Chapter 57: Who Else But Me

After a while, Zhang Hao arrived with his men, and Factory Director Yang also notified the male workers in the factory; in an instant, the crowd surrounded the factory so tightly that not even water could leak through.

"What's the situation inside?" Zhang Hao stood beside Factory Director Yang and asked in a deep voice.

"The Security Section Chief led his team members to steal steel pipes, and the ones who came out to sell them for money were caught; the situation inside is currently unknown." Factory Director Yang was somewhat anxious; after all, the Security Section of today was not the gatekeeping old men of later generations—they had real hardware in their hands.

"Have you called out to them? Is there a floor plan?" Zhang Hao's heart sank, but he still asked while holding onto a glimmer of hope.

"We've called out, but it's dead silent with no response."

But soon, Factory Director Yang's words immediately made his heart sink again.

"Factory Director, Director Zhang, everything is surrounded; I guarantee not even a fly can fly out." He Yuzhu ran over with Ma Hua and the others.

Zhang Hao nodded, managed to reveal a faint smile to greet them, and then looked at the floor plan drawn on the ground by Factory Director Yang, pondering for a long while before saying: "The factory is too big and too open. Have the ordinary workers fall back so they don't get hurt. We'll try calling out again; if that doesn't work, we'll call for reinforcements. We don't have enough manpower."

"Understood!" Everyone raised their flashlights and torches in unison, opened the factory gate, and slowly advanced inside while holding shields, shouting as they walked: "Listen up, people inside, you have been surrounded! Drop your weapons and surrender immediately, walk out with your hands on your heads, otherwise, you will bear the consequences!"

But no matter how they shouted, it remained dead silent inside without the slightest response, and the people slowly advancing could not help but start to break out in a sweat.

Several agile public security officers crouched down, took their pistols, and scattered in all directions; the group found some cover and waited for news.

"Master, isn't it just stealing a few steel pipes? Is such a big scene necessary?" Ma Hua held a kitchen knife and asked quietly behind He Yuzhu.

"To put it mildly, it's theft; to put it severely, it's stealing public property and reselling state materials—that's a firing squad offense. Do you still think this scene is big?" He Yuzhu gave a cold laugh, thinking of that 'wool-shearing' sketch by Teacher Dandan from the Spring Festival Gala.

"Ah? That serious?" Ma Hua was startled, thinking of the grain, meat, and vegetables he kept taking home, and a drop of cold sweat "splashed" down from his temple.

"What did you think? You and your brother stay back. If something happens to you, I won't be able to answer to your father." He Yuzhu turned his head and honestly crouched in a corner; this was not the time for him to show off as a hero with empty words.

He did not have the Indestructible Vajra Divine Skill, he didn't even have a bulletproof vest, and he had no weapon in his hand. The credit was already there; as for the rest, let fate decide.

"Listen up, people inside, you have been surrounded..." Just after who knows how many rounds of shouting, the large workshop suddenly lit up, and the person shouting was stunned and immediately hid their body.

Several public security officers who had snuck out also ran back stealthily.

"Director, the situation is not good. They should all be in the large workshop. The terrain inside is complex; I snuck a look, and it's not easy to launch a frontal assault."

Before the words fell, Factory Director Yang hurriedly said from the side: "Don't, absolutely do not launch a frontal assault! If the machines are damaged, it's all over!"

Zhang Hao cursed with a headache; if he could, he really didn't want to push away the credit that was already in his hands.

If he called for reinforcements, not to mention how much credit would be left, what would his superiors think of him?

That he lacked ability!

Of course, calling for reinforcements was also equivalent to pushing the responsibility away.

But he was afraid that if he called for reinforcements and the other side surrendered, that would be a huge joke; he would likely become the laughingstock of the entire Sijiucheng and even the national public security system.

For a moment, Director Zhang's thoughts raced; he was truly unwilling to admit defeat just like this.

Gritting his teeth, Director Zhang took a steel helmet from the arms of a subordinate nearby, put it on his own head, had two men hold shields to protect his body, and shouted.

"Listen up, people inside!"

He had just shouted once when he was interrupted by the people inside: "We're listening! Speak your piece and be quick about it!"

"Cough, cough, damn you, people inside... surrender! Do not continue to resist stubbornly; if you continue to resist, you will not have a good end!" Zhang Hao, who had been interrupted, almost choked, but he still raised his voice and shouted.

"Haha, I know the law! Tell us, how can you let us go?" The people inside continued to yell.

"Impossible! If you surrender now, you can strive for lenient treatment. I will strive for you to have a record of meritorious service; this is the bottom line!" Zhang Hao thought for a moment and replied.

"Get lost, we want to be let go! Not go to jail! Isn't it just stealing a few pieces of scrap steel pipe? If not, we'll pay compensation, you withdraw, and we each write a guarantee that you won't pursue this, then we'll come out! I'm telling you, we've poured oil in the workshop now; at worst, we'll all perish together!"

Zhang Hao was startled, and before he could speak, Factory Director Yang ran out with his hands raised: "Don't, everything is negotiable, please do not burn the factory building."

Zhang Hao hurriedly pulled Factory Director Yang behind him and cursed angrily: "Are you tired of living?!"

Factory Director Yang said with a mournful face: "We can't let them burn the factory building, the machines are important. I'm kneeling to you, I beg you, if it doesn't work, let's withdraw, okay?"

"Useless! Someone, drag him away for me, don't get in the way here." Zhang Hao looked at Factory Director Yang, who was covered in snot and tears, and ordered the public security officers behind him in a bad mood to cover his mouth and drag him away.

"I'll say this one last time: drop your weapons and surrender, otherwise you will bear the consequences. Remember, the Director of the Public Security Station does not negotiate with any criminals! Continue to resist, and you will surely die; think of your wives, children, and elders!" This statement was sonorous and powerful, making everyone look at this somewhat bald middle-aged man with newfound respect.

He Yuzhu revealed a thoughtful expression, thinking of himself back at Guying Ridge.

If he had also had such principles, would the ending have been different?

"Haha, then give it a try and see if our few worthless lives are worth this pile of machine money!" As soon as the words fell, a "Bang!" gunshot rang out from inside the factory building.

Everyone scrambled to lie down and take cover; Zhang Hao, who was crouching behind the shields, touched his body in terror and only breathed a sigh of relief after finding no wounds.

Slowly, two men protected him as he retreated. Factory Director Yang, He Yuzhu, Zhang Hao, and several minor leaders gathered together, smoking cigarettes and discussing.

"There's no other way, call for reinforcements!" After thinking for a while without coming up with a solution, Zhang Hao could only sigh helplessly and turned to order his men.

"Don't, how about we just forget it? Let's just pretend nothing happened; the machines are important!" Factory Director Yang hurriedly blocked Zhang Hao's arm, his face full of pleading.

People who have not experienced hard times naturally will not understand how important those machines were to the people of that time for such a large factory.

"Are you crazy? Compromise with criminals? I stop being this Director? You stop being that Factory Director?" Zhang Hao also lost his temper; good heavens, if you wanted to compromise, why did you call me here?

Now that so many factory employees know about this, how thick a face would one need to cover this up?

"Then what should we do?! Ah? Those machines are my life! Do you know how much contribution they can bring to the country? Do you know how much they are worth?! Without them, how many workers will be laid off? Ah? Do you know?!" Factory Director Yang cried hysterically, helpless like a child, collapsing on the ground, which made everyone's heart ache.

He Yuzhu looked at Yu Xiaokang, and the two exchanged a glance before immediately looking away.

"Stop arguing, you two leaders, let me try, okay?" Finally, He Yuzhu stood up.

"You?"

"You?"

The two were stunned and both became suspicious.

"The matter started because of me, let me try. If it doesn't succeed, then we can discuss calling for reinforcements or letting them go. Like this, Ma Hua, you lead Xiaokang to sneak to the factory infirmary and bring back all the sleeping pills inside."

"Nonsense, what can you do?"

"You're just making things worse!"

"Trust me once!" He Yuzhu shouted, which actually startled both of them.

"Hey! I'm going right now, Master." Ma Hua looked at the wide-eyed Zhang Hao and Factory Director Yang, agreed, and pulled Yu Xiaokang away, disappearing from the spot in a flash.

"Tell me, what are you thinking?" Zhang Hao flicked away the hot cigarette butt, a glimmer of hope rising in his heart.

"If the other side wants to talk, that is hope; otherwise, they would have set the fire long ago. Besides, there are over twenty people from the Security Section inside, and not everyone has the courage to perish together with their Section Chief. I will go in as a hostage, talk to them, and if I fail to persuade them to surrender, I will find a way to cook for them and drug them. They can't stay hungry forever, right? Furthermore, I have some confidence in my own skills." He Yuzhu said, steadying his nerves as he laid out his plan.

Factory Director Yang nodded from the side and said, "Drugging them is good; once they are all asleep, there will be no fear of them setting the fire."

"Nonsense, what if they search you?" Zhang Hao rolled his eyes at Factory Director Yang and continued to ask with some worry, "Then how much confidence do you have? If something happens to you, wouldn't we have sacrificed one person for nothing?"

"I have eighty percent confidence! Trust me! The worst that can happen is that I lose my life. Besides, I suspect they only acted on a hot-headed impulse and want to be let off. I will go in and explain the pros and cons to them clearly; there won't be a problem. Do they not understand what the crime of murder entails? Could I possibly joke with my own life?"

Looking at He Yuzhu's firm face, the two men hesitated for a moment.

Ma Hua quickly ran back, took three full bottles of sleeping pills, and handed them to He Yuzhu.

"Go to the kitchen, take out all the chicken, duck, and meat inside, and don't forget to bring the garlic masher. Go quickly."

Ma Hua, who hadn't even caught his breath, ran out again.

"Coming, Master."

After a while, all the sleeping pills had been crushed into powder by Ma Hua using the garlic masher and put into a bottle. He Yuzhu tucked it into his bosom and then stored it into his System Space.

Everything was ready. He Yuzhu pulled Ma Hua over, and the two went to the side and whispered, "If something happens to me, remember to tell my sister that she must never, ever sell the house in the Siheyuan! Also, our family genealogy is hidden in the cellar and under Qin Huairu's house; make sure no one else finds out. Do you understand?"

Ma Hua tugged at He Yuzhu's sleeve, tears streaming down his face as he nodded fiercely, which finally put He Yuzhu's mind at ease.

There was no help for it; he didn't dare say that antiques were hidden underground, so he could only use the family genealogy to fool Ma Hua. After all, in this era, family genealogies were not allowed to exist!

But this wouldn't arouse Ma Hua's suspicion, since everyone was hiding things...

Taking a deep breath, He Yuzhu looked at Zhang Hao and said, "Uncle Zhang, do you trust me?"

"I do not!"

"……! I'm being serious, do you trust me, Uncle Zhang?"

"……" Zhang Hao looked at He Yuzhu and curled his lip, saying nothing.

"Fine, I'll take it that you trust me. Lend me your gun to use." He Yuzhu held out his hand and reached toward Zhang Hao.

"What are you doing? What else do you want? Huh?" Zhang Hao was stunned, then dodged nimbly, becoming somewhat angry.

"Lend it to me for a moment, I know how to use it!" He Yuzhu said in a low voice.

"Is this a matter of whether you know how to use it or not? Don't even think about it. Are you going or not? If not, let's just call for reinforcements!"

"Alright then, I'm going. Make sure your son takes good care of my sister. Factory Director Yang, I did wrong in this matter, and I've put you in a difficult position!" He Yuzhu managed a faint smile and apologized to Factory Director Yang.

He had wanted to use this to earn merit, but he hadn't expected things to blow up so big!

"I don't blame you. You, you be careful, He Yuzhu. Whatever you do, don't let them burn the machinery. I thank you here; as long as you succeed, I guarantee I won't try to set you up with my niece again in the future." Factory Director Yang shook his head; he naturally understood He Yuzhu's intentions. He didn't blame He Yuzhu, only the Security Section Chief for being too reckless.

He Yuzhu laughed, nodded, shouldered the pork, carried the chicken and duck, and with his other hand holding a vegetable basket, he prepared to step out of the cover.

"Wait! Hey, here, the safety is off, be careful." Zhang Hao stomped his foot, pulled a pistol from behind him, and shoved it into He Yuzhu's waistband.

"Be careful, take care of your sister yourself! Also, you all listen up: whoever dares to speak of the pistol, I'll execute them!" Zhang Hao said with a grim face, scanning everyone one by one.

Fortunately, those gathered here were all their respective trusted aides, so they naturally wouldn't go out and talk nonsense.

He Yuzhu put down the basket, touched the cold pistol at his waist, and secretly moved it into his System Space; hidden by his clothes, no one noticed.

After nodding to everyone once more, He Yuzhu took a deep breath and walked out.

As soon as he left the cover, He Yuzhu shouted loudly, "Section Chief, don't shoot, it's me~"