Chapter 29 offers words of comfort: "See them," "Feel them"...
Outside the dormitory, Lu Zhe was indeed waiting in a quiet corner at the end of the corridor. The faint morning light shone through the dusty window onto his faded work clothes.
"I am Lu Zhe, a union officer." He got straight to the point, his voice low, his eyes quickly scanning the surroundings to make sure no one was paying attention.
“Chu Yanxi, a female worker in Workshop Three.” Chu Yanxi spoke concisely, then added the key information, “The background of this world is 1998, Hongxing Textile Factory, a wave of layoffs. Our mission target is Ruan Xiaofen, who shares a dormitory with us.” She relayed the tragic ending of Ruan Xiaofen from “Breaking the Cocoon” to Lu Zhe in the most concise language.
Lu Zhe's eyes narrowed, clearly realizing the seriousness of the situation.
“My job is as a union officer at the factory, and I live in the staff dormitory. I have a younger brother named Lu Ming who is determined to go into business and looks down on my job.” He rubbed his temples, revealing a hint of weariness that comes with this role. “The work of the union is… trivial and powerless. Every day I face complaints and arguments, but the resources I can mobilize are pitifully few.”
Chu Yanxi nodded, indicating her understanding. She then shared her background in this world: "I just graduated from technical school last year. My father is a veteran fitter in the factory, and he has worked there his whole life. My mother is a housewife who has never worked. Our family's financial situation is average, and now the whole family is shrouded in the shadow of being laid off."
When she mentioned the words "father" and "mother," Chu Yanxi paused, a complex emotion flashing in her cold gray eyes: "Before I left after my last time travel, I met with my father. I discovered that we cannot leave any promises or memories with words. Once we leave, everything about 'us' seems to be erased. But the changes in the behavior of others caused by our intervention, and the chain reactions they trigger, truly continue."
Lu Zhe deeply agreed: "Yes, language is futile, and memories can be erased. But the traces left by actions are real, which shows that our time travel can change the future!"
He looked at Chu Yanxi: "At least this time, our initial situation isn't too bad. You're among the workers, so you can get close to Ruan Xiaofen; I'm in the union, so I have access to some information and resources. This is much more advantageous than the previous two starts."
“But that’s far from enough.” Chu Yanxi shook her head.
Having experienced two time travels, Chu Yanxi remained calm: "What we need to fight is not a particular person, but the structural dilemma under the tide of the entire era. The factory is on the verge of bankruptcy, people are in a state of panic, Xiaofen's mother is seriously ill and urgently needs a large sum of money, and external temptations are lurking everywhere. Simply stopping her from stealing once may not be enough to fundamentally solve the problem; the mother's medical expenses and the threat of losing her job still exist."
Lu Zhe continued, "Yes, that's why our plan needs to be more comprehensive. The primary task is to ensure that Ruan Xiaofen, under emotional distress and external influence, doesn't immediately take the step of stealing technical data. I will use my position as a union officer to find out the true extent of her mother's illness and medical expenses, and see if we can get some subsidies through formal channels, even if it's just a drop in the bucket, it might alleviate some of her anxiety."
Chu Yanxi added, "We also need to keep an eye on the factory's moves regarding the layoff list. The period around the time the list is announced will be the most stressful. We must find a way for Ruan Xiaofen to make a living before that happens."
Just then, the shrill sound of the start-of-work bell suddenly rang throughout the dormitory building, interrupting their conversation.
"Time to go to work," Chu Yanxi said softly.
"Shall we split up?" Lu Zhe asked Chu Yanxi.
Chu Yanxi nodded and then joined the stream of female workers pouring out of the various dormitory doors.
As Lu Zhe watched Chu Yanxi's retreating figure, his conversation with his younger brother Lu Ming flashed through his mind.
Lu Zhe's "younger brother" in this world, Lu Ming, is a typical representative of the younger generation at the Red Star Factory—disdainful of the rigid system and eager to venture out into the business world. Lu Ming looks down on Lu Zhe's "fixed salary" and "talking-heavy" job, considering his older brother a coward.
Last night, Lu Ming came home reeking of smoke and alcohol, his words dripping with sarcasm: "Brother, you really expect this crappy factory to come back to life? Look at Xiao Wang from the factory next door, he went south to trade electronic watches and became a millionaire in just six months! And you? Still haggling over those few layoff slots?"
Lu Zhe tried to persuade his impetuous younger brother with policies, stability, and long-term development, but Lu Ming thought it was all empty talk and was only interested in making "quick money." The parents, who had always aimed for a stable life, were worried that their youngest son would go astray, so they held Lu Zhe's hand and told him to keep an eye on his brother and not let him quit his job and go into business.
Thinking of his troublesome younger brother, Lu Zhe felt a headache coming on. As a union officer, he actually had very little power. Even if he wanted to fight for subsidies for impoverished workers like Ruan Xiaofen, the factory had been losing money for years and there was hardly any money in the account. The little funding allocated to the union was just a drop in the bucket.
How can we truly help Ruan Xiaofen?
Lu Zhe subconsciously looked up in the direction Chu Yanxi had left, secretly thinking that this time he absolutely could not become a burden to Chu Yanxi like the first time, but should become her partner.
At this moment, Chu Yanxi was wearing a gray-blue work uniform that had been washed until it was stiff and had a blurry "Red Star" printed on the chest. He followed the flow of people down the creaking wooden stairs and into the factory area.
The factory area looked even more dilapidated than I had imagined.
The red-brick factory stood there silently, its towering chimneys no longer belching smoke, and the air was thick with a somber smell, a mixture of cotton wool, machine oil, and rust. The once-spirited slogans painted on the walls had long since faded and been covered by new, crookedly written words like "Safety in Production" and "Reduce Staff and Increase Efficiency."
The female workers walked hurriedly with their heads down, rarely exchanging words; even when they did, it was in hushed whispers. An invisible, heavy pressure hung over the entire factory area, stemming from the uncertainty of the future and the anxiety of their precarious livelihoods.
Chu Yanxi walked to Workshop 3. The workshop was dimly lit, and most of the huge textile machines had stopped running and were covered with gray dust cloths. Only a few machines were still running, emitting a deafening roar, and a limited number of female workers were busy moving between the machines.
Chu Yanxi's job was simple: under the guidance of a taciturn master craftsman with deep wrinkles around his eyes, he would count the spare parts piled up in the corner and wipe the new parts that had not yet been installed with an oil-stained rag.
During a break, Chu Yanxi observed the entire workshop, especially the small area diagonally opposite that was separated and marked with a "Technical Department" sign.
A heavy cotton curtain hangs at the entrance to the technical department. People wearing blue technical uniforms and glasses often come and go in a hurry, maintaining an invisible distance from the other female workers.
The whistle signaled the midday break, the roaring machines fell completely silent, and the female workers silently headed to the canteen.
A similarly oppressive atmosphere permeated the cafeteria. The queue was long, but almost no one spoke. Lunch consisted of boiled cabbage, braised tofu, and rice. Chu Yanxi, holding her enamel bowl, found a corner to sit down, her gaze continuing to subtly search for food.
Chu Yanxi quickly spotted Ruan Xiaofen. She was sitting alone in the farthest corner, head down, her face almost buried in her bowl, her thin shoulders hunched, like a small animal trying to hide itself. She ate quickly, then hurriedly got up and left, without looking at anyone the entire time.
Chu Yanxi finished eating quickly and was about to follow when a figure sat down in the seat opposite her.
It's Lu Zhe.
He was also carrying a rice bowl, with a pen tucked into his work uniform pocket; he looked like an ordinary, somewhat bookish, clerical cadre.
"How's the situation in Workshop Three?" Lu Zhe asked, picking at the food in his bowl. His voice was low.
Chu Yanxi sighed: "Most of the machines have stopped, and people are in a state of panic. The technical department is keeping a close watch on things, and unauthorized personnel are not allowed in."
She paused, then added the most crucial sentence: "I overheard people whispering that the latest batch of chiffon fabric processing data and sample fabrics are in the technical department's archives. The factory is counting on this to find a foreign joint venture to save it."
Lu Zhe paused almost imperceptibly with his chopsticks, his eyes turning serious: "I checked, and Ruan Xiaofen's mother is now in the late stage of uremia, receiving treatment at Jiangcheng First People's Hospital. She needs dialysis twice a week, and the cost is staggering. Her family has already been emptied out and is still heavily in debt."
He lowered his voice and continued to recount the results of today's investigation: "Yesterday afternoon, someone saw her behind the factory office building, whispering to a stylish-looking stranger who didn't seem like a good person. She looked very flustered."
Chu Yanxi asked, "Who told you that?"
Lu Zhe looked at her: "Fang Shuyi from your dormitory."
Their eyes met, and they both knew the reason behind it. To avoid being laid off, even roommates would betray each other; no wonder Ruan Xiaofen was discovered so quickly for stealing technical data from the factory in the book.
Chu Yanxi asked, "Can we find out more about that man?"
Lu Zhe shook his head: "It's difficult. The factory management is very chaotic right now, so it's not surprising that unfamiliar faces occasionally come and go. However, I can try to check among the people who have recently left or been fired to see if anyone is connected to information brokers in society."
He rubbed his temples: "What should we do? Should we directly stop Ruan Xiaofen from contacting other people she's interested in? We don't have any evidence, and that would only alert her, and might even push her to the brink."
Ruan Xiaofen is currently on the verge of committing a crime, and we must find a way to stop her. After thinking for a moment, Chu Yanxi said, "Let's divide the work. I'll share a dormitory with her and be responsible for monitoring her behavior nearby. You try to find out as much as possible about that external contact person, and at the same time, visit her mother to express the organization's concern."
The death of her mother was the final straw that broke Ruan Xiaofen's back. To avoid the tragic ending in the book where Xiaofen ultimately takes her own life, we must start with her mother.
Lu Zhe understood Chu Yanxi's meaning and nodded heavily: "I will visit the hospital on behalf of the union and find out about the situation. Alas! Unfortunately, I don't have much money and can't provide Ruan Xiaofen with financial assistance."
Even a hero can be brought down by a single penny.
Chu Yanxi, who had only been working for a little over a year, didn't have much money. She took out eighty yuan from her pocket and handed it to Lu Zhe: "Take this money and buy some nutritional supplements for Ruan Xiaofen's mother."
Lu Zhe didn't mince words. After accepting the money, he solemnly replied, "Okay. I will report Ruan Xiaofen's situation to my superiors and try to get some hardship allowance. I also have over a thousand yuan in savings, I'll send it all to her. In short, every little bit helps."
The two quickly finished their food and got up to leave.
In the afternoon, Chu Yanxi continued her tedious cleaning work in the workshop. Her attention remained fixed on the workshop entrance and the corridor leading to the technical department.
An hour before the end of the workday, Chu Yanxi saw Ruan Xiaofen appear.
Ruan Xiaofen changed into a slightly cleaner coat, held a few sheets of paper in her hand, lowered her head, and walked quickly toward the technical department. Her steps were a little unsteady, and her breathing seemed a little rapid.
Ruan Xiaofen hesitated for a few seconds at the entrance of the technical department, her fingers nervously twisting the hem of her clothes. Finally, she seemed to have mustered up her courage, lifted the cotton curtain, and went inside.
Chu Yanxi couldn't see what was happening inside, but she could imagine Xiao Fen's tension and fear at that moment.
Time passed by, and each second felt incredibly long.
About ten minutes later, the cotton curtain was lifted again. Xiao Fen came out, her face even paler than when she went in, her hands empty, and her steps unsteady. She left almost as if fleeing, not returning to the workshop, but heading straight towards the dormitory building.
Chu Yanxi silently withdrew her gaze and continued wiping the parts in her hands.
It seems that Ruan Xiaofen has just completed some form of reconnaissance or initial contact, and is one step closer to the edge of committing a crime.
The get off work bell rang again, and Chu Yanxi left work with the crowd. After dinner, she returned to her dormitory.
Ruan Xiaofen was already lying on the bed, facing the wall, the blanket pulled high to cover her head, motionless, as if asleep. But Chu Yanxi keenly noticed that the thin blanket was trembling very slightly and uncontrollably, and occasionally a suppressed, tearful gasp could be heard, filled with helplessness and despair.
Chu Yanxi stopped at the door.
In the past, as a composed negotiation expert, she would have weighed the best time to intervene, avoiding startling or causing resistance when the other party was extremely vulnerable. But now, looking at the shivering blanket in the dim light, an emotion different from purely professional judgment quietly welled up in her heart.
She thought of Zhang Ya, whom she couldn't save and who ultimately chose to detonate herself—the pain and desperation she felt, driven to the brink, was palpable even through the screen. This time, she couldn't just calmly assess the situation; she felt she had to do something.
Chu Yanxi didn't speak immediately. Instead, as usual, she quietly tidied her bed, making some natural, soft sounds to let Ruan Xiaofen know that someone had returned, giving her some time to calm down.
Then, Chu Yanxi picked up her enamel mug, poured herself a cup of warm water from the thermos, and spoke in a calm voice, as if it were just casual conversation, but she kept her voice at a volume that the other person could hear: "This awful weather, so stuffy and humid, drinking some hot water will make me feel better."
The trembling in the blanket paused for a moment.
Chu Yanxi didn't look in that direction. She took a couple of sips of water and then casually turned to Ruan Xiaofen's bed. Her tone was gentle, with just the right amount of concern, but not excessive, so as not to put pressure on the other person: "Xiaofen? Are you feeling unwell? Would you like some hot water?"
Ruan Xiaofen did not respond.
Chu Yanxi didn't urge her, nor did she try to peel away her thick protective shell. She simply took the glass of warm water, slowly walked to the stool beside Ruan Xiaofen's bed, and sat down, maintaining a safe yet respectful distance.
“When I first started working at the factory, I often missed home and would cry under the covers at night,” Chu Yanxi said in a tone tinged with nostalgia, subtly revealing her own experiences in an attempt to evoke empathy and soothe the other person’s emotions.
"Even though it's such a big factory with so many people, I still feel empty inside, like I can't fit in at all." Chu Yanxi's voice was very soft, as if she were confiding her inner troubles to her best friend.
Ruan Xiaofen, who was covered by the quilt, seemed to move slightly.
Chu Yanxi continued in a steady voice, "Sometimes, I feel immense pressure, like the sky is about to fall and I can't see any light ahead. I think, maybe... I should just give up and go all out."
She used the colloquial phrase "what's the use of 'throwing things away'" which is more likely to resonate with Ruan Xiaofen, instead of a more formal term, while carefully touching on that dangerous idea, but with an understanding rather than a judgmental tone.
"But then I thought about it," she said, her tone shifting slightly, a faint but undeniable strength creeping into her voice, "If the sky falls, there's always someone taller to hold it up. You heard it when Officer Lu came today, all of us sisters in the dorm have our own troubles. Some are newly pregnant, some have sick in-laws, some have multiple children... But no matter how hard life is, we have to keep going, right?"
Chu Yanxi paused for a moment, giving Ruan Xiaofen time to process what he had to say, before gently placing the water glass on his lap and softening his voice: "Xiaofen, no matter what happens, don't get stuck on it. There's no hurdle you can't overcome. If you really encounter difficulties, talk about it and let everyone help you think of a solution. Maybe then you'll find a way out."
After saying this, Chu Yanxi gently patted the trembling blanket, her movements soft and soothing. Then she turned and walked back to her bed, picked up a washbasin, and pretended to go to the washroom to wash up, before naturally leaving the space.
She gave Ruan Xiaofen room to process her emotions and choose whether to respond, without forcing her to confront the situation immediately.
As Chu Yanxi walked down the corridor toward the water room, her mind was in turmoil.
What she just said wasn't just an application of negotiation skills. While comforting Ruan Xiaofen, she seemed to see countless female faces struggling in difficult situations—Chunni, Zhang Ya, and Ruan Xiaofen herself, who was suffocating under the dual pressures of potentially losing her job and having no source of income while her mother was seriously ill and urgently needed a large sum of money.
A deep, stinging resonance became clearer than ever before.
Chu Yanxi suddenly realized that her heart, which had been hardened to the point of being almost cold through countless high-pressure negotiations, seemed to have become more perceptive of the immense pain and arduous struggles of women hidden behind despair, numbness, or madness during these journeys.
Chu Yanxi clearly felt that she was no longer just a negotiation expert who carried out missions; she was truly "seeing" them and "feeling" them.
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