Chapter 74 Rumors
Jiang Haitang clenched the corner of her clothes, but her eyes were as firm as tempered steel.
"Director Liu, instead of being scolded, it's better to take the initiative."
She took out a crumpled piece of manuscript paper from her pocket, which was covered with dense handwriting.
"I'm going to make my point clear on the radio station."
Liu Hongmei looked at those eyes full of fighting spirit and finally sighed: "But if someone doesn't believe it..."
"Believe it or not, you have to let me finish what I'm saying."
"I believe that as long as we make a breakthrough, the rest will be easy."
"I'm just afraid it might backfire."
"How bad can it get now? Without destruction, there is no construction!"
Jiang Haitang was so confident that Liu Hongmei agreed with her.
Not long after, Jiang Haitang appeared at the factory's radio station with the help of Liu Hongmei.
Jiang Haitang's clear voice suddenly echoed across the factory. "Hello, everyone. I'm Jiang Haitang from the R&D department. I'm sure everyone has heard the recent rumors circulating around the factory. I'd like to clarify the following."
The female workers who were busy in the workshop stopped what they were doing, the porters carrying the cloth stopped and looked up, and even the old master in the boiler room stuck his head out.
Jiang Haitang stood in front of the microphone at the radio station, her fingertips slightly cold, but every word she spoke was clear.
"I, Jiang Haitang, have never had any dealings with Director Li's family on Xijing Road. I have never even met Director Li's son."
"Before I started working at the textile factory, I lived in the Qingshuigou Brigade. There was no educated youth with the surname Li in the brigade. There is documented evidence."
"I got my job through a formal exam, and my transcript is posted on the bulletin board. Everyone can check it out anytime!"
In the office, Zhou Zhiyuan suddenly tightened his grip on the enamel pot, and he was unaware of the scalding tea splashing on his wrist.
He looked towards the broadcasting room in the distance, veins throbbing on his forehead.
How dare this woman do this?
"Some people say I used unfair means to get the 18th-level salary," Jiang Haitang took a deep breath and raised his voice. "I just want to say that I earned it through real ability."
She paused, her tone becoming sharper: "If anyone insists on confusing right and wrong, I, Jiang Haitang, will fight to the end!"
"Furthermore, I have a few words for all you rumormongers out there. Comrades who, instead of spinning their spindles, are only whirring their tongues, comrades whose mouths are three times louder than the machinery in the workshop, you must remember this: idle talk gnaws at the teeth and delays the revolution; rumors mislead the masses and shake the morale of the army; unhealthy tendencies suppress good and chill the people's hearts!"
"Finally, I'd like to share four jingles with some comrades: The spinning wheel spins merrily, and cloth piles up like a mountain; whoever imitates the idle magpie will be doomed sooner or later; revolution promotes production, and truth-seeking and practical work come first; those who continue to gossip will bear the consequences themselves!"
Jiang Haitang's confident speech silenced everyone in the factory.
There are countless rumors in the factory throughout the year, but this is the first time someone has gone straight to the radio station and broadcast it using a loudspeaker.
After a moment, applause suddenly came from the dyeing workshop, followed by the cutting group and packaging department, and the applause spread across the entire factory like a tide.
Kang Xiaoxia excitedly rushed into the broadcasting room and hugged Jiang Haitang: "Sister Haitang, you are so amazing!"
At this moment, Aunt Zhao was standing at the factory gate holding a vegetable basket, her face paler than the vegetable leaves.
She suddenly remembered what Jiang Haitang said yesterday and stamped her feet: "Great, you're using me as a pawn!"
She turned around and ran towards the street office, her gray hair fluttering in the wind like a flag.
In the broadcasting room, Jiang Haitang looked out the window at the crowd gradually dispersing, and a sense of relief settled in her heart. She knew this was just the beginning, but at least the sun had finally shone into the factory area once shrouded in rumors.
At the same time, Director Hu and others also heard what Jiang Haitang said.
Director Hu slammed the enamel pot down on the table, causing the wooden table to tremble slightly.
"Wow, I thought I was awesome just to come to the factory and cause a scene with Li Shengli, but who knew there was more to come!"
He loosened the buttons on his Mao suit collar, and the veins on his forehead throbbed with anger.
"Get Director Lu over here, hurry up!"
After the secretary trotted out, Director Hu paced back and forth in front of his desk.
The echo of Jiang Haitang refuting the rumors at the radio station drifted in from outside the window. The cheers of the female workers mixed with the roar of the machines were like thorns that pricked his temples and hurt him.
When Lu Liangchen walked in with a brown paper bag in his arms, he immediately asked, "How's your investigation going?"
"The investigation leads to Li Dani."
Lu Liangchen held two pieces of paper in his hands, which were covered with words and emitted a cold glow.
"Li Dani?"
"Liang Heping's wife."
"She did it?" Director Hu grabbed his reading glasses and pushed them up his nose, his eyes widening behind the lenses.
When he heard the details of how Li Dani had colluded with the Li family and instigated gossips to spread rumors, he grabbed the enamel pot and took a big gulp of tea, but it burned him so much that he stuck out his tongue.
"Asshole! Liang Heping is really getting better and better!"
Tea stains dripped down his chin onto the front of his shirt, but he was completely unaware.
"They stole Xiao Jiang's man, and they're not going to give him a chance to live? There's no such thing in the world! I'm going to the Industry Department today and tell Liang Heping that I don't want my textile factory anymore!"
Lu Liangchen added fuel to the fire at the right time.
"This Liang Heping, although he holds a high position, really has no sense of purpose. With someone like him as the chairman of our factory's labor union, it's no wonder the factory is so full of evil."
He observed Director Hu's gradually flushed face and deliberately sighed, "Think about it, when you were still here, he was so active. If you were transferred away, would I be able to control him?"
Director Hu pinched his knuckles until they turned white, and suddenly narrowed his eyes: "What do you mean by this, kid?"
"I'll follow your wishes and let you get him away." Lu Liangchen smiled cunningly: "I'm young and not as prestigious as you. If you don't help me, who will?"
"You kid, you're using me as a gun again." Director Hu scolded with a smile.
"I'm just confused. Why do people say you're cold and icy when you're such a cheeky, cheeky person?"
Lu Liangchen lowered his voice and said mysteriously, "Uncle Hu, how can you treat outsiders the same as you treat your own people? Besides, with my personality and looks, if I don't maintain a cool image, the female workers in the factory will eat me up."
"Go away!" Director Hu grabbed a feather duster and threatened to hit him. "You're a 28-year-old bachelor, without a woman by your side, and you still have the nerve to say that!"
Lu Liangchen suddenly leaned in close, almost whispering into Director Hu's ear: "Uncle Hu, that's old news. I have a partner."
The office suddenly became so quiet that the ticking of the wall clock could be heard. Director Hu's hand, holding the duster, froze in mid-air, his glasses sliding down to the tip of his nose. "What did you say?"
"You heard right." Lu Liangchen confidently placed the paper on the table. "That's the person you just praised."
Director Hu held his glasses and recalled: "Praise? Who did I praise just now? Didn't I just curse at people?"
Director Hu thought for a long time. He had never praised anyone since Lu Liangchen came in.
This brat is talking nonsense again.
"Who were you praising before I came in?"
"Praise Xiao Jiang... You haven't even come yet, how do you know I praised someone?"
"I guessed it. Haitang handled the rumor so quickly, it would be inappropriate if you don't praise her." Lu Liangchen looked as if it was a matter of course and he was proud of it.
Director Hu slammed the table so hard that the pen rolled to the ground.
"Jiang Haitang is your date? Can she like you? No, can you like her? No... Oh, you've confused me."
Director Hu found it a bit confusing.
These two people are indeed very good, but it really feels a bit unreasonable.
"Uncle Hu, she likes me, and I like her too, so we're dating now."
"Your family doesn't object to her getting married? Doesn't she mind that you're old?" Director Hu still couldn't believe it.
"Uncle Hu, her marriage was just like playing. They didn't consummate the marriage and didn't even get a marriage certificate. What's wrong with me being older? I'll be more caring when I'm older."
"Doesn't she mind that you have a daughter?"
"Huh, you don't know, maybe you didn't know that little Taozi called mom first and dad later." Lu Liangchen was quite proud.
Xiao Taozi is indeed his sweet and caring little girl who knows how to think about her father.
After hearing this, Director Hu burst into laughter.
"I was wondering how you could possibly find such a good wife. It turns out it was all thanks to Xiao Taozi."
"Uncle Hu, what you said is true. Anyway, I already have a partner and a child. When Haitang is old enough, we will get the marriage certificate!"
"Alright, alright, you're responsible for your partner's affairs. Hurry up and get the results of the investigation. I'm waiting to send them to the Ministry of Industry. You little brat, why are you bullying Liang Heping so much? It turns out you're just trying to vent your anger on your wife!"
Director Hu hurried to drive Lu Liangchen away because he had to call his old comrade to tell him the good news.
After Lu Liangchen left, he did not return to his office, but went straight to find Jiang Haitang.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
