Chapter 31: Digging a Pit, Not to Bury Anyone

Zhou Andong sneered: “You vermin really excel at petty, filthy tricks.”

He didn’t need to think to know who had spread this rumor.

“Do you really think this rumor can hurt me at all? All you’ve harmed is an innocent woman.” Zhou Andong slapped Liu Zhiguang’s face—slap, slap—while Liu Zhiguang stood there dazed, not even trying to dodge.

“Honestly, you’ve completely shattered my view of humanity. You’re fucking vile.”

Qian Wei was stunned—he hadn’t expected Zhou Andong to hit Liu Zhiguang, let alone humiliate him outright. Then he snapped to attention: wasn’t this his chance to shine? He roared out loud.

“Zhou Andong, I’ll fuck your mother—you dare hit…”

*Slap!*

Liu Zhiguang was deputy section chief; if Zhou Andong really beat him, Gu Bing’s current influence couldn’t protect him—so the score would be recorded for later. But as for Qian Wei, this dog didn’t deserve any leniency.

“I’m not your father, and I won’t coddle you. If you ever speak to me in that sarcastic tone again, I’ll peel your skin off.”

Qian Wei clutched his swelling face, his eyes filled with venom and hatred—but when he saw Zhou Andong’s half-smile, a chill shot from his tailbone to his scalp, snuffing out any thought of revenge. He’d wait for another chance.

Liu Zhiguang touched his face—it didn’t hurt—but the humiliation burned his face crimson. He gritted his teeth, each word forced out: “Zhou—An—Dong—you dared hit me.”

Zhou Andong quickly denied it: “Hey, Section Chief Liu, don’t go spouting nonsense. When did I ever hit you?”

“Just now—you slapped my face!” Liu Zhiguang glared, like an enraged rooster.

Zhou Andong grinned: “That was friendly, intimate communication—how can you call it hitting? Besides, if I’d hit you, there’d be bruises.”

“You—” Liu Zhiguang trembled with rage, speechless.

“You hit me!” Qian Wei roared.

“Yes!” Zhou Andong admitted bluntly. “I hit you. What are you going to do about it?”

“I—I—” Qian Wei opened his mouth, gasping for air, but couldn’t finish a single word.

What could he do to Zhou Andong? If he reported it to the factory, the worst outcome would be Zhou Andong writing a self-criticism and getting scolded—zero real consequence. Meanwhile, word of him getting slapped would spread, and the shame would be his alone.

Zhou Andong pulled out a cigarette from his pocket and lit it. “The Dao rewards retribution—Heaven spares no one. Look up, both of you—above your heads, three feet, there are spirits. Do too many unjust deeds, and remember: never walk alone at night. Watch out for ghosts.”

“Brother Dong!” Yao Jun returned, cigarette dangling from his lips. “What’re you doing here? Aren’t you cold?”

Zhou Andong smiled. “Ran into two dogs baring their teeth at me. I gave them a good beating.”

Yao Jun glanced at Liu Zhiguang and Qian Wei, shook his head, and sighed: “We should suggest to the factory—buy two iron chains and lock them up. One day they bite someone, and we have to pay for rabies shots? The factory won’t reimburse us.”

Zhou Andong didn’t even look at Liu Zhiguang or Qian Wei again. He slung an arm around Yao Jun’s shoulder and walked into Workshop Two. “Got something to tell you.”

Watching Zhou Andong and Yao Jun’s backs, Liu Zhiguang ground his teeth. “Is Wang Ruomei’s husband working in the Work Safety Bureau?”

Qian Wei nodded. “I think so.”

Liu Zhiguang asked: “Who in our section knows someone in the Work Safety Bureau?”

Qian Wei thought a moment. “Little Chen’s brother-in-law—he’s in the Work Safety Bureau.”

Liu Zhiguang said coldly: “Have Little Chen visit his sister’s house, chat with his brother-in-law, tell him about Wang Ruomei and Zhou Andong. Let the Work Safety Bureau know too.”

Qian Wei’s eyes lit up. “Could Wang Ruomei’s husband stab Zhou Andong to death?”

Liu Zhiguang shrugged and smiled. “Who knows?”

Zhou Andong said: “Tomorrow, send everyone out.”

Yao Jun perked up. “Has the secretary returned?”

Zhou Andong nodded. “Yes. The plan’s going smoothly—just need this final push.”

Yao Jun grinned. “I’ll go gather everyone and hold a meeting right away.”

Zhou Andong said: “I’ll go see the secretary for funds. Every worker involved must get their subsidy—no shortchanging.”

Yao Jun chuckled. “Even a few yuan boosts morale a lot.”

Gu Bing had his feet propped on his desk, puffing smoke, leaning back. He heard the office door open, glanced up, and snapped: “You enter my office without knocking? You don’t respect me as secretary? You don’t want to work here anymore?”

Zhou Andong picked up an empty teacup, poured hot water into it, then plopped down on the sofa and slurped loudly.

“On a day this cold, hot water really feels good.”

Gu Bing lowered his feet, voice sharp: “Hey, kid, can you show me a little respect?”

Zhou Andong snorted. “How else should I respect you? Bow down and kowtow?”

Gu Bing sighed. “I must’ve pissed off some god in my last life, to get stuck with you in this one.”

Zhou Andong chuckled and shot Gu Bing a flirtatious look. “We had unfinished business in our last life—that’s why we met again. But we messed up our rebirth—we both got three legs.”

Gu Bing shuddered, involuntarily trembling. “Don’t make me sick. Just tell me what’s next.”

Zhou Andong said: “Everything’s arranged. What’s left to say?”

Gu Bing said: “I wanted to print the office phone number on the calendar as a sales line. Why did you oppose it? The Sales Section is all Zhang Deyou’s people—they probably don’t want us to sell a single bottle of liquor.”

Zhou Andong stared at Gu Bing in surprise. “You don’t understand?”

Gu Bing was about to say he didn’t, but swallowed the words, leaned back, and smiled smugly. “Of course I understand. I was just asking.”

Zhou Andong shot up instantly, face shocked. “Can I say I actually have no idea why I opposed it? You claim you know? Tell me—why did I oppose it?”

*Clack.* The half-smoke in Gu Bing’s mouth dropped onto the desk. His face darkened. He grabbed a book from his desk and hurled it at Zhou Andong.

“You bastard—you trying to kill me before my time?”

Zhou Andong laughed, catching the flying book. “You’re flustered—you’re actually flustered.”

“I’ll kill you,” Gu Bing snarled, grabbing another book to throw.

Zhou Andong raised his hands. “Stop, stop—I opposed you because I’m digging a pit for Zhang Deyou. That old bastard took away my deputy section chief post and dumped me in the radio station to rot. I won’t just fill his pit with water to drown him—I’ll piss right beside it and make him choke on the stink.”