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

"Tell me, I'm hardworking and dedicated to my post every day, who have I offended?" Old Mrs. Xia complained to the few people in the courtyard, feeling frustrated.

Zheng Qianlan smiled as she watched Qiao Shan and Yu Yan sitting side by side. Qiao Shan was even carefully peeling sunflower seeds for her. "Sister Xia, if it really doesn't work out, just do what you think is right. You can only be the director for a few more years. You'll be retiring in a few years anyway, so why worry about anything else?"

Yu Yan disagreed with this viewpoint. "Mom, don't talk nonsense if you don't understand. My Aunt Xia is thinking about the future of us women. If she does it now without considering the consequences and angers some shady people, they will suppress us. Wouldn't Aunt Xia become a sinner?"

Xu Meiyu, I don't know when she developed the bad habit of coming here on her days off, nodded when she heard this, "We still need to find out who is behind this and what their purpose is."

"If what you're saying isn't the problem with the factory manager in the next city, then it means someone here harbors resentment towards you."

Jiang Wenhua secretly pulled Fang Yingdi's hand, exchanging glances, "I do know that our factory's deputy director Tian has been stirring things up, but... he shouldn't be a key figure. He's just a troublemaker who hopes the factory is in as much chaos as possible."

Chen Xiangbei looked left and saw Qiao Shan and his partner, and right and saw Jiang Wenhua and his partner. No matter which one he looked at, he felt very unhappy. Why could people like them find partners?

He angrily looked down at the ants.

Fang Yingdi sat upright on a small stool. "After investigating for so long, I feel like it will involve a lot of people. If it really doesn't work, we'll just proceed as usual. If anyone tries to stop us, we'll just take them to the Women's Federation and stand up to them head-on. Who's afraid of who?"

Xu Meiyu laughed, "Sister Xia, your little comrade down there is quite something, pretty bold. Aren't you afraid of offending someone?"

Fang Yingdi said in a deep voice, "If you're afraid of this and that, how can you get anything done? I'm in this position, so I have to do what I'm supposed to do. If I'm too cowardly to move just because someone yells at me, I might as well hide at home and not go to work or get promoted."

Grandma Xia looked at her with satisfaction and smiled, "Look at her, what a capable girl."

Xu Meiyu: "I think her method works. If we drag this out for another year or two, you, Sister Xia, could retire. It's better to try and find a way out. Even if they target you relentlessly, you can let this girl take over after you retire."

Those leaders aren't young anymore; they'll retire in a few years, and then it'll all be young people."

Grandma Xia was also very satisfied with Fang Yingdi. This girl used to be burdened by her family and her mind was not clear. Now she follows her from house to house and speaks and acts with tact and order. What is most precious is that her heart has become more and more pure, which makes Grandma Xia happy.

"Xiao Fang, would you like to sit in my seat?"

Fang Yingdi didn't mince words at all. "Of course I want to. How hypocritical would someone be to say they don't? I not only want to sit in Comrade Xia's position, but I'm also very confident that I can withstand the pressure. However, I'll have to wait a few years. I'm still too green right now."

Xu Meiyu laughed too, "You're quite the boastful young comrade, but it's really good that you're so generous and open-minded. If they don't let you take Sister Xia's seat, come and help me out, okay?"

Old Man Xia coughed and asked, "What's going on? Are they trying to snatch someone right in front of us?"

Everyone burst into laughter.

Seeing Chen Xiangbei's sullen appearance, Jiang Wenhua, as a caring older brother, felt he had to offer him some advice.

The two walked out alone, arms around each other's shoulders. "What's wrong? It's been days and you're still wearing that long face?"

Chen Xiangbei: "...You're happy now, leaving me alone in the village to herd cattle."

Jiang Wenhua: "What nonsense are you talking about? Isn't it just that you wanted to date someone but got rejected?"

Chen Xiangbei was shocked: "How did you know? Did Factory Director Song tell you?"

Jiang Wenhua gave an awkward smile, "Well, I just happened to be passing by when you were talking to Qiao Yi that day."

Caught off guard by the news, Chen Xiangbei felt like his world had collapsed. He thought no one knew, and he said in a fierce but weak voice, "You are not allowed to tell anyone."

Jiang Wenhua sighed, "She's just a woman. If you're going to reject her, find someone better next time."

Chen Xiangbei: "That won't do, no one is better than her."

Jiang Wenhua: "Then you should work hard and make him see how capable you are. He'll regret rejecting you then."

Chen Xiangbei: "That won't do, I can't bear to see her unhappy."

Jiang Wenhua: "Then you must be more outstanding and capable than the men she wants to date, so that she feels she has no choice but to date you."

Chen Xiangbei: "There will always be someone better than me; I can never be the best."

Jiang Wenhua: "Even people who are better than you might not be interested in Comrade Qiao."

Chen Xiangbei: "You're talking nonsense. Who wouldn't be interested in a girl as good as Qiao Yi?"

Jiang Wenhua pointed to herself, "Me? I really like Comrade Xiao Fang. She's quick to scold people and efficient in her work. Seeing her makes me happy."

Chen Xiangbei: "Get out of here."

Jiang Wenhua smiled and said, "As the saying goes, even a strong woman can be won over by persistent pursuit."

Chen Xiangbei: "You're disgusting! Anyone who pesters a woman is a scoundrel."

Jiang Wenhua: "I'm disgusting, Chen Xiangbei, are you a child? How can you pursue a woman without using some strategy? Even I know to give Xiao Fang gifts and take her to state-run restaurants. And you, all you know is to say, 'Let's be friends, Qiao Yi.' With an attitude like that, what woman would dare to be with you?"

Chen Xiangbei's eyes lit up. "So, she rejected me because I wasn't good to her. Not only did I not take her out to eat, but I also often freeloaded off her?"

Jiang Wenhua: "You're insane, Chen Xiangbei! Are you a child? How could you shamelessly mooch off the meals of the woman you like, and she actually let you mooch off her too?"

Chen Xiangbei looked ashamed. "I used to be starving, so I just took whatever meal I could get. Who knew it would turn out like this?"

He humbly sought advice from the experienced Jiang Wenhua, "Brother Jiang, can you teach me how to pursue a woman?"

Jiang Wenhua immediately raised his head, pointed to his shoulder, and said in a pretentious tone, "Oh dear, why are my shoulders a little sore from standing for so long?"

Chen Xiangbei massaged his shoulders and back, saying, "Brother, teach me. From now on, you're my brother, and I'll listen to everything you say."

Jiang Wenhua teased him, "So from now on, who will you listen to, Qiao Yi or me?"

Chen Xiangbei said decisively, "I'll listen to Qiao Yi."

Jiang Wenhua opened his mouth and then closed it again. It wasn't that he was wrong, but just now he was saying that he would listen to everything he said, and now he had changed his tune, which made him feel depressed.

Just as they were chatting happily, Chen Xiangdong, whom they hadn't seen for a long time, rushed in anxiously, grabbed Chen Xiangbei's hand, and said, "Third brother, come back with me quickly, something has happened to Dad."