CHAPTER 419: CHAPTER 412: THE SECOND BOSS

Zhong Juying was busy in the factory blending wine medicine while sporting her large pregnant belly; as a technical worker in the distillery, she was responsible for this critical step in the brewing process.

Zhong Meiying was also in the workshop, and they were both delighted to see Sisi. Zhong Juying nonchalantly finished her work before slowly walking over, while Zhong Meiying still had to stay and supervise the workshop, offering Sisi an apologetic smile.

Sisi carefully helped Zhong Juying to the office and after Zhong Juying settled down, Sisi poured her a glass of water. Seeing her conspicuously pregnant, she said with some concern, "Juying, I think you should wait until after the baby is born to come back to work. Your health is the most important."

"No need, no need, my work isn’t strenuous at all. I just need to go to the workshop to mix some medicine every day, and the rest of the time I just sit in the office. It’s even more relaxing than when I was at home! Where’s the need for rest?"

Zhong Juying felt somewhat embarrassed; earning over eighty yuan a day for such light work made her feel quite guilty, like she was getting money for nothing. That’s why she kept Sisi’s instructions close to heart, afraid that any mistake would let her friend down.

Seeing the embarrassed expression on Zhong Juying’s face, Sisi couldn’t help but laugh and no longer insisted that she rest. It seems like rural folks don’t have a concept of maternity leave, and giving birth in the fields is a common occurrence. Thus, Zhong Juying’s ’do I even need to rest to have a baby?’ expression was not at all surprising.

"Your belly looks like you’re about to give birth, doesn’t it?" Sisi stared at that pointed belly, her heart pounding with fear.

"Mm, my due date is the end of next month." Mentioning the baby made Zhong Juying unconsciously smile, her face full of happiness.

However, she soon expressed her worry, "Sisi, I will need at least a month off for childbirth, what will happen to the wine medicine during that time? Who will take care of it?"

She had been troubled by this question for a long time and somewhat regretted getting pregnant and having a child so early, causing trouble for the factory.

Sisi smiled and said, "Don’t worry, I’ve already thought about it. My dad will come to take over your duties. You just focus on having your baby, take a few extra months of rest and recuperate well."

This matter had already been arranged by He Xuewen and Tian Manjin. Blending wine medicine doesn’t require much technical skill; it’s all about loyalty, and who could be more loyal than Tian Manjin!

Zhong Meiying stormed in furiously, grabbing Zhong Juying’s tea cup and gulped down a big mouthful of water, her complexion somewhat improved after that.

"What’s wrong? Who upset our Meiying?" Sisi asked with a smile.

"It’s just..." Initially furious, Zhong Meiying caught a glimpse of Zhong Juying and swallowed her anger, barely squeezing out a smile, "It’s nothing, just some workers in the workshop were slacking off, and I had a few words with them."

Sisi could guess that the people Zhong Meiying was talking about were related to Zhong Juying, and she held back from saying more to prevent Juying from worrying.

However, Juying was no fool; she could tell by Meiying’s complexion who it was, and sighed softly, asking in a low voice, "Meiying, is it my mother-in-law not working diligently again?"

Zhong Cuixu worked as a packaging worker in the distillery, where she would label the finished bottles of He Family Wine. It was an easy job, and the salary wasn’t very high either, about thirty yuan a month; many older women in the village liked this kind of work.

Zhong Cuixu was actually a very agile woman, but she had her issues too: gossipy, snobbish, and pretending to be clever.

Because her son and daughter-in-law are the boss’s favorites, and her father is the village head, Zhong Cuixu has become somewhat arrogant at the factory, often acting like she’s the second boss, not even regarding Zhong Meiying.

The direct manifestation of not considering the workshop manager is disobeying commands. The packaging team also has a team leader, who is Tian Pinggui’s Mama, Lou Jinfeng.

Zhong Cuixu usually does not listen to Lou Jinfeng’s arrangements, always going against her. If you ask her to go east, she insists on going west, several times infuriating Lou Jinfeng enough to want to confront her physically, only to be calmed down by Zhong Meiying’s persuasion.

Zhong Meiying endures Zhong Cuixu more because of Zhong Juying’s face, and has quietly warned her several times, but Zhong Cuixu, relying on being an elder, does not listen at all, remains the same, and even becomes more arrogant.

Today, because of a trivial matter, Zhong Cuixu and Lou Jinfeng started arguing. Upon hearing the news, Zhong Meiying rushed over and calmed the two down. Seeing Zhong Cuixu’s arrogant manner, Zhong Meiying also became angry, and sternly reprimanded:

"Auntie, what exactly are you trying to do by causing trouble so frequently? Do you think this is your own home where you can make a mess however you like?"

With this remark, things escalated and Zhong Cuixu simply started playing the victim, constantly saying that Zhong Meiying feels too self-important, as if she owns the factory, and even slandered Zhong Meiying by suggesting she wants to be the factory boss.

Zhong Meiying, just a young lady in her twenties, couldn’t withstand this kind of abuse and was so angered that tears flowed, and she stomped back home.

Seeing that she made the head of the workshop run away, Zhong Cuixu was even more proud and more disdainful of others.

Lou Jinfeng disliked her frivolous behavior and couldn’t bother managing her anymore, spitting in disgust before attending to other workers.

Zhong Meiying had already calmed down quite a bit by now. Seeing Zhong Juying inquire, she wanted to deny it, but didn’t want to cover for Zhong Cuixu anymore.

Previously, she kept silent mainly for Zhong Juying, who was also pregnant, worried that knowing the truth might affect her friend’s health, hoping that Zhong Cuixu would change on her own.

But now, it seems she was indulging in wishful thinking, how could Zhong Cuixu have improved? Instead, she’s gotten worse!

Seeing the troubled look on Zhong Meiying’s face, Zhong Juying smiled and said, "Meiying, you don’t have to hide it from me. I know my mother-in-law’s temperament. What happened with her today?"

Zhong Meiying sighed and spoke out, tears welling up when she mentioned Zhong Cuixu slandering her about wanting to be the boss’s wife.

"Sisi, Juying, you don’t know how sick to my stomach I felt when I heard those words. Who talks like her? If this gets out, how can I face people?"

As she spoke, Zhong Meiying was about to cry again; she is strong-willed by nature, striving hard not to let He Xuewen and Sisi down by running the factory well, but now she felt deeply wronged by Zhong Cuixu’s slander.

Zhong Juying’s face turned pale with anger, her hands trembling, shocking both Sisi and Zhong Meiying.

"Juying, follow my breathing, inhale, exhale." Sisi gestured for Zhong Juying to breathe deeply with her, and after a few breaths, Zhong Juying’s complexion improved significantly.

Zhong Meiying was full of regret and said anxiously, "It’s all my fault, why did I have to say it? Juying, don’t take it too hard, your health is the most important."