Tian Sangsang arrived at the gate of the Huarun Food Factory, where the guard stopped her: "What’s your business here?"
"I’m here to see your Director Xu." She had already inquired beforehand—the director’s last na was Xu.
The guard noticed her refined appearance and exceptional deanor, as if she hailed from a prominent family. But those who dealt with their director were all from prominent families—nothing unusual about that. What was striking was that this woman was particularly beautiful. He couldn’t help but wonder to himself: Could she be a relative of the director?
"Where’s your introduction letter? Let see it."
"I don’t have an introduction letter," Tian Sangsang said candidly. "I have sothing urgent to discuss with your Director Xu. Sir, could you please pass along a ssage to him for ?"
The mont he heard she didn’t have an introduction letter, the guard stopped believing she might be a relative of the director, and his expression changed. "Miss, we only allow visitors with introduction letters, or those from state-owned enterprises, into the factory. Without an introduction letter, I can’t let you in or notify the director for you. If you really want to see him, go get an introduction letter and co back."
He truly didn’t dare to let soone with unknown credentials into the factory. This was a state-owned enterprise—it wasn’t a place just anyone could enter. He had seen plenty of people trying to leverage connections in the past, only to leave in disgrace.
Tian Sangsang had approached this with fiery determination, but she was deflated before even stepping inside. She understood how things worked—society was stratified, and it always had been. Those who claid there were no class distinctions were themselves speaking from a position of privilege, standing on a higher rung and enjoying its benefits.
Delving deeper, the world from its inception had been shaped by the distribution of interests. True equality? rely relative. Absolute equality would lead to chaos. The human heart is unpredictable—so remain calm and serene, while others are consud by greed. Under such circumstances, the essence of the world is perpetual strife...
So, was there really no way in? An introduction letter was impossible for her to obtain. Tian Sangsang wasn’t willing to give up. She stood at the gate, waiting. She decided to intercept Director Xu when he ca out.
Had this been shortly after she graduated, she might have felt humiliated being turned away. But now, her skin had thickened over ti. In this society, only the shaless thrive. Being too obedient only invites bullying.
With that thought in mind, Tian Sangsang stood at the gate, waiting minute by minute. Yet after two hours, when the factory workers had finished their shifts, she still hadn’t seen the elusive Director Xu.
The guard, seeing such a beautiful young woman waiting, was moved by her perseverance. He sighed, "Miss, to be honest, our director has been busy these past few days and might not even co to the factory. He didn’t show up yesterday. Waiting here like this won’t do you any good. Just go get an introduction letter, and when the director returns, I’ll notify you."
"Sir, thank you for telling this." Tian Sangsang looked at him stubbornly. "I’ll co back tomorrow. I want to et Director Xu in person."
"Ah—this—"
Tian Sangsang wasn’t bluffing. For two consecutive days, the guard could see her standing at the gate. He thought, maybe it was indeed sothing very important—otherwise, why would she persist like this? Feeling sympathetic, he brought her so hot water. "Miss, even if you wait and manage to see Director Xu, it’ll be easier if you know him. If you don’t, you won’t get close to him—he’s always surrounded by people."
"Don’t worry, sir. I have my own way."
Disappointed again, Tian Sangsang returned ho. Director Xu still hadn’t shown up. When she got back, she remained calm, never letting her exhaustion show. As for her relationship with Ye Binyi, it was the sa as before—lukewarm and distant. She’d co to realize that this might be how her relationship with her mother-in-law would always be.
People say relationships are cultivated with ti. She was willing to cultivate it, but her mother-in-law clearly wasn’t. How could she force it?
It was Saturday, and Tian Sangsang went out again.
anwhile, Ye Binyi, who had the day off, was sitting anxiously on the sofa at ho, waiting for soone. She hadn’t told her daughter-in-law about the guest coming today, feeling there was no need to.
"Mom!" Half an hour later, Jia Wenxiu, brought ho by Uncle Wang, appeared in the Jiang Family’s living room.
Jia Wenxiu was carrying so fruits and supplents, while Uncle Wang helped bring in her luggage.
Ye Binyi imdiately rose from the sofa, her eyes slightly red. She looked at her daughter, who still retained the bright, youthful charm of her younger years. Dressed in a peach-colored polyester blouse and a flared skirt, her face was as radiant as a peach blossom, though she appeared thinner.
"Wenxiu!" She embraced her daughter with joy, and Jia Wenxiu hugged her back. The mother and daughter held each other quietly for a mont before letting go.
"From the mont you left ho, I thought I’d never see you again in this life," Ye Binyi sighed. "Wenxiu, it’s good you’re back."
"Mom, I was wrong. Only after leaving did I realize how much I missed you all," Wenxiu sobbed. Returning to this house after so long, she felt no joy—only the thought of Tian Sangsang being here gave her so satisfaction. Revenge was best served cold, after all.
"Don’t cry anymore. Your father and I have forgiven you," Ye Binyi consoled her.
Jia Wenxiu set her things on the sofa, and the mother and daughter chatted for a long ti. By the ti it was almost noon, Jia Wenxiu glanced around upstairs and downstairs before asking, "Mom, where’s Dad? Why isn’t he back yet?"
"He had an important matter to discuss with your uncle. Otherwise, you think he wouldn’t be here to see you? He’s thrilled you’re back," Ye Binyi said, pulling her hand with a smile. "By the way, there’s sothing you don’t know. Your brother’s married now, and your nephew is already four years old. They’ll be back soon, and I’ll introduce them to you."
"What?" Jia Wenxiu’s eyes widened in shock, then she covered her mouth, laughing. "Is it with Hua Jun? Hua Jun and my brother have known each other for so many years. It makes sense they’d end up together. I haven’t even had the chance to congratulate her yet! But after getting married, didn’t my brother go back to East Sea Province? Mom, why don’t you and Dad try to get him transferred to Beijing, so they won’t have to live so far apart?" She rambled on deliberately. She already knew, from what Lu Chi had told her, that it was actually Tian Sangsang who had married Jiang Jinghuai.
The ntion of this pricked Ye Binyi like a needle. She prided herself on not being a difficult mother-in-law, believing she had a good temperant. But when faced with a daughter-in-law she didn’t like, she couldn’t bring herself to treat her kindly.
"What Hua Jun? Your brother married a woman from the countryside. Poor Hua Jun—she waited all these years, hoping for him. How could he let her down? And he didn’t even consult the family before getting married," Ye Binyi lanted. Now that her daughter was back, she finally had soone to confide in.
"Mom, don’t be upset. It’s bad for your health," Jia Wenxiu frowned. "You know how my brother is—he’s always just inford us of his decisions, never discussed them. He’s an adult now."
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