I Became a Vicious Supporting Role in the '70s-Chapter 217: I Really Didn’t Mean It

A group of people followed Shen Meng back home, Wu Xianglan wanted to comfort her, but she was also worried about the two kids. Just now in the workshop, she didn’t see Xie Jinghao, and had no clue how the kids were doing during her day away from home, whether they had been bullied or not.

"Xianglan, if you’re worried, go back first. I’m alright, really!"

"Elder sister-in-law, I’ll... I’ll just go and come back quickly, I’ll come over later to check on you, elder sister-in-law. Don’t be sad, Zhou Jiaojiao is just like a dung beetle laying eggs, not a good sort. People in our village rely on you making money, now they don’t even acknowledge you as their own anymore, they’ll regret it. Elder sister-in-law, don’t take it to heart, okay?"

Shen Meng: "...."

I can’t be a mother to so many people. Although your words of comfort are a bit offensive to me, I still thank you!!!

"Go, go, after listening to you, my headache got worse."

Wu Xianglan paused, nodded, said goodbye to the others, and then quickly grabbed her bag and left.

Yu Xueli waited until she was gone before starting to get angry; her eyes were red with frustration.

"It’s outrageous, these people! Back when there was money to be made, they were all over you, praising you to the skies. And now, suddenly, they’ve changed? What does it mean? Isn’t this like casting off the millstone after the milling’s done? Sister-in-law, we can’t just let this go!"

Yu Xueli rarely called herself Shen Meng’s sister-in-law, but suddenly saying it like that, Shen Meng felt quite touched.

Wang Lianhua and Su Xiaomei also looked at Shen Meng with concern. After working so hard for so long, to have others reap the benefits of your work with just a few words, this would be unacceptable for anyone!

"Xiao Meng, if you feel bad, just cry it out. Don’t be afraid. If it hadn’t been for this matter, you’d be more at ease. Later on, you can just go to work and earn a salary peacefully. Let them make a fuss if they want, it’s up to them. Your elder sister-in-law and I will talk about it here every day. We’ll come over first thing in the morning. To be honest, we’re also tired and have long wanted to quit."

"That’s right," said the elder sister-in-law, "My belly is so big now, I’m probably going to give birth next month. I really don’t want to move at all. Your second brother is also worried, and running back and forth is not as good as earning work points at home."

Both sister-in-laws were comforting her. At first, Shen Meng asked Su Xiaomei to stay at home to work, but she was reluctant, saying that her belly was big and it was the time to walk around more. The two villages weren’t far apart, and it was good for so many women to get together and talk. Shen Meng understood that she didn’t want to receive special treatment, afraid that it might be difficult for her in the village. How could she not understand the good intentions of her sister-in-laws!

"I’m fine. It’s actually good that elder sister-in-law and second sister-in-law don’t want to come over. Later, let Xiangxiang and Xifeng go help out at our place. Not only is the wage higher, but you’ll also get to eat some rare treats every day."

People looked at each other, thinking Shen Meng was talking nonsense because she was angry, but Yu Xueli had a thought that Shen Meng might have pulled in a job for the commune again.

Sure enough, in the next moment, she heard her say: "At the county hospital, Dr. Cheng has a younger cousin who works in the grocery factory as the head of procurement. When I went to see Dr. Cheng before, I brought some egg yolk pastries and mung bean cakes I made. Little did I expect, she was very pleasantly surprised after eating them, and even sought the recommendation of the factory director. Today, she came to me and mentioned that the grocery factory hasn’t been doing well in the past two years. Not to mention the products sold elsewhere, even our own county doesn’t buy those pastries and canned goods much, unless it’s for gifts. She thinks my pastries are delicious and wants me to make some. I thought to myself, isn’t this a business opportunity knocking at my door? So, I told her I could take some orders. Later, we can sell them under the grocery factory’s brand, but it will need to be a partnership with the commune, just like the head wreath deal with Lu Family Village."

Shen Meng had just finished speaking when Lv Qinlan and Su Xiaomei were shocked and their mouths fell open. No wonder her sister-in-law had just mentioned being unable to clone herself; isn’t this exactly what being unable to clone oneself feels like?

Another opportunity has arisen so soon, and it’s for making pastries. If that Huahua workshop can succeed, then the pastry workshop in their village must be able to succeed as well!

"Actually, I don’t believe for a second that today’s event is a coincidence, but it doesn’t matter. People ought to pay the price for their mistakes to realize how outrageous those past mistakes were."

Lv Qinlan fell silent for quite a while before speaking, "Xiao Meng, this matter is going to be tough. The workshop you set up in Lu Family Village was thriving and the surrounding villages were envious. But now you’ve been driven out, and even if you start from scratch, I’m afraid you might still be mistreated."

Shen Meng chuckled and said, "Elder sister-in-law, if I bring in orders directly that will make them money right away, do you think they’d still dare to give me trouble? Besides, they can’t make those things happen on their own — they are just a few blind toads leaping around. Not to mention that the village chief, the Secretary, and Director Guo wouldn’t agree, but the most important thing is that Li Qianqian, head of the textile factory, would definitely not agree."

Since Shen Meng was so confident, they didn’t feel right to say anything else. This younger sister-in-law always had a plan, and if she said it would work, then it definitely would.

After discussing everything, they planned to go back, as it was getting late and it was almost dark. They were worried that Shen Shoutian would soon come with a flashlight to pick them up.

Before they could leave, they saw Zhou Jiaojiao coming while holding her belly, with a face full of guilt.

"Elder sister-in-law, how are you? I didn’t know, I really had no idea what was happening. The workshop you managed was so successful, but suddenly they asked me to take over. I don’t understand these matters. Elder sister-in-law, I didn’t want to take over. You must not be angry with me!"

"Weasel paying a New Year’s visit to a chicken — no good intentions, hmph!"

Yu Xueli glared at Zhou Jiaojiao, then turned around and walked away.

Shen Meng: "..."

You, if you’re going to curse someone, just curse them. Why lump me into it too!!!

"I, elder sister-in-law, I didn’t do it intentionally, I really didn’t know about this. It was only when the Qiao family’s elder sister-in-law came looking for me that I found out. Don’t worry, I won’t take over this matter. If the village chief and the Secretary come to me, I will definitely refuse. I won’t make things difficult for you, elder sister-in-law. You’ve always been the one running this, and if I took over, what kind of person would I be? It’s also my fault for talking carelessly and letting slip that I know the leaders of the textile factory, and since Jiaxuan works at the commune, they must have misunderstood, I really don’t know how to explain anymore."

All of them being women understood the ins and outs of it. Lv Qinlan supported Su Xiaomei as they walked outside.

"Don’t bother explaining. You all are like grasshoppers after the autumn, not jumping for much longer. Xiao Meng is very busy; while you waste her time with your idle chatter, she could have finished cooking dinner. Stop causing all this fuss."

After being taunted twice in a row, Zhou Jiaojiao’s face looked a bit ugly. She had expected to see Shen Meng crying bitterly, in distress, or even questioning her loudly, but instead, Shen Meng didn’t seem to burst into anger, nor did those who were close to her make a fuss, leaving Zhou Jiaojiao choked up with words that she couldn’t quite get out.