My Dongguan Love Story

My fingertips touched something soft and warm, and my cheeks immediately flushed. I hurriedly withdrew my hand.

But Chen Siyao was already unsteady, and without any support, she swayed and fell straight to the ground.

"Ah~"

Chen Siyao fell to the ground and groaned softly in pain, her fair face smeared with dirt. She didn't blame me at all; that fall was just too embarrassing. If she had the choice, she would rather have fallen than do that.

She blushed and slowly got up, stealing a glance at me before suppressing her shyness and whispering, "Dazhuang, let's keep climbing."

Although I was filled with shame and fear of further mishaps, I had come this far and couldn't go back empty-handed. For my bedridden mother and for the sake of my family's livelihood, I had to get this wage no matter what.

"Okay." I replied, squatting down and gently reminding him, "Be careful this time, don't fall again."

"Mmm." Chen Siyao nodded with a blush. Having learned from her previous experience, she was extra cautious this time, slowly moving onto my back and sitting steadily on my shoulder.

I slowly stood up, and she steadied herself, grabbed the top of the wall firmly, and stepped onto it. She then climbed up as well.

Then I jumped down first, reached out and caught her steadily, and we both landed on the ground.

We quietly went around to the back of the prefabricated houses, looked around, and soon spotted an office with a sign that read "Office," where the foreman was probably located.

The two walked forward one after the other. As they approached the door, Chen Siyao became increasingly nervous and subconsciously took my arm lightly.

The two of them peered through the window, and she immediately recognized him. She excitedly tugged at my sleeve and whispered, "Dazhuang, that's Foreman Wang sitting inside!"

"Great, we finally found them." I gestured for Chen Siyao to keep quiet and not make a sound. The two of us quietly walked down the corridor to the office door, looked at the closed door, and gently knocked.

"Come in," came the steady voice of Foreman Wang from inside the house.

I pushed the door open and entered. The person inside looked up at the sound, and the moment their gaze met Chen Siyao's, their face turned cold and their eyes revealed a hint of hostility.

Chen Siyao mustered her courage to meet his gaze and hurriedly said, "Foreman Wang, my mother worked for you before, and she still owes you three months' wages. Moreover, she injured her leg while working, which was clearly a work-related injury. Her medical expenses should be covered and reimbursed by you."

After hearing this, Foreman Wang scoffed on the spot, his tone full of perfunctoriness: "What work-related injury? Anyone can make up empty words. Who can prove that she was injured on my construction site?"

This outrageous claim stunned Chen Siyao, who hurriedly tried to defend herself: "Many of my fellow workers on the construction site saw it with their own eyes!"

"So what if you saw it? If you're so capable, bring the people over to testify. I want to see who dares to step forward."

Ever since Wu Lijuan was taken to the hospital after her accident, Foreman Wang had already given advance notice, saying that anyone who dared to testify would have all their wages withheld. The workers all had families to support, and no one dared to offend him rashly. A few straightforward and outspoken workers had already been driven away by him, and he was certain that no one would dare to speak up for the mother and daughter.

Chen Siyao was speechless, and after a long while, she said angrily and anxiously, "You're clearly deliberately trying to renege on your debt!"

Foreman Wang, a cigarette dangling from his lips, sneered arrogantly, "I just won't give it to you, what can you do about it?"

Chen Siyao was trembling with anger and was about to argue with him when I quickly stopped her. I looked at Foreman Wang with a calm gaze and said, "Let's put the work injury compensation aside for now and settle the wages owed for the past three months first."

Work injury compensation is a matter of course, and he can't shirk it. I made up my mind to get the back wages first, and then slowly ask for compensation.

Foreman Wang seemed to read his mind. He chuckled and put his feet up on the desk, saying nonchalantly, "Wages? None! Wu Lijuan hasn't come to work for so long, that's considered absenteeism, don't expect a single penny."

This twisted logic is outrageous. He clearly fell and was bedridden, unable to move, but he twisted it into an unexcused absence from work, using it as an excuse to withhold his wages.

Chen Siyao's eyes turned red with anger, her fists clenched, and she was about to step forward and argue with him.

But Foreman Wang was not afraid at all. Having been on construction sites for many years, he was shrewd and worldly-wise. He had seen all kinds of situations and didn't care about her resentful appearance. He looked completely fearless.

His lecherous eyes roamed over Chen Siyao without restraint, his mind filled with wicked and unspeakable thoughts.

After a few seconds of pause, he dropped his rudeness and put on a kind face, his tone greasy and lewd: "Siyao, I know your family is having a hard time. How about this, you come to my house tonight and have a good chat with me. If you behave and are sensible, I'll give you all the back wages you owe tomorrow, and even more money."

The malicious intent behind those words was crystal clear, and even the naive Chen Siyao understood immediately. She turned pale with anger and snapped, "You're dreaming! You shameless old scoundrel!"

After being berated by Chen Siyao, Foreman Wang lost face. His expression darkened, and he turned and coldly snorted, "Get out of here! Don't expect a single penny!"

As soon as he finished speaking, I raised my hand and slapped him hard across the face.

With a sharp crack and considerable force, a bright red handprint was immediately left on his face, causing it to swell up instantly.

A searing pain shot straight to his brain, causing him to scream in agony. He glared at me, trembling with rage, wanting to lunge at me, but seeing my tall, strong figure, he immediately chickened out and frantically shouted out the window, "Security! Someone come quick!"

Just then, two security guards were patrolling the construction site. Hearing the shouts, they immediately ran over and peered through the window: "Foreman, what's wrong?"

Foreman Wang's face turned ashen with rage. He pointed at me and shouted outside, "Come here right now and teach this guy a lesson!"

The two security guards outside exchanged a glance, not daring to approach, and then disappeared in a flash.

This foreman is notoriously stingy and cheap, employing mostly men in their fifties and sixties who wouldn't dare to fight. Besides, they only earn a meager monthly wage, so it's not worth risking their lives for such a mean foreman; naturally, they all stay far away.

Foreman Wang was still unwilling to give up and kept shouting for help, but all the workers on the construction site pretended not to hear him and just kept working. Not a single person was willing to come and help.

Everyone had long been fed up with his constant harassment, and given how he treated Wu Lijuan's work injury, many people sympathized with Chen Siyao and her daughter, and no one wanted to intervene.

After calling for a long time without seeing a single person, Foreman Wang panicked and timidly turned to look at me.

I crossed my arms and looked at him coldly with a sneer: "Go ahead and shout, I'd like to see who dares to come to your aid."

Foreman Wang was terrified inside, his face stinging with pain and panic, but he stubbornly maintained his composure, clutching his swollen cheek, his eyes red, and his neck stiff as he declared fiercely, "I won't give you this money no matter what, you won't get it!"

Despite being terrified, she refused to back down and stubbornly refused to admit defeat.

Seeing that he still didn't repent even after all that, I didn't say a word and raised my hand to slap him hard again.