Chapter 2415: Living in a Different Environment

Li Wancheng, a rough man, had tears swirling in his eyes. It could be said that for the past three years, seeing his once lively and cheerful daughter become silent and withdrawn filled his heart with pain and helplessness.

As a father, unable to even protect his own daughter, he felt he was very incompetent. Sometimes, he really wanted to take a knife and kill Hu Gang.

But he also knew that if he did that, while it might be satisfying, his family would not be able to withstand Hu Dajun's retaliation. In the end, it would definitely lead to the destruction of his family, and his son and daughter would not have a good outcome.

Li Wancheng clenched his fists tightly, as if wanting to use this method to suppress the emotional fluctuations in his heart. However, despite his efforts to restrain himself, his voice still carried a trace of choking.

"How could I not want to seek justice for my daughter? But she is only eighteen this year, still so young. If this matter gets out, how will she find a husband in the future? Her whole life will probably be ruined!"

Zhou Andong couldn't help but sigh. This was indeed a problem. Not to mention this era, even in later generations—an era where moral concepts were relatively lacking, mistresses were rampant, and various sharing and exchange behaviors were common—if any girl suffered such a thing, she would definitely be pointed at and mocked by some immoral people, causing serious secondary harm to the victim's body and mind, and this harm would accompany her for a lifetime.

Liu Lijuan's heart felt as if it had been struck by a huge force; it was a kind of deep helplessness. She was a woman and knew deeply how great the harm brought by such things was.

Physical wounds might slowly heal with time, but the wounds of the soul were like a deep brand, making it difficult for a person to get rid of the shadow for a lifetime.

She couldn't help but think of similar things she had heard about; those women who had suffered such encounters often had their lives completely destroyed.

Whether it was social prejudice, the pointing fingers of others, or inner self-doubt and fear, they were all like heavy shackles, trapping them in an abyss of pain from which they could not extricate themselves.

And for Li Wancheng's daughter, if such a thing really got out, the consequences would be simply unimaginable. Liu Lijuan could imagine that the pressure of public opinion would submerge her like a surging flood. People's idle gossip and malicious speculation could all become the last straw that broke her.

After all, public opinion killing people was not just a legend, but a portrayal of countless real events from ancient times to the present. Those harmed by public opinion either chose to endure it silently or walked toward a dead end in pain. Liu Lijuan did not want to see Li Wancheng's daughter become one of them.

Zhou Andong stood up and paced back and forth. The cigarette in his hand burned quickly, smoke curling, and the entanglement in his heart rose along with the smoke.

"But this matter must be resolved." Zhou Andong stopped pacing and looked at Liu Lijuan and Li Wancheng. "Because if it's not resolved, that is unfair to the victim!"

Zhou Andong's eyes became sharp, and his tone also became a bit heavier. "Why should our daughter live in pain for a lifetime, while the bastard Wu Gang who committed a serious crime can remain at large and happy without receiving any punishment? Is there any justice in this?"

Liu Lijuan opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but in the end, she didn't say it. Because she very much agreed with Zhou Andong's words; Wu Gang's actions were intolerable by heaven's principles.

But there is no wall in the world that doesn't let the wind through. If they wanted to deal with Wu Gang, Hu Dajun would definitely be the first to jump out and spread the matter, so this matter definitely couldn't be suppressed.

By then, there would be no place for Li Wancheng's daughter in the Woolen Mill, and the spit and foam could drown the child.

Zhou Andong looked at Li Wancheng and asked, "For the past three years, do you think the child has been happy?"

Li Wancheng was silent for a long time before taking a deep breath and saying, "In the past, my daughter was a very lively and cheerful child, laughing all day long. But ever since the incident, she has become silent and withdrawn, and the times I see her smile have become fewer and fewer."

"So that's it!"

Zhou Andong bent down, reached out to pick up the ashtray on the coffee table, pressed the cigarette butt in his hand into it, and then put the ashtray back in its place.

"For the past three years, the child has never walked out of the shadow. This is not just a psychological problem, but also caused by the environment. After all, for her, the Woolen Mill has both beautiful memories of childhood and painful experiences after the incident.

Being in such an environment for a long time will remind her of the harm she suffered every moment. Therefore, she must be allowed to live in a different environment."

Zhou Andong sat down and said thoughtfully, "We also need to find a psychologist for the child, so that she can walk out of the shadow, forget the past, and start anew."

A glimmer of light flashed in Liu Lijuan's eyes, and a smile appeared on her face. "If we give the child a brand-new living environment and find a professional psychologist to treat her, I believe the child will definitely be able to recover slowly."

A surge of uncontrollable excitement rose in Li Wancheng's heart, and he asked eagerly, "Factory Director, is this psychologist you mentioned really that magical? Can he really let my daughter recover and become that lively, cheerful, and loving child who loves to talk and laugh again?"

Looking at Li Wancheng's expectant eyes, Zhou Andong nodded solemnly and replied affirmatively, "Yes, as long as we take the correct methods and measures, the child will definitely be able to walk out of the shadow and regain happiness."

Hearing Zhou Andong's answer, Li Wancheng was so excited that he stood up from his seat like he had been electrocuted. But the moment he stood up, he seemed to realize something and slowly sat back down, and the excited mood also retreated rapidly like a tide.

"But, it's easy to say, but it's not that simple to do. Change the environment, where can our whole family move to? Also, what about work?"

Liu Lijuan said with a smile, "Comrade Li Wancheng, as long as you don't hold onto the iron rice bowl tightly, with our Factory Director here, are you still afraid that the child won't have work?"

At this time, many state-owned enterprises were already on the verge of bankruptcy, and couldn't even pay wages, but everyone still held onto the so-called iron rice bowl tightly and refused to let go, including Li Wancheng.

Moreover, the Woolen Mill had not yet reached the end of its rope, and basic wages could always be paid on time. More importantly, the current Factory Director of the Woolen Mill was Zhou Andong, and most employees pinned their hopes on him, believing that he would definitely have the ability to bring the Woolen Mill back to life and regain its former glory.

Therefore, Li Wancheng was very unwilling to let his daughter give up the iron rice bowl. But at the same time, he was full of worry about his daughter's physical and mental health. This contradictory mood made him very conflicted, not knowing how to choose.

Zhou Andong looked at Li Wancheng and said softly, "With the continuous advancement of the wave of reform and opening up, our country's economy is undergoing unprecedented changes.

Among them, the private economy is gradually recovering and radiating vitality. Although eating from the iron rice bowl of a state-owned enterprise is still very comfortable, if you want to achieve faster personal development, private enterprises are a better choice."

Zhou Andong's words were absolute authority for ordinary employees like Li Wancheng. Moreover, Zhou Andong had a famous reputation, so he was naturally more credible, so Li Wancheng trusted Zhou Andong deeply.

"I believe that what the Factory Director says is definitely not wrong, but a rough man like me who hasn't read many books also knows very clearly in his heart that in this era, if you don't have culture, wanting to develop in a private enterprise is almost impossible.

And my daughter dropped out of school ever since the incident; she only has a junior high school education. If she really resigns from the Woolen Mill, even if you, Factory Director, arrange a quite good job for her, I'm afraid she might not be able to do it well."

Zhou Andong thought for a while and said, "The child is only eighteen now, still young, and has enough time and energy to study and improve herself outside of work."

Speaking of this, Zhou Andong suddenly paused, then asked, "Do you know Qiu Dongfang?"

Li Wancheng nodded hurriedly. "I know, my wife's cousin works at Qiu Dongfang. That's a foreign enterprise, the salary is very high, more than a thousand a month!"

Liu Lijuan looked at Zhou Andong in disbelief, as if she couldn't believe what she heard. The Factory Director actually planned to stuff Li Wancheng's daughter into Qiu Dongfang; how was this possible?

Li Wancheng's understanding of Qiu Dongfang was limited to it being a foreign enterprise with high wages and good benefits. But Liu Lijuan was different; after all, she was the Deputy Factory Director of the Woolen Mill, and her understanding of Qiu Dongfang was very clear—it was notoriously difficult to get into.

Previously, Qiu Dongfang had conducted two recruitment drives, and the scene could be described as a sea of people; no one knew how many people from enterprises and public institutions were desperately trying to squeeze in.

And there were countless people pulling strings, using connections, and making greetings, but without exception, they were all rejected by Qiu Dongfang. Some even threatened Qiu Dongfang because they were unwilling to give up.

But Qiu Dongfang was completely unmoved, very disdainful of threats and intimidation, and very strongly and publicly stated that Qiu Dongfang absolutely would not accept any connections.

"Fac—Factory Director!"

Li Wancheng was not a fool either; he heard the meaning in Zhou Andong's words, his body trembled slightly, and he couldn't sit still anymore, rubbing his butt back and forth on the sofa. His eyes were wide open, staring straight at Zhou Andong, and he said somewhat stutteringly.

"Your mean—meaning is, you want to arrange for my daughter to enter Qiu Dongfang?"

Zhou Andong nodded slowly and said, "I do plan to do so, but not to let her go to the Beijing branch, but to send her to the Xiangjiang headquarters."

Li Wancheng was even more astonished, his mouth unable to close. Not only was he arranging for his daughter to enter Qiu Dongfang, but it was also to the Xiangjiang headquarters; it really made him think he was dreaming.

Therefore, Li Wancheng secretly pinched his thigh hard, which made him wince in pain, and then he confirmed that this was real and not a dream.

"Factory Director, this... this... this..."

Li Wancheng stuttered for a long time but didn't know what to say; he just felt it was too unreal. At the same time, he was also very panicked in his heart, because with such a good opportunity, could his daughter really do it well?

"Don't 'this' anymore!" Zhou Andong said with a smile. "Only by letting the child completely leave Beijing and say goodbye to her familiar life in the country can she truly forget the past.

Moreover, it is difficult to find an authoritative psychologist in the country, so going to Xiangjiang is the best choice. There, she can receive more professional treatment."

Although Li Wancheng was very excited in his heart, his mind remained clear, and he said with some worry, "Factory Director, of course I hope my daughter has the opportunity to go to Xiangjiang to work at the Qiu Dongfang headquarters.

But she only has a junior high school education; can she really do it? I really have no bottom in my heart. Also, finding a psychologist in Xiangjiang must cost a lot of money, and I can't come up with that much money."

Zhou Andong comforted him, "You don't need to worry too much about this. There is not only one choice for work; there are actually many jobs the child can handle. For example, positions like clerks and front-desk receptionists are quite suitable for girls.

Even at the very worst, in Xiangjiang, a cleaner who cleans up can earn more than a thousand a month. So, you don't need to worry about work at all."

As he spoke, Zhou Andong patted Li Wancheng on the shoulder again and continued, "As for the treatment costs for finding a psychologist, you don't need to worry; Hu Dajun will pay for this money."

Li Wancheng only struggled a little in his heart, and then he readily agreed. The iron rice bowl was good, but it was not as good as working in Xiangjiang, even if it really meant cleaning up.

"Factory Director!" Li Wancheng stood up and said, "I've decided, let my daughter go to Xiangjiang."

A gratified smile appeared on Zhou Andong's face, and he also stood up and said, "You can't decide this; you have to ask the child's thoughts. If she doesn't agree, we'll discuss it again."

Li Wancheng was just about to say that he, as the father, had the final say and that she had to go if he said so, to show his authority as a father, but the words reached his lips and were swallowed back hard.

"Alright, I'll go find her now and ask for her thoughts."

"Go!" Zhou Andong reminded, "If the child doesn't agree, you can't force her. In addition, you must explain the matter clearly to her and cannot hide anything."

"I understand!" Li Wancheng walked out impatiently, then ran all the way downstairs, and after leaving the factory office, headed straight for the textile workshop.

"Li Wancheng!" Textile workshop director Tian Jianguo had walked around the workshop, and as soon as he came out, he saw Li Wancheng running over in a hurry and joked, "Is your house on fire? Look at how anxious you are!"

Li Wancheng was also considered a celebrity in the factory, because no matter who it was, if their children wanted to enter the factory, they could only take over their parents' jobs. But Li Wancheng was different; his son and daughter were arranged to enter the factory directly.

Therefore, many people knew that Li Wancheng also had a backer, and this backer was very strong. Otherwise, how could he arrange for his son and daughter to enter the factory at the same time?

"I'm here to find Li Fang!" Li Wancheng hurriedly took out a cigarette from his pocket and handed one to Tian Jianguo. "I have something to discuss with her."

Tian Jianguo lowered his head and lit the cigarette. "Go in and find her yourself, I won't accompany you."

"You're busy, you're busy!" Li Wancheng stepped into the workshop and soon found his daughter: "Xiaofang!" ===== CHAPTER 2416 =====