RGL – Chapter 103

Sun Qiufang, hearing that it had something to do with Sanye, said worriedly, “Who could it be? We haven’t offended anyone usually. San Ye, did you offend someone over there?”

“I haven’t offended anyone, but Factory Director Ye once mentioned to me that it could very likely be Li Hua, the former sales director at the factory. He’s started his own clothing factory now, and maybe he’s still holding a grudge over something I messed up for him back then, so now he wants revenge.”

Su Min thought that was very likely.

“Ai, what kind of thing is this? Such a small matter and they’re making such a big fuss,” Sun Qiufang said anxiously. “You’re going back tomorrow? I’ll go with you. Otherwise, it’s too dangerous. You’re just a young girl, why would these people go so far?”

“It’s fine. I’ll just go back to take a look. If they really wanted to hurt someone, they wouldn’t have waited until now.”

Su Changrong said, “Listen to your mother. You’re still young and can’t handle this kind of thing.”

Seeing how worried the two of them were, Su Min had no choice but to nod, determined to find out who was really behind all of this.

Because they had to go back to the county town the next day, the three of them went to bed early that night.

But in the middle of the night, the phone at home started ringing loudly.

Su Changrong groggily got up to answer the phone. After listening for a while, he suddenly became alert and said immediately, “We’ll be right there.”

He hung up and ran into the room.

Sun Qiufang sat up when she heard the commotion. Before she could ask what had happened, she heard Su Changrong say excitedly, “Qiufang, they caught the person!”

Now Sun Qiufang also became fully awake.

Su Min hadn’t slept soundly either. Hearing the door open, she quickly threw on some clothes and stepped out of her room, only to see her parents already dressed and ready to go.

Seeing Su Min awake, Sun Qiufang said, “Minzi, go back to sleep. We got word from the store — they’ve caught the person. The police are all there now. Your dad and I are going to take a look.”

“Dad, Mom, let me come too.”

“No need. Stay home and get some rest. Your dad and I will be back soon. We’re in a hurry so we won’t say much. Go back to your room quickly — don’t catch a chill.” After speaking, Sun Qiufang hurried out with Su Changrong.

Su Min hadn’t fully dressed and could only watch the two of them leave and close the door behind them.

Now she couldn’t fall asleep even if she wanted to. She lay curled up on the bed, thinking about the situation.

The culprit had been caught — but would they be able to find out who was really behind everything?

She sat like that until the sky began to brighten. Finally, Su Min got up and decided to make some breakfast so her parents could have something hot when they returned.

She had just started boiling some porridge when she heard the sound of the door opening outside.

Su Min came out of the kitchen and saw her parents looking exhausted. She quickly asked, “Dad, Mom, how was it? Who was it?”

Sun Qiufang looked at her for a moment, then pursed her lips and sighed slightly, “It was Factory Director Ye.”

Although Su Min had guessed it had something to do with Sanye, she had always suspected Li Hua had sent someone for revenge. She had never expected it to be Factory Director Ye — a man who usually appeared so warm and friendly.

In her memory, Factory Director Ye didn’t seem like the kind of person who would resort to unscrupulous means just to do business. Otherwise, someone like her — with no experience at all — would have been easily taken advantage of when they worked together.

“Could it be a false confession?” Su Min asked, still skeptical. After all, even Li Hua had some grudges against Director Ye.

Sun Qiufang replied, “They even provided evidence — when the money was paid, where it was paid — everything was clear. Now the police here have contacted the county police. They said they’re going to investigate this matter thoroughly.”

Su Changrong rubbed his tired forehead and said, “Looks like we’ll have to go back to the county again. And your shop — the police said it was them who smashed it. A man came to our shop, and it was their wives who went to your place. When they were instructed to cause trouble, no specific reason was given — just that we shouldn’t be allowed to stay in the city. Tell me, what kind of person does this? We came to the city to do business — how did we offend them?”

Hearing that, Su Min began to see things more clearly.

Director Ye had indeed been against her moving to the city, but he hadn’t really tried to stop her, so she hadn’t thought much of it. After everything happened, she hadn’t connected the dots either.

But now that the culprits had confessed, she couldn’t help but start to believe it.

Speculation alone wasn’t enough, though. Since the police might contact them at any time, they couldn’t return to the county just yet. Luckily, with the culprits caught, business could go back to normal. After a short rest at home, Sun Qiufang and Su Changrong headed over to the supermarket.

Su Min didn’t stay home either. She went straight to the store to tell Sun Yan and the others what had happened, so they wouldn’t worry about running the business.

When she arrived, Sun Yan was still sitting at the door, keeping watch in case someone came to cause trouble, ready to run into the street for help if needed. When she saw Su Min, she said, “Thank goodness you’re here. Weren’t we supposed to go back to the county?”

“No need anymore. They’ve caught the person.”

Su Min walked in and put her backpack down on the counter.

Liao Zhaodi, who had been reading, heard the noise and came out from the break room, curious. “They caught the person?”

Sun Yan pulled up a stool and came over. “Who was it? How did they catch them? I was just trying to figure out our accounts.”

Su Min told them everything that had happened at the supermarket and relayed what the culprits had confessed.

When she said it was the director of Sanye Factory, Sun Yan was shocked. “Director Ye? No way — isn’t he a really nice guy? Back at the factory, all the workers said he was a decent person.”

Su Min didn’t confirm anything for sure and only said, “Anyway, the police are still investigating. We can just focus on running the store now. And since Zhaodi and I have classes tomorrow, with the situation resolved, we don’t have to worry about the store anymore.”

Sun Yan let out a long breath. “Doesn’t matter who it was — what matters is they’ve been caught. I can finally relax. You have no idea how on edge I’ve been this whole time.”

Sanye Factory, county town.

Just back from the police station, Ye Yongfu called Director Xiao into his office.

“Old Xiao, how did this get found out? Didn’t you say when you found those people that they wouldn’t know who was behind it?”

Director Xiao smiled and said, “Director Ye, what are you talking about? I really don’t understand what you mean.”

Director Ye grew agitated at those words. “How can you not know? Weren’t you the one who said you’d help handle this? Now that the whole thing’s been exposed, you’re pretending you don’t know anything?”

“I honestly don’t understand what you’re saying. What handling, what people? I don’t get it at all. Lately San Ye’s business has been doing great, I’ve been running around like a headless chicken—I really don’t know what you’re referring to.”

Seeing Director Xiao like this, Director Ye finally realized—he had been played.

Fuming, he pointed at Director Xiao. “You’re the one who came up with the idea in the first place, and now you act like you don’t know anything? Xiao En, what is the meaning of this?”

“Director Ye, that’s quite an accusation. Weren’t you the one who said you didn’t want Su Min going to the city, and that you hoped she’d stay in the county to help the factory? Now you’re saying it was my idea? Weren’t you the one who paid for the people? The decisions were yours. Why blame me now? I’ve got no grudge against that girl Su Min—what would I gain from causing her trouble? Even if the police investigate, I’ve got a clear conscience.”

Hearing this, Director Ye felt a sharp pain in his chest from sheer anger. He deeply regretted letting the popularity of that short denim jacket cloud his judgment. It had made the San Ye brand famous nationwide, and he had been consumed by the selfish desire to keep Su Min in the factory to take the brand even further. And now, it had come to this.

Looking back, what he did was truly despicable.

He could already imagine how much Su Min would hate San Ye once she learned the truth. There would be no chance of future cooperation.

Director Xiao looked at him with a smile. “You can fire me now if you want. Li Hua’s been complaining about being short-staffed anyway.”

“You’re in cahoots with Li Hua?” Director Ye stared at Director Xiao in shock.

Director Xiao chuckled. “No need to say it like that. Li Hua and I have been close from the beginning. I’m just going to help him out, that’s all. Old Ye, you may have been factory director for decades, but when it comes to management, you really fall short. If it weren’t for that girl Su Min helping you, would the factory be where it is now? Don’t you feel ashamed? A grown man relying on a young girl to manage his factory—and then you used such underhanded methods to force her to stay. Honestly, if word of this gets out, your reputation will be ruined.”

After finishing, he watched Director Ye’s furious and humiliated expression with satisfaction.

“Well then, I won’t wait for you to fire me. I’ll go pack up now. The way things are, this factory has no future. San Ye is doomed.”

With that, he walked out smiling.

Director Ye was so furious that he felt a stabbing pain in his chest. He could only clutch his chest and slump into the chair.

Just then, the deputy director of the sales department walked in with some documents, only to see Director Ye in pain. He rushed over in panic. “Director, what’s wrong?”

Seeing that Director Ye was too pained to speak, he immediately shouted outside, “Someone come quick! The director’s in trouble!”

Su Min only heard about Director Ye being hospitalized the next day at noon, after school.

Sun Qiufang said, “The county side initially denied it, but once people here confessed it was him, he admitted it too at the hospital. It’s finally clear now. Minzi, this just shows how you can never truly know someone. He seemed like such a good person, but what he did was inhuman.”

Su Min said, “As long as he admitted it. Anyway, he’s going to have to compensate for all our losses—ours and my parents’ shop too.”

“Of course. The police told us to prepare an itemized bill and bring it when we talk with the Ye family. We’re not swallowing this loss. And for hiring people to cause trouble, he’s going to jail.”

“He probably won’t be locked up for long. Though he caused trouble, he didn’t steal or take anything. It’ll likely be considered a civil matter. He’ll probably get detained for a few dozen days at most.”

“Sigh, even a few dozen days is something. As long as he pays what he owes.” Sun Qiufang was fuming. “That man’s awful. Just to get you to help make money for his factory, he did this to us.”

Su Min felt awful too. It had only been a business relationship, mutually beneficial. But it had ended in such a mess.

Since Su Min was underage, everything had to be handled by Sun Qiufang and Su Changrong, including compensation for the earlier damages to the clothing store.

With Ye Yongfu in the hospital, his wife and daughter were left to handle everything.

Madam Ye was a typical housewife—clueless and indecisive. So Ye Ling took charge of the compensation matters.

She expressed willingness to compensate but insisted that Su Min must visit her father in the hospital once.

Sun Qiufang didn’t immediately agree. “What’s the point of seeing our daughter? You people are so heartless—you already harmed us, and now you still want to see her? My daughter’s not going to help you again.”

Ye Ling’s face turned red, but since she had no standing in the matter, she had to endure it. She stiffly replied, “No matter what, my dad gave her an opportunity back then. If not for him, she wouldn’t have earned any money. This time it was my dad’s fault, but that doesn’t erase the kindness from before.”

Sun Qiufang replied coldly, “If you’re going to threaten us like this, then we’ll see you at the police station.”

Ye Ling was strong-willed, and once she made a proposal, she wouldn’t back down. The situation deadlocked.

The police, upon hearing Sun Qiufang’s report, quickly stepped in to mediate. Ye Ling softened a bit and said they were willing to compensate, but her father, who was now gravely ill, hoped to see Su Min once before it was too late.

The police, hearing this, also tried to persuade Sun Qiufang to let Su Min go just for a moment.

Hearing that Ye Yongfu was in bad shape—possibly nearing the end—softened Sun Qiufang’s heart. Though she was angry, when it came to life and death, she couldn’t help but feel a little compassion.

That afternoon, the couple rushed back to the county. That evening, when Su Min came home from school, they told her everything.

After explaining, Sun Qiufang added, “The police said it’s better to avoid unnecessary trouble. Consider it a gesture. The Ye family promised that as long as you visit him, they’ll immediately pay us. Sigh, he’s almost at death’s door. Letting someone die with regrets isn’t good.”

Su Min stayed silent for a while before saying, “I’ll go see him on Saturday.”

That Saturday, Su Changrong stayed back to watch over the supermarket in the city, while Su Min and Sun Qiufang returned to the county hospital.

When they arrived, Ye Yongfu was awake, with Ye Ling and Madam Ye at his bedside.

Seeing them come in, Madam Ye quickly gestured for them to come over and talk to Ye Yongfu.

Ye Yongfu got excited upon seeing Su Min and tried to sit up, but Ye Ling stopped him. “Dad, just say what you need to say.”

Seeing Ye Yongfu like this, Su Min felt a bit uncomfortable. The last time they met, they had chatted and laughed. Now, one was lying down, the other standing—none of the previous warmth remained.

“Su Min,” Ye Yongfu called out weakly. “I’m sorry.”

“Why did you do it?” Su Min asked, lips pressed tightly together.

“I never intended things to go this way,” Ye Yongfu said, his face full of regret and his voice blurry. “But last time, because of the clothes you redesigned, San Ye’s name became famous nationwide. People even named the clothing after it—‘San Ye Fashion’. I never imagined the factory would get such recognition. I was afraid that once you stopped helping, we’d lose it all… and that thought scared me.”

Su Min gave a bitter laugh. “So because of that, you sabotaged my shop, my parents’ store—just to trap us in this county forever?”

All for his selfish desires, he had tried to tie her and her parents down.

Ye Ling, seeing her father’s pained expression, angrily glared at Su Min. “My dad’s already like this, don’t you have a shred of conscience? Even if he did wrong you, he didn’t hurt anyone. Is it necessary to push him like this?”

Su Min said, “Just because your father is unwell, I’m supposed to forgive him? Did he ever consider how others felt when he was hurting them?”

Hearing that, two lines of tears rolled down Ye Yongfu’s cheeks.

He hadn’t done many immoral things in his life—but this one mistake, he regretted deeply. And now, it was too late.