Chapter 6: The Formidable Women's Army

Clang!

Sister Li’s lunchbox slammed into Sha Zhu’s head, producing a sharp, ringing sound. Everyone stopped in their tracks, staring at the crimson-faced Sha Zhu and the furious Sister Li.

Before Sha Zhu could even speak, a group of women swarmed over.

"Chunhua, what’s going on?" someone asked.

"Look at the food he served me."

Sister Li handed her lunchbox to those around her. Not only was there barely enough food left for two bites, but the two steamed buns were also a size smaller than everyone else’s.

The women immediately erupted.

"He Yuzhu, are you bullying our Human Resources Department from the kitchen?"

"Call your director out here!"

"I’m going to get the factory manager."

...

Sha Zhu was completely bewildered.

That lunchbox... wasn't it Lin Shaowen's? How did it become Li Chunhua's?

Lin Shaowen began his performance. Lowering his head, he tugged at Li Chunhua’s sleeve and whispered, "Sister, I know you care about me, but let it go... It doesn't matter if I eat a little less."

"What do you mean, eat a little less?"

Li Chunhua’s brow furrowed tightly, and she shouted indignantly, "Dr. Lin, I know you’re a university graduate and don't care to argue with a person like this. Don't worry, with me here, no one in this factory will bully you."

Hearing this, the group of women gathered around with curiosity.

In just a few words, Li Chunhua clarified Lin Shaowen’s identity. A top student from medical school who had given up the perks of Peking Union Medical College Hospital to work at the factory, all so that his fellow workers could enjoy quality medical care.

"Peking Union doesn't lack good doctors, but the steel mill workers need a good physician."

This statement was spread by Li Chunhua, and the women became instantly agitated. In their eyes, what was this? This was the model of an outstanding young man.

"Hit him!"

Someone shouted. Suddenly, the "women's army" began hurling their own lunchboxes at Sha Zhu. Some of them still contained food. Sha Zhu was left dizzy and disoriented, with vegetable leaves hanging off his head, looking utterly wretched.

"Everyone, everyone... let’s talk this over calmly."

Yang Weiguo, the factory manager, came rushing over with a group of leaders. He really couldn't afford to provoke this group of women.

"Factory Manager Yang, you have to stand up for me!" Seeing the manager, Li Chunhua began to wail. Tears flowed down her face as if they cost nothing.

*What acting skills,* Lin Shaowen mused to himself. If it weren't for the setting, he would have applauded her.

After learning the situation, Yang Weiguo roared at the kitchen director, "Wang Kuirong, how are you running this kitchen?"

"Manager, please, listen to my explanation..." Wang Kuirong wiped sweat from his forehead. He gave Sha Zhu a fierce glare before lowering his voice. "Master He cut his hand while chopping vegetables these past two days, so he... he wasn't paying enough attention while serving. I’ll make him apologize to everyone."

After saying this, he stepped forward, grabbed Sha Zhu by the back of his collar, and dragged him in front of Li Chunhua and the others.

Hiding in the crowd, Yi Zhonghai and Liu Haizhong exchanged glances and quietly retreated. With the factory manager personally involved, they knew that if they stuck their necks out, they would be making their lives in the factory far too difficult.

"Apologize," Wang Kuirong commanded.

"Big... Big Sister, I’m sorry. I was wrong," Sha Zhu said, bowing his head.

"You need to apologize to Dr. Lin," Li Chunhua said, tilting her chin up.

"Dr. Lin? Shaowen?" Yang Weiguo’s eyes twitched. He said with a stern face, "What does Dr. Lin have to do with this?"

Lin Shaowen stepped forward, wearing a bitter smile for Yang Weiguo. "Manager, I’m sorry. This whole thing was actually my fault. Sister Li was just standing up for me out of kindness to a newcomer." He then bowed to Li Chunhua.

"Lin Shaowen!" Sha Zhu’s molars were nearly ground to dust. This guy had nearly killed him with two punches yesterday, and today he was playing the victim? He was such a manipulative bastard.

"Shut up!" Yang Weiguo barked. He then turned to Lin Shaowen with a gentle expression. "Dr. Lin, I was waiting for you to report for duty this morning. I didn't expect you to have already handled the paperwork yourself."

"Manager, you’re so busy, I shouldn't have caused you any trouble," Lin Shaowen said timidly. "Comrade He Yuzhu and I had a bit of a misunderstanding. Didn't you assign me housing yesterday? They..."

"Shut your mouth!" Yi Zhonghai couldn't help but shout.

*Swish!* Everyone’s eyes turned to Yi Zhonghai.

"I... I won't say any more," Lin Shaowen said, looking aggrieved and bowing his head.

"Yi Zhonghai, what are you shouting for?" Yang Weiguo looked at him with displeasure.

"I... I..." Yi Zhonghai sputtered, unable to come up with anything to say.

Taking advantage of the fact that everyone’s attention was on Yi Zhonghai, Sha Zhu snuck up to Lin Shaowen and hissed through gritted teeth, "Lin Shaowen, what exactly are you trying to do?"

"Scared?" Lin Shaowen asked coldly.

"Scared... I’m scared." Sha Zhu wasn't truly stupid; in this situation, he knew he had to bow his head.

"If you provoke me again, I’ll finish you," Lin Shaowen threatened him quietly before turning to Yang Weiguo. "Manager, you misunderstood. I just arrived at the courtyard yesterday. Comrade He Yuzhu thought I was a bad person, so we had a few words."

"A bad person?" Before Yang Weiguo could speak, Li Chunhua cut in. "Dr. Lin is a university graduate, a refined, top-tier talent. You’re built like a brute, yet you suspected him..."

"Hahaha!" The crowd burst into laughter.

Yang Weiguo couldn't help but twitch the corner of his mouth in amusement, but he coughed twice and said sternly, "He Yuzhu, since it was a misunderstanding, let’s leave it at that for today. If I find you bullying Dr. Lin again, there will be consequences."

"Understood," Sha Zhu mumbled.

"Dr. Lin, eat with us today. Consider it a welcome meal," Yang Weiguo said with a smile.

"Maybe next time," Lin Shaowen declined, shaking his head. "I have something to discuss with Sister Li in a moment."

"Alright then, next time it is," Yang Weiguo nodded and left.

Order was restored. Wang Kuirong, the kitchen director, personally served the women’s group and Lin Shaowen, filling their lunchboxes to the brim—a sight that drew envious looks from many.

"You're such a fool; the factory manager eats in the small kitchen," Li Chunhua said, pulling Lin Shaowen aside to scold him.

"Sister Li, I feel like you might have some issues with your lumbar spine. If you have time this afternoon, let me give you a massage," Lin Shaowen said shyly.

This appearance caused the maternal instincts of many of the women to overflow. A dozen of them kept piling food onto Lin Shaowen’s plate, even sharing their own steamed buns, terrified he wouldn't get enough to eat.

"My lumbar spine does ache often. How did you figure that out, Dr. Lin?" Li Chunhua asked in surprise.

"I noticed your gait was a bit off, so I deduced it," Lin Shaowen replied softly. "I studied traditional Chinese medicine; observation, listening, questioning, and pulse-taking are the basics."

"A true university student indeed," Li Chunhua said, giving him a thumbs-up.

The other women looked on in awe; this young man clearly had real skills.