Chapter 141: Liu Dapan's Pride

Under the close surveillance of the Public Security comrades, five people on this line were successfully captured alive, and seven peripheral members were killed or wounded; these Agents would never have imagined they would stumble because of a half-grown child.

The two Public Security officers who received Liu Guangtian's report, Sheng Yuanming and Li Jiaguo, also performed a great service, and the two specifically came to the Rolling Mill to bring the good news to Liu Haizhong.

"Liu Haizhong, there are leaders outside looking for you."

Liu Haizhong, who was swinging a sledgehammer, was startled; he didn't remember doing anything wrong, but seeing the factory leaders outside the workshop made his heart beat a little faster.

Liu Haizhong liked to put on airs in the courtyard and in front of his apprentices, but when truly facing high-ranking officials like the Factory Director, he felt a bit intimidated.

"Master Liu, you have raised a good son," Deputy Factory Director Yang said excitedly.

"Ahem," Nie Haiquan coughed twice; according to the Public Security's wishes, they clearly didn't want this to become common knowledge.

"Yes, yes, yes, let's talk in the office."

"Oh, oh, okay."

Upon hearing Deputy Factory Director Yang's words, Liu Haizhong's anxious heart settled down; it seemed Guangqi had accomplished something extraordinary, and he suddenly felt proud.

The group walked all the way to the Factory Director's office, and when Liu Haizhong saw the two Public Security officers inside, his heart jumped back into his throat.

"Public Security comrades, my Guangqi, he, he..." Liu Haizhong's lips trembled, and he couldn't say a complete sentence.

Sheng Yuanming and Li Jiaguo looked at the two factory leaders in confusion, and Deputy Factory Director Yang also realized that Liu Haizhong had misunderstood.

"Ahem, Master Liu, you've misunderstood; it's your son, Liu Guangtian."

"Guangtian? Guangtian is no good either, my poor son, sob sob sob..."

"......" Deputy Factory Director Yang was embarrassed; why did it get more confusing the more he explained?

"Master Liu, it's good news. Your son Liu Guangtian is fine. He performed a meritorious service by reporting the Agents. You have raised a good son."

"Ah?" Liu Haizhong raised his head blankly, his face now smeared with tears and snot.

The Public Security officer explained it again, and Liu Haizhong's brain capacity finally received the signal; he wiped his tears and snot with his sleeve.

"You mean my Guangtian performed a great service by reporting the Agents?"

"Yes, thanks to your son's alertness, we were able to successfully wipe out the Agents."

Public Security officer Sheng Yuanming recounted the events of that day to Liu Haizhong in full, then handed him a large red certificate of merit and saluted; Liu Haizhong hurriedly returned a sloppy one.

"By the way, Master Liu, in the future, you should still pay attention to your methods when educating your children; we should try to convince people with virtue."

"Yes, yes, yes, Public Security comrade, I will remember that."

After sending off the two Public Security officers, it was time for the factory's reward; after all, it was done by a family member of the factory's staff, so their Rolling Mill also had face.

"Master Liu, in view of your son's heroic actions, after research and discussion by the Factory Office, Comrade Liu Haizhong is specially approved as a Group Leader."

"This... thank you, leader, thank you, leader. I will definitely... um... devote my all until my heart stops beating," Liu Haizhong hummed for a long time before finally remembering some idioms Liu Guangqi had taught him.

"Hahaha, good, go back, work hard; the future position of Deputy Director is not impossible."

"Yes, yes."

Liu Haizhong, having left the office, still felt it was somewhat unreal; he pinched his thigh to confirm it was true.

The Group Leader position he had been longing for—he didn't expect to borrow the light of his second son for it. It seems he didn't hit him wrong that day, otherwise he wouldn't have encountered the Agents.

As Liu Haizhong thought about it, he eventually felt that the greatest credit should be his own; it was he who made his second son, and Liu Guangtian's meritorious service this time had indirectly fed back into him. Yes, that's right.

Liu Haizhong tucked the certificate into his chest like a treasure, but he felt it was inappropriate since he was covered in sweat; however, in the middle of summer, there was nowhere to put it.

He first thought of He Daqing, but the kitchen temperature was about the same as the workshop, so he gave up; finally, he thought of Zhang Ping'an and Jia Dongxu in the Procurement Section, where it should be fine.

"Ping'an, Dongxu?"

"Brother Liu, is something the matter?"

"Ahem, I have something that is inconvenient to carry; could you keep it for me and give it to me when I get home?"

"Sure, I happen to be going back; should I give it directly to your wife?"

"Sure, sure, tell her she must put it away safely."

"Okay."

Only then did Liu Haizhong solemnly hand the rolled-up certificate to Zhang Ping'an. Although Zhang Ping'an was curious, he had no intention of looking at other people's things in private.

Zhang Ping'an returned to the Siheyuan and went straight to the Back Courtyard to hand the item to Wang Cuihua.

"Sister-in-law, this is what Brother Liu asked me to give to you, and he said you must put it away safely."

"Oh, oh, okay."

Wang Cuihua took it and subconsciously unfolded it to look, but she was illiterate; she only thought it looked a bit like the certificates her own eldest son used to get, so she assumed it was an honor Liu Haizhong had received at the factory and hurriedly put it into an iron box.

In the evening, the three Liu Guangqi brothers returned home one after another. Wang Cuihua didn't say anything until Liu Haizhong came home, when she took the certificate out of the iron box.

"Head of the house, is this your certificate?"

As soon as Wang Cuihua finished speaking, the three brothers' eyes drifted over, and Liu Guangtian was shocked to see his own name.

"Dad, is this... mine?"

"Ahem, you could say that. If I hadn't forced you that day, you wouldn't have encountered such a good thing."

"......"

"What does the head of the house mean?"

Liu Haizhong recounted the ins and outs of the matter, naturally highlighting himself.

"That's great, does that mean my salary will be higher in the future?"

"Hmm~ money is secondary, three or five yuan; the main thing is that from now on, I am a high-ranking official."

"Yes, yes, yes."

"Dad, you are truly amazing," Liu Guangfu said.

Flattery never hurts; anyway, kind words don't cost money, and maybe he'll hit him a little lighter in the future.

Liu Guangqi's expression was strange; he didn't want to interrupt his father's daydreaming, as he was afraid that if he interrupted his father when he was happiest, his father would interrupt his... legs.

Liu Guangtian was even more indignant; it was clearly his own merit, and the name on the certificate was his, so how did the credit and reward all become his father's in the mouth of this old man? At this moment, the little person felt a great melancholy in his heart.

However, it was useless no matter what Liu Haizhong said; this reward was recorded in the files. His own file would at most have a word of praise added, whereas Liu Guangtian's was a solid, tangible merit.

"Don't go around talking nonsense outside, be careful of retaliation." Liu Haizhong had wanted to show off, but he was also afraid of Agent's retaliation; his own life was more important after all.

After finishing their meal, they each dispersed to wash up. Seeing Liu Guangtian looking dejected, Liu Guangqi couldn't help but say:

"Guangtian, this reward is already on your file. Just listen to what Dad says and leave it at that."

Liu Guangtian and Liu Guangfu were young and didn't understand, and Lao Liu's wife listened to her husband in everything, but Liu Guangqi was about to enter the third year of junior high and knew a thing or two about these file matters.

"Really?"

"Of course, why would your big brother lie to you?"

"Then how did Dad become a small team leader?"

"That was thanks to you; just keep that in mind," Liu Guangqi said in a low voice.

"Mm, okay." Liu Guangtian swept away his dejection; as long as his own merit couldn't be taken away, it was fine.

Even though Liu Haizhong did not deliberately spread the word, it was still discovered by observant people in the Siheyuan.

"Lao Liu, you've become a team leader?" asked Lao Wu from the Back Courtyard.

"Mm~ the factory leaders saw that I work hard and have put in the effort to train apprentices, so they specially approved me to be a small team leader."

"Not bad, Lao Liu."

"What 'Lao Liu'? You should call me Team Leader Liu. In the Siheyuan, if you call me Lao Liu, I won't hold it against you, but this is the factory; you must use the proper title."

Without waiting for him to react, Liu Haizhong took his Tea Mug, puffed out his belly, and strode away with a pompous gait.

"……"

"Hey, this Lao Liu..." Lao Wu knew Liu Haizhong's temperament, so he didn't take it to heart.