RYEY -Chapter 283 It’s Over

The union director’s face turned a dark, unpleasant shade. It was already September, and in a few months, the year would be over. All their diligent work throughout the year was just for those meager bonuses.

But if what this village woman said was true, not only would the textile factory’s bonus be gone, even the honor title of “Advanced Collective” would be stripped away.

“Comrade, please come with me to see the factory director. Don’t ruin the reputation of our factory out here,” she said.

Chen Daniu sensed that this woman was genuinely anxious, so she immediately nodded in cooperation, causing the union director to swallow all the complaints she had been about to voice.

A few people walked toward the factory director’s office. The others checked the time—it was already time to start the afternoon shift. They dared not delay and hurried back to their workstations, though gossip still buzzed around.

Finally, the union director figured it out: the woman who “stole the man” was not the culprit. This woman was actually the man’s biological sister. That…

“Comrade, your brother is already divorced. Remarriage is perfectly acceptable,” the director tried to reason.

“I knew you’d protect each other. This Gao Xiaohui, while my brother was still married, got involved in improper relationships with him. She urged my brother to divorce, and also to demand money from home, which led to my father being deliberately tripped by my brother and ending up paralyzed in the hospital.

All of this is Gao Xiaohui’s fault. None of it would have happened without her. If you really insist on covering for her, I’ll go to the Women’s Federation, to the Public Security Bureau—there has to be someone who will listen to reason,” Chen Daniu said, then turned to run out.

The union director, terrified, grabbed her and repeatedly promised that no protection would be given. Gao Xiaohui was hardly an official—just an accountant.

“Go see the head of the medical office. Have her check if Gao Xiaohui is really pregnant. I remember they only got married last month, right? Less than half a month,” the factory director instructed.

He immediately made arrangements and also instructed that Chen Daniu be well taken care of, starting by taking her to the cafeteria—she probably hadn’t eaten yet.

At the mention of food, Chen Daniu’s stomach growled loudly. She blushed, pinching herself in embarrassment; the sudden pain made her frown.

The factory director chuckled to himself—rural people were always so genuine. Once Chen Daniu left the office, he picked up the phone and called the fertilizer factory, recalling that Gao Xiaohui’s husband, Chen Damao, had been assigned there.

After a brief discussion between the two directors, it was confirmed that there indeed was a problem with Chen Damao and Gao Xiaohui. People like that were not fit to remain in a major factory; otherwise, others would follow suit. Even the director’s own position could be at risk.

Gao Xiaohui had a bad premonition when the union director and the head of the medical office came to her, but thinking that she was now married to Chen Damao, she felt a little less afraid.

“Gao Xiaohui, we’re taking you to the hospital. Someone has accused you of being pregnant before marriage and of stealing a husband at the Workers’ and Peasants’ University. We have to investigate,” they said.

“Nonsense! Chen Damao and I fell in love freely and married freely. Who did we steal?”

“Zhang Yuefang—”

“Zhang Yuefang? They’re divorced, aren’t they?”

“Will you go or not? If you refuse, we’ll report this to the police. Then you’ll be even more embarrassed.”

Gao Xiaohui roared inwardly but had no choice but to stand up. If the police got involved, she would be completely exposed, no matter what.

The test results came back quickly: Gao Xiaohui had been pregnant for three months, but she had only been married for just over half a month. The label of “pregnant before marriage” fit perfectly.

The two factory directors exchanged a glance and agreed to handle the matter internally. As for how, of course, she would be fired, and the small unit initially assigned to her would be reclaimed.

After returning from the hospital, Gao Xiaohui waited at home for Chen Damao, but an entire night passed and he didn’t come. She realized something serious had happened.

She wanted to go to the fertilizer factory to check, but her vacation was over—she had to work that day. As she entered the factory gate, she saw on the bulletin board the notice of her dismissal.

“Come on, you’ve been fired. The director told me that if you came, I could let you see this once. Now you’ve seen it—please, don’t dirty our factory grounds.”

“You—”

“Don’t ‘you’ me! Shameless woman, stealing someone else’s husband and now pregnant with an illegitimate child! Shameless!”

“I have a marriage certificate—it’s not an illegitimate child.”

“Yes, yes, yes. Pregnant before marriage! Ill-mannered thing. Now get out of here!”

The old gatekeeper waved dismissively. If it weren’t for the director, he wouldn’t have let such a woman enter at all.

Gao Xiaohui trembled with anger and turned toward the fertilizer factory. Halfway there, she ran into Chen Damao, dejected, and grabbed him:

“What’s going on? Weren’t you already divorced? What’s your sister doing?”

“My… my father is in the hospital.”

“What does your father being hospitalized have to do with us? What’s your sister up to?”

“I borrowed a hundred yuan from my sister—”

“Just a hundred? You’re going to pay it back anyway. Wait, Damao, tell me exactly what happened.”

Gao Xiaohui, being a university student, finally understood: Damao must have run into trouble while asking for money. Otherwise, his eldest sister wouldn’t be bothering them for no reason.

“Your father is in the hospital. You didn’t hit him, did you?”

Suddenly, Gao Xiaohui recalled what Damao said about his father being hospitalized. Her heart tightened, eyes widening in disbelief.

Chen Damao lowered his head and recounted the incident. He didn’t intend for it to happen—it was only in the heat of the moment that he tripped his father. He hadn’t expected such severe consequences.

Neither spoke as they slowly walked home, only to discover that the factory had already reclaimed the house and thrown their belongings outside.

It was outrageous! Even if they were reclaiming the house, they should have given notice. How were they supposed to live now?

Chen Damao looked at the home he had built with his own hands. The carefully made furniture was now tossed haphazardly outside. A sharp pain gripped his heart.

He glanced at Gao Xiaohui and thought of Zhang Yuefang. If he hadn’t divorced, if he hadn’t been with Gao Xiaohui… would things have still been fine?

Gao Xiaohui noticed the look in Damao’s eyes and felt a pang. She had seen that expression before—when Damao was disappointed in Zhang Yuefang.

Hehe… hehehe. Gao Xiaohui suddenly laughed. At first it was a chuckle, then a full laugh, and eventually it became a manic laughter. But the tears at the corners of her eyes told Chen Damao that she was hurting inside.

Suddenly, Gao Xiaohui clutched her stomach and slowly crouched down. Chen Damao’s heart tightened—he knew that gesture all too well.