Chapter 139 New Neighbors in the Compound
According to the investigation, Director Jiang, who was then the workshop team leader, had been drinking with Old Man Zheng. He made a mistake while operating the machinery, which led to him being caught in the machine.
After the incident, Director Jiang was terrified. The factory had a rule that machine operators could not drink alcohol during work hours. As the team leader, he knowingly violated the rule. If nothing had happened, it would have been fine, but if something had happened, he would be the first one to be held accountable.
At the time, Director Jiang was competing with another group leader for the position of deputy director of the workshop. If people found out about this, he would definitely have no hope of promotion. So he decisively either bribed or threatened the people who worked with Old Man Zheng at the time to cover up the matter and make it look like Old Man Zheng had an accident due to machine failure.
In this way, Old Man Zheng, who had been drinking and neglecting his duties during work hours, was transformed into a martyr who died in the line of duty.
Director Jiang was spared punishment from the factory, and the Zheng family received compensation and recognition from the factory. Both sides covered up the matter. Those in the know, knowing they still had to work under Director Jiang, dared not say anything. Thus, the matter was naturally buried in the annals of time. If Yu Junsheng hadn't overheard Chang Dafeng and Director Jiang's conversation, no one would have suspected anything fishy.
"What a Jiang De'an! What a Zheng family!" Deputy Factory Director Yang looked at the investigation results handed over by his secretary, his face ashen, and slammed his hand hard on the table.
The secretary shuddered, thinking to himself, "Deputy Factory Director Yang, a demobilized military officer, hates nothing more than falsification in this area. Director Jiang and the Zheng family are probably in for trouble."
Sure enough, news soon came from the factory.
Director Jiang was demoted to a group leader and his salary was reduced by three levels.
As another beneficiary, the Zheng family also received devastating news.
Zheng Haiyang was not reinstated to his original position; instead, he was demoted to a workshop.
In other words, Zheng Haiyang would no longer be part of the security department, but would become an ordinary workshop worker.
Zheng Haiyang's entry into the machinery factory's security department was largely thanks to his "martyr" old man who supposedly "died in the line of duty." Now that it's been discovered that Zheng's "martyr" status was fabricated, he naturally needs to be punished.
...
Upon hearing the devastating news, Zheng Haiyang felt as if he had been struck dumb.
You should know that the security department of a large factory with tens of thousands of employees not only has law enforcement power, but can also be armed. Having such a job is very honorable. In everyone's eyes, it is even more respectable than being a neighborhood police officer at the local police station.
After all, a local police officer's career path ends at the station chief level, but the security department of a machinery factory is a different story. Above the department chief can be the deputy factory director or the factory director, which offers a much brighter future than the station chief of a police station.
The difference between being a security guard in the security department and an ordinary worker in the workshop is considerable. And being punished for the same reason, Zheng Haiyang's political future is practically over. In other words, no matter how hard he tries from now on, he can only ever be an ordinary worker.
He considered himself the most outstanding and excellent young man in the compound, and was very arrogant, looking down on others of the same age in the compound.
But now, now, the job he was most proud of is gone?!
Even, even less than the people in the courtyard?
Yu Junsheng was at least a staff member in the technical department, Ma Gaosheng was in the sales department, and even Ren Yongsheng, whom he looked down on the most, was a film projectionist. He, who used to be the number one person in the compound, had become the bottom.
Although everyone says that workers are glorious, everyone knows the truth in their hearts and still divides them into different classes.
What future can an ordinary worker have, spending their whole life in the factory covered in machine oil and sweat?
Zheng Haiyang couldn't accept it. Just two days ago, his mother, Chang Dafeng, confidently assured him that Director Jiang would definitely resolve the matter. How did things turn out like this today?
How did it turn out like this?
Chang Dafeng also found it unacceptable. Damn it, that bastard! He clearly promised to reinstate her son to his original position, how did it turn out like this?
She wanted to make a scene with Director Jiang, but that scoundrel was also punished; he was not only demoted, but his salary was also reduced.
Chang Dafeng had no one to make a fuss with, and she became completely listless.
She dared not go to Deputy Factory Director Yang. Although her son had become a workshop worker, he was still earning 35 yuan a month. If she went to make trouble again, what if she got her salary reduced like Jiang De'an?
She had nowhere to cry.
Chang Dafeng could only console herself with this.
One more thing, Zheng Haiyang had been suspended from work and stayed at home until this incident, but now the suspension is over and he can go back to work immediately.
Chang Dafeng comforted herself, thinking that this was a blessing in disguise. She hadn't received any salary while she was suspended, but now she could go back to work and would receive 35 yuan a month.
Thinking about it this way, Chang Dafeng felt there was nothing to make a fuss about.
As for the others, apart from Zheng Haiyan who felt embarrassed about not having a security guard working there, the others, like Chang Dafeng, knew that Zheng Haiyang was still earning 35 yuan a month and didn't think it was a big deal.
However, Zheng Haiyang was in a gloomy mood, so his family members didn't dare to speak loudly and were very careful in their actions, making the whole Zheng family seem gloomy.
The curious onlookers were too afraid to approach and ask questions, and instead whispered among themselves.
Most people were gloating. Although they were saddened by Zheng Haiyang's dismissal, they couldn't help it because his family had impersonated him as a martyr.
They deserved to end up like this!
...
In the Third Hospital, upon hearing the news that Zheng Haiyang had been demoted to a workshop and become an ordinary worker, Guan Ailian gloated for a long time, almost laughing so hard she couldn't straighten her back.
"Pah! Chang Dafeng's son dares to compete with my Yongsheng? He's overestimating himself! My Yongsheng is the most successful person of his generation in the compound!"
Zheng Haiyang and Ren Yongsheng were about the same age and both had good jobs. The gossipy people in the neighborhood used to compare them a lot, but Ren Yongsheng was notorious for being lecherous, dissolute, and unreliable. Whenever this happened, everyone would praise Zheng Haiyang while putting down her son, Yongsheng. Guan Ailian had been holding back this for a long time, and today she finally got her revenge.
"That's right, our Yongsheng is a film projectionist company. That man Jiang Qiubai thinks he can compare to Yongsheng?" Dong Xiangxiang said sarcastically, her words carrying a hidden meaning. What she really wanted to say was, "That idiot Jiang Qiubai thinks he can compare to me?"
Hearing that Jiang Qiubai's man had been demoted to the workshop, Dong Xiangxiang was also very happy. Who told that little slut to seduce her man?
Zheng Haiyang has become an ordinary worker with no future, and that little bitch's life is definitely not going to be any better.
Although she didn't particularly like Ren Yongsheng, that lecherous man, as long as he was still her man, she wouldn't allow anyone else to covet him.
Ever since she found out about that little slut's affair with that man, she's been finding excuses to squeeze money out of him.
The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law had just finished teasing each other when Ren Wenhua walked in with a gloomy face.
Guan Ailian didn't think much of it and stepped forward with a smile to share the good news, "Old Ren, I have some great news for you, you know what? Zheng Haiyang from our compound, that old man falsified his martyr status and has been demoted to the workshop! From now on, he can only work in the workshop for the rest of his life, and he won't even be able to get close to our Yongsheng!"
Ren Wenhua: "!!!"
That stupid woman!
Ren Wenhua's face darkened, and he immediately began to berate, "We've been neighbors in this compound for ages, and we've watched Haiyang grow up. How is he any different from our junior? Now that he's in trouble, you're so happy?! How can you still laugh? Don't you have any empathy, you old woman? Is your heart completely black?!"
The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law were stunned.
What's wrong with my old man/father-in-law today?
And what about empathy for younger generations?
Is he even speaking human language?
Putting aside everything else, he himself has often schemed against these so-called juniors in the compound behind their backs. Why didn't he show any affection or empathy back then?
"Black-hearted bastard? Bah! The black-hearted one is this old man!"
After Ren Wenhua finished speaking, he saw Guan Ailian and Dong Xiangxiang staring at him with astonishment, as if he were some kind of lunatic.
Ren Wenhua: "..."
Ren Wenhua snorted, ignoring the two stupid women in his house, and went into the inner room by himself with his hands behind his back.
Two idiots with long hair and short brains!
He only knows how to gloat when he sees others having bad luck, without even thinking about whether his money-making plan would still work if Zheng Haiyang were no longer in the security department.
Actually, he could make money even before Zheng Haiyang came along, but with Zheng Haiyang's cooperation, he earned even more.
Having already tasted the sweetness of success, how could Ren Culture be willing to go back to its old, stingy and miserly ways?
...
If there's anyone in this courtyard who's unhappy about this, it's Bao Dayan.
Ever since Zheng Haiyang made a fortune, he's frequently sought out Bao Dayan, and Bao Dayan has certainly made a lot of money off him. She naturally realized that most of the money came from Zheng Haiyang's position, and the source was somewhat unclear, but she didn't care, as long as she could get the money.
As for whether it's illegal or not, or whether Zheng Haiyang will get into trouble because of it, what does that have to do with her?
Anyway, she wasn't involved, so she won't be implicated no matter what.
Since her awakening, Bao Dayan has been single-mindedly focused on making money so that she can live a good life.
But now that this has happened, Zheng Haiyang is no longer a member of the security department. Will he still be able to make money in the future?
Bao Dayan suddenly felt a deep sense of unease about her future...
...
Upon hearing the bad news about Zheng Haiyang, Cheng Jiajia and Yu Junsheng were so happy that they went out to eat roast duck to celebrate.
Yu Junsheng rode his bicycle with Cheng Jiajia to Quanjude near Wangfujing. On the way, the couple talked about Zheng Haiyang being sent down to the workshop. Yu Junsheng then recounted how he had unexpectedly learned that the cause of Zheng's death was suspicious, and how the news had spread in the toilet.
"Wow, young man! You dug up such a secret from over a decade ago and were able to use it so quickly!" Cheng Jiajia gave Yu Junsheng a thumbs up, expressing her admiration.
This rumor about the toilet sounds familiar, like I've used it before. I wonder if this person is copying me, hahaha!
Yu Junsheng was unaware of Cheng Jiajia's inner thoughts. He proudly puffed out his chest and raised his head, "That's right, don't you know who I am! What could possibly be difficult for me?"
He would never tell his wife that he had overheard the conversation while eavesdropping behind Jiang Bai'an and De'an's window!
He finds it cute when his wife eavesdrops, but if it happened to him, his wife might think he lacks manliness.
He would keep such a thing that damaged his wise and mighty image buried in his heart for the rest of his life.
Seeing his smug look, Cheng Jiajia couldn't help but laugh. She deliberately asked, "Really? Then tell me, how did you know about Old Man Zheng?"
Yu Junsheng: "..."
Yu Junsheng immediately shut his mouth tightly.
He absolutely refused to say anything!
He's not the kind of guy who likes to eavesdrop!
...
The two were laughing and joking when they unexpectedly ran into Dong Dalei and Liang Shuangyue, who were out having dinner with their youngest son.
Honestly, if Yu Junsheng hadn't reminded her, Cheng Jiajia wouldn't have recognized them at all. She had long since forgotten about these people and treated them as if they were none of her business.
Since they weren't directly opposite each other, Cheng Jiajia didn't plan to go up and say hello.
Unexpectedly, Dong Dalei spotted them first and jogged over, greeting Cheng Jiajia and Yu Junsheng with a smile, "Jiajia, out to eat with Junsheng?"
Before they could answer, Dong Dalei's eyes swept over the bicycles they were on, and he teased, "Oh, you bought bicycles? You're living a good life. Now your mother and I can rest easy. I wish Siwei could find a good partner like you."
Cheng Jiajia raised an eyebrow. "Uncle Dong, you flatter me. We can't compare to Sister Siwei. My Yu Junsheng just earns enough to make ends meet, but Sister Siwei's boyfriend is no ordinary man." She's already lusting after men; how could he be an ordinary man?
Unexpectedly, Dong Dalei's expression was complicated for a long time after hearing this. Finally, he inexplicably said, "Jiajia, you and Siwei are sisters after all. You two should take good care of each other in the future."
Cheng Jiajia: "..."
After saying that, he didn't say anything more and turned to run away.
The couple were left with two question marks on their foreheads.
"What does he mean by this? What's with all this talk about the two sisters taking care of each other?!" Cheng Jiajia was completely bewildered and didn't understand at all.
Could it be that this person has some new scheme up their sleeve?
That was the only thing Cheng Jiajia could think of.
What could she possibly have that would allow him to scheme against her?
Yu Junsheng couldn't figure it out either. If this person had any schemes, he really couldn't tell from just a few words.
Anyway, it's very strange.
Unable to figure it out, Cheng Jiajia gave up thinking about it. "Whatever, let them say whatever they want. I won't listen anyway."
Let her and Dong Siwei take care of each other, and go to their next life!
Neither of them took Dong Dalei's words to heart and went to Quanjude to enjoy a delicious Peking duck meal. This was the first time Cheng Jiajia had eaten such a meal since arriving in this materially impoverished world, and she was so happy that she was in a great mood for the next few days.
It wasn't until people started coming in and out of the two empty rooms in the west wing of the second courtyard to pack their things that people began to move around.
It was only at this point that Cheng Jiajia realized what Dong Dalei meant.
Dong Siwei and Xu Dongliang got married very quickly, and somehow they moved into the No. 35 compound.
Unfortunately, I ended up living next door to Zheng Haiyang.
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