The employee who requested leave was surnamed Hu, named Hu Guifen, a very honest and down-to-earth rural woman, who usually didn't gossip or chatter, so Shen Mingzhu had a good impression of her.
When she learned that Hu Guifen's mother was seriously ill and wanted to visit her hometown, Shen Mingzhu readily approved the leave request.
After Hu Guifen left, Shen Mingzhu found Shen Hongmei to inquire about Hu Guifen's family situation.
Shen Hongmei and five other workers lived in the employee dormitory, interacting from morning till night, so she knew the workers' family backgrounds very well.
From Shen Hongmei, Shen Mingzhu found out that Hu Guifen had a mother suffering from tuberculosis.
In the afternoon, when Hu Guifen returned to the factory, Shen Mingzhu asked about her mother's condition with concern.
Hu Guifen replied, "I bought some medicine and took it back; she should start to improve after taking it for a couple of days."