"You don't know anything, you didn't see anything? You come up here and say I have a relationship with Minister Yang. If you're not smart enough, don't treat everyone else like fools!" Xia Lan rolled her eyes at Zhao Li.
"This slap is a warning to you. If you dare to say anything nonsense again and damage my and Minister Yang's reputation, I'll make you regret it!"
Xia Lan's domineering presence left Zhao Li speechless.
Coming to his senses, he blushed with humiliation and pointed at Xia Lan angrily, saying, "How dare you hit me!"
"Even my mom has never hit me, how dare you hit me!"
"Who told you to ask for a beating? Your mouth is so foul. If I don't get justice for myself, how will I ever face anyone again?" Xia Lan said coldly.
"Isn't that right? You haven't seen anything, yet you're saying Xia has an affair with Minister Yang. Do you know what will happen if your reputation is ruined?" Although Xiaoling was shocked that Xia Lan would take action so easily, she was definitely on Xia Lan's side.
Reputation is not something to be taken lightly; if your reputation is ruined, how can you ever face anyone again?
"Isn't that right? Comrade Zhao Li, do you have any evidence?"
"You can't just make things up without evidence!"
"Minister Yang is already married, and Xia Xia also has a husband. The young man is quite handsome, how could they possibly have an affair..."
"That's right! Neither of them seems to have any ulterior motives."
Hearing everyone's accusations, Zhao Li shouted, "What do you know! My brother-in-law said that Minister Yang personally took Xia Lan to the job. If there was no personal connection, why would he treat Xia Lan so well?"
"According to you, he personally took me to the job, so does that mean he and I have some kind of secret relationship?" Xiaoling rolled her eyes at Zhao Li, saying that such a reason was not a valid proof.
"That's right! Minister Yang took me to the job when I first joined the company, so what's the big deal?"
"Xiaoli! I think you've really gone too far! How can you accuse them of having ulterior motives when there's nothing to be seen..."
"You're just making wild guesses about them, aren't you?"
"Who says I have no evidence?" Zhao Li retorted, unconvinced that no one believed her.
"Then produce the evidence! I also want to know what kind of private relationship I have with Comrade Xia Lan!" Minister Yang's voice rang out from behind the crowd, startling everyone.
"Minister Yang."
Everyone quickly scattered and fled back to their respective counters, leaving only Zhao Li, Xiao Ling, and Xia Lan at the scene.
Everyone pretended to be working diligently, but in reality, they were all keeping a close eye on Minister Yang, eager to know how he would handle the situation.
"I..." Zhao Li was speechless when she saw Minister Yang. She twisted her fingers and couldn't say a word.
"Tell me your reasoning, or I'll invite your brother-in-law over. I'd like to ask him how he came to this conclusion!" Minister Yang was furious. When did it become a matter of personal relationship for him to exchange a few words with his subordinates?
How can he work at his unit after that? Does that mean he can't even have anything to do with female colleagues anymore?
"I'm sorry..." Under Minister Yang's gaze, Zhao Li finally obediently admitted her mistake.
“That’s not enough. She has to apologize to us in public, otherwise this mudslinging will still fall on our heads.” Xia Lan glanced at Zhao Li and said seriously.
"...Xia Lan, don't go too far! I haven't settled the score with you for hitting me yet!" Zhao Li exploded as soon as she heard Xia Lan's voice.
"Then tell me, should you have hit me or not?" Xia Lan said calmly.
"Minister, are you going to take charge of this?" Zhao Li turned to Minister Yang, asking him to make a decision for her.
Minister Yang merely glanced at Zhao Li indifferently.
"Although Comrade Xia Lan's profession was a bit extreme, it was understandable under the circumstances. But you, you made wild guesses and talked nonsense, almost ruining a female comrade's reputation. She could have taken you to the police station and sued you for defamation."
Zhao Li froze. "It's not that serious, I was just saying."
“You can’t just say whatever comes to mind. People won’t just listen to you casually. You’re speaking so confidently because you want them to believe you, right?” Xiaoling said.
“I…” Zhao Li was really scared. “I’m not going to the police station, I’m not going.”
"So you've chosen to apologize in public?" Minister Yang scoffed and asked Zhao Li.
"I apologize to you, I apologize! I don't want to go to the police station," Zhao Li said, feeling wronged.
"Alright, let's go then!" Xia Lan glanced at Zhao Li.
Minister Yang brought Zhao Li to the front of the crowd. Everyone pretended to be busy, constantly arranging goods, but in fact they had already prepared everything.
"Everyone, please stop what you're doing for a moment. Comrade Zhao Li has something to say to you all. Comrade Zhao Li, please speak!" Minister Yang urged Zhao Li.
Everyone stopped what they were doing and looked at Zhao Li.
With so many people watching, Zhao Li walked timidly to the front and then addressed everyone.
"I'm sorry, it was my mistake to accuse Minister Yang and Comrade Xia Lan of having an affair without any evidence. Please forgive me!"
"Let's leave it at that for today. If I hear you spouting nonsense again, you'll face the consequences." Minister Yang gestured for Xia Lan to also express her opinion.
"Minister Yang is not going to pursue this matter, but I cannot let it go. I am a married woman, and also a female comrade. Comrade Zhao Li is just spreading rumors for her own selfish reasons, saying everywhere that I have an affair with Minister Yang."
"To put it mildly, it's just that she's being petty and making baseless accusations without any proof."
"But to put it more broadly, firstly, it has a very bad impact on my reputation, and secondly, what if my husband hears this and misunderstands?"
"Most of the colleagues here are women with families. Put yourself in their shoes. If you were me, and someone spread rumors about you or misunderstood you for no reason, how would you feel?"
The women present gradually changed their gaze towards Zhao Li. Before it happened to them, they could still watch the show as it was a spectacle, but after thinking about what Xia Lan said, their anger suddenly flared up.
"I've already apologized, what more do you want?" Zhao Li said angrily to Xia Lan, seeing that she was still rambling on and on and noticing that everyone was looking at her strangely.
"Nothing much has happened, but the damage has already been done. What good do you think an apology will do? Do you think I should forgive you just because you apologized?" Xia Lan sneered.
"Let me tell you, I will never forgive you in this lifetime! Don't say things like 'a magnanimous person doesn't hold a grudge.' You should be glad that this was discovered early, otherwise, I would definitely let you experience what it feels like to be slandered, unable to clear your name even if you jump into the Yellow River, and to be condemned by everyone."
"Xia Lan! Don't go too far!" Zhao Li's face darkened. "I only said a few words to you, and you're still not done?"
"Of course you're not worried when it doesn't happen to you! You only said a few words? You haven't even realized your own mistake."
Seeing that Zhao Li still didn't realize her mistake, an auntie's face darkened.
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