Chapter Twenty: Mrs. Jia Zhang Causes a Commotion at the Steel Rolling Mill

Around three in the afternoon, Mrs. Jia, accompanied by Jia Dongxu, finally arrived outside the Red Star Rolling Mill.

Because the notice of Jia Dongxu’s dismissal had already been issued, the security guards refused to let them enter, which infuriated Mrs. Jia.

"I want to see your Director Yang! Let me in this instant, or I’ll tear your faces to shreds!"

Chief Zhao of the security department heard Mrs. Jia’s clamor and rushed out. Upon seeing her arrogant demeanor, his expression turned grim.

"Jia Dongxu, what is the meaning of this?"

Chief Zhao ignored Mrs. Jia; her notorious reputation was well-known not only in their residential compound at No. 95 but throughout the entire Red Star Rolling Mill.

Jia Dongxu put on a defiant expression. "Chief Zhao, I am dissatisfied with the punishment the factory has handed down. You won’t let us see Director Yang, so what? Does that mean we aren’t allowed to wait for him here?"

Chief Zhao’s expression darkened further. He never expected Jia Dongxu to be so brazen today.

"Jia Dongxu, do you have any idea that what you are doing is against the law?"

Jia Dongxu cast a look of contempt at Chief Zhao and, mimicking his mother, sat on the ground and began to wail and complain.

"The factory is unfair! Why fire my son for no reason?"

"That’s right! Why fire me for no reason?" Jia Dongxu added. "Yi Zhonghai did the same thing as me, so why wasn’t he fired? Your rolling mill is engaging in discriminatory practices and bullying us honest folk!"

As the mother and son duo kicked up a fuss outside the factory, a crowd began to gather. This was typical; in these times, entertainment was scarce, and people’s only diversions were watching a spectacle or the private affairs of married couples at night.

"So, Mrs. Jia is here making a scene at the rolling mill now!"

"She truly lives up to her reputation—what a piece of work."

Although the onlookers didn’t know why the pair was making such a scene, they were certain that Mrs. Jia was, as usual, being unreasonable.

The situation outside soon reached Director Yang. Seeing the large crowd gathered, he grew anxious. He never imagined that firing a single employee like Jia Dongxu would escalate into such a mess.

"Mrs. Jia, who gave you the nerve to cause trouble here?" Director Yang arrived intending to assert his authority.

However, while his plan was perfect, the reality was brutal. Upon seeing Director Yang, Mrs. Jia paused for only a second before resorting to her usual shameless tactics.

"You Yang fellow, what right do you have to fire my son? You must give me an explanation today and reinstate my son as a permanent employee. Otherwise, I’m sitting right here at the factory gate and I’m not leaving!"

"I want everyone to see how your rolling mill bullies the working class!"

"That’s right, we aren’t moving until we get an explanation!" Jia Dongxu echoed.

Director Yang wavered; facing such a shameless scoundrel, his instinct was to retreat. At that moment, Li Huaide arrived with a security guard.

"Who is making a scene outside the rolling mill?"

Mrs. Jia tried to speak, but Jia Dongxu cut her off. "Deputy Director Li, we aren’t making a scene. I just want an explanation. Why fire me? Why is Yi Zhonghai fine?"

Jia Dongxu didn't let his mother speak for fear she would say the wrong thing. He knew Li Huaide was different from Director Yang. Yang was a spineless coward who would cave in at the first sign of trouble, but Li Huaide was different—he was truly capable of calling the police.

If the police were really called, there was a high chance both he and his mother would end up in the detention center. He had only just been released; if he were to go back within a few days, the punishment would likely be even harsher.

"Hmph, you’re a temporary worker comparing yourself to a permanent employee? Even Yi Zhonghai, a permanent worker, received a major demerit. Do you honestly still think what you did was a minor matter?"

"This..." Jia Dongxu didn't know how to retort.

He hated Li Huaide deeply in his heart for arriving so early. If he had come a few minutes later, Director Yang would surely have taken a step back. Even if he couldn't get his permanent status, keeping his job wouldn't have been an issue. But with Li Huaide present, he knew his job was gone.

"No! You can’t fire my son! If you fire him, how are we supposed to live? You’re trying to starve us to death!" Mrs. Jia shrieked, slapping her thighs and sobbing. "Oh, Old Jia, these beasts are bullying us! Come back and take them all away!"

Li Huaide’s expression turned icy, and he signaled to Chief Zhao of the security department. Receiving the order, Chief Zhao took a few strides toward Mrs. Jia and slapped her across the face.

The slap silenced her instantly. Mrs. Jia stared at Chief Zhao with her triangular eyes, her expression filled with disbelief.

Jia Dongxu spoke up then. "You Zhao, how dare you hit people?"

Chief Zhao said coldly, "She dared to promote feudal superstition at the factory gate; hitting her was lenient. If she tries to cause trouble again, I’ll call the police and have her arrested."

"You... you... you..." Mrs. Jia pointed at Chief Zhao, her voice trembling. She was truly frightened now, and the slap had even loosened two of her teeth.

"Oh, the rolling mill is hitting people! Everyone, come and judge this! The rolling mill is bullying a widow and an orphan! They want us to starve to death!"

Li Huaide said calmly, "Go call the police."

"Yes, sir!" The security guard acknowledged the order and ran toward the police station.

Seeing that the police were actually being called, Mrs. Jia scrambled to her feet and fled, leaving her son behind. Jia Dongxu was stunned.

"Mother, wait for me!"

Jia Dongxu tried to run, but Chief Zhao grabbed him. "Weren't you the one wanting to make a scene? I’ll let you have your fill today."

Jia Dongxu was dumbfounded. He never imagined that after coming to the factory to cause trouble with his mother, she would run away, leaving him to face the consequences alone.

"Chief... Chief Zhao, please, have mercy. Just pretend I’m a dog and let me go."

Director Yang, who had been silent until now, spoke up. "Fine, let him get lost too."

Director Yang waved his hand impatiently. The security guards and factory staff looked at him with changed expressions, but he was so eager to end the matter that he didn't notice.

Li Huaide felt triumphant; he couldn't believe how foolish Director Yang was. Regardless of how anyone felt about the Director's decision, he was the highest-ranking official present, and Chief Zhao had no choice but to release Jia Dongxu.

Seeing this, Jia Dongxu didn't dare linger and vanished in a flash.