Chapter 257: Investigation

The 1961 drought, like an invisible, viscous net, enveloped Four Nine City and every corner of the Steel Rolling Mill.

The usual clamor in the plant area seemed a few decibels lower; the machines still roared, but the workers' hearty shouts were missing.

In the canteen, the big pot of vegetable soup was so clear you could see the bottom, the proportion of bran in the steamed buns kept rising, and everyone's steps carried a particular lightness born of insufficient energy.

The Security Department's routine training had already been voluntarily halted by Li Ping'an when food supplies began tightening. It was not due to neglect, but to harsh reality.

With no sufficient sustenance in the belly, high‑intensity training was not only useless but likely to cause bodily injury, a loss outweighing any gain. Now the Security Section's duties focus more on plant patrols, gate guard duty, and handling everyday disputes.

This also gave Li Ping'an an excellent chance—a chance to unobtrusively and closely observe the true character of the young officials under him. For his sister Li Pingle's lifelong matter, he, as a brother, decided to personally become a "Recon Soldier."

He no longer, as before, spent most of his time in the office handling paperwork; instead he appeared more often in various corners of the plant. Sometimes during the early‑morning shift handover, he stood beside the main gate guard post, seemingly casually listening to night‑shift and day‑shift members exchange notes, while his eyes keenly scanned each person's face and mental state.

He saw that most crew members, though looking sallow, had bright eyes, followed the handover procedure meticulously, and when dealing with early‑arrival workers who were equally famished, remained fairly calm, not showing irritability or impatience due to their own hunger.

Especially the young official named Tie Zhu, who was tall and broad; although his cheeks were a bit hollow, his back remained straight, and when checking incoming workers' credentials his movements were proper, his tone slightly less booming due to hunger yet still clear.

When an elderly worker, sweating profusely, couldn't locate his credential, Tie Zhu didn't scold him; instead he patiently asked him to step aside and search carefully, and whispered, "Old master, don't rush, take your time, watch your footing." This subtle consideration earned a slight nod from Li Ping'an.

Occasionally, he would appear on the plant's internal patrol routes, "coincidentally" meeting the patrol squad. He said nothing, merely walked a stretch behind the team, observing the members' focus during patrol and whether their inspections of the plant's corners were thorough.

He found that most members could follow the prescribed route and patrol diligently, but some, weakened by hunger, would occasionally lose concentration or skim over corners that seemed insignificant.

The official named Chen Jianghe, however, stood out. While patrolling, his gaze was sharp; he would deliberately check whether the tarps covering material piles were tightly fastened, inspect the fire‑fighting equipment for integrity, and even when passing a weed‑overgrown idle area, he would instinctively part the grass to see what lay beyond.

This near‑instinctive sense of responsibility and meticulousness left a deep impression on Li Ping'an.

At noon, while eating in the Security Department's Small Canteen, Li Ping'an also paid attention. The crew's meals were much the same: either the thin Bangzi Noodle Porridge that was so watery it could reflect a mirror, or steamed buns mixed with copious wild greens and bran, eaten with salty vegetable dumplings or a bit of home‑dried vegetables. Few could produce any decent dry rations.

Li Ping'an noticed that Tie Zhu ate quickly yet never wasted; the porridge in his bowl was always drunk clean, and he carefully picked up the bun crumbs to eat them.

Chen Jianghe, however, ate more slowly, seemingly chewing and swallowing deliberately to increase satiety; his dry rations appeared darker and coarser than others', yet his face showed little complaint, and after finishing he would voluntarily help tidy the public area's cleanliness.

Once, workers from two workshops in the plant had a minor clash over the order of claiming labor‑protection supplies, nearly coming to blows. When Li Ping'an arrived after receiving the news, Wang Dahu had already led men to separate the two sides. The scene was somewhat chaotic, and both parties were very angry.

【9】 Tie Zhu stood in the middle, using his tall frame to keep the impulsive workers apart, and in a steady voice urged, "Everyone, calm down! Is it worth fighting over this? No one benefits from getting hurt! If there's a problem, go to the workshop director, resolve it with the union!"

Zhao Tie Zhu stood in the middle, using his tall stature to try to separate the agitated workers, his voice calm as he urged: "Everyone calm down! Is it worth coming to blows over this? Hurting anyone is no good! If there's a problem, go to the workshop director, go to the union to resolve it!"

Chen Jianghe, meanwhile, stood nearby, quickly questioned several workers present, soon grasped the cause, then approached the trouble‑making worker and said in a low, clear voice, "Master Wang, I recall your son was ill not long ago and the factory gave assistance, right? The plant is struggling, everyone has it hard; let's be understanding of each other. Fighting over a pair of gloves and dragging it to the Security Department for a record will reflect poorly on your advanced rating and your child's future political assessment."

Though his voice was low, the words hit the crux. The worker surnamed Wang's expression shifted, his demeanor instantly deflated, he muttered a few words, and ultimately was persuaded to leave.

Li Ping'an observed clearly from the side. Tie Zhu was straightforward and steady, relying on his physique and logic to hold the line; Chen Jianghe was meticulous and agile, adept at seizing the key point, moving a tiny effort to shift a great weight. Both styles had their merits.

After work, Li Ping'an would also "coincidentally" walk a stretch with some officials whose homes weren't far away. He seemed to chat casually about plant matters or current affairs, observing their speech and viewpoints.

Tie Zhu didn't speak much, but when mentioning certain wasteful practices in the plant or the inaction of individual cadres, he couldn't help showing indignation, appearing as if he hated evil like a personal foe, his thoughts rather straightforward.

Chen Jianghe, on the other hand, appeared even more composed; his speech was orderly and clear, his analysis hit the point, and regarding current difficulties he mostly expressed understanding and believed the nation could lead everyone through the hardship, showing greater perspective and resilience.

After a period of careful overt and covert observation, Li Ping'an gradually formed a picture in his mind. He eliminated several candidates whose families were overly burdened, whose characters seemed somewhat slick, or whose bodies were too frail under hunger, and ultimately his focus settled on Tie Zhu and Chen Jianghe.

Tie Zhu, of good background (poor farmer), strong and robust, straightforward and righteous, is a reliable man, though he may lack some zest for life and flexibility.

Chen Jianghe, hailing from urban poor, is delicate‑minded, acts prudently, is clever, knows how to adapt, and his character is more resilient, though his family circumstances seem even poorer than Tie Zhu's.

That evening, Li Ping'an returned to Xi Kua Yuan; after the family had dinner, Li Pingle washed the dishes, and Xueqing, while mending clothes, whispered, "Ping'an, after your investigation these past days, have you reached any conclusions?"

Li Ping'an pondered briefly, and, omitting the names, gave Xueqing a general description of Tie Zhu and Chen Jianghe's situations.

Xueqing, after listening, thought a moment and said, "From what you say, these two lads both sound good. One honest and reliable, the other clever and steady. The key is what Pingle herself prefers. You, as the older brother, can't just pick one outright, can you?"

Li Ping'an nodded, "Exactly. We need to find a suitable occasion to let Pingle meet them... naturally, and see if there's a spark."

Figuring out how to arrange a "natural" meeting that wouldn't seem abrupt yet would allow his sister to observe required some thought. Li Ping'an stared at the heavy night outside, silently pondering that finding a match for his sister was perhaps no easier than leading a hunting party into the mountains or negotiating with plant leaders.

The dangers in the forest are visible, but the considerations of the human heart and the shaping of fate are intangible and formless, demanding even more patience and wisdom.

In Xi Kua Yuan, the covert agenda concerning Li Pingle's lifelong matter advanced silently by a step. Meanwhile, the young officials in the plant, quietly observed by the director, remained unaware, still holding their posts amid the balance of hunger and duty.