"Liu Lu is going to commit suicide? What does her suicide have to do with me... Cough cough, I mean, why is she suddenly going to commit suicide?"
Yang Song was slightly stunned at first, then subconsciously didn't want to bother. However, seeing Wang Yu beside him, as if he suddenly thought of something, he quickly softened his tone.
"Didn't she just receive the subsidies owed to her today? I'm telling you, I offended so many people to get this money for her!"
Yang Song's words seemed to be proving something, and his gaze kept appraising Wang Yu.
"The problem is with this... this!"
Old Master Chen was panting, almost unable to speak from anxiety.
"Master, don't panic," Wang Yu stepped forward and patted him on the back, "Tell me, what exactly happened?"
Although Wang Yu didn't interact much with Liu Lu, just from a few encounters, he could deeply feel the woman's fiery and tenacious personality.
Would such a person commit suicide? Impossible!
"The reason is because of the subsidies issued today," Old Master Chen panted, shaking his head helplessly. "Liu Lu's gambling husband ran away, leaving her and their daughter to live a difficult life. To make a living, she even danced at the Red Moon Ballroom."
"But we all know she just dances, purely dances. If you asked her to do anything else, she'd rather die than do that..."
Old Master Chen spoke quickly, and his rambling speech in his panic was also speechless. What did he mean by "rather die than do that"?
But there was no time to dwell on this issue. Wang Yu directly pulled Old Master Chen up and headed towards the scene of the incident, asking him to explain as they walked.
"Today we issued the past subsidy money. Liu Lu took the money home and took care of her mother-in-law... that is, her gambling husband's mother. The old lady has always been suspicious of her, worried that she would betray her son, so Liu Lu kept her dancing at the ballroom a secret. Honestly, she should think about her son's character, and she still has the nerve... Ptooey!"
Old Master Chen spat in anger as he spoke.
"This time, when a sum of money was issued, a female colleague accidentally let it slip that she wouldn't have to go to the ballroom anymore."
The old lady overheard this and caused a huge scene. Coupled with the news that you helped her repay her gambling debts and usurious loans last time, it all reached the old lady's ears. Now the old lady is making a huge fuss, insisting that Liu Lu is unfaithful and has betrayed her son, and that she is involved with other adulterous men. She's saying all sorts of nasty things. Now Liu Lu can only commit suicide to prove her innocence!"
"So, her suicide attempt?"
Wang Yu felt helpless. Did this incident somehow involve him?
He had merely offered a helping hand. If it were Lin Jianguo or someone else, he would have helped without hesitation.
Why did it turn sour in other people's mouths?
But thinking about those gossiping women and busybodies, they probably wouldn't say anything good. This was the same even in later generations. Sometimes he really wished he could beat those old ladies and aunties who lacked dignity... Cough cough!
In response to Wang Yu's question, Old Master Chen quickly shook his head.
"Fortunately, other neighbors managed to snatch the scissors away. Everyone knows Liu Lu's character, and she has good relations with everyone. We all live in the factory compound, so naturally, people help out when they can."
Old Master Chen's words made Wang Yu slightly relieved. It was good that she was alright.
"But the old lady is still at odds with her, and no one knows what to do!"
As they spoke, they arrived at the steel factory's residential compound.
This was a workers' residential area built when the steel factory was still doing well. Later, the steel factory went through a series of ups and downs like bankruptcy and restructuring, but at least this batch of houses remained.
The only pity was that houses weren't worth much at this time. Even selling them wouldn't fetch much money, let alone getting rich from demolition...
As they approached the factory compound, a sharp female soprano voice could be heard.
"Good! You young, strong men are ganging up to bully this old, frail, lonely woman. Oh heavens, what kind of world is this! I can't live!
My daughter-in-law is shamelessly fornicating with others, and I'm being abused and bullied like this... Oh my heavens!"
The voice was high-pitched and extremely piercing, clearly audible from a distance. Judging from the content, it was likely Liu Lu's mother-in-law.
Walking into the factory compound, Wang Yu saw a group of people gathered together.
On one side, Liu Lu, with a pale face, was being comforted by a group of female workers.
She bit her lip tightly, her eyes filled with unwillingness and anger.
And not far from her, a short and plump old woman... or rather, an auntie, was fiercely scolding people.
She looked like she was crying her eyes out and gesturing wildly, not appearing weak at all as she claimed.
Well, in this regard, she was very much like those aunties in later generations who had no strength on buses but were incredibly vigorous in square dancing...
"Auntie Li, it's not what you think!" Several steel factory workers on the side were trying to explain, but they kept their distance, probably afraid of being falsely accused of scolding and making trouble, so they could only speak weakly.
"How else could it be? You scoundrels are helping Liu Lu, this unvirtuous woman, to bully me. She took the money from that adulterer, doesn't her hand burn? Where is the adulterer? If he has the guts, let him come out! If he has the guts to seduce someone else's wife, he doesn't have the guts to hide at home like a cuckold? I xxxx..."
The Auntie Li was spewing foul language, her fighting power was incredible. Compared to her, Tiger Brother and his thugs could only be considered her subordinates.
"The director is here!"
Someone in the crowd shouted, and everyone's eyes focused on Yang Song, who had followed Wang Yu.
"Oh dear, Director, you must bring justice for me!"
The Auntie Li immediately stepped forward, grabbed Yang Song's thigh, and started wailing dramatically, like a big sow howling.
"What are you howling about here? Stop making a scene and stand up and talk properly!"
Yang Song looked disgusted as his trousers were smeared with Auntie Li's snot, and his expression immediately turned displeased.
Whether it was his position as director or his background as a gangster, Yang Song exuded more deterrence than ordinary workers. The Auntie Li immediately scrambled to her feet.
"Director Yang, this auntie..." Wang Yu stepped forward, about to interject, but was met with Auntie Li's disdainful glare.
"Who do you think you are? You think you're worthy of talking to the director? I'm telling you, if you're trying to connect with him, get to the back!"
Facing the auntie who could change her tune in an instant, Wang Yu chuckled, "I am the one who gave Liu Lu the money you're talking about."
"Good, so you are the adulterer!"