I Became a Vicious Supporting Role in the '70s-Chapter 187: Unbearably Wronged.

When going to the textile factory, Kong Wenhui insisted on stopping by the Cooperative Society to buy some stuff, but Shen Meng disagreed. She had prepared some things herself, claiming to have had someone buy them in Sea City, and had been keeping them in the basket on the back of her bicycle.

"I’ve already prepared everything. Qianqian just had a baby not long ago and is in the phase of recuperating her health. The things I prepared are for her and the baby, and mainly meant for visiting her."

"How can that be okay? When visiting the factory director’s home, we should also prepare something for them. Let’s do this—I’ll have Shihao go buy the most expensive things from the Cooperative Society. We’ll all chip in. I don’t have enough tickets today, elder sister-in-law, do you have any at your place? Lend me some."

"I still have some at home—sugar tickets, supplement tickets, meat tickets, and even for tobacco and alcohol. I’ll get them for you."

The two of them were about to rush inside the house when Shen Meng caught hold of them.

"Don’t go, don’t go. This time I’m bringing Shihao to see Qianqian, not the textile factory director and his wife. If we show up at their doorstep with large and small packages, they might think we’re there to ask for favors. There’s no need to bring those things; I know what I am doing. What’s most needed now is concern and care for Qianqian and her child. As long as they are happy, nothing else matters."

"That’s true, that’s true; we were thinking astray."

Cheng Yufen looked perplexed; she had never given gifts before, so she had no idea how to prepare for such occasions, while Kong Wenhui had given gifts, but not for work-related reasons—more so for social reciprocation.

As Shen Meng entered the textile factory with Luo Shihao, Cheng Yufen and Kong Wenhui stood waiting for them at the factory entrance. Shen Meng turned around and waved at them; in such cold weather, waiting outside like this, they might freeze.

"Auntie will be fine. My mom is shrewd. Once we’re inside, she’ll definitely find a warm place to stay with my aunt. She won’t let herself suffer."

After Luo Shihao said this, he approached the gatekeeper, handed him a cigarette, and his playful and smiling demeanor bore quite a resemblance to Shen Meng.

The gatekeeper, thinking they were there with gifts to get something done, hurried to let them in—nothing should hinder the factory director’s path to wealth, after all. Whether he accepts the gifts is his business, but letting them in was his duty. Plus, he just got two Red Plum cigarettes; guarding the gate today is going to smell great.

The two soon arrived at the factory director’s home, with Luo Shihao obediently pushing the bicycle behind them, which made Shen Meng glance at him a couple of times.

"Bang bang bang!"

"Who is it?"

Shen Meng knocked again. This voice was unfamiliar to her, neither the factory director’s wife nor Qianqian’s voice. She frowned slightly.

"Hello, I am Li Qianqian’s friend, coming to see how she’s doing."

The person cleaning the house coldly opened the door and began muttering as they spoke.

"Knock knock knock, I’ve already asked who it is, why are you still knocking, who are you?"

As soon as Luo Shihao heard that, his face immediately soured. His wife’s maid had clearly been hired by this household, but why was she acting so domineering?

"Aunt Yang, hello, I didn’t hear you respond just now, sorry about that. Here, take some candy to sweeten your mouth and ease your temper. Um, I’m Qianqian’s friend. It’s been such a long time since she’s had her baby, and I haven’t come to see her. The road conditions are good now, so I hurried over."

A person with a smiling face won’t get hit, and moreover, this person handed over such a big bunch of milk candy right away. Granny Yang immediately stuffed the candy into her pocket, her face easing into a more pleasant expression.

"So you’re Qianqian’s friend. You should have said so earlier, come in, come in. She’s doing well, talking with vigor. What’s so big about having a baby? I’ve been taking good care of her every day, and the child is also healthy, chubby, and well nourished."

"Oh my, you must be tired. Taking care of a child is exhausting, having to get up several times at night, and not getting a full night’s sleep. You have to take care of Qianqian and the baby as well, it’s hard work. It just so happens that I brought some brown sugar for Qianqian when I came to visit her; she doesn’t really like to eat it, so Aunt, you take it and replenish your strength."

Granny Yang’s eyes widened. The friend of a young lady really is generous, handing over a whole pound of brown sugar without hesitation. She took it and carefully tore open a corner; the sugar was very fine, it was clearly high-quality.

"Indeed, Qianqian never had to suffer. I make chicken soup and cook eggs for her every day, yet she still complains. Truly, good fortune taken for granted."

Shen Meng quickly consoled her with a few words, then proceeded towards Li Qianqian’s room under Granny Yang’s beaming gaze. Luo Shihao, following behind Shen Meng, felt some displeasure watching her deal with Granny Yang, who was clearly duplicitous. What was his sister-in-law doing being so kind to this old thing? And that brown sugar she just gave, how did she get it and why didn’t he see it clearly?

Shen Meng, carrying her things, knocked on the door. When Li Qianqian heard it was her, her voice choked up, feeble yet breathless, causing Shen Meng some heartache. Li Qianqian was Lu Zhenping’s sister and the daughter of the County Party Secretary; Shen Meng had saved her and her child, so naturally, her feelings towards them were somewhat different from others.

Pushing the door open, she saw Li Qianqian with dark circles under her eyes and messy hair, a clear sign she wasn’t sleeping well. The tiny child lay beside her, very skinny, the room in disarray and reeking of urine and feces.

Where was the good care that Granny Yang claimed to provide for Li Qianqian, making the child fat and healthy? This was nothing short of abuse.

"Qianqian, are you alright, what happened? How did you end up like this?"

"Sister Meng, sob sob... Sister Meng, I, I feel so wronged, sob sob..."

Shen Meng held her, gently patting her back.

"There, there, you shouldn’t cry now, it’s bad for your eyes. Tell Sister any grievances you have; I definitely won’t let you suffer here for nothing."

"Sister Meng, I won’t cry, I won’t." After sobbing a couple of times, Li Qianqian hastily wiped away her tears and continued: "It’s all because of my mother-in-law. Ever since I and my child came home, she’s been making trouble every day. One moment her waist hurts, the next her legs hurt. I know she just doesn’t want to take care of me and my child. I thought if she didn’t want to, then so be it. Besides, I’m living with Hu Biao now. But she made a fuss, forbidding Hu Biao to stay home, claiming it affected his work. Hu Biao didn’t agree, so she made trouble at his workplace. Even my father-in-law couldn’t control her; she threatened to die if he did not comply. Eventually, my mom suggested that Hu Biao stay in the factory and come back daily to see me and the child. I thought about it and agreed since he has to work every day and needs to rest well to take care of me and the child. My parents arranged for someone to take care of me, but my mother-in-law was still dissatisfied. She wanted to find someone to care for me herself. To keep the peace, my parents agreed. Aunt Yang initially treated me very well when she came, making chicken and fish soup and helping with the child; she kept the house clean, impressing the Hu family. But recently my mother-in-law went back to her hometown, and Hu Biao was sent away for work, and my father-in-law couldn’t keep checking on me too often, so she changed; just look at her now, anyone would think she’s the mistress of the house!"

Li Qianqian spoke through her tears, unable to hold back. She hadn’t seen any outsiders for a long time and didn’t dare to tell her family, fearing they would worry. So she endured it all, but she couldn’t take it anymore today. She felt too aggrieved, and if she didn’t speak out, she felt she would suffocate. How could she, who had never suffered like this her whole life, endure such hardship?