"Director Yu, do you have a partner? With your excellent conditions, you should be paired with someone equally outstanding. Well, I have a nephew. He's also a high - school graduate, and he's extremely good - looking."
"My nephew has so many advantages that his standards are a bit high. That's why he hasn't found a partner yet. But I think it's understandable. Outstanding people should be with outstanding partners. Director Yu, next time I'll arrange a meeting for you two."
It was the first time Yu Linxiu had someone try to match - make her on the spot. She was stunned for a moment and then waved her hand with a smile.
"No, no, Aunt Wang. I'm not in a hurry about this for now."
Her relationship with Yang Wang wasn't suitable to be made public at this time. Her top priorities were work and study. Since Hua Qingqing had entrusted her with the important task of managing the factory, she must work seriously. Anything that might affect her work couldn't happen to her.
Aunt Wang let out a sigh and said in a tone of an experienced person, "Even if you're not in a hurry, you can start dating first. This is a new era now. People don't gossip like before. Having a partner will allow you to work more at ease in the future."
Yu Linxiu declined, "Not in a hurry, not in a hurry. The most important thing now is to manage the factory well. Factory matters come first. Auntie, you'd better hurry to the canteen, or there won't be any meat left."
Hearing this, Aunt Wang, who had been planning to say a few more words, turned around and saw that there was no one behind her. Everyone had walked ahead. Immediately, she lost the intention to continue the conversation. She slapped her thigh and hurriedly chased after them.
Yu Linxiu let out a sigh of relief and went to another small room. Her assistant, Jiang Jiang, had already got the meal for her and was waiting.
Jiang Jiang was also a high - school graduate, two years younger than Yu Linxiu. She was lively, cheerful, and meticulous in her work.
Jiang Jiang was recruited as a reserve management staff on the recruitment day. After a month of assessment, she successfully stayed.
Apart from her, there were two men and two women. The two male comrades, Yang Zhuo and Zhang He, followed Yang Wang to Shanghai. The female comrades, Liu Jiangran and Tong Yan, were in charge of the front - factory and the production team respectively.
The management staff had clear educational requirements, and their salaries were higher than those of the ordinary workers in the production team.
Jiang Jiang was personally assigned by Hua Qingqing to be beside Yu Linxiu. Hua Qingqing said they were complementary. So Yu Linxiu regarded her as her younger sister.
"Don't wait for me. If you're hungry, start eating first."
Yu Linxiu opened her aluminum lunch box, and the rich aroma of the dishes wafted out.
The treatment in Dongxing Factory was good. Workers could get off work after seven hours of work every day. Lunch was provided, including one meat dish, two vegetarian dishes, and a fixed egg - flower soup.
Jiang Jiang sat down opposite Yu Linxiu, her thick and heroic eyebrows tightly knitted.
"Sister Linxiu, why did you talk to that Wang Ru for so long? Was she introducing her nephew to you again? Cough, don't believe her boasting. Wang Ru's nephew dropped out of No. 2 Middle School after only half a year. I heard..."
Jiang Jiang suddenly leaned closer and whispered to Yu Linxiu, "I heard that he got a female student pregnant and didn't want to take responsibility. The poor girl jumped into the river and died! They couldn't save her in the end!"
"The most important thing is that even after this, Wang Ru still said it wasn't her nephew's fault. She said everywhere that it was the girl who seduced her nephew. She's so shameless!"
"Sister Linxiu, don't believe her!"
Yu Linxiu even slowed down her eating speed. The enthusiastic smile on Aunt Wang's face in her mind now seemed hideous.
"Don't worry. I have a partner. Even if I didn't, I wouldn't take a fancy to such a person."
Jiang Jiang exclaimed in surprise. Her big eyes sparkled with curiosity, but she was sensible enough not to ask further.
...
In the deep and dark alley, there came a few miserable screams. Then the broken sound seemed to be muffled in a cloth. It was no longer clear but even more creepy.
Hu Guihua was cracking melon seeds as she knocked on the door.
"Okay, okay, stop beating. If you keep going, he won't be presentable tomorrow. These days, that old woman next door has been beating around the bush, asking me if my daughter - in - law has been beaten. She almost ruined my reputation!"
Hearing his mother's words, Zeng He cast his sinister gaze on the woman curled up on the ground again. He lifted his foot and kicked her hard.
"Ah!"
"Slut, still daring to scream. Who told you to go out looking like that? Do you deliberately want to ruin the reputation of the Zeng family? You can't even give birth to a child, and you still have so many schemes!"
Zeng He kicked a few more times. Hu Guihua watched with satisfaction and then stepped forward to pull her son.
"Okay, okay. Jianhua didn't do anything wrong. I asked her to buy something that day. Maybe she was accidentally seen by someone. She's my only daughter - in - law. You can't beat her too badly. Let's go and eat. Mom made meat for you today. It smells delicious."
The door of the small house was half - open. Yu Jianhua waited until the noise faded away before slowly moving her body. She didn't dare to make a sound. Enduring the pain, she carefully moved and sat against the wall.
Tears welled up and flowed uncontrollably.
Why had she become like this? Why had Zeng He changed so much?
Yu Jianhua asked herself in her heart, just like she had asked herself countless times before, this question without an answer.
But this time, there was an extra voice in her mind.
"... They're recruiting there... If you can use a sewing machine... You might get the job, Auntie. You should give it a try."
Give it a try. Could she really give it a try?
Yu Jianhua dared not try, but she was really scared of this kind of life.
Two years ago, Zeng He suddenly lost his job in the machinery factory. Under the constant persuasion and urging of his mother, she couldn't bear the pressure and gave up her work position to Zeng He.
It was that decision that had changed her life completely. It was as if she had entered hell.
Her husband had changed. He was no longer gentle but became violent. Her mother - in - law had also changed. She became evil and cunning.
After the pain subsided a bit, Yu Jianhua supported herself against the wall and stood up.
She had to go and clear the bowls and chopsticks for them. Otherwise, there would be another beating.
...
At the same time, Hua Qingqing was expressing her intention of skipping a grade to her homeroom teacher.
The homeroom teacher, Xu Guo, was extremely shocked by her idea.
"Student Hua Qingqing, I've heard from other subject teachers that you often read books for higher - grade students in class. Technically, this kind of distraction in class is wrong. But when the teacher asks you questions, you can answer them correctly. So the teacher doesn't forcefully interfere with your... hobby."
"But skipping a grade isn't something that can be achieved just by reading a few higher - grade books. The teacher admits that you're very smart, but even the smartest people need to be down - to - earth."
"The teacher can't agree to your request."
Hua Qingqing asked, "Teacher, is there really no room for negotiation?"
Xu Guo nodded seriously.
Hua Qingqing thought for a moment and then said seriously, "I understand, teacher. May I ask what the procedure for dropping out of school is?"