Factory 195 is a state-owned military enterprise, and it absolutely cannot tolerate people whose entire being is steeped in bourgeois liberalization ideology sneaking in—even if Richard Carter is the model worker he personally established as an example.

Just now, these words made Mark Goodwin look at the young man before him with a new sense of intrigue. To be able to say such things was enough to prove that this young man was by no means simply brainwashed by bourgeois liberalization ideology.

He knew the rules of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection’s investigations and hinted at the hidden tricks behind the scenes. All of this showed the maturity of this young man. Was he really just a recent university graduate? And those things Emily Jennings said earlier were undoubtedly also instigated by this guy.

“Xiao Lu, whether it’s the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection or the Provincial Commission, they are all functional departments of the Communist Party. I heard you are also a Party member, so you should know that as a Party cadre, you must obey the organization’s decisions and cooperate with its work. This is not only a right, but also a duty.”

Mark Goodwin’s expression was serious as he set the watering can down on the windowsill.

“When the discipline inspection department investigated old Zhen’s matter, they informed me in advance. I made it clear that the factory Party committee would fully support and cooperate with the work of the higher-level discipline inspection department, but I also asked them to act with caution and not dampen the enthusiasm of our cadres. On this point, now and in the future, I will always stand firm.”

For Mark Goodwin to say this much was already quite rare. William Carter nodded. “Uncle Gu, with your words, we can rest assured. We all firmly believe Uncle Zhen would never make such a mistake, but there’s no smoke without fire. You are the stabilizing force of Factory 195, and I believe you see things deeper and farther than we do. The hard-won, excellent situation at Factory 195 must not be affected by outside factors. As the children of Factory 195, we feel this deeply.”

Mark Goodwin could hear the implied meaning in the other’s words. He had just rejected this guy’s hope of joining the factory on the grounds that he wasn’t the child of two factory employees, and now the other was using this way to tease him. It made him feel both amused and a little annoyed. Since when did it become Mark Goodwin’s turn to be lectured by these youngsters?

As soon as they left Mark Goodwin’s house, Emily Jennings said worriedly, “Damin, weren’t you a bit too blunt? Isn’t that bad?”

“Emily Jennings, don’t put Mark Goodwin on a pedestal. He’s human too, and he can make mistakes. Sure, he’s been through a lot, but has he realized the consequences of this matter?”

William Carter got on his bicycle and gestured for Emily Jennings to get on. Emily Jennings didn’t mind, nimbly hopping onto the back seat. As the handlebars turned, the bike wobbled, and Emily Jennings let out a startled cry, quickly wrapping her arms around William Carter’s waist.

With Emily Jennings hugging him from behind, her right breast pressed closely against William Carter’s back. Even through two layers of clothing and a bra, William Carter could clearly feel the overwhelming allure of Emily Jennings’s figure—soft yet firm, making his heart flutter and almost causing him to veer off course.

Emily Jennings was wearing only a thin tie-dye cotton dress, blue with a floral pattern, giving her a delicate and radiant charm.

Compared to Nancy Jennings, Emily Jennings’s face was a little less exquisitely pretty, but she had a more seductive and striking beauty. Yet in one aspect, both sisters took after their mother. When Helen Lee was young, she was famous in Factory 195 for her stunning figure. It’s said that John Jennings was attracted to Helen Lee precisely because she performed a dance from “Ten Farewells to the Red Army” at a factory arts gala.

The sisters’ busts had developed with remarkable maturity. In the words of internet users twenty years later, Nancy Jennings would be the classic “big-breasted” type, while Emily Jennings had the figure of a true car show model.

Although it was just a brief moment of contact, as soon as she was steady, Emily Jennings quickly let go of William Carter’s waist. Still, she felt her cheeks burning hot. She instinctively glanced around—fortunately, no one seemed to notice. If an acquaintance had seen, who knows what they would have thought.

Chapter Six: Borrowing Strength and Support

“Damin, I feel like you’ve become a different person.” Sitting on the back seat of the bicycle, Emily Jennings couldn’t help but say.

William Carter’s heart stirred slightly. “Why do you say that? Is something wrong?”

“I can’t really say, but it just feels like you’ve changed. Not long ago, you seemed really down. I even asked Nancy Jennings to comfort you more, to encourage you not to give up just because you were frustrated by your job assignment after graduation. But today, I saw you in front of Uncle Gu, and you were like a debater—so sharp and forceful. Didn’t you notice Uncle Gu’s expression?” Emily Jennings brushed aside a stray lock of hair. “I think Uncle Gu was really affected by your words. Maybe he really was a bit careless.”

“He wasn’t careless—he was overconfident.” William Carter smiled faintly. This Phoenix 28-inch bicycle had been well maintained by his father and rode very smoothly and briskly, the pedals spinning with a powerful momentum.

“So what should we do now? Just go home and wait for the result?” Emily Jennings hadn’t even realized that, subconsciously, she was already treating the man before her as her only support.