Chapter 2

Zhou Ming arrived at the factory TV station and pushed open the door of an office, saying as he entered, "Dazhuang, I need to talk to you about something!"

Dazhuang's real name was Zhang Lei. He was a tall and muscular man, over 1.8 meters tall, which earned him the nickname Dazhuang. However, this muscular man worked in publicity and cultural activities at the TV station, which seemed quite out of place.

But these were just thoughts from his previous life. Now, seeing Zhang Lei, Zhou Ming felt a deep sense of emotion. In his previous life, due to the wave of reform and opening up, the 760 Factory went bankrupt, and the TV station was shut down early. Zhang Lei was laid off and eventually went south to work. Zhou Ming still remembered the last time he saw Zhang Lei, who was so thin and haggard that if he hadn't been very familiar with him, he wouldn't have recognized him at all. Despite his own difficult circumstances, Zhang Lei still helped him.

"Zhou Ming, you're here. The factory's staffing is still very tight. My brother-in-law said it will be at least half a year before things get better," Zhang Lei said.

Zhou Ming knew that after he was fired, Zhang Lei had been trying to help him get back into the factory. Thinking of this, Zhou Ming gave Zhang Lei a bear hug and whispered, "Thanks, brother."

Zhang Lei was taken aback and looked at Zhou Ming with a strange expression. "Are you okay? I feel like something's off."

Zhou Ming asked what was wrong, but Zhang Lei couldn't explain it. He just said that Zhou Ming seemed much more open and cheerful than before. It was undeniable that after two lifetimes and forty years of brotherhood, Zhang Lei could still sense the difference, even though Zhou Ming had been very careful with his demeanor.

"Alright, don't worry about the details. I came here because I need your help. Do you want to make some money?" Zhou Ming said.

"Of course I do," Zhang Lei replied, "but making money isn't that easy."

Zhou Ming laughed. He had come to Zhang Lei to partner up and make money. Just as he was about to share his idea, the sound of high heels echoed from outside the door, and a stunningly beautiful woman walked in. "Zhang Lei, revise this script... Oh, you have a friend here? Have you forgotten the rules? No outsiders are allowed in the station."

The beautiful woman clearly noticed Zhou Ming. He turned to look and felt his heart skip a beat. This woman was incredibly beautiful and alluring, with her hair tied up in a high bun, a light professional makeup, a white blouse, and a pencil skirt that accentuated her perfect figure. Even with his twenty years of memory, Zhou Ming could swear that no woman in his previous life's computer hard drive could compare to her.

"Lin Jie, I know. He just has something to talk about with me. He'll leave soon, it won't be a problem," Zhang Lei explained. However, the woman wasn't interested in his explanation. She just handed the script to Zhang Lei and said, "Hurry up and revise it; we need it for tomorrow's news," before leaving the office.

After the woman left, Zhou Ming came back to his senses and turned to Zhang Lei. "Dazhuang, when did we get such a beautiful woman at the factory TV station?"

"You mean Lin Jie? Her name is Lin Muqing. She's been here for half a year. Although her official title is Office Director, she's in charge of news production and editing. She's very capable," Zhang Lei said, then added, "But Lin Jie is also a pitiful person. She's been married twice and dated several men, but they all died. People in the station say she's a natural disaster."

Hearing this, Zhou Ming remembered that there was indeed such a person in the factory. People said she was a natural seductress who drained men's energy, and none of the men who were with her had a good end. His mother had also mentioned this a few times, but at the time, he was in a low point in his personal and professional life and didn't pay much attention to the gossip. Now, he realized that while he didn't know much about her, her appearance and figure were ten times more beautiful than the rumors suggested.

No wonder she had a cold and distant demeanor. If the rumors were true, she must have given up on herself.

Zhou Ming thought about this, but he knew he hadn't come to Zhang Lei's office to gossip. However, after the interruption by Lin Muqing, he felt it wasn't a good place to discuss things, especially since she had mentioned that outsiders weren't allowed in the station. So, he took Zhang Lei to Xiao Han Restaurant.

Xiao Han Restaurant was run by their best friend, Su Han. Because of their close relationship, eating there was much cheaper than elsewhere. Additionally, at this time, most people didn't dine out and preferred the factory canteen, making the restaurant relatively quiet and a good place to talk. However, when they arrived, they saw something that made them very angry.

"Factory Security Inspection!"

A group of rough-looking men were gathered at the entrance of Xiao Han Restaurant, loudly shouting as they walked in. They didn't look like they were there to inspect; they looked like they were there to cause trouble.

This was a common occurrence at the 760 Factory. The Factory Security Department, which was originally just responsible for the factory's safety, had expanded its power over the years as more and more employees and their families moved in. They had even taken on government duties like health and safety inspections. Legally, this was questionable, but in the small factory community, the factory was the law. If you didn't comply, the Security Department would deal with you.

Since the Security Department wasn't a formal government agency, many of its members were former factory workers or local thugs. Expecting them to act professionally was like expecting a pig to climb a tree.

"What... what are you doing?" Su Han asked, stepping out of the restaurant, looking timid.

Su Han's appearance immediately caught the men's attention. Despite her simple clothing and apron, her beauty and figure were undeniable.

"What are we doing? We're here to do our job, of course," the leader of the Security Department said crudely. "We just received a report that your hygiene standards are subpar, and someone got sick from eating here. You need to pay a fine and clean up."

Su Han gasped. "How could that be? All the ingredients I use are from the market, and I wash them myself. How could someone get sick? Who got sick? Have them come and confront me!"

The leader said, "Someone got sick, and that's that. No need for drama. If you don't pay a fifty-yuan fine today, you'll have to close your restaurant. If you can't decide, call your boss."

Another young man with a lecherous look on his face said, "You don't know, do you? This place has only one boss, but who knows how many men she has. I bet she doesn't even know which one to call, ha ha!"

Hearing this, Su Han's face turned pale, and tears welled up in her eyes.

"Hey, don't go too far!" Zhou Ming couldn't stand it anymore and stepped forward with Zhang Lei, blocking Su Han from the group. Su Han told Zhou Ming to leave, saying it wasn't his business, but Zhou Ming wouldn't budge.

The leader of the Security Department sneered, "Who are you? Her kept man?"

"Watch your mouth, you bastard!" Zhang Lei shouted.

Zhou Ming calmly pulled out a chair from the restaurant and said, "I don't want to argue. If you're here to eat, go ahead. If you're here to cause trouble, come and try."

The leader glanced at Zhou Ming's chair and the muscular Zhang Lei, realizing they would be at a disadvantage in a fight. Zhou Ming's eyes, in particular, made him feel genuinely afraid. However, if he backed down just because of Zhou Ming's look, he would lose face in the Security Department.

At that moment, a voice called out, "Isn't this Xiao Han Restaurant? What's going on here?"

Hearing this voice, Su Han's eyes filled with anger. Zhou Ming and Zhang Lei turned to see a middle-aged man with a beer belly and a receding hairline waddling over. Seeing this man, Zhou Ming immediately understood what was happening.

This man was Huang Zheng, a cadre in the factory's personnel department. Initially, Su Han had wanted to work in the factory, but due to the tight staffing, her family had to seek help from Huang Zheng.

When asking for help, it's common to treat the person to a meal. However, Huang Zheng was a lecherous man. During the meal, he tried to take advantage of Su Han. Su Han didn't let him and reported him to the Security Department for harassment. This caused a big scandal in the factory, and even the factory leadership got involved, resulting in a reprimand for Huang Zheng.

However, the incident didn't end there. Huang Zheng's wife came to Su Han's house, calling her a seductress and accusing her of trying to seduce Huang Zheng for a job and then falsely accusing him of harassment.

There were only Su Han and Huang Zheng in the private room, and without any witnesses, Su Han couldn't clear her name. The rumors spread, and her reputation was ruined.

Zhou Ming knew this was Huang Zheng's doing, to protect his own reputation and tarnish Su Han's.

After this incident, Su Han couldn't get a job in the factory and opened a small restaurant instead. Now, with the Security Department causing trouble and demanding a fine, it was clear that Huang Zheng was behind it.

But even though she understood, Su Han could only swallow her anger and say, "Director Huang, these people are using the Security Department's name to cause trouble in my restaurant."

"Is that so? I'll criticize them," Huang Zheng turned to the Security Department members, "As members of the Security Department, your duty is to protect the factory's employees and their families from harm. Look at you now. Get out of here, and don't let me see you again, or I'll report you to your superiors!"

Huang Zheng's words sounded reasonable, but his smiling face made it clear he wasn't really criticizing them. The Security Department members left with apologetic smiles, and Huang Zheng then walked over to Su Han. "How are you, Xiao Han? If you hadn't falsely accused me, you could be working comfortably in the factory. But you chose the wrong path, thinking of underhanded ways..."

Su Han couldn't help but interrupt, "You're lying! It was you who tried to take advantage of me!"

Huang Zheng laughed. "Is that so? Who knows? But now everyone in the factory knows you're a seductress and a shameless woman..."

Huang Zheng's words were cut short as Zhou Ming slapped him hard across the face.