Chapter 23: Punishing Jia Zhangshi Requires Pulling Out the Roots

"I do have a different opinion. I'm not saying Director Wang handled it poorly, but that Director Wang doesn't understand what kind of person Jia Zhangshi is, thinking that Jia Zhangshi can be reformed through ideological education."

"For people like Jia Zhangshi, let alone educating her for three months, even if you educate her for three years, she won't change, because you can never wake up a person who is pretending to sleep. The prejudice in people's hearts is a mountain; no matter how hard you try, you can't move it."

"Moreover, Jia Zhangshi won't apologize to me. Let alone in front of so many people, she won't apologize to me even in private, because she doesn't think she's wrong at all."

"In Jia Zhangshi's concept, she is never wrong. The one who is wrong is me, the entire Siheyuan, and the entire street. This is an extremely selfish person, an extremely self-centered person who only cares about herself and not others. You can see this from the fact that she starved Jia Dongxu."

"The purpose of the leaders punishing her is to make her realize her mistakes and correct them. In fact, no matter how you punish her, she won't admit her mistakes. Since that's the case, let her correct them. She doesn't need to understand the law; she only needs to fear the law so that she doesn't make mistakes."

"My suggestion is to reform her through work."

"I don't need her to apologize. Even if she apologizes, I won't accept it, let alone forgive her. Besides, even if Jia Zhangshi apologizes on the surface, who knows how she's scolding me in her heart?"

"It's better not to engage in these face-saving projects and just do practical things. I have two suggestions."

"The first suggestion: let Jia Zhangshi clean the courtyard and all the streets, compulsory work. Director Wang, mobilize everyone to supervise. Once Jia Zhangshi has lazy behavior, don't punish her, just notify Factory Director Yang directly to deduct Qin Huairu's wages."

"As for the time, let's make it one year. If Jia Zhangshi works actively, the time can be appropriately reduced."

"The second suggestion is on the Rolling Mill side. No matter what, Jia Dongxu died in the workshop, and the factory will definitely pay the pension according to the regulations," He Yuzhu said.

"The law does not ignore human feelings, not to mention that Jia Dongxu did die in the workshop, so it is correct to say that he died on duty. Moreover, Jia Dongxu's father, Jia Youfu, also died in the Rolling Mill. Two generations of father and son died in the Rolling Mill. No matter what, the Rolling Mill must give the Jia family an explanation."

"However, what does this have to do with punishing Jia Zhangshi? Does it mean lowering the pension and corresponding treatment?" Factory Director Yang asked with a frown.

Factory Director Yang didn't dare to do this kind of thing. If he really did it, it was uncertain if someone would jump out and scold him for drinking workers' blood. Once he got involved, being dismissed would be light.

"No, Factory Director Yang misunderstood my meaning. I just said that Jia Zhangshi is extremely selfish and extremely self-centered. My meaning is that when the Rolling Mill issues wages to the Jia family, it should be issued in front of everyone in the Siheyuan."

"At that time, not only should the relevant person in charge come, but the Women's Federation Director must also be called to explain clearly and thoroughly to Qin Huairu and Jia Zhangshi the pros and cons and the shift handover system. It must be explained clearly."

"First, let Qin Huairu understand that after Jia Dongxu's death, this workstation belongs to Qin Huairu, and it's not up to Jia Zhangshi to decide who inherits the workstation."

"Secondly, let Qin Huairu understand that Jia Dongxu's death means that Qin Huairu no longer has a direct relationship with Jia Dongxu. Let alone Qin Huairu wanting to remarry, even if Qin Huairu drives Jia Zhangshi back to her hometown, it is a matter of course."

"Leaders, you should understand the law better than I do. Jia Dongxu's death means that Qin Huairu and Jia Dongxu have formed a de facto broken marriage relationship, equivalent to a de facto divorce, and naturally, there is no responsibility or obligation to support Jia Zhangshi."

"You must let the Women's Federation leaders tell Qin Huairu that supporting Jia Zhangshi is a matter of sentiment, and not supporting Jia Zhangshi and driving Jia Zhangshi back to her hometown is a matter of duty. Moreover, the children belong to Qin Huairu; Jia Zhangshi shouldn't think about bringing Jia Geng back home."

"And don't even think about letting Qin Huairu live as a member of the Jia family and die as a ghost of the Jia family! This kind of feudal bad habit must be eradicated. By the way, it's best if Director Wang is also present," He Yuzhu said in a deep voice.

This was the most serious punishment for Jia Zhangshi, making Jia Zhangshi work hard all day, tired to death, and then live in fear all day long. The strategy of attacking the city is to attack the heart. Killing the person and punishing the heart, there is nothing more than this.

Detaining Jia Zhangshi or beating her a few times would at most make her hurt for a while. Doing this could make her hurt for a lifetime.

He Yuzhu doing this was not for Qin Huairu's good, but to further expand the conflict between Qin Huairu and Jia Zhangshi and Yi Zhonghai.

Because, after this kind of thing is made clear, even if Qin Huairu is submissive, it is impossible for her to accommodate Jia Zhangshi like before. In the past, Qin Huairu was submissive, firstly because of the influence of tradition, and secondly because Qin Huairu didn't understand these things.

Now that Qin Huairu understands these things, how could she still serve Jia Zhangshi like serving a master? Especially after Qin Huairu worked for a day and was tired to death?

The two will inevitably have conflicts and disputes.

The conflict between Qin Huairu and Yi Zhonghai will be even sharper, because Yi Zhonghai will absolutely not allow Qin Huairu to drive Jia Zhangshi back to her hometown and will definitely use all kinds of methods to manipulate Qin Huairu. At that time, whether Qin Huairu resists or takes the opportunity to take advantage of Yi Zhonghai, it is what He Yuzhu likes to see.

"The law stipulates it this way. I didn't expect Master He to also understand the law in this regard," Section Chief Ma said meaningfully.

"I specifically asked someone, because I can't stand Jia Zhangshi acting like a landlord's wife, not treating Qin Huairu as her daughter-in-law at all, but as a tool for passing on the family line and a maid," He Yuzhu said.

"In fact, driving Jia Zhangshi back to her hometown is a once-and-for-all approach, and it is also the most severe punishment for Jia Zhangshi," Director Wang suddenly said.

"Yi Zhonghai won't agree. Even if you, Director Wang, drive Jia Zhangshi to her hometown, Yi Zhonghai will pick Jia Zhangshi back after a while when the storm stops," He Yuzhu said faintly.

"Why? Could it be that Yi Zhonghai has an improper relationship with Jia Zhangshi?" Director Wang said with a stern face.

Everyone also stared tightly at He Yuzhu, with inexplicable brilliance in their eyes. This was not the look of gossip; this was the look of wanting to progress.

"Maybe there is, maybe there isn't. The reason why Yi Zhonghai insists on keeping Jia Zhangshi in the Siheyuan is because Yi Zhonghai is a person without descendants," He Yuzhu said.

Everyone looked at He Yuzhu with puzzled eyes, signaling He Yuzhu to continue.

"Having no descendants means no one to support him in his old age. The Yi Zhonghai couple were born in the old world and grew up in darkness. They finally made it to the red flag, saw too many tragic things in the world, and were afraid that no one would take care of them when they were old and no one would support them in their old age, so he chose Jia Dongxu as his designated person to support him in his old age."

"To be precise, Yi Zhonghai chose the Jia Dongxu couple as his designated people to support him in his old age. Everyone knows that men are careless and don't pay attention to small details, and trivial matters in life still have to rely on women, such as cleaning, washing, cooking, etc."

"Yi Zhonghai took a fancy to Jia Dongxu's foolish filial piety, and Qin Huairu married Jia Dongxu. Marrying a chicken follows a chicken, marrying a dog follows a dog. She was also very filial to Jia Zhangshi, and she was also very diligent, keeping the Jia family clean and tidy, managing it in an orderly manner. Even during pregnancy, she had to wash and cook, etc."

"Then what was Jia Zhangshi doing?" Director Wang asked.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 24 =====