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

Director Yuan couldn't find Old Lady Xia.

After telling her that the higher-ups had agreed to use this election method to select the factory's women's director and that I had already had the publicity department issue a public notice asking everyone to sign up voluntarily, I explained the situation.

At the time, Grandma Xia nodded in agreement and said she would fill out the application form as soon as possible, then she disappeared. She even wrote something on her desk after she finished speaking, but after she left work, when she wanted to tell Grandma Xia some key points, she vanished again.

She wasn't at the factory, she couldn't find her at her home, and she even ran into Chen Xiangbei on the street, but Chen Xiangbei said he hadn't seen her either.

What kind of trouble is this old comrade causing now?

Because Director Yuan asked many people, the news that Grandma Xia was missing had spread throughout the factory before dark.

There was even an outrageous rumor that said Old Lady Xia had offended too many people, and some people were afraid that she would cause too much trouble if she really became the women's director, so they kidnapped her in advance. Even worse, some people went to Director Yuan and asked if they should report the case to the police.

Many people were looking for her, and even Chen Xianghong, who hadn't been back to the compound for a long time, knew about it and joined the search.

Whether it was a mother-daughter connection or not, when Chen Xianghong was about to ask Yu Hongzhen for help in finding someone, she passed by the train station and squinted to notice an old lady sitting on a step who was completely different from the other passengers.

Grandma Xia sat in an inconspicuous little corner of the train station, holding a bottle of soda in her hand, watching the people coming and going, and occasionally taking a sip.

This posture would be normal for any drunkard or young person, but for a neatly dressed old lady with her hair combed back in a small bun, sitting cross-legged and nimbly drinking soda, it seems very strange.

No wonder no one could find her; who would have thought that this old lady would be sitting alone in the busiest train station?

Chen Xianghong even felt like she was possessed by a ghost, and hesitantly walked over, "Mom?"

Grandma Xia looked up and saw her daughter, whom she hadn't seen for several days, standing in front of her, with a thin layer of sweat on her forehead and the anxious look on her face not yet completely gone.

"Xiang Hong."

Upon hearing her voice, Chen Xianghong immediately asked anxiously, "Mom, what are you doing sitting here? Everyone's been looking for you, worried something might have happened to you. You really should come back with me!"

Grandma Xia patted the ground next to her, gesturing for her to sit down, and then took out another bottle of soda from her bosom and handed it to her, "Xiang Hong, Mom is a little nervous."

Chen Xianghong was confused. "What?"

Grandma Xia raised her head and blinked: "When I got divorced, I just acted on impulse. Although I don't regret it, I sometimes wonder if I would have been able to get divorced if I had thought it through more. After the divorce, although I said on the surface that I didn't care about other people's opinions, I still felt a little upset every time someone talked about me behind my back."

Then, to alleviate this feeling, I started paying attention to other people's situations. When I encountered someone feeling lost and they asked me for advice, I shared my thoughts. Several women listened and made their choices. They thought my ideas were correct, and by promoting me, it was as if I had become someone who could guide them.

Then, influenced by me, Director Yuan also got divorced. She asked me if I wanted to be the women's director, and that's how I suddenly had a goal. After I had a goal, many people started to help me: people in the workshop, people in other departments, Director Yuan, the factory manager, and even my third aunt whom I used to hate. Many people helped me.

I was just pushed along like this, and everyone said I was very capable. At first, people looked down on me, but now some of my comrades see me as a teacher guiding them to rebuild their lives.

Chen Xianghong asked doubtfully, "Mom, isn't that a good thing? Many people like you and are willing to listen to you."

Grandma Xia: "But it seems like I've always been pushed around by others, like the female protagonist in a movie who's always being helped. She only thinks that way because of the plot, and once she has an idea, everyone pushes her to develop the plot. Is she really that amazing? Am I really that amazing, just like her? Am I always right in everything I do and say? They say I'm right, and they listen to me, but what if I'm wrong?"

Right now, I'm just a regular clerk, so my influence is limited. Most people will listen to what I say and consider it before acting. But if I actually become the women's director, the impact of that position will be huge.

I won't be pushed around; instead, I'll proactively help those who lack their own opinions and actively intervene in their lives. They might simply follow my lead without thinking because of my position. What if I'm wrong?

Chen Xianghong hadn't thought about this question, but she felt that not every leader's decision was correct. They had all made mistakes over the years, so what if her mother made a mistake as the women's director? So she said it out loud.

Grandma Xia rolled her eyes at her. "It's different. Other leaders can be conservative and follow the old methods. If they make mistakes, everyone will understand because that's how it's always been done. But why did Director Yuan and the others want me to be the women's director? They wanted me to achieve something different, not to be conservative. Anyone could be conservative, so why choose me?"

I also wonder if a lot of people will laugh at me after this election. Although I've been telling myself since my divorce not to care about what others think and just do what makes me comfortable, sometimes it's really hard.

When I got divorced, I never imagined my life would turn out like this. I thought I would retire peacefully and spend a few years of leisurely life with your aunt. If your aunt passed away first, I would just quietly wait to die. I wouldn't trouble you. When I can no longer move, I will dress in new clothes every day and sit at the door, waiting for her to come and take me to heaven or to the underworld.

Finding her makes me feel like my life has been wonderful. Finding her and bringing you out of the countryside are the most important things in my life; I feel like I've lived a very worthwhile life. Who knew, I'd inexplicably done something extraordinary again.

At this point, Grandma Xia picked up her soda bottle and started chugging it down her throat. After finishing, she wiped her mouth and said, "But when it comes to this important election, I get really nervous. When I got the registration form today, my mind went completely blank. I'm at a very important juncture in my life right now."

Chen Xianghong looked intently at her mother. She realized that even her seemingly omnipotent mother could be so nervous and afraid, and even avoid everyone else, hiding away by herself.