The matter of the warehouse fire was something Chen Lishu had never spoken a word about to anyone outside the shop. Zhao Hong actually knew about it. Thinking of a possible reason, Chen Lishu's eyes instantly turned sharp.
Seeing her unhappy expression, Zhao Hong felt even more pleased. "People can't get too carried away. What's the use of having a good business? Heaven can't stand people like you, so you suffered retribution when your warehouse caught fire?"
If it wasn't for that bitch surnamed Chen being so relentless, Cheng Ming wouldn't have ended up in the detention center, wouldn't have been separated from the family, and wouldn't have been made difficult by his superiors.
What was most hateful was that afterward, she actually went to Jin Kun and said all sorts of things, causing him to be suspected by Jin Kun. Now she had finally received her retribution, she deserved it!
"I'm very curious, how did you know about my warehouse catching fire?" Chen Lishu asked, slowly stepping out from behind the counter.
"I..." Zhao Hong was speechless for a moment, then raised her chin arrogantly. "It's hilarious. This isn't some state secret. Besides, why should I tell you how I know?"
As Zhao Hong spoke, she saw Chen Lishu approaching with an unfriendly look, and couldn't help but panic. "You, what are you trying to do?"
Without a word, Chen Lishu raised her hand and slapped her hard. The force was so great that Zhao Hong stumbled to the side, finally managing to steady herself against a shelf.
"Do you all really think I'm easy to bully?" Chen Lishu looked at Zhao Hong with cold eyes and said word by word, "The warehouse fire was done by that scoundrel Lu Cheng Ming, wasn't it?"
Zhao Hong's eyes darted away. "I don't understand what you're saying at all. Who knows who someone like you has offended? They just disliked you and set the fire."
Chen Lishu no longer wanted to waste her breath on her. "You can go."
"What, did I hit the mark? Considering we've known each other for so many years, I'll advise you to be a good person from now on. Otherwise, this time it was someone who set fire to your warehouse. Who knows what next time..."
Zhao Hong paused and glanced around the shop. "Who knows if your shop will be the next to suffer."
Having said all she wanted to say, Zhao Hong turned and left the shop before Chen Lishu could reply.
"Sister-in-law, you're just letting her go? Who is that person surnamed Lu you were just talking about? If he dared to set fire to our warehouse, I'll go beat him up first, and then send him to the police station."
"Without evidence, even if we send him to the police station, Lu Cheng Ming won't admit it." After all, who would be foolish enough to admit to their crimes?
Wang Dazhu's eyes flared, and he said in a deep voice, "Then I'll beat him until he confesses." There was nothing that couldn't be solved with a fist.
"Dazhu, hitting someone is illegal. We are law-abiding citizens, we don't do that."
"But..." Wang Dazhu was unconvinced. "It's too stifling if we can't even beat him up once."
He was naturally straightforward, especially during his years in the army where the environment was pure. He laughed loudly when happy and naturally vented when unhappy. A scoundrel like Lu Cheng Ming should be beaten soundly. Once he was scared, he wouldn't dare to show off.
"We can't just take such a big loss," Chen Lishu said, narrowing her eyes. However, she didn't want to dirty her own hands by dealing with those two.
Although she had only interacted with Jin Kun once, she could glean something from it. He was definitely a man who couldn't tolerate sand in his eyes. Since Zhao Hong and Lu Cheng Ming wanted to court death, she would give them a push.
"Dazhu, I'm giving you a task now. If you complete it well, someone else will deal with them without us having to lift a finger."
Then Chen Lishu explained her idea. Wang Dazhu nodded after listening. "Sister-in-law, don't worry, I'm good at this kind of thing."
Soon, Wang Dazhu left the shop.
...
Since it was only noon, Jin Kun wouldn't be home. Zhao Hong had plenty of time to pack all her belongings.
Since marrying Jin Kun, she had acquired a lot of clothes. With her later involvement in the clothing business, she could wear whatever she pleased. By the time she had packed all her clothes, they filled two large bags.
Thinking that she would have to start all over again in the south and needed money for everything, Zhao Hong gritted her teeth and decided to take both bags of clothes, then left without looking back.
Lu Cheng Ming was simpler. He had already applied for a long leave from the factory. The workshop director couldn't wait for him to just leave the factory, so he readily approved his request.
He could buy clothes after arriving at his destination, so Lu Cheng Ming only packed two sets of clothes for changing.
Lin Xiaohui went to work early. Her right eye had been twitching incessantly, and she felt a sense of unease, as if something was about to happen. She persevered until noon and then asked her supervisor for leave.
"Tell me yourself, how many times have you taken leave this month? We all have a job to do. If you take leave, who will do your work? Since you have so many things to attend to, I think you don't need to come anymore. Just focus on handling your affairs at home."
Hearing this, Lin Xiaohui's face turned unpleasant. "I only get twenty yuan a month, and I have to take care of several little ones. And you make such a fuss about me taking leave. Do you really think anyone is willing to stay in this lousy place?"
Her words almost made the principal choke. "Fine, fine, then leave quickly."
"I'm going. Pay me my salary for this month first."
She had long wanted to quit this lousy job. A while ago, she heard her sister say that the salary for kindergarten teachers in the military dependents' area had increased to thirty yuan. At worst, she would go back to work and send the children to her sister's house. After all, with Wu Yan and Wu Yang, bringing one more child wouldn't be a problem.
With this in mind, Lin Xiaohui took the salary paid by the principal and went home with Lu Yang.
As she arrived at the entrance of their building, she saw Lu Cheng Ming coming down from upstairs. Lin Xiaohui frowned and asked, "Cheng Ming, where are you going?"
Lu Cheng Ming glanced at Lu Yang, whom she was holding by the hand. He hadn't thought much of it before and found his son pleasing to the eye in every way. Now, looking at him, he realized he had been blind back then. The child didn't resemble him at all.
"From now on, you'll raise this child yourself."
This sudden remark left Lin Xiaohui bewildered. She looked at Lu Cheng Ming and stammered, "Cheng, Cheng Ming, what do you mean?"
"I mean I'm leaving, and I'm never coming back." Lu Cheng Ming said and turned to leave. Lin Xiaohui was completely flustered. She rushed forward and grabbed his arm. "You're leaving? Where are you going? Why aren't you coming back? What about me and the child?"
"I'm going south. I've had enough of this place." Lu Cheng Ming said, pulling his hand away from Lin Xiaohui, and said coldly, "As for you and this 'bastard' of unknown origin, how you live from now on has nothing to do with me."
"What do you mean? Stop! Lu Cheng Ming, you scoundrel!"