She won't clear her name; she'll throw away all the scum.

Tian Chengping retorted, "Didn't she spread rumors too? Her bastard son ruined my reputation. If I get arrested, they'll get arrested too!"

Grandma Xia: "What rumors are you spreading? Did you anger your father to death or did you get your mother pelted with vegetable leaves?"

Chen Xiangbei jumped up and down, saying, "I'm not afraid to report to the police. We're in the right. Let's report to the police first and let them judge the matter. If I've told a single lie, may I be made to be like this beast."

Grandma Xia slapped him across the face. "You were never a good person to begin with. If you become like him, who do you want to hurt? Do you want me to get pelted with vegetable leaves or die of anger?"

Chen Xiangbei immediately stood obediently next to Grandma Xia, "How could I become that kind of person? Even Xiao Ma, the worst person in our compound, is not as bad as him."

Tian Chengping was furious. This wretched mother and son deserved to be beaten to death. What business was it of theirs? They were meddling in other people's affairs. "You two can't even handle your own family matters, yet you're meddling in other people's business. Deputy Captain Wang, this old lady is the real disgrace to our factory. If everyone follows her example, how can our society be stable? How can we progress if we're unstable?"

Deputy Captain Wang: ...Why did he have to run into this kind of thing? He's not some upright official, why should we give him such a difficult problem?

Grandma Xia: "Someone like you, you still think about making progress? I'm an old woman getting divorced, what kind of bullshit progress can you think of? You made your father die of anger, why don't you think about making progress? You're not even an animal, how can you talk about making progress? Your mother should have drowned you when she gave birth to you."

Chen Xiangbei got excited. With his mother by his side, what was he afraid of? "Tian Chengping, how can someone like you get into the factory without being investigated? What advantages do you have compared to the others? How come everyone else failed the exam but you did? Who hired you? Are they blind?"

The three of them started hurling insults at each other again. Vice Captain Wang would stop them just as they were about to fight, and then they would continue hurling insults at each other.

Their expressions were so harsh, their language so unpleasant, that you wanted to hear it again and again.

Qiao Yi: ...I really want to live as harshly as they do, just once.

In the end, no one reported it to the police. The two sides didn't even touch each other's faces during the fight, which was a great pity for Grandma Xia.

In the village where Xiang Hong was sent to work, if the police weren't present, most people would rarely get arrested for saying a few words unless their words had a significant impact.

Finally, the meeting ended when Grandma Xia said she would take everyone to his house to verify the information, which Tian Chengping hurriedly refused and then angrily cursed. Deputy Captain Wang wiped his sweat; he'd made it through, and today was a peaceful day.

Qiao Yi was furious. Why didn't she bring a notebook? She saw someone writing down their insults, and she wanted to write them down too.

When Tian Chengping was scolding her just now, she couldn't even say anything nasty. She almost cried from anger. It was so humiliating.

Seeing Tian Chengping flee in panic, Qiao Yi took a step to chase after him and scold him again, but her mind went blank. "I'm so useless," Qiao Yi cursed herself in her heart.

Grandma Xia pulled Chen Xiangbei, who was still muttering about Tian Chengping, aside and asked, "What did you come to see me for?"

Chen Xiangbei grinned and said, "Mom, I miss you a little."

Grandma Xia looked at him scrutinizingly. "Miss me? Want to see how badly I'm doing?"

Chen Xiangbei: "I swear to God, Mom, I'm not that kind of person."

He hesitated for a moment, then said, "I just missed you."

Grandma Xia turned to leave, but Chen Xiangbei caught up with her. "Mom, Mom, let me treat you to dinner. I still have some money."

He held up a few crumpled bills and blocked Grandma Xia's way again.

Qiao Yi noticed that something was off between the mother and son. Xia seemed unwilling to talk to her son. After thinking for a moment, she remembered the rumor that Xia didn't even want the child and just wanted a divorce, so she went over to her.

"Comrade Xia, I... it's all my fault that you've suffered this undeserved misfortune. If possible, I'd like to treat you to a meal as an apology." Qiao Yi's voice was barely louder than a mosquito's buzz; she felt very embarrassed.

Just a few days ago on the rooftop, she said so categorically that Tian Chengping wasn't that kind of person, but then she turned around and revealed that he was a scoundrel and dragged that mother and son into it.

This matter had absolutely nothing to do with them, yet they not only chased Tian Chengping away but also showed no resentment towards her. Regardless of whether they helped her curse him or not, it was still because of her. She wanted to apologize to Old Lady Xia, and a meal would be the best way to atone for her sins. She had saved up a lot of money and tickets, and thankfully, she hadn't been swindled away by that scoundrel Tian Chengping.

Grandma Xia was unwilling. She felt that this woman had ill intentions, and her eyes were gleaming. She wondered what kind of bad idea she was plotting. In addition, the woman's attitude towards her had not been very good before. How could she suddenly change her mind like this?

"Something's fishy!" Old Mrs. Xia immediately refused, waving her hand as she tried to leave.

Chen Xiangbei is different. He hasn't eaten with his mother for many days, and Chen Xianghong's money ration coupons are running low. He's really craving food. The money ration coupons he originally wanted to use to treat his mother to a meal were the last of his, and he's been saving them carefully.

So he grabbed Grandma Xia's arm and said, "Mom, I think this comrade is quite sincere. Don't reject him so quickly, or you'll upset her."

Grandma Xia: "Do you know her?"

Chen Xiangbei shook his head.

Old Mrs. Xia scolded, "How do you know what they're thinking if you don't even know them?"

Qiao Yi also stopped the old lady Xia who was scolding the child, saying, "Comrade Xia, I really meant it."

Grandma Xia was unmoved by their threats or persuasion, and she ran away, saying, "I appreciate your kindness, but I won't eat."

Chen Xiangbei cried out in anguish, "Mom—"

Qiao Yi: "Comrade Xia—"

The two exchanged glances. Chen Xiangbei's expectant gaze was so intense that Qiao Yi awkwardly suggested, "How about I treat you to dinner?"

Chen Xiangbei immediately agreed, feeling like he had met a kind person today. He stuffed the money into the inside pocket of his breast pocket.

The two remained silent the entire way, as they were strangers and didn't know what to say. Furthermore, Qiao Yi was a young woman while Chen Xiangbei was a boy, so they should have avoided each other.

After walking for a while, Qiao Yi realized something was wrong. She wanted to say that she didn't want to eat anymore, but she couldn't bring herself to say it. She had already promised him, so she could only walk behind him, keeping a little distance. She planned to order the food later and then not eat herself, and come back first.

Chen Xiangbei, completely oblivious to the unsafe situation of the man and woman, instead complained about Qiao Yi's slow pace and turned back to urge her, "Comrade, are you regretting inviting me to dinner? Why are you walking so slowly?"

Qiao Yi: "Ah, no, I just..." She wanted to say that she should give him some money and tickets so he could go by himself, but she couldn't think of a friendly way to say it. She felt that saying it directly would sound like she was looking down on him. She was interrupted by Chen Xiangbei.

"That's good. Then hurry up! It's only a short distance, you won't be unable to walk, will you?"

Chen Xiangbei rattled off this sentence, even resorting to provocation at the end, secretly pleased with himself. Luckily, he was smart enough to interrupt, otherwise this woman might have really gone back on her word.