Saliva droplets sprayed onto Xia Xiao Lan’s face.

This wasn’t the first time she’d been called a vixen, but with her current face – which only her Zhou Cheng would dare to kiss – how could anyone call her a vixen?

Were these people’s eyes completely blind?

The woman tried to lunge forward to hit Xia Xiao Lan but was firmly held back by Chen Xi Liang:

“Lin Mei Juan, are you done being crazy?”

Xia Xiao Lan turned her head, and the woman faltered.

Though Xia Xiao Lan’s face was still purple and swollen, one could still see her fair skin at the neck and the elegant curve of her jaw upon closer inspection. Yangcheng’s weather was warmer, so winter clothing wasn’t too bulky, revealing Xia Xiao Lan’s graceful figure.

Xia Xiao Lan immediately guessed this was Chen Xi Liang’s wife, who had previously pretended not to speak Mandarin on the phone. Now here to “catch an affair,” she spoke quite fluent Mandarin to establish dominance over the supposed vixen.

Xia Xiao Lan saw a fashionably dressed woman with permed curls, large gold earrings, and gold rings on her fingers, though short in stature, wearing high-heeled boots… In 1985 China, this was how wealthy private business owners’ wives dressed. Chen Xi Liang’s wife certainly hadn’t been deprived materially.

But her personality was something else entirely.

Xia Xiao Lan’s mood was completely ruined. “Brother Chen, please explain things to Sister-in-law properly. I’ll take my leave.”

It seemed the Chen couple’s conflicts hadn’t been resolved. Chen Xi Liang had said it wouldn’t affect business, but less than two hours into her company visit, Chen Xi Liang’s wife had brought people to confront them. Someone must have tipped her off.

Lin Mei Juan struggled but couldn’t break free from Chen Xi Liang’s grip. She pointed at Xia Xiao Lan and shouted:

“Caught in the act and still denying it? Chen Xi Liang, I knew you didn’t start this factory for nothing – you’re just giving money to this vixen! Little brother, stop her! Don’t let her escape!”

The people Lin Mei Juan brought surrounded Xia Xiao Lan.

Xia Xiao Lan had borrowed Tang Hong En’s car and driver Wang to send Guan Hui E to Baiyun Airport, knowing she couldn’t drive with her injured hand.

While Xia Xiao Lan discussed business with Chen Xi Liang, Driver Wang had been napping in the car, awakened by Lin Mei Juan’s shrill voice.

Peering out, he saw several men surrounding Xia Xiao Lan and knew things were bad.

He ran from the car and stood in front of Xia Xiao Lan. “Are you all trying to end up at the police station?”

Lin Mei Juan’s brother was a good-for-nothing who lived off his sister and followed her lead. He sized up Wang sideways, “Kid, don’t cause trouble for yourself. Police station? I’m so scared!”

Lin Mei Juan chimed in, “If anyone’s going to the police station, it’ll be the adulterers!”

Driver Wang was stunned, pointing at Chen Xi Liang – what kind of wife had he married? She seemed bent on ruining Chen Xi Liang.

Chen Xi Liang was in a bind. He called to the two designers, “Why are you just standing there? Go get people from the factory! If anything happens to President Xia, our company is finished!”

Chen Xi Liang recognized Wang as Mayor Tang’s driver.

How close must Mayor Tang and Xia Xiao Lan be for him to lend her his driver?

A day of marriage means a hundred days of affection – though Chen Xi Liang and Lin Mei Juan couldn’t continue living together, she had at least given him a son. Chen Xi Liang had hoped for an amicable divorce, providing Lin Mei Juan financial security for her future life, parting on good terms – but he’d been too naive. While he wanted to ensure her comfortable future, Lin Mei Juan had no intention of letting him go. If Xia Xiao Lan got hurt, Chen Xi Liang thought of Ke Yi Xiong’s fate and felt a chill run through his entire body!

The female designer quickly squeezed through and ran toward Chenyu Garment Factory, shouting, “Help! Someone’s causing trouble here!”

Driver Wang protected Xia Xiao Lan, and the male designer also came to shield President Xia. Chen Xi Liang took the opportunity to break free from Lin Mei Juan.

Lin Mei Juan blamed her brother’s incompetence – several grown men couldn’t stop Chen Xi Liang’s lackey from running away. Now Lin Mei Juan saw not only Xia Xiao Lan as a vixen but suspected the twenty-something female designer of having an affair with Chen Xi Liang too.

She not only thought this but said it out loud, making Chen Xi Liang shake with anger.

He Cong Sheng, hearing his brother-in-law was being surrounded, rushed over with factory workers. Seeing Xia Xiao Lan’s swollen face, he barely recognized her:

“Comrade Xiao Xia?”

“Yes, Factory Manager He, you haven’t mistaken me.”

Could Lin Mei Juan’s group have beaten up Xiao Xia?

He Cong Sheng had originally opposed Chen Xi Liang’s divorce – for the child’s sake, how could marriage be ended so easily?

Moreover, according to Chen Xi Liang’s calculations, the divorce would require giving Lin Mei Juan a large sum of money. He Cong Sheng knew how his brother-in-law earned his money – working 365 days a year, except for half a month during New Year’s, with no rest days, rain or shine, Chen Xi Liang would man his stall.

Even when others rested, Chen Xi Liang never took a day off.

When Chen Xi Liang quit his iron rice bowl job at the factory, the whole family opposed it, but he was determined to prove himself by earning money.

He Cong Sheng knew Chen Xi Liang wanted to start a women’s clothing brand and had brought in Xia Xiao Lan as a partner… The investment was several hundred thousand yuan. If Lin Mei Juan drove Comrade Xiao Xia away, wouldn’t that investment be wasted?

“Mei Juan, what do you mean causing trouble at the factory? If you can’t live with Xi Liang anymore, pick a day and go handle the divorce procedures.”

Lin Mei Juan was dumbfounded.

“Brother-in-law, why are you only speaking for him? He brought a vixen to the company, and I caught them red-handed-“

“Lin Mei Juan, you’re being uncouth, falsely accusing people – this is our company’s shareholder! Let’s go to the Civil Affairs Bureau right now for a divorce. If we don’t divorce today, may I, Chen Xi Liang, get hit by a car when I leave!”

Xia Xiao Lan was depressed by this farce.

She couldn’t say anything – adding fuel to the fire by encouraging Chen Xi Liang to divorce wouldn’t help, especially since she knew about his unfortunate future remarriage.

Besides, if she spoke up now, how could she shake off the “vixen” label?

Family disputes were hard to settle. Xia Xiao Lan didn’t want to get caught in this mess. She’d seen the product samples and could review the accounts later, but when she tried to leave, Lin Mei Juan threw a tantrum and refused to let her go.

Lin Mei Juan’s brother even threatened to have people deal with Xia Xiao Lan. President Xia finally lost her patience:

“I shouldn’t have to say this, but look at yourself – what can you do besides throw tantrums? Forget about being supportive partners, can’t you at least stop holding Chen Xi Liang back? You don’t even know who I am, yet you bring people to fight… Are you trying to speed up Chen Xi Liang’s death? Chen Xi Liang, handle your family matters – I’m withdrawing my investment!”

Chen Xi Liang turned pale, not knowing if Xia Xiao Lan was serious.

If she withdrew her investment now, after he had invested so much, he would be ruined.

“Sister Xia-“

“Don’t call me sister, I’m several years younger than you. Have some shame!”

Xia Xiao Lan stormed off angrily, and this time Lin Mei Juan’s people forgot to stop her.