Chapter 360: Screening

The smell of blood at the coal yard has not yet been fully scattered by the night wind, and the capture operation at Willow Bank has just concluded.

Su Xiulan was seized by a lurking scout at the last moment; she ultimately did not walk toward the old willow tree, but was "invited" onto a seemingly ordinary jeep on a path dozens of meters from the riverbank.

The so‑called "final message" turned out, after verification, to be just a blank slip of paper and a test to see whether she would "obey"; the opponent's cold calculation sends a chill down the teeth.

Old Knife was executed, Su Xiulan was detained, the explosives in the hardware vault were seized, and the spy turmoil surrounding the Steel Rolling Mill appears to have temporarily concluded.

The Steel Rolling Mill internally announced the "successful thwarting of the enemy spy sabotage plot and capture of the infiltrators"; the workers buzzed with discussion, feeling both lingering fear and exhilaration.

The plant area seems to have regained its former order, the roar of machinery drowning out many lingering tremors in the shadows.

But Li Ping'an feels no ease at all. Old Knife is dead, the leads are cut off. Su Xiulan knows little; she is merely a pitiful pawn being used.

The mysterious Shopkeeper still hides behind layers of fog, like a slippery Poison Snake, only temporarily withdrawn into the shadows.

Someone capable of orchestrating such far‑reaching plans, mobilizing a death‑fighter like Old Knife, and attempting to create an explosion at the heart of the Steel Rolling Mill cannot be an ordinary person.

More importantly, the Shopkeeper's goal is clearly not just to sow chaos or steal intelligence, but a more explicit, destructive intent—the new workshop layout diagram is proof.

The new workshop is the core of the Steel Rolling Mill's technological upgrade, housing some new equipment. What is the Shopkeeper's purpose in bombing it? To delay the upgrade? To destroy key equipment? Or merely to generate maximum panic and loss?

We must root out this Poison Snake before it bares its fangs again.

However, a high‑profile search on the surface is now untimely. The spy case has just been "solved", and the plant needs to steady morale and resume production.

If we mobilize forces again, we may not only alert the snake and force the Shopkeeper deeper into hiding, but also provoke unnecessary speculation and panic.

Li Ping'an sits in his office, his fingers unconsciously drumming on the desk, his gaze fixed on the plant's organizational chart on the wall.

The Shopkeeper's identity remains a mystery, yet he must have some foothold inside the plant or access to core information. His status is not low; he at least knows the general layout and significance of the new workshop.

He presses the intercom, summoning Security Section Chief Wang Dahu and Team Captain Chen Jianghe immediately.

The two arrive quickly, still bearing the fatigue of an all‑night operation, but their eyes remain sharp.

Li Ping'an gets straight to the point: Old Knife is dead, Su Xiulan was captured, but the Shopkeeper has not shown up. He is likely still in the plant, or can influence it through some channel. An overt investigation would be risky, easily alerting him. We need a comprehensive, thorough internal safety sweep that does not disrupt normal production.

Wang Dahu, steady in his conduct, frowns at the words: "Chief, a full‑scale inspection creates a lot of movement; how can we avoid affecting production? All workshops are currently under tight tasks."

Chen Jianghe, quick‑thinking, asks: "Chief, you mean… under a different pretext?"

Yes.

Li Ping'an stands, walks to the organizational chart, and invokes the pretext of "thoroughly eliminating safety hazards, consolidating the results of the previous anti‑spy phase, and ensuring absolutely safe production."

The scope must be broad, covering every department, workshop, warehouse, dormitory, and canteen. Focus on fire safety, electrical safety, equipment operating procedures, material storage standards… In short, anything that touches safety must be inspected.

He turns, his gaze sweeping the two: "But the old man's intention is not the wine. Inspection is a means; the goal is observation. Observe each responsible person's attitude toward the inspection, watch for abnormal resistance or over‑cooperation, watch for any personnel showing strange expressions, attempting to conceal or divert anything during the inspection, especially those who can access the new workshop blueprints, understand its layout, or are familiar with the plant's power and pipeline systems."

The inspection must be meticulous, "scrupulous," making them think it is just a nit‑picking ordinary safety sweep.

Wang Dahu understands: "Chief, this is to strike the mountain and rattle the tiger, while also checking which grass patches show movement."

Chen Jianghe adds: it can also be an opportunity to meticulously comb through all staff files, especially recent personnel changes and social connections. Old Knife could have slipped in, indicating an inside agent.

Li Ping'an nods: "Exactly. Dahu, you are in charge of coordinating the inspection schedule, dividing it by area and batch, using overtime or equipment maintenance windows as much as possible to minimize direct production impact. Jianghe, you take the core team, form several 'Special Inspection Teams' to target key areas and sensitive posts; the inspections must be 'unexpected' and 'raids.' I will discuss with Yang Changzhang and Li Deputy Factory Director to secure support."

The two take their orders and leave. Li Ping'an knows this method is like fishing for a needle in the ocean—unlikely to catch the Shopkeeper immediately, but it will stir the surface, unsettling hidden fish, perhaps exposing a slip.

At the same time, it can genuinely root out real safety hazards—a win‑win.

However, plans cannot keep up with change. Before Li Ping'an can approach the plant leadership, an unexpected "Kua Dan" jumps out.

Xu Damao has been nursing his wound for a few days; seeing the hype fade, his promised reward for merit remains unseen, and his mind begins to brood again.

He feels he can no longer wait passively; he must strike proactively to consolidate his gains. Hearing that the plant will conduct a safety sweep, his mind instantly sparks—this is precisely the perfect chance for his role as a Supervision Team liaison to shine.

He could also use the chance to boost his presence, maybe snag a deputy leader spot in the inspection team!

He rushes to Li Huaide's office and delivers an impassioned report, the core message being: "Li, to thoroughly eradicate spy poison and prevent its spread, I request to join the safety sweep! I have experience battling spy elements face‑to‑face and can better spot safety issues hidden in details. I am willing to achieve new merit for the plant's safety cause!"

Li Huaide looks at the pale‑faced, yet excited‑eyed Xu Damao before him, feeling a sour taste in his mind.

He knows Xu Damao's weight in both literal and figurative terms—a person who accomplishes little but causes much trouble. Yet, on second thought, sending this Kua Dan to the inspection team might… be useful? At least it would give some people a headache and divert attention.

Moreover, Xu Damao is currently riding a wave of acclaim; involving him appears to reward a meritorious officer, which makes sense.

Thus, Li Huaide gives a lukewarm encouragement, saying he will consider it and have Xu Damao return and await notice.

Xu Damao takes this as tacit approval, leaves smugly, feeling he has re‑attached himself to Li's line, and his future looks bright.

He can't wait to start moving around, hinting to everyone that he will soon hold an important role in the safety sweep, urging cooperation.

The news quickly reaches Li Ping'an's ears. He furrows his brow. Xu Damao's involvement adds only chaos and alerts the snake, offering little benefit. Yet Li Huaide gave his nod, so Li Ping'an finds it hard to block outright.

A "suitable" position must be arranged for Xu Damao. Li Ping'an summons Wang Dahu and whispers a few instructions.

Soon, the leadership team for the plant's safety sweep is formed. The chair is naturally the deputy factory director in charge of production (in name), and the deputy chairs are Li Ping'an and Wang Dahu.

Below are several specialized sub‑teams. Xu Damao's name appears prominently on the member list of the "Propaganda Mobilization and Logistics Support Supervision Team," whose chair is a vice‑chairman of the plant's workers' union.

This team is responsible for checking the posting of safety slogans in each workshop department, the content of blackboard notices, and urging safety and hygiene in the canteen, bathhouse, and other logistical sites. It is truly a peripheral role.

Xu Damao is stunned by the list. This is nothing like the commanding "inspection team leader" role he imagined, directing workshops and warehouses with awe.

He runs to ask Wang Dahu, who replies in a businesslike tone: "Officer Xu, your work is very important! Ideological propaganda is the first line of safety! Logistics support concerns the health and safety of the vast workforce; the responsibility is huge! This was personally considered by Li Chief, and you should leverage your strengths."

Xu Damao is so angry he nearly chokes, yet dares not confront Li Ping'an, and can only mutter that Li Ping'an and Wang Dahu are colluding publicly and privately, erasing his merit.

But he remains unwilling to accept it, feeling he must achieve something to prove himself.

Thus, in the ensuing inspections, Xu Damao pushes his nit‑picking skills to the limit.

Any workshop whose safety slogans have faded or contain typos, any department whose blackboard notices haven't been updated for three days, any kitchen basin edge with a speck of oil…

He records each, formally demanding rectification, causing the grassroots to groan endlessly; privately they call him "Xu Plague God," and wherever he goes misfortune follows.

Xu Damao enjoys it, believing this is true responsibility. He even keenly notices that the tool cabinet in the machine repair workshop is not orderly enough, which could affect retrieval efficiency in emergencies, and solemnly records it in the inspection report.

These trivial findings, of course, are filtered out when they reach Li Ping'an.

Li Ping'an focuses on the truly valuable observation reports submitted by Wang Dahu and Chen Jianghe: a technician displayed unusually nervous behavior when inspecting the blueprint storage cabinet; an elderly worker in the Power Section stammered when asked whether outsiders had recently approached the boiler room; a logistics section squad leader's eyes noticeably flickered when the inspection team mentioned the hardware vault…

These subtle anomalies are each recorded and cross‑analyzed, forming a filtering net targeting the potential Shopkeeper and his associates, tightening silently.

Meanwhile, Xu Damao's comic performance unintentionally becomes the best smokescreen, hiding the genuine investigation amid seemingly petty, boring daily checks.

Li Ping'an stands by the office window, watching the silhouettes of inspection teams weaving through the plant, his gaze profound.

Shopkeeper, no matter how deep you hide, you will always leave a trace.

In this steel forest, whether it is the restless Plague God or the scheming Shopkeeper, as long as they threaten its safety, they will inevitably be exposed to the hunter's gaze.

However, this contest beneath the hidden currents tests patience and wisdom far more than a straightforward clash of blade and spear.