Chapter 29: Got into a Fight

At noon, Li Xiangqin made hand-pulled noodles with eggplant and egg gravy, topped with shredded cilantro and garlic sauce—the most refreshing lunch for summer.

She grabbed a lunch box and packed the noodles and gravy separately, setting aside a portion to eat at work.

"I made plenty of gravy. When the fourth one comes back for dinner, you guys can just boil the noodles directly," Li Xiangqin instructed.

The fifth child quickly agreed and then busily started washing the dishes without a moment's hesitation.

After years of resting, she was starting her job again; Li Xiangqin had even made it a point to take a nap so she could head to work feeling refreshed and energetic.

As soon as she arrived at her post, Wang Ailian came up to greet her. "You're here! That's wonderful. We can work together again."

"You bet. We can keep on gossiping like we used to."

"Zhou Dan is our group leader now—Zhou Sufen's cousin," Wang Ailian whispered closely into her ear as a warning.

Li Xiangqin froze for a moment, then tied on her apron and met Zhou Dan's gaze.

"Li Xiangqin, why are you back at work?" Zhou Dan asked, looking at her with furrowed brows and her hands behind her back.

"I took leave with the foreman yesterday, and today is my official first day. They said someone was suspended, so I'm filling in for her," Li Xiangqin replied loudly. The machine noise was so deafening that a quiet voice wouldn't have been heard at all.

Zhou Dan stared at her with a cold face, and it took a while before she spoke. "It's still your old station. Go take over."

Li Xiangqin couldn't be bothered to deal with her. She had never heard of a Zhou Sufen; she must be a new hire. Regardless, it wasn't like she was the one who drove the person away—did she think throwing a tantrum would bring her back?

Ridiculous!

After taking over the shift, Li Xiangqin began her inspection. As a veteran machine operator, even after years away, everything felt natural. The skills were etched into her brain; once she spotted a problem, her hands moved faster than her thoughts.

Because of a recent quality accident, the station assignments had been adjusted, and she was now monitoring four machines by herself.

After checking everything to ensure there were no snags or broken wefts, Li Xiangqin finally stopped to greet the coworker in the adjacent station.

There weren't many old-timers left; many had chosen early retirement to let their children take over. Everyone was wearing masks, and aside from Wang Ailian and one Wu Laidi, she couldn't recognize anyone else.

A moment later, Foreman Sun strolled over. Seeing Li Xiangqin with her head down, intently inspecting the machines, he immediately felt at ease. You really couldn't beat the work attitude of an old employee.

During the mid-shift meal, the group gathered together, laughing and joking as they welcomed her back to her post.

In her youth, Li Xiangqin had also possessed a fiery personality, though life had tempered her edge. Now that she was back, her work style remained just as brisk and efficient.

The mid-shift ended with a handover at midnight. Li Xiangqin successfully passed the shift to the next person and returned to her toolbox to change her clothes.

"Xiangqin, how is it? Are you tired?"

"It's busier at home than at work."

At work, you work eight hours and then rest; at home, it's twenty-four hours without a break, where even sleep is a race against time.

"That's true. Zhou Dan has been staring at your station with eyes turned red," Wang Ailian leaned in, whispering the gossip. "I heard she's been constantly sending gifts through people to try and get Zhou Sufen back. Now that you've taken the spot, it'll be hard for her cousin to return. Those two sisters have minds as sharp as needles; you'd better be careful."

Some people just don't know their place and love to make life difficult for others.

"Why should I care about her? I didn't drive the person away. She's just a group leader—can she really bypass the foreman and the workshop director?"

"She can't, but those two from the Zhou family aren't anything good. They're snakes," Wang Ailian winked at her, puffing out her chest.

Seeing her comical expression, Li Xiangqin couldn't help but laugh. No matter how much she threw a tantrum, how could a mere group leader interfere with a major production accident? If she wanted to direct her anger at Li Xiangqin, she'd have to be prepared for a verbal beatdown. Having lived this life once before, Li Xiangqin had already unlocked a new level of ruthlessness.

The two women carried their empty lunch boxes and strolled toward the factory gate to part ways.

Under the dim glow of the streetlights, Li Xiangqin began walking home, but after only a few steps, she was intercepted.

Li Xiangqin looked at Zhou Dan and raised an eyebrow. As expected, you shouldn't talk about people behind their backs.

"Li Xiangqin, are you doing this on purpose?"

"What do you mean?" It turned out her "good friend" was right; this bitch really did blame her.

"Everyone in the workshop knows you've been on sick leave. As soon as something happens on our side, you show up for work. Was this planned? Did you just want to take advantage of the situation to grab the position?"

Zhou Dan stood under the streetlight with a cold face. With the swaying shadows of the trees, her gaze was as cold as a venomous snake, making one feel deeply uncomfortable.

"You think too highly of me. Who could predict a production accident in advance? Your cousin was the main person responsible for the accident, and the factory leadership is the one who disciplined her. What's the use of you stopping me? If I leave, does your cousin just magically come back?"

Li Xiangqin looked at her and sneered. As expected, this slut had no brains.

"The positions in our workshop have always been one person per slot. Tomorrow, tell the leadership you're continuing your sick leave. Everything else has nothing to do with you," Zhou Dan commanded, tilting her chin up.

"For a group leader, you're certainly all chest and no brains."

"You... how dare you slander me!"

Zhou Dan's eyes narrowed. She hated being questioned more than anything. Seeing the mocking look in Li Xiangqin's eyes, she swung her hand to strike without thinking. Li Xiangqin was quick; she blocked the blow and immediately retaliated with a pair of slaps.

"What, getting angry because you're embarrassed? With your style, you're not even worth one of my punches." She had been hitting her son quite a bit lately and had gained some experience.

"...You dare hit me?"

"I hit you, so what are you going to do about it?"

Seeing her look of disbelief, Li Xiangqin quickly grabbed her by the collar.

"I've only got six months until retirement. I just want to live my life in peace. Anyone who dares mess with me, I'll fight them to the death."

As she dragged her by the collar into a corner, Zhou Dan's face turned pale with terror.

"What are you doing?"

"Whatever I want to do!"

Li Xiangqin spat and lunged, grabbing her hair and clawing at her face. "You damn piece of trash! Back when I was the Iron Lady, you were probably still crawling in some hole. You dare come for me? I'll freaking kill you!"

"Aaaah! Help! Murder!"

The two were not far from the factory gate, and her pig-like screaming immediately caught the attention of the security guard. The factory security department was in the office right next to the gate, and they arrived in the blink of an eye.

"Stop! What are you doing?"

By the time the two were brought to the security office, Zhou Dan's face was covered in bloody scratches and her hair was a mess under the lights. Li Xiangqin was disheveled, with several bloody gashes on her arms.

"You're at such an age and still fighting? Have you no shame?" The security officers stared at them, utterly astonished. Usually, brawls involved young punks and hooligans; this was the first time they had seen two middle-aged women scuffling like this.

Li Xiangqin caught her breath and pointed at Zhou Dan. "I want to report her for blocking my path and threatening me."

"You dare..."

"Why wouldn't I? I was walking home fine after my shift, and you blocked my way, threatened me, and even laid hands on me. I'd like to know—what kind of powerful backing do you have?"