Inexplicably, Ding Aizhen’s eyelid kept twitching.

She had left the office early to head home. While walking through the factory, many people whispered among themselves, saying that despite her evil deeds, Ding Aizhen was still living comfortably.

Ding Aizhen couldn’t care less about these rumors. Whatever factory workers said wouldn’t affect her position as Director Ding one bit.

With Xia Xiaolan, that detestable little vixen, finally in trouble, Ding Aizhen could barely contain her desire to burst into song.

At home, she washed and chopped ingredients, preparing a table full of dishes to celebrate. When Zhu Chengchun returned from work, the couple opened a bottle of wine.

“I thought she was so formidable!”

A mere security team leader, wasn’t it easy enough to make that little vixen submit?

She had been too soft-hearted before. What was the point of holding onto that business license? She should have done this earlier!

“Don’t be too happy. When Zhu Fang returns from his studies, be careful he might make trouble,” Zhu Chengchun warned.

Ding Aizhen snorted softly, “Just make sure your cousin keeps his mouth shut and doesn’t blabber in front of Zhu Fang. How would our son find out?”

Zhu Fang was quite attached to his mother. His job handling procurement at the Huanghe Restaurant wasn’t particularly challenging, and despite being in his twenties, he wasn’t very sophisticated. By the time he returned from his studies, Xia Xiaolan’s case would be settled. Ding Aizhen had already planned her response – if Zhu Fang asked the family for help, she would pretend to pull some strings.

Then she would tell Zhu Fang that the family had tried their best but really couldn’t get Xia Xiaolan’s case dismissed.

She’d also invite Guo Hao’s mother to come and cry, asking Zhu Fang if he would abandon his relatives for a woman who had Guo Hao beaten so badly.

Ding Aizhen gleefully shared her plans with her husband. Zhu Chengchun popped a peanut into his mouth and said:

“You and your petty schemes.”

Just as he finished speaking, someone pounded forcefully on their door.

The knocking wasn’t gentle at all. Ding Aizhen was displeased: “Who is it?”

Who would visit during dinner time? They had no sense of propriety.

When Ding Aizhen opened the door, she found two police officers in uniform:

“Are you Ding Aizhen?”

“Yes…”

“We need you to come with us to assist with an investigation.”

The two officers flashed their badges. Zhu Chengchun rushed out: “Which police station are you from?”

“West City Police Station.”

Wasn’t that the same station that arrested Xia Xiaolan? Zhu Chengchun wasn’t worried. Perhaps Xia Xiaolan had panicked and started making random accusations, so the police came to get Ding Aizhen’s statement.

Zhu Chengchun spoke casually, “I know your Deputy Chief…”

The officer coldly interrupted Zhu Chengchun, “We need to take Ding Aizhen back to the station.”

Something felt off to Zhu Chengchun.

They lived in State Cotton Mill No. 3’s staff quarters, and neighbors were already peeking out and whispering. Ding Aizhen being taken away by the police would spark unsavory rumors. Zhu Chengchun felt this would look terrible!

But these officers were unmoved, and Ding Aizhen wasn’t stupid – why would they take this attitude if they just wanted a statement?

“Old Zhu!”

She looked panic-stricken. Zhu Chengchun reassured her, “It’s fine, I’ll go with you.”

What a waste of all the good dishes Ding Aizhen had prepared – the couple barely ate anything.

Gossip spread quickly through the staff quarters. Within half an hour, many people at State Cotton Mill No. 3 knew the police had taken Ding Aizhen away!

“What did Director Ding do?”

“Old Zheng’s matter…”

“Housing allocation is a factory matter, why would the police arrest someone over it?”

At the police station, Zhu Chengchun realized things were serious – his cousin Team Leader Guo was there too.

A female officer got straight to the point, demanding Ding Aizhen confess to instigating the security team to falsely accuse Xia Xiaolan and orchestrating mob violence.

While false accusations might not be taken too seriously by law if Ding Aizhen was involved in mob violence… Zhu Chengchun’s hands grew cold.

“But the security team members were the ones injured!”

Zhu Chengchun couldn’t help interjecting. The female officer gave him a cold look:

“So others should just stand there and let the security team beat them to death without fighting back? You’re Guo Hao’s cousin, right? Did you know about the bad things your wife made Guo Hao and others do?”

His cousin Team Leader Guo looked at him pleadingly.

His nephew Guo Hao and several other security team members had been brought to the station from the hospital, covered in iodine and bandages, their faces swollen like pig heads.

How had the situation completely reversed like this?

Ding Aizhen knew she couldn’t confess. The police put her alone in a room for questioning.

Zhu Chengchun rushed to the Deputy Chief’s home. Though they were friends, the Deputy Chief was now in trouble himself and reproached Zhu Chengchun: “You said she was just a country girl, and we’d scare her a bit at the station. I was willing to look the other way. But then Secretary Hou from the City Committee came to protect her, accompanied by Bureau Chief Yang. Our Station Chief was falling all over himself apologizing… Old Zhu, you’ve gotten me in trouble!”

Secretary Hou from the City Committee?

Bureau Chief Yang?

Zhu Chengchun’s head was about to explode. How was this possible?

Secretary Hou was a leader’s trusted aide – how could he get involved in such a trivial matter?

Zhu Chengchun could barely stand, his mind reeling.

If Xia Xiaolan had such connections, she should have revealed them earlier. One word from Secretary Hou and the business license wouldn’t have been delayed so long! Instead of taking the peaceful approach where everyone would win, she had to make a scene at the Industry and Commerce office, which had clouded his judgment… How did Xia Xiaolan know Secretary Hou?

Zhu Chengchun’s thoughts were in chaos.

If Hu Yongcai were here, he might have lectured Zhu Chengchun – hadn’t he said before? Never underestimate any beautiful woman. Sure, she might have been born with a poor fate as a rural resident, but who knows? In her next life, she might soar high and become a phoenix!

After Ding Aizhen was taken away, Zhu Chengchun spent the whole night running around. He had many relatives and tried to pull strings everywhere.

As dawn approached, one relative got back to him.

“Guo Hao and the others kicked an iron plate. Secretary Hou must be running errands for the leadership.”

If Secretary Hou was acting alone, there might still be room for maneuver.

But what if Secretary Hou was following the leadership’s instructions?

Zhu Chengchun was just a section chief, his wife an office director at State Cotton Mill No. 3. The couple usually looked down on others from their high horse. They had scorned Xia Xiaolan’s background, thinking they could make her leave Shangdu with just a wave of their hand. But their little bit of authority only made life slightly more comfortable. With just a casual word from the leaders above, Zhu Chengchun would be no different from ordinary citizens with nothing to show for themselves.

Zhu Chengchun took leave from work the next day. While he was busy trying to rescue his wife, he didn’t know that early that morning, Zheng Zhongfu from State Cotton Mill No. 3 had gone to the city offices with a banner, formally reporting that Ding Aizhen had abused her position for illegal activities – Zheng Zhongfu wasn’t complaining about housing allocation but accused Ding Aizhen of having an improper relationship with the factory director. He claimed they had been marking first-grade products as defective and selling them at low prices for kickbacks!

This news shook State Cotton Mill No. 3 and several other state cotton mills in Shangdu to their core.

When Secretary Hou heard about it, he found it amusing. What perfect timing – these large state cotton mills usually didn’t listen much to city authorities. Now this incident could become leverage to reform the management of Shangdu’s textile industry.

Ding Aizhen was just a small figure caught in the middle, destined to become the first sacrifice!