Chapter 43

More and more workers gathered at the gate, and Gu Bing’s face grew darker by the minute. Though he had long been ignored as Party Secretary, he was still nominally the boss of the brewery—and now, in front of countless onlookers at the brewery’s own gate, a lowly security officer had slapped him with a grin. Add to that Zhou Andong’s constant provocation, and it was easy to imagine how furious Gu Bing was.

“He’s coming, he’s coming, he’s walking toward us with firm steps.”

Zhou Andong cheered excitedly, as if a long-awaited VIP had arrived, waving his arms and dancing around—drawing curious glances from the onlookers. Jiang Yuyue bit her lower lip tightly, fighting back a smile.

“But!” Zhou Andong turned to Gu Bing with a look of regret. “Boss, the factory office is just here, and you told him to be here in ten minutes—he’s three minutes late. This is deliberate. He’s humiliating you.”

Gu Bing shot Zhou Andong a furious glare—if looks could kill, Zhou Andong would already be sliced into a thousand pieces. You bastard. I’ve been humiliated right on my face by some lowly worker, and you’re standing there fanning the flames? You’re truly despicable.

“Secretary Gu!” Qu Hongqi suddenly quickened his pace, walking over with a wide smile. “I was tied up with some urgent matters and ran late. Please don’t hold it against me.”

Qu Hongqi’s tone was humble, his posture submissive. Zhou Andong’s eyes narrowed slightly. This guy wasn’t simple. Gu Bing called him—he came. But he arrived three minutes late: giving Gu Bing face, yet also humiliating him, leaving Gu Bing with no grounds to complain.

The security officer rhythmically tapped his baton against his palm, grinning at Gu Bing and Zhou Andong—his provocation unmistakable.

Gu Bing smiled, brightly. Zhou Andong smiled too. Qu Hongqi joined in. The security officer grinned as well, chuckling—but his laughter carried mockery, contempt, and disdain for Gu Bing.

“Hahaha…”

Gu Bing’s laughter grew louder—then, suddenly, he turned and raised his hand. CRACK! He slapped the security officer hard across the face.

“Eh!”

The security officer’s laughter cut off like a duck with its throat squeezed. One side of his face swelled visibly; his head rang like a bell, stars dancing before his eyes.

Qu Hongqi’s eyes flew open in disbelief as he stared at Gu Bing.

The workers who had been whispering among themselves now fell utterly silent, faces pale with shock. Some of the timid ones ducked their heads and hid behind the crowd.

Gu Bing looked at Qu Hongqi and said coldly: “Disrespecting leadership demands severe punishment. And you—how are you doing as Section Chief? By four tonight, submit a two-thousand-word self-criticism to my office. If you dare not write it or write it half-heartedly, you’ll face a serious Party warning and a factory-wide public reprimand.”

Qu Hongqi clenched his fists, rage boiling to his scalp. To strike one of his security officers right before his eyes, in front of so many workers—that was a slap to his own face.

But Gu Bing’s words hit him like a bucket of ice water, jolting him awake. Even if Gu Bing had no real power, he was still the factory’s Party Secretary. If Qu Hongqi didn’t know his place and dared to challenge his superior directly, a serious Party warning and factory-wide reprimand would bury his career. That stain would follow him for life.

Was he Bufu ? He was. But if he wanted to avoid stagnating as Section Chief, if he didn’t want that stain to haunt him forever—he had to bow.

“Your security section needs a thorough cleanup. If this happens again, you’ll bear the consequences yourself.”

“I’ll f*** you, you dare hit me!”

At that moment, the dazed security officer roared, raised his baton, and swung it down hard toward Gu Bing’s head.

“Watch out!” Jiang Yuyue screamed.

Zhou Andong grabbed Gu Bing’s shoulder and yanked him aside, then kicked out with his foot.

“Thud!”

“Aaagh!”

The security officer was kicked flying, crashing heavily to the ground.

“Cough… cough… cough…”

The security officer clutched his stomach, coughing violently, glaring at Zhou Andong with murderous eyes: “I’ll f*** you, you wait—I’ll kill you both.”

Zhou Andong frowned, studying the man. This guy was acting strangely. His arrogance was excessive. Earlier, when he mocked Gu Bing, it was just ignorance—Zhou Andong hadn’t thought much of it. But now he dared to strike Gu Bing, and with lethal intent. If that baton had landed on Gu Bing’s head, he’d have been killed or maimed. Zhou Andong refused to believe this man had no backing.

Gu Bing felt a chill of fear—but his expression remained calm. He pointed at the security officer. “Section Chief Qu, what’s his name? Whose man is he?”

Zhou Andong muttered under his breath: “Looks like this guy isn’t as stupid as he seems.”

Qu Hongqi glared at the security officer, teeth clenched—but he didn’t answer Gu Bing’s question.

“Fine. Since you won’t tell me, I won’t ask.” Gu Bing turned to the old gatekeeper, Li Tou. “Did the newspaper arrive today?”

Old Li hurriedly replied: “Not yet. Should come around ten.”

Gu Bing nodded. “Bring it to me as soon as it arrives.”

“Yes, yes!” The incident had scared Old Li half to death.

Gu Bing called out to Zhou Andong and Jiang Yuyue: “Get in the car!”

Jiang Yuyue got in. Zhou Andong walked over to Qu Hongqi, tilted his head, and whispered softly: “Section Chief Qu, don’t think a sleeping tiger won’t eat people.”

Qu Hongqi froze, then shuddered. Only now did he remember Gu Bing’s background. He didn’t know the details—but Gu Bing’s status as a second-generation scion wasn’t a secret. At least, all the factory leaders knew.

“What are you all staring at? It’s past time for work!” Qu Hongqi glared at the crowd of onlookers and barked.

“Whoosh!” The crowd scattered instantly, turning and rushing through the gate.

Qu Hongqi crouched down beside the security officer. “How are you? Do you need to go to the hospital?”

The security officer rolled over and sat up. Zhou Andong had held back—he’d screamed in agony at first, as if his intestines had snapped, but now the pain had eased considerably.

“F***, I’ll kill them both,” the security officer snarled, his face twisted with rage.

Qu Hongqi asked: “Do you know who he is?”

“Pah!” The security officer spat out a bloody wad of saliva. “So what? He’s just the Party Secretary.”

“So you know.” Qu Hongqi’s voice turned icy. “If you’d hurt him, even the factory director couldn’t save you—and I’d be dragged down with you. So behave. Don’t give me trouble. And don’t give the director trouble.”