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

They've been beaten, how can you say it's nothing? Before she married into the family, if anyone dared to lay a finger on her son, she would tear their faces to shreds. But now, she can't do that. She has to coax Old Chen into finding a job for her son.

Although she couldn't retaliate, seeing Chen Xiangbei reminded her of how those shameless brats from the Chen family had taken her money. "Brother Chen, you promised last time you would ask about it."

Old Chen had long forgotten about that matter, and he couldn't understand a word Yang Su said as she stammered. "What do you want to ask?"

Yang Su gritted her teeth inwardly, "It's my money and Xiaoming's job..."

Old Chen then remembered, "Third brother, when are you going to pay back your Aunt Su that money?"

Chen Xiangbei also came to his senses. Remembering his second brother's words that the family would gradually be swallowed up by Yang Su and her son, he no longer felt guilty about the money. But if he spoke directly, an argument was inevitable, so he decided to shift the blame onto his second brother. With his second brother's quick thinking, most people wouldn't be able to decipher it, let alone his father, that big idiot. "Dad, I don't know. The money was in my second brother's hands. I haven't seen it since. Go ask him."

Yang Su reached out and grabbed his sleeve. "So you're admitting that you didn't lose that money?"

Chen Xiangbei struggled hard, but the old man's grip was really strong, and he couldn't break free for a while. "Of course I lost it. I lost more than a hundred yuan. Later, my second brother said that if I needed living expenses in the future, I should go to him, and he would give it to me in installments. I'm just afraid that someone shameless person will take all the money for other people's meals."

Yang Su was furious: "You're talking nonsense."

Chen Xiangbei: "You're the one who's talking nonsense! Your whole family loves to talk nonsense, you even take money from kids, you have no shame!"

Yang Su: "That's my money."

Chen Xiangbei: "It's your money, it's your money. All the money our whole family earns is your money. My dad's money is yours, my second brother and sister-in-law's money is yours, even the house is yours, okay?"

He snatched the apple from Wang Ming's hand, who was still watching the commotion without even entering the house, and turned to leave.

Yang Su behind him was cursing him with all her might, and when he heard it, he felt... good.

Although Chen Xiangbei was very angry and wanted to fight them, especially his father, he really couldn't stand the old man anymore.

But there are four of them, and he's only one person. Yang Su is also very strong. If a fight really breaks out, his stupid father definitely won't help him. In the end, it will definitely turn into them ganging up on him.

It's not worth it, not worth it at all. Even if he calls the police later and says he's dying so they can arrest him and make him pay compensation, it's still not worth it. He only has one life.

The family conflicts will only escalate in the future. His eldest brother's family, seeing all the good things their father had given to Yang Su, will certainly not let it go even after the family division. Not to mention his second brother, he's a ruthless man. Therefore, he doesn't need to fight them alone now. Since both of his brothers' interests will be infringed upon, naturally all three of them need to work together.

And his sister too, let her broaden her horizons and see if she'll still be so kind to Dad in the future.

Chen Xiangbei patted his empty stomach, stuffed the apple into his pocket, and sauntered off to find his second brother. Bringing an apple along meant he wouldn't be going empty-handed; he could at least get a meal. The Tang family's food was truly excellent.

Grandma Xia got her wish and attended the exchange meeting with the factory leaders. She put on her work clothes and followed behind several people with a proud and arrogant air, as if she were the one in charge of the textile factory.

"Did you remember what I told you? Everyone here is a leader from various factories. Who knows who might have a powerful background? You mustn't offend anyone carelessly," Director Yuan whispered in her ear again, still worried.

Grandma Xia patted her chest and said, "You can rest assured that I'll handle things."

Director Yuan: "...I'm really worried. Let me tell you, if you offend some big shots, even our factory director might not be able to protect you."

Grandma Xia: "I remember those people you mentioned who we can't afford to offend very clearly. I will absolutely not associate with them. My purpose in going back this time is to make sure that those small fry who talk arrogantly about us will never touch those I can't afford to mess with."

Director Yuan: "Remember, never use foul language."

Upon entering, they found many people already sitting down, and Grandma Xia followed Director Yuan to her seat.

After listening to the opening remarks and the leaders from various factories sharing their management experiences, Grandma Xia's eyelids were drooping.

Seeing this, Director Yuan nudged her with his elbow, "Don't fall asleep."

Grandma Xia: "When will it be over? How many more people need to speak?"

Director Yuan: "Almost there, almost there. It'll be our factory director's turn soon. There should be two more after him, and then we'll have to discuss it among ourselves."

Grandma Xia whispered, "Our factory director looks so honest, what kind of nonsense could he possibly say? When Comrade Xiao Fang's parents came to the factory to make trouble before, he was spat on before he could even say a few words."

Director Yuan perked up upon hearing this, "Don't talk nonsense. It's our own business, so let's just talk about it within the factory. Don't spread rumors. Don't let our factory manager's casual appearance in his tattered work clothes fool you; he's actually quite capable."

Grandma Xia took out paper and pen: "Then I'll listen. If I can learn something from it, it won't be a wasted trip."

The textile factory manager was particularly nervous today. It was supposed to be a relaxed meeting, but he didn't know if it was because of the rumors about his factory that would make other factories laugh at him, or because he had brought Old Lady Xia along as a ticking time bomb. Sometimes he even wondered if bringing Old Lady Xia along was a mistake.

He stood on the stage, his palms slightly damp.

As soon as her factory manager began to speak, Old Mrs. Xia became completely absorbed. To be fair, this man was quite capable to have become a factory manager; for example, she had never heard of many of the terms used in his speech. At first, Old Mrs. Xia was stunned by his professional rhetoric and even thought that the factory manager was indeed a cultured person.

But as she listened, she realized that many of the complex statements were just nonsense in simple terms, and had no meaning whatsoever.

All this talk about technological innovation, worker training, process improvement, and machinery introduction—it's all just holding employee meetings, having technicians develop new patterns, and buying equipment that makes the fabric finer and more efficient...

Although she felt it was just a change of name without any real substance, Grandma Xia still memorized some of the technical terms, just in case she needed them someday.