As soon as she stepped into the factory gate, she encountered several colleagues pointing and whispering. Being a parachuted statistician, combined with her background—a relative of those in power, a capitalist, someone who got the job through improper means—there were all sorts of rumors.
It was really all jealousy at play. Poor class background, yet sitting in an office, beautiful, and having grown up in comfort—how could anyone not envy such a person?
"Look at her, always wearing that tight-fitting clothes, utterly shameless."
"Oh, if it weren't for that, how could she have hooked up with the factory leadership? Didn't you see she came in straight as a statistician?"
"You know, since she came back from her wedding leave, there's been an air about her."
"Tsk tsk... who’s to say? Do you think her husband might be from the hat factory?" (i.e., a cuckold)
Xiao Mandong used to pretend not to hear such words in her past life. Back then, she was even ashamed of her own identity. But now that she was reborn, she didn't want to endure it any longer. Besides, she was about to quit her job anyway, so how could she not make these people take good care of her sister-in-law?
"Smack—ah..." Xiao Mandong charged forward and slapped the person speaking right across the face, hard.
It happened so fast that the woman was stunned. Clutching her cheek, she stared at Xiao Mandong in disbelief. This person, usually so quiet and unassuming, dared to hit her?
Xiao Mandong had been working here for a year. Ever since news of her background spread, everyone in the factory had gossiped about her. No matter how vile the talk, she had been like a mute—was she only standing up for herself now because she was married and had someone to back her up?
"How dare you hit me, you little bitch? I'll tear your face apart!" Chu Xin, the wife of the factory accountant, had her face trembling with rage.
She was dark-skinned, fat, and stocky. It was no easy feat to be so plump in this era, but her family was well-off. Her father was the director of the canning factory, and it was through her father's connections that Accountant Zhao got his job. Accountant Zhao was an old lecher, always eyeing the young women in the factory, and at home, he would call Chu Xin ugly. So, any woman in the factory with any appeal became Chu Xin's enemy.
Chu Xin lunged forward, reaching for Xiao Mandong's face. Xiao Mandong kicked her in the stomach. Chu Xin stumbled backward, lost her balance, and landed on the ground. Xiao Mandong hadn't expected her to be so frail despite her size.
Chu Xin clutched her stomach, cold sweat beading on her forehead. The women with Chu Xin grew frantic:
"How can you hit people? We were just speaking the truth—were we wrong? Aren't you a capitalist's daughter?"
"You've gone too far! Capitalists bullying the masses? We're going to the leadership—you won't get away with this!"
"You're blatantly lying with wide-open eyes, making up wild rumors, slandering people as if no one can stop you. What, are you all legally illiterate? I can sue you," Xiao Mandong's gaze swept over them. If she hadn't sold her job yet, she would have loved to give them a few more slaps.
Chu Xin just recovered, got up, and went for Xiao Mandong again: "Bitch! Serves your whole family right for being sent down!"
But just as Chu Xin's hand shot out, someone grabbed her.
"What's going on? Nothing better to do?" It was Director Liu. Seeing the slap mark on Chu Xin's face, Director Liu breathed a sigh of relief. She had rushed over from the factory entrance after hearing that Xiao Mandong was in a fight, expecting to find Xiao Mandong beaten. Instead, it was Chu Xin—she hadn't expected this meek cat to grow claws and scratch back.
"Director Liu, they're spreading nasty rumors, saying I slept with the factory leadership to get this job. I got the position through proper procedures as a valid successor—I've nothing to hide. I sit straight and walk straight, so I don't care. But if these rumors get out, how would the leadership of other factories view ours? Would we have to send every leader to the Revolutionary Committee for investigation? I now suspect Comrade Chu Xin of being a counter-revolutionary agent. She's deliberately creating internal conflict and undermining unity in our cotton mill," Xiao Mandong stated her reason for hitting her calmly. Rumormongering was something she could do too.
The people around her wanted to argue back, but as soon as they heard "counter-revolutionary agent," they all shut up. No one dared to speak.
Chu Xin was gnashing her teeth in fury. How had this bitch become so sharp-tongued today? In just a moment, she had offended all the factory leaders and pinned the label of "counter-revolutionary agent" on her.
That label terrified Chu Xin. Her legs trembled slightly, and her voice shook:
"You... you're talking nonsense! A capitalist's daughter like you... you're slandering me!"
"Isn't it slander when you accuse her of seducing leadership? Did any of you actually witness it? Which leader did she seduce? If you have evidence, tell the time and place, and I'll send her to the Revolutionary Committee for investigation. But if you're just making baseless claims, then you deserve the beating. Making up lewd rumors about a female comrade isn't just harmful—it's poison." Director Liu brushed away Chu Xin's pointing finger.
She was a kind girl, usually quiet and reserved in the factory. Why had she become such a thorn in Chu Xin's side, the target of all that rumor-mongering? Xiao Mandong must have been pushed past her limit to act like this. If it had been Director Liu, she would have slapped Chu Xin long ago.
"We just heard it from around here... that's what everyone in the factory says," Chu Xin said, sounding guilty.
"Who in the factory said it? Let's find out today and send them to the police station," Director Liu glared at the group.
They all lowered their heads and kept silent. How were they supposed to know who started it? At first, they said it was about her bad class background—capitalist, one of the "Five Black Categories." Then the rumors got more and more outrageous. They'd just used it as entertainment whenever they were bored.
Just then, the work bell rang. Director Liu glared at Chu Xin:
"Don't believe every rumor you hear. I suggest you watch your mouth. If I find anyone else spreading lies to harm the unity of comrades, there will be a formal punishment. Now, everyone, get back to work."
Chu Xin bit her lip and left reluctantly.
When everyone had gone, Director Liu patted Xiao Mandong's hand with a smile:
"That's right! If you're bullied, fight back. If you're angry, strike back. No need to make yourself miserable."
"Sister Liu, thank you. I actually wanted to talk to you about something," Xiao Mandong didn't explain much. She took out a contract and handed it to Director Liu.
Director Liu opened it suspiciously and looked at Xiao Mandong in confusion:
"Mandong, I'm not one to meddle, but you can't just give up this job. It's your backbone. The mouths are on them—you can't let a few gossipers drive you away."
She had thought Xiao Mandong was finally toughening up. But here she was, letting those gossips push her to resign.
"Sister Liu, it's not because of them. My sister is being sent to the countryside alone; I'm worried about her. I want to go and keep her company. I've already sold the job, and I'm going to process the transfer this afternoon. I thought of your family's situation—Jialiang hasn't been well, and working overtime all the time isn't good for him. I want to give him my administrative office position. The person buying the job can work in the spinning workshop instead." Sister Liu's concern filled Xiao Mandong with unspeakable gratitude.
Director Liu could hardly believe her ears. Such a wonderful opportunity had actually fallen into her lap. Her son had come home from overtime work yesterday with a face so pale it was terrifying. She didn’t want him to keep working, but her son disagreed, saying a grown man couldn’t just sit around eating for free forever.
Director Liu felt both heartache and bitterness, but she couldn’t let Xiao Mandong make a foolish decision for her son’s sake. "Mandong, think it over again. Giving up this job is really a shame. Jobs are hard to come by these days, especially an office position."
"No need to think it over. I’ve already arranged to go to the countryside. I’ve considered it very carefully. Rest assured, Sister Liu. When that person comes this afternoon, just tell them to work in the fine yarn workshop for three months as an internship before becoming a regular employee. The agreement doesn’t specify the type of job anyway." Xiao Mandong also wanted to repay Sister Liu for the care she had shown her in a past life.
Director Liu thanked her repeatedly. After resolving matters at the factory, Xiao Mandong went to the post office to mail a letter to her younger brother.
Meanwhile, Lu Hong was wildly excited. She dressed herself up beautifully, tucked her household registration booklet and savings passbook into her pocket, and, accompanied by Wang Xiumei, set off for the cotton textile mill.
Lu Bingshan didn’t like to appear in public, Ma Lanying had her head wrapped in bandages, and Lu Jianguo couldn’t even get out of bed. In the end, the task of accompanying her fell to Wang Xiumei.
Along the way, Lu Hong held her chin high, showing off to the villagers they passed, daydreaming about finding a city boyfriend and enjoying a life of state-supplied grain. But no one responded to her chatter. Instead, their eyes clung to Wang Xiumei, and they whispered among themselves:
"Isn’t that Jianjun’s wife? I heard she got together with Jianguo, and that’s why Lu Jianguo got divorced."
"Doesn’t this count as 'brother's passing, his wife succeeds?' Tsk tsk. Look at her up front—looks like she’s carrying two steamed buns. No wonder Jianguo threw brotherly love out the window."
"True, and she’s got a big rear end too. Watch her sway as she walks—those hips are practically wiggling off."
Wang Xiumei kept her head down, silent, her hands tightly gripping the hem of her clothes, her face flushed bright red.
