Chapter 410: Liu Haizhong, You Also Have Your Day

He had no idea that Liu Haizhong had become the head of the toilets at Yagangchang and was now directly supervised by Qin Huairu, whom he had always looked down upon.

Er Da Ma followed her own imagination.

Within the Siheyuan, they enjoyed the Liu family's final frenzy.

Listening to the neighbors' flattering and ingratiating words.

His whole person felt light and elated.

When in a good mood, he would even offer a few pointers.

When in a bad mood, he would bring up the fact that everyone had eaten dumplings the previous night.

He bluntly said the neighbors looked down on the Liu family, underestimated Liu Haizhong's abilities, said Liu Haizhong was capable and had done many things for Deputy Factory Director Li, said Liu Haizhong was one of a kind and irreplaceable.

This point.

The neighbors admitted it.

He would beat his son at any excuse.

He could be called a bizarre flower of the Siheyuan.

……

Yagangchang.

Liu Haizhong looked at the toilet that was about to be cleaned clean by him, straightened his back slightly, and prepared to finish this job in one go.

He went out to catch his breath, breathing in fresh air.

The filthy toilet.

The stench rose to the heavens.

It robbed Liu Haizhong's five senses of feeling.

During the cleaning process, Liu Haizhong held his breath as much as possible.

This feeling was too unbearable.

He regarded himself as Goujian, wanting to carry out the anecdote of sleeping on firewood and tasting gall.

The difference from Goujian was that

Others tasted the bitter gall.

Liu Haizhong, however, cursed Qin Huairu's eight generations of ancestors in his heart like Ah Q, and greeted the parents of Deputy Factory Director Li.

According to convention.

After swearing at him with a foul mouth, he waved his broom, about to sweep the last bit of trash into the dustpan, when he saw several young people crowding in from outside.

One of them.

I don't know if it was intentional to cause trouble for Liu Haizhong, but he casually threw a cigarette butt onto the area Liu Haizhong had just finished cleaning.

The remaining few.

They also began to imitate.

They dumped the trash from their pockets all at once onto the open ground.

Liu Haizhong's complexion.

Visibly, a hint of anger welled up.

Being in the situation, he still didn't understand.

Having become the person in charge of the toilet, Liu Haizhong finally realized how arduous this job was; without mentioning the environment, it was miserable, the stench inside was extremely foul, the sights were nauseating enough to make one vomit their lunch.

Moreover, there were specially assigned people outside to inspect the quality.

Seeing Liu Haizhong perfunctorily handling things, not cleaning seriously, they gave him a stern talking-to.

I don't know who Qin Huairu learned this from, but she actually linked the quantity and quality of Liu Haizhong's toilet cleaning to his wages; in order not to have to drink northwest wind next month, Liu Haizhong could only painstakingly busy himself with the cleaning and had to finish it within the set time.

Seeing that he had completed a cleaning task within the allotted time, he didn't expect to encounter such a despicable thing; right in front of Liu Haizhong, they deliberately ruined his cleaning masterpiece.

What can be tolerated, what cannot be tolerated.

You bastards have bullied me to the point of being on my head.

I can't just turn a blind eye and pretend I didn't see it.

He flew into a rage.

After all, he was once a team captain.

He pointed at the leading youngster and told him to pick up the trash.

"You, and you, you guys, can't you see this is the place I just cleaned? How can you be so immoral? Haven't you learned to respect others' labor? I now give you two options: first, honestly pick up these things for me; second, honestly sweep these things clean."

"Who are you?" the leading youngster, acting as if he didn't know Liu Haizhong, said, "On what basis should I pick up these things? What qualifications do you have to order me?"

"Right, right, right, what status do you have to make us pick up things?"

"Just a toilet supervisor, and yet you're acting tough; if we didn't do this, you'd probably not even keep this job."

"Exactly, the toilets are already spotless; what use are you?"

"Giving you face? I am Liu Haizhong!"

Liu Haizhong ferociously revealed his identity.

Yesterday at this time.

He was still a fearsome figure at Yagangchang whose reputation alone made countless people afraid to sleep.

Today at this time.

But now he had become a coward whom anyone could ride on his head to defecate and urinate.

Such a gap.

Made Liu Haizhong truly unable to accept it.

Although he accepted the fact that he was bullied, psychologically he could never get over this hurdle.

Originally, one could still numb oneself with the allusion of Goujian sleeping on firewood and tasting gall, but they did not know that this illusory hope, in the face of mocking words from a few youngsters,

In an instant, their defenses were broken.

He almost jumped up, declaring his identity to the several youngsters.

"That Liu Haizhong, the Team Captain of the Elderly Assault Team at Yagangchang."

Liu Haizhong, while saying the words 'Elderly Assault Team Captain', unnaturally stressed his tone, a hint of pride flashed across his face, and his hunched body became remarkably straight.

"I now command you, as the former Captain of the Elderly Assault Team, to pick up this trash for me."

"Hasn't the Elderly Assault Team been changed to the Vanguard Assault Team? The captain is Xu Daming."

"He says he's the former captain."

"Using the former captain's identity to order us, who the fuck are you? What's wrong with Liu Haizhong? Is Liu Haizhong so awesome he doesn't need to eat?"

"You're Liu Haizhong?"

A voice full of anger.

It came from behind Liu Haizhong.

Guanmi instinctively turned his gaze toward the direction the sound came from.

Again, seven or eight strong young men.

The leader of the young men, though Liu Haizhong found his face familiar, did not know the other's name; he guessed he had a grudge against this young man, for the young man's gaze at Liu Haizhong was filled with intense resentment.

His heart rose to his throat.

His steps instinctively moved back one step.

He had mentally prepared himself for a beating, but when the situation came at him, Liu Haizhong still instinctively felt a faint panic.

Insiders know their own affairs.

Liu Haizhong knew how unwelcome he was at Yagangchang.

Inside the already small toilet.

More than ten young men entered.

Once someone makes a move,

the remaining young men will surely join in.

Two fists can't fight four hands.

Even a hero can't withstand many people.

With so many people dealing with Liu Haizhong alone, even if he had three heads and six arms he wouldn't be a match; the youngsters don't know their own strength and will surely exert as much force as possible.

Liu Haizhong was afraid.

"I'm not Liu Haizhong." He blurted out a denial, then contradictorily admitted he was Liu Haizhong: "I am Liu Haizhong."

"Well done, Liu Haizhong, I never thought you'd have this day!"

The young man's tone was through gritted teeth.

It made Liu Haizhong feel chilled to the heart.

He racked his brains.

He never could figure out where he had clashed with this person, why the tone toward him was so resentful, wishing to devour Liu Haizhong alive.

"Could there be some misunderstanding between us?"

"Misunderstanding? Who the fuck has a misunderstanding with you? Liu Haizhong, you're nothing but a beast in human skin, worse than a beast; how did your parents produce such a bastard?"

"Young man, I'm this old; you scolding me like this is a bit inappropriate, after all my age is about the same as your parents."

"Liu Haizhong, you still have the nerve to mention my parents? It seems you've forgotten who I am; in front of the coworkers, I'll repeat my name: I am Zhao Zilong!"

Another name.

Liu Haizhong might not remember it.

The name Zhao Zilong has always been deeply etched in his memory.

Originally just a young workshop worker who had just become a first-class worker, he and Liu Haizhong were on different levels: one was the lofty team captain, above everyone and below no one at Yagangchang; the other was an ordinary workshop laborer whom even the section chief could scold.

One midnight.

Two people who shouldn't have come into contact.

Unexpectedly, they became entangled.

When Liu Haizhong was putting on airs at the Yagangchang gate, he encountered Zhao Zilong rushing to work; using the excuse that Zhao Zilong damaged Yagangchang's image, he scolded Zhao Zilong severely; when recording a major demerit, he asked Zhao Zilong's name; Zhao Zilong, dare not conceal anything, honestly said his name, surname Zhao given name Zilong; Zhao Zilong's father, after watching the play 'Changban Slope', had a flash of inspiration and gave his son this mighty name, hoping he would one day rise to prominence.

It was originally just an ordinary name.

But Liu Haizhong insisted on finding fault in an egg.

He claimed the name Zhao Zilong had some bad connotation, that it was no good, and demanded Zhao Zilong give a reasonable explanation.

How could Zhao Zilong explain it?

He ended up being caught.

After Zhao's mother learned of this,

she fainted on the spot.

She was sent to the hospital, after rescue ended up with partial paralysis, lying half-dead at home.

Liu Haizhong saw the situation blow up.

He found an excuse and released Zhao Zilong.

If he were still captain, Zhao Zilong would not dare to do anything to him; but since he was no longer captain, he was nothing, so Zhao Zilong hurried over.

Because Liu Haizhong wore a hat and mask, he wasn't recognized at first.

Later, upon learning this person was his great enemy Liu Haizhong, he couldn't hold back and shouted.

Upon hearing the other party was Zhao Zilong, Liu Haizhong's panic intensified; seeing Zhao Zilong clench his fists, he hurried to explain.

"Little Zhao, Comrade Zhao, this matter is my fault. I, Liu Haizhong, am apologizing to you here in front of the workers. All the myriad mistakes are mine. Sorry, it was really a misunderstanding. You know what happened that day—I just thought you were a decent guy, Comrade Zhao. If the factory leadership saw this, it would damage Yagangchang's reputation and ruin your future prospects. You're still young, you have a bright future ahead—you can't do this muddleheaded thing. So I kindly helped you out."

Burning paper at the grave.

Playing tricks throughout the lake.

This is treating Zhao Zilong like a three-year-old child.

It's also Liu Haizhong oversimplifying the matter.

His mother was made half-paralyzed by Liu Haizhong's anger; you jerk, just moving your lips and saying a few empty pleasantries can smooth over both sides' resentment.

Too simple.

It's possible Liu Haizhong is trying to cure a dead horse as if it were alive.

"I'm doing this so you'll have an easier time at Yagangchang in the future. Young people shouldn't blame heaven and earth; you must hold yourself to strict standards—only then can you stand out. Let's put ourselves in each other's shoes: after I lectured you that day, weren't you punctual? I'll tell you, the factory leadership thinks well of you, saying you're a good lad who corrects his mistakes. Zhao Zilong, you can't be muddleheaded for a moment and go down the wrong road; you must keep up this good style, and you'll surely have a bright future."

"So, I should thank you?"

"No need to thank me; I'm the Team Captain of the Elderly Assault Team at Yagangchang, and I have both reason and duty to help every lagging comrade so they become pillars of Yagangchang."

Liu Haizhong gazed eagerly at Zhao Zilong.

Meeting his conflicted, uneasy gaze.

Zhao Zilong gave a slight smile.

The kind where the smile is only skin-deep.

"Then how should we settle my mother's matter?"

Liu Haizhong moved his lips.

He didn't know how to explain.

He worried that forcing an explanation would provoke the other's displeasure.

So he stayed silent.

"How? Are you at a loss for words, or don't know what to say? I only have one mother; I was hoping to get permanent status so I could give her a good life. But because you, Liu Haizhong, keep picking on me, my mother now lies half-dead in bed. Do you know what she said yesterday? She said she's a burden on me and told me to leave her alone; she'd rather die than linger. Liu Haizhong, I can't figure out which part of my name offends you, why you insist on bothering me. Explain yourself now, or I'll really beat you up."

Other young guys.

They also joined in the clamor.

"Liu Haizhong, I'll give you ten seconds to think: why are you picking on our Zhao Zilong? If you can't give a reasonable explanation, we'll also beat you."

"What are you looking at? Speak—those three characters 'Zhao Zilong'—where did they offend you, making you launch such a big attack?"

"Speak up—have you gone mute?"

Liu Haizhong simply couldn't explain.

He couldn't very well say he just couldn't stand hearing those three characters 'Zhao Zilong'.

To avoid getting beaten.

Liu Haizhong could only keep insisting it was a misunderstanding and urge everyone not to come to blows.

He stammered.

In the end, he provoked Zhao Zilong.

Then a loud shout rang out.

Zhao Zilong's fist came swinging at Liu Haizhong.

Liu Haizhong, however, came from a forging background; his strength was far beyond what a mere Zhao Zilong could match.

Even Shazhu's nickname "Siheyuan War God" would surely be taken by Liu Haizhong if they fought in earnest, holding nothing back.

Since Shazhu couldn't beat Liu Haizhong, there's no need to mention the slight, weak Zhao Zilong. Apart from the initial sucker punch that landed on Liu Haizhong, his remaining punches all missed, and Liu Haizhong even landed a timely counter while dodging.

Nobody suffered a loss.

Everyone threw punches.

Everyone also got hit.

But if we judge by strength,

Zhao Zilong was the loser, and this is also because Liu Haizhong restrained himself out of regard for his own status—otherwise a single punch would have laid Zhao Zilong flat on the ground, unable to rise.

Seeing that Zhao Zilong was no match for Liu Haizhong, the young fellows who had come along each shouted a rallying cry and charged at Liu Haizhong.

The lads who had earlier thrown trash at Liu Haizhong also quickly joined the fray.

The two sides descended into a melee.

Liu Haizhong alone took on over a dozen opponents in the melee.

The fight was intensely fierce.