Chapter 50 Idle Talk

After receiving her salary, Gu Yihan started to slack off at work, writing articles whenever she had free time.

Wang Xiang did not return to work in the accounting department, which resulted in Zhou Na temporarily partnering with Gu Yihan.

Since the last incident, Gu Yihan has unilaterally reduced her communication with Zhou Na.

She knew she was taking her anger out on Zhou Na, but she just wanted to do what she wanted.

While knitting, Sister Li looked at Gu Yihan and said, "Xiaohan, you're almost 17. What kind of partner are you looking for?"

Gu Yihan didn't answer directly, but changed the subject, saying, "Sister Li, the pattern on the sweater you knitted is really beautiful."

Interrupted by Gu Yihan, Sister Li didn't dwell on the issue and said with a smile, "Isn't it pretty the one I knitted for my daughter? Do you want to learn? It's very simple, I'll teach you."

Gu Yihan said modestly, "Seeing Sister Li's nimble fingers, as a woman, I feel quite sad; I always feel that my hands aren't quite as skillful."

Sister Li was very pleased with Gu Yihan's compliment: "You're so lucky. You don't have to do it yourself. You can find someone with a good family background and pay someone to do it for you."

Zhou Na felt very frustrated listening to their conversation; she could clearly sense that Gu Yihan was isolating her.

She couldn't help but sneer, "Sister Li, you don't need to worry about Xiaohan's future in-laws."

"Everyone in our machinery factory knows her! She's under the protection of Deputy Director Shen. Otherwise, how could you, an orphan, stay so peacefully in Jinyang City?"

Gu Yihan was speechless at Zhou Na's antics. She wasn't really 17 years old. She didn't know at first, but she found out later. Who said she had to marry into the Shen family?

Couldn't she have used Deputy Director Shen to gain a foothold in the machinery factory and deter those who wanted to take advantage of her?

Gu Yihan looked at Zhou Na calmly and said, "Are you jealous that I'm Teacher Shen's student? What were you doing when you were in school?"

Then she pointed vaguely at her head: "Oh, right, after all, yours is different from others. I've seen bound feet, but I've never seen bound cerebellum."

She shrugged and continued, "So, there's nothing you can do. It's something you're born with. You need to be reborn to change it."

Sister Li: "..." How come she didn't know that Xiaohan was so good at roasting people?

Even Sister Zhang, who was practically invisible in the office, was suppressing her laughter, trying her best not to let out a sound.

Zhou Na stood up abruptly, her face ashen, and pointed at Gu Yihan.

"Crunch."

As soon as Sister Zhuang opened the door, she saw Zhou Na's action.

She frowned deeply: "What are you doing so early in the morning? Have you still remembered what happened a couple of days ago?"

Zhou Na sat on her stool, her expression heavy with emotion.

Gu Yihan carefully observed Sister Zhuang as she entered, feeling that something was off about her today, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it.

Steel Plant Canteen

Gu Yihan lined up for food and ordered a plate of shredded potatoes, a bowl of cabbage and tofu soup, and a steamed bun made from two kinds of flour.

Sister Li, holding her lunchbox, waited for Gu Yihan in a good mood: "Xiaohan, the food in the cafeteria is pretty good today. They even have cabbage and tofu soup."

The two found a secluded spot and sat down. Gu Yihan took a sip of the soup; it had a rich tofu flavor and tasted quite delicious.

Gu Yihan and Sister Li sat facing each other.

Li Jie leaned over the table and whispered, "The person sitting behind you is Zhuang Jie's sister-in-law."

Gu Yihan was about to turn around to see what they looked like when Sister Li stopped her: "Don't turn around and look, those two sisters-in-law don't get along."

Gu Yihan nodded to indicate that she understood.

At this moment, Sister Zhuang's sister-in-law spoke up: "Isn't this ridiculous? My sister-in-law actually insulted my mother?"

The coworkers sitting at the next table asked in confusion, "What's going on?"

"It's all because of my sister-in-law. She always has a cold face, like our whole family owes her something."

"Her daughter has been raised to be a hopeless romantic; she can't resist any man she sees."

"She couldn't control her son, who was a bad student, skipped classes, and was disobedient. She even cursed at him, calling him 'your grandma.'"

One of the younger workers muttered quietly, "That's not considered swearing, is it?"

Sister Zhuang's sister-in-law glared at her and said sternly, "How can this not be considered an insult? What, did my mother not help her with her child, or not cook for her?"

"You even complain that my mom spoiled her son? What, you didn't say anything when she was using him, but now that he's grown up, you say these things?"

"If I didn't hear it, so be it. But if I had heard it, would I have let her off the hook?"

The young worker who was speaking was startled.

The coworker on the left said, "Keep your voice down, you're scaring Xiaolian."

Sister Zhuang's sister-in-law gave Xiaolian a disdainful look: "Tch, she's all grown taller but not braver?"

"If you're so timid, why do you even go to work? No one will scare you at home."

Her coworker across from her urged her to continue, "Alright, stop talking nonsense and tell me what you did to your sister-in-law?"

Sister Zhuang's sister-in-law said smugly, "Of course I slapped her several times. Humph, she got off easy."

The coworker on the left asked doubtfully, "Then would your sister-in-law just stand there and let you hit her?"

Sister Zhuang's sister-in-law chuckled, "My mom's taking sides, huh? If she doesn't side with me, does she side with that outsider?"

Xiaolian, timid as a mosquito, whispered, "If it were me, I would go back to my parents' home and divorce your brother."

Sister Zhuang's sister-in-law ate her meal slowly and said, "That would have to be if she had a family home to go back to. Besides, who saw me hit her?"

"She's already middle-aged, but she's shameless. You wouldn't even notice if she were slapped twice on the cheek."

The people at the table fell silent and ate their meals quietly.

Finally, the coworker on the left advised her: "You can't go too far. After all, you are the younger sister-in-law, and your mother will have to rely on your sister-in-law for support in the future."

Sister Zhuang's sister-in-law didn't take it seriously: "My mother will rely on my brother in the future. If she counts on my sister-in-law, it'll be too late."

Gu Yihan and Sister Li looked at each other, puzzled, after hearing what was being said at the table behind them.

Back in the office, Gu Yihan and Sister Li couldn't help but look at Sister Zhuang's face.

Sister Zhuang touched her face and looked at the two of them with a puzzled expression: "Why are you two staring at me like that? There's something on my face."

The two said in unison, "No."

A month passed by at a leisurely pace.

That day, Gu Yihan was at her desk looking at her published articles. Fewer and fewer of her submissions were being selected, and sometimes she didn't even receive 15 yuan in royalties a month.

The office door was pushed open forcefully, startling Gu Yihan.

A group of people wearing red armbands surged in, shouting, "Who is Zhou Na?"

Everyone in the office turned to look at Zhou Na, who was pale as she asked, "Who is I? What do you want with me?"

One of the young men, wearing a red armband, roughly pulled her over and touched her face: "What a pity?"

They pushed her directly into the crowd behind them, and Zhou Na stumbled as she was pushed.

Zhou Na struggled and said, "Let me go! What right do you have to arrest me?"

The young man looked Zhou Na up and down: "Someone reported you for having an affair. Come with us to the Revolutionary Committee."

The people inside didn't dare to stop her, and Zhou Na was taken away directly.