Bamboo Weaving Factory.

Outside the factory director’s office.

Three groups of people.

One group was Jiang Cheng and his two companions, with the bamboo weaving factory director standing in the middle. On the other side were the director’s parents.

A few colleagues stood around, wanting to help but feeling helpless.

The old lady with graying hair, who was also the director’s biological mother, was hunched over and weeping uncontrollably, listing her hardships.

"Oh, my eldest... You were not healthy since childhood, and I stayed up countless nights caring for you. I worked and cooked while carrying you, never daring to take my eyes off you."

"If it weren’t for you, would my back have bent this early!"

"You wanted to eat fish, and in the dead of winter, I fished in the icy waters, and my hands blistered every winter because of it."

"All these years, I couldn’t bear to eat even one egg. I scrimped and saved all for you!"

"Now that mom asks you for something, how can you be so heartless and refuse!"

"Do I really have to kneel before you’ll agree?"

The old lady’s tears flowed like a turned-on faucet, making Jiang Cheng curious.

Where did all those "tears" come from?

The bamboo weaving factory director felt dizzy from his mother’s tirade.

He’s been hearing this same speech for over thirty years!

"Mom—I earn a hundred and seven every month, and I give you ninety. Our family of four survives on just seventeen."

"Mom—I truly have tried my best!"

The crying old lady paid no mind, beating her chest as she continued to wail.

"You’re a big director lying to an old lady! I heard you just said you gave that vixen a thousand yuan!"

The old lady pointed sharply, directly at Jiang Cheng.

Jiang Cheng laughed in anger.

They were here to collect their bonuses, and the bamboo weaving factory director had already mentioned the bonus amount.

Jiang Cheng had just agreed when the old lady barged in, wailing her head off without any regard.

Stepping forward, Jiang Cheng faced the accusation.

Director Lu: Blind, deserves to be scolded!

Director Lian: Insisting on dragging Jiang Cheng into this mess, serves them right, they have it coming!

"Mom! What nonsense are you talking about, they’re only here for their rightful bonus!"

The bamboo weaving factory director explained with a grim expression, but the old lady refused to relent, shouting, "Oh, life is so bitter for me..."

"If life is bitter, blame your husband."

"Are you the only person in your family? Is your husband blind, handicapped, unable to do anything?"

"Whining here all day long like an adult blaming an infant for its misfortunes, you must be out of your mind!"

From the moment Jiang Cheng spoke, it was clear what they were dealing with.

The piercing truth left the old man, who had been maintaining a long face of forced dignity, unable to keep the facade.

"Young lady, watch your words."

Jiang Cheng glanced over, letting out a cold snort.

"Watch for what? Watch you being disrespectful, pretending seniority, acting shameless, and being unethical in old age!"

The sharp intonation echoed crisply within the room.

A unanimous feeling of satisfaction welled up among the surrounding colleagues!

That pair of parents always came to make a scene for the director!

Today, it was about a bicycle for the home, tomorrow about adding a radio.

Lately, it become even more preposterous... they were insisting the director finance houses and weddings for two younger brothers.

They’d seen biased parents, never ones who took it to such extremes.

The old man’s brow furrowed under Jiang Cheng’s rebuke, glaring at Jiang Cheng threateningly: "What’s it to you? Youngsters shouldn’t do annoying things."

Jiang Cheng rolled her eyes, letting out an exaggerated chortle.

"As if being liked by you could elevate my life to a higher plane!"

"Moreover, the one who stirs trouble first is the lowly one!"

Jiang Cheng cast a glance at the old lady.

The meaning was clear: there it is, the lowly one!

The bending, crying old lady paused in her sobs, then slapped the bamboo weaving factory director on the head.

"Son—you’re letting this little vixen talk to me like that!"

"I really raised you for nothing!"

The old lady started again.

"Oh dear... daring to scold me!"

Jiang Cheng clicked her tongue against her teeth, fully intending to meddle in today’s matter.

"Director, let me analyze your mother’s mindset for you."

"Although I don’t know your family situation, I’m sure you’re the most filial, the most obedient one at home."

"Because your father is inactive, you see your mother’s hard work, and surely, you’ve acted to treat her better!"

"It should have been your mother who cared for you the most, but it’s just the opposite, she treats you the worst!"

"Do you know why?"

The bamboo weaving factory director was drawn in deeply by Jiang Cheng’s words, croaking with a certain answer in his heart, he asked: "Why?"

"Because she’s taking advantage of your compassion for her, she knows you’re the easiest to manipulate, she’s found an outlet for her own hardships, a crutch."

"You, the crutch she relies on, are her only value in surviving that household!"

"The value brought inside, the fleeting praise she receives, makes her addicted to it!"

"She enjoys the flattery from others and is obsessed with her sense of superiority over you!"

"From start to finish, she’s just a bully who preys on the weak while fearing the strong!"

Jiang Cheng concluded her analysis, taking a step back, and exited perfectly.

The bamboo weaving factory director’s self-deceptive thoughts were completely shattered by Jiang Cheng, or perhaps he wanted them shattered.

He wiped his face with a wry smile.

After taking his hand down, his face was pained but also resolute.

"Dad, I know mom listens to you, let her go back, stop making a scene here."

"I won’t use factory money to support the family, you can give up on that idea!"

"Moreover, this comrade’s money is her rightful bonus, I have no right to withhold it, and I won’t."

"One more thing, don’t get any ideas, she—"

The bamboo weaving factory director pointed seriously at Jiang Cheng: "Her, I can’t afford to offend, and neither can you!"

At this point, the bamboo weaving factory director ignored his mother’s grip on his clothes, looked at Jiang Cheng, and bowed deeply in apology.

"I’m sorry for the trouble my family issues have caused you."

"I’ll wire your bonus, and you can collect it with your ID, it will be safer that way."

"My oldest—"

As the old lady began to speak, the director pried her hand from his grip with force.

"Mom, if you continue, I’ll resign! Quit this position as director, and I won’t have a penny anymore."

"Aren’t you worried about me? I’ll move my whole family back home, and you can support me anew!"

The old lady’s cries ceased abruptly.

No more commotion.

The bamboo weaving factory director let out a bitter laugh.

His mother was a clever woman indeed.

Jiang Cheng did not make things difficult for the factory director and agreed to his remittance method.

The bamboo weaving factory director apologized again and thanked Jiang Cheng for her understanding.

He called in the factory accountant and a few men to process the remittance immediately.

To be fair, he handled matters thoroughly.

Apart from having a family that held him back, he was quite competent.

Jiang Cheng and her two companions walked past the old lady and old man, as Director Lu cast a fierce glance at the old man.

With a very "imposing" snort, he remarked: "The little ancestors of our S City, try having any ideas if you dare!"