Chapter 78 Qiao Aimei and Zhu Lingling are very good-looking...
Zhu Lingling is a very pretty little girl with a round, chubby face and fair skin. She is very cute, just like the little girl on the Fujiya lollipop packaging.
She stood in front of Mingxi, looking up at her: "Sister, you still haven't told me, did the aunt my dad liked not like him? Was it because my dad is ugly, or because he has me as a burden?"
She pouted, her round cheeks jiggling, and said, "If it's because my dad is ugly, then there's nothing I can do. But if it's because of me, could you please talk to Auntie for me? I'll be very good and eat very little. I won't be a burden to Auntie."
Hearing the first half, Zhu Jianmin still had a helpless expression on his face.
That unlucky child, she always badmouths her dad.
But as Zhu Lingling spoke, Zhu Jianmin's expression gradually became tense. His face turned completely black, and disregarding Mingxi's presence, he stepped forward, grabbed Zhu Lingling, and asked her questions.
"Lingling, who told you that? Who said you're a burden?"
Zhu Jianmin only has one daughter, Zhu Lingling, and he dotes on her very much. He treats her like a precious gem, spoiling her rotten. The Zhu family treats their granddaughter the same way, and it would be absolutely impossible for them to say such things to Zhu Lingling.
Zhu Lingling pouted and puffed out her cheeks: "It was Xiao Pang who told me. He said I eat too much and spend too much money. It's because of me, this burden, that Pan's mother divorced you."
The "Mother Pan" she mentioned was Zhu Jianmin's second wife.
Although Zhu Jianmin married his second wife when Zhu Lingling was just a newborn baby, he and his second wife did not hide it from Zhu Lingling. After Zhu Lingling became sensible, they told her the fact that her biological mother had passed away long ago.
Zhu Lingling's relationship with her stepmother was not affected by this.
On the contrary, precisely because she knew that the other person was not her biological mother, Zhu Lingling understood the other person's hardships even more, and their relationship became even stronger.
After Zhu Jianmin divorced his ex-wife, Zhu Lingling did not change how she addressed her. She simply added a surname before "mother" and started calling her ex-wife "Mother Pan".
Zhu Lingling turned to Zhu Jianmin: "Dad, is what Xiaopang said true? Did you and Aunt Pan really divorce because of me?"
Zhu Jianmin's face was so dark it looked like it was about to drip water, and his expression was frighteningly deep.
He said gruffly, "Of course not! Lingling, don't listen to his nonsense. I divorced your mother-in-law because..."
He opened his mouth, unsure of what to say.
There were many reasons for his divorce from his second wife, but the most fundamental reason was that the two were not a good match and the gap between them was too large.
His partner got into university and is a bright future student, while he's just a lowly butcher. As his partner goes to university, the gap between them will only widen. Even if they don't divorce now, they'll eventually find themselves unable to stay together because of this disparity.
These reasons are difficult to explain to Zhu Lingling, who is only seven years old at the time.
Zhu Jianmin's lips moved slightly, and he remained silent for a long time before saying, "Lingling, my divorce from your mother Pan is due to the two of us. It has nothing to do with you. You are not a burden; you are the apple of your father's eye."
Even if Zhu Lingling is very smart, she is still only a seven-year-old child. When she heard her own father say this, she immediately grinned and asked, "Really?"
"Of course it's true. If you don't believe me, ask your sister Ming."
Zhu Jianmin was desperate and grasping at straws. Afraid that Zhu Lingling wouldn't believe him, he grabbed Mingxi and kept giving her meaningful glances, hoping that Mingxi would speak up for him.
Mingxi nodded in agreement. She squatted down, bringing her head to the same height as Zhu Lingling's, and looked her straight in the eye. She said, "Lingling, your father is right. You are not a burden."
She said seriously, "Although I don't know why your father divorced your mother, the reason why the aunt you asked me to introduce to him rejected him wasn't because of you. That aunt just doesn't want to be in a relationship right now."
She patted Zhu Lingling's head, not treating her like an immature child, but patiently explaining, "That aunt met a very, very bad man and was heartbroken by him. She hasn't recovered yet, so she doesn't want to date or get married."
Zhu Lingling nodded: "Then I understand."
She looked at Mingxi with her clear black and white eyes and said, "I choked on a fish bone last time I ate fish, and I haven't wanted to eat fish since. Is that auntie like that too?"
Mingxi smiled and nodded, saying, "That's how it is."
Zhu Lingling rested her chin on her hand, thought seriously for a moment, and then said, "Alright then. Everyone has things they don't want to do. Since Auntie doesn't want to be in a relationship, then let's just forget about it and not force her."
She waved her hand with a rather mature air: "I don't want to eat fish. If someone forces me, I will definitely be very unhappy, and Auntie will definitely feel the same way."
Mingxi couldn't help but reach out and rub Zhu Lingling's little head again.
Despite her young age, Zhu Lingling is a very sensible child.
Mingxi likes Zhu Lingling very much, and Zhu Lingling also likes Mingxi very much.
Don't think she's too young to understand. Many adults think she's a child and easy to fool, and they always try to brush her off, but Mingxi doesn't.
Zhu Lingling still can't quite explain what respect and equality mean, but she can sense that Mingxi doesn't treat her like an immature child like others do, so she likes Mingxi.
She clung to Mingxi's arm and pleaded, "Sister, could you introduce my dad to an auntie who's willing to date him?"
Mingxi chuckled: "You're so eager to introduce your dad to potential partners?"
Zhu Lingling nodded: "Yes, I want to. I'm going to start elementary school now, and I'll be very busy. I won't be able to spend as much time playing with him as before. I need to find someone to play with him, otherwise he'll be all alone and pitiful."
Mingxi couldn't help but chuckle. Zhu Lingling, that little girl, was precocious and incredibly clever.
Zhu Jianmin's face, on the other hand, was a mixture of green and red.
If you say Zhu Lingling is a burden to her father, at least she still cares about him and is worried that he'll be lonely while she's at school, so she's eager to help him find a partner. But if you say Zhu Lingling is good, she just keeps talking and portraying herself as a childish adult who has no one to play with because her child is at school...
Zhu Jianmin was speechless for a while, but decided to correct Zhu Lingling's idea first.
He squatted down, mimicking Mingxi's movements, and looked Zhu Lingling in the eye. He said, "Lingling, Dad understands your good intentions, but I won't feel lonely just because you're at school and don't have time to play with me."
Zhu Lingling tilted her little face up and said, "But that's what Grandma said. She said that when you lie in bed alone at night, the blankets are cold and you feel all lonely and pitiful, and you didn't argue with that."
Speaking of this, she kindly said, "Dad, are you cold sleeping alone? I can sleep with you, I'm hot!"
Zhu Lingling looked serious. Her child was very energetic and couldn't sleep every night because of the heat. He needed a fan and to lie on a cool mat to fall asleep. So she found it hard to understand why her grandmother would tell her father that the bed was cool and comfortable, even on such a hot day.
Zhu Jianmin was speechless, never expecting that Zhu Lingling had overheard his conversation with his mother.
How could this child hear everything, both things he should and shouldn't have heard!
Zhu Lingling: "Dad, are you really cold sleeping at night? Then I..."
Meeting Mingxi's teasing gaze, Zhu Jianmin couldn't keep his composure and raised his hand to cover Zhu Lingling's mouth.
My dear daughter, please stop saying that.
"Waaaaah, Daddy, what are you doing!"
Zhu Lingling reluctantly pried Zhu Jianmin's hands off.
She puffed out her cheeks and said angrily, "I'm talking to my sister about something serious, don't you dare disturb me!"
Zhu Jianmin was about to crack open.
Sweetie, do you want to see who's causing trouble?
Zhu Lingling, oblivious to her own mischief, grabbed Mingxi, put her hands together in front of her chest with a serious expression, and said, "Sister, please, please help my dad find a partner. My dad's requirements aren't high, as long as she's a woman."
Zhu Jianmin: ...
His requirements aren't high, but it's not like any woman would do!
Zhu Jianmin finally realized that his daughter, Zhu Lingling, was just there to cause trouble for her father. He picked up the little girl, locked her in the house, and said, "Lingling, I have something important to talk to Sister Ming about. You stay in the house and behave yourself for a while."
After closing the door, he turned around and said apologetically to Mingxi, "Ming, I'm sorry, the child is just being silly and talking nonsense. Please don't take Lingling's words to heart."
Mingxi smiled and waved her hand: "It's okay, Lingling is a very cute little girl."
She looked at Zhu Jianmin and said, "However, I still need to ask for your opinion on finding a partner. I didn't have a chance to talk to you in detail last time. What kind of woman are you looking for?"
Zhu Jianmin scratched the back of his head: "I really don't have any requirements. You know my situation. I just want to find a woman who doesn't mind that I have a child, is kind-hearted, doesn't mind Lingling, can treat Lingling well, and can live a good life with me. With my conditions, I don't care whether she has a job or has been married before."
Mingxi nodded: "If the woman brings the child with her, can you accept that?"
Zhu Jianmin scratched his head and thought about it seriously for a moment, then said, "Yes."
He has a child of his own, so what right does he have to complain if the woman has a child of her own?
Mingxi: "Okay, I understand. I'll go back and see if there's anything suitable for you. I'll let you know if there is."
Zhu Jianmin nodded sheepishly.
On her way home, Mingxi was thinking to herself that, to be honest, Zhu Jianmin was a pretty good person. He was from a wealthy family, had a down-to-earth personality, and was good to his daughter.
When she passed by, Zhu Jianmin was busy cooking. He didn't seem like someone who was idle and incompetent. Compared to some men who wouldn't even bother to pick up a spilled soy sauce bottle, he was much better.
After thinking for a moment, Mingxi decided to start looking among the divorced lesbians she had recently come into contact with.
The first person she thought of was Li Ying.
Li Ying is kind-hearted, good-tempered, and patient. In terms of their circumstances, the two of them are reasonably well-matched. Although Li Ying has a job, she doesn't have a local household registration or a house in the city, which Zhu Jianmin makes up for perfectly.
I just don't know if Li Ying has any intention of finding a partner.
Mingxi turned on her toes and headed towards the home of the old professor where Li Ying worked as a nanny.
When she arrived, Li Ying opened the door. Li Ying was surprised to see Mingxi coming over and her eyes widened.
"Oh, Comrade Ming, what brings you here?"
Mingxi peeked into the room and asked, "Are you free right now?"
Li Ying rubbed her hands on her apron a couple of times and said, "You're free. Professor Zhang has been working overtime lately, and he only comes home after having dinner at the office every night. What's up, Comrade Ming? Is there something you need?"
Mingxi: "It's nothing major. I just wanted to ask if you're planning to find a partner right now? I know a guy who's pretty good. If you're interested, I can tell you about him."
Li Ying was stunned for a moment before remembering that Mingxi was also a matchmaker.
Realizing that Mingxi had come to introduce her to someone, Li Ying's face instantly turned bright red. She stammered, "This, I... I, I don't have any plans to date right now."
She said, "Professor Zhang introduced me to a night school where I can get a junior high school diploma after finishing it. Right now, I'm just thinking about studying hard and getting my junior high school diploma as soon as possible. After I get it, I want to continue to study at a high school night school. If I have the opportunity in the future, I also want to go to university. I'm not considering dating for now."
When Li Ying said this, she kept her head down, staring at her toes, not daring to look Ming Xi in the eye, for fear that Ming Xi would laugh at her for having such a wild idea.
She's already in her twenties; who would be in junior high school at that age? Besides, she's just a nanny, working in the homes of educated people. She's not actually becoming an educated person herself. Does she have some kind of pipe dream about turning a chicken into a phoenix?
The last time she went home, her father laughed at her like this when he heard that she was going to attend night school for high school.
The deepest hurt comes from family members. Li Ying had heard her father say this before, so she was afraid to say it out loud, lest Mingxi laugh at her.
Mingxi smiled.
It was not the malicious, mocking smile that Li Ying had expected.
She smiled and encouraged him, saying, "That's great. With your junior high school diploma, it will definitely be easier for you to find a job in the future. It would be even better if you could get into high school."
Li Ying suddenly looked up: "Don't you think I'm being delusional?"
Mingxi: "What's so far-fetched about this? It's a good thing that you're willing to improve yourself."
She patted Li Ying on the shoulder: "Keep it up! I still have my junior high and high school textbooks. Let me know if you need them."
Li Ying's eyes reddened, and she nodded with her lips pursed.
Mingxi spoke with Li Ying for a while longer before turning and leaving.
Despite the fact that the matchmaking attempt didn't work out, Mingxi was still very happy to see Li Ying and Yang Weihong find their goals after their divorces, walk the path they wanted to walk, and radiate a different kind of charm.
The process of introducing Zhu Jianmin to a potential partner is not going smoothly.
Mingxi had tried to recruit several female comrades but had been rejected one after another. One day, while he was at home organizing information on female comrades, Ma Meixia arrived.
As soon as Ma Meixia walked in, Mingxi could tell that something was different. She looked exceptionally well today, her steps were unusually light, and she smiled before even speaking, making it clear that she was in a good mood.
Mingxi raised an eyebrow: "What good thing happened that makes you so happy? Did you find money on the street?"
Ma Meixia: "I didn't find any money, but it was close enough."
Mingxi became curious: "What is it? Don't keep me in suspense."
Ma Meixia: "My mother-in-law, Bai Shuzhen, ran away with someone!"
Her voice was filled with undisguised joy.
"It happened yesterday. Cao Guangping went back to Hong Kong, and my mother-in-law went with him, as did my brother-in-law and sister-in-law!"
No wonder Ma Meixia was happy. She got rid of three troublemakers who were always causing trouble for her family. It would be strange if she wasn't happy.
However, Mingxi couldn't help but ask, "Didn't your mother-in-law not have a wedding with Cao Guangxiing?"
Cao Guangping was shot the night before the wedding, and the wedding was naturally canceled.
Ma Meixia: "Yes, it wasn't done."
Mingxi: "They didn't have a wedding or register their marriage. She just went to Hong Kong with Cao Guangping without any official status?"
Bai Shuzhen can't be that out of her mind, can she?
Ma Meixia shrugged: "There's nothing we can do. Cao Guangping is eager to go back to Hong Kong. Judging from his attitude, it's uncertain whether he will ever come back. If my mother-in-law doesn't go with him, it's uncertain whether those two will have a future together."
To put it bluntly, given Cao Guangping's current physical condition, it's uncertain how long he can live. If Bai Shuzhen goes to Hong Kong with Cao Guangping, she can at least make some money. If she doesn't go with him, then she'll really lose everything.
Mingxi: "Your brother-in-law and sister-in-law didn't want any work here either, and just left without caring about anything?"
To be honest, Mingxi could understand Bai Shuzhen going to Hong Kong, but she really couldn't understand Wei Yafei and Wei Sijia.
Ma Meixia shrugged and said, "There's nothing we can do. They all think Hong Kong is better than our mainland and insist on going. My husband, Lao Wei, tried to persuade them, but they still weren't happy."
Although Wei Yong'an doesn't treat his half-siblings very well, they are born of the same father, so he still cares about family ties and has tried to persuade them.
Hong Kong is different from the mainland. There are triads everywhere, and the government is under British control. Mainlanders suffer a lot when they go there.
If Cao Guangping continues to treat them well, that's fine. But if Cao Guangping changes his mind and abandons them, they'll be in big trouble.
Cao Guangping said a lot, but to Wei Yafei and Wei Sijia, Wei Yong'an was just preventing them from living a good life.
Wei Yafei was determined to go to Hong Kong, take over Cao Guangping's company, and become a big boss, indulging in a life of luxury and debauchery.
Wei Sijia initially had no such intentions, but under the instigation of her companions and Wei Yafei's daunting promises, she couldn't help but be tempted. She had heard that Hong Kong was incredibly prosperous, filled with skyscrapers, and that Hong Kong people were all fashionable and glamorous, just like in the movies. Beicheng was already considered a prosperous area on the mainland, but Wei Yafei said that compared to the countryside, Beicheng was just a rural area, even inferior to the rural areas of Hong Kong.
Both of them felt that as long as they went to Hong Kong, they would have a good life. In their minds, Wei Yafei's persuasion was nothing more than preventing them from having a good life.
Wei Yafei, thinking himself clever, believed that Wei Yong'an was simply jealous.
Because Bai Shuzhen was unwilling to take him to Hong Kong, Wei Yong'an was jealous of them and stopped them from going.
Ma Meixia curled her lips into a mocking smile: "Since that's what they think, then my husband Lao Wei won't bother with it. You can't reason with those damned devils. If they want to go to Hong Kong, then let them go."
Anyway, Wei Yong'an didn't have a very good relationship with the brother and sister, so giving them a word of advice to maintain their sibling bond was enough.
Mingxi didn't say anything.
To be honest, if she were Wei Yong'an, she probably wouldn't even bother to say a word.
After proudly sharing the good news, Ma Meixia noticed the documents Mingxiu had placed on the table and asked curiously, "Are you going to introduce someone to someone again? Who is it?"
Mingxi nodded.
Ma Meixia: "Who is it? Do I know them?"
Mingxi: "You probably don't know him, he works at the meat processing plant, his surname is Zhu."
Ma Meixia: "Zhu Jianmin?"
Mingxi looked up in surprise. What? Ma Meixia really knew the other person?
Ma Meixia: "Don't look at me like that. We're both from Beicheng. Is it strange that I know Zhu Jianmin?"
Mingxi nodded seriously, finding it strange.
The steel rolling mill and the meat processing plant are not even in the same direction, so how did Ma Meixia happen to know Zhu Jianmin?
After being stared at by Mingxi for so long, Ma Meixia had no choice but to say, "Someone introduced me to Zhu Jianmin before, but I didn't like him."
Ma Meixia's ideal partner has always been someone with a wealthy family background. This was also what she told other matchmakers when they introduced potential partners to her.
Zhu Jianmin worked at a meat processing plant, where conditions were good, benefits were good, and his family was well-off. So, a matchmaker had introduced Zhu Jianmin to Ma Meixia before.
However, Ma Meixia had high standards and didn't like the man. He not only had a child, but he was also not good-looking.
Mingxi thought there was some serious past between Ma Meixia and Zhu Jianmin, but it turned out to be just such a trivial matter.
She pursed her lips: "What's the big deal?"
Ma Meixia was speechless. She didn't think there was anything between her and Zhu Jianmin. It was just Mingxi making things up.
However, when it came to introducing Zhu Jianmin to potential partners, Mingxi couldn't help but look up at Ma Meixia: "Among the people you know, are there any suitable partners you could introduce to Zhu Jianmin?"
Ma Meixia thought for a moment and shook her head: "No."
Mingxi sighed.
Mingxi didn't have any suitable female comrades, so she had to ask Aunt He for help in keeping an eye out for suitable female comrades.
She not only worked hard with Aunt He, but also asked Sister Wang and Yu Xiaomin at work if they knew any suitable female colleagues.
Sister Wang frowned: "I don't really know any women like that. Almost all the women I know are married. There are very few who aren't."
Yu Xiaomin: "I don't have any suitable people around me, people I know..."
Mingxi was talking to two people when Director Shen led a woman with a sallow complexion and a thin figure into the room.
When Mingxi and Yu Xiaomin saw each other, they couldn't help but gasp.
Because the other person was really too thin.
She was as thin as a stick, with no flesh on her arms at all. It looked like a thin layer of skin wrapped around her bones. She was like a skeleton, and it seemed like a gust of wind could blow her over with just a little breathing.
What's even more frightening is that her exposed skin is covered with wounds of all sizes, a patchwork of blue and purple, which is heartbreaking to see.
She looked even more miserable than when Qin Qiaorou was beaten and hospitalized.
Director Shen, her face stern and radiating anger, slammed her hand heavily on the table: "Who was in charge of the legal knowledge lecture at the textile factory? How did you do your job? Did you even ensure that all employees participated seriously in the lecture?!"
Liu Wenhong stood up tremblingly: "Director, I am in charge of the legal knowledge lecture at the textile factory."
Director Shen was furious: "You think you're in charge? Is this how you take responsibility? Tell me, how are you taking responsibility? Are you sure everyone in the textile factory attended the lecture seriously? Then why didn't they absorb any of the content? Have you fallen back into your old habits again? When you come to the factory, all you care about is currying favor with the factory leaders, and completely forgetting about the information on your work badges..."
Director Shen showed no mercy, giving Liu Wenhong a thorough dressing-down. Liu Wenhong was completely bewildered, not knowing what she had done wrong.
Not to mention Liu Wenhong, even Mingxi and Yu Xiaomin stared at each other in disbelief.
Director Shen isn't the type to lose his temper easily or take it out on his subordinates, but now that he's said this much, it seems he's really furious.
Mingxi glanced at Sister Zhang, who was going out with Director Shen, and asked in a low voice, "Sister Zhang, what's going on?"
Sister Zhang whispered to Mingxi, "Something's happened at the textile factory."
She pointed to the girl next to Director Shen and said, "We went to the textile factory for a meeting today. When we were leaving after the meeting, we saw this girl crying and begging for help. Director Shen went up to ask her what was wrong and found out that the girl was being forced by her family to marry the son of a workshop director at the textile factory."
Is this a forced marriage?
No wonder Director Shen was so angry.
During the legal knowledge lecture, Judge Li repeatedly emphasized the freedom of marriage and that no one may force another to marry against their will by any means. Less than a week after the lecture, a forced marriage incident occurred, so it's no wonder Director Shen was angry.
Sister Zhang sidled up to Mingxi and went on and on, until Mingxi finally understood what was going on.
The girl following Director Shen is named Qiao Aimei. She has a hard life. Her mother died when she was less than three years old. Her father quickly remarried and brought in a stepmother.
Qiao Aimei's stepmother, Wang Zhaodi, was not a good person. She wasn't even as sweet-faced as Bai Shuzhen. She didn't even pretend to be kind to Qiao Aimei. From the moment she married into the family, she never treated Qiao Aimei well.
At first, Mr. Qiao would say a few words to save face, but soon, after Wang Zhaodi became pregnant and gave birth to a boy, Mr. Qiao no longer cared about his daughter Qiao Aimei.
Qiao Aimei took on all the housework from the age of four. She was like a little maid at home. She was always hungry and cold and had to do a lot of work. She was truly a little cabbage.
Even so, Wang Zhaodi was still not satisfied and would often find opportunities to attack Qiao Aimei.
Later, the Qiao family's neighbors reported this situation to the street office and the Women's Federation. People from the Women's Federation came to Wang Zhaodi's home to criticize and educate her, and only then did she stop.
However, she would still lay a hand on Qiao Aimei, but she would do so less frequently and less severely than before.
Qiao Aimei grew up just like that, barely managing to get married. This year, Qiao Aimei turned eighteen and is of legal age to get married. Wang Zhaodi had another wicked idea and planned to marry Qiao Aimei off.
After much deliberation, she finally chose the son of the director of the third workshop of the textile factory.
Everyone living around the textile factory area knows that the son of the workshop director has mental problems; he's an idiot.
Calling him an idiot isn't quite right; it's more accurate to say he has mental problems. He only has the intelligence of a child, and he'll occasionally go berserk and hit people. His family usually keeps him locked up at home and doesn't let him out.
A few years ago, his family took him out to a banquet, and for some reason, this idiot suddenly had a fit and attacked a relative at the same table, cracking the person's head open.
This incident caused quite a stir at the time. Everyone knew that the workshop director's child had mental problems and would go crazy and beat people.
Because of this, he is already thirty years old this year and still hasn't been able to get married.
No one dared to marry their daughter to him, which caused his parents immense anxiety and distress. Wang Zhaodi worked at the textile factory and had heard all about it. While others were unwilling to marry him, she was. Of course, Wang Zhaodi wasn't going to marry herself; she was going to marry Qiao Aimei to him. She proactively went to their home and offered herself, saying that Qiao Aimei was willing to marry their mentally challenged son.
The director of Workshop 3 was surnamed Guo. As soon as Director Guo heard what Wang Zhaodi was saying, he knew that this matter was not simple.
But he couldn't worry about all that. As long as he could find a wife for his mentally challenged son, help the Guo family continue their lineage, and not have to worry about no one taking care of their son when he and his wife got old, that was enough for him.
And so, Director Guo readily agreed to Wang Zhaodi's demand for a bride price of three hundred yuan, thus arranging the marriage between Qiao Aimei and his son.
But Qiao Aimei disagreed with this.
Qiao Aimei endured so much mistreatment at home for so many years, all in preparation for growing up and escaping from home.
As a result, Wang Zhaodi arranged her marriage without informing her, and she was to marry a mentally challenged man. Qiao Aimei felt as if she had been struck by lightning.
All her forbearance over the past ten years erupted in one day. She declared that she would never marry him, but since Wang Zhaodi had agreed to the marriage, then Wang Zhaodi should marry him.
Enraged, Wang Zhaodi brutally beat Qiao Aimei, then locked her in her home, planning to send her to the Guo family on a chosen day, so that Qiao Aimei would have no way to back out once the deed was done.
Qiao Aimei was locked up for five days. Today, she finally found an opportunity to escape while Wang Zhaodi was out shopping and no one was home. She ran to the textile factory and shouted for help, which is how she met Director Shen.
When Mingxi and the others heard Sister Zhang tell this story, their eyebrows were furrowed, and they were very angry.
Wang Zhaodi has gone too far!
Beating Qiao Aimei like this, not even applying medicine to her, and then locking her in the room—this is an attempt to kill Qiao Aimei!
Sister Wang exclaimed angrily, "What kind of person is this?!"
Mingxi: "Where is Wang Zhaodi? Hasn't Director Shen dealt with her?"
Ms. Zhang: "It was dealt with. Director Shen immediately ordered someone to arrest Wang Zhaodi and send her to the police station."
Mingxi: "And Qiao Aimei's father too."
Wang Zhaodi was no good, and Qiao's father wasn't much better.
Living under the same roof, Mingxi refused to believe that he was unaware of what Wang Zhaodi had done.
Qiao Aimei is still his own daughter, but he doesn't care at all.
Sister Zhang: "Director Shen also wanted to settle accounts with Qiao Aimei's father, but when he asked Qiao Aimei, he found out that her father had gone to another city to deliver goods. If he wanted to settle accounts with him, he would have to wait until he came back."
She explained, "It's because Wang Zhaodi was detained in the police station and her father is still out of town and hasn't returned yet, so there's no one at home. Director Shen was worried and brought Qiao Aimei over, intending for her to stay at our Women's Federation for a couple of days."
After Sister Zhang finished explaining the whole story, Director Shen's criticism of Liu Wenhong also came to an end.
Liu Wenhong sat down with a stiff face, feeling extremely wronged.
Although she was in charge of giving legal lectures at the textile factory, with so many employees, how could she guarantee that everyone would listen attentively to everything discussed at the lectures?
Even if Director Shen really wanted to lose her temper, she should have gone to the women's federation of the textile factory.
It's because they didn't supervise her properly. If they had noticed Wang Zhaodi's behavior earlier, this matter wouldn't have escalated to this point.
Director Shen didn't take Liu Wenhong's minor grievance to heart. With a stern face, she repeatedly reminded everyone in the office that the legal knowledge lecture was extremely important. Everyone in the office needed to take it seriously and not treat it as a mere formality. Organizational work had to be implemented effectively and thoroughly, not just empty rhetoric. The Women's Federation had a heavy responsibility, bearing the crucial burden of protecting women and children; it absolutely could not be treated perfunctorily.
After Director Shen finished his lecture and criticism session, he handed Qiao Aimei over to Ming Xi and Yu Xiaomin, asking them to show Qiao Aimei around the Women's Federation.
Director Shen went back to his office to make a phone call to the leaders of the textile factory.
Mingxi and Yu Xiaomin stepped forward and introduced themselves to Qiao Aimei.
Qiao Aimei timidly introduced herself to Mingxi and Yu Xiaomin in a low voice.
The three had just met and weren't familiar with each other, so they didn't know what to say. Mingxi noticed it was almost noon and it was time to eat, so he grabbed his lunchbox and led Qiao Aimei to the cafeteria.
As soon as the cafeteria's lunch service window opened, Mingxi and her two companions smelled the aroma of food as soon as they entered the door.
Mingxi sniffed: "Hmm! Chef Wang is the head chef today. I can smell that this is Chef Wang's cooking. He made cabbage stew with tofu."
Hearing Mingxi's words, Qiao Aimei couldn't help but swallow hard.
She was imprisoned by Wang Zhaodi for five days, during which time she didn't eat a single meal and could only drink water. This was only because Wang Zhaodi was afraid that she would really die if she didn't eat or drink, and it would be difficult to explain to the Guo family if she died, so she gave her water.
Otherwise, she probably wouldn't even have water.
The long-lost aroma of food awakened my stomach, which had been neglected for so long, and it started vomiting acid.
"Gurgle gurgle—"
A loud rumbling sound came from Qiao Aimei's stomach, and her sallow face instantly turned bright red.
Mingxi was stunned for a moment, then realized that she must be hungry, so she quickly took her to get a tray and then took her to get food.
"Just tell the chef what you want to eat. Don't worry about the money; Director Shen will reimburse us."
Qiao Aimei felt a little embarrassed, as she had never experienced such straightforward kindness that didn't require any reciprocation before.
She pointed to the cheapest item in the food window, a cornbread made from a mixture of cornmeal and wheat flour, and said, "I'll just eat two cornbreads."
"I told you not to worry about spending money!" Seeing her embarrassment, Mingxi snatched the plate from her hand and said to the chef, "Chef, give me two steamed buns and a side dish!"
The cook inside the window quickly served the food and handed it out on a tray. Mingxi stuffed the food into Qiao Aimei's hands, saying simply, "Eat!"
Qiao Aimei's eyes lit up as she looked at the white steamed buns in front of her.
She hadn't eaten white flour steamed buns in a long time. It wasn't that her family couldn't afford them; in fact, they were quite well-off. Her father was a truck driver, and Wang Zhaodi was a textile factory worker. They were a dual-income family, which was better off than most families in Beicheng. They could afford to eat white flour steamed buns every day.
But Wang Zhaodi just couldn't bear to let her eat white flour steamed buns.
She could only eat cornbread made from bran mixed with a small amount of cornmeal.
The last time she ate a white flour steamed bun was during the Lunar New Year. Her younger brother, who was born after Wang Zhaodi married into the family, had half a bun left and didn't want to eat it anymore. She picked it up and ate it when no one was looking.
Although it was just half a leftover steamed bun, Qiao Aimei still remembers how soft and sweet the white flour was.
While Qiao Aimei was lost in thought, Mingxi had already gotten her meal.
She carried the lunchbox and pulled Qiao Aimei to find a place to sit down.
Mingxi was afraid that Qiao Aimei would feel embarrassed, so after sitting down, she didn't say anything and started eating on her own. Qiao Aimei was indeed a little awkward at first, and she was too embarrassed to even look up at Mingxi.
However, after realizing that Mingxi wasn't paying attention to her, she relaxed a bit, carefully picked up the steamed bun, and ate it in small bites.
Qiao Aimei's movements were small and elegant, but she ate very quickly.
After dinner, Mingxi and Yu Xiaomin took her to the empty dormitory behind the Women's Federation to familiarize her with the place.
This place has been uninhabited for a long time. The last time someone lived here was when Yang Weihong had just arrived in Beicheng and had nowhere to stay. When Mingxi opened the door, a smell of dust hit her.
"Cough cough—"
Mingxi choked a little and quickly opened the windows and doors to let the smell dissipate for a while.
Mingxi: "There are all kinds of bedding and daily necessities here, but no one has lived here for a long time, so you will need to clean it up a bit yourself."
Qiao Aimei nodded obediently. For her, having a room to live in by herself was already a very good thing.
She doesn't have her own room at home. There are two rooms in the house, one for her father and stepmother and the other for her younger brother. She can only sleep on the sofa in the main room.
She was extremely grateful that the Women's Federation was able to arrange a room for her alone.
After settling Qiao Aimei in, Mingxi and Yu Xiaomin returned to the office.
On the way, Yu Xiaomin sighed, "Aimei is such a pitiful girl."
Mingxi nodded: "That's right."
She's so cautious in everything she does; you can tell she's been bullied a lot at home.
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