Chapter 23: Running Straight Into the Line of Fire

Watching Xiao Wang walk away, Li Xiangqin couldn't help but sigh. "Look at that college student. That kind of poise is something most people just can't match."

In those days, the prestige of a college student was exceptionally high.

"Mom, if I weren't good enough, would the factory director have picked me?" Zhang Jianhong gripped the slip of paper, her heart racing with excitement. From now on, she would be an employee of the machinery factory.

Following the direction Xiao Wang had pointed, the two walked all the way to the Inspection Department.

It was a two-story building, and upon entering, there was an immediate scent of washed rust.

After asking for directions, the two went up to the inspection room on the left side of the second floor. An older woman wearing reading glasses was sitting behind a simple desk, transcribing notes.

*Knock, knock~*

"Come in~" the woman said without lifting her head.

Li Xiangqin and her daughter entered together. "Excuse me, are you Master Lu?"

"I am. Who are you looking for?" Master Lu raised her head, took off her glasses, and squinted at them.

"Hello, Master Lu. This is my daughter, Zhang Jianhong. She's joining the factory to take over a position and has been assigned to the Inspection Department as your apprentice. She was told to report for duty tomorrow morning, so we came by to introduce ourselves first."

Zhang Jianhong took two steps forward and bowed politely. "Hello, Master Lu. My name is Zhang Jianhong. I look forward to your guidance in the future."

With that, she handed over the slip of paper for Master Lu to verify.

Master Lu put her glasses back on, took the slip, and looked it over. Noticing Zhang Jianhong's slightly nervous expression, she nodded.

"The Personnel Department is moving quite fast this time. Since you're here, stay."

Then, she pulled a stack of documents from a drawer and placed them on the desk.

"This is all the basic theoretical knowledge an analyst needs to know. Memorize it thoroughly before we proceed."

Zhang Jianhong hurried over to pick up the materials. She flipped through them and nodded with a solemn expression.

"Don't worry, Master Lu. I will definitely memorize it all."

Master Lu gave her a noncommittal glance and continued lowering her head to transcribe data.

Seeing the situation, Li Xiangqin leaned closer to her daughter. "In that case, I'll head back first. You stay here and get familiar with things. Don't be nervous, just take it slow. I'll leave the bicycle for you."

Clutching the materials, Zhang Jianhong pursed her lips and nodded. "Mom, be careful on your way back."

As Li Xiangqin walked along the shaded paths of the factory compound, the hum of machinery echoed in her ears, and passing workers laughed and chatted, creating a relaxed atmosphere.

It was said that this old-fashioned machinery factory had remained standing all these years because it was involved in manufacturing highly precise components.

Having her fourth child working here was a relief.

Once outside the factory, seeing that it was still early, Li Xiangqin went straight to the textile factory to cancel her sick leave, hoping to return to work tomorrow.

Before she found a new way to earn income, she had to get her old job back.

As a loom operator, she had been very driven in her youth, even winning awards as a technical model worker in skill competitions.

Stepping through the factory gates, the familiar scent filled the air.

The textile factory was divided into front-spinning and back-spinning; she worked in the weaving workshop of the back-spinning section.

The noise in this workshop was loud, and due to the sizing process, there was a sour smell in the air.

"Li Xiangqin, you're here?"

Just as she was about to look for the foreman, a loud voice called out from behind her.

"Wang Ailian, long time no see!"

Seeing a familiar face from her memory, Li Xiangqin rushed forward excitedly and gave her a full embrace.

"I missed you so much!"

"Let go of me, you're being too mushy!"

Wang Ailian froze for a moment before pushing her away. "Coming back to extend your sick leave again?"

"No, I'm here to return to work."

Li Xiangqin leaned in with a smile. "I only have about half a year left until retirement. I need to get back to work quickly. I wonder if this will affect my retirement benefits?"

"You only thought of that now? Isn't it a bit late?"

Wang Ailian glared at her. No matter how she had advised her in the past, Li Xiangqin never listened, insisting on being a servant to her children and working like an old ox, yet the children never seemed particularly grateful.

Especially those daughters-in-law—each one was more difficult than the last; none of them were easy to get along with.

"My old Zhang is gone, and I still have three children who aren't married yet. I have to start making plans."

Wang Ailian had a mouthful of lectures ready, but hearing this, she swallowed them back down. "The workshop recently produced a batch of defective goods, and Sun Weiguo is furious. Be careful."

Sun Weiguo was the foreman of the weaving workshop, in charge of production. If there were quality issues, he was the one held responsible.

"You really are my best friend. Thanks for the warning."

Li Xiangqin thought to herself that she was unlucky, but since she was already here, she wanted to go take a look.

"Once I'm officially back, we'll have a proper chat."

After parting with Wang Ailian, Li Xiangqin went straight to the foreman's office. The noise from the looms was deafening, and the air was thick with fine cotton fibers that made her nose itch with every breath.

The foreman's office door was closed, but just as Li Xiangqin placed her hand on the door, an angry voice erupted from inside.

"We have meetings every day about production and quality, but do you all treat them like flatulence? Look at the oil stains, the snags, and the broken wefts on this cloth! These are such low-level mistakes—are you all blind?

According to the fabric markings and batch numbers, all relevant loom operators, mechanics, and assistants will have their pay docked, be reassigned, or be criticized in a general meeting!"

Li Xiangqin immediately withdrew her hand. The foreman wasn't just angry; he was livid. She didn't want to run into his wrath at a time like this.

Just as she turned to leave, the door was yanked open from the inside, and Sun Weiguo stepped out with a dark expression.

When he saw Li Xiangqin, he called out to her without a second thought.

"Li Xiangqin, have you had your fill of resting? What are you doing back here?"

Li Xiangqin slowly turned around, putting on her most kind and gentle smile.

"Foreman, I'm here to cancel my leave and prepare to return to work. I caused you a lot of trouble these past few years. I'm sorry."

To show her sincerity, she even bowed to him.

Seeing her upright and apologetic attitude, Foreman Sun froze, unable to help but look her up and down.

Back then, this shrew had made herself look like a ghost just to get sick leave, sitting in his office with a deathly pale face. If he had delayed his approval by even a moment, she would have fainted on the spot.

He had only approved it because he had no other choice.

He had heard her husband died and she had no support at home, so she was back to work now?

"Li Xiangqin, do you think this factory is your own home? You think you can just come and go as you please?"

Seeing her, Sun Weiguo felt a surge of anger. When she was young, she was highly competitive and could handle both technical skills and model worker duties, only to turn around and abandon her post on him.

"Foreman, go ahead and scold me. I was blinded by greed before. I caused trouble for the workshop, but I will definitely make amends from now on. I'll do whatever you tell me to do, without a single word of complaint."

In the past, she had risked her job just to look after her grandson because she didn't want her son to worry and let it affect his work.

Because she wanted to ease her son's burden, she truly felt she owed a debt. Therefore, facing the foreman's fury, Li Xiangqin couldn't muster any defiance.

Seeing her submissive attitude, Sun Weiguo snorted. "You've been away from your post for years. You're at an old age now—what can you even do?"

"The skills of a loom operator are etched into my brain. I can step onto the floor at any time; I'm still a skilled worker."

Li Xiangqin stood straight, her posture poised and serious.