Chapter 404

From entering the factory until now.

Forty years have passed, from his youthful days to his twilight years, and before him stands this massive factory employing tens of thousands, filled with countless memories.

Among those memories, only a handful of scenes truly left a lasting impression on Liu Haizhong.

From the moment he first attained power up until yesterday.

A mere sixty days.

Liu Haizhong carries an unforgettable memory, one of his rare highlights—the feeling of being second to none, above all others.

It's easy to slip from thrift into luxury.

It's difficult to return from luxury to thrift.

Having experienced the self of being flattered to the point of one word carrying the weight of nine tripods, Liu Haizhong naturally does not want to return to his original position to become his seven-level forge worker; moreover, in the Yagangchang with over ten thousand people, they all deeply resent Liu Haizhong, wishing him to be unlucky his whole life, and during this period of his misfortune, they try as much as possible to take revenge on Liu Haizhong, venting the depression they suffered from being bullied and suppressed by him.

Liu Haizhong clearly knows this.

Last night inside the Siheyuan, being repeatedly mocked by the two widows Jia Zhangshi and Qin Huairu, it served as a not-so-small warning for Liu Haizhong.

The neighbors in the courtyard all want to step on Liu Haizhong to curry favor with certain people, let alone those opportunists in the Yagangchang, especially those subordinates of Liu Haizhong when he was team captain; they know all the secrets of Liu Haizhong's rise, and as long as they copy them exactly, they can obtain high positions through his own petty tactics just as he did initially.

Those whom Liu Haizhong schemed against initially will now turn around and scheme against him; he wants to rise, to have everyone continue to flatter his stinking feet.

Having experienced the misery of being dismissed yesterday.

Liu Haizhong, having mustered courage again and standing at the Yagangchang gate, looked at the bustling factory before him, feeling slightly dazed; he steadied his mind and stepped toward the interior.

The gatekeeper.

In fact, he had already seen Liu Haizhong, but didn't think much of it, openly letting Liu Haizhong go in, then he spat fiercely at Liu Haizhong's retreating back and cursed.

"You bastard, I wish you an early ascension to heaven; daring to come to work today, I will surely make you, Liu Haizhong, know what the anger of a small person is."

He turned his head and greeted a few fellow workers.

They spread the news of Liu Haizhong coming to work.

In the words.

Full of the intention to vent by giving Liu Haizhong a profound lesson.

Liu Haizhong ignored those people behind him; to him, they were merely insignificant minions. Following his memory, he walked familiar routes to the office of Deputy Factory Director Li.

As long as he finds Deputy Factory Director Li and convinces him to let Liu Haizhong continue as team captain, the threat posed to Liu Haizhong by everyone in the Yagangchang will also disappear.

Which is more important, which is lighter.

Liu Haizhong can tell the difference clearly.

He came to the Yagangchang today specifically to ask Deputy Factory Director Li for an official position.

Er Da Ma is right.

I may have no merit, but I have put in hard work; considering how hard I, Liu Haizhong, have worked these many days, you can't just beat me to death with a single stick.

If I cannot become the proper team captain,

being a deputy team captain is also acceptable.

After arriving at Deputy Factory Director Li's office, he found no one; he hurriedly asked the secretary, from whom he learned that Deputy Factory Director Li was inspecting the factory area. As soon as he stepped forward with his left foot, before his foot even touched the ground, the suspicious Liu Haizhong keenly realized that going to find Deputy Factory Director Li was not a wise choice, after all, seeking an official position cannot be said in front of outsiders. He nodded at Deputy Factory Director Li's secretary and uttered the words 'I'll wait here for him.'

To show his sincerity, Liu Haizhong did not sit and wait inside Deputy Factory Director Li's office; instead, like a penalized worker made to stand, he waited at the door.

More than thirty minutes later.

Seeing Deputy Factory Director Li return.

Liu Haizhong hurriedly went up to meet him, his face beaming with a fawning smile, his plump body slightly askew, utterly the image of a dog lackey.

"Deputy Factory Director Li, I am Liu Haizhong; I want to talk with you. Yesterday's incident was truly a misunderstanding. I received a report saying that Shazhu was loafing all day in Sihuocangku, so I thought that wherever in the Yagangchang, it is under your jurisdiction, Deputy Factory Director Li, and everyone must contribute their utmost effort to the Yagangchang according to your wishes. I brought Zhang San and Li Si to find Shazhu."

Liu Haizhong also knows why he was dismissed.

Last night he specifically discussed this matter with Er Da Ma, and the couple ultimately reached a conclusion.

The cause of his dismissal.

It was Liu Haizhong who sought trouble with Shazhu; however, Shazhu was just reading, which angered Deputy Factory Director Li, ultimately resulting in Liu Haizhong being stripped of his team captain position.

Prescribe the right cure.

Since the matter arose because of Shazhu, it naturally must end because of Shazhu.

Thinking to say as many good words as possible to Deputy Factory Director Li, pushing the blame outward, this position might just end up in Liu Haizhong's hands.

It is like an arrow on the bowstring that must be released.

Seeking an official position.

It is Liu Haizhong's only way to survive.

If he cannot obtain the position as desired from Deputy Factory Director Li's hands, even Liu Haizhong guessing with his toes can imagine what fate awaits him.

A truly worse-than-death ending.

"Deputy Factory Director Li, I am truly wrong; I made the mistake of empiricism, assuming the person who reported Shazhu had solid evidence, only upon arriving did I discover that Shazhu was using the break time to study cultural knowledge. I blame my haste then for not pushing the door open but kicking it in directly; however, I said nothing at the time, nor did I utter any foul words to Shazhu—it was purely a misunderstanding."

"So what do you mean?"

"Deputy Factory Director Li, I have no other intention; I simply hope that, seeing my efforts for you these days, Deputy Factory Director Li, you might let me continue as this team captain. I guarantee I will wholeheartedly serve you, Deputy Factory Director Li, and follow your words."

"Team captain!" Deputy Factory Director Li's tone shifted, and he sighed: "By rights, it's not impossible, but you also know that our Yagangchang now has only one vanguard assault team, with Xu Daming as team captain, and he's doing well; we can't just let him step down as team captain and then hand the position over to you, Liu Haizhong."

Liu Haizhong's heart.

At that moment it turned cold.

Accustomed to enjoying the influence of one word carrying the weight of nine tripods.

Suddenly going to be someone's deputy.

Really still not used to it.

Moreover, being the deputy to Xu Daming, whom Liu Haizhong had disliked recently, is genuinely uncomfortable.

He glanced at Deputy Factory Director Li.

He made a wildly imaginative suggestion, saying: "Deputy Factory Director Li, how about we do this: let Xu Daming remain as team captain of his Yagangchang Vanguard Strike Team; at worst I, Liu Haizhong, will newly establish a Yagangchang Elderly Vanguard Assault Team, and I will be the team captain of the Assault Team. This way, Xu Daming and I won't conflict, and we can better serve you, Deputy Factory Director Li. What do you think?"