Chapter 310: Speechless
The office was deathly silent.
It was as if everyone could hear some tense heartbeats.
In this office, Lu Qiaoge was the youngest in age, but at this moment her aura was the strongest.
Her words were truly reasonable, powerful, and struck straight at the core of the problem.
Even Director Mei, who was always impatient with family matters, nervously swallowed a mouthful of saliva.
Director Mei couldn’t help but look at Lu Qiaoge, seriously sizing up this young comrade.
Although it was the first time meeting her, he had actually heard about her before.
Now seeing her in person, she truly lived up to her reputation.
She really had a knack for the job.
She left Jiang Chusheng, who had seemed to have the right on his side, speechless.
Normally Jiang Chusheng was quite talkative, but at this moment, besides glaring, he couldn’t refute a single word.
Calling the public security officers again, calling the court—is he trying to make a big scene?
Then his dream of being rated advanced as workshop director was just that—a dream!
Cadre Liu and Sister Qiao smiled at each other.
This was their neighborhood committee’s Lu Qiaoge—don’t think she’s young and underestimate her; look at how many tough disputes and problems she’s solved.
They could confidently say that the 1975 grassroots advanced work unit would undoubtedly go to Xiangyang Neighborhood Committee this time.
They all knew that Qianjin Neighborhood Committee had dominated it for the past few years.
They hadn’t received this honor for several years.
Actually, the two neighborhood committees were about the same, but Director Han knew how to perform and how to get along with people, making his jurisdiction seem better than Xiangyang’s.
Now in Xiangyang Neighborhood Committee’s jurisdiction, petty theft was almost gone, fights had decreased, and mother-in-law and daughter-in-law conflicts stemming from son preference were also fewer.
No one could match Lu Qiaoge’s ability to solve problems.
These old folks weren’t jealous—not one bit jealous; instead, they had learned a lot from Lu Qiaoge.
Now Xiangyang Neighborhood Committee as a whole lived up to its name, facing the sun and thriving!
As veterans of the neighborhood committee, they felt nothing but pride and admiration.
This had nothing to do with age.
Cadre Liu stared at Jiang Chusheng and said, “I don’t want security incidents in my jurisdiction, so we must prevent hidden dangers before they arise. Jiang Chusheng, this matter has enormous hidden dangers. If you don’t have a very good solution, I agree with Mediator Lu’s method—we’ll apply to the higher judicial department to intervene.”
Director Mei was stunned for a moment, then reacted, saying with a gloomy face, “Jiang Chusheng, are you deaf or mute? Speak up!”
Jiang Chusheng’s mind was still buzzing from Lu Qiaoge’s barrage of words.
No, he had to think carefully.
Wanqing had said, as long as he stuck to the claim that Wei Xia was voluntary, even the king of heaven couldn’t touch them.
But clearly that wouldn’t work now.
These people were acting in the name of the public—what could he do?
Seeing Director Mei’s expression as if he wanted to kick him, Jiang Chusheng gritted his teeth and said, “Fine, I admit to this agreement—just follow what’s written above.”
Sister Qiao: “Wei Xia has no income; she’s currently unemployed and unable to nurture the children. Of course, you can also apply to take all four children to your home. If you don’t have that idea, then you must bear the full child support right now, until Wei Xia finds work.”
Under the menacing gazes of Director Mei and Cadre Liu, Jiang Chusheng didn’t dare keep quibbling and agreed with a stiff neck.
But in his heart he thought, do you know whether I’ll pay or not? That stupid woman Wei Xia only cares about herself—flatter her a couple times, say I’m in difficulty now with no money, and she’ll believe it. Who knows, she might even sell her blood to nurture the children.
Sister Qiao seemed to see through his thoughts: “Hand over one hundred yuan now—that mother and her four kids are already nearly destitute, especially your four children who just recovered from illness and now need nutrition.”
Jiang Chusheng blurted out, “Where do I get one hundred yuan? My money is all with my wife, and she won’t give it.”
“Then go borrow it.”
Cadre Liu said word by word.
Jiang Chusheng finally came up with eight yuan. Director Mei had no choice, gloomily borrowed ninety-two yuan from various places, and finally scraped together one hundred yuan.
Sister Qiao gave him a receipt, then put the money in her pocket.
Lu Qiaoge said, “Director Mei, since we’re not going through the court to handle this matter, please trouble Director Mei to notify your finance department to directly deduct half of his salary each month and give it to Wei Xia.”
Jiang Chusheng’s eyes turned red with anger—half his salary, that was too ruthless. Wanqing definitely wouldn’t be happy.
His eyes darted around—Wei Xia was easy to fool; he’d find a way to fool her.
He also thought, why doesn’t this damned woman just drop dead? If she died, it would all be over.
Otherwise, this trouble would be endless.
This matter came to a temporary close.
The three from Sister Qiao left.
After they were gone, Director Mei looked coldly at Jiang Chusheng and said, “Don’t think this is over. They’ll definitely go to Wangjiang Shoe Factory. I’m telling you, your wife had better have nothing to do with dismissing Wei Xia—if she does, you two will both suffer the consequences.”
He had occasionally heard that Du Wanqing from the propaganda section had relatives who were a workshop director at a local shoe factory.
He hoped it wasn’t the same person.
Jiang Chusheng’s face changed, his two hands clenched tightly together.
At this moment, he regretted it.
He shouldn’t have agreed to let Wanqing deal with Wei Xia.
Without a salary, wouldn’t she come looking for him?
He had truly lifted a stone only to drop it on his own foot.
Director Mei couldn’t help but curse:
“Look at those three—none of them are pushovers. You’re a complete idiot—why didn’t you use that dog brain of yours to think? If Wei Xia has no job, how does she nurture the children? If something happens to her, do you really think you can stay completely uninvolved?
Besides, even if you want to wash your hands of it, Xiangyang Neighborhood Committee won’t agree—unless you die too. Send the children to the orphanage, then you really won’t have to worry.”
Jiang Chusheng’s face turned blue-purple. Being cursed out so bluntly by Director Mei for the first time left him utterly humiliated, and in his heart he hated Wei Xia and the people from Xiangyang Neighborhood Committee to death.
Damn place, damn work unit, damn people—why couldn’t it be like Wanqing said about foreign countries, where everything is free, you do whatever you want, no one stands on the moral high ground to condemn you, and if you want to care for the children you do, if not no one calls you heartless or inhuman.
With a gloomy face, he returned to the workshop.
Director Mei vented his anger in the office, then went to finance and told them to start deducting half of Jiang Chusheng’s salary from this month.
Cashier Elder Sister Zhang said, “We should have done this long ago. Wei Xia, a woman nurturing four children—how tough must that be? These people are all heartless!”
Director Mei hadn’t expected his work unit to have someone speaking up for Wei Xia.
But Elder Sister Zhang always spoke her mind like that, and she had backing, so she was always fearless.
“If you ask me, our workshop—whether male staff or female staff—should also do some ideological work, all learn properly how to be a person.”
