Chapter 380: Liu Haizhong, the Thunder Bearer

It is different from other places in the steel mill.

Ershitang, where Shazhu has worked since joining the steel mill until now as his old unit, employs second cooks, third-grade workers, chopping-block workers, kitchen helpers and the like; the older ones have worked with Shazhu for five or six years, the younger for about three months.

Hearing about something a hundred times is not as good as seeing it once.

Only after truly coming into contact with this person, Shazhu.

Then you realize that Shazhu is completely different from the outside rumors—they are two different personae.

Many people just can't understand it.

A person who treats his fellow workers kindly, sparing no effort to teach them all kinds of cooking skills, yet ended up being assigned to manage the scrap warehouse.

They cannot accept it.

They also cannot accept it.

As one of the best cooks in the steel mill, Shazhu could be called its calling card, yet he wasn't promoted and ended up being demoted all the way.

What on earth happened?

Was there a mistake there?

The people who couldn't figure it out turned their gaze to Liu Lan.

As the steel mill's most famous informant, and also maintaining some shady relationship with Deputy Factory Director Li, why did Deputy Factory Director Li demote Shazhu all the way?

Feeling the gazes of the crowd.

Liu Lan secretly groaned in her heart.

In a panic.

She spoke the truth.

She said someone had written a complaint letter repeatedly accusing Shazhu, and Deputy Factory Director Li, forced into it, could only remove Shazhu from his post as cafeteria head.

If he didn't explain, it would still be fine.

This explanation.

It instantly stimulated the already depressed mood of everyone in the Ershitang.

Everyone.

They all followed Liu Lan's lead and began cursing loudly.

The cursing was extremely unpleasant.

They cursed the informant's ancestors eight generations back.

Afterwards someone shouted that the informant must be someone from the steel mill, otherwise how would the complaint letter have reached Deputy Factory Director Li's desk.

To uphold justice for Shazhu.

Ten cafeteria workers decisively joined forces.

They said they would give certain people a heavy lesson, letting them know that cafeteria staff are not so easily falsely accused by just anyone.

At noon.

Any worker coming to the cafeteria for a meal first faces the sullen, long-faced meal servers; during serving, they also ask the servers whether they have any objections to Shazhu—if you say yes, they will definitely give you extra portions; if you say no, you just get a normal serving.

The matter of Liu Haizhong making things difficult for Shazhu at yesterday's Dayuan meeting somehow reached the ears of the meal servers; when Liu Haizhong came to get his meal, Guo Xiaosi decisively snatched the task of serving him.

"What do you want to eat?"

"One serving of stewed vegetables and three white flour mantou."

"Speak louder; who could hear you saying something so small?"

Liu Haizhong knew he couldn't afford to offend Guo Xiaosi, so he decisively switched to another serving window.

But when he reached the window, Guo Xiaosi was still there waiting for him.

Knowing he couldn't avoid Guo Xiaosi, Liu Haizhong steadied himself, wondering what he had done to offend Guo Xiaosi, otherwise he wouldn't be singled out like this.

He forgot that he was in line for a meal.

He stood rooted at the window, motionless.

The people behind him in line couldn't move forward.

Out of respect for Liu Haizhong's title as captain of the Elderly Assault Team, no one dared to remind him.

Guo Xiaosi, however, wasn't afraid and shouted at Liu Haizhong.

"Liu Haizhong, what are you doing? Showing off that you're now team captain? I tell you, inside the steel mill everyone is equal, no high or low—you don't serve yourself a meal and you won't let those behind you get theirs—what does that mean? Are you trying to keep the later workers from eating enough to work?"

"His mouth is just a big hat."

Having learned from the previous lesson, Liu Haizhong.

He didn't engage with Guo Xiaosi's provocation.

He loudly repeated what he had just said.

He forgot one thing.

If someone is looking for trouble with you, no matter how well you do, they can always find fault.

"What's the point of being so loud? Just showing off your big voice?"

"Guo Xiaosi."

"Want to mess with me? Come on, I'm a fourth-generation hired farmer—come mess with me."

One generation of hired labor is enough for Liu Haizhong to endure.

What more, it's four generations of hired labor.

Liu Haizhong instantly became a wilted eggplant.

"One serving of stewed vegetables and three white flour mantou."

"None left."

"One serving of stir-fried cabbage and three two-flour mantou."

Guo Xiaosi ladled Liu Haizhong more than half a portion of vegetables and specially picked three not-so-big two-flour steamed buns for Liu Haizhong.

Blatantly shaking the ladle.

It left Liu Haizhong truly unable to accept.

"Guo Xiaosi, what right do you have to shake the ladle at me?"

"You've gotten so fat—what's wrong with eating one less bite? Can't you save some food for the tougher places? When you used to work, you could eat more, but now you don't work, you just loaf around at the Yagangchang all day; eating a few fewer bites won't starve anyone. Besides, I'm not asking you to eat less; I'm asking you to do fewer wicked deeds."

"Guo Xiaosi, what wicked deed have I done?"

"This is about to break face with me, and what wicked deed have you done? If it weren't for you, our cafeteria's Director He could have gone to the scrap warehouse as a keeper."

Liu Haizhong's face flushed red.

He's just even more stupid.

He also now understands what's going on.

These cafeteria workers are speaking up for Shazhu.

A sense of gloom welled up in his heart.

Every grievance has a source.

Every debt has its owner.

Whoever reported Shazhu, you go find that person; why are you giving me, Liu Haizhong, a hard time? If I weren't afraid to offend Guo Xiaosi, Liu Haizhong would have already arrested Guo Xiaosi.

Bastard.

"Shazhu's matter has nothing to do with me."

"No relation? Who would believe that? In my view, those two letters of accusation were written by you, Liu Haizhong. You resent Director He because he's the highest official in our Siheyuan; you envy him, you're jealous of him. If you hadn't written the accusation letter, why would you have publicly made things difficult for Director He at last night's Dayuan meeting, even letting his pregnant wife, who is ten months along and about to give birth, come out to attend the Dayuan meeting? Liu Haizhong, your heart is truly evil."

All around.

Voices of discussion carried over.

Some workers who had doubted Liu Haizhong's accusation against Shazhu now also believed Guo Xiaosi's words.

This morning.

Some busybody spread the news of what happened last night in the Siheyuan and the incident of sending Yu Li to the hospital far and wide.

Previously, no one took the lead.

Guo Xiaosi was taking the lead up front; they were just following the crowd. If responsibility were really pursued, they couldn't be held accountable—there's a saying: 'the law does not punish the many.'

Listening to the workers' heated discussion.

Liu Haizhong even felt like dying.

He suddenly realized he seemed to be taking the blame for others.

He wanted to explain a few sentences.

But he didn't know where to start.

Holding his lunchbox.

He left the cafeteria feeling dejected.

Originally he still thought that tonight, taking advantage of Shazhu being demoted, he could continue what he hadn't finished last night; but the harsh reality made Liu Haizhong understand a principle: he currently cannot move against Shazhu, otherwise it would confirm the fact that he, Liu Haizhong, wrote the accusation letter against Shazhu.

Although the bureaucracy-obsessed are stupid, they also know a workplace taboo: for instance, casually writing accusation letters is best avoided; if done, one cannot admit to it.