Chapter 2: The Pitiful Woman

Zhou Ming arrived at the factory's TV station, pushed open an office door, and said as he entered, "Da Zhuang, I need to discuss something with you, brother!"

Da Zhuang, whose real name was Zhang Lei, was a burly man over 1.8 meters tall. Because of his size, he was nicknamed "Da Zhuang." However, despite his burly appearance, he worked at the TV station, handling publicity and some cultural activities for the factory—a role that seemed quite incongruous with his physical appearance.

But those were thoughts from a previous life. Now, when Zhou Ming saw Zhang Lei, he felt a sense of nostalgia. In his past life, during the wave of reform and opening up, Factory 760 went bankrupt, and the TV station was shut down early. Zhang Lei lost his job and eventually went south to work. Zhou Ming still remembered the last time he saw Zhang Lei—he had become so thin and haggard that Zhou Ming almost didn't recognize him. Yet, even though Zhang Lei was struggling himself, he still helped Zhou Ming in his time of need.

"Zhou Ming, you're here. The factory's staffing situation is still tight. My brother-in-law said it would be at least six months before things improve," Zhang Lei said.

Zhou Ming knew that after he was fired, Zhang Lei had been trying to find a way to get him back into the factory. Moved by this, Zhou Ming went up to Zhang Lei, gave him a bear hug, and whispered, "Thanks, brother."

Zhang Lei was startled and looked at Zhou Ming with a strange expression. "Are you okay? You seem different somehow."

When Zhou Ming asked what seemed different, Zhang Lei couldn't quite explain it, only saying that Zhou Ming seemed much more cheerful than before. Despite Zhou Ming's efforts to conceal it, the bond of forty years of brotherhood across two lifetimes was something Zhang Lei could still sense.

"Don't worry about the details. I'm here to ask for your help. Do you want to make some money?" Zhou Ming asked.

"Of course I do," Zhang Lei said, "but money isn't that easy to come by."

Zhou Ming laughed. He had come to Zhang Lei to propose a business partnership. Just as he was about to share his idea, the sound of high heels clicking outside the door interrupted them. A stunningly beautiful woman walked in. "Zhang Lei, revise this script... Huh? You have a friend here? Did you forget the rule? No outsiders are allowed in the station."

The woman, noticing Zhou Ming, made his heart skip a beat. She was incredibly beautiful and charming, with her hair elegantly styled in a high bun and light professional makeup. Her white blouse and pencil skirt accentuated her perfect figure. Even with over twenty years of memories, Zhou Ming could swear that no woman in any of the photos on his computer in his past life could compare to her.

"Sister Lin, I know. He's just here for a quick chat and will leave soon. We won't cause any trouble," Zhang Lei explained. However, the woman wasn't interested in his explanation. She handed Zhang Lei the script, saying, "Hurry up and revise it; we need it for tomorrow's news," before leaving the office.

After she left, Zhou Ming finally snapped out of it and asked Zhang Lei, "Da Zhuang, when did our station get such a beauty?"

"You mean Sister Lin? Her name is Lin Muqing. She's been at the station for about six months. Although her position is Office Director, she's in charge of producing and editing the station's news—she's quite skilled," Zhang Lei said, then added, "But Sister Lin is also a pitiful person. She's been married twice and had several boyfriends, but all of them ended up dying. Everyone at the station says she's cursed."

Hearing this, Zhou Ming recalled that there indeed was such a person at the factory. People used to say she was a seductive woman who drained the life out of men, which is why none of her men met a good end. His mother had mentioned her a few times at home, but back then, Zhou Ming was too preoccupied with his own emotional and career struggles to pay attention to gossip. Now, seeing her in person, he thought that, regardless of the rumors, her beauty and figure exceeded the legend tenfold.

No wonder she seemed so cold. If the rumors were true, she probably had lost hope in herself as well.

Zhou Ming thought this, but he also knew he didn't come to Zhang Lei to discuss gossip. However, after being interrupted by Lin Muqing, Zhou Ming felt that the station, with people constantly coming and going, wasn't the best place to discuss matters. Since Lin Muqing mentioned that outsiders weren't allowed in, Zhou Ming decided to take Zhang Lei to Xiao Han Restaurant instead.

Xiao Han Restaurant was owned by their good friend, Su Han. Because of their close relationship, eating there was much cheaper than elsewhere. Moreover, at that time, most people were not accustomed to dining out, preferring to eat at the factory's cafeteria, so the restaurant would be quieter and more conducive to their discussion. However, when they arrived at Xiao Han Restaurant, they encountered something that made them furious.

"Factory Security Department inspection!"

A few thuggish-looking men were gathered at the entrance of the restaurant, loudly shouting as they barged in. Their demeanor was more like they were there to start a fight rather than conduct an inspection.

This was not unusual at Factory 760. The Factory Security Department was supposed to be a security unit responsible for the safety of the factory area, but as the number of factory workers and their families grew, the department expanded its power, effectively creating its own little kingdom within the factory. Now, they were even conducting health and safety inspections, tasks typically handled by the government. Legally, what the Factory Security Department was doing didn't hold up, but within the confines of the factory, they had the final say. If you didn't comply, they'd "deal with" you.

Since it wasn't an official government agency, many of the people in the Security Department were former factory workers or local thugs. Expecting them to conduct professional inspections was as unrealistic as expecting pigs to fly.

"What... what are you doing?" Su Han emerged from the restaurant, looking at the men with some trepidation.

As soon as Su Han appeared, the men's eyes lit up. Although she was dressed in simple clothes with an apron tied around her slender waist, it couldn't conceal her bright beauty and alluring figure.

"What are we doing? Of course, we're doing our job!" The leader of the security team said crudely, "Alright, let's cut the crap. We've received a report that your place doesn't meet health standards. Someone got sick after eating here, so you need to pay a fine and fix the issue!"

Su Han gasped and quickly said, "How could that be? I buy all the ingredients myself from the market and wash them thoroughly. Who got sick? Let them come here and face me!"

The leader sneered, "If we say someone got sick, someone got sick. What's with all the questions? You think this is a TV drama where you can demand a confrontation? Let me tell you, if you don't pay the fifty yuan fine today, you might as well close this place down. If you can't come up with the money, bring out your boss to talk to us."

A lecherous young man in the group, eyeing Su Han with a lascivious grin, said, "Boss? She's the only 'boss' here, though who knows how many others she might have."

Hearing this, Su Han's face turned pale, and tears of humiliation welled up in her eyes.

"You're going too far!" Zhou Ming couldn't hold back anymore and stepped forward to shield Su Han from the men, with Zhang Lei following suit.

Su Han tried to push Zhou Ming away, saying it had nothing to do with him, but Zhou Ming refused to back down.

The leader of the security team smirked, "And who are you? Her boy toy?"

Zhang Lei angrily retorted, "Watch your mouth, or I'll shut it for you!"

Zhou Ming calmly pulled out a chair from the restaurant and sat down slowly, saying, "I'm not interested in arguing with you. If you're here to eat, be my guest. But if you're here to cause trouble, go ahead and try."

The leader glanced at Zhou Ming, who was holding the chair, and then at the burly Zhang Lei. He seemed to realize that if a fight broke out, they would be at a disadvantage. Zhou Ming's eyes, in particular, sent a chill down his spine. However, if he backed down just because of Zhou Ming's look, he might as well quit the Security Department—it would be too humiliating.

At that moment, a voice called out, "Isn't this Xiao Han Restaurant? What's going on here?"

Hearing the voice, Su Han's expression turned to one of anger. Zhou Ming and Zhang Lei turned to see a middle-aged man with a beer belly and a receding hairline swaggering toward them. Zhou Ming immediately understood what was happening.

This man was named Huang Zheng, a cadre in the factory's personnel department. Su Han had initially wanted to work at the factory, but due to the tight staffing, her family sought Huang Zheng's help.

Of course, asking for help meant treating him to a meal as a token of gratitude. But Huang Zheng turned out to be a lecher, trying to take advantage of Su Han during the meal. Su Han didn't let him succeed and, unwilling to swallow her anger, reported him to the Factory Security Department for harassment. The incident caused quite a stir, even involving the factory leadership

[1:55 AM, 8/16/2024] Front Office- Argan : But the issue didn't end there. Huang Zheng's wife came to scold Su Han, accusing her of being a seductress who tried to lure Huang Zheng for a factory position and then falsely accused him of harassment when she failed.

At the time, the restaurant was empty except for Su Han and Huang Zheng, and without any witnesses, Su Han's explanations were in vain. Rumors spread quickly, and Su Han's reputation was completely destroyed.

Zhou Ming knew Huang Zheng was behind this to protect his own reputation and to ruin Su Han's.

As a result, Su Han couldn't get a job at the factory and had to open a small restaurant. Now that the Factory Security Department was harassing her again, it was clear Huang Zheng was still making trouble.

But understanding the situation didn't change the fact that Su Han had to endure Huang Zheng's condescension. "Director Huang, these people are causing trouble in my restaurant under the guise of the Factory Security Department."

"Oh, really? I'll reprimand them," Huang Zheng said, turning to the security team members. "As members of the Factory Security Department, your duty is to protect the factory workers and their families from unlawful acts. Look at yourselves now—get out of here immediately, and don't let me see you again. Otherwise, I will definitely report you to your superiors!"

Huang Zheng's words sounded reasonable, but his smiling demeanor made it seem more like a joke than a real reprimand.

The security team members left with forced smiles, and Huang Zheng walked over to Su Han. "How's it going, Su Han? If you hadn't falsely accused me, you could have been working comfortably at the factory by now. But you chose to go down the wrong path..."

Su Han couldn't help but interrupt Huang Zheng, "You're talking nonsense. It was you who had improper intentions toward me!"

Huang Zheng laughed heartily, "Really? Who knows? But now everyone in the factory knows you're a seductress, a shameless harlot..."

Huang Zheng's words were abruptly cut off as Zhou Ming slapped him hard across the face