The miserable often have something hateful about them.

  In the blink of an eye, Jiang Zihan's busy summer vacation had already passed halfway. On this day, as soon as he returned home from the library, someone knocked on the door. Opening it to take a look, it was his sister-in-law Shi Lin. Jiang Zihan smiled and greeted her: "Long time no see. Have you been busy lately?" Shi Lin said: "No matter how busy I am, I'm not as busy as you." Jiang Zihan invited Shi Lin: "Let's have dinner together." Shi Lin said: "I just came to mooch off your food. My mom played mahjong all afternoon and was going to eat noodles to recharge before heading out again to fight." As she spoke, she went into the kitchen to greet Li Ruo Ruo.

  Jiang Zihan and Shi Lin sat on the sofa chatting, Jiang Zihan naturally asked about the salary increase: "My mom was promoted 2 levels this time, she's so happy that she can't stop smiling these days. How about you?"

  Shi Lin said: "Of course I only have a first-class life, who made me come and go, and also have a selfless dad."

  "Is everything going smoothly?"

  Shi Lin said: "Generally speaking, it's okay. These days my dad has been at home talking about how smart you are. They came up with a plan and took into account many of your opinions. But you should know that the salary increase is still going to be a source of endless disputes. In the past two days, Zhang Bao received stacks of opinion letters as high as a small mountain."

  Jiang Zhan said: "The factory should only be adjusting a small part, right?"

  Shi Lin said: "In principle, only 5% of the quota is discussed for opinions. But privately, many factory leaders come to greet us, and even the leader of the Light Industry Bureau comes to greet us, just 18 yuan, you say it's exaggerated or not."

  Jiang Zhan said: "No way, it's too poor, just rely on salary to eat. If the efficiency is better, the proportion of bonuses should be higher, and it should be much better."

  Shi Lin said: "Anyway, my dad is worried sick. He's been muttering to himself for days, saying that he didn't have a good son to help him share his worries and troubles. My brother has gone to Shanghai now, and doesn't care about this matter at all."

  As they spoke, Li Ruoruo had already started serving the dishes. The two of them helped Li Ruoruo arrange the bowls and chopsticks, and seeing their mother's beaming face, Jiang Zihan felt that he had witnessed the power of a good salary, and thought to himself, I must let mom get rid of her worries about money as soon as possible.

  After dinner, Shi Lin invited the mother and son to sit at home. Li Ruoruo shook her head and said: "I won't go, I just got a two-level salary increase, and it's inevitable that someone will gossip, saying that I got it because of my good relationship with your family. I don't care, but it would be troublesome for Director Shi." Jiang Zihan said: "I'm just a kid, it doesn't matter, I'll go sit for a while."

  Two people went down the stairs, walked through the alley between units, and just arrived at the bottom of Shilin's building. They saw a group of idle old ladies gathered below, listening with their ears perked up. When they saw Shilin, some people sneered with schadenfreude, while others came over to sympathize in a low voice: "That shrew is making trouble at your place again." There were also those who offered advice: "Shilin, doesn't your family have a phone? Hurry up and call the security department to chase her away. What's going on here?"

  Shi Lin didn't say a word, her face sinking, and softly asked Jiang Zihan: "Why don't you go back first?"

  Jiang Zihan shook his head: "Let's go take a look together."

  Two people went upstairs shoulder to shoulder. Shi Lin said in a low voice, "It's that Zhang Jiejie. She actually reported 2nd-level wages, but her husband only reported 1st-level. Just three days ago, she came running over to make trouble. First at the home of her husband's workshop director on the 6th floor, and then came to my house, this is the second consecutive day."

  Only the sound of Zhang Jingjing crying in front of the fourth floor gate: "Director Shi, Director Shi, you must take charge for the people! How can it be said that I am locked out? My husband has been working hard for the factory for over a decade, with no merit but only hardship. My daughter is ill, how much money does it cost to see a doctor and buy nutrition products? Is a first-class salary just something you spit out from between your teeth, giving us a mouthful of food to eat?! You can't drive people to desperation, pushing them to the end of their rope. When people are driven to desperation, they can do anything!" This is an undisguised threat.

  Two people walked to the door, Zhang Jingjing saw it, turned around and grabbed Shi Lin's hand: "Linlin, you must help me speak. As soon as you arrived at the factory, your sister was very concerned about you. Your vision is high, you don't look down on the person I introduced to you, I've tried my best."

  Shi Lin's face turned iron-green, and she forced herself to hold back her anger, saying: "Zhang Jie, first of all, you've already been to my house yesterday, and my dad has made it clear to you. The list reported by the workshop is a collective decision made by the workshop leaders. If there are any different opinions, they can be reflected through normal channels, and the factory leaders will discuss them collectively. My dad alone doesn't count for anything. Secondly, we also need rest. It's time to get off work now, and you come knocking on our door every day, how can we rest?"

  Zhang Jingjing said, "That's not what I meant. Everyone knows that this time it was your dad who made the decision, and the workshop list can be changed. What's with the working hours? You guys live in good houses, eat and wear well, but we workers don't have any regular working hours, we're busy from dawn till dusk and still can't fill our stomachs."

  Zhang Jingjing pulled Shi Lin's hand and wouldn't let go, Jiang Zihan felt a fire burning in his heart. He gently grasped Zhang Jingjing's wrist, separated the two, and pulled Shi Lin behind him, signaling her to open the door and enter the house.

  Zhang Jingjing turned around and stared at Jiang Zihan, saying coquettishly: "Young man, don't move your hands or feet. Who are you?"

  "Hey, isn't this your boyfriend? How did you find someone so tender?" She scolded Jiang Zihan: "I said you haven't even entered the door yet, and you can already act on behalf of Director Shi's family?"

  Shi Lin's face turned bright red as she unlocked the door, and Jiang Zhihan gestured with one hand behind his back, lightly pushing her back to signal her to hurry inside. Jiang Zhihan sized up the woman in front of him - in her thirties, with decent features except for a slightly large mouth, wearing clothes with an unusual color combination. Judging by her looks, she might have been considered a beauty when she was younger. But now, with her vicious appearance and demeanor, she really was very detestable.

  Jiang Zihan was just coldly staring at her, his youthful temperament almost bursting with anger. Suddenly, he felt a surge of heat flowing through the meridians he usually practiced, and his fists clenched involuntarily as he exerted all his strength to restrain himself. He knew that if he were to take action, it would likely bring a lot of trouble to the Shi family, especially at this critical juncture.

  Zhang Jingjing looked at the silent young man in front of her, and her heart suddenly felt a wave of fear. But soon, her usual arrogant and domineering attitude took over: "What are you staring at me for? Do you want to hit me? Are you a hired thug? If you have the guts, go ahead and hit me!"

  Jiang Zihan heard these provocative words, and for some reason, his anger dissipated. Instead, he found it somewhat amusing and also a bit pitiful. He smiled and said: "I won't hit you, I'm afraid...". He swallowed back the words "of dirtying my hands", turned around, and walked into the door.

  Jiang Zihan's expression changed in an instant, leaving Zhang Jingjing at a loss. Before she could react, the door had already closed in front of her.

  Shi Lin came up and asked, "Nothing wrong?" Jiang Zhihan smiled and said, "Almost couldn't bear it, but suddenly felt she was pitiful and sad, so didn't want to mind anymore." Shi Lin gritted her teeth and said, "Pitiful people often have hateful places. And I don't think she's pitiful at all." Jiang Zhihan wanted to comfort her, jokingly calling her "sister girlfriend", Shi Lin's face turned red, hitting him once, saying "At a young age, don't listen to the nonsense of these factory aunties, their unpleasant words are a whole basketful." The anger in her heart dissipated quite a bit.

  Shi Changzhang originally stayed in the bedroom to avoid being disturbed. At this time, he walked into the living room and said to the two of them: "I've already called the security department for a while, they should be here soon."

  Two or three minutes later, a clamor of abuse came from the entrance: "What are you doing? What are you doing? Don't touch me. You bunch of bootlickers, may you not die well, born with no XX." The abusive voice gradually faded away and eventually disappeared into the distance.

  "Dad, you have to be clean and fair, this is the price. I heard that the residential area where the factory leaders live has been heavily guarded for the past two days, and even the main gate of the community can't be entered if someone wants to cause trouble. You want to get along with the masses and live together, but troubles come easily. I think mom is the smartest, she plays mahjong every day until 11 o'clock and avoids all kinds of troubles."

  The director of the stone factory sighed and said, "Trouble, trouble may still be behind!"

  Jiang Zhan's tone was cautious: "Uncle Shi, last time I spoke carelessly, did I cause you trouble?"

  "Nothing of the sort. Your suggestion is good, and our plan has been inspired by it a lot. The principle of promotion transparency is correct, and we should continue to move forward in this direction. Although there are still many complaints, many employees have given positive feedback. We cannot let honest and hardworking employees always be at a disadvantage when it comes to promotions and salary increases, while some unscrupulous people who like to bully and cheat get benefits. I don't believe that this evil trend can't be reversed."

  The factory director continued: "This Zhang Jingjing is a big troublemaker. Her husband's attendance rate is very low due to his drinking problem, and the quality inspection often has problems. These items combined make him rank second to last in the group, so how can he get a two-level salary increase? Zhang Jingjing's own work situation is not much better, but the workshop leader was intimidated by her and put her name on the list. So far, the most opposition opinions about her have been collected, from frequent absences to quality inspection problems to not wearing regular work uniforms in the operating room."

  Jiang Zhan said: "Isn't she being too unreasonable? She's taken advantage of the situation and now she's making trouble for her husband."

  The director of the stone factory sighed, "This woman is not that simple. She probably knows that opinions about her are the most divided. According to our new regulations, the factory must respect public opinion surveys, and she is the most likely to be adjusted. Now she's making trouble for her husband, it's a case of advancing by retreating, the ideal situation would be to scare us all off, and give in on both sides. If not, we'll have to give her a warning, and let her keep that quota for herself."

  Jiang Zihan nodded slightly, thinking to himself that he was still too inexperienced. The ways of the world were many and complex.

  Shi Chang said, "This time it's probably going to change her name. There are people behind the scenes stirring up trouble and leading her to me to make a scene, wanting to see my joke. I don't believe it, this unreasonable fuss can turn the sky upside down."

  After chatting for a while, Jiang Zihan bid farewell and left.

  For the next week, Shi Lin almost stayed at Jiang Zhan's house every day until after 10 o'clock, of course to avoid trouble. She looked at the books that Jiang Zhan brought back and was very surprised, touching his head and saying: "How did this grow here? People are really different! In my three years of high school and three years of college, I learned 99% of English from my teacher, and it looks like I'm reading a heavenly book." After more than a week, Jiang Zhan and Shi Lin became closer and closer, and they really looked like siblings.

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  That night, Jiang Zhihan saw Shi Lin looking somewhat worried and asked her what was wrong. Shi Lin said that the final list had been announced, and Zhang Jiejie's salary would be increased by one grade due to the strongest public reaction. Yesterday, Zhang Jiejie came to make trouble again, and this time it was particularly fierce, kicking the door with her foot and threatening to fight to the death. The factory director was very angry and specially went to the fourth workshop today, criticizing Zhang Jiejie by name at a staff meeting, saying that he would not tolerate such behavior, and if she caused trouble again, the factory would consider suspending work for rectification, deducting all bonuses and benefits.

  Shi Lin worried: "I don't know what this woman can do when she goes crazy?"

  "Hey, don't worry too much about it. She's probably said that kind of threatening stuff many times before, and you can't take it too seriously. The harder you are on her, the less she'll dare to do anything to you."

  Shi Lin was still worried and decided to head home early today. Jiang Zhihan was also worried, so he called his mom to let her know and accompanied Shi Lin home. This time it was very calm, there was no one at the entrance of their house, probably because Director Shi's thunderous lecture had intimidated many people. Losing a level of wages was nothing, but being suspended from work would be a big loss.

  After the two entered, they found Shi Changzhang was on the phone. A few minutes later he hung up and Shi Lin asked, "Who was that?" Shi Changzhang said, "It was Old Wang from the police station. I'm relatively familiar with him, so I called to consult with him. He said the police station can't do much about this kind of noisy trouble, it's just mediation and education. If the door is confirmed to be kicked broken, you can ask for compensation, but not much else can be done."

  "Will she come back and cause trouble again?"

  The director of the stone factory said: "It's hard to say, we criticized her at the meeting this morning, and I heard that she didn't go to work in the afternoon. She even said that if you have the ability, stop my salary."

  Jiang Zihan thought for a moment and said, "I know a friend who is not from our police station, but it's quite close. I'll ask him?"

  Shi Changlong was now used to treating Jiang Zihan as an adult and nodded in agreement.

  Jiang Zihan tried to call Lin Suo, and he was still in the office. Jiang Zihan explained the situation, and Lin Suo hesitated: "This is indeed difficult to handle. She didn't really do anything, just made a fuss. Okay, it's always good to know the comrades at the police station. There's one in your area who just transferred from the army, he's not bad, and he still gives me face. Give the phone to your uncle, I'll talk to him."

  The next day, Shi Changzhang invited Xiao Jiang from the police station to dinner and also gave him a high-end cigarette. Xiao Jiang declined, but Shi Changzhang said, "I was a soldier too, we don't do things like that, let's just be friends." Since they were now friends, Xiao Jiang suggested going home to take a look, so he would know where to find them if something came up in the future. The two returned home and Shi Changzhang asked Shi Lin to call over Jiang Zihan, after all, this was his doing.

  Jiang Zhihan and Shi Lin came over together, with Xiao Jiang warmly greeting him saying: "I heard you single-handedly took on seven thugs armed to the teeth, that's not simple at all." Jiang Zhihan modestly deflected the praise and thanked Xiao Jiang for his help. When Shi Chang asked about what happened, Xiao Jiang told him about the assault case at No. 7 Middle School's playground, with Jiang Zhihan adding a few sentences he didn't know about. The father-daughter duo from the Shi family looked at him with even more admiration.

  Four people were chatting happily when they heard someone knocking on the door. Shi Changlong frowned, and Shi Lin said: "The knock is quite gentle, it should not be someone looking for trouble, I'll go take a look." After taking a peek through the peephole, Shi Lin turned back and said: "It's Zhang Jingjing, strange that she knocked so gently today, was she scared by you, Dad?"

  Jiang Zhan stood up and said: "Don't bother opening the door, I'll take a look."

  He leaned in close to the peephole, and Jiang Zihan carefully observed for a moment. Just then, a passerby happened to be walking down from upstairs, and couldn't help but glance at Zhang Jingjing's eyes. Zhang Jingjing didn't say anything, and that person seemed somewhat intimidated, quickening their pace as they walked away. Through the peephole, Jiang Zihan carefully observed Zhang Jingjing. Her right hand was holding a bag, which was hanging down by her side. When Jiang Zihan saw her eyes, they looked very empty, and suddenly he felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up, but he didn't know what was off about it. He pulled Shi Lin back into the living room, saying to the two people sitting on the couch: "Something doesn't feel right, Zhang Jingjing usually comes over making a ruckus, why is she carrying a bag?" Shi Changlong shook his head. Jiang Zihan said: "She's unusually quiet today." Xiao Jiang stood up and said: "I'll go take a look. A woman with a knife isn't anything out of the ordinary, could it be a gun or something? I'll just go warn her." Saying that, he walked to the door.

  Jiang Zhan suddenly had an epiphany and exclaimed, "Uncle Jiang, wait a minute. What special thing can be found in the fourth car?" Shi Changlong stood up this time: "Concentrated sulfuric acid, the fourth car can come into contact with concentrated sulfuric acid."

  Xiao Jiang said to me, "Give me a piece of clothing, everyone move back." Jiang Zhihan took a coat from Shi Lin's hand and handed it to Xiao Jiang, standing behind him without moving. Xiao Jiang turned his head to look at him, Jiang Zhihan nodded, still not moving. Xiao Jiang didn't say anything, twisted the doorknob with his left hand, and opened the door.

  Zhang Jingjing saw a stranger and was stunned for a moment, then asked: "Where is Director Shi?"

  Xiao Jiang suddenly bellowed: "I'm a policeman, what's in your bag?" He had a military background and his voice was very loud.

  Zhang Jingjing was startled and subconsciously threw away the bag, took out a bottle, and was about to pour it on Xiao Jiang's body.

  Xiao Jiang's hands moved quickly, and she swiftly covered Zhang Jingjing's right hand with the clothes in her hand. She had already pounced forward and twisted Zhang Jingjing's hand, while Jiang Zihan darted out from behind and grabbed Zhang Jingjing's left hand. The two of them twisted Zhang Jingjing around and pressed her to the ground.

  The bottle had tipped over, and Xiao Jiang glanced at it again and sniffed his nose, saying: "It might be sulfuric acid, be careful not to touch it."

  Zhang Jingjing suddenly let out a heart-wrenching scream on the ground. Jiang Zihan felt like his eardrums were about to burst. He was somewhat dizzy, but still managed to grip her hand tightly, not letting her move.

  Jiang Zihan pressed down on Zhang Jiejie, looking at the distorted face screaming below him, and suddenly felt a wave of inexplicable sadness.