In 1954, when State Cotton Mill No. 3 began construction in Shangdu, 20-year-old Zheng Zhongfu answered the nation’s call. He spent his savings on a train ticket from the south to Shangdu, joining the city’s textile workforce. He would spend the next 30 years at Mill No. 3.

In those 30 years, young Zheng became old Zheng.

Old Zheng married in Shangdu, had children and settled down.

The youthful vigor had turned to gray at his temples, and compared to other mill workers, Old Zheng’s burden was particularly heavy. He and his wife had four children in quick succession – only the eldest was a daughter, with three sons following. Except for the married daughter, the three sons still crowded into a small house with their parents, none willing to move out.

There was nowhere to move to. Though his eldest son had joined the mill as a worker two years ago, the factory hadn’t allocated him housing.

Why give housing to single young men? With housing tight, priority went to those with families.

It was a vicious cycle – without housing, Old Zheng’s eldest son couldn’t marry. Word was that several matchmaking attempts for all three sons had failed. Old Zheng watched his son change from cheerful to silent, no longer smiling or speaking much.

To make matters worse, Old Zheng’s mother-in-law recently had a stroke. When other children refused to care for her, his wife brought her home… now six people crowded one room!

Six adults, plus a bedridden patient.

The housing pressure on Zheng’s family was extraordinary.

Old Zheng reported his family’s difficulties to the factory. His request wasn’t excessive – just to exchange their one-room-plus-half-living-room apartment for something slightly larger. Even two bedrooms and a living room would house all six people.

“I won’t trouble the factory unnecessarily. Years ago, we managed with two adults and four kids crowded together – did I ever complain? But the children are grown now, and my mother-in-law had a stroke – we can’t throw her out. Can six adults live in one room? Either give us a two-bedroom or allocate another small unit so my eldest can move out and get married!”

Indeed, Old Zheng’s request wasn’t unreasonable.

Having four children wasn’t wrong – family planning wasn’t required back then.

With Old Zheng’s eldest son working at the mill but without housing, given their conditions, no woman would marry into the family. Where would a daughter-in-law live? Blood relatives might squeeze into one room, but how could a daughter-in-law share with her father-in-law?

The request was reasonable, and the factory was sympathetic, holding meetings about solving veteran workers’ living difficulties.

Of the ten housing allocations this time, Yuan Honggang thought they could solve Zheng Zhongfu’s problem with one unit. When proposed at the meeting, no one objected – except Ding Aizhen, who jumped up saying it violated factory rules.

“Everyone has difficulties – should the factory solve them all? Single workers don’t get housing; they can stay in dormitories. If others can manage, why can’t Zheng Zhongfu’s eldest? Wait until after marriage for housing allocation according to seniority – that’s following rules. Young people shouldn’t be so delicate, wanting instant success!”

It sounded reasonable.

But it completely ignored Old Zheng’s predicament.

While the son could stay in dormitories, missing this allocation meant waiting indefinitely for the next quota.

Director Ding spoke righteously but showed no humanity.

The two units she fought for could be justified by rules, but those families’ housing needs were far less urgent than Zheng Zhongfu’s. Many understood that Ding Aizhen deliberately sabotaged Zheng Zhongfu – who had offended her in their youth.

Ding Aizhen held grudges – for over twenty years! Though Yuan Honggang wanted to help Old Zheng, as deputy director, he was outranked – the director supported Ding Aizhen!

Zheng Zhongfu was just an ordinary, honest worker, now driven to wanting to stab Ding Aizhen… When housing hopes were dashed again, his son became distracted and had an accident operating machinery, losing his hand.

Though they saved his life, the hand was gone.

With one hand left and decades ahead – Zheng Zhongfu’s hair turned almost completely white overnight.

This incident caused quite a stir, known not just at Mill No. 3 but at other factories too.

Xia Xiaolan was speechless.

She sympathized with the Zheng family’s tragedy and marveled at Ding Aizhen’s audacity – with the Zheng incident just happening, Ding Aizhen showed no remorse. At such a time, one should keep a low profile, yet she was still actively trying to make Xia Xiaolan submit and apologize.

Of course – Ding Aizhen saw her as a country girl without roots in Shangdu, easy to bully.

Just like honest Zheng Zhongfu – bully him, and what retaliation would there be?

“Uncle, ask Zheng Zhongfu if he’s willing to write a signed complaint letter.”

“Would it help? Everyone says Ding Aizhen retaliated by blocking Zheng Zhongfu’s housing allocation, but there’s no proof.”

People who disliked Ding Aizhen had written complaint letters before, all to no effect.

“Whether it works depends on how we use it. Zheng Zhongfu has public sympathy now. If he leads the charge, it might trigger different results than previous complaints.”

Bullying others could be endured.

If it was Zheng Zhongfu who was disabled, perhaps they could endure, but it was his unmarried son – how much more should the Zheng family take? Specifically targeting honest people – had they dug up Ding’s ancestors’ graves to deserve such treatment?

While Xia Xiaolan pursued her method of dealing with Ding Aizhen, Kang Wei and Shao Guangrong arrived in Shangdu by train. Shao’s uncle sent someone to meet them, preventing Kang Wei from seeing Xia Xiaolan immediately.

Uncle Shao’s secretary had worked with him for years and knew Shao Guangrong well.

When Kang Wei offered help, Shao Guangrong didn’t bother his uncle, dealing directly with Secretary Hou.

But this visit to Shangdu meant seeing his uncle… Why was Secretary Hou willing to help? Different people, different fates – Shao Guangrong was the Shao family’s only male heir, beloved by all, and Secretary Hou naturally wanted to please “Young Master Shao.”

Kang Wei mockingly echoed the secretary’s “Young Master Shao,” making Shao Guangrong uncomfortable: “Brother Hou, stop joking. Besides seeing uncle, I need your help with something.”

The usually aloof Secretary Hou smiled, “You call me brother – of course, I’ll help! Come on, let’s see the leader.”

Despite his busy schedule, Uncle Shao made time for his nephew.

He was also warm to Kang Wei, dining with both, and pleased to hear Shao Guangrong would stay in Shangdu for a few days.

“Don’t cause trouble. Little Hou will arrange a car when you go out.”

Kang Wei was quite envious.

Uncle Shao’s affection for his nephew was unconcealed, while his own Second Uncle’s warmth remained superficial.

He didn’t expect much from his uncle, but growing up fatherless, Kang Wei especially craved care from male elders.

“Let’s go, brother – weren’t you going to show me Zhou Cheng’s woman?”

Shao Guangrong interrupted Kang Wei’s melancholy. Big-mouth Shao… no, Young Master Shao was intensely curious about Zhou Cheng’s girlfriend. So many girls had thrown themselves at Zhou Cheng, yet he’d never shown interest in any!