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

Although it was time to destroy the Four Olds, he, an excellent worker, shouldn't have such feudal ideas, so he scolded his apprentice, but he was always uneasy.

The only problem he might have today is with his family, but he's stayed out of it, probably because he doesn't want it to affect him.

No matter how fierce or shrewish his wife is, she can't possibly chase him into the factory and beat him up, right?

It's just a family matter, it shouldn't have escalated to the factory, right? She should be a reasonable person.

It's such a small thing, it's not a big deal. She could have handled it herself; she can't possibly kill him. If he were killed, the family's income would be halved, and that old hag would never do something so unprofitable.

Old Chen comforted himself, constantly reassuring himself that everything would be alright.

His heart nearly stopped when he looked up.

Grandma Xia stood at the entrance of their workshop, like a grenade about to explode.

Old Chen looked at his apprentice, then at Old Lady Xia, and thought, "It can't be that bad, it shouldn't be that bad."

"You... how did you get here?" Old Chen was startled.

Grandma Xia gestured with her chin towards the outside, signaling him to come out.

Old Chen pretended not to see it and immediately lowered his head. "You...you go back first. I have things to do here and I'm busy."

Fearing she wouldn't believe him, he added, "I'm teaching him right up to the crucial moment. I'll be back in a bit, really."

Old Master Xia roared, pointing at him, "Are you coming out or not?"

Old Chen is currently in a relatively peripheral workshop, not a core workshop, so Old Lady Xia could actually just go in and arrest him.

However, under normal circumstances, she doesn't want to go in, to avoid being gossiped about.

Old Chen was startled and shut his mouth tightly. He absolutely couldn't go out; if he did, he would be beaten to death.

The young apprentice didn't realize there was a problem between them, but he could tell from Grandma Xia's shout that she was angry.

Fearing that his master would be scolded for teaching him, the young apprentice put down what he was holding and said considerately, "Master, you should go back with your wife today. I can figure it out myself. You don't need to worry about me."

As he spoke, he pushed his master toward the workshop door.

Damn it, how can this apprentice be so clueless? He's not pushing him home, he's pushing him out to his death!

Old Chen felt bitter inside; he didn't want to go out!

"Let me teach you the next step." Old Chen turned around, took the machine from his apprentice, and walked back towards the machine.

The young apprentice grabbed him and shook his head: "No need, Master, there's no rush. You're already very tired today, and it's so late now, you should go back first."

The young apprentice placed his most respected master's hand in Old Madam Xia's hand, "Master's wife, it's all my fault for being so stupid, making Master teach me for so long. Please take Master back with you."

Grandma Xia nodded: "You should go back first. It's the same to think about it at home. Don't ruin your stomach at such a young age."

The apprentice smiled and agreed, then slung his bag over his shoulder and went out.

Old Chen stared at his hand, still covered in dirty gloves, being gripped tightly by Old Lady Xia. He wanted to call out to his young apprentice, who was his talisman at this moment. If his apprentice was there, Old Lady Xia wouldn't beat him too badly.

Unfortunately, under Old Lady Xia's cold gaze, he didn't utter a sound. Even when his young apprentice turned around to wave goodbye and leave, he smiled at the person.

"Old woman, you... why are you here?" Old Chen asked in a low voice, his posture very humble. "I've been busy and forgot to send a message home. It's not that I didn't come home on purpose."

"Busy?" Old Mrs. Xia asked back.

Old Chen said seriously, "Yes, we're busy. Our workshop has been very busy lately. I'm also training an apprentice, so I have to teach him diligently."

"You don't seem very busy at all. I saw you didn't teach him anything useful just now, just a lot of nonsense." Old Mrs. Xia sneered. "Do you think I don't know that you just don't want to go home and face the mess you left behind this morning, so you're preventing your poor little apprentice from going home for dinner?"