Although Wu Yu had shown up uninvited, Director Wu received her warmly. After all, he was a former soldier himself, and seeing Wu Yu—a martyr's daughter—naturally stirred a protective instinct in him.
Once he heard Wu Yu's account of the situation, Director Wu slammed his desk in fury, the sharp pah-pah echoing across the office. He vowed to get to the bottom of it and promised her: he would not let a single bad apple go unpunished.
After hearing who Wu Yu suspected, Director Wu immediately asked his secretary to bring in the worker named Li Daqiang.
What really enraged Director Wu was that someone dared to spread rumors so brazenly in a state-owned factory—it was a blatant challenge to their authority, no different from slapping the face of the entire management.
While they waited, he poured Wu Yu a cup of hot water and kindly asked how she'd been adjusting to the job.
And what else could Wu Yu say? Naturally, she laid it on thick—saying her colleagues were kind, the work environment was great, and so on.
Every leader likes hearing praise, and Director Wu was no exception. She wasn't foolish enough to expose all the idle slacking that went on in their department.
As a working woman, Wu Yu knew exactly what should and shouldn't be said in front of leadership.
Director Wu was very pleased by her response, and his anger softened considerably. His expression even took on a fatherly gentleness, and he firmly resolved to restore Wu Yu's good name.
People are naturally biased—it was inevitable that Director Wu would trust Wu Yu more than the person accused of spreading the rumors.
Wu Yu could sense his protective attitude too, but since he treated her more like a younger family member, she didn't feel uneasy about it.
While the two were talking, Li Daqiang was brought in. He had already begun to panic the moment he was summoned—after all, as a low-level worker who'd been in the factory for years, he'd never even seen a manager above a team leader. Now the director himself wanted to see him—how could he not be shaking in his boots?
The moment he spotted Wu Yu in the room, his fear spiked to the max. His face turned deathly pale and his whole body trembled—looking exactly like a guilty man caught red-handed.
Director Wu, a former reconnaissance soldier, observed his every reaction sharply. With Li Daqiang's guilty behavior so obvious, what more evidence did he need?
Still, this matter had to be handled properly. There could be no ambiguity or corners cut.
So, Director Wu deliberately put on a stern face and said coldly:
"Li Daqiang, the factory's investigation team has looked into this matter. We've heard that the rumors surrounding Comrade Wu Yu originated from you. At this point, you'd best come clean."
In truth, there had been no such investigation yet—Director Wu was bluffing. But judging by Li Daqiang's flustered appearance, he didn't seem the cunning type. This was the fastest and most efficient approach.
As expected, the moment he heard Director Wu's threatening tone, Li Daqiang completely lost his nerve and confessed everything: that his mother, angry her son had failed to win Wu Yu's affection, had gone around the factory spreading malicious rumors.
The problem was, she was just an old woman with no job at the factory—so there wasn't much they could do to punish her.
(Additional note: Based on historical records, "defamation" didn't formally exist as a criminal offense until 1979, and the story is set in 1973.)
Still, the damage was done. The impact on Wu Yu's reputation was serious and unjust.
After discussion among the factory leaders, a decision was made:
Li Daqiang would write a formal apology by hand.
He would read it aloud in front of the entire factory canteen during the lunch break that very day.
He would also pay 50 yuan in compensation to Wu Yu for the damage to her name.
Li Daqiang didn't dare raise any objections. He accepted the punishment meekly.
Wu Yu was very satisfied with the factory's handling of the situation. The decision clearly protected the rights and dignity of a female worker.
But she wasn't about to let this slide. She had been too lenient last time, which was exactly why these people thought they could get away with hurting her.
So, that evening after work, Li Daqiang was ambushed, a sack thrown over his head, and beaten until his face was swollen and bruised.
As for his mother's sneaky, dishonest antics over the years, Wu Yu penned a detailed letter and reported her to the village chief and victims back in their hometown, Li Family Village.
Eventually, the old woman was dragged out to make a public confession during a village-wide meeting.
Her usual arrogance—propped up by her son's job—was finally crushed. Villagers began pointing fingers and gossiping about her everywhere she went. Soon, she was too ashamed to even leave the house.
Her family's reputation took such a nosedive that even her children's future marriage prospects were affected.(Of course, that's a story for another day.)
Honestly, if it weren't for Wu Yu's ability to defend herself—and for Director Wu being a strong ally—she might've just had to swallow the insult.
In this world, rumors might not physically kill someone, but they were like invisible blades, slicing into a girl's future.
For someone with a fragile psyche, this kind of slander could lead to a complete breakdown—or worse, to suicide.
That's why Wu Yu had no hesitation about taking revenge on the Yang family mother and daughter. As for Yang Mother—the mastermind—she could taste her own medicine.
Although this particular incident had now been publicly resolved, the damage to Wu Yu's reputation couldn't be fully erased. The saying went: "Three people make a tiger"—and with each retelling, the story would grow more absurd.
Still, no one dared to openly gossip about it anymore. Only a few whispered behind closed doors.
From the start, Wu Yu had guessed who was behind it, but she didn't bother to care. She couldn't possibly plug every mouth that loved to gossip.
But there was one upside: no one dared approach her again with nonsense about dating or matchmaking.
Otherwise, she'd probably be in the same mess as Xu Yangzhu, who had entered the factory with her. That poor girl had to constantly fend off nosy women trying to set her up.
This world really was bizarre. As soon as you stopped studying, people would pressure you to find a match—like waiting too long would mean no one would want you anymore.
As for dating, Wu Yu's attitude was: Let fate decide. There was no urgent need.
Still, at most she could only stay carefree for a few more years. Sooner or later, she'd have to find someone—such was the trend of society. But if she had to marry, it would be someone she genuinely liked.
As for losers like Li Daqiang—those "crooked melons and cracked dates"—Wu Yu would rather stay single forever. Just looking at him made her want to vomit.
But just as life was settling down again, a new person arrived—shattering the months of peace Wu Yu had managed to carve out.