Chapter 71: Deputy Factory Director Liu, a Man Who Values Relationships and Righteousness

Ning Weidong did not have eyes in the back of his head and did not notice Feng Wen's expression.

After exchanging a few more pleasantries with Wen Aiying, he sat down in the last available seat under Chen's guidance.

This Office had four desks; there were originally only three people, and with Ning Weidong's arrival, the number was just right.

Wen Aiying helped tidy up the miscellaneous items piled up there.

Ning Weidong had no work to do after sitting down; Li Peihang had simply arranged for him to be there without mentioning any specific tasks.

It was not that Ning Weidong was being treated specially, but rather that this was the state of work at the Security Division most of the time.

It was not like ten or twenty years ago; there were not that many Special Agents, and there was no need for armed training.

The importance of the Security Division and its status within the Manager had visibly declined over the past two years.

Ning Weidong was an old hand; he did not feel awkward having nothing to do in the Office. He read the factory newspaper printed by the Manager while chatting aimlessly—chatting with Chen, chatting with Wen Aiying, and not even leaving Feng Wen out.

By noon, Chen went home to eat, Feng Wen disappeared entirely, and Wen Aiying brought her own meal.

Ning Weidong had originally wanted to join Chen to build a rapport, but he had no choice but to be on his own.

The canteen at the Manager was especially crowded at noon; despite there being four large canteens, they could not handle over ten thousand workers.

Ning Weidong was holding his lunchbox and pondering what to eat when he suddenly heard someone calling him from behind.

When he turned his head, to his surprise, it was Lu Zhou.

Ning Weidong immediately said with a smile, "Officer Lu, here to eat? Shall we join up?"

It was just a casual question, as Ning Weidong knew he and Lu Zhou were not on the same path, but he did not expect Lu Zhou to actually agree.

Ning Weidong's heart stirred, and he could not help but be more cautious.

What did Lu Zhou mean by this? The two of them walked one after the other, queued up to get their food, and came to a seat by the window in the canteen to sit down.

Although there were many people getting food, most took their lunchboxes back to the workshop to eat, chatting with colleagues and fellow workers while eating, which counted as a rare form of entertainment during work breaks.

Ning Weidong and Lu Zhou sat facing each other.

Lu Zhou had bought two steamed buns and a lunchbox of stewed cabbage with vermicelli.

Ning Weidong had sorghum rice, stir-fried shredded potatoes with onions, and pickled radishes.

Neither of them spoke at first, burying their heads in their food.

It seemed as if there were simply no seats, so they had just come together to grab a bite.

Once they had finished most of their meal, Lu Zhou finally spoke, saying in a low voice, "Be careful lately."

Ning Weidong raised an eyebrow: "How so?"

Lu Zhou said in a low voice, "I heard early this morning that someone from the Women's Federation in the district went to see Liu Hong'e..."

Ning Weidong frowned; had the effect of Liu Hong'e stubbornly refusing to name the person behind her appeared so quickly?

That person was quite bold to actually dare to save someone at a time like this.

If Liu Hong'e's story were accepted, her act of murder would be considered excusable.

Furthermore, the speculation and profiteering could also be pushed onto Liu Xinwen, claiming she was forced and beaten into compliance.

In this way, as a victim, Liu Hong'e would certainly be able to save her life; once inside, she could find a way, and after three or five years, if some illness were discovered, she could apply for medical parole.

But even so, what did that have to do with Ning Weidong and Lu Zhou?

Lu Zhou guessed Ning Weidong's thoughts, his deadpan expression remaining the same as ever: "Do you know who is running around for Liu Hong'e?"

"Who?" Ning Weidong had a faint suspicion.

"Deputy Factory Director Liu~" Lu Zhou lowered his voice even further.

This Deputy Factory Director Liu was the very person who had previously established the Investigation Team and was the nominal lead official on the Manager's side.

Compared to Li Weibing and Wang Guoqiang, Deputy Factory Director Liu's presence as a Technocrat was not strong.

But he was a Deputy Factory Director after all, and his rank was there; if he really wanted to vent his anger, his methods might not be weak.

Yet Ning Weidong still doubted it; he felt that Deputy Factory Director Liu had no reason to deal with him and Lu Zhou.

In fact, Ning Weidong had suspected from the very beginning that Liu Hong'e was backed by Deputy Factory Director Liu.

No other reason was needed; the technology required to design this accident was something only Deputy Factory Director Liu in the entire Manager had the level to pull off. Moreover, the whole affair reeked of a "bookworm" quality.

There were clearly many more low-key ways to get rid of Liu Xinwen, yet they chose this method that seemed clever but was actually stupid.

The reason for saying this was mainly that their "murder weapon" was too unconventional.

Generally speaking, in a murder case, if a gun is used, it undoubtedly receives the highest level of attention, with massive human and material resources invested to solve the case as quickly as possible and eliminate the negative impact.

Next is using a knife, which lowers the severity by several levels.

Then there are accidental methods like car accidents or drowning.

When two cases occur simultaneously—one a shooting, one a car accident—a moment's thought makes it clear which side receives more attention.

In reality, as long as enough human and material resources are invested, there is almost no case that cannot be solved.

Look at what Liu Hong'e and the others did: they actually used important machinery from the Manager as a tool for the crime, thinking it was flawless and disguising it as a production accident.

They completely failed to consider the severe consequences it would bring.

With such a major production accident occurring, Li Weibing and Wang Guoqiang could not accept it.

Then there were the higher-up leaders who would certainly inquire about it; even a mere mention or a single phone call would be a very heavy weight on the scales.

Therefore, the moment they decided to implement this plan, it was destined to fail.

And on top of that, they still wanted to try and fish Liu Hong'e out.

If it really was Deputy Factory Director Liu, it only showed that this guy had read himself stupid and his brain was quite muddled.

It was just that Ning Weidong found it strange; even if Deputy Factory Director Liu really had lost his head, it shouldn't be his turn to be targeted~ In the whole affair, Ning Weidong was just an errand runner.

The important clue was discovered by Lu Zhou; the on-site coordination and overall command were handled by Chu Zhongxin; and those who actively cooperated in the arrest of Liu Hong'e were Wang Kaifeng and Li Peihang.

But when Ning Weidong said this, Lu Zhou only replied with one sentence: "He can't afford to provoke those people~"

Concise and to the point, yet damn it, there was no way to refute it.

Ning Weidong blinked his eyes; was he being treated as a punching bag? He then looked toward Lu Zhou.

Nothing could be read from that poker face...

Returning from the canteen, Ning Weidong pondered what Lu Zhou had just said, knowing this matter was definitely not that simple.

Even if Deputy Factory Director Liu really had some moves, they shouldn't have come out of Lu Zhou's mouth.

One's position determines one's perspective; one's seat determines one's head.

From the moment Ning Weidong entered Li Peihang's Office, it was impossible for him to become friends with Lu Zhou.

At the same time, Lu Zhou parted ways with Ning Weidong and arrived at the Workers' Club on the west side of the factory area.

There was a card and chess room here.

Lu Zhou arrived at a quiet room where two people were playing Go inside.

One of them, a middle-aged man with a side-parted hairstyle and glasses, glanced over and said, "Little Lu is here~"

"Division Chief~" Lu Zhou replied, "I just met with Ning Weidong; he doesn't seem to believe it."

The middle-aged man was none other than Wang Kaifeng of the Security Division, who could be considered Li Peihang's direct superior.

Nowadays, Division Chief Wei of the Security Division had been in poor health, and the real power in the division had been almost entirely carved up by Wang Kaifeng and Li Peihang.

If it weren't for Li Weibing holding him back, Wang Kaifeng, this deputy division chief, would have already been promoted to the full position.

Wang Kaifeng didn't mind, saying, "It doesn't matter." As he spoke, he looked back at the chessboard and said indifferently, "Little Lu, don't worry. You are old enough; once this matter is finished, it's time to consider moving you up a notch."

Lu Zhou's eyes lit up, and his heart instantly began to race.

The deputy section-level position he had hoped for for so many years—could it really be about to become reality!

But it was only for an instant before he calmed down.

Based on his understanding of Wang Kaifeng, for him to give such a clear promise, what followed would definitely be no small matter.

(End of this chapter)