Free Web NovelChapter 110: Chapter 110: The Queen Mother
This was undoubtedly bombshell news for Xinghua Village. Fang Yulan, who had just landed a job making ten sets of school uniforms, was so ecstatic she instantly forgot her relatives’ repeated warnings not to publicize it.
She went straight to the old apricot tree in the center of the village and began to show off. "Don’t worry, everyone! I’ll introduce more jobs to you all in the future so we can all earn more money!"
"I married into Xinghua Village, so I’m one of Xinghua Village’s own now. My heart is here. I’ll definitely introduce work to you all. When there’s money to be made, we’ll make it together!"
Seeing everyone gather around with shining eyes, she grew more and more excited as she spoke.
"I’m not like some people who become a teacher, have a comfortable life, and then only care about their own maiden family, completely ignoring their family here."
Sister-in-law Tang was at her side, nodding furiously.
At this, everyone knew they were talking about Su Li.
It was just about lunchtime. The villagers, having worked all morning, were heading home to eat or rest in the shade. They returned one after another, and seeing the lively gathering, they stopped to see what was going on.
What Fang Yulan said about the school uniforms made everyone’s heart race with excitement. If it was really true, that would be wonderful.
A young girl couldn’t help but ask, "Aunt Fang, are you serious? Can you really introduce jobs to everyone?"
A flicker of guilt crossed Fang Yulan’s eyes. Just as she was about to tell them to be patient, another woman chimed in.
"That’s right. I heard they only let people from Li Family Village do the work. It’s hard for outsiders to get any jobs. Yulan, can you really get them for us?"
The woman’s tone was filled with suspicion.
Fang Yulan frowned. Seeing the doubtful looks on everyone’s faces, she grew annoyed and retorted indignantly. fгeewёbnoѵel.cσm
"Of course what I said is true! Do you think I’m just bragging?"
She clapped her hands and tilted her head back proudly. "I’ve even been to Li Hongqin’s house in Li Family Village! We all know each other, so why wouldn’t I be able to make introductions?"
Just as she finished speaking, full of self-satisfaction, she saw Su Li walking over from a short distance away, leading Little Tang Mo by the hand after school.
Su Li seemed to have heard what she said and frowned slightly as she looked at her.
The sight of Su Li’s frown immediately made Fang Yulan feel gratified.
’That’ll show you!’
With that thought, she cleared her throat and spoke again. "Alright, how about this? After I deliver this batch of uniforms, I’ll find a chance to bring Boss Li Hongqin to our village for a visit. I’ll have her give some work to our people too, so we in Xinghua Village can all get rich together!"
She was practically bursting with pride as she said it.
The eyes of the Xinghua Village crowd lit up one by one, but Su Li’s frown only deepened.
She stopped in her tracks and looked at Fang Yulan through the crowd of onlookers, asking a question.
"Are you talking about the school uniforms from Li Family Village?"
It was a perfectly normal question, but Fang Yulan immediately flew off the handle. "If not the uniforms from Li Family Village, where else would they be from? Su Li, what’s your problem? Are you doubting me?"
She had disliked Su Li for a long time and had finally found a chance to lash out!
Fang Yulan took a deep breath, ready to formally begin her tirade, when she heard Su Li’s faint reply—just a single syllable.
"Yes. I am doubting you."
This time, Fang Yulan was truly incensed. "How dare you doubt me! Open your eyes and take a good look! See what this is!"
Fang Yulan took out the fabric she had preciously stored in her back basket, pushed through the crowd, and rushed in front of Su Li to show it to her.
Su Li gave Little Tang Mo’s hand a reassuring squeeze, then tilted her head to avoid the fabric Fang Yulan was shoving in her face. She spoke faintly.
"That’s enough, I see it clearly. It is indeed the school uniform fabric from Li Family Village."
Fang Yulan snorted. "Good, as long as you’re not blind!"
With her nose in the air, she was about to pull back her hand and turn to leave when Su Li spoke again, her voice just as faint.
"I’m taking this job back. You don’t need to do it anymore."
Hearing this, Fang Yulan and the people of Xinghua Village frowned in unison. Fang Yulan spun around, her gaze landing on Su Li as if she were looking at a madwoman.
She dug a finger in her ear. "What did you just say? I don’t think I heard you right."
Su Li looked at her and calmly repeated herself. "I said, I’m taking this job back. You don’t need to do it."
The moment Su Li’s words fell, Fang Yulan burst out laughing.
"Hahaha... that’s hilarious! Su Li, has the anger driven you mad? How could you start spouting such nonsense!"
She cackled, laughing so hard she bent over, gasping for breath. She pointed a finger at Su Li. "Who the hell do you think you are, telling me I don’t need to do it anymore? Hahaha!"
She laughed and spoke with such force that spit nearly sprayed onto Su Li’s face.
Su Li tilted her head to the side again to avoid it. Her gaze swept casually past the crowd, and she noticed the onlookers from Xinghua Village were all giving her strange looks.
Zhao Wenming stood at the edge of the crowd, shaking his head at Su Li with a look of utter mockery.
A hint of a sneer flashed across Su Li’s lips as well. She took a step back and looked at Fang Yulan.
Fang Yulan was still laughing. "Oh my, this is killing me. ’You don’t need to do it anymore.’ You say it as if you’re the one in charge."
Su Li smiled faintly as well, perfectly composed. "As a matter of fact, I am in charge of this. Give the fabric back."
"You’re in charge? Who do you think you are to be in charge?" Fang Yulan immediately shot back.
"I am Su Li. I am their manager. This is something I can indeed decide." Su Li remained calm and composed, answering every question put to her.
"Manager? What the hell is a ’manager’?" Fang Yulan asked with exaggerated scorn.
Su Li’s tone remained even. "To put it in simpler terms, it means I’m one of the bosses."
"One of the bosses... haha..." Fang Yulan immediately shot back with a jeer, but her laughter trailed off as something felt wrong. "What did you say? You’re a boss?"
It wasn’t just Fang Yulan who lost control of her expression; the people of Xinghua Village also looked as if they had seen a ghost.
Su Li nodded silently, her gaze fixed on Fang Yulan, as calm as still water.
Su Li was calm and composed, but Fang Yulan could no longer maintain her composure.
Her expression flickered for a moment, and then she suddenly spat.
"Pah! Who do you think you’re trying to scare? A boss? Pah! That’s the biggest joke I’ve ever heard! How could you be the boss? It’s obviously Li Hongqin’s!"
The more Fang Yulan spoke, the wider the sneer on her face grew. Hearing her words, the villagers also began to relax.
Not far away, the deep frown on Zhao Wenming’s face also eased.
"Everyone knows Li Hongqin is the boss! You didn’t even bother to ask around before you dared to come here and claim it’s yours!"
Fang Yulan grew completely worked up. "Pah! You think just because you’re a substitute teacher, you own everything? You? Pfft! Why don’t you take a piss and look at your own reflection!"
"If that factory is yours, I’ll hang myself from this apricot tree!" She pointed to the old apricot tree behind her, her face a mask of ridicule. "If you’re the factory director, then I’m the Queen Mother! Hahaha..."
Fang Yulan roared with laughter, and Sister-in-law Tang clapped her hands and laughed along with her.
Many of the onlookers from Xinghua Village couldn’t help but laugh along too. A few looked like they wanted to say something but held their tongues.
Su Li paid them no mind, simply covering Little Tang Mo’s ears to shield him from the words.
Seeing Su Li’s action, Fang Yulan started laughing again. "Why are you covering Tang Mo’s ears? It would be good for him to hear this! Let him see what you look like when you lie!"
"That’s enough." Su Li shot a glance at Fang Yulan and finally spoke.
Her voice wasn’t loud, but amidst Fang Yulan’s arrogant laughter, it was impossible to ignore.
Though her tone was faint, it was intimidating.
