Zhao Lifang was speechless, feeling as if she wasn't allowed to do anything good.
"If you thought she was going to do something bad, why did you let her come over and invite trouble?"
"If I didn't let her come, how would I know what bad things she intended to do, and how could I catch her?" Cheng You said as a matter of course.
Zhao Lifang felt it made sense. In the end, Cheng You just wanted to teach that Jiang Wanrou a lesson, just like she had taught Cheng Tao before.
"Then how much are you going to pay me? I won't do it if there's no money!"
Cheng You rolled her eyes at her. "An extra twenty yuan, alright?"
She was clearly all about the money.
Only then was Zhao Lifang satisfied.
She actually quite liked working for Cheng You because she was generous.
Working at the factory was also good, but there were too many rules, and it felt restrictive.
So, when Jiang Wanrou arrived, Cheng You handed her over to Zhao Lifang.
Under Zhao Lifang's relentless torment, Jiang Wanrou almost gave up.
This was not work for humans!
She had never met a more savage woman than Zhao Lifang.
If it weren't for the money, she would never have endured such humiliation.
"Just bear with it a little longer. Zhao Lifang is just like that, she's used to being willful," Cheng Tao comforted her.
Jiang Wanrou gritted her teeth. "She's not willful, she's deliberately targeting me! You're her sister-in-law, she'll at least give you some face, right? Can you talk to her for me!"
Cheng Tao felt miserable inside; she had no face to speak of in front of Zhao Lifang.
However, since Jiang Wanrou had asked, she couldn't refuse.
Otherwise, Jiang Wanrou might get angry and break ties with her.
Cheng Tao had no choice but to shamelessly go and plead with Zhao Lifang.
Whether Zhao Lifang listened or not was another matter; at least she had gone, and Jiang Wanrou had seen it.
After this, Zhao Lifang figured things out.
So, Jiang Wanrou and Cheng Tao were colluding.
She had thought as much; Jiang Wanrou didn't seem like a person with much brains.
It turned out Cheng Tao was instigating her behind the scenes.
Once she realized this, Zhao Lifang became less polite.
"What, did she complain to you that I was bullying her?"
Cheng Tao had been talking to her gently and calmly, but suddenly she was questioned sharply, her face showing fear.
She hadn't said anything!
"Lifang, don't get so agitated. No one complained to me."
Zhao Lifang scoffed. "She didn't complain to you, yet you're running over here telling me to treat her better? Jiang Wanrou, get out here!"
Inside, Jiang Wanrou hated Cheng Tao to death. What had she said to Zhao Lifang? Why were they arguing now?
"Lifang, don't be like this. It really wasn't her complaining to me. I just said it casually. If you don't like it, I won't say it anymore," Cheng Tao said with a look of panic.
"Bah! Why shouldn't I say it? If you don't explain this clearly, won't I be taking the blame for nothing? Since you say I'm bullying her, then let her come out and we'll have a good talk! Let's see if I'm actually bullying her! So I don't get a bad reputation!"
Cheng Tao: "..."
She really wanted to say, your reputation can't get any worse anyway, there's no room for further decline.
Her shrewish demeanor even scared Cheng Tao, let alone Jiang Wanrou.
"Fine, forget I said anything. I was just giving some friendly advice, and I didn't say anything excessive. Why are you so fierce?" Cheng Tao said, then stood up and walked out.
She wanted to leave, but Zhao Lifang wouldn't let her.
Finally, after much persuasion, she managed to get away.
Even Jiang Wanrou was subdued by Zhao Lifang and didn't dare to speak.
After scolding Cheng Tao away, she still glared fiercely at Jiang Wanrou, "What are you looking at? Go back to work!"
Jiang Wanrou shrunk her neck and quickly scurried to the side, appearing weak and pitiful.
"Hmph! Don't let me catch you slacking off, or don't blame me for kicking you out."
With that, Zhao Lifang went out to report to Cheng You.
She had discovered this secret, so naturally, she wanted to ask Cheng You for more money.
Cheng You was not stingy and immediately gave her the money, after which she revealed the matter concerning Cheng Tao.
However, she still didn't know what Cheng Tao was planning.
That evening, when she mentioned it to Qi Chengyan, he pondered for a moment and said, "Could it be related to Qin Jianzhong?"
"Qin Jianzhong?"
"Zhao Yunlin is close to him."
Coincidentally, Zhao Yunlin had recently quit his job at the supply and marketing cooperative, saying he was going out of the province to get goods.
But going out of the province to get goods alone wouldn't work. It would be best if he could team up with a transport team.
One for convenience, and the other for safety.
The journey was long and full of uncertainties.
Qi Chengyan had encountered many robberies in those desolate places in the past.
Those places were remote, and if someone disappeared, no one would even notice.
Cheng You was stunned for a moment. She knew Qi Chengyan must have gone through many dangers.
But this was the first time she had heard him talk about it.
It was true; every medal he wore was earned with his life.
As he was speaking, Cheng You suddenly leaned closer.
"What's wrong?"
Cheng You leaned into his embrace and remained still.
The strong, steady heartbeat against her chest was the only thing that made her feel this man was truly present before her.
"Qi Chengyan, you must have had a hard time in the past."
Now, it was Qi Chengyan's turn to be stunned.
She was feeling heartache over something so ordinary.
A warm current flowed into his chest, bringing a bittersweet sensation.
"It was hard in the past."
It wasn't now.
After two minutes of sentimentality, Cheng You returned to the main topic.
"So, you think Cheng Tao and Jiang Wanrou are colluding to get something from me?"
"Most likely medicine."
Qi Chengyan was always sharp when it came to such matters.
For example, the thousand cans of anti-miscarriage pills that Ying Tianyun purchased from Cheng You were definitely not for the pharmaceutical factory but for his private dealings.
These anti-miscarriage pills were to be transported by Qin Jianzhong to another location for sale.
And this location would purchase them at a higher price.
He would make a profit from the price difference by reselling them.
Qin Jianzhong, seeing the business opportunity, couldn't help but be tempted.
But he didn't have the connections to get Cheng You to sell him the medicine.
If Zhao Yunlin were to step in and make a deal with him at this point, he would most likely agree.
Cheng You found it hard to believe. "I thought Captain Qin was a very upright person."
"People die for wealth. Even the most upright person is no match for money."
Especially when that person is in urgent need of money.
Cheng You heard the implication in his words and asked, "How do you know he's short on money?"
"Do you remember what he asked you last time?"
Cheng You nodded blankly. Of course, she remembered.
He had said he had a friend who habitually miscarried.
It was true, if it were his female friend, she probably wouldn't tell him such private matters.
This "friend" was likely his wife.
Seeking medical treatment would cost a lot of money.
Cheng You felt an indescribable sense of disappointment; she had actually trusted Qin Jianzhong quite a bit.
To think he was coveting her medicine.
"Then let's wait and see. If they dare to reach for my pharmacy, I'll chop off their claws." Cheng You acted like a fierce rabbit.
Qi Chengyan smiled and ruffled her hair.