Chapter 1354: Chapter 1353: Ling Fei’s Mother Zhou Xiaolan
The environment of the printing factory canteen is quite decent, but if you go to the production department, most people probably can’t stand it.
After Ling Zhengwei and his coworkers finished breakfast and were preparing to return to work, Ye Qiu decided to follow them to take a look, leaving Liu Lingxiu and Ling Fei to wait at the canteen.
“Uncle Ling, you’ve been working at this printing factory for two or three decades. Shouldn’t you have been promoted by now?”
In any case, someone who can work at a company for two or three decades is absolutely considered loyal, with very high loyalty.
And based on seniority, Ling Zhengwei should have been promoted at least.
Ling Zhengwei shook his head and said, “Before the reforms, it was all about connections, and even after the reforms, it’s still about connections. To get promoted, you either spend money or pull strings. I have no money and no connections, so I remain at the bottom level.”
Ye Qiu understood instantly, no wonder Ling Zhengwei has been at this company for so many years and is still in the same position.
Following them to the production department, where books are printed, as soon as they arrived, Ye Qiu noticed a variety of foul odors.
Didn’t they say they bought printing machines from Germany?
Why does the environment still look so bad?
“Dr. Ye, you better leave. Most people can’t stand it here.”
Ling Zhengwei had already put on a mask, preparing to work.
A large batch of Spring Festival couplets needed to be printed recently because it’s nearly Chinese New Year, temporarily replacing book printing. These couplets have some plated elements, so there’s a strong smell of paint here.
Ye Qiu didn’t go in further, just watched from outside, and then headed back to the canteen.
However, Ye Qiu could already tell that Ling Zhengwei’s job was indeed tough, and with such work, there’s no guarantee of health; probably his health wasn’t great either.
When Ye Qiu returned, Ling Fei asked, “Did you see everything?”
“Yes, your dad’s work environment is terrible.”
“I’ve known since I was young, so now I tutor to avoid spending my dad’s money, so he can save up for something he might need in the future.”
Ling Fei is naturally sensible. She knows very well that her father’s money is hard-earned, so before tutoring, she spent his money sparingly. Now, earning her own living expenses, she naturally no longer spends her father’s money.
“Let’s go check on your mom.”
Ling Fei knew where her mother worked, she led Ye Qiu and Liu Lingxiu to another place. Soon, Ye Qiu found that the environment here was entirely different from Ling Zhengwei’s work environment. There were many trees, and there was no foul smell.
Obviously, the printing factory’s office area was this way, where many clerical workers were likely employed.
“Now my mom works in a secretarial office, probably dealing with contracts and similar tasks.”
As Ling Fei led them, as they approached the office, they saw Zhou Xiaolan exit from it, followed by a man in his fifties chasing with a bouquet of flowers.
“Zhou Xiaolan, now that you’ve divorced Ling Zhengwei, and my partner is gone, isn’t it normal for me to pursue you?”
Zhou Xiaolan hadn’t said anything yet when she saw her daughter and Ye Qiu appear, and it was clear she felt very embarrassed being seen.
After all, Zhou Xiaolan and Ling Zhengwei had been divorced for over half a year, but being pursued by a leader like this in the printing factory made her very uncomfortable, especially with the looks from other workers insinuating she previously had something with the old man.
Awkwardly acknowledging her daughter’s arrival, looking to the old leader behind her, Zhou Xiaolan said, “Minister Liu, please show some respect. I am divorced, but whether or not I accept your pursuit is my own business.”
The old man seemed like he wanted to say more, but Zhou Xiaolan quickly glanced at Ling Fei, appearing somewhat helpless.
“Xiao Fei, Dr. Ye, why are you here?”
“Mom, I came with Ye Qiu to see you, also with Ye Qiu’s friend Liu Lingxiu.”
Ling Fei said.
After witnessing that scene just now, for some reason, she also felt uncomfortable. No wonder throughout these years, her parents ended up this way, probably because her father constantly heard gossip, especially in such a work environment, with numerous rumors and chit-chats everywhere.
“Come into my office and sit down!”
Zhou Xiaolan didn’t expect her daughter to arrive so fast, although she had heard her daughter was coming to visit.
Now she led the three of them into the office, finding several desks inside, one of which was Zhou Xiaolan’s.
After Zhou Xiaolan found chairs for them to sit and poured tea, Ye Qiu noticed that Zhou Xiaolan, in her forties, had wrinkles, permed yellow wavy hair, and wore winter clothes, looking quite fashionable. She had clearly used perfume, noticeable even when not close.
For those elderly men in their fifties or sixties, Zhou Xiaolan was undeniably a fatal attraction.
“Mom, that gentleman just now?”
“He’s one of the ministers in the printing factory, constantly bothering me, very annoying.”
“Mom, you’re divorced now, what’s there to be afraid of.”
Ling Fei said.
“Xiao Fei, I…”
Zhou Xiaolan understood that she was divorced and who she chose to be with had nothing to do with Ling Zhengwei. Of course, whoever pursued her was also none of her business, but she knew she was not the type of woman people imagined. She always remained a conservative woman, preferring clean and simple, merely dressing more naturally.
She couldn’t dress like those women in their forties wearing typical middle-aged clothing; it would look terrible and feel uncomfortable.
“I just went to see Dad.”
Ling Fei said after a moment of silence.
Zhou Xiaolan’s expression shifted slightly but soon returned to normal.
The printing factory wasn’t particularly large, yet it wasn’t small either, with thousands of employees. Although Zhou Xiaolan and Ling Zhengwei didn’t work the same shifts, they occasionally ran into each other after work.
Of course, they had long been living separately, similar to a decade ago. A decade ago, they lived separately in different rooms, but now Zhou Xiaolan had completely moved out and rented an apartment on her own.
Zhou Xiaolan didn’t seem to want to talk about Ling Zhengwei. She didn’t feel guilty towards him; instead, she believed that Ling Zhengwei hadn’t treated her well all these years. Otherwise, things wouldn’t have ended up like this.