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

Liang Li looked at the scene in a panic. He caught a glimpse of the factory director and Director Yuan approaching out of the corner of his eye, and immediately shouted mischievously, "Director Yuan, you have to speak up for us! Although we spread rumors without knowing the truth, aren't the people involved in the rumors also at fault?"

This statement immediately sparked a commotion among many people.

"Yes, Director Yuan, I was criticized for being frivolous before, and you gave me a good talking-to."

“Yes, last time they held a meeting for us women, they listed several typical examples, which made people cry, but they didn’t do those things at all.”

"Yes, I remember that too. You said something like, 'Flies don't land on eggs without cracks, and it takes two to tango.' Now that you're being slandered, shouldn't you reflect on yourself?"

"I think you just want to force a good woman into prostitution. Poor comrade, she was so scared by you that she cried all night."

"Poor thing, he's been persecuted to this extent by Director Yuan."

“Chengzhang, you have to stand up for that comrade. She was just at work when she was called into the meeting room and bullied so badly that her clothes were torn to shreds.”

"Yes, we're not making this up, it's true, a large piece of cloth was torn off her back."

“I work in the same workshop as her. I saw that dress still hanging in our workshop. You can go and see for yourselves if you don’t believe me.”

Director Yuan was bombarded with insults, and with the factory manager in front of her, she felt like she was about to collapse. She wanted to run away again, just like she had done in the canteen, but the factory manager's gaze was terrifying. Just as she was thinking about fainting, Old Lady Xia rolled her eyes and fainted.

"Oh no, Comrade Xia has fainted! Quickly, take her to the hospital!"

"Were you scared by Director Yuan? Even I, an outsider, was frightened by the look in her eyes just now."

"Could she really have been threatened by Director Yuan?"

"How pitiful, they're already this old and still have to encounter this kind of thing."

"Take her to the hospital first."

Director Yuan was even more flustered than they were. She knew that what happened in the meeting room was not what they were saying at all. In her memory, it was just an ordinary conversation, just like when she had approached those people because of other rumors before.

But she didn't know why things had developed to this point. Before, those people would have just swallowed their anger.

At this moment, Director Yuan recalled Old Lady Xia's past achievements, such as rushing into her husband's factory and beating people in front of the factory director, kicking out her eldest son's family, setting fire to the house on the first day of the Lunar New Year, and becoming the first woman in their area to get divorced right after the New Year.

How could someone like that be an honest person? This time, she really ran into a brick wall.

Grandma Xia woke up on the way to the hospital. Since she was faking it and was too embarrassed to go to the hospital and be found out, she woke up after walking a short distance. After waking up, she pretended to know nothing. When she heard them denounce Director Yuan on her behalf, Grandma Xia was still very grateful.

Although, they are very likely the same group that spread the rumors before.

As for why Old Lady Xia fainted, it was because she saw Director Yuan was about to faint, so she tried to do it before her. She was afraid that if Director Yuan fainted, those words would be directed at her, even though this whole thing wasn't her fault from beginning to end; it was Director Yuan who called her into the meeting room to criticize her without asking any questions.

But most people sympathize with the weak. If Director Yuan fainted in front of everyone, people might start to criticize her. After all, she had fainted, so what else could they say?

So, she struck first, hehe.

The incident was officially announced the following day. Because Director Yuan had a negative impact on the matter, failed to convince others as the director of the factory office, and made several inappropriate remarks, he was demoted to deputy director after being disciplined.

The new factory director will be announced at the mid-year workers' meeting, where the workers' opinions will also be heard.

The police are currently investigating who is behind this rumor, and they don't know who it is yet. However, the factory manager said that the punishment will be more severe.

The happiest people in this incident were the workers who had been bullied by Director Yuan. But before they could even rejoice, they heard that Deputy Director Yuan was acting as director.

The demotion of Director Yuan was completely meaningless. People discussed it privately, and some even went to Grandma Xia to gossip and try to encourage her to make a scene again.

Grandma Xia isn't a fool who's easily fooled. The higher-ups have already given their opinion on how to handle the situation, and it's a done deal. If she were to make a fuss about it now, wouldn't that just cause trouble for the factory director and the higher-ups?

So she refused. But if Director Yuan makes things difficult for her in the future, she will make a big scene. She will retire in a few years, so what is she afraid of?

She was a worker. Workers retire at fifty, and managers retire at fifty-five. Her retirement was not far off.

Two days later, Chen Xiangbei hurriedly sent someone to tell Grandma Xia early one morning that there was progress.

Grandma Xia was working diligently when she heard this and came out.

"Mom, I've found one of those women with leg problems you mentioned, but I'm not sure. I've asked several groups of people, and she seems to be the most suitable one in the east of the city," Chen Xiangbei said hurriedly, pulling her along.

Grandma Xia was also anxious, "Where does she live? Is she alright? Is she healthy?"

Chen Xiangbei gasped for breath, "Listen to me, although I've found such a person, but... but..."

Grandma Xia was getting impatient with his stammering, "But what is it? Tell me!"

Chen Xiangbei: "But she is Tian Chengping's mother."

Grandma Xia's mouth gaped open as if she could swallow an egg. "Whose mother?"

Chen Xiangbei: "Tian Chengping."

Grandma Xia: "Is it Tian Chengping, the one we argued with that day and even sent him to the police station, causing him to lose his job?"

Chen Xiangbei nodded. "I originally went to find this woman yesterday, but then I found out she went to the police station, so I went there to look for her. I saw her with her head down, coming out one after the other with Tian Chengping. Tian Chengping even kicked her and cursed at her all the way."

Grandma Xia: "Did you see clearly?"

Chen Xiangbei: "Of course, but I've only heard you describe her in general terms, Mom. I'm not sure if it's really her. The neighbors all call her Aunt Lame or Aunt Tian. Nobody knows her real name."

Grandma Xia: "I'll go take a look. I'll ask for leave right now. Wait for me."

Chen Xiangbei nodded emphatically. If that woman really was his mother's sister, his aunt, then she was truly pitiful. What Chen Xiangbei didn't say was that the woman was dressed very thinly in this cold spring weather, with chilblains on her hands and face, and she was shivering all over, looking terribly pathetic.