Widow Wang, despite actually not looking bad, had a sallow complexion due to the years of hardship. She didn’t want to go to jail and cried, "Actually, it was a cadre who came to me; he told me to say this. If I listened to him, he’d arrange a good future for my son and daughter and even gave me a thousand yuan! I was muddle-headed... I had no choice! He threatened that if I didn’t obey, my son would never have a job for life. I was truly deluded!"
Everyone frowned; what ways could a cadre have to arrange jobs for people? It seemed there was something else going on here.
Suddenly, Widow Wang raised her head, ignoring the snot and tears on her face, and urgently said, "Comrades, you can treat me any way you like, but my son and daughter’s jobs have already been decided, you can’t change them. Otherwise, I’ll die right here; I won’t let them live like I do! You must promise me!"
Of course, Widow Wang’s request was unreasonable, but there was no way to deal with her. Saying no would have her create a big fuss in the office; she was desperate, a widow long past caring about her dignity. The authorities could only temporarily lock her up in a small dark room while they quickly sought out the cadre to understand the situation.
Bai Chuan hadn’t wasted his years in the army and news reached him early.
He smashed a teacup! And cursed in his mind. He never imagined that Gu Junming was much smarter than that foster father! Who’d have thought he had such a clever mind? That cadre was obviously sent by Bai Chuan, but now he must be silenced.
Before those people could reach the cadre, Bai Chuan called him: "You know what to say, right? You can’t be saved now, but your future is still long. You made a mistake and will need to leave the army, but after this, what you do will be different, and I can help you. If you reveal me, no one will take care of you, and your brother is also in the army, he will need help in the future too. Think this through."
The cadre thought, Bai Chuan has been around for years and has a certain level of skill. Now his granddaughter is married to the Wang Family, her future is limitless, not someone to provoke. This matter was probably done for Wang Hu.
If Bai Chuan were implicated, his brother wouldn’t have a good future either, so he gritted his teeth and took the blame himself.
He admitted to framing Gu Junming with the widow: "I’ve always been jealous of Gu Junming’s ability. We graduated from the same school, why is he already at the regimental level while I’m just a cadre? I just didn’t want him to rise; it’s my fault. No one directed me. I simply can’t stand him!"
Gu Junming wasn’t familiar with him, merely acquaintances at best; seeing he took the blame himself, he slightly frowned and said nothing further.
If he didn’t admit it, could they use torture to extract a confession? So they quickly decided that he would be forcibly retired without any job arrangements.
He left the army with a disgraced look.
The leader asked Gu Junming about the widow’s situation: "She’s been locked up, causing a hunger strike, even attempting suicide, all to secure her children’s jobs. What’s your take on this matter..."
Gu Junming replied, "We can’t do things without principles; her children came in against the regulations. Are we supposed to keep her daughter just because she can kick up such a fuss?"
"But if during the New Year someone dies because of this commotion..."
"I understand, I’ll handle this myself." Gu Junming gave a salute and went directly to the confinement room.
Widow Wang was making a scene, her hair disheveled, her voice hoarse. Having been confined there all morning, she was focused on one thing: whether she begged or caused a commotion, she would give her children a future, even if she had to die in the process. Anyway, she was a person with no shame, having faced countless insults throughout her life. As long as her children had prospects, nothing else mattered.
Seeing Gu Junming arrive, Widow Wang felt ashamed but started crying immediately, "Mr. Gu, I know it’s my fault, you’ve been wronged, but I had no choice... Your army is so large, it wouldn’t miss just one daughter of mine. Let me go to jail instead, I’m willing to bear my guilt, but don’t let my daughter be dismissed!"
Gu Junming said calmly, "When I helped you before, I didn’t expect you to treat me this way."
"I’m sorry, I had no choice, I’m all they have..."
"You’re not the only one with such a situation! If everyone we helped later turned against us, how chaotic would it become? If we fulfill your demands just because you cry and shout, what about everyone else?"
"You’re not short of one..."
"We must abide by principles and regulations; I won’t blame you, I’ll treat this matter as if it never happened. Let your daughter participate in recruitment as usual; if she qualifies, we’ll keep her; if not, we’ll eliminate her. That’s the most I can do. As for your son, the factory will also offer him an internship period; if he performs well, he’ll stay, if not, he’ll be fired. Let it depend on his ability—isn’t that fair? What do you hope to achieve by causing a scene—get your children promoted to officials?"
Widow Wang was about to cry and shout when Gu Junming said, "If you continue causing trouble, we’ll record your actions in your daughter and son’s files, and regardless of who it is, future promotions or transfers will be affected. Before you make a scene, better think about what’s best for your children’s future."
Widow Wang closed her mouth. They hadn’t refused her opportunity; continuing her tantrum wouldn’t benefit her children.
She looked at Gu Junming, tears streaming down, "I’m sorry, Mr. Gu, I was wrong."
Gu Junming said, "Mm, stop causing trouble; it’ll affect the children, which isn’t good. You need to return the money you took; if you don’t, you’ll end up in court."
Widow Wang responded, lowered her head, and dejectedly walked out. She felt too ashamed to face Gu Junming; as he had wholeheartedly helped before, she had nearly gotten him into trouble by turning against him.
This matter ended as it was. Widow Wang’s children turned out well: her daughter later joined the military, and her son also stayed at the steel factory. But Gu Junming no longer dealt with her issues.
Although Bai Chuan was not caught, there are no secrets in this world, and quite a few people knew he was behind orchestrating this matter; they all viewed him with much contempt.
Especially when Wang Hu took back his application, openly slapping Bai Chuan in the face. This clearly indicated that not only did he reject Bai Chuan’s favors, but he also plainly expressed his stance: I am not in cahoots with Bai Chuan.