"Zhao Hong, you should leave quickly. This place really isn't suitable for you," one of the neighbors, who knew the situation, urged.
Zhao Hong cast a reluctant glance at the place she had lived in for several years. Hearing Mother Lu's hysterical curses, she had no choice but to turn and leave.
...
"The weather's nice today, and Xiao Chengzi and Xiao Bai have had their fill. Why don't we take the two children for a walk nearby? Li Shu said that getting more sun helps with the absorption of..."
Li Xiulan suggested to Zhao Qiuyue, watching Xiao Chengzi persistently pointing towards the outside.
Since the weather started to warm up, the two children had been taken out twice, and their spirits had been thoroughly ignited. Xiao Chengzi, in particular, would throw a tantrum from time to time.
The afternoon sun was just right. Li Xiulan and Zhao Qiuyue began dressing the two little ones, putting on their clothes, hats, and scarves.
Children who were almost seven months old could understand quite a bit. Knowing they were going out, the two little ones kicked and flailed their legs and hands excitedly, occasionally making noises.
Since they were carrying the children, Li Xiulan and Zhao Qiuyue didn't walk far, just around their neighborhood.
After being kicked out by the Lu family, Zhao Hong didn't want to return to her rented room. She picked a direction and started walking aimlessly.
After walking for an unknown amount of time, she passed a small pavilion and was about to sit down for a while when she suddenly saw two women carrying children approaching from a distance.
At first, she paid no attention. By the time they got closer and she saw who was carrying the children, she visibly froze.
Zhao Hong hadn't expected to run into an acquaintance so coincidentally. She had left Qingshan Village years ago, and to her surprise, Li Xiulan hadn't changed much.
Her gaze shifted from Li Xiulan to the children in her arms. Although they were only a few months old and their faces were mostly covered by scarves, the exposed eyes were far too familiar.
The thought of Chen Li Shu suddenly made Zhao Hong's emotions surge.
It was all because of that bitch surnamed Chen. If she hadn't appeared back then, Cheng Ming would have only loved her. They were already returning to the city; why did Chen Li Shu have to follow them?!
And also, and also, yes, if she hadn't been so persistent, Cheng Ming wouldn't have wanted to leave. If they hadn't left, they wouldn't have been caught by Jin Kun, and none of what happened later would have occurred.
She should have had children too. Why did that bitch Chen Li Shu have everything? Why?
She wouldn't allow it!
Cheng Ming was gone; Chen Li Shu should also pay a terrible price.
Li Xiulan and Zhao Qiuyue were walking forward, chatting and laughing while holding their children, when a woman suddenly rushed out from the side, startling them. Especially when they recognized the woman's appearance, they instinctively held their children tighter.
The woman in front of them had dry, yellow hair, red-rimmed eyes, protruding cheekbones, and sunken cheeks. She looked a bit like someone mentally unstable.
"Are these Chen Li Shu's children?" Zhao Hong demanded of Li Xiulan in a high-pitched voice. Her gaze swept over the child in Zhao Qiuyue's arms. Although she didn't recognize Zhao Qiuyue, the child in her arms had eyes similar to Chen Li Shu's, and she immediately furrowed her brow.
She glanced back and forth between the two children, then suddenly shrieked, "That bitch actually had twins?!"
Seeing this, Li Xiulan and Zhao Qiuyue both took two steps back. The children in their arms were completely unaware of the impending danger, still blinking their innocent eyes and looking around at this novel world.
"I'm asking you, did she have twins!" With no one answering, Zhao Hong impatiently asked again.
Li Xiulan examined her carefully before vaguely recalling that the woman in front of her was Zhao Hong, a youth sent down to the countryside.
So, frowning and looking somewhat displeased, she said, "You're Zhao Hong, aren't you? What are you doing here?"
Zhao Hong was gradually losing patience, her gaze becoming unfocused. "I'm asking if they're twins!"
"Yes, they're twins, a boy and a girl," Li Xiulan replied, not understanding the situation at all. However, seeing her abnormal state, she answered instinctively.
They were twins, a boy and a girl?
That bitch actually had the good fortune to give birth to twins!
How could she have twins when she had caused her to become like this?
Looking at the two children's eyes so similar to Chen Li Shu's, Zhao Hong's brain could no longer function. At this moment, she had only one thought: to strangle both of these little brats!
When Li Xiulan and Zhao Qiuyue saw her lunging forward, they instinctively turned and shielded the children tightly in their arms...
Chen Li Shu arrived at the National Cotton Mill and headed straight for Secretary Feng's office on the third floor.
Feng Wenyou saw her coming and assumed she was there to rush the order. He smiled and invited her to sit before explaining, "Although the production volume is quite large this time and the schedule is tight, I arranged shifts early on. Don't worry, I guarantee we will complete the task on time with quality and quantity."
Chen Li Shu waved her hand. "Secretary Feng, I'm not here to rush the order today. I just heard about something."
Then Chen Li Shu glanced at Sister Feng, who understood. As she handed over the T-shirt, she also explained the situation in detail.
Secretary Feng looked at the T-shirt in his hand, which was identical to the ones the factory was producing. After hearing Sister Feng's account, he repeatedly waved his hands, saying, "No, impossible. We've collaborated so many times; how could I do such a thing? Wouldn't that be shooting myself in the foot?"
Seeing that Chen Li Shu hadn't spoken, Feng Wenyou became a bit anxious. "To tell you the truth, our factory's performance has been quite poor these past two years. But even if it's not good, our reputation is still intact. I wouldn't do a one-off deal like this. Besides, as the comrade just said, the other party promised them they could have as many as they wanted. Our factory's production capacity is limited. To be honest, I've prepared plenty of raw materials and am just waiting for this batch to finish production before starting the next. You can check the workshop storeroom if you don't believe me."
Chen Li Shu knew he wasn't lying.
She had also considered on the way that the cost of this batch of T-shirts was not high. Even if they produced in large quantities to gain a head start, the profit would be at most ten to twenty thousand yuan. The subsequent benefits she would bring to the National Cotton Mill far exceeded this amount. Anyone with normal thinking wouldn't do such a thing.
Therefore, there could only be one possibility: someone in the factory had leaked the information.
"I know you wouldn't do such a thing, Secretary Feng, but there are so many employees in the factory."
Feng Wenyou's expression became serious.
"Comrade Chen Li Shu, I will investigate this matter thoroughly and give you a satisfactory answer."
Chen Li Shu nodded and stood up. "I hope it can be resolved quickly. How about the day after tomorrow? I'll pick up the goods then, and I hope this matter will have a resolution."
There were at most three factories in the city capable of producing such a large quantity of T-shirts. She was sure Feng Wenyou could also think of this. As a factory secretary, investigating should not be a problem.
After leaving Feng Wenyou's office and reaching the factory entrance, she ran into Manager Fu Hongxin.
They greeted each other. Just as Chen Li Shu was about to leave, she was suddenly called back by him.
"Comrade Chen, I'd like to speak with you privately for a moment."