are average? Sure, we may not be good at treating serious illnesses, but that's because we rarely encounter them, and our experience is limited. Many experts gain their skills through repeated exposure to cases. We don't have that advantage. But when it comes to minor ailments, we see a lot of them, and we handle them well. It's easy to diagnose and treat. And for injuries, like stopping bleeding, fixing fractures, and bandaging, we do a lot of that and do it well. You can't underestimate our clinic's skills. When it comes to small issues, even big hospitals don't handle them as much as we do. We have more experience and can make quicker judgments."0

This point had to be clarified. They couldn't be looked down upon like that.0

"Then why are they being sent to a big hospital?"0

Bald Director: "It's shattered. If it's shattered, how can we handle it here? Our clinic isn't equipped to deal with male issues! Plus, our stitching and repairing skills aren't up to par. If we mess it up, it really could be... done for. And he's not even married yet. Can we afford to take risks?"0

Oh boy!0

Everyone stared at the two men in disbelief, their eyes as wide as saucers.0

Shattered. Done for!0

The crowd was stunned by the topic, deeply shocked.0

Bai Fendou winced in pain, barely managing to squeeze out a few words: "No... don't... don't say..."0

Bald Director immediately replied, "Alright, alright, I won't say anything. You're in so much pain, just stay quiet."0

Bai Fendou's vision went black. Damn it, I told you not to say anything, yet you keep going on and on.0

"Quick, quick, get them to the hospital. He's turning pale, he might faint!"0

Zhuang ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‍Zhixi speculated from the sidelines: Are you sure he's turning pale from pain, or is it from being annoyed by you?0

"Hurry, hurry!"0

Deputy Factory Director Zhang: "Section Chief Liu, arrange for a few people to go to the hospital, and also arrange for some to escort Zhou Qun and Jiang Lu back to the security office. This matter needs a thorough investigation. We must handle it clearly to give the victim an explanation and to set an example for the rest of the factory."0

He turned to the onlookers: "Alright, everyone, back to work. Do you all want to follow to the hospital too? Am I not making myself clear as the deputy factory director? Are you going to ignore me? Get back to work!"0

Seeing that the situation was being taken care of and it was still work hours, the crowd reluctantly dispersed. Yang Lixin finally regained some composure and no longer needed Zhuang Zhixi's support.0

He sighed, "Shattered... Does that mean it's... over?"0

Zhuang Zhixi: "How would I know? I'm going back to work. Today has been one wild ride."0

Yang Lixin nodded deeply.0

Today, he was definitely leaving work early to spread the news about what had happened.0

This kind of gossip was unheard of, something no one else had ever seen.0

Zhuang Zhixi didn't know what Yang Lixin was thinking. He followed the crowd back to the office. Sister Cui had somehow ended up beside Zhuang Zhixi. The whole way, she was full of one hundred and twenty thousand thoughts.0

How could such a thing happen?0

Everyone returned to the office. A few hadn't gone out to watch the drama, like Old Huang. He asked, "What's going on out there? You all look so shaken."0

Zhuang Zhixi: "..."0

He understood a bit of what Yang Lixin had felt earlier. It was hard to know where to start explaining.0

Sister Cui, however, started talking a mile a minute, recounting the events. This story was sure to spread throughout the entire factory.0

"What? Bai Fendou had a thing for Zhou Qun's wife?"0

"He got caught in the act!"0

"My goodness, his... thing is shattered. Can that even be fixed?"0

...0

The questions came one after another, so fast that it was hard to keep up.0

It was undeniable that this was the most exciting day at the machinery factory, even more so than the May Day Labor Festival. Even when the big bosses attended the festival, the excitement didn't compare to now. The news of the Bai Father and Son had spread to every corner of the factory.0

This incredible father and son duo had become the talk of the town.0

Wang Xiangxiu, working in the workshop, also heard about the incident. Although their workshop was a bit slower than other departments in getting news, such a big event couldn't be kept under wraps.0

Soon, it had spread like wildfire.0

Wang Xiangxiu was in a daze, unsure of what to think. She couldn't believe the story. In her eyes, Bai Fendou loved her, so how could he be plotting something with Jiang Lu? His relationship with Jiang Lu wasn't good at all.0

If anything, there was animosity.0

After all, Jiang Lu had fought alongside Zhou Qun many times, making things difficult for Bai Fendou. So if Bai Fendou disliked Jiang Lu, she believed it. But to say he had a thing for her? She thought that would only happen if the sun rose in the west.0

What kind of crazy rumor was this?0

But everyone was talking about it with such conviction, leaving Wang Xiangxiu very confused.0

"Wang Xiangxiu, why aren't you saying anything? Don't you find it hard to believe? It seems Bai Fendou didn't have much sincerity for you after all." Some of the workshop workers, who didn't like Wang Xiangxiu, teased her. "I have to apologize to you. I used to think there was something going on between you and Bai Fendou, but I was wrong. I didn't believe you when you said you were just like siblings, but now I do. Bai Fendou's heart was set on Jiang Lu. No wonder he always seemed to have it out for Zhou Qun. Now we know why."0

"Exactly, exactly."0

"But what a disgusting person! Jiang Lu has a husband, yet he still tried to make a move. He should be dragged out and... well, he's already shattered, so I guess that's punishment enough. The heavens always have their way of dealing with wrongdoers. This is just karma."0

"Yes, it's karma!"0

Wang Xiangxiu stood awkwardly in place, feeling very uncomfortable.0

After hesitating, she said, "Maybe... maybe there's been a misunderstanding..."0

Everyone turned to look at her in disbelief, then smirked and laughed, their eyes filled with disdain. They said, "They were caught red-handed, with many people from the security department witnessing it. Do you think they're fools? If it weren't for Zhou Qun leading the way, Jiang Lu would have been in trouble."0

"Exactly."0

"We know you're close with Bai Fendou, and your mother-in-law is even entangled with Old Man Bai, but you can't speak without a conscience."0

"That's right."0

Wang Xiangxiu: "I... I didn't."0

She quickly lowered her head to work, but her heart grew more and more uneasy. She wasn't concerned about Bai Fendou's situation; she didn't truly love him. What she worried about was what would happen to his family if Bai Fendou lost his job or got into trouble. Their current decent life relied heavily on the Bai Father and Son. If something went wrong, she didn't even want to imagine the consequences.0

"Ouch."0

A metal ring slipped from her hand and hit her foot. Wang Xiangxiu cried out, "Ah, it hurts so much..."0

"My goodness, how could you be so careless?"0

"Quick, go to the clinic."0

"Let's go, I'll take you there."0

"Look at her, all out of sorts. Is she worried about Bai Fendou?"0

"She's just being overly sentimental, isn't she?"0

Wang Xiangxiu's eyes turned red as she felt the pain in her foot. Although the others looked down on her, a few female workers still helped her to the clinic...0

This tumultuous day continued until the end of the work shift, with everyone still buzzing with gossip. Zhuang Zhixi packed up and left work, hurrying home. He had to visit his mother-in-law's place today. As he walked into the alley, he noticed more people than usual gathered in small groups, whispering among themselves.0

Upon seeing Zhuang Zhixi, someone immediately called out, "Xiao Zhuang, did Bai Fendou get arrested?"0

Zhuang Zhixi: "I... I don't know."0

"How could you not know? Didn't you go to watch the commotion?"0

"Yeah, tell us, what's the big deal? Why keep it to yourself?"0

Zhuang Zhixi quickly explained, "I did go to watch, but the place was already locked down, with only the security department and the higher-ups inside. I'm just a small fry, I couldn't even get close. I was standing on the outermost edge."0

“Ah, you really can't even get close to the action when watching a commotion.”0

The group stopped asking Zhuang Zhixi and continued their chatter.0

Zhuang Zhixi hurried home, entering the courtyard to find those who weren't working standing around, gossiping. All the windows of the Bai family's house had been smashed. Aunt Zhou sat at the Bai family's doorstep, cursing profusely, venting her anger on their ancestors for eighteen generations.0

As an eyewitness to the incident, Yang Lixin stood in the center of the courtyard, surrounded by several people.0

Zhao Guihua, seeing her son return, glanced at him and quickly said, "Why are you only coming back now?"0

Zhuang Zhixi smiled and replied, "Mom, I left work as soon as the shift ended. Is that still too slow? Your standards are too high."0

Zhao Guihua: "Are you going to your mother-in-law's place today?"0

Zhuang Zhixi: "Yes, my wife is waiting for me at her workplace. If I don't go, she won't know."0

He entered the house, and while people didn't pay much attention to Zhuang Zhixi, the primary source of information, Yang Lixin, was still there. Zhuang Zhixi put the lamb leg in a bag and said, "Is it obvious?"0

Zhao Guihua: "No one's paying attention to you today. Just go."0

After a pause, she glanced at the people in the courtyard and whispered, "Is this matter related to you?"0

Zhuang Zhixi's smile remained unchanged as he said, "Bai Fendou actually wanted to frame me and Jiang Lu, but... you saw it, he reaped what he sowed."0

Truthfully, Zhuang Zhixi felt no sympathy for Bai Fendou, no matter how miserable he was. After all, Bai Fendou hadn't spared any effort in trying to harm him. If it weren't for his mother hearing something vague in advance, or if he weren't so sharp and alert, he might now be the one facing endless accusations.0

At that point, both he and his family would be subjected to what kind of scrutiny?0

Zhuang Zhixi coldly said, "He brought this upon himself."0

Zhao Guihua clenched her teeth and said, "Exactly."0

She hadn't expected that Bai Fendou would indeed plot against her son. Even though he was now being punished, Zhao Guihua's fists clenched tightly.0

"Mom, I'm leaving first. We can talk more tonight."0

"Alright."0

Zhuang Zhixi quickly picked up his bag and left. As expected, although some people in the courtyard noticed him, they didn't pay much attention. At this moment, no one cared about that. Zhuang Zhixi had only been gone for a short while when Zhou Qun and his wife returned.0

As victims, the factory naturally wouldn't restrict their actions.0

Zhou Qun, injured, had received simple treatment, his face smeared with purple medication, and a bandage over his lip. Jiang Lu's condition was slightly better, but her eyes were swollen from crying. The couple returned, followed by a crowd of people.0

"Xiao Qun!" Old Lady Zhou, who had been cursing fiercely, saw her son and daughter-in-law return and quickly got up, rushing over. "How are you? That scoundrel Bai Fendou, bullying us to this extent, even dared to lay hands on you?"0

She then looked at her daughter-in-law, her dissatisfaction evident. She stepped forward and slapped Jiang Lu, scolding, "You slut, you've brought shame to our entire family. What's the deal with you and Bai Fendou being unclear!"0

Although she had already heard the details of the incident from Yang Lixin, she still didn't hesitate to smear her daughter-in-law.0

Jiang Lu was stunned for a moment, then burst into tears: "Mom, I didn't~"0

"How didn't you! If not, why would they target others? You're just a slut, unable to have children, and now causing trouble outside. Look at what you've done—if it weren't for you, how would Zhou Qun get hurt? How would our family lose face?" Madam Zhou Li was vicious, her words cutting like a knife.0

Aunt Wang couldn't stand it anymore and spoke up: "Madam Zhou, what are you talking about? How can you smear your own family like this? My son-in-law heard it too—it was Old Man Bai who tricked Jiang Lu into going there. And they immediately rushed in to help. How can you make it sound so bad?"0

"This is my family's business; don't meddle." Madam Zhou knew Aunt Wang was telling the truth—so many people had seen it, it couldn't be fake. But she wanted to say it anyway, to further control her daughter-in-law. A woman with a tainted reputation, how dare she think of divorce?0

She felt triumphant, thinking her move to smear her daughter-in-law was perfect.0

She gloated, "My daughter-in-law is just a shameless slut..."0

"Mom! That's enough! Can you show some humanity? What goes around comes around. You're slandering Jiang Lu like this, aren't you afraid of karma? She's your daughter-in-law, not your enemy. How can you be so vicious? Mom, how did you become like this? Are you still my mother?"0

Madam Zhou had thought her plan was flawless, but her son refused to cooperate. After all, no man likes the idea of a green hat!0

Even if it wasn't true, his mother was trying to weave one for him, and Zhou Qun couldn't accept that.0

He suppressed his anger and gave his mother a deep, resentful look, saying, "Jiang Lu, come home."0

Jiang Lu looked at Zhou Qun with gratitude, biting her lip and saying, "Qun Ge, thank you for believing in me."0

Zhou Qun: "Of course, I trust your character. We're a team, a married couple. When I was in trouble, you believed in me unconditionally. Now, I naturally believe in you. We're both innocent, and even if others misunderstand, we won't doubt each other."0

Jiang Lu nodded gratefully.0

Zhao Guihua: "..."0

It's over, there's no saving them.