Chapter 417: Liu Haizhong Rises

When Xu Damao was forced onto the truck, the placard around his neck had not yet been removed.

The sign, made of hard cardboard and threaded with thin wire, had been tightened around his neck for three days. His skin was chafed, forming dark‑red scabs, and had been bleached by sweat and rain, the edges curling up like rotten bark.

He kept his head down, curled up in a corner of the truck.

Three days of marching through the streets, from Dongsi to Xisi, from Chaoyang Gate to Fucheng Gate. Beiping City's streets and alleys all remembered that face—scarred, sweating, smeared with spit and wilted vegetable leaves.

Now the street parade is over, but the punishment is not finished.

Director Wang of the street office stood beside the truck, holding a document, and read it aloud:

"Following public denunciation and organizational verification, Xu Damao has committed serious illegal and disorderly conduct, moral degeneration, and harmful influence. It is now decided to send him to a farm for labor re‑education for a term of ten years!"

Ten years.

The two words struck his chest like a pair of heavy hammers.

He jerked his head up, wanting to say something, but his lips trembled for a long while and not a single word came out.

His throat was hoarse.

Three days of marching, chanting slogans, confessing—his throat had already been shouted to ruin.

The truck started, the diesel engine chugged, spitting out a plume of black smoke.

Xu Damao turned his head toward the Siheyuan.

The gate was closed; no one came out to see him off.

Not a single person.

Not even Wang Cuihua showed up.

Wang Cuihua was actually inside the house.

She leaned on the window, looking through the glass at the truck driving away, disappearing into Hu Tong Kou.

Then she turned around and began to pack her things.

Her movements were swift and urgent.

A few sets of change‑of‑clothes, a pair of cloth shoes, and a Small Cloth Bag—inside were the private savings she had hoarded over the years, not much, just a few dozen yuan, but enough to sustain her back in the countryside for a while.

She could not stay here any longer.

Xu Damao had become a bad element, sentenced to ten years of labor re‑education. As his daughter‑in‑law, wherever she went she was stared at and whispered about.

Yesterday she went to the street office to collect ration tickets, and the clerk looked at her as if she were a fly.

"Hey, from Xu Damao's family? Your husband's… *tsk tsk*, you really need to draw a clear line!"

Draw a clear line?

How to draw it?

Divorce?

Wang Cuihua had thought about it, but the street office said that given Xu Damao's current situation, the divorce paperwork could not be processed; she would have to wait until the re‑education ends.

Wait ten years?

In ten years she'll be nearly forty; what countryside could she return to?

So she has to run.

While no one is watching her now, she'll run back to her rural hometown. After all, her household registration is still under Xu Damao, she can still collect ration tickets, so she'll hide from this storm for the time being.

Wang Cuihua finished packing, lifted the bundle, pushed the door open and went out.

The courtyard was silent.

It was the work‑hour; those who should work were working, those who should study were studying.

She hurried across the Central Courtyard, and as she reached the outer gate she ran straight into Yan Bu Gui.

Yan Bu Gui was holding a broom, about to sweep the street—he still wore a white sleeve insignia.

The two exchanged a glance.

Yan Bu Gui looked at the bundle in her hands, then at her frantic face, and understood.

He said nothing, stepped aside to clear the way.

Wang Cuihua kept her head down and hurried past.

Reaching the gate, she glanced back.

The Siheyuan stood silent in the morning light, blue bricks and gray tiles, like a huge cage.

She clenched her teeth, turned, and vanished into the Alley.

Liu Haizhong sat in the deputy director's office of the Revolutionary Committee, feeling the chair softer than the one at home.

It was the chair Xu Damao had once sat in.

Now it belonged to him.

He had specially ordered a new cushion—thickly padded with cotton, so that when he sat down, his body sank halfway in, very comfortable.

On the desk sat a newly acquired Enamel Jar, stamped with large red characters: 'Serve the People.' Inside the jar were tea leaves, a gift from Li Huaide, said to be fine tea from the south, fragrant as soon as you smelled it.

Liu Haizhong lifted the jar, blew off the foam, and took a sip.

Mmm, fragrant.

Much better than the broken tea leaf foam at home.

He set the jar down, took the appointment document from the drawer, and read it again.

Black ink on white paper, a bright red official seal.

Steel Rolling Mill Revolutionary Committee Deputy Director, Liu Haizhong's name was neatly printed on it.

Specializing in ideological work.

This job is great.

No need to go down to the workshop, no need to do manual labor; just supervise people, supervise thoughts.

Whoever's thinking is wrong, gets criticized.

Whoever has a bad attitude, gets educated.

This authority is far greater than the Workshop Director's.

Liu Haizhong thought it more and more beautifully, and couldn't help but curl the corners of his mouth upward.

Just as he was admiring it, the door was pushed open.

Brothers Liu Guangtian and Liu Guangfu came in, both wearing the newly issued work uniforms—Liu Haizhong had just arranged their entry into the factory, one in the Logistics Department, the other in the Transport Team.

"Dad…" Liu Guangtian began, but Liu Haizhong shot him a glare.

"During work hours, you must call me Deputy Director! And when you enter a leader's office, you don't even knock on the door—this is how I teach you, you have no manners!"

Liu Guangtian was stunned, quickly corrected himself: "It's Deputy Director Liu, we will definitely pay attention next time."

Liu Haizhong then nodded in satisfaction.

"What is it?"

"Um…" Liu Guangtian rubbed his hands, "Deputy Director Liu, Guangfu and I discussed and think you need a mode of transportation befitting your rank for commuting."

"Transportation?"

"Exactly!" Liu Guangfu continued, "Look at Director Li, he rides an Everlasting brand bicycle! Other leaders in the factory also ride bikes to work. You walking every day… does that lower the style?"

Liu Haizhong was taken aback.

Indeed.

He is now Deputy Director, a leader.

Leaders don't walk to work.

Must ride a bike!

And it has to be a good bike!

"You're right," Liu Haizhong said, standing and pacing in the office, "We should buy a bicycle. But… this ticket is hard to obtain."

A bicycle ticket is even more valuable than money.

"About Director Li…" Liu Guangtian lowered his voice, "You just took office, go report work and casually mention it? Just say it's needed for work…"

Liu Haizhong's eyes lit up.

Indeed.

Work requires it.

To conduct ideological work, must frequently leave the Workshop and visit the masses?

How can you manage without a bike?

"Fine, I'll go this afternoon!" Liu Haizhong decided, "We must not only buy, but buy a good one! Either Everlasting brand or Phoenix brand!"

The two brothers exchanged a glance and both smiled.

Three days later, a brand‑new Phoenix Bicycle was pushed into the Siheyuan.

The gleaming handlebars, jet‑black frame, and bell polished to a shine that could reflect a silhouette.

Liu Haizhong pushed the bike, his back straight as a ruler, stepping toward the back courtyard.

The wheels rolled over the bluestone path, emitting a faint rustling sound.

That sound was more pleasant than any music.

Everyone in the courtyard heard the commotion and came out.

Sha Zhu was washing vegetables by the sink; seeing the new bike, his eyes nearly popped out.

"Hey, second uncle—no, Deputy Director Liu! Is this a newly bought bike?"

Liu Haizhong stopped and patted the seat.

"Work requires it, work requires it."

"Work requires it?" Sha Zhu pursed his lips, "How much corruption does that take…"

Before he could finish, his daughter‑in‑law Ma Dongmei grabbed him.

Ma Dongmei twisted Sha Zhu's ear and whispered, "Zhuzi! Say a few words less! How did Xu Damao fall? You forgot? Do you want to be seized and paraded?"

Sha Zhu winced in pain but dared not shout.

Ma Dongmei was right.

Xu Damao's previous case was a bloody lesson.

"I… I was just saying," Sha Zhu muttered, "A third‑generation poor farmer, am I afraid of him?"

"Whether you're afraid is one thing, whether you provoke him is another!" Ma Dongmei released him, "Hurry and cook! Both sons are hungry!"

Sha Zhu glanced at the Phoenix Bicycle, then at Liu Haizhong's smug face, hummed, and turned back into the house.

Jia Zhangshi perched on the window of her house, watched Liu Haizhong push the bike past, and spat.

"What are you showing off for? Just became Deputy Director and bought a bike—where did the money come from? It's corruption and bribery! Spit! Sooner or later you'll fall like Xu Damao!"

Qin Huairu was making a matchbox inside, heard the old woman's words, paused her hand, but said nothing.

She now didn't want to say anything, didn't want to hear anything.

She only wanted to quietly make boxes, earn a little money, and support her whole family.

Yan Bu Gui returned from street sweeping and happened to see Liu Haizhong park the bike at the doorway, holding a rag and cleaning it meticulously.

Wipe once, glance, wipe again, glance again.

Like looking at a treasure.

Yan Bu Gui lowered his head and hurried back home.

After closing the door, he finally sighed.

"Another Xu Damao."

San Dama was selecting vegetables, and upon hearing this, looked up and asked, "You mentioned Liu Haizhong?"

"Who else could it be?" Yan Bu Gui shook his head. "He just became deputy director and bought a car—so flamboyant, how could it be good?"

"But he's a deputy director now…"

"What's wrong with being deputy director?" Yan Bu Gui gave a wry smile. "Wasn't Xu Damao also a deputy director back then? And now? Ten years of forced labor at the farm!"

San Dama fell silent.

The house fell quiet, save for the rustle of vegetable‑picking.

In Xi Kua Yuan, Lin Xueqing was hanging laundry.

When she saw Liu Haizhong pushing his new car back, her hand trembled and the clothes nearly fell to the ground.

She quickly picked them up, rehanged them properly, and turned back into the house.

Li Ping'an was reading a newspaper; seeing her pale, he set the paper down.

"What's wrong?"

"Liu Haizhong… bought a new car," Lin Xueqing lowered her voice. "It's a Phoenix brand, brand‑new and shiny."

Li Ping'an nodded, saying nothing.

"Ping'an, do you think he'll…?" Lin Xueqing said worriedly. "When Xu Damao fell, he rose to power, and now he's bought a car, so flamboyant. I'm afraid… I'm afraid he'll come looking for trouble with us."

Li Ping'an smiled faintly and set the newspaper down.

"Xueqing, remember three things."

Lin Xueqing looked at him.

"First, you are at Yi Yuan; do your proper duties, don't speak what you shouldn't, don't meddle in what you shouldn't. You are a doctor—just heal the wounded; everything else has nothing to do with you."

"Second, Liu Haizhong just became deputy director, riding the wave of triumph. With people like him, even if you don't provoke him, he'll still seek recognition. So you can't avoid him."

"Third," Li Ping'an stood, walked to the window, and looked toward Liu Haizhong's direction. "If he truly dares to come, I have plenty of ways to deal with him."

Lin Xueqing watched her husband's silhouette and felt a little reassured.

But she couldn't help asking, "So what do we do now…"

"Do what needs to be done," Li Ping'an turned, "You go to work, I go to work, the child goes to school. Life goes on."

He paused briefly.

"However, there are some things I need to explain to Chen Jianghe."

The next day, the Steel Rolling Mill Security Department held a meeting.

Li Ping'an sat at the head, with over twenty security officers below, including brother‑in‑law Chen Jianghe.

"Today's meeting is about one matter only."

Li Ping'an's voice was not loud, but each word was clear and forceful.

"What is the Security Department's duty?"

Someone below answered, "Guard the plant's safety!"

"Correct," Li Ping'an nodded. "Guard the plant's safety, maintain production order, suppress criminal activity. That's our core duty."

He scanned the room.

"Now a revolutionary committee has been set up in the plant; some people have become crafty, trying to use ideological work and class struggle as a pretext to expand and retaliate."

The room fell silent.

Everyone understood.

He was talking about Liu Haizhong.

"I don't care how others act," Li Ping'an continued. "Our Security Department has one rule: do our core duties. Don't meddle in what we shouldn't, don't ask what we shouldn't, don't speak what we shouldn't."

He paused.

"Especially in the current situation, both words and actions must be thought through. Guard your mouth, guard your hands. If anyone uses the Security Department's banner to join those chaotic affairs, don't blame me for turning my back on them."

His words carried great weight.

Everyone below sat up straight.

Li Ping'an looked at Chen Jianghe.

"Team Captain Chen."

"Present!" Chen Jianghe stood up.

"Your team is responsible for patrolling the plant, focusing on the Workshop, warehouses, and office building. All miscellaneous personnel are strictly prohibited from entering. Especially those wearing red armbands, going around 'checking thoughts'; without proper paperwork, they must be stopped."

"Understood!"

"Additionally," Li Ping'an added, "after work, watch over your own people. Spend less time loitering outside, avoid joining crowds, avoid gossip. Everyone clear?"

"Clear!"

After the meeting adjourned, Li Ping'an kept Chen Jianghe behind.

The two walked out of the office and stood by the corridor window.

"Brother, about Liu Haizhong…" Chen Jianghe lowered his voice, "I heard he's rallying people, trying to build his own crew."

Li Ping'an nodded, unsurprised.

"If he wants to recruit, let him. But remember, none of our people are allowed to get involved."

"I understand," Chen Jianghe hesitated, "but I'm afraid… he'll come causing trouble for us. Didn't Xu Damao…"

"Liu Haizhong is different from Xu Damao," Li Ping'an cut in. "Xu Damao was petty, vengeful, but clueless. Liu Haizhong… is somewhat clever, but greedy and vain."

He stared out the window.

In the plant, workers were heading toward the Workshop.

Liu Haizhong pushed the brand‑new Phoenix bicycle out of the office building, chatting animatedly with a few people, gesturing like a leader.

"With people like him, the more you reason with him, the more he pushes forward," Li Ping'an said. "If you ignore him, he won't even know what to do."

Chen Jianghe seemed to understand, but not quite.

"Then shall we... pretend not to see?"

"It's not pretending not to see." Li Ping'an turned, looking at his brother‑in‑law, "It's about doing our own work so he can't find any leverage. As for his little moves…"

He smiled lightly.

"I've seen him build tall towers, I've seen him host banquets, I've seen his buildings collapse. I've seen such things many times."

Chen Jianghe was stunned for a moment, then understood.

"Brother, you mean…"

"I didn't say anything." Li Ping'an patted his shoulder, "Go to work."

In the afternoon, Liu Haizhong indeed came to the Security Department.

He wasn't alone; he brought two newly recruited young cadres, both wearing red armbands.

Li Ping'an was reviewing documents; when he saw Liu enter, he set the papers down and stood up.

"Deputy Director Liu, something?"

His attitude was very courteous, but only courteous.

No flattery, no ingratiation—just business as usual.

Liu Haizhong felt a bit uneasy.

He thought Li Ping'an would, like others, curry favor with him as the newly appointed deputy director.

But he didn't.

"Li Chief, I'm here to learn about the Security Department's work," Liu Haizhong said, hands behind his back, pacing the office. "Now the Revolutionary Committee has been established; ideological work must be tightened, and security work cannot be lax. Your Security Department must cooperate with the Revolutionary Committee's tasks."

"That's natural," Li Ping'an nodded. "Deputy Director Liu, any instructions?"

"It's not really a directive," Liu Haizhong stopped, looking at Li Ping'an. "I just think the Security Department's work could be more proactive. For example, cooperate with us on ideological inspections, root out suspicious elements…"

"Deputy Director Liu," Li Ping'an interrupted, "The Security Department's duties are explicitly stipulated by the factory. Ideological inspections are the Revolutionary Committee's job. We only handle security protection."

His words sounded very rigid.

Liu Haizhong's expression darkened.

"Li Chief, that's not right. Revolutionary work—what's this you versus me? It's all for the good of the factory!"

"Right, all for the factory's good," Li Ping'an nodded. "So the Security Department does its security work, the Revolutionary Committee does its ideological work; each performs its duty, and only then can we run the factory well."

He paused briefly.

"Deputy Director Liu, if you have nothing else, I still need to go to the Workshop for inspection."

That was a way of seeing him off.

Liu Haizhong stared at Li Ping'an for several seconds.

Finally, he hummed and turned to leave.

The two young cadres hurried to follow.

At the doorway, Liu Haizhong glanced back.

Li Ping'an was already seated, continuing to read the documents as if nothing had happened.

Liu Haizhong clenched his teeth.

"Fine, Li Ping'an, you're impressive."

"We'll see as we go."

That evening, in the Siheyuan.

Liu Haizhong's family was having dinner.

Er Da Ma prepared three dishes: scrambled eggs, stewed cabbage, and a small plate of pickled vegetables.

That was considered a lavish spread for the courtyard.

Liu Haizhong sat at the head of the table, holding a wine glass, and took a sip.

"Liu Guangtian, Liu Guangfu, how was today at the factory?"

Liu Guangtian quickly set down his chopsticks.

"Deputy Director Liu, I audited the Logistics Department's warehouse today and found many issues! Some supplies are stored chaotically, the accounts are unclear…"

"Hmm, good!" Liu Haizhong nodded. "When problems are found, they must be rectified! Write a report and hand it to me tomorrow!"

"Understood!"

Liu Guangfu also rushed to speak: "Deputy Director Liu, I went with a truck to haul cargo today and saw members of the transport team slacking off! They loaded the goods slowly, took detours on the road—clearly trying to waste fuel for their own gain!"

"Investigate! Get to the bottom of it!" Liu Haizhong slammed the table. "These parasites must be eliminated!"

Er Da Ma listened nearby, her face blooming with a smile.

See, this is the benefit of being a leader.

Even the sons can now speak uprightly.

Just then, from outside came Sha Zhu humming a little tune.

He was humming "Taking the Tiger Mountain by Strategy"; the melody was off‑key, but his voice was loud enough for the whole courtyard to hear.

Liu Haizhong frowned.

"That Sha Zhu, always goofing around, has no proper bearing."

"Exactly!" Liu Guangtian agreed, "We need to give him a lesson!"

Liu Haizhong thought for a moment, then shook his head.

"No rush. Let him swagger for a few days. Once I straighten out the factory, I'll deal with him."

He lifted his wine glass and took another sip.

The liquor was Er Guotou, spicy but potent.

Just like his current position.

Strong enough.

Liu Haizhong stared at the night outside the window, and the smug surge in his heart rose like the smell of alcohol.

Xu Damao fell, and he came up.

Li Ping'an may be hard, but can he be harder than the Revolutionary Committee?

Sooner or later, he'll make everyone in the courtyard know who truly decides in this Siheyuan.

Thinking of that, he smiled.

He laughed loudly.

The laughter reverberated in the house, making the window paper buzz.

Outside, the moon slipped into the clouds.

The night grew deeper.