Chapter 30: The Injury Is Too Obvious

Zhou Dan glared at Li Xiangqin with hatred and let out a piercing scream.

"She's slandering me!"

Li Xiangqin straightened her clothes, tidied her hair, and looked toward the two young men from the Security Department.

"Whether it's slander or not, the comrades in Security will investigate. In broad daylight... no, it should be in the dead of night. You suddenly jumped out, attacking and killing... the nature of this is even more malicious. We've only just had a few days of peaceful living, and now someone is disrupting the peace again. I suspect she is a saboteur."

Although the security officers felt Li Xiangqin was exaggerating, it was true that Zhou Dan had blocked someone's path in the middle of the night with ill intentions.

"Confess truthfully. Why were you blocking the road and provoking people in the middle of the night instead of going home after work?"

Zhou Dan had calmed down by now, regretting her impulsiveness. However, seeing Li Xiangqin blatantly frame her, she refused to back down.

"Comrades, you've misunderstood. I stopped Sister Li because I had something to discuss with her. I didn't expect her to resort to violence just because we disagreed. Look at my injuries!"

Zhou Dan touched her face; it stung fiercely.

"I am the leader of Group 3 in the Weaving Workshop. Sister Li has been on medical leave and only returned to work today. I was just inquiring about her situation, and she attacked me out of nowhere. Looking at her, she doesn't look like a patient at all. I suspect her medical leave over the past few years has all been a sham."

"You're just talking nonsense because you've done something wrong. With a brain like yours, how did you become a group leader? You must have used connections. I came back to work because I'm healed. On the contrary, you had the audacity to threaten me, telling me to make room for your cousin's position. Although I only returned today, I've already heard that your cousin was derelict in her duties during her shift, which caused a large-scale quality accident. Her suspension and reprimand were decided by the factory leadership. Even if you drive me home, does that mean your cousin can come back to work?"

After speaking, Li Xiangqin turned to the security officers.

"Comrades, I beg you to investigate her thoroughly. I am returning to my post normally after my leave, as approved by our foreman. I just happened to be assigned to the former post of Comrade Zhou Sufen. I never expected to be intercepted on my very first day back."

The entire factory area knew about the recent production accident, and the responsible parties had received corresponding punishments. An official notice had been posted specifically regarding this matter, so the security department was well aware.

"So, the suspended Zhou Sufen is your cousin. She caused such great losses to the factory, yet you still want her to return to work and even try to make things difficult for Sister Li. Your ideology is seriously flawed. I will notify your foreman immediately. If you can't explain this clearly, you won't be leaving today."

Hearing that the matter was escalating, Zhou Dan finally grew frightened.

"I was just asking her normally why she suddenly returned to work. Forget it, I can't explain it to you. I want to make a phone call; someone can testify for me."

The security officers glanced at her but did not stop her. Being able to prove her innocence was naturally for the best.

"Bah! It was just the two of us in the dark. What kind of 'proof' could you possibly have? Are you going to find a lover to back you up? With that arrogant attitude of yours, anyone who didn't know better would think the factory director is your father."

"You..." Zhou Dan's face flushed red with anger. She picked up the security department's telephone, hesitated for a moment, and then dialed.

Li Xiangqin, on the other hand, nonchalantly found a chair and sat down. "I have a clear conscience, so I have nothing to fear. I don't need to call anyone; I rely solely on my integrity."

The security officers: "..."

Twenty minutes later, accompanied by the sound of footsteps, the gates of the security department were pushed open, and two people entered one after the other.

Seeing Li Xiangqin sitting there so brazenly, Sun Weiguo's face darkened immediately. Fortunately, he lived nearby; he had just reached home and washed his face when he received a call from the factory telling him to come over.

Following behind him was Director Zhou from the Logistics Department. Although Logistics did not manage production, they were in charge of employee benefits and other matters, making it a truly lucrative position.

"Old Sun, you're here too?" Seeing Sun Weiguo, Director Zhou immediately shook his hand politely, his attitude incredibly amiable.

"Director Zhou, what brings you here in the middle of the night?" Foreman Sun exchanged pleasantries before glancing at the injured Zhou Dan, realizing the situation.

Once the pleasantries were over, the security officers narrated the situation to the two men. Then, they spoke in a serious tone

"Currently, the various factory areas are collaborating with the local public security departments to rectify public order and optimize the community environment. This kind of behavior seriously violates factory discipline and affects community harmony. They are both from the Weaving Workshop, so we need Foreman Sun's assistance in the investigation. If the circumstances are serious, they will need to be handed over to the public security department."

Upon hearing about being sent to the police, Zhou Dan panicked. "Big brother, save me!"

"Shut up! Why are you wandering around in the middle of the night instead of going home? Now that this misunderstanding has occurred, how do you expect me to help you?" Director Zhou gave her a cold look. They were all fools, one after another.

Director Zhou thought he could settle the matter by calling it a "misunderstanding."

Seeing Director Zhou's kind smile, Li Xiangqin raised an eyebrow and turned to Sun Weiguo.

"Foreman, I obey all assignments. Zhou Sufen's suspension was not caused by me. Group Leader Zhou intercepted me halfway, claiming I was seizing her sister's position. I just don't understand—since when did the factory's positions become Zhou Sufen's personal property? Or is it that whoever has the most influence gets to decide?"

Sun Weiguo gave her a stern look, but his eyes were bright.

"Nonsense! All assets in the factory belong to the state. Anyone attempting to encroach upon them is taking advantage of the state; they are state parasites."

Director Zhou's face twitched upon hearing this, but he immediately chimed in.

"Old Sun is right. No individual is allowed to encroach upon state assets; that is illegal... but I suspect today's incident is just a misunderstanding. Zhou Dan isn't very bright and her speech is incoherent, and since it's late at night, Sister Li was simply startled. The person has been hit and the anger has been vented; why don't we just let this matter go?"

Li Xiangqin glanced at the face Zhou Dan had scratched, and immediately felt a pang of regret; she should have struck her where it couldn't be seen.

Although Zhou Dan was in the wrong, she didn't want to cause a rift between Foreman Sun and the Logistics Director, as holiday benefits were tied to Logistics.

"Foreman, will I still have a post to work tomorrow?"

"Do you think working is a joke?"

Sun Weiguo looked at her indignantly.

"The only reason I let you look after those accident-prone machines was because of your extensive experience. Who do you think you are, thinking anyone can fill those roles?"

Director Zhou's expression stiffened, nearly losing his smile.

"Oh dear... Sister Li, you just need to follow the leadership's arrangements and report to work normally. There's no need for you to worry about other things. As for Zhou Dan, she's just a group leader; you can just act as if she doesn't exist."

Zhou Dan looked at her cousin with disbelief and resentment. Unfortunately, Director Zhou didn't give her even a glance; he simply shook Foreman Sun's hand.

"Zhou Dan and Zhou Sufen are both my cousins, and the two of them have been close since childhood. Since Sufen's accident, she has lost her composure and caused trouble for you, Foreman Sun. She is from your workshop; how she should be punished is entirely up to you. I will not interfere, how about that?"