A person doesn't automatically have authority just because they are in a certain position.

Like Zhao Sufang, who served as the brigade leader's wife for several years, there were very few commune members who genuinely respected her.

The reason for this is simply that she herself is weak and unable to stand up for herself.

If you're not good enough, who will respect you?

Zhao Sufang's authority began at the cannery. She was skilled and willing to teach others, and she would also reprimand those who were really trying to cheat or shirk their duties.

Since becoming the deputy director of technology, she has to manage more than a hundred people and handle a lot of complicated matters, and her temper has become increasingly unruly.

But that's just how people are. If you're nice to them every day, they'll take it for granted and look down on your kindness. But if you scold or yell at them every day, and then occasionally praise them, they'll feel incredibly flattered.

Zhao Sufang sometimes reprimands people, but she has never fired someone like she did today!

Xiao Cui'er's face turned pale, and she hurriedly explained, "Sixth Aunt, no, Director Zhao, I just forgot. I've had a cold for the past two days, and my throat hurts, so I couldn't help but spit out some phlegm..."

Zhao Sufang couldn't hide her disgust. How could a woman like her harbor such malice towards a widow?

"Little Cui'er, what did you say during your onboarding training?"

"...Wear a hat, mask, sleeves, and apron; do not spit, urinate, or defecate indiscriminately; do not work while sick..."

As Xiao Cui'er spoke, her voice gradually softened. She had violated several rules, and even if Zhao Sufang wanted to expel her, she would have ample reason to do so.

Her eyes pleaded, "Director Zhao, I've only made this one mistake, please forgive me! I'll definitely be more careful next time!"

Zhao Sufang looked at the gazes cast upon her. If she didn't deal with Xiao Cui'er this time, what right would she have to discipline others tomorrow?

"Go home now! Yang Fang, you'll take Xiao Cui's place!"

Yang Fang, who was bottling the food, was overjoyed upon hearing this. She happily ran over, took the ladle from Xiao Cui'er, and began to simmer the broth.

Xiao Cui'er couldn't believe she had really been fired. Seeing that her pleas to Zhao Sufang were fruitless, she turned to Hao Yulan for help. Her husband, Li Tang, was the deputy director of production at the cannery, and his word was law.

"Third Aunt..."

Before she could finish speaking, Hao Yulan interrupted, "You've broken the rules, and even my husband can't help you."

What a joke! Are you suggesting that my husband should offend the brigade leader's family just to use me as a pawn?

She has a silver tongue, but all she does is talk; she's got no brains at all!

Xiao Cui'er left the cannery dejectedly and returned home.

Her husband, Li Shizhong, and her brother-in-law, Li Shifa, went to dig shrimp pits, while her mother-in-law, father-in-law, and younger brother and sister-in-law were boiling maltose at home.

Inside the room, plumes of white smoke rose from a large pot, and the sweet aroma of maltose wafted through the air.

Grandma was tending the fire when she saw Xiao Cui'er return. She asked in surprise, "Xiao Cui'er, aren't you working at the cannery? Why are you home?"

Xiao Cui'er was uneasy. She wondered how her mother-in-law would react if she found out she had been fired!

"I, I, I got fired by Zhao Sufang!"

As she spoke, Xiao Cui burst into tears, turned around and ran into her room, where she lay down on the pile of quilts and began to wail loudly.

The mother-in-law, forgetting to light the fire, chased after him into the house and asked, "Why were you fired?"

A monthly salary of over ten yuan!

"I just mentioned a widow remarrying and spat, and she seized on it and wouldn't let it go, insisting that I violated the rules."

Xiao Cui'er's eyes were red and swollen from crying in no time. "She's just taking revenge for her brother's wife!"

The mother-in-law angrily punched her twice, "You silly fool! You talked about her brother's wife in front of her sister-in-law, now you've got your comeuppance!"

Suddenly losing thirteen yuan and two hundred work points in a month, Li Shizhong went home and beat his wife again.

After much discussion, the family decided to take some snacks to Li Jin's house to plead for leniency.

Over here, Zhao Sufang unleashed a furious tirade on Xiao Cui'er, while the others hurriedly checked whether they were properly dressed in their work clothes, fearing that they would also be lashed out at by the angry factory director Zhao.

Chunhua looked at Zhao Sufang with gratitude. With her sister-in-law protecting her like this, she believed that no one would dare to openly make hurtful remarks about her again.

After getting off work, Chunhua found a quiet place where no one was paying attention and secretly told Zhao Sufang about Li Wanshi and Qin Lingdi's trick.

Zhao Sufang was so angry that she was panting heavily, her chest heaving. "Thank you, sister-in-law. I know everything. Don't worry, I won't let you out of this."

Chunhua nodded, that was for the best, she didn't want to have a falling out with Li Song over such a small matter.

When Zhao Sufang arrived home, Li Zhen had already prepared dinner: tomato noodle soup (tomato is what Huichuan people call it), steamed buns, the braised carp from yesterday, and stewed eggplant and green beans.

Li Jin and Li Weijun had just returned from digging shrimp pits, both covered in dirt. Zhao Sufang told them to go take a shower first, while she helped Li Zhen pick up the food and put it on the table.

"Fourth Sister, the persimmon noodle soup is so delicious!"

Li Xiangdong took a sip of the noodle soup. The tomatoes from this era had a special flavor that he couldn't quite describe, but they were just incredibly delicious.

Zhao Sufang said, "The persimmons in the yard are almost ripe. If we can't eat them all, they'll just go to waste. Let's make some persimmon jam when we have time!"

Their family makes it every year, enough to last until winter.

The family was eating and chatting when there was a knock on the door.

"Bang bang bang—"

"Sixth brother, sixth sister-in-law, are you home?"

Zhao Sufang knew who it was as soon as she heard the voice—Xiao Cui'er's mother-in-law. She hadn't had a chance to tell Li Jin about the dismissal yet.

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!