Chapter 79 The Dispute Begins Qiao Aimei is quite capable...
Qiao Aimei is a very capable young girl.
After settling in at the Women's Federation, she quickly considered herself a member of the Federation, helping with cleaning, serving tea and water, running errands and delivering documents... Although she couldn't be of much help with work, she did a lot of other things.
Everyone in the office saw that Qiao Aimei was a thin, small girl with thin arms and legs, and they couldn't bear to let her do any work. Mingxi even told her directly that there were cleaning staff to take care of the cleaning, so she didn't need to do this job.
But Qiao Aimei still couldn't stay idle.
Director Shen rescued her from her home, provided her with food and shelter, and in her simple values, she felt she had to repay the Women's Federation's kindness and could not accept others' kindness with a clear conscience.
So every morning she still gets up very early to clean the office. Sweeping, wiping windowsills, wiping tables, mopping the floor, and after cleaning, Qiao Aimei, familiar with the routine, takes the thermos to the water room to fill it with hot water. Once both thermos flasks are full, she carries them back to the office.
By this time, Qiao Aimei is usually busy, and the rest of the office staff should be arriving soon.
Just as Qiao Aimei put down the thermos, she turned around and saw Mingxi walking in from the doorway.
As soon as Mingxi saw Qiao Aimei, she knew that she had disobeyed again and was once again becoming free labor in the office.
She said helplessly, "Aimei, didn't I tell you that you don't need to clean?"
Qiao Aimei lowered her head, picking at her fingers as she whispered, "Anyway, I had nothing else to do, so I just did it..."
Mingxi was helpless. She wanted to make things easier for Qiao Aimei, but Qiao Aimei insisted on doing the work, and there was nothing she could do.
She simply ignored the question: "Let's not talk about that. Have you eaten yet?"
Qiao Aimei shook her head.
Mingxi took out a lunchbox from her pocket, opened the lid, and revealed four plump white buns inside: "It's perfect that you haven't eaten them yet. My mom made these buns last night, and she said she'd give me a few left for breakfast this morning. I couldn't finish them, so I brought them over. They're pork and fennel buns. Try them and see how they taste."
Without saying a word, she directly handed two steamed buns to Qiao Aimei.
The steamed buns were heated by Zhao Sulan in the morning and put into the lunchbox while they were still piping hot. Mingxi had kept them in her bag the whole way, and they were still warm when she took them out.
Qiao Aimei felt the warmth in her hand and her body stiffened.
White steamed buns with pork inside—how precious!
She usually eats in the cafeteria, which is barely considered government-funded, and she already feels embarrassed about it. So, she really feels it's inappropriate for her to receive such a precious item from Mingxi.
Qiao Aimei hurriedly waved her hand: "No, no, no need. This is such a precious thing, you should take it back and eat it. I'll just eat in the cafeteria..."
Mingxi waved her hand: "Hey, what's so precious about this? I can't possibly finish it all myself."
Mingxi and Qiao Aimei tried to force the buns on each other, one hand and the other waving her hand in refusal. The two struggled for a long time, but in the end, Mingxi prevailed due to her strength and forced Qiao Aimei to accept the buns.
Qiao Aimei couldn't refuse, and in the end she held the steamed bun and ate it in small bites.
As Qiao Aimei stuffed the hot, fragrant bun into her mouth, her eyes instantly narrowed.
tasty.
Mingxi took her lunchbox back to her seat, took out a steamed bun, and started eating.
At this moment, Liu Wenhong walked in from outside. When she saw the steamed bun in Qiao Aimei's hand, her eyes lit up instantly.
"Oh my, the cafeteria has steamed buns this morning? Aimei, what kind of filling did you have?"
Before Qiao Aimei could answer, Liu Wenhong craned her neck to take a look herself: "Pork and fennel? Tsk, I don't like fennel. But fennel it is then. By the way, Aimei, could you please make another trip and bring me a lunchbox of steamed buns?"
As she spoke, she took the lunchbox out of her bag and handed it to Qiao Aimei.
Mingxi immediately knew that Liu Wenhong's old habit of ordering people around had resurfaced.
She turned her head to look, and sure enough, Liu Wenhong was still the same as before, with only a lunchbox in her hand, no meal tickets or money.
Mingxi glanced at Liu Wenhong sideways and said sarcastically, "Sister Liu, look at you, you really are getting old and your memory is failing. You asked Aimei to get you food, and you forgot to give her the money and meal tickets!"
She was annoyed by Liu Wenhong, who always used this trick to take advantage of others. Qiao Aimei was different from others; others came here to work, but Qiao Aimei couldn't be temporarily placed in the Women's Federation.
She's already so pitiful, and Liu Wenhong still wants to take advantage of her. She has absolutely no shame!
Liu Wenhong didn't think there was anything wrong with what she was doing.
Although Qiao Aimei was placed in the Women's Federation, Director Shen had already spoken to the canteen, so Qiao Aimei didn't have to pay for her food and lodging at the Women's Federation during this period, and she didn't need money or meal tickets to get food at the canteen.
What's wrong with her not giving money or tickets?
Anyway, if Qiao Aimei goes to get the food alone, she's taking advantage of the public resources. If she lets Qiao Aimei get the food, she's also taking advantage of the public resources.
Whether one person gains an advantage or a group of people gain an advantage, it's still the same thing.
It's not like I'm taking advantage of Mingxi, so what right does Mingxi have to stand up and criticize?
Liu Wenhong kept a straight face, inwardly cursing Mingxi for meddling in other people's business. Not only was she meddling, but Mingxi was also blind. She had just turned forty this year, and everyone said she looked like she was in her thirties. How could she be old and forgetful!
Liu Wenhong cursed inwardly, but she didn't dare to confront Mingxi head-on.
After all, Mingxi's fighting skills are undeniable; even ten armed men couldn't defeat her, so a weak woman like her is definitely no match for Mingxi.
"Thank goodness Xiaoming reminded me, otherwise I would have completely forgotten about it!"
Liu Wenhong slapped her forehead, as if she had only remembered this after being reminded by Mingxi. She reached into her pocket and said innocently, "Oh dear, look at my memory. I didn't check my pockets when I changed clothes this morning. The money and tickets were in the pocket of the clothes I took off. I don't have a single penny on me now."
As she said this, she turned her head and looked at Qiao Aimei pitifully.
"Hey, Aimei, I don't have any money on me today. Could you lend me some?"
As Liu Wenhong handed over the lunchbox, she winked at him as a hint.
Anyway, Qiao Aimei doesn't have to pay the cafeteria for her meals. Saying that she'll cover the cost is just a way of asking the cafeteria staff for help. Qiao Aimei doesn't lose anything. If she had any sense, she should have agreed immediately.
Qiao Aimei did not agree as Liu Wenhong expected. Instead, she raised her hand and pushed Liu Wenhong's lunchbox away.
Liu Wenhong's face immediately darkened.
What does that mean? Mingxi doesn't give her face. She can let it go because Mingxi is good at fighting, but why doesn't Qiao Aimei give her face?
You should know that Qiao Aimei was only temporarily placed here because Director Shen was soft-hearted.
If Qiao Aimei offends anyone in the Women's Federation or causes any trouble, the Women's Federation can kick her out!
It's just that Mingxi doesn't know what Liu Wenhong is thinking, otherwise she would definitely argue with her.
So Liu Wenhong knew that if Qiao Aimei offended someone, she might not be able to stay in the Women's Federation. So why did she make Qiao Aimei go to the canteen to get food, and even make her get a whole lunchbox at a time? Wasn't she afraid that the canteen staff would be dissatisfied and complain to Director Shen?
No, given Liu Wenhong's insatiable nature, as long as she can gain an advantage, that's enough for her. She doesn't care whether Qiao Aimei will be kicked out or not.
Liu Wenhong, her face dark with displeasure, said, "What do you mean? I'm just asking you to pay for my meal, not saying I won't pay you back in the future. Besides, you don't have to pay for your own meals in the cafeteria; it's just a matter of opening your mouth. It's like you're running an errand for me. You always say you're grateful to the Women's Federation and to us for helping you, but you won't even do such a small thing. Are you really grateful to us, or are you just saying it?"
She paused, gave Qiao Aimei a disdainful look, and said, "If Director Shen knew that you were such an ungrateful person, he might regret bringing you back."
Qiao Aimei was honest and didn't like to cause trouble. She was also timid. After being scolded so harshly by Liu Wenhong, her eyes reddened and tears streamed down her face.
Even though Qiao Aimei cried, she didn't make a sound, but Liu Wenhong still wouldn't let her go. She pointed her finger at Qiao Aimei's forehead and said aggressively, "You're still crying? What do you mean? Are you trying to play the victim and make others think that I'm bullying you?"
"How can you be so cunning, little girl!"
Liu Wenhong speculated maliciously: "I even doubt whether you were really abused by your stepmother, or if you were just faking it all! Otherwise, how could you have happened to come out for help just when our Women's Federation Director Shen was having a meeting at the textile factory!"
Liu Wenhong's words were really too much.
It is a fact that Qiao Aimei was abused by Wang Zhaodi. She was beaten by Wang Zhaodi from a young age and was not even allowed to go to school. She was kept at home as a nanny and made to do chores and serve the whole family.
This is something that all of Qiao's neighbors witnessed and can confirm.
Furthermore, the fact that Qiao Aimei was forced into marriage is something that both the neighbors and Director Guo can confirm.
Director Guo wasn't stupid. When Wang Zhaodi volunteered to marry his daughter, he knew something was wrong. Later, when Qiao Aimei caused a scene at the factory, he immediately knelt down.
In front of Director Shen and the leaders of the textile factory, he said that he was unaware of the situation and that Wang Zhaodi had approached him on her own initiative. Although Qiao Aimei had never shown her face, he was unaware of Wang Zhaodi's abuse of Qiao Aimei and had always believed that Qiao Aimei had married him willingly.
Director Guo shifted all the blame onto Wang Zhaodi, and from beginning to end, he kept saying that everything was done by Wang Aimei.
Director Guo managed to get away with it cleanly, but Director Shen and the textile factory leaders weren't easily fooled. Although on the surface Director Guo seemed to have done nothing wrong and the law couldn't do anything to him, the leaders secretly held a grudge against him.
Director Guo will never be able to advance any further in his career at the textile factory. Moreover, he had better be careful in the future and not make any mistakes. Otherwise, given how much he has embarrassed the textile factory this time, the higher-ups will not forgive him if he makes any further mistakes.
But I digress. Let's get back to the story of Qiao Aimei being abused.
Director Guo shifted all the blame onto Wang Zhaodi, so the police naturally intensified their investigation into her. According to Qiao's neighbors, a few days ago, for reasons unknown, Wang Zhaodi suddenly attacked Qiao Aimei, beating her severely. When the neighbors heard something was wrong, they knocked on the Qiao family's door, but Wang Zhaodi refused to open it. In the days that followed, they hadn't seen Qiao Aimei.
This is actually quite unusual.
After all, Qiao Aimei usually did all the housework, big and small, while Wang Zhaodi did nothing. But these past few days, Qiao Aimei hadn't appeared, and instead, Wang Zhaodi had taken over all the housework, cooking and washing dishes. It was clearly not normal.
Wang Zhaodi has been married into the family for over ten years. When has she ever been this hardworking?
If Qiao Aimei hadn't escaped today, her neighbors would have gone to check on her.
They were genuinely afraid that Qiao Aimei would be killed by the ruthless Wang Zhaodi.
-----------------------
Author's Note: Sorry for today's short update; regular updates will resume tomorrow.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com