Chapter 278: Fostering Discord

The Yan Family's thunder‑loud, rain‑light matchmaking was like tossing a small stone into the shallow water of the Siheyuan, the ripples hadn't fully spread before the scheming onlookers turned it into idle gossip and ammunition for attacks.

The first to leap forward was, of course, Xu Damao from the back courtyard, who feared chaos above all. He was like a cat smelling blood, prowling the yard, and when he saw Yan Bu Gui smoking a sad cigarette at the gate, he immediately sidled up, his face plastered with feigned sympathy:

"Ah, Third Elder, I heard… Jie Cheng's matter turned sour?" he drew out his tone, his small eyes flashing with schadenfreude, "If you ask me, you handled this poorly! Matchmaking is about the person and also the dowry! You just offer a few finger‑length dried fish to fool people? That's not right! The girl isn't a beggar!"

His voice was neither loud nor soft, just right for those in the front and back courtyards who had their ears perked up to listen to the commotion.

"If you want to learn, you have to learn from others!" Xu Damao shifted his tone, jerking his chin toward the Xi Kua Yuan direction with a mocking sneer, "Look at Li Chief's family, that's what I call getting things done! The sister warms the house, with both meat and rice—that's genuine sincerity! Your empty talk and big promises, ten eggs for fifty cents? Heh, Wang Meipo's old slick can't be trusted! Isn't that just blocking your own way?"

His words both stepped on Yan Bu Gui's stinginess and subtly stirred up hatred toward Li Ping'an's family—a classic double whammy.

Yan Bu Gui's face flushed red and blue as he was berated, wanting to retort but having no ground, he let out a muffled hum, stomped the cigarette butt hard, turned and went back inside. That "ten eggs for fifty cents" empty promise now became the mockery Xu Damao used to ridicule him.

The Jia Zhangshi in the central courtyard naturally wouldn't miss the chance. She sat on her own doorstep, holding the never‑ending shoe sole, her Sanjiao Yan eyes slanted toward the front courtyard, muttering dryly:

"Hmph! Some people have hearts higher than the sky and fates thinner than paper! Their own house is so poor it rattles, yet they still try to arrange a match? Not even a splash of urine to check! Those few broken dried fish would even make a cat gag! No wonder they're doomed to stay single!"

After finishing her tirade against the Yan family, she habitually turned her spear toward the Xi Kua Yuan:

"And over there in the west, they have something and burn it without even knowing its name! Who are they showing off to? Both meat and rice, yet they never help us who truly can't even get a meal? They're just cheap, unrelated outsiders! In my view, they're black‑hearted rotten liver, looking down on us poor neighbors in the courtyard!"

Her meddlesome, can't‑stand‑others‑succeeding energy rose, latching onto anyone to bite, as if the whole world owed her Jia family.

In the Xi Kua Yuan, Lin Xueqing vaguely heard the gossip, looked uneasily at Li Ping'an. Li Ping'an merely gave a faint smile and fed his son a spoonful of rice porridge: "Ignore them. Yan Bu Gui brought this on himself, Jia Zhangshi is just habitually reckless. We just need to live our own lives well."

He understood clearly that the beasts in this courtyard each had their own calculations and grievances. Getting angry over their idle talk was a waste of time. His energy should be spent on more important matters.

And that more important place was the Steel Rolling Mill Security Department.

After several years of experience, especially the previous round where he led a team to shut down the black market and daily maintained the plant's security with outstanding performance, Wang Dahu, in terms of ability, seniority, and loyalty, was fully capable of handling things on his own. And his brother‑in‑law Chen Jianghe, meticulous and steady, also displayed extraordinary attention to detail and responsibility in several operations, making him a promising talent.

With production order gradually restored, the security workload grew heavier. After careful consideration, Li Ping'an submitted a report to Factory Director Yang Changzhang and Deputy Factory Director Li Huaide, proposing to promote Wang Dahu to Security Section Chief to oversee daily work; and to promote Chen Jianghe to Security Brigade Commander, responsible for concrete plant patrols and security management.

The report was quickly approved. At a full meeting of the Security Department, Li Ping'an formally announced the appointments.

"Comrade Wang Dahu, with rich experience in anti‑enemy combat, diligent and responsible, after study by the plant department, is appointed as Security Section Chief!"

"Comrade Chen Jianghe, meticulous and responsible, is appointed as Security Brigade Commander!"

Wang Dahu turned bright red with emotion, sprang up, gave a standard military salute: "Thank you for the organization's trust! Thank you, Section Chief, for your cultivation! I, Wang Dahu, will work hard and never disappoint the leaders and comrades!" He, as Section Chief, is truly earned, brimming with confidence.

Although Chen Jianghe was restrained, his heart was still surging. He stood, his voice not loud but unusually firm: "Thank you, Section Chief, thank you, plant leaders! I will cooperate fully with Chief Wang, manage the brigade well, and ensure the plant's safety!" He knew this was both his brother's support and the result of his own effort, and a heavy responsibility.

The clerks of the Security Department clapped one after another. Wang Dahu was popular and capable, earning everyone's respect. Though Chen Jianghe joined later, his down‑to‑earth nature and solid performance in several missions earned him the promotion, and no one objected. More importantly, everyone knew these two were people Li Chief absolutely trusted; the Security Department's iron plate was now getting harder.

Li Ping'an looked at the revitalized troops on stage, feeling satisfied. He called Wang Dahu and Chen Jianghe into his office and instructed: "Dahu, the Section's burden is now yours; when problems arise, think carefully, and if you're unsure, we'll discuss together. Jianghe, you're detail‑oriented; take charge of the brigade's daily management and patrols—details decide success or failure."

"Yes! Section Chief!" the two replied in unison.

The news of Wang Dahu's promotion to Section Chief and Chen Jianghe's to Brigade Commander quickly spread through the Siheyuan, eliciting varied reactions.

Yan Bu Gui adjusted his glasses, noted another line in his little notebook: "Li Family's influence is growing stronger; Jie Cheng's work… perhaps we can go through Li Ping'an's connections?" His calculations always revolved around concrete benefits.

Jia Zhangshi, upon hearing this, cursed at home for a while, spouting things like "Why does everything good end up with his family?" and "Yi Zhonghai, you old deadweight, don't help Dongxu fight."

Xu Damao, sour enough to have his teeth about to fall out, complained at home to Wang Cuihua: "Hey! One person reaches the Dao, and his chickens and dogs soar! Li Ping'an is turning the Security Department into his Li Family shop! How can that reckless Wang Dahu become Section Chief? Chen Jianghe, a mute gourd, as Brigade Commander? I think the Steel Rolling Mill's security work is like swallowing date pills!" He ignored that others rose through solid performance.

Li Ping'an ignored all these reactions. He arranged the core forces of the Security Department properly, like driving two solid piles into a raging current. No matter how rampant the gossip outside, as long as the interior stays firm, he remains immovable.

The courtyard's chickens and dogs jumping about is just a storm in a teapot. The true great era's torrent and personal futures ultimately must be fought with strength and responsibility.

Li Ping'an knows this well, so he focuses on the present, plans for the future, and gradually plants his roots deeper and steadier in the Steel Rolling Mill. That, he believes, is the most solid confidence to face any storm.