Chapter 387: Restoring Order Amidst Turmoil

Morning light streamed through the glass window, casting a bright square on Li Ping'an's desk.

He sat in the chair, holding a roster in his hand.

That was the roster of all personnel in the Security Department.

Seventy-three people, each name followed by position, age, family situation, work performance.

Some names had already been marked in red by him.

Wang Dahu stood before the desk, back straight, but fine beads of sweat seeped from his temples.

"Director, everything has been investigated clearly."

His voice was a little hoarse, "The five people you marked indeed have problems. Guo Huai and Zhao Dehai are brothers-in-law, they drank together last month. Zhang Jianjun's maternal great-grandfather, and the captured grain station chief are cousins……"

He listed the relationships of seven or eight people in one breath.

Complex and intertwined.

Li Ping'an listened silently, his fingers lightly tapping the desktop.

Tap, tap, tap.

The rhythm was steady, yet it made Wang Dahu's heart tighten with each beat.

"These people, leave them be for now." Li Ping'an finally spoke, "Transfer them from key posts, assign them to gate duty or the Patrol Squad. Strict surveillance, but don't startle the snake."

Wang Dahu breathed a sigh of relief.

"Yes."

"Also," Li Ping'an opened another document, "In the past three months, twelve people in the department have taken sick leave, totaling over fifteen days. Arrange for everyone to have a medical check-up next Monday at the Yi Yuan. Treat the genuinely ill according to regulations. Those feigning illness……"

He paused.

"Deal with what needs to be dealt with."

He said this very calmly.

Yet Wang Dahu sensed the weight behind it.

The Director is really going to enforce this.

"I'll take care of it right away." He turned to leave.

"Wait." Li Ping'an called him back, "Are the materials for this afternoon's meeting ready?"

"Ready." Wang Dahu took a thick stack from his briefcase, "This is the recent security situation report of the factory, this is the key personnel list, this is……"

"Put it here." Li Ping'an pointed to the desk, "Notify Chen Jianghe to bring last night's duty log."

Wang Dahu responded and left.

The office fell quiet again.

Li Ping'an picked up the stack of materials, flipping page by page.

Sunlight danced on the paper, the ink clear enough to be somewhat glaring.

At two in the afternoon, the Security Department meeting room.

Around the rectangular meeting table, seats were full.

Twenty-three people, squad leader rank and above, none missing.

Li Ping'an sat in the chief seat, with a teacup and notebook before him.

Wang Dahu sat to his left, Chen Jianghe to his right.

Before the meeting began, the atmosphere already felt oppressive.

Some lowered their heads to drink tea, some fiddled with pens, some stared at the clock on the wall.

Yet no one spoke.

"Let's begin." Li Ping'an closed his notebook, scanning the room.

Wherever his gaze fell, people involuntarily straightened their backs.

"Today's meeting will cover only three items."

His voice was not loud, but each word was clear and audible.

"First, discipline rectification. Effective today, tardiness, early departure, abandonment of post, drinking and gambling will be dealt with severely upon discovery. Three warnings without improvement result in reassignment; serious cases lead to dismissal."

As his words fell, the meeting room was so quiet a pin drop could be heard.

Some faces turned pale, some foreheads beaded with sweat.

"Second, work adjustments." Li Ping'an opened a roster, "According to work needs and individual performance, the following personnel will change posts: Guo Huai to Gate No. 3, Zhang Jianjun to the night patrol squad, Liu……"

He read out seven names.

Each name spoken made the person's complexion worsen a bit.

Yet no one dared to speak up.

"Third," Li Ping'an closed the roster, "Starting next week, department staff will undergo medical check-ups in batches. Treat the sick, let the healthy work with peace of mind. Those using sick leave to loaf, give up the idea early."

Having said these three things, he lifted his teacup and took a sip.

The tea had gone cold, but he didn't mind.

"If there are any questions, you may raise them now."

The meeting room fell silent.

Who dares to speak?

"If there are no objections, the meeting is adjourned."

Li Ping'an stood up, "Wang Dahu, Chen Jianghe stay behind."

The others rose as if pardoned, scattering out.

Their steps hurried, like fleeing.

After everyone had left, Li Ping'an sat down again.

"Sit."

Wang Dahu and Chen Jianghe exchanged a glance, then sat opposite him.

"Section Chief, this move of yours…" Chen Jianghe wanted to speak but stopped.

"Too harsh?" Li Ping'an finished for him.

Chen Jianghe didn't speak, but his eyes said it all.

In troubled times, heavy penalties are used.

Li Ping'an said calmly, "You know the factory's current situation better than I do. Some people think that after I've been away for over a month, the Security Department can slack off. If we don't establish the rules, future work cannot proceed."

Wang Dahu nodded.

"Section Chief is right. But… moving so many people at once, won't it cause a backlash?"

"Backlash?" Li Ping'an smiled, "Then let them backlash. I want to see who dares to jump out."

These words were spoken plainly, yet they revealed an unquestionable confidence.

Chen Jianghe felt a chill in his heart.

Brother-in-law, this time he's come back, he seems changed.

More steady, and also… sharper.

"Let's not talk about that." Li Ping'an changed the subject, "How's Xu Damao doing?"

"The hospital just sent word: he can be discharged today." Chen Jianghe said, "His wounds are basically healed, just a scar on his leg, and he still limps a bit when walking."

Li Ping'an pondered for a moment.

"This afternoon I'll go to the hospital. Prepare yourselves; we'll hold a meeting tonight to discuss his reward."

"Reward?" Wang Dahu startled, "Section Chief, Xu Damao is…"

"What it is doesn't matter."

Li Ping'an interrupted him, "What matters is that he has made merit. Discovering the enemy spy's clues, assisting in solving the case — that's a fact. Merit is merit, fault is fault; they should be considered separately."

Wang Dahu fell silent.

The Section Chief made sense, but he still felt awkward.

"Can someone like Xu Damao also earn merit and receive a reward?"

Hospital inpatient department.

Xu Damao lay on the hospital bed, staring blankly at the ceiling.

It's been a month; he's finally going to be discharged.

The leg wound has healed, but what about the wound in his heart?

I don't know.

The door opened.

Wang Cuihua came in holding a thermos, seeing her husband's dazed look, her eye sockets reddened again.

"Damao, have some water."

Xu Damao didn't move.

"You say… when I go back, how will the people in the hospital view me?"

His voice was hoarse, filled with an indescribable fatigue.

Wang Cuihua opened her mouth, not knowing what to say.

At that moment, the hospital room door was pushed open again.

Li Ping'an walked in.

He was carrying a bag of apples and two cans of malted milk.

"Ping'an?" Xu Damao startled, struggling to sit up.

"Lie down." Li Ping'an placed the items on the bedside table, "I heard you're being discharged today, so I came to check on you."

Xu Damao looked at Li Ping'an, his eyes complex.

There was gratitude, shame, and also an indescribable emotion.

"How's your foot?" Li Ping'an.

"Much better." Xu Damao forced a smile, "Just that my leg is a bit lame; the doctor said it will gradually recover."

"That's good." Li Ping'an nodded, "The factory is studying a reward for you. Your discovered clues earned great merit."

Xu Damao was stunned.

"Reward? I… I still have a reward?"

"Merit deserves reward." Li Ping'an said simply, "That's the principle."

Wang Cuihua listened at the side, tears "shua" streaming down.

She "plop" knelt down.

"Ping'an, thank you, thank you…"

Her voice choked, unable to continue.

Li Ping'an quickly helped her up.

"Sister-in-law, don't do this. This is what Damao deserves."

Xu Damao lay on the bed, watching this scene, his eye sockets also reddened.

He turned his face away, wiping his eyes with the back of his hand.

At seven in the evening, the factory party committee meeting room.

Li Ping'an, Li Huaide, and Yang Weiguo sat around the table.

On the table were tea and documents.

The atmosphere is somewhat subtle.

"The matter of rewarding Xu Damao, I think we should handle it carefully."

Yang Weiguo said unhurriedly, "Although he has made merit, his previous problems are not small either—issues of personal conduct and profiteering, which many in the factory know about. Now suddenly giving him an award might stir up discussion."

He spoke tactfully, but the meaning was clear.

Li Huaide smoked, saying nothing.

Amid the swirling smoke, his expression was indistinct.

Li Ping'an lifted his teacup and blew away the foam.

"What Factory Director Yang said makes sense. Xu Damao indeed has problems, but merit and fault should be separated."

He paused.

"But the merit he has achieved this time is not minor. It concerns the spy case and national security. If we don't reward him, who will dare to report in the future? Who will dare to assist in solving cases?"

These words were spoken heavily.

Li Huaide also agreed, after all Xu Damao is his man.

"I'm not saying not to reward him, just that the approach should be careful. We can reward him privately, without making a big show."

"A private reward?"

Li Ping'an laughed, "What's the difference between that and no reward? What we want is this demonstrative effect—to let everyone know that as long as one achieves merit, the factory will acknowledge it regardless of past problems."

Li Huaide finally spoke.

"Ping'an is right." He stubbed out the cigarette butt, "Merit is merit, fault is fault. How Xu Damao's faults are handled is how they should be handled. But his merit must be rewarded, and publicly."

He paused.

"Not only should he be rewarded, but heavily rewarded. I suggest granting him the title of 'Public Security Model,' awarding him first-grade wages, and assigning him to work in the Logistics Department. He came from being a projectionist, understands technology, and the Logistics Department needs someone like him."

Yang Weiguo fell silent.

Li Huaide is the deputy factory director; he and Li Ping'an have both said this—what more can I say on my own?

"Then let's follow Deputy Factory Director Li's opinion." Factory Director Yang finally nodded, "But the award ceremony's scale should be controlled—don't make it too grandiose."

"Okay." Li Ping'an nodded, "We'll hold it in the factory auditorium, with all factory group leaders and above participating. It will be public, yet not overly ostentatious."

The three reached an agreement.

The meeting ended.

As they walked out of the meeting room, the sky had already darkened.

The factory compound was brightly lit, machines still roaring.

Li Ping'an stood in front of the office building, gazing at the distant workshop.

But in his mind he was thinking of something else.

Xu Damao was awarded.

What about that shopkeeper?

Where did he run off to?

Where are those four escapees hiding now?

These problems are like thorns, pricking the heart.

If not pulled out, there will never be peace.

The night wind blew, bringing the chill of deep autumn.

Li Ping'an tightened his collar and strode toward the bicycle shed.

The streetlamp stretched his shadow long, very long.

Like a sword drawn from its sheath.

Sharp, silent.

Waiting for the moment it will be drawn again.