Xu Shi was also among the applicants. Seeing Lu Hao, she proudly told those around her that the young woman in the blue dress responsible for hiring was her own daughter.
"Then you're sure to be selected. With your own daughter hiring workers, why wouldn't she pick her own mother?" a woman behind her flattered.
A woman in front of the line turned back and smiled, "I say, Auntie, with such a capable daughter, you should just go home and enjoy your retirement. Why bother competing with us for strenuous work?"
"Exactly, Auntie looks like someone who enjoys comfort, why would she need to come out and work?"
Hearing the envy and flattery, Xu Shi felt quite pleased. She feigned helplessness and sighed, "A married daughter is like spilled water. No matter how capable a daughter is, she doesn't belong to her maternal family. If she were a son, I would truly be enjoying my blessings."
"That's true," the other women agreed, laughing.
Xu Shi deliberately queued up in Lu Hao's line, thinking that since Lu Hao was her biological daughter, this job was surely hers, no matter what.
Working in the workshop meant no exposure to sun, wind, or rain, with a monthly salary of 800 wen and included lunch. She wouldn't miss out on such a good opportunity.
However, when it was her turn, Yang Shi was the one asking about personal details, and Lu Hao looked at her with an indifference colder than that shown to a stranger.
Two women behind Xu Shi whispered in admiration, "The workshop supervisor doesn't play favorites. She acts like she doesn't even see her own mother, so fair and just. This must be a good job."
Xu Shi's face twitched with embarrassment. Yang Shi asked two perfunctory questions and then dismissed her.
Xu Shi shamelessly smiled at Lu Hao and said, "Do— no, Xiao Hao, come home more often when you have time. Your father and I miss you and your sister."
Lu Hao glanced at her indifferently and said nothing.
Yang Shi immediately chimed in, "We are hiring right now and are very busy. Auntie, if you have nothing else, please go home and wait for the results."
"Yes, yes," Xu Shi replied with a smile, but inwardly she gnashed her teeth with hatred for Lu Hao.
As she turned to leave, she shot Lu Hao a venomous glare. This damned girl was truly cold-blooded and heartless, truly disowning her own mother. If the Wang family came looking for them, she hoped they would take both mother and daughter away and torment them to death!
As Xu Shi was thinking these hateful thoughts, suddenly, a commotion erupted not far away. She turned her head and saw a large group of people approaching menacingly. Leading them was Wang Quanfu, the man with Yudi.
Although six years had passed, Xu Shi recognized him instantly. After all, he had a face like a shoe sole, paired with slanted eyebrows, and a pockmarked face. Anyone who looked at him would find him unforgettable.
Zhao, a servant from Lu Ye's household, was trying to stop them from approaching but was shoved aside by Wang Quanfu and his group.
Xu Shi felt a flicker of schadenfreude. Although Yudi was her biological daughter, since the damned girl didn't acknowledge her as her mother and acted as if she hadn't seen her in front of others, Xu Shi was quite happy to see her in trouble.
As for Lu Ye and his wife, they were about to be pointed at and scolded today. Hmph, let them be smug!
Lu Hao saw Wang Quanfu at a glance. In that instant, she felt the blood in her body freeze, and a chill rapidly spread from her feet to her entire body. She unconsciously clenched her fists.
Don't be afraid, don't be afraid. What's coming will come. She would never be afraid or back down again. Today, even if she died, she wouldn't go back with this brute!
If he dared to use force, she would immediately report him to the authorities. After all, the place where Magistrate Ji treated sand wasn't too far from here.
Bai Sheng and Lu Ye naturally saw the group. The dozen or so people at the front were ordinary villagers, while the dozens behind them looked more like rough-looking vagrants.
This group, with angry faces and imposing auras, clearly meant trouble.
However, the more people who came, the happier Bai Sheng became. They were perfect free labor.
Lu Ye looked at her happy expression with doting eyes. But as his gaze shifted to Wang Quanfu and his group, his doting expression was instantly replaced by a surging killing intent.
Seeking death! How dare they disrupt his precious wife's hiring event!
Wang Quanfu seemed to know everything about the place. He led the group directly towards Lu Hao, shouting furiously, "Lu Yudi, you damned slut, you worthless piece of trash! It's one thing that you abandoned your husband and family, but you even abducted my child!"
The people present were all shocked by his curses and turned their gazes towards them.
It happened to be a holiday from school today, and Xiao Si and several girls from the school were helping out here, guiding the applicants.
Hearing the fierce-looking ugly man scold her elder sister, she immediately guessed that this was the man who bullied her elder sister. She hurried out, intending to find her second brother, Lu Xing.
The man, leading a large group, walked up to Lu Hao. The people queuing for applications immediately moved aside, making way. They were here to apply for jobs, and it would be a loss if they got caught in a fight.
However, they all wore expressions of astonishment, curious about what had happened, and wanting to find a good vantage point to watch the spectacle.
Wang Quanfu, his face full of malice, pointed at Lu Hao's nose and shouted, "Lu Yudi, you piece of trash, hurry up and come over and go home with me! Where did you take the girl? Quickly hand her over to me!"
Lu Hao suddenly stood up, staring at Wang Quanfu with indignant eyes, her lips trembling, unable to speak.
Manman, who had been playing nearby, turned pale with fear and cowered. Du Min stepped forward and held her in her arms.
Yang Shi, Bai Jing, and Liu Shi from the next table also stood up, their eyes blazing with anger as they glared at Wang Quanfu, who had come to stir up trouble.
Bai Jing angrily said, "Who are you? Coming to Hongshu Village to cause trouble!"
"Exactly. Everyone in our Hongshu Village practices martial arts, and you ruffians dare not provoke us! Get lost if you know what's good for you!" Yang Shi said coldly.
If it weren't for the workshop recruiting workers today, these people wouldn't have been able to enter the village so easily.
Wang Quanfu straightened his collar, looking smug and disdainful. He said fiercely, "I am Lu Yudi's man. Lu Yudi abandoned her family and husband, and abducted my daughter. I've come to take her home! You irrelevant people, don't butt in, or I'll beat you too!"
Bai Sheng and Lu Ye exchanged a glance, a murderous glint in their eyes. However, Bai Sheng was not in a hurry. She wanted to see Lu Hao's reaction, to see if she would yield before this ugly, poor, and despicable bully of a man.
"Yang Ming," Bai Sheng beckoned Yang Ming, who immediately walked over.
Bai Sheng whispered in his ear, "Go and call Master Ji to come over."
Yang Ming responded with a "Yes" and ran off.