The golden age began in 1977

Chapter 223 You think you can get away with having an affair without consequences?
The No. 6 State-owned Cotton Mill was an old friend of Qian Jin's; he had visited it frequently before going to the countryside.

However, it had been more than half a year since his last visit to the No. 6 State-owned Cotton Mill. Now that he was back at the mill, he felt that nothing had changed.

The song "The East Is Red" was playing from the loudspeaker. The workers, all dressed in blue overalls, walked in twos and threes toward their respective workshops.

Most of the female workers wore two braids, while the male workers had neat crew cuts. Occasionally, some wore green military caps and liberation shoes, their sleeves rolled up to reveal a watch tucked between their arms.

This was a fashionable outfit ten years ago.

It was early morning, just as the factory was starting work. Sunlight streamed onto the dusty cement ground, and the air still carried the lingering heat of late summer, with a pervasive feeling of heat.

The surrounding area was a noisy factory environment, with the roar of machines and the laughter of workers all mixed together.

Wang Dong went to the security department leader and got a dismissal responsibility letter from the department; the red seal on it was bright and glaring.

He was somewhat uneasy: "Chief Qian, do you think our department won't actually fire me for this?"

Qian Jin said, "With your level of awareness and work style, it's not unfair to fire you."

Wang Dong's expression immediately fell.

Fearing he might mess up his performance later, Qian Jin changed his tune to comfort him, saying, "But I see you have a good relationship with your department head, so they probably don't care about this and definitely won't fire you."

Wang Dong grinned immediately: "That's right, Chief Qian. To be honest, I'm quite honest in my department."

"That deputy section chief Cao Yan, the guy you drank with before, he hooked up with a female college student from our workshop two, got her pregnant, and the college student went to his house to make a scene..."

Qian Jin sneered.

The upper beam is not straight and the lower beam is crooked!
The clinic is staffed 24 hours a day. When the two arrived, a female nurse saw Wang Dong and, without saying a word, asked with a smile, "Looking for Sister Qiao again?"

Wang Dong chuckled awkwardly: "Hey, tell her to come out for a bit."

"Aren't you going in to find her?" The nurse looked at him in surprise, at the bag he was carrying, and at the bag Qian Jin was carrying.

What kind of trouble is this?
Wang Dong urged the nurse, "Hey, stop asking, Xiaoyu, just call out for me and tell Qiao Li to come out quickly."

The nurse chuckled and walked into the clinic with her hands in her pockets.

Soon a young woman came out while fixing her hair.

She was voluptuous and dressed in avant-garde style, wearing a trendy floral shirt and black flared pants. Both the shirt and pants were quite fitted, highlighting her charming and sexy figure.

In addition, this young woman had long, glossy black hair that was casually draped over her shoulders. It was unclear whether her hair was naturally curly or had been permed, but the slight curls gave her a rather charming look.

The young woman had a shapely, full bottom and knew how to use this advantage, walking with a graceful sway that attracted the attention of many.

As soon as she came out, her large eyes casually swept over Qian Jin before gazing at Wang Dong with deep affection:
"Dongzi, why are you here instead of going to work?"

Wang Dong didn't answer, but instead kicked the luggage beside his feet with the tip of his leather shoe.

A military-green canvas bag printed with the words "Security Department of State-owned Cotton Mill No. 6" and a tightly bound bedding roll.

His gaze was fixed on the white-painted wooden door of the clinic, the glass of which reflected his taut jawline.

Qiao Li had clearly never seen Wang Dong react like this before. She paused for a moment, her fingers, painted with red nail polish, unconsciously tightening their grip on the medical record: "What's wrong? Say something!"

She then looked at Qian Jin and tentatively asked, "And this is? Are you Comrade Qian Jin, Dongzi's leader on Taishan Road?"

Qian Jin has been featured in the newspapers several times, each time with a photo, so he is a minor celebrity in Haibin City.

He nodded silently and said to Wang Dong, "Comrade Wang Dong, running away is not the solution. Would you like to tell me about your family situation, or should I do it?"

"Dongzi, what exactly do you mean..." Qiao Li's heart skipped a beat upon hearing this. Her gaze swept over Wang Dong's face, and her voice was filled with hesitation.

Wang Dong took a neatly folded piece of paper out of his pocket and handed it to Qiao Li.

Qiao Li opened it.

The five simplified Chinese characters of the divorce agreement caught her eye.

Wang Dong said dejectedly, "Last night, I had a huge fight with my wife and my ex-wife. I told her I wanted a divorce, and after she made a scene, she finally agreed."

Qiao Li widened her eyes, reached out and lightly covered her mouth, letting out a soft "ah".

She glanced quickly at Qian Jin and said in a low voice, "Let's not talk here. Come on, let's go to our office."

Following Qian Jin's pre-arranged plan, Wang Dong gave a wry smile: "Forget it, I won't go in for now. I probably won't even be qualified to enter your clinic anymore."

Qiao Li couldn't understand: "What do you mean?"

Wang Dong turned his head to look elsewhere.

Qian Jin coughed.

Having no other choice, he unfolded the origami in his pocket and handed it to Qian Jin.

The paper was stamped with a bright red official seal, which looked like bloodstains in the sunlight.

“I’ve been fired,” Wang Dong said dryly. “Last night, my ex-wife found out and went to our boss’s house. She made a scene there all night, and now everyone in our department knows about us.”

Qiao Li's face turned deathly pale instantly. She didn't take the paper, but subconsciously took a half step back.

Several female factory workers passing by slowed down, pretending to fix their hair, but their ears were perked up.

She stared at the liability waiver, saying incredulously, "They fired you? What right do they have...?"

Wang Dong interrupted her and explained, "My wife, my ex-wife, is making a huge fuss. She said it doesn't matter if she gets a divorce, but I have to move my household registration from Taishan Road and be removed from the security department."

“I agreed to her request, and my supervisor fired me. He told me to see if I could go to another department, or if that didn’t work, he would let me work as a machine operator in the workshop.”

"And as for our Taishan Road area..."

He glanced at Qian Jin.

Qian Jin's secret passage finally gave me my turn to perform, and my acting skills were already bursting out like a burst of urine!

He cleared his throat and took out a document to show it: "Comrade Wang Dong's situation is rather special."

“Our Taishan Road Neighborhood Committee held a meeting this morning and decided to take back the house allocated to him and give it to his ex-wife and children to live in. After all, it's not easy for a woman to raise a child alone…”

“I’m divorced from her,” Wang Dong interrupted Qian Jin, his eyes fixed on Qiao Li. “We can go through the formalities this afternoon. Qiao Li, I’m homeless now!”

Qiao Li looked at him in surprise.

A desolate look appeared on Wang Dong's hard-lined face.

A hero's end!

Qian Jin, however, remained indifferent and observed the situation.

For a moment, none of the three spoke, and the atmosphere became somewhat awkward.

After the factory's broadcast ended with "The East Is Red" and "My Motherland," it switched to "Sailing the Seas Depends on the Helmsman," and the loud singing masked the awkward silence between the three.

Qiao Li's fingers twisted together, and she finally asked weakly, "What do you mean?"

Wang Dong said, "I've already divorced my wife, and she gets custody of the child. I plan to marry you, and we'll live a good life together from now on."

Qian Jin continued, "My meaning is very simple. On behalf of the Taishan Road Neighborhood Committee, I am taking back the house that was previously allocated to Wang Dong and transferring it to Wang Dong's wife and children to live in."

"After all, the situation is different now, and we need to give the mother and child a place to stay."

Qiao Li looked up, her eyes filled with complex emotions, clearly flustered: "Wang Dong, how could you do this? You're too reckless, too impulsive!"

Wang Dong looked at Qiao Li and said earnestly, "Comrade Qiao Li, I take responsibility for what I do."

“I’m not reckless or impulsive. Since we’re mutually in love, I won’t be the type to have my cake and eat it too.”

"I'm divorcing my ex-wife, marrying you, and starting a new family!"

He got a little excited as he spoke and went up to grab Qiao Li's hand.

Qiao Li instinctively stepped back.

His steps were a little unsteady.

Her legs felt weak.

Qian Jin stopped Wang Dong and gestured to those around him: "Comrade Wang Dong, what are you doing?"

Wang Dong took a deep breath and calmed himself down a bit.

He pushed Qian Jin away and looked at Qiao Li with genuine affection: "Comrade Qiao Li, I've made up my mind. I'll move in with you, and we'll register our marriage."

"Don't worry, I will treat Jiefang well. From now on, he will have a father, and no one will dare to bully him at school."

These words were like a bucket of cold water poured over Qiao Li's head.

She looked up abruptly, a flicker of fear in her eyes: "No!"

"What's wrong?" Wang Dong frowned.

“I hope to move into your house. I can register our marriage, and then I can provide protection for our son, Jiefang. With a father, Jiefang can hold his head high.”

Qiao Li's face showed even more panic.

She wanted to say something, but seeing Wang Dong's somewhat gloomy expression, she had no choice but to swallow back the words she was about to utter.

After a few seconds of silence to gather her thoughts, she said tactfully, "Comrade Wang Dong, this won't do."

"We...we can't live together. They're cracking down on this so strictly now. Cohabitation before marriage is considered hooliganism!"

She paused, her voice lower, "And...and to be honest, I never said I wanted to marry you..."

Wang Dong's face instantly turned ashen. He grabbed Qiao Li's wrist and demanded, "Say that again?"

"You're hurting me!" Qiao Li struggled, her sleeves ripped and crumpled.

Several female workers in the crowd finally couldn't help but gather around and ask, feigning concern, "Nurse Qiao, are you alright?"

Their eyes burned with a fierce thirst for gossip.

Qian Jin felt as if his clothes had been instantly burned to ashes after being glanced at by them.

Qiao Li quickly waved her hand: "It's nothing, it's nothing to do with you. Comrade Wang Dong, Comrade Qian Jin, come with me, let's not stay here..."

"Go? Where to!" Wang Dong cried out in grief and indignation.

"Where else can I go? I got divorced for you, I abandoned my wife and children, lost my job, and ruined my future. And now you're telling me you have no intention of marrying me?!"

"Wang Dong, calm down. Listen to me, actually, I, I, I, why do you think I want to marry you?" Qiao Li could only speak up confidently as more and more people gathered around.

“We’re just colleagues. Yes, we’re usually quite close. You did some things to protect my family’s liberation, but… but you shouldn’t misunderstand our relationship.”

“Oh, I see. Maybe you misunderstood what Jiefang said sometimes. But Jiefang is still a child. He doesn’t understand. He really does want a father. But adults can’t be ignorant, right, Comrade Qian Jin?”

Qian Jin: "Huh? Oh! Hehe..."

He looked at Wang Dong with a mocking expression.

Wang Dong was stunned.

He never expected to receive such a response.

The burly man was now almost in tears, and asked directly, "Xiao Qiao, you didn't say that a few days ago. Is there something you're struggling with? Tell me, is there something you're struggling with?"

"You think there are too many people here? Are you afraid of losing face?"

Qiao Li said, "It's not that I'm afraid of losing face, but I don't even know how to talk about Comrade Wang Dong."

“We are just ordinary colleagues. Besides, I do have my reasons, because I promised my son that I would not remarry.”

"Moreover, many people know that I divorced my ex-husband before returning to the city. The reason I was able to bring my child back was because I promised my ex-husband and former father-in-law that I would not remarry and would raise Jiefang alone for the rest of my life. Only then did they feel at ease entrusting Jiefang to me to take back to the city."

"Comrade Wang Dong, I cannot break my promise."

Wang Dong was trembling with anger. He looked at Qiao Li in disbelief: "Why didn't you say these things when you were with me? Did you think I was a fool?"

“When I asked you before why you brought Jiefang back to the city, you clearly told me that your ex-husband’s family asked you to go back to the city to get Jiefang a city household registration, so that his biological father could use this connection to see if he could get his own household registration transferred to the city…”

Qiao Li waved her hand anxiously and said, "It's not that simple, Comrade Wang Dong..."

"Don't try that on me!" Wang Dong snapped. "I've sacrificed so much for you, and now you're telling me this? What am I supposed to do?"

"To be honest, I don't know what you should do," Qiao Li said anxiously. "Wang Dong, you shouldn't have acted so impulsively..."

"Impulsive?" Wang Dong suddenly raised his voice, drawing more workers to look in their direction. "Qiao Li, we're together now..."

Qian Jin kicked him in the back of the knee: "What nonsense are you talking about? Go, go, you can't talk here."

These days, you can eat whatever you want, but you can't say whatever you want.

If Wang Dong only said he wanted a divorce to pursue Qiao Li, it would be fine. But if he said they had already been together or that Qiao Li was pregnant, then they were doomed. Qiao Li was even more impatient and quickly led the two into the clinic and into an empty office.

She said, embarrassed and angry, "Wang Dong, what nonsense are you talking about! Who's good to you? Do you know how many people are outside..."

"So what if there are people outside? Are you afraid of someone outside now?" Wang Dong said, filled with grief and indignation. "Back when we were on night shift, we did it in our office and your office. Why weren't you afraid then?"

Qiao Li's face flushed red.

She quickly glanced around, and after confirming that no one was outside the door for the time being, she breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Keep your voice down!"

Then she glanced at Qian Jin and added, "Don't talk nonsense."

Qian Jin coughed awkwardly twice, took out a pack of Peony cigarettes from his pocket, and lit one.

It was indeed quite awkward for him to still be there at that moment, but he couldn't simply leave.

So this pack of cigarettes, which was usually reserved for others, came in handy in this emergency.

It was only then that Qian Jin realized that smoking also had its advantages, such as having a cigarette when feeling awkward, which could help cover up the embarrassment.

Wang Dong stared intently at Qiao Li and asked, "You're saying I'm talking nonsense? Then your stomach isn't talking nonsense either, is it?"

"You're carrying my child. You'd better think this through carefully. Are you really not going to be with me anymore?"

"Just because I was fired from the security department and was kicked out of Taishan Road, you're not going to stay with me anymore?"

Qian Jin was glad he had brought the person into the office.

Otherwise, if someone said something like that in the factory area, Wang Dong and Qiao Li would both face legal trouble.

However, it's good that these two adulterers are going to face legal trouble.

They need to be taught a lesson!
Qiao Li said innocently, "When did I get pregnant with your child? Comrade Wang Dong, please don't—you, you, I was just joking with you before."

Wang Dong's eyes widened in surprise.

He pointed at Qiao Li, his fingers trembling uncontrollably.

Qian Jin was very worried that he would soon pass away.

Wang Dong's lips trembled as he said, "You, you, you, tell me, no, I saw it, yes, I saw a medical report..."

"That's not mine, that's Xiaomin's test result from our department. I was just joking with you, just kidding," Qiao Li said urgently.

Wang Dong clenched his fist and went up to her: "Are you kidding me? You can't joke about something like this!"

Seeing the situation getting out of control, Qian Jin quickly pulled him back and asked loudly, "So, you two have no relationship?"

Qiao Li quickly said, "It's okay, it's okay. We're just colleagues!"

Upon hearing these words, Wang Dong felt as if struck by lightning, and was completely disoriented.

He asked, "Just because I'm no longer a security guard? Just because I'm no longer from Taishan Road?"

"You used to tell me you loved me, that you only knew what a man was like after being with me, and that you wanted to live in my arms forever. Were all those words lies?"

Qiao Li vehemently denied it: "I never said that, don't talk nonsense."

Wang Dong flew into a rage again, rushed forward, grabbed her arm, pulled her close, and was about to hit her.

Qian Jin quickly stepped forward and pulled the two apart: "Mind your behavior! This is your factory!"

Wang Dong shook off his hand and stopped, but his eyes remained fixed on Qiao Li:

"Explain yourself clearly. I divorced my husband and lost my job for you, and now you're telling me you were just joking before? You never even said you wanted me to marry you?"

Qiao Li rubbed her reddened wrist, her eyes brimming with tears: "Stop it, Wang Dong, Brother Dong, please stop it, okay?"

"To be honest, I have my reasons. I promised Jiefang that I would not remarry. When his grandfather—my former father-in-law—gave me custody of the child, I swore an oath that if I broke my oath, they would take the child away. We even had a written agreement in the county court..."

"Bullshit!" Wang Dong suddenly roared, "Jiefang was only ten years old! You're using a child as an excuse?"

Qiao Li covered her face and cried, "Keep your voice down! Are you trying to kill me? Should we die together?"

"Would you be happy if Liberation became an orphan and your two children became fatherless children?"

Qian Jin threw away his cigarette butt and stomped it out with his foot: "Comrade Wang Dong, watch your words!"

He turned to Qiao Li and asked seriously, "Nurse Qiao, what exactly is your relationship with Comrade Wang Dong? The organization needs to find out."

Qiao Li peeked through the office door and windows and saw her colleagues' faces; clearly, Wang Dong's shouting had attracted onlookers.

She firmly stated, "We have no relationship, we're just ordinary colleagues. However, we've joked around a few times before, and he definitely took those jokes seriously."

Wang Dong felt as if he had been punched in the chest, staggered back two steps, and bumped into the three-drawer table behind him.

“Good, very good…” Wang Dong’s voice suddenly became unusually calm. “Qiao Li, remember what I said today.”

"Don't fucking get pregnant again and claim it's my child, and don't fucking cause trouble in our department or at my house!"

He bent down to pick up his luggage, his movements as slow as an old man's.

After bending down and looking around, he couldn't find his luggage.

He sighed, "Yeah, it's outside, it's outside, hehe."

He straightened up and walked out. Qiao Li seemed to want to stop him, but her outstretched hand hesitated in mid-air and then withdrew.

Qian Jin glanced at Qiao Li, then at Wang Dong who was walking away, and sighed, "Nurse Qiao, well, you'd better take care of yourself."

After saying that, he quickly left.

The door opened, and some people, concerned about appearances, pretended to be busy and went elsewhere, but their eyes still lingered in the office.

Some shameless people even peeked inside by clinging to the door frame.

Qiao Li stood there, feeling as if everyone's gaze was piercing her like needles.

She mechanically straightened her wrinkled clothes, then heard people whispering outside:
"Didn't I see her getting quite close to Wang Dong a few days ago? How did they break up?"

"Wang Dong got divorced and wants to marry her, but there's a price to pay. Apparently, she'll have to lose her job and leave with nothing. Nurse Qiao is currently unwilling to do so."

"Hey, just as I expected. What did I tell you? She's a gold digger..."

"Tsk tsk, no wonder my son is so young..."

Qiao Li's hand froze.

But she ignored the voices outside, straightened her back, turned and walked out, her leather shoes making a crisp sound on the cement floor.

She pushed open the door to the nurses' office and took one last look in the direction where Wang Dong had disappeared.

The person has left.

The clinic door was closed, temporarily keeping all the rumors out.

But Qiao Li knew that from today onwards, her days at the No. 6 State-owned Cotton Mill would never be as carefree as before.

Wang Dong's situation is even worse.

Men don't mince words. As soon as he left the clinic, one of his male colleagues who was watching his luggage asked him directly, "What's going on, Wang Baowei? I heard you're going to abandon your wife and children to marry that pretty nurse?"

The others chimed in with their own opinions:
"Don't be foolish. It's fine to sleep with that pretty nurse, but if you actually marry her, you're finished..."

"That's our deputy factory director's pot. Do you want to go in and cook some hot soup too?"

"You got fired from your department? Really? Why don't you come work in our workshop..."

Wang Dong glared, his fierce temper still lingering: "Get lost! I'm just here to take care of some business. What nonsense are you spouting? Don't spread rumors!"

"Someone brings luggage to do business?" someone asked jokingly. "What are you going to do? Lay your bedding on the floor? What kind of business is that? Is it some kind of pressure?"

Wang Dong waved his hand: "Get out, get out! This isn't mine, it belongs to me, to my buddy!"

He pointed at Qian Jin.

Very guilty.

Qian Jin didn't reveal the truth; instead, he chuckled.

Wang Dong, that idiot, got played!

Wang Dong was very unwilling to accept this.

The head of the security department knew what had happened and granted him a day off to rest.

As Wang Dong left the factory area, his eyes were still a little moist.

As he walked, he replayed the moments he had spent with Qiao Li in his mind.

Those sweet times have now vanished like a bubble.

People come and go on the streets, and traffic flows like a river.

But Wang Dong felt as if the world had abandoned him. People were whispering on the street, and others were pointing and gossiping.

Even though the people didn't know him, he still felt his face burning, as if they were talking about him.

Qian Jin stood aside and watched the spectacle, even buying an ice pop from the supply and marketing cooperative.

Wang Dong said awkwardly, "Chief Qian, did you foresee this outcome for me?"

Qian Jin said, "I didn't expect that, but didn't Xu Weidong foresee it?"

Wang Dong was even more embarrassed: "Now I'm in trouble. I can't hold my head up in front of him anymore."

"Whether it's your workplace or your home, you'll never be able to hold your head up high again," Qian Jin sneered.

"But you're lucky to have a true friend like Xu Weidong. He gave you advice and made you realize the consequences of abandoning your wife and children."

Thinking of this, Wang Dong secretly felt fortunate.

If it weren't for Qian Jin's sudden visit, if it weren't for Xu Weidong's suggestion, if he had insisted on divorcing his wife and marrying Qiao Li...

Then his life is over.

obviously.

Qiao Li never intended to actually live with him; she just wanted to be a parasite because of his good looks.

He scratched his head, regretting it: "I really shouldn't have talked to her outside the clinic today. I should have found a secluded place."

"Great, now I'm a celebrity at work!"

Qian Jin said, "Go to a secluded place? Absolutely not. You two can't go even if you want to. I can't let you go to any secluded place."

"Since you two have the guts to do such shameless things, then don't expect to have any shame at work in the future."

"Oh, you think you can get away with having an affair without consequences? There's no such thing as a free lunch! Let me tell you, Wang Dong, this time you can go home and try to get your wife's forgiveness, and we brothers can forgive you too. But if it happens again, we brothers won't forgive you!"

Wang Dong said dejectedly, "Okay, I understand. I won't do it again."

Qian Jincai didn't believe him.

The social atmosphere is still conservative.

We're about to enter the 1980s, and by then, having affairs and extramarital relationships will become standard lifestyle elements for successful people.

Back then, could Wang Dong control his belt?

However, by then, Qian Jin had no choice but to pretend he didn't know anything, as long as his men didn't let the affairs of the outside world affect the affairs of the family.

Of course, doing something like this can come at a price. The price he was looking for was simple: deductions from bonuses, no promotions, or even being transferred from an important department to a peripheral one.

Everyone is an adult and has the right to choose their own life. However, as the leader, he also has the right to control the personnel arrangements and financial allocation of the unit.

When it was time to part ways, Qian Jin brought up the important matter: "Hey, don't rush off, I had something to discuss with you last night."

“Our labor commando team will be setting up a new unit, and I’m going to produce some clothing.”

"Now the garment factory site, sewing machines, and tools like scissors for thread ends are all ready. All we need is manpower. Find me a few retired workers from your company. They need to be skilled and able to train apprentices."

Upon hearing that the labor commando team needed his help, Wang Dong was immediately in high spirits: "No problem, Chief Qian, just leave this to me, I'm sure you'll handle it perfectly!"

Qian Jin said lazily, "As soon as possible."

Wang Dong slapped his thigh and said, "I'll get it done right away!"

"You'd better go apologize to your wife right now," Qian Jin said, turning and leaving. "Don't do anything so reckless again. Aren't you ashamed?"

(End of this chapter)