He Zong didn’t dare to slight Sun Jijun’s young brother. He put his arm around Shui Miao’s shoulder and personally led him to the workshop to search for someone.
In reality, finding someone inside the factory wasn’t that difficult. As long as someone was willing to help, it would only take a few minutes. For example, in a garment factory with 5,000 workers, all employees were divided into several groups, each with designated group leaders and sub-leaders. Simply asking these leaders would easily locate the person needed. The guards who had just harassed Shui Miao did so purely because they saw him as young and easy to bully. Moreover, these guards were used to being domineering and arrogant, and their poor characters were the main reason for the incident.
He Zong brought Shui Miao to the workshop, summoned the workshop director, and had the group leaders and sub-leaders called over. When Shui Miao mentioned Chen Xiang’s name, one of the group leaders immediately said they had someone named Chen Xiang in their group.
The surname Chen was indeed quite rare, and no other groups had anyone with the same surname.
Sun Jijun and two gangsters followed closely behind. Originally, He Zong had planned to let the sub-leader take Shui Miao into the workshop, but seeing that Sun Jijun and others were following, he had no choice but to accompany Shui Miao into the noisy workshop.
The workshop was crowded with many women who enjoyed gossiping and chatting about daily life while sewing, making the workshop very noisy, like entering a bustling market.
When the boss arrived, the workshop instantly fell silent, leaving only the sound of machines.
After walking through a long corridor, they entered a rather cramped workshop where everyone immediately noticed many young girls who appeared very young.
The group leader took Shui Miao to look for Chen Xiang, while He Zong was stopped by Sun Jijun, who patted his shoulder and said, “Old He, you’re really gutsy! You dare to employ child laborers?”
Sun Jijun clearly knew that He Zong might have appeared polite on the surface after today’s beating of the guards, but he must have been furious inside. To completely suppress He Zong, Sun Jijun had been thinking of ways to find his weaknesses, believing that once he had evidence, He Zong would not dare to act recklessly. Seeing many girls around fifteen or sixteen years old, Sun Jijun felt relieved—he had found the evidence.
Upon hearing this, He Zong immediately snapped back, startled, and hurriedly waved his hands, saying, “No, no, they just look young. Actually, they’re all over eighteen years old…”
He Zong felt uncertain and started to stutter.
Sun Jijun, not letting him off the hook, smiled faintly and said, “Alright, no need to deny it. We’re all businessmen, just trying to earn a little extra money.”
“Uh… hehe…”
He Zong was a bit confused about the situation but dared not argue further. If he angered Sun Jijun, he might call Director Zhang, which would bring serious trouble.
Meanwhile, Sun Jijun and He Zong continued their verbal sparring, exchanging veiled jabs.
On the other side, Shui Miao had already spotted his younger sister Chen Xiang.
In a corner near the wall, a small and frail girl was busily working, still looking exactly the same as she had three years ago, with almost no change—still so thin and weak, making one’s heart ache at the sight, unbearable to look at for long.
While everyone else paused to look around and whisper, only Chen Xiang continued working nonstop.
Seeing Chen Xiang like this, Shui Miao could easily imagine how hard the past three years had been for her, and tears naturally welled up in his eyes.
The sudden silence in the workshop finally caused Chen Xiang to lift her head, and at that moment, she froze.
At that moment, the entire workshop fell silent, and even the machines stopped.
“Shui Miao gege!”
Chen Xiang’s tears flowed instantly as she slowly stood up, seemingly unable to believe what she was seeing.
“Little sister!”
Shui Miao walked toward Chen Xiang.
“Gege…”
Suddenly crying loudly, Chen Xiang ran out and tightly hugged Shui Miao, sobbing heartbreakingly and sorrowfully.
Although the other girls in the workshop didn’t know what was happening, seeing this scene reminded them of their own sad memories, and they too shed tearful, pitiful tears.
In an instant, the workshop was filled with crying and sobbing.
Seeing this, even Sun Jijun was moved. He pointed at He Zong and silently pulled him out of the workshop.
The female workshop supervisor was also a sentimental person. Seeing this scene, she too shed tears. These young girls had been deeply wronged—they were unwanted at home, neglected just because they were girls. Their parents refused to let them study and forced them to work here to earn money. However, the factory boss was heartless, making them work overtime every day, withholding half their wages, and even cutting corners on food, treating these girls like slaves.
There were many such young girls in the factory.
Chen Xiang cried bitterly. She hadn’t shed a single tear in the past three years, but today, she poured out all her grievances accumulated over these years.
Shui Miao stood silently, his heart racing as he quickly thought about how to change both his and his little sister Chen Xiang’s fates.
After several minutes, Shui Miao suddenly spoke, “Little sister, come with me. Let’s leave here together.”
As soon as Shui Miao said this, the workshop instantly fell silent.
Chen Xiang loosened her arms around Shui Miao and looked at him in disbelief, “Shui Miao gege, are you really willing to take me with you?”
“Of course it’s true! When have I ever lied to you?” Shui Miao wiped the tears from Chen Xiang’s face, “From now on, you’ll never have to cry again. I will take care of you…”
“But… but it’s not the end of the month yet. What about my wages? The boss is holding one month’s salary back…” She had no attachment to her parents—her heart had already been broken beyond repair. But she couldn’t just abandon the hard-earned money she had worked so hard for.
Just then, the female workshop director in her thirties hurried in, smiling as she said to everyone, “Everyone, the boss has just made a decision: your treatment from now on will be the same as the senior workers. Also, considering your performance, the boss has decided to give everyone an extra month’s salary this month, including the previously withheld deposit, and the food situation will also improve.”
Hearing this, the room buzzed with excitement, and everyone’s faces lit up with surprise and joy.
Smiling, the female workshop director approached Shui Miao and nodded, “Hello, you must be Chen Xiang’s older brother. Thank you for coming today! Without you, who knows how long these girls would have had to endure. Oh, and the boss said that if Chen Xiang needs money, she can come with me to the finance department to collect her wages, including the previously withheld deposit.”
“Thank you. Please take her to finance. She’s resigning.”
Shui Miao nodded to the workshop director.
Hearing this, the female workshop director was slightly taken aback, “What, resigning!?”
Just when she had finally found a powerful connection that could force the boss to yield, suddenly this connection was about to disappear. The workshop director felt worried—would the boss still honor his promises afterward?
Before Shui Miao could respond, Chen Xiang spoke up, “Director Yang, can my sisters here also settle their accounts today?”
Actually, the workshop director knew very well that if the boss stopped withholding deposits, half the people in the workshop might choose to leave.
“I’ll go ask…”
The workshop director took a deep breath. She knew that asking at this moment would likely get the boss to agree in front of Sun Jijun, but afterward, she would probably be demoted or fired.
“Let me talk to him instead. Thank you, Director.”
Shui Miao let Chen Xiang go with Director Yang to settle her accounts while he walked directly out of the workshop.
Everything went smoothly. The suggestions Shui Miao made were not only immediately accepted by He Zong but also met with apparent generosity. However, it wasn’t long before other workshop employees heard the news and rushed to the finance department to settle their accounts. He Zong’s generous demeanor quickly faded. Receiving a call from finance about a cash shortage, He Zong hurriedly excused himself and rushed to the finance department.
Watching He Zong’s fat figure disappear into the distance, Shui Miao curiously asked Sun Jijun, “Sun Zong, why is he so afraid of you?”
“Hehe, naturally because my connections are strong. He’s an out-of-town investor who’s poured all his assets here. If he dares to challenge me, isn’t he just asking for trouble?” Sun Jijun shook his head with a smile, patting Shui Miao’s shoulder lightly as he said, “Let’s go have tea together later. I also have a small matter I’d like to ask your advice on.”
“I’m honored, and I’ll share everything I know.”
Shui Miao nodded generously in response.
In fact, Shui Miao was a very simple person. He would treat those who were kind to him with kindness in return. Sun Jijun had given him tremendous help, and he was determined to repay this favor. Even if Sun Jijun hadn’t asked, he would have offered his assistance willingly.
As for Sun Jijun’s true intentions, Shui Miao had already guessed—they were no doubt related to asking his grandfather for help with feng shui.
Shui Miao even thought to himself, “It’s just about dealing with a yin spirit, right? Even if my grandfather doesn’t step in, I’m still willing to give it a try. I swallowed a yin spirit at the乱葬岗 last time. What’s another one?”
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