The man recalled that after giving his statement at the police station, the management of the educated youth compound had changed. He inquired and learned that Cui Jin had taken Bai Na back to the city, arranged jobs for her in advance, and wouldn't be returning. This news infuriated him.
After the new administrator learned about Lu Yi's improper conduct, he always targeted him. Without Bai Na's protection, some of the educated youth who disliked him gradually distanced themselves from him.
Finally, because Jiang Meier disappeared, her father would frequently cause trouble at the educated youth compound, claiming that he had instigated his daughter to run away from home and disrupt everyone's normal lives. Eventually, the higher-ups decided to dismiss him to settle the matter.
Lu Yi's repeated pleas were to no avail. Dragging his disheveled body home, he discovered that debt collectors were coming to his door every day. Helpless, he could only take his luggage and inquire about Bai Na's whereabouts everywhere.
The family compound wasn't easy to get into; even paying for information didn't guarantee contact. Lu Yi stayed outside for several days, until he ran out of money for food. Only then did he realize this wasn't a long-term solution. Hearing that Qingyun Garment Factory was hiring, he decided to try his luck.
In his view, it was all Jiang Yu's fault. If she hadn't stopped giving money, Jiang Meier wouldn't have risked delivering the fish. She wouldn't have been caught by Bai Na, and she wouldn't have ended up in the police station, losing her status as an educated youth.
So the culprit was Jiang Yu. Remembering that woman's ungrateful behavior, he resolved to take revenge.
"Hey, comrade, where are you from? Judging from your appearance, you don't look like someone who works on an assembly line!"
Someone steered the conversation toward Lu Yi, scrutinizing him. It must be said, this man had given off an unusual aura from the moment he entered; driven by curiosity, they couldn't help but ask.
Lu Yi was worried about being recognized as the person who owed money and refused to pay it back at the police station, so he gave an awkward laugh and pulled down his collar in an attempt to cover himself.
"You know what, this young man is fair-skinned and clean-cut; he really doesn't look like a factory worker. He looks more like... an ancient scholar."
Someone started to egg him on, and the others joined in the chatter. Hearing their praise, Lu Yi lowered the cloth covering his face and scoffed.
A man of his caliber is one in a hundred. This group of people were lucky to meet him when he was at his lowest point. Normally, he wouldn't even listen to such flattery.
"Comrade, you should apply for a finance job or an office clerk job. Why are you here?"
Someone raised an objection, and everyone immediately fell silent, waiting for his answer.
Seeing the expectant expressions on everyone's faces, Lu Yi coughed twice, let out a long sigh, and began to speak in detail:
"My elderly mother fell ill, leaving me no choice but to apply for a factory job. If it weren't for this unexpected turn of events, I would already be working in a state-owned enterprise office in the second half of the year."
When she got emotional, she even managed to squeeze out a couple of tears. Amidst a murmur of sympathy from the crowd, she vividly described her experience as a sent-down youth.
"What a pity..."
Everyone shook their heads, looking quite regretful.
"Zhao Heping, Yang Xingzhuang, Zhang Dehai."
In the lobby, a manager's assistant, dressed in work clothes and seemingly appearing out of nowhere, began taking attendance. Those who were chatting hurriedly stood up and straightened their clothes upon hearing the voice, trying to make a good impression.
"Those whose names are called, come with me to the interview room. The rest of you wait here."
The assistant walked ahead like a machine, expressionless, leading the way.
In the interview room, Luo Zewen was already seated on a chair, flipping through the interview form in his hand. Jiang Yu entered a few minutes later. She had intended to sit on the other side, but the other party explained:
"Mr. Jiang, the final list of interviewees today is up to you. You should sit in the middle seat."
Jiang Yu glanced at him, and Luo Zewen smiled and nodded, looking quite certain. Reluctantly, she agreed.
"We can begin."
She twirled the pen in her hand, glanced at the papers on the table, and spoke without looking up. While the assistant went to call the interviewees, a girl with strikingly bright red hair opened the door and walked in.
Su Jinshi first glanced around at the seating arrangement and saw that Jiang Yu was sitting in her brother's seat. She couldn't help but ask him a question.
“Ms. Su, everyone is very busy and doesn’t have time to listen to your complaints. If you’re bored, you can go wander around somewhere else. Of course, if you’re not comfortable with the workers I interview, we can conduct a second interview later.”
Jiang Yu said softly, her tone as calm as ever. Su Jinshi looked at her and, seeing that she hadn't looked up at him the whole time, and could guess her little thoughts, obediently shut her mouth and sat down in the empty seat.
The interviews proceeded in an orderly fashion. By the time the assistant called Lu Yi's name, most of the people in the lobby had already left. He stood up, straightened his clothes, smoothed the stray hairs from his forehead, and followed them into the house.
"Let me introduce myself first."
Luo Zewen gestured for the man to sit in the chair in front of the interview table and said.
"My name is Lu Yi..."
One sentence pulled Jiang Yu back to the original owner's memories of the past ten years, automatically ignoring what he was about to say. The woman looked up in disbelief, her eyes meeting the man's.
Not only was Jiang Yu visibly panicked, but Lu Yi also stared at her in disbelief. His pupils dilated as if in an earthquake.
In an instant, all the hatred in his heart vanished. Not because of feelings, but because he felt as if fate was playing a cruel joke on him. That woman, who had been brainwashed by him for so long and was supposedly a clueless old woman, how could she suddenly become the businesswoman everyone was talking about? How interesting.
Sensing something was wrong, Luo Zewen assumed the man was attracted to Jiang Yu's appearance and couldn't help but cough twice to remind him.
Fortunately, Lu Yi knew what was important and what was urgent. After introducing himself, he calmly answered the questions raised by Luo Zewen.
"Mr. Jiang, what do you think?"
While waiting for Jiang Yu to make a decision, Lu Yi felt like he was enduring agonizing every second. He was worried that this woman would retaliate against him, and he also wondered how she would treat him if he passed the interview.
"disagree."
Jiang Yu knew this man's mentality all too well; he was an arrogant person by nature. Coupled with his usual laziness and cunning, he might betray the company for some personal gain.
"You can go out now."
Seeing that Su Jinshi was about to speak, Luo Zewen, worried that something might happen, sent Lu Yi away. After he went out, seeing that there was no one outside, he couldn't help but eavesdrop at the door.
"I think this interviewee answered quite well. Why didn't you agree to let him in? You said it was to select employees for Qingyun, but I think it's just for your own selfish reasons. You only choose people who are easy to control."
"Lu Yi, he seems like an upright person. You're worried that bribing him won't work, so you deliberately rejected it, right?"
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