Chapter 107 Taking Away the Investigation

"Who sent those so-called 'investigations'? Who were they questioned? What records were kept? Were there any formal interview transcripts? Were there any investigation reports on file? If you just look up the factory's files from that year, everything will be clear. You're afraid to face the investigation, don't you understand where the problem lies?"

Deputy Factory Director Qiu suddenly stood up and slammed the documents in his hand heavily onto the stone table.

It made a loud "smash" that made the teacups on the table jump.

"Enough! Comrade Fu Ya, you should base your arguments on facts and adhere to discipline. What explanation do you have now? What excuse do you have to shirk your responsibilities?"

Fu Ya trembled violently, and her legs went weak.

She gripped the hem of her clothes tightly with both hands, her voice choked with emotion: "I...I just...wanted to do my job well, wanted the organization to know the truth, I didn't mean anything else...really, I didn't..."

"Just what?"

Deputy Factory Director Qiu questioned him sternly.

"Is this just using official business to vent personal grievances? Or is it an abuse of power to suppress others? You're using the guise of 'investigation' to actually retaliate, disrupt the unit's atmosphere, and undermine unity among colleagues. Is this what you call 'doing your job well'?"

He turned around abruptly and decisively gave orders to the two officers beside him.

"Take Comrade Fu Ya away immediately! This matter must be thoroughly investigated. All relevant materials, files, and interview records must be retrieved without omission! I want to see an investigation report that can withstand scrutiny!"

Fu Ya completely broke down, her face turning ashen.

I felt completely drained of energy.

She screamed hoarsely, "Why? Why am I being convicted based solely on her side of the story? This is unfair! So unfair! I've given so much for the organization, and in the end... I'm being treated like this..."

She could no longer hold on, covering her face with her hands, her shoulders convulsing violently.

Before she could finish speaking, she staggered and turned around.

Deputy Factory Director Qiu watched her departing figure and sighed softly.

He slowly turned around, looked at Qiao Wanyin, and his tone softened considerably.

"Comrade Xiao Qiao, listen carefully. The organization will not wrong an innocent person, nor will it let go of anyone who engages in fraud. The organization has seen all the grievances you have suffered. Now that things are clear, you can put your mind at ease, focus on your work, and stop having any psychological burden."

Qiao Wanyin's eyes reddened slightly, her nose tingled, and she nodded, forcing back her tears.

She took a deep breath.

"Thank you for clearing my name. I... will definitely live up to the organization's trust and do my job well."

After Deputy Factory Director Qiu and his men left.

The once quiet courtyard instantly became lively.

The families of the soldiers gathered around.

"Wanyin, don't take this to heart!"

An elderly woman said with heartache, her eyes glistening with tears.

"You're such a good kid. You've worked hard and never complained all these years. Everyone knows you're a reliable person. Let those rumors go. The innocent will clear themselves!"

"Exactly! Everyone has a past. Everyone gets gossiped about. The key is that you have a clear conscience!"

Another sister-in-law chimed in.

"Everyone saw what happened today, it's clear as day, who can say a bad word about you now?"

"Exactly, Fu Ya just doesn't like you, she's so jealous!"

The women's director angrily flung the rag in her hand, her brows furrowed.

"She can't get a leadership position in the factory because she's not capable enough, so she can't stand seeing others do well. You're just a young girl who got into vocational school through your own hard work and was assigned to work in a factory. What have you done to offend her? And yet, she makes sarcastic remarks whenever she sees you wearing new clothes!"

"If anyone dares to bully you in the future, just say so, and we'll all stand up for you!"

Aunt Wang, a fellow villager, put her arm around Qiao Wanyin's shoulder.

“We people in this residential compound have always been protective of our own! If anyone dares to gossip behind our backs or try to trip us up, we’ll all stand up to them and see who dares to be arrogant again! Don’t be afraid, we’re here for you!”

Qiao Wanyin's eyes reddened, and she quickly thanked him, her voice trembling slightly.

She fought back tears and forced a smile, "Thank you... thank you everyone... I really... really don't know what to say..."

Her voice was broken and intermittent, as if she might choke up at any moment.

She understood that from this day forward, she was truly accepted by the people in this residential compound.

At this moment, she was no longer that "little girl from the countryside with no background".

He was one of them.

Qiao Jiangong gently patted his sister's shoulder.

"Alright, let's go inside and talk."

He glanced at the crowd gathered at the door and said in a low voice, "It's cold outside, don't catch a cold. Let's go inside and talk."

As soon as she entered the house, Qiao Wanyin quickly poured hot tea for her elder brother and two fellow villagers.

She strode into the kitchen, poured steaming hot tea from the thermos, and carefully carried it to the table in the living room.

The teacup swayed gently in the tray.

She was afraid of spilling it, and her palms were even sweaty.

She handed hot tea to everyone and then took out a bag of pastries from the cabinet.

"You guys eat something first, then I'll go brew some fresh tea."

Fu Lian stood up and gave a proper salute.

"Brother, thank goodness you came in time."

“If you hadn’t arrived in time, this situation would have been really difficult to resolve. Fu Ya was threatening to report me to the political work department, saying that I was the one who started the trouble.”

Qiao Jiangong waved his hand.

"We're brothers, no need to be so polite."

He smiled and shook his head, then pulled up a chair and sat down, taking off his coat as he spoke.

“You standing up for my sister is helping your own family. Besides, what are reasonable people afraid of being sued for? We stand upright and act honestly, so no one can smear us.”

He looked at his sister, his voice full of heartache.

"If I had known you were having such a hard time here, I should have come and seen you sooner."

His gaze fell on Qiao Wanyin's slightly reddened eyes, and his voice involuntarily lowered a few decibels.

“You work alone in the city and live in the military compound. I thought you were living a good life. I never expected... that you would suffer so much injustice and no one would say a word for you.”

Village Chief Fang took a sip of tea and sighed.

"Wanyin is quite successful now; she's a leader in the factory. Unlike that girl Wanyu, sigh—"

He blew on the tea leaves floating on the surface of the tea.

"They were both at the same age for studying, but one went to work in an office, while the other... went crazy and said things that no one believed all day long."

Qiao Wanyin was stunned.

"Uncle Fang, what happened to Wanyu?

Her heart skipped a beat, and the teacup she had just picked up wobbled slightly.

Wanyu was her best playmate when she was a child.

She remembered that Wanyu loved to laugh, had a loud voice, and was very bold.

How did it come to this?

"Wanyu..."

Village Chief Fang shook his head, rubbing his fingers back and forth on the rim of the teacup.

"He talks nonsense all day long, insisting that he was 'reborn' and knows about the past and what will happen in the future."