Chapter 2479

When they reached the intersection, the previously overcast sky was suddenly torn open by an invisible giant hand. The gap grew larger and larger, and the clear blue sky stretched across the horizon like a bridge.

Beams of golden morning light shot out from the gap, piercing straight through the thick clouds and spilling onto the earth. Just like that, caught off guard, the whole world was lit up in that instant.

Beijing, which had been suppressed by gloom for several days, was instantly enveloped in golden light. Streets, houses, trees—everything was dyed with a faint layer of gold.

Everyone looked up at the sky. The oppressive mood was illuminated by this golden light and had nowhere to hide; the gloom in their hearts instantly dissipated without a trace. Smiles appeared on their faces, and their moods became relaxed as well.

Hu Guanghui withdrew his gaze and looked at the Audi 100 parked on the side of the road, then looked at the Mercedes parked not far away. A faint smile appeared on his face, and he said softly: "Today, thanks to Factory Director Zhou, we have the opportunity to sit in this Mercedes."

Zhou Andong muttered something, but no one heard it clearly. Immediately after, this guy's face was full of smiles, and he enthusiastically made a gesture of invitation.

"Since you leaders don't mind and are willing to condescend to sit in my car, then of course I warmly welcome you!"

Wang Jianmin, who was on the side, laughed when he saw this and teased: "Mayor, you are borrowing Factory Director Zhou's light. As for me, I can only borrow your light to experience what it feels like to sit in this Mercedes."

Gu Bing, the little transparent, was instantly dumbfounded. Damn it, you guys are sitting in Zhou Dongzi's car, whose car am I sitting in?

Zhou Andong curled his lips, rolled his eyes secretly, then turned to look at the three principals and instructed them with a serious face: "Today's performance is canceled. We'll hold the evening party during National Day or New Year's Day, and we'll invite all the staff to watch then.

Now, hurry up and arrange for people to go door-to-door to visit. There are mainly two tasks: first, to soothe everyone's emotions and put them at ease. Second, to re-examine the housing situation to see if there are any dangerous houses that were missed before. You must ensure that you check for omissions and fill the gaps.

The reconstruction application will definitely be approved today. After I go back, I will immediately contact Daguang and have them start repairs on the staff dormitories tomorrow. In any case, we must first ensure that these houses can last for another two years. Once the new dormitory building is built, everyone will be able to move in."

"In that case!" Yan Chen Minru said to Ma Qingmin and Liu Bo: "Leave the matters here to you. After all, the houses that collapsed today are all dormitories for our primary school department, and those buried inside are also staff and family members of our primary school department. As the principal, I must go to the hospital to keep watch."

"Fine!" Zhou Andong looked at Ma Qingmin and Liu Bo: "I'll leave this to you. You must find professional personnel to assist in the survey; there must not be the slightest omission. Such things must absolutely not happen again. If it happens again, you can pack up and leave, and I won't have the face to be this factory director anymore."

"Factory Director!" Ma Qingmin slapped his chest with a loud thud, making a military pledge: "Factory Director, please rest assured, I will definitely handle this matter beautifully. Before the new dormitory building is built and the staff moves in, I will take responsibility for any problems with these old dormitories."

"And me!" Liu Bo's voice was low and firm, his eyes serious: "I will also be responsible to the end."

"Are you looking down on this old woman?" Yan Chen Minru suddenly laughed, her smile revealing an open-mindedness: "Our three generations—old, middle-aged, and young—have always huddled together for warmth, advancing and retreating together. Don't you dare think about leaving this old woman behind."

Zhou Andong listened to Yan Chen Minru's words and turned to walk toward the car not far away, feeling deeply moved. In this era, the class sentiment between people was still very deep; in the face of major issues of right and wrong, most people were very responsible.

It wasn't like later generations, where people believed in "the more you do, the more you err, and doing nothing means no errors," with many being people who just drifted along and held jobs without doing any work. Especially for jobs that required taking responsibility, they would dodge them if they could, and if they really couldn't dodge them, they would definitely think of an escape route beforehand, never rushing to take responsibility like they were doing now.

"Zhou Dongzi!" Gu Bing chased after him: "Those two big shots are sitting in your car, what about me?"

"If they are sitting in my car, you go sit in their car," Zhou Andong said irritably: "Letting you sit in a Beijing No. 2 car once is enough for you to brag about for two months."

Gu Bing curled his lips: "When I was a kid, I even sat in the 95 car; a Beijing No. 2 car is nothing."

Zhou Andong sneered: "You're awesome. If you're a man, don't sit in it."

"If I don't sit in it, then..." Gu Bing swallowed the rest of his words in a hurry, then stiffened his neck: "Who do you think you are? Just because you say don't sit, I won't sit? Why should I listen to you?"

After saying this, Gu Bing walked toward the Beijing No. 2 car, pulled open the door, and got in.

Watching that idiot get into the car, Zhou Andong shook his head helplessly and walked to his own car. Hu Guanghui and Wang Jianmin had already gotten in, so Zhou Andong could only get into the passenger seat.

"Wang Wentian, go to Qinghe Hospital first, then go to the factory hospital."

Wang Wang Wentian looked at Zhou Andong's soaked clothes: "Chairman, let's find a mall first and buy some clothes to change into. You'll easily catch a cold like this."

Zhou Andong raised his wrist and checked the time; it was not yet seven o'clock: "At this time of day, the malls aren't open yet. Let's go to the hospital first, then we'll see."

"Why aren't you wearing a raincoat?" Wang Jianmin said: "Jin Yao Shiguang has clothes, and it's not far from here. Let's go there first."

Zhou Andong did not object. His clothes were soaked and sticking to his body, which was indeed very uncomfortable: "Fine, I haven't been there yet anyway, so I'll take this opportunity to have a look."

Wang Wang Wentian started the car and drove slowly toward Jin Yao Shiguang Fashion Factory.

Wang Jianmin took a cigarette out of his pocket, lit one for Hu Guanghui first, and then threw one to Zhou Andong.

"Factory Director Zhou!" Wang Jianmin held his lighter, lit a cigarette for himself, took a puff, and then continued: "Those words Yan Chen Minru used to slander Shi Yue Guoqiang—you taught them to her, right?"

"Leader!" Zhou Andong was just about to light his cigarette with his lighter when he heard Wang Jianmin's words and immediately refused to accept it: "You can't just say things like that. I, Zhou Andong, am such a simple person, doing things openly and honestly. How could I possibly instigate someone to slander a national cadre?"

Zhou Andong turned his body to look at Wang Jianmin in the back, his tone becoming increasingly dissatisfied: "Besides, Principal Yan is over seventy years old. The old lady is as sharp as they come. Do you really think that old lady is someone I could instigate?"

Wang Jianmin: "..."

Hu Guanghui's mouth twitched: "Factory Director Zhou, do you think Shi Yue Guoqiang would really say such things?"

"That's very believable!" Zhou Andong sat up straight and said lazily: "Principal Yan is so old and has taught for a lifetime. How could she possibly slander Shi Yue Guoqiang with lies?"

Zhou Andong sighed long and hard: "I know that you leaders don't have any face because Shi Yue Guoqiang said those things, and you want to hide it. But you can't protect that scumbag Shi Yue Guoqiang for the sake of face, and keep him within our organization to harm the working masses, right?"

Hu Guanghui: "..."

"It's not that we want to protect Shi Yue Guoqiang," Wang Jianmin took over the conversation: "You have to know that besides Yan Chen Minru, more than ten school leaders have come out to testify against Shi Yue Guoqiang.

If Shi Yue Guoqiang really said those things, naturally there wouldn't be any issue. But if he didn't say them, slandering a bureau-level cadre—you should know very well how serious the consequences are, right?"

"Leader!" Zhou Andong looked helpless, his tone sounding listless: "It seems you have already concluded that Shi Yue Guoqiang never said those things, that it was Principal Yan and the others who slandered him, and you even think that I instigated them to slander Shi Yue Guoqiang, right?"

Hu Guanghui said earnestly: "Do not overestimate the human heart, and even less overestimate human nature. The world is bustling and chaotic, all for profit. The human heart and human nature are the things that can least withstand the test."

Wang Jianmin nodded in deep agreement, then said seriously: "This is no small matter. More than ten people testifying against Shi Yue Guoqiang together—if you really instigated them to do this, the consequences would be serious.

Think about it: if their interests are involved in some matters in the future, there's no guarantee that someone won't tell the truth to save themselves. At that time, you'll be in big trouble and definitely won't have a good ending."

"You can rest assured!" Zhou Andong patted his chest and said solemnly: "I said before, I am a very simple person and would absolutely never do something like instigating others to slander a Party member and cadre."

In fact, Zhou Andong also knew that there were hidden risks, but they were not large and could be completely ignored. Because he believed in Yan Chen Minru's integrity and character, she would absolutely not betray him. Therefore, he only instructed Yan Chen Minru alone and let that little old lady convey it to the others.

Besides, Yan Chen Minru was already over seventy years old. Even if it were finally discovered that they were slandering Shi Yue Guoqiang, given her advanced age, the law couldn't do anything to her.

More importantly, Shi Yue Guoqiang himself had many problems and was full of filth. Judging from the existing evidence, that old guy was definitely unable to escape his crimes and would definitely have to sit in prison until the end of his days; he shouldn't even think about coming out in this lifetime and could only wait for the next life to see if there was a chance.

And the words Yan Chen Minru said were intended to destroy Shi Yue Guoqiang's image in people's minds and push him to the opposite side of the people. In this way, the disgust of the special investigation team, the procuratorate, and the court toward him would inevitably increase day by day.

After all, a morally corrupt scumbag hiding within our Party, combined with other conclusive criminal facts and the judge's extremely poor impression of him—the possibility of being sentenced to death, while not one hundred percent, was by no means impossible.

Even if someone eventually came out to prove that Shi Yue Guoqiang never said those things, the impact would be minimal. The reason is simple: as long as all of Shi Yue Guoqiang's other cases are true, once he is sentenced, no one will care whether he said those things or whether he was slandered.

Seeing Zhou Andong deny it so firmly, Hu Guanghui and Wang Jianmin also began to doubt whether they had misjudged the situation and whether this matter really had nothing to do with Zhou Andong.

A smile curled at the corner of Zhou Andong's mouth. At this moment, the car stopped at the entrance of Jin Yao Shiguang. It was work time, and there were people at the entrance who all stopped in their tracks, curiously looking at the Mercedes parked on the side of the road.

A young man said: "I heard our factory director's car is a Mercedes. This wouldn't be him, would it?"

Another young man looked at the Mercedes and really wanted to go over and see who was sitting inside, but he suppressed his curiosity.

"Since the factory director took office, he hasn't come to our Jin Yao Shiguang yet. It really might be him."

A middle-aged woman smiled and said: "If it really is the factory director, coming so early, I don't know if it's a good thing or a bad thing."

Another woman leaned against the middle-aged woman and whispered: "I heard that our newly appointed factory director has a very swift and decisive style of doing things and has already taken down several factory leaders. If it really is him coming to our Jin Yao Shiguang, do you think it might be aimed at that person?"

The middle-aged woman also lowered her voice: "Let me tell you, our new factory director doesn't tolerate any sand in his eyes. Everyone in our Jin Yao Shiguang, one by one, will definitely be settled with.

It's just that it's been so long and there hasn't been any movement, which makes me start to doubt my judgment. If it really is the factory director sitting in the Mercedes, I can be sure it's aimed at someone."

"Chairman!" Wang Wang Wentian asked very puzzled: "Why not drive in?"

"Coming here today is just to recognize the gate and get some clothes. There's not much point in going in." As he spoke, Zhou Andong opened the car window, instantly attracting everyone's attention.

The middle-aged woman tilted her head and said hesitantly: "Meimei, look and see if that's our factory director?"

Meimei grabbed the middle-aged woman's arm tightly and said excitedly: "Sister Hong, it's our factory director."

Just at this moment, Meimei and Sister Hong saw the factory director waving in the car. The two were stunned, then looked left and right, but didn't see who the factory director was calling.

Then, turning back, they saw the factory director still waving toward them. The two looked at each other, and Meimei whispered: "The factory director wouldn't be calling us, would he?"

Sister Hong looked at Zhou Andong and raised her finger to point at her own nose. Then she saw Zhou Andong smile and nod at her.

"He really is calling us." Meimei excitedly pulled Sister Hong, trotted to the car, and said excitedly: "Factory Director, what do you need us for?"

Zhou Andong asked with a smile: "What are your names?"

Meimei hurriedly said: "My name is Liu Mei, and she is Yang Wei Yuhong. We are from the Market Section."

Zhou Andong nodded and tugged at his clothes: "Comrade Liu Mei, Comrade Yang Wei Yuhong, I got caught in the rain this morning, and my clothes are all soaked through.

Because I still have some things to deal with, it's too far to go home to change, and there's no time. The malls aren't open yet either, so I thought of our Jin Yao Shiguang."

Yang Wei Yuhong understood immediately and hurriedly said: "Factory Director, what size are your clothes and pants? I'll go get them for you right now."

Zhou Andong stated the size: "Does the factory have underwear?"

"Yes!" Liu Mei replied: "Factory Director, please wait a moment, we'll go get the clothes for you right away."

"As soon as possible!" Zhou Andong said with a smile, watching Liu Mei and Yang Wei Yuhong turn and trot away, and closed the car window.

Just at this moment, a Santana drove over slowly. Vaguely, a fat-headed, big-eared woman took a look at the Mercedes, and her brows furrowed.