Awaken: I See Tags, I Rewrite My Life
Chapter 49: Go Ahead and Show Off!

Chapter 49: Chapter 49: Go Ahead and Show Off!

Tian Chuying knew about what happened mainly because the scandal was too big, and when the Vice Factory Director was taken away, many people went to the street to watch, and the newspapers later reported it.

It was said that he was involved in some activities, was investigated, and then found guilty of various things, such as abuse of power and providing jobs for people who were not eligible.

After the incident with Vice Factory Director Zeng, his family was affected, lost their jobs, and everyone turned against them.

After hearing Tian Chuying talk about the Zeng Family’s affairs, Tian Xiang’s expression was heavy.

She was beginning to understand why Zeng Qingwen’s label as ’second girl’ hadn’t changed.

Such a cheerful and proud person, having witnessed Lu Feng’s decadent love life, had no reason to continue entangling with him.

When she saw Zeng Qingwen at noon today, she felt the same way.

But now, with Vice Factory Director Zeng’s downfall, her chance of going to university was gone, and all her past pride was destroyed; what she would become was unknown.

In this situation, if Lu Feng took advantage of her vulnerability, offering her warmth and help, she would easily fall into it.

Tian Xiang put away her notebook and pen, warning Tian Chuying, "Don’t mention today’s matter to anyone, especially not Lu Feng. Or else, I’ll take away your spirit right in front of him and turn you into a white-haired old woman, hated and despised by him for life."

Tian Chuying shook her head nervously, "Great Immortal, rest assured, I won’t tell anyone."

This was her trump card.

Tian Chuying was still waiting to take the college entrance exam next year and was advising her older brother and sister-in-law, returned from the countryside as educated youth, not to fixate solely on jobs and try doing some small business.

If Lu Feng had become close with her since last time and they were officially a couple, she could share these opportunities.

But now Lu Feng was Widow Jiang’s partner.

Thinking of last time when Lu Feng was hospitalized and she braved the pressure to care for him, only to have her face scratched by that widow, Tian Chuying’s expression turned gloomy; she would never reveal her trump card in such a situation.

Tian Xiang looked at her disdainfully and walked away.

Outside the health clinic, she checked the time; it was not yet four o’clock, and Zeng Qingwen hadn’t started work.

Tian Xiang rode her bike to the old quarters of the Back Street Community Committee to find Zhuang Ermei.

Zhuang Ermei was there, following a dozen community women making paper boxes.

These paper boxes were not matchboxes, but paper bags and medicine boxes.

This was Zhuang Ermei’s current job, making one hundred medicine boxes for thirty cents, two cents for paper bags, working all day till her back ached, but only earning about one dollar.

A dollar, if working every day, would be okay; buying food for the family wouldn’t be an issue.

But this work wasn’t available every day, and since there were too many unemployed housewives, there weren’t enough boxes to go around, so they had to take turns. Summed up in a month, one could earn only about ten dollars.

When Zhuang Ermei saw Tian Xiang coming, she quickly put down her brush and came over to talk.

The two stood in the sunlight at the wall near the entrance.

In the morning, Zhuang Ermei took yesterday’s dress to another district to sell. She didn’t ask for a receipt, sold it for a dollar eighty, and felt quite satisfied.

At noon, she had lunch with Jiang Gaojun at the Mechanical Factory, walked around outside afterward, and their feelings progressed rapidly.

Tian Xiang nodded, yes, yes, the momentum was good.

At last, there was some good news, and she felt quite relieved.

Zhuang Ermei: "I asked the team leader about what you mentioned this morning, she was tight-lipped and didn’t reveal a word."

Tian Xiang also wanted to organize a small paper box team at the Mechanical Factory, so she came here to learn, see how such work was connected.

Although this place was monitored by the street committee issuing orders, the team leader, as the contact person, must know some insider details.

Tian Xiang: "If she won’t speak, forget it; I’ll go directly to the food and medicine factories and see what they say."

Zhuang Ermei nodded, "Now you’re a staff member at the Mechanical Factory; perhaps they’ll try to curry favor with you."

Tian Xiang chuckled, the Mechanical Factory has no relation to these factories; seeking work would require currying favor with them.

Without any solid information, Tian Xiang planned to leave.

Just then, that tight-lipped paper box team leader, Cao Jialing, came over and greeted Tian Xiang.

"Tian Xiang, haven’t you started working at the Mechanical Factory? How come you’re running to my place? Oh, I heard you’re on a trial, not official staff; is it just these couple of days?"

Tian Xiang’s news at the Mechanical Factory had already spread throughout Sanli Lane.

Cao Jialing’s youngest daughter graduated with Tian Xiang, and currently had no work, whereas Tian Xiang had already started working.

Cao Jialing was quite envious, so her words sounded rather sarcastic.

Tian Xiang: "Aunt Cao, sorry to disappoint you, I’m out on official business. Oh, you don’t know, these days running east and west, it’s worn me out. If I had known, I should have let your daughter Gong Xuan take this job; she’s a bit slow, but likes to tinker around.

But she seems to have missed too many classes and didn’t get her graduation certificate! That’s no good; not even a high school graduate, they won’t hire."

Gong Xuan was Cao Jialing’s youngest daughter.

Initially, upon hearing Tian Xiang should let Gong Xuan go, Cao Jialing was pleasantly surprised.

Wondering if Tian Xiang had some connections, maybe introduced her daughter, but then her words turned, first calling her slow, then mentioning her daughter’s lack of a graduation certificate, finally realizing.

This person was mocking her indirectly.

Cao Jialing: "You’re just flaunting, when the trial fails, you’ll cry."

Tian Xiang: "Oh, Aunt Cao, if you have the energy, focus more on your own daughter; you don’t need to worry about me."

Cao Jialing mumbled and walked off.

Tian Xiang coldly sneered, cursing her under breath.

Zhuang Ermei advised, "She’s just a team leader, taking chicken feathers as an order, don’t bother with her."

Tian Xiang: "I couldn’t be bothered."

Leaving the community committee’s premises, Tian Xiang did go visit the nearby two food factories.

She identified herself and entered smoothly, but there was no work available.

They already had fixed cooperation with the community and couldn’t transfer orders halfway.

It seemed organizing a handicraft group wasn’t easy, the internal workings and relationships were highly complex.

Near the end of the workday, Tian Xiang returned to the factory.

She didn’t return to the internal office but went straight to the general affairs department to see Chairman Jiang.

Jiang Qin was there, and hearing she was here to ask about Meng Cheng’an’s case, she shared.

"The issue of Mr. Meng’s color blindness is confirmed, but the punishment result is not yet decided; it has to wait for further investigation to conclude. He is currently suspended and waiting at home for summons."

Indeed...

The color blindness issue was easy to confirm, just using a color chart.

Thinking of him revealing his flaw in front of so many people, Tian Xiang felt sympathy.

He was quite sensitive about this matter.

Jiang Qin: "Tian Xiang, do you know Mr. Meng?"

Tian Xiang nodded, "I met him when volunteering at the community committee. Chairman Jiang, he..."

Tian Xiang: "He writes beautifully, draws well, should have been diligent and responsible in his work; yesterday’s work on the bulletin board..."