Chapter 509: Eloquent – Daily Gossip in the Courtyard of the Sickly Young Lady

Chapter 509: Quick-Witted – The Frail Sister-in-Law’s Drama-Filled Days in the Compound

Jin Jianhua was boiling with rage, but he couldn’t show it on his face. He could only grit his teeth and suppress his anger.

Zhang Mengyun didn’t get it. She just felt looked down on, and the more she thought about it, the angrier she became. "What does she mean? Is she looking down on me?"

Jin Jianhua was so shocked by her question that his eyes widened in disbelief. The two security guards nearby didn’t even hide their eye-rolls.

Who the hell do you think you are?

With that attitude of yours, she was being nice just giving you the cold shoulder!

Zhang Mengyun even tried to storm into the factory to keep yelling. Jin Jianhua quickly stopped her, "Yunyun, enough! Just drop it!"

Noticing the disgusted looks from the security guards at the gate, Jin Jianhua couldn’t stay there any longer. He hurriedly dragged Zhang Mengyun away.

"Yunyun, how could you curse at Director Li? She’s my boss!" Jin Jianhua was also seething with anger, his tone noticeably harsher.

"How is this my fault? It’s all because she doesn’t know what’s good for her. I begged her so hard..."

Jin Jianhua: "..." He suddenly didn’t know what to say.

That was begging? More like bullying!

Jin Jianhua hadn’t expected Zhang Mengyun’s so-called "solution" to be like this. Her outburst at the factory gate had thoroughly made him lose face big time.

Taking a deep breath, Jin Jianhua exhaled slowly. "Yunyun, I know, I know you meant well for me. But Director Li is my boss. No matter what, you shouldn’t have... humiliated her like that to her face!"

Zhang Mengyun went pale. "Then what should we do now?" She finally began to panic.

"It’s fine. I’ll handle this. I’ll personally apologize to her. But you must never act so impulsively again!"

Zhang Mengyun felt both guilty and touched. "Jianhua-gege~"

She thought her beloved Jianhua-gege truly loved her deeply.

Jin Jianhua really wanted to lose his temper with Zhang Mengyun, but he hadn’t yet established himself in the factory. He still needed to rely on her and Deputy Factory Manager Zhang to build good relationships. After all, with her dad’s support, his path would be smoother.

"Yunyun, the matter of the training opportunity is probably a lost cause now. You should go home first and just leave it be."

"Jianhua-gege~" Zhang Mengyun’s face was full of remorse, feeling she had failed the task he entrusted to her.

"It’s alright. Just go home for now." Though dissatisfied, Jin Jianhua still coaxed her gently to leave.

She couldn’t cause any more scenes. Even without paying much attention, he had heard some of the rumors about himself lately. He couldn’t afford another scandal.

"Okay! Jianhua-gege, I’ll listen to you!" Zhang Mengyun reluctantly left.

Jin Jianhua watched her retreating figure, brushed off his clothes, exhaled slowly, and turned back to the factory.

True to her word, Zhang Mengyun really went straight home.

On her way back, she happened to run into Lin Qing, who had just gotten up to wash up. For some reason, perhaps still agitated from earlier, she snapped, marched up to Lin Qing, and went off on her.

"What are you doing here? You’re skipping work? Seriously!"

"How dare you skip work? Someone like you has no right to get a training opportunity!"

"In my opinion! Women should stay at home to take care of their husbands and children, instead of going out to flaunt themselves in public!"

"If you know what's good for you, you should hand over the opportunity for further training!"

Lin Qing spat out the mouthwash she was gargling with a gurgling sound, "Are you crazy?"

"Whether I skip work or not is none of your business! How do you know I skipped work? Couldn't I have taken leave?"

"..." Zhang Mengyun was left speechless!

Lin Qing stood up and continued her tirade.

"Besides, this 'women belong at home' crap—do you think you're living in the imperial era?"

"It's liberation now, okay? The people rule now, and the Chairman said men and women are equal. Do you want to go back to the feudal past?"

"Are you trying to bring back feudalism?" Lin Qing's face was laced with sarcasm.

Even someone as foolish as Zhang Mengyun knew these words couldn't be spoken. With those kinds of accusations thrown at her, how could she dare admit to anything?

"N-no... that's not it..."

"I didn't, I didn't!"

Lin Qing looked her up and down and scoffed, "Really? But from what I heard, you seem to be longing for the old dynasty, don't you?"

"N-no! I'm not!" Zhang Mengyun's face turned white as a sheet. She didn't dare say another word and could only shake her head in denial before hastily fleeing back into the house.

Lin Qing shook her head and tutted. Some people never learn.

She didn’t gain anything from provoking her last time, yet she still dares to come and start something?

Lin Qing paid no further attention and went back to brushing her teeth.

Meanwhile, the many onlookers in the courtyard were reminded once again of Lin Qing's sharp tongue. They had almost forgotten that Lin Qing wasn’t just a frail woman who could collapse at any moment—she was also sharp-tongued and never pulled punches.

It’s just that she was usually all smiles and rarely used it. No wonder they forgot!

However, Mother Su and Mother Gu, who witnessed this scene from their homes, were absolutely delighted. They loved seeing Zhang Mengyun humiliated.

Mother Gu, in particular, greeted Lin Qing with an unusually friendly expression. "Lin Qing! You're also going to Beijing for further training, right?"

Lin Qing had just finished brushing her teeth and found Mother Gu’s cheerful tone quite surprising. But perhaps because she had just vented her frustration, she was in a decent mood and didn’t snap at her. She nodded politely, "Yes! I’m leaving this afternoon."

Even if she didn’t say it, word would get around anyway.

"I know, I know! My Gu Hang was also selected!" Mother Gu said, beaming with pride.

A couple of days ago, she had gone out to boast about it, but at the time, everyone was too wrapped up in the gossip between Jin Jianhua and Zhang Mengyun to show much interest.

Even when she told others, they only asked a few perfunctory questions before shifting the topic back to Zhang Mengyun and Jin Jianhua. This had frustrated her greatly and made her resent Zhang Mengyun even more.

"Is that so?" Lin Qing only knew bits here and there about this training session. Quite a few people from the factory were going—basically, every department and workshop had selected representatives. She just wasn’t sure who else from other departments or workshops was going.

Turns out there was someone else from this courtyard going too!

When she gathered for departure in the afternoon, she realized there were even more.

Lin Qing first went to find Director Li, who then took her to the meeting spot.

On the way, Director Li didn't forget to remind her, "When we're out there, keep your words few, watch closely, listen carefully, and learn as much as you can, and try to bring back some accolades while we're at it!"

"Yes!" Lin Qing fully understood Director Li's message—to avoid inappropriate remarks outside and just get through this without any trouble.

Even if Director Li hadn't mentioned it, Lin Qing had already planned to do so. With the current unstable situation, keeping quiet was always safer than giving anyone ammunition.

"This time, you'll be led by Factory Manager Song. Though he can be a little unconventional sometimes, he's quite reliable. Just do as he says!"

Hearing Director Li's assessment of Deputy Factory Manager Song, Lin Qing nearly laughed but held it back as they were almost at their destination. "Got it!"

...