Chapter 361: Xu Damao's Great Discovery

The dust from the major safety inspection has not yet settled.

All workshop departments were tossed about by Xu Damao, this troublemaker, filling the air with complaints, yet they had to hold their noses and deal with his "important instructions" about faded slogans and updating the bulletin boards.

The real undercurrent surged silently in the summary and analysis of the inspection data.

Li Ping'an's office was filled with swirling smoke.

Wang Dahu and Chen Jianghe sat opposite each other, with thick inspection records and screening reports spread out before them.

Wang Dahu pointed at one page, his voice low.

The old worker in the Power Section, Liu Zhenshan, fifty-eight, three generations having worked in the factory, had a background as clean as a blank sheet.

But the No. 3 boiler air intake duct he was responsible for maintaining was exactly the area where Lao Dao had placed the timed device.

When asked during the inspection whether there had been any recent abnormalities, he first said no, then hemmed and hawed, saying it seemed a wild cat had slipped through, but his eyes darted away.

Chen Jianghe added, we checked the miscellaneous items' entry and exit records for the vicinity over the past month.

Liu Zhenshan, in mid-last month, under the pretext of clearing discarded insulation materials, had applied for a solitary night shift operation lasting two hours.

But the corresponding material outflow from the warehouse did not match.

It was short by roughly the amount of old asbestos tiles and torn felt needed for one person to curl up inside.

Li Ping'an exhaled a puff of smoke, his eyes sharp.

The items might have been used to temporarily construct a concealed space in the air intake duct, making it convenient for Lao Dao to hide or place a device.

Liu Zhenshan is the key.

But he is merely an old worker, with no reason to help a spy.

Unless there is some leverage, or… a favor owed?

Wang Dahu nodded, having already arranged for people to investigate Liu Zhenshan's social connections, especially his experiences before and after liberation.

The point is, whether he or his family had received any help or threats during the turbulent years.

Chen Jianghe flipped open another record.

The technical section's document custodian, Xiao Zhao, Zhao Jianguo, had a rather red-sounding name.

During the inspection, the document cabinet he managed, though clearly categorized, made him so nervous his hands shook, nearly dropping a roll of new workshop pipeline drawings.

Afterwards, we examined his borrowing records in detail under the pretext of verification.

We found that three months prior, a copy of a schematic of the factory area's old underground air-defense pipe network had been borrowed by a retired engineer rehired on contract, and not returned by the due date.

When questioned, the old engineer said he had returned it long ago, and even complained that Xiao Zhao had registered it unclearly.

Xiao Zhao, however, insisted the other had not returned it, each side holding to its own story.

That drawing was not classified, marking the pre-founding leftover, mostly abandoned old pipe routes.

Li Ping'an pinched out the cigarette butt.

Old pipe diagram?

What if it were linked to the abandoned sewer opening where explosives were found behind the Hardware Warehouse?

Lao Dao's overly familiar knowledge of the factory terrain might be thanks to those drawings.

Was Xiao Zhao negligent, or did he deliberately let the drawings "go missing"?

Investigate him.

Trace the flow of every document he handled, investigate his relationship with that old engineer, and look into his recent financial situation and social contacts.

Chen Jianghe noted it down.

Also, the section chief of the Logistics Department, Zhang QuanYou.

Wang Dahu turned another page, his tone tinged with mockery.

The inspection team merely asked routinely about the Hardware Warehouse's daily management, and he immediately launched into a discourse on how sound the system was and how strict he was, appearing overly eager.

Afterwards we retrieved the Hardware Warehouse's material requisition records for the past six months.

We found that some labor-protection supplies and ordinary hardware items approved by Zhang QuanYou's signature had mismatched issuing departments and usage circumstances.

There was suspicion of false reporting and embezzlement, but the amount was small.

He might have been using his position to pocket a little extra cash, and he was nervous that the inspection would uncover this.

Li Ping'an pondered.

Petty graft and pilfering might indeed be true.

But could it also be a leverage someone had caught him with, to coerce him into doing favors?

For example, turning a blind eye to an anomaly in a certain corner of the Hardware Warehouse?

Or even helping to conceal the traces of that abandoned sewer opening?

Zhang QuanYou also needs to be investigated, digging deep into his financial problems and personal network.

Wang Dahu and Chen Jianghe received the order, preparing to continue digging deeper into these leads.

Li Ping'an leaned back in his chair, gazing out at the grayish sky beyond the window.

Liu Zhenshan, Zhao Jianguo, Zhang QuanYou.

One is an honest person who might be exploited, one is a custodian who might be problematic, and one is a section chief with petty graft.

They appear to have no direct connection among themselves.

Yet they all faintly point to the Shopkeeper's possible modus operandi: using old ties or leverage to control lower-level staff, obtaining information about concealed spaces in the factory, and exploiting management loopholes to place people or objects.

The Shopkeeper is like a spider lurking in the shadow of the factory's massive body, manipulating distant nodes through a few seemingly weak threads.

To find the spider, one must follow the threads.

But one must be careful; a slightly large movement will cause the spider to break its threads and hide.

Just then, the office door was knocked, the sound carrying a hint of urgency and poorly concealed delight.

Entering was Xu Damao.

A mixed expression of self‑praise and mystery hung on his face, he rubbed his hands, his eyes shining.

Li Chief, Section Chief Wang, and Team Captain Chen are all here.

I have an important situation to report!

Xu Damao lowered his voice, as if speaking some remarkable secret.

It concerns this safety inspection; I discovered a major… safety hazard! No, no, a suspicious situation!

Li Ping'an remained expressionless and signaled him to continue.

Xu Damao cleared his throat and straightened his back.

I am responsible for inspecting the publicity and logistics sections; the work is very thorough and meticulous.

Yesterday afternoon, I went to the workers' bathhouse to inspect fire safety and hygiene.

The bathhouse's Lao Sun Tou, Sun Fugui, you know them, right? They're watching the bathhouse.

Xu Damao paused briefly, observing the three people's reactions.

Li Ping'an simply listened quietly.

Xu Damao was a bit disappointed, but continued.

I found that behind the bathhouse changing room, in the storage room piled with broken wardrobes and long benches, the door lock was broken!

It was only a false latch!

That's far too unsafe! What if a bad element slips in to hide, or steals workers' property?

I immediately sternly criticized Lao Sun Tou, ordering him to rectify it at once!

Xu Damao, upon saying this, showed a smug expression.

But that's not the point!

The point is, when I criticized him, his gaze was off!

It wasn't fear or admission of fault; it was… a bit flustered, and a bit resentful?

Yes, exactly resentful!

As if I had ruined something for him!

Moreover, I noticed that on the floor of that storage room there were muddy footprints that don't belong in a bathhouse!

They had been swept, but not cleaned away!

The bathhouse is all wet stains; where could dry mud come from?

Xu Damao grew more excited as he spoke, feeling as if Holmes had possessed him.

I think this Lao Sun Tou has a problem!

That storage room is definitely being used by him for something else!

Perhaps… it's linked to the recent unrest in the plant!

He stared nervously at Li Ping'an, hoping for approval or even a shocked reaction.

Li Ping'an's face remained expressionless, but his heart stirred slightly.

The bathhouse storage room?

Lao Sun Tou, Sun Fugui, seems also to be a veteran employee, usually silent and low‑key, with little presence.

The bathhouse is relatively remote, near the plant's outer wall.

If there were an inconspicuous, temporary shelter space there…

He glanced at Wang Dahu.

Wang Dahu gave a slight nod, indicating he had noted the information.

Seeing Li Ping'an remain silent, Xu Damao grew a bit impatient.

Li Chief, this isn't a minor matter! I think we should immediately detain Lao Sun Tou and give him a proper interrogation! The storage room should also be thoroughly searched!

Li Ping'an finally spoke, his tone flat.

Comrade Xu Damao, your work is meticulous; discovering the problem is commendable.

But investigations require evidence; you cannot draw conclusions solely from a feeling and a few muddy footprints.

Lao Sun Tou is a veteran worker; it's not strange for the bathhouse storage room, filled with junk, to have muddy footprints.

Thus, we've noted the situation you reported and will keep an eye on it.

Continue to do your inspection work well; the rest, leave to the professional department.

Xu Damao felt as if a bucket of cold water had been poured on him, his face full of resentment.

He wanted to argue, but seeing Li Ping'an's calm yet unassailable gaze, he swallowed his words again.

He muttered sourly, "Then I'll leave first," turned and walked away, his silhouette exuding gloom.

When Xu Damao was far away, Chen Jianghe couldn't help but snicker.

This Xu Damao, he really knows how to stir things up. Lao Sun Tou of the bathhouse? What problem could he have?

Li Ping'an, however, shook his head.

Not necessarily.

Although Xu Damao's motives aren't pure, sometimes a fool's intuition or a lucky stumble can uncover hidden corners.

Lao Sun Tou… investigate.

Investigate without showing any reaction.

The focus is on who he's recently been in contact with, whether there are abnormal expenses, and… what he did before the liberation.

Wang Dahu nodded, adding "Bathhouse Sun Fugui" to the investigation list.

Li Ping'an walked to the window, watching Xu Damao's dejected silhouette fade into the distance.

Shopkeeper, who exactly are you?

Is it Liu Zhenshan, hidden among the seemingly ordinary old workers?

Is it Zhao Jianguo, who manages the blueprints and could tamper with them?

Is it Zhang QuanYou, who is a little greedy and could be exploited?

Or is it Sun Fugui, the seemingly even more insignificant bathhouse doorkeeper?

Or perhaps these are merely your extended feelers, while you yourself remain hidden deeper, higher.

The factory area's broadcast suddenly blared, playing a stirring march.

The sound of the high‑pitched loudspeaker echoed over the vast factory area, drowning out countless faint noises and covert scheming in the shadows.

Li Ping'an knew the contest was still ongoing.

The shopkeeper was surely also observing, assessing, looking for the next chance to strike, or judging whether to cut off a limb to survive.

And he had to be faster, more accurate.

He had to seize that most critical thread before the shopkeeper wove his net again or hid completely.

He turned around and told Wang Dahu and Chen Jianghe, speed up the investigation, pay attention to method.

Also, notify the Project Team's Group Leader Sun: we have several leads here that may need to be merged for investigation.

Pressure began to be transmitted to the spider lurking in the dark.

Will the spider be forced to reveal itself under pressure, or will it simply discard part of its web and wait for the storm to pass?

The answer may lie hidden in those seemingly trivial details that different people notice from different angles.

Muddy footprints in the bathhouse, missing supplies in the boiler room, lost blueprints, mismatched accounts in the hardware store…

Every fragmented piece of the puzzle waits for the crucial hand that can string them together.

Beneath the Iron Curtain, shadows loom.

The patience of both hunter and prey is undergoing its final test.