Chapter 675: The Factory Director's Trail

He Yuzhu had just lain down when the phone rang.

He answered it in a daze, only to hear Secretary Liu's voice, tinged with a hint of tension: "Zhuzi, you have to do me a favor. Take a pen and write this down. There are fifteen people; you need to get them to the 8237 Construction Base in Henan overnight. I'll give you the address, write it down..."

He Yuzhu's mind cleared instantly: "Go ahead, I'm writing it down."

Secretary Liu dumped all the information about the people to be picked up and the destination in one go.

He Yuzhu listened while memorizing it in his heart; by the time he hung up, his palms were already slick with sweat.

Chen Xueru rubbed her eyes and grabbed him: "What's going on?"

He Yuzhu said while pulling on his clothes: "A task from Secretary Liu, he wants me to leave immediately. No one else can handle this."

Chen Xueru's expression changed, but she didn't dare ask more and hurried to get up to help him pack.

After He Yuzhu went out, he immediately called Liu Xiaohua, telling him to dispatch two heavy-duty trucks and bring along a few reliable people.

In less than forty minutes, Liu Xiaohua arrived in person with two military trucks.

He Yuzhu said with a bit of embarrassment: "Xiaohua, thanks. I'm really sorry for dragging you out in the middle of the night."

Liu Xiaohua waved his hand: "Don't give me that fake politeness, kid. If it weren't a big deal, would you have called me up in the middle of the night?"

He Yuzhu didn't waste words and said directly: "There are these fifteen families... let's split up to handle this, and finally rendezvous at the Yongdingmen Railway Station."

Liu Xiaohua took the address, looked at the bicycles He Yuzhu had prepared for them, and without another word, took a few men, hopped on the bikes, and disappeared into the night.

That night, He Yuzhu and Liu Xiaohua ran until their feet barely touched the ground.

From inside the city to outside, from this alley to that lane, knocking on doors, explaining, and picking people up.

Some families were sound asleep and only opened the door after a long time of pounding; others were so panicked upon hearing they had to leave that they lost their heads and refused to move no matter how they were persuaded.

By four in the morning, the people were finally gathered and loaded into the two trucks.

He Yuzhu shook Liu Xiaohua's hand and said: "Help me ask for leave at the Rolling Mill. Don't say I went out of town; just say I'm helping your Military Factory's Computer Laboratory with a project and it will take seven or eight days to return to the mill."

Liu Xiaohua nodded: "Don't worry! I won't reveal your whereabouts."

The second day after He Yuzhu left, a new Deputy Director of the Management Committee arrived at the Rolling Mill, named Nie Zhigao.

As soon as Xu Damao heard the news, he felt like a cat was scratching at his heart, and several times he couldn't help but want to go to the office to cozy up to Deputy Director Nie.

But he still held back; Deputy Director Nie was very busy, and rushing over rashly would only cause resentment. He had to be natural and not too impatient.

When he went to work the next day, Xu Damao stood guard at the entrance early in the morning, his eyes darting around at the people coming and going.

Finally, Director Nie appeared on a bicycle, wearing a Lenin suit and sporting a crew cut.

Xu Damao hurriedly pushed his bicycle to meet him and whispered: "Director Nie, Director Nie, I'm Xu Damao. Did Comrade Zhou Hao mention me to you?"

Nie Zhigao scanned his surroundings calmly, and seeing no one was nearby, he said in a low voice: "You're called Xu Damao, right?"

Xu Damao nodded repeatedly.

Nie Zhigao said: "Now is not the time for me to arrange work for you. Wait a few more days, no, half a month! Tonight, after you get off work, come to my office."

"Okay, I'll definitely be there!" Xu Damao rode off on his bike.

At dusk, Xu Damao looked around with a shifty gaze, and seeing no one in the corridor, he tiptoed to the door of Deputy Director Nie's office.

As soon as he pushed the door open and entered, Nie Zhigao frowned, leaned in to sniff him, and his face darkened: "Xu Damao, take a bath before coming into my office next time. You reek, it's like talking in a latrine."

Xu Damao quickly nodded and bowed, smiling apologetically: "Deputy Director Nie, I was wrong, I was wrong, I'll definitely pay attention next time!"

No sooner had he finished speaking than the phone on the desk rang.

Nie Zhigao answered it; it was Zhou Hao's voice on the other end, carrying a hint of anxiety: "Old Nie, check for me, has He Yuzhu not been to the Rolling Mill for work these past two days?"

Nie Zhigao covered the receiver and turned to ask Xu Damao: "Has He Yuzhu come to work?"

Xu Damao looked helpless: "I'm just a latrine cleaner, how would I know if the Factory Director is coming to work or not?"

Nie Zhigao glared and cursed: "Go and check for me right now!"

Xu Damao scratched his head: "It's already after work hours, where am I supposed to check?"

"Idiot, can't you go ask at the security office?" Nie Zhigao felt like kicking him.

Only then did Xu Damao react and scurried off.

Once the person was far away, Nie Zhigao said into the phone: "Xiao Zhou, why do I feel like this Xu Damao isn't very capable? He's like a clown; what can he actually accomplish?"

On the other end of the line, Zhou Hao sneered: "Old Nie, it depends on how you use him. He has many devious ideas; he looks unreliable on the surface, but he's actually quite good at underhanded tactics. I suspect that group of technical backbone staff in Beijing was most likely sent away by He Yuzhu... If we don't pin He Yuzhu down, we won't be able to get many things done."

Nie Zhigao promised in a deep voice: "Old Zhou, don't worry, I will definitely handle this for you."

Before long, Xu Damao ran back, sweating profusely.

Deputy Director Nie asked: "Where did Factory Director He go?"

Xu Damao panted and said: "The security guard said he showed his face at the mill in the morning and then headed toward the Military Factory, saying there was a project there that needed to borrow him for a few days to help provide guidance."

Deputy Director Nie was half-convinced and pressed further: "Xu Damao, who did you ask? Are these people reliable? Are they He Yuzhu's people?"

Xu Damao shook his head like a rattle: "Actually, no. This person is called Xiao Qiu, and we have a good relationship. He isn't He Yuzhu's person; he usually complains to me every day about their Section Chief, Wang Qiang. Wang Qiang is the one who is He Yuzhu's person."

Director Nie didn't say anything more and turned to dial another call to Zhou Hao.

After listening, Zhou Hao pondered for a moment: "Why do I feel like something is wrong? Old Nie, check carefully for me, don't let anyone fool you."

"No problem, I will check carefully tomorrow," Deputy Director Nie promised, patting his chest.

After hanging up the phone, he called Xu Damao over and whispered instructions: "Xiao Xu, I think you should still start from your courtyard. If He Yuzhu has done anything against the rules, you must dig it out for me. As long as we grab one thread, we can follow the vine to find the melon."

Xu Damao's eyes rolled, and he stepped forward: "Deputy Director Nie, I have something to report to you. I originally had a fiancée, but He Yuzhu introduced her to Wang Shucheng's family in our courtyard. You know I'm on my second marriage, and I had promised to buy her a job. But later this woman married into the Wang family, and the Wang family said they would also get her a formal job. The Wang family just works at a restaurant, where would they have the connections to get a job? It must be He Yuzhu pulling strings behind the scenes; we can investigate along this line."

Director Nie's eyes lit up: "Then you go and investigate this matter thoroughly."

Xu Damao nodded and bowed as he left.

Just as Xu Damao stepped out the door, Xiao Qiu immediately dialed the phone of Wang Qiang, Section Chief of the Security Department.

Wang Qiang got straight to the point: "Xiao Qiu, what's going on?"

Xiao Qiu lowered his voice and said: "Xu Damao is trying to stir up trouble again; he was asking me where Factory Director He went."

Wang Qiang asked: "What did you say?"

Xiao Qiu chuckled, "I could tell something was off about him the moment I saw him; he was definitely asking around on someone else's behalf. I did just as you instructed us and told him."

Wang Qiang pondered for a moment, "Xiao Qiu, spend more time with him over the next few days. It would be best to treat him to a meal and find out why he is asking about Factory Director He's movements."

"Alright, don't you worry, leave this to me!" Xiao Qiu agreed readily.