A heavy snow had just fallen, leaving the world a vast expanse of white. A thick layer of snow had accumulated in the courtyard of the food factory, crunching underfoot.
The cold wind blew tiny snow particles against the face, bringing a chilly sensation. Several cleaners and the security guard uncle were holding shovels and brooms, working together to clear the snow in the courtyard. The shovels hit the frozen ground, making dull thuds.
Qiao Lanshu wrapped her old padded jacket tightly around herself and walked all the way through the snow to the main gate of the food factory.
From a distance, she indeed saw a figure standing by the door. The person was wearing a neat department store clerk uniform, the blue-gray fabric crisp and clean. He was holding a square kraft paper bag, looking exactly like someone who had just come from a city department store.
The clerk had sharp eyes and immediately noticed Qiao Lanshu walking towards him. Before she could get close, he took the initiative to greet her, his tone polite and proper: Hello, excuse me, are you Comrade Qiao Lanshu?
Qiao Lanshu nodded gently: That is me.
The clerk's face grew a bit more cautious as he spoke again: Please show me your work badge so I can verify.
Qiao Lanshu understood in her heart. A pure cashmere handmade coat cost a full forty yuan, while the monthly salary of an ordinary worker like them was only around thirty yuan. If he gave it to the wrong person and lost it, the clerk simply could not afford to pay for it.
She did not say much, reached into her jacket pocket, took out her work badge, and handed it over for the clerk to see.
Confirming there was no mistake, the clerk immediately revealed a smile.
He took out a neatly folded receipt from his pocket and handed it over with both hands: Comrade Qiao Lanshu, this is the cashmere coat your friend commissioned our department store to custom-make for you. Here is the sales receipt, please sign it.
Qiao Lanshu took the receipt, her eyes sweeping over the price on it, and her heart stirred slightly.
In this era, she really could not think of a second person besides Qin Yuanzheng who would be willing to spend such a large amount of money to buy her something.
She picked up the pen, signed her name in the designated spot, kept one copy of the receipt, and returned the remaining two copies to the clerk.
The clerk took the receipts and put them away, then handed the kraft paper bag to her: Please take the coat. If there are any minor issues after you go back, you can bring it to the store for repairs anytime. If there is nothing else, I will head back first.
Qiao Lanshu nodded and thanked him.
After the clerk turned and walked away, she gently opened a corner of the bag and took a peek inside.
Inside lay a gray-black women's cashmere coat. The material was thick and soft, with a delicate luster. At a glance, it was clearly a high-quality item, and the craftsmanship was very exquisite.
She put the receipt into the bag as well, tied the opening, carried the coat, and turned back to the small duty room outside the warehouse.
After entering the room, she carefully placed the coat on the wooden rack inside. She did not immediately examine it again, planning to ask Qin Yuanzheng face-to-face when she got home that evening.
If he really gave it to her, she would accept it.
If not, she would definitely return the coat untouched.
For the whole morning, there was nothing urgent in the factory, so Qiao Lanshu quietly read a book in the small room all morning. The room was peaceful, with only the occasional sound of shoveling snow coming from outside the window.
When it was time for lunch, the cafeteria was steaming hot and full of noisy voices.
Just as Qiao Lanshu found a seat and sat down with her rice bowl, Wang Xue came over with her food tray, looking mysterious. As soon as she sat down, she lowered her voice and said to her: Xiao Qiao, come with me for a moment.
Qiao Lanshu was puzzled. She also lowered her voice, picking up her food tray while asking: Sister Xue, what is going on that is so mysterious?
Wang Xue leaned close to her ear, her voice so soft it was almost inaudible: I had someone test Deng Weijun's character. If his character is no good, the two of them will not need to meet tomorrow.
Qiao Lanshu was stunned for a moment. Test his character?
It was the first time she had heard of such a thing, and she could not help but be curious: How do you test it?
Just as her voice faded, a crisp clatter suddenly came from the other side of the cafeteria. The sound of a lunchbox falling to the ground was particularly piercing.
The two of them subconsciously turned their heads to look at the same time.
They saw Deng Weijun, who had just gotten his food, being bumped unexpectedly. His body swayed, and the food tray in his hand almost slipped.
The person who bumped into him was a female worker wearing a cleaner's uniform. The lunchbox in her hand fell to the ground, spilling soup all over the floor. Fortunately, the bowl only contained soup and no rice.
The hot soup splashed all over the ground, and quite a bit spilled onto Deng Weijun's shoes and pant legs.
The female worker turned pale with fright. She hurriedly picked up the bowl, stood up, and kept bowing and apologizing: I am sorry, I am sorry, comrade. I lost my balance just now, it was really careless...
Deng Weijun's first reaction was to quickly and steadily place his own food tray on the table, afraid of spilling his hard-earned meal.
In these times, food in the factory was rationed. If a meal was spilled, one would have to go hungry for that meal. No one dared to be careless.
After safely putting down his food, he looked down and shook off the soup stains on his pant legs. He then looked up at the cleaner lady, his tone peaceful: Sister, I am fine, do not panic.
The lady held the empty lunchbox in one hand and supported her waist with the other. Her brows were slightly furrowed, and she breathed a sigh of relief: As long as you are fine. I was really scared just now.
Seeing her holding her waist, Deng Weijun guessed she had probably sprained it just now and could not help asking: Did you twist your waist? Why don't you sit down and rest for a while.
The lady shook her head: I cannot. I have to hurry and get my food, or there will not be any dishes left if I am late.
Seeing that she was walking uncomfortably, Deng Weijun sighed and offered: You sit here first, I will go get the food for you.
After saying that, he carefully helped the lady sit down on a nearby stool, picked up her empty lunchbox, and turned to walk towards the food serving window.
The cleaner lady gathered her bowls and chopsticks, watching Deng Weijun's back for a moment.
Then, she imperceptibly glanced towards Wang Xue. The corners of her mouth curled up quietly, and she nodded slightly. Anyone with a discerning eye could understand the meaning in her gaze.
Qiao Lanshu saw this entire scene completely, and she was entirely stunned.
She quickly turned her head, leaned close to Wang Xue's ear, and whispered in a soft and shocked voice: Sister, is... is this the test you arranged?
Wang Xue held her bowl and slowly took a bite of her coarse grain steamed bread, a knowing and satisfied smile appearing on her face. She replied in a hushed voice: Now I can rest assured. This young man Deng Weijun does not have a bad heart. He is a kind and honest comrade.
Qiao Lanshu took a bite of her steamed bun and nodded sincerely: Yes, he is indeed warm-hearted and simple. He did not mind at all just now and even took the initiative to help get food.
Hearing this, Wang Xue sighed softly, her chopsticks pausing on the edge of the bowl, her tone carrying a bit of helplessness and heartache:
I have no other choice either. Haitang's personality is too cowardly and soft; she just goes along with whatever others say. As her older cousin, I have to pick someone with a good heart for her. Otherwise, with her silent temper, if she really suffers grievances and gets bullied in the future, I am afraid she would not even dare to cry out loud.
This was the most she could do.
Helping to evaluate him and quietly testing the waters was the limit; as an ordinary female worker, she was powerless to do anything more.
After lunch, Wang Xue, being a woman of action who hated delays, wanted to go straight to the train station to find Wang Haitang and tell her the good news about Deng Weijun's reliable character.
Qiao Lanshu happened to have no urgent matters that afternoon, so Wang Xue grabbed her and pulled her along to the station.
As they were nearing the entrance of the train station, Qiao Lanshu suddenly stopped in her tracks and reached out to pull back the hurrying Wang Xue.
Wang Xue stumbled from the pull and turned around, asking in confusion, What is wrong?
Qiao Lanshu put a finger to her lips, making a shushing gesture, and then gently pointed to an inconspicuous narrow alley next to the train station.
The two quietly crept up to the mouth of the alley and peeked inside, their hearts instantly leaping into their throats.
They saw Liu Jianguo leaning casually against the wall, whispering something to a man carrying bamboo baskets on a shoulder pole, a man who clearly looked like a black market speculator. Neither of the men noticed them at the alley entrance.
They heard Liu Jianguo's vicious tone as he cursed, Damn her! I spent so much time and effort, and now she thinks she can just dump me with a few words? No way!
The man opposite him advised, Oh man, this thing has already gone to the police station. Why do not you just let it go? There are plenty of fish in the sea, can you not just chase someone else?
Liu Jianguo gave a cold sneer, his voice full of malice. Am I supposed to just watch a cooked duck fly away? I have to get my hands on her! When she gets off her night shift, I will naturally have a way to deal with her.
The other man laughed and said, Now that you mention it, with your girl's temperament, it will be pretty easy to get her. But, are you going to marry her?
Hearing this, Liu Jianguo immediately laughed and said, Marry her? Like you said, this has already gone to the police. How could I possibly marry her? Once I get my hands on her and the deed is done, will she not be entirely at my mercy?
The man nodded and added, I heard that in your textile factory, there are women who sleep with men in secret. When they get pregnant, they do not dare say a word and can only secretly go to back-alley clinics for abortions. Let me tell you, these women with formal jobs are even more afraid of exposure than you are. They are terrified of losing their jobs and losing face. As long as you get them into bed, they will be at our mercy from then on.
Liu Jianguo thought the same way. He fell silent for a moment, then said, When she gets off her night shift, I will naturally find a chance to do her.
...
Wang Xue and Qiao Lanshu heard every single word of this.
Wang Xue was so angry she could almost spit blood. She had never seen such a shameless man!
Her blood boiling, she was ready to charge into the alley right then and there, wishing she could rush up and beat Liu Jianguo to a pulp.
Fortunately, Qiao Lanshu reacted quickly. She grabbed her tightly, half-pulling and half-dragging her to a distant street corner, preventing them from being discovered.
Hiding in a safe place, Wang Xue's chest heaved violently with anger. Her face was flushed red, and her voice trembled. That bastard Liu Jianguo! He actually has not given up! Xiao Qiao, you heard him just now. He is actually planning to wait until Haitang gets off her night shift...
Before she could finish her sentence, Wang Xue angrily rolled up her sleeves, her eyes turning red. No! I have to go teach him a good lesson!
Qiao Lanshu hurriedly held her down and said anxiously, Sister, whatever you do, do not be impulsive! If you go over there now, you have no proof and no backup. You are no match for them at all. It is too risky and will only alert the snake in the grass.
The two of them had already fought last time, and it had escalated to the police station.
The police comrades had already warned them that if another such brawl occurred, it would not be resolved with a simple verbal reprimand.
Wang Xue was such a good person; she could not lose her job over a piece of scum like him.
Wang Xue also knew that she would not gain any advantage by confronting him head-on, but the thought of her sister being targeted and schemed against like this made the fire in her heart impossible to suppress.
Anxious and angry, her eyes a little red, she grabbed Qiao Lanshu's hand and asked, Then what should we do? Are we just going to let him run wild and ignore Haitang?
Qiao Lanshu steadied her nerves, thought quickly for a moment, and calmly analyzed the situation in a low voice:
We cannot fight him head-on. With this kind of person, we cannot step forward ourselves. Let us go to the police station right now and tell the comrades exactly what we just heard, word for word. We will ask them to arrange a militia patrol group to focus on this area and strengthen patrols along Haitang's route home from work. Having the authorities step in will be much more effective and much safer than us going up there ourselves.
Reasoning or fighting with a rogue like Liu Jianguo was useless. Only by having the police and militia step forward could he truly be suppressed.
Being pointed out like this by her, Wang Xue's mind cleared up a bit, knowing this was the safest method. She gritted her teeth fiercely and immediately nodded. You are right! Let us go. We are going to the police station right now!
It was truly fortunate for Wang Xue that she listened to Qiao Lanshu's advice from start to finish. She did not go to clash head-on with Liu Jianguo but went straight to the police station and explained the matter in full detail.
In these times, the police station was very short-handed. The entire city police station only had a total of four or five people, including the old man who guarded the gate. There were very few who could actually run field operations.
Fortunately, most of these police officers were veterans transferred from the military. They had a strong sense of responsibility, were agile, and were not the type to do things half-heartedly.
After hearing Wang Xue say that someone was persistently harassing and even threatening to attack a female worker, the comrades immediately took it seriously. They arranged for an officer on the spot to specifically stand guard in secret near the train station.
It was called standing guard, but on the surface, it was just a normal patrol. In secret, however, it was keeping an eye on Wang Haitang's route home from work to ensure her safety.
Before a report was filed, this matter could have been glossed over. But since the masses had come to their door to report a danger, they could not pretend they had not heard.
Coming out of the police station, the wind on the street still carried a chill. Qiao Lanshu pulled Wang Xue back a bit and cautioned her in a low voice, Sister, do not go pick up Haitang tonight. You already went once yesterday. If Liu Jianguo is really watching from the shadows, he will definitely recognize you. The moment you appear, he might just shrink back and not dare to show his face.
As things stood now, to deal with Liu Jianguo, they had to do it in one vigorous effort and pin him down once and for all. Otherwise, the longer it dragged on, the more complications would arise, making it even more troublesome. Dealing with a lingering ghost like him was the same principle as dealing with Chu Liangjun previously;
They could not just chase him away by force; they could only lure him into making a move himself and catch him red-handed.
Thinking of this, Qiao Lanshu suddenly thought of that overcoat in her heart. That overcoat, could it be...
