Chapter 270: Handling Results 2.0

The next day, upon returning to the Rolling Mill, Zhang Ping'an was removed from his position as Logistics Director and now served as Deputy Section Chief of Procurement Section Two.

Once the notice of Zhang Ping'an's punishment was issued, the factory was in an uproar; he had been kicked all the way back to the starting point for a Cadre, and at the same time, his concurrent posts at the two Sub-bureaus were also cancelled.

"Removing you from the position of Logistics Director is also to shut the mouths of those above; don't be so reckless in your actions in the future."

"Ping'an, I really don't know what to say to you; just treat this as a lesson this time."

At this moment, only Li Huaide and he were in the office, so Li Huaide did not bother to cover things up.

"Yes, Factory Director, I have disappointed you."

Actually, Zhang Ping'an did not care; this was just right, as he would not have to face tedious paperwork every day, which actually made it more convenient for him to slack off.

"Sigh, it's not really about that, it's just a pity about the position you worked so hard to climb up to."

Li Huaide greatly appreciated Zhang Ping'an's work ability, and now that he had to choose a substantive Director from between the two Deputy Directors, he found himself unsure of whom to pick.

Zhu Weiguo had a sense of the big picture and considered matters comprehensively, while Cao Guodong was loyal and acted with maturity.

"Ping'an, you have also spent about a year with the two Deputy Directors; who do you think is more suitable to be this Logistics Director?"

"Factory Director, this..."

"Just say it directly; I trust you. Right now, it's just us two brothers, no outsiders."

"Theoretically, Director Zhu is suitable, but in reality, Director Cao is more suitable."

"Oh? Tell me about it."

"Director Cao is older and can stay for at most two or three years before retiring, while Director Zhu has only just been promoted to Deputy Director not long ago."

"If Director Cao takes over the Director position, Director Zhu can also train for two years; by then, taking over the Director position would undoubtedly be more appropriate, and no one would be able to find fault."

By saying this, Zhang Ping'an not only fulfilled Cao Guodong's dream of becoming Director but also ensured that Zhu Weiguo would not be criticized after taking office.

"You little rascal, you're slippery as an eel..."

Cao Guodong was an old hand who had followed Li Huaide; without Zhang Ping'an, Li Huaide naturally favored Cao Guodong in his heart.

Returning home after work, Zhang Ping'an always felt a sense of emptiness in his heart; the house, usually lively, was much quieter without his wife and children.

Zhang Ping'an suddenly remembered Jia Youwei's letter, which he had not yet given to his brother-in-law, Lao Jia. Just as he was about to open the door to go deliver the letter to Lao Jia, a knock came from outside the door.

"Why have you two little ones come?"

"Uncle." Dongzi and Donglai each pulled on one of Zhang Ping'an's arms, trying to comfort him like little adults.

"Hehe, I'm fine. You two go inside and keep your grandmother and grandfather company; I need to go find your father for something."

"Mm, okay."

Arriving at the Jia Family courtyard, the door was open, so Zhang Ping'an walked straight in.

"Brother-in-law."

"Ping'an, didn't Dongzi and the others go to find you..."

"I know. I came to find you this time for something, regarding the second brother."

Lao Jia's heart skipped a beat; he had a bad premonition.

"Youwei, what happened to him?"

"This is a letter from the second brother for you. Brother-in-law, you should just keep this matter to yourself."

"Good, good, good."

Lao Jia took the letter and looked at it; sure enough, the bad premonition in his heart was confirmed. They had finally recognized each other and met twice, yet now they would be separated by the sea.

"Ping'an, Youwei, he..."

"The second brother is fine; he will have better development over there."

"Then your wife's family is also...?"

"Yes."

"Good, then I know." Lao Jia nodded and stuffed the letter into the stove hole in the kitchen, burning it to ashes.

"What's wrong, Lao Jia? Ping'an, why don't you come in and sit?"

"San Jie, I'm chatting with San Jie Fu about something."

"Ping'an, Xiao Ling, she..."

Zhang Xiaohua wanted to say something, but thinking of how Zhang Ping'an usually doted on Wang Xiaoling, she swallowed the words that had reached her lips.

"San Jie, let's not mention her in the future."

Outside, Zhang Ping'an still had to put on a show of having drawn a line with the past; the fewer people who knew, the better.

"Good, good, good, we won't mention it, we won't mention it." Zhang Xiaohua thought she had touched a sore spot for Zhang Ping'an and hurriedly stopped talking.

"Brother-in-law, then I'll be heading back. Dongzi and Donglai will eat at my place."

"Mm, okay."

Zhang Ping'an returned home; with Dongzi, Donglai, and his younger brother there, the atmosphere in the house was not quite as sad.

It was just that the house had suddenly lost six people, and without the usual liveliness, the old couple felt a bit out of sorts.

"Donglai, Dongzi, eat here tonight; I've already talked to your father."

"Okay, Uncle."

Time flew by until the middle of December, and it had already been more than half a month since Wang Xiaoling and her group left Sijiucheng.

In the early hours of this day, Zhang Ping'an snuck to the Black Market again and made a trade with Tong Laosi.

"Laosi, why the long face?"

"It's all the trouble caused by Lou Bancheng's family. Now the maritime inspections are much stricter. Sigh, we might have to change our plans."

"It is indeed time to lay low; I estimate we will also set off after the New Year."

"You all have been affected too?" Tong Laosi asked in surprise.

"Hmm, even if we went back to Jilin Province now, we couldn't leave for the time being; it would be better to wait until after the New Year."

"That's true," Tong Laosi said, feeling a bit more at ease for some reason after hearing this.

In the blink of an eye, it was the end of the year; to avoid any complications, Zhang Ping'an took advantage of the cover of night to ransack the four families of old-guard remnants who had swindled him before.

"Damn, they are truly filthy rich."

Zhang Ping'an looked at the dozens of dense, packed crates in the basement, most of which were gold and antiques.

Fearing they might conduct a surprise inspection, Zhang Ping'an left the top two layers of gold bars and replaced everything underneath with long stone blocks; the same went for the antiques.

After working for most of the night, Zhang Ping'an had finally swapped out the majority of the four families' collections, and the total amount of Yellow Fish was now twice what it had been before he went to Xiangjiang.

"I can't be blamed for this; if I hadn't had some skills back then, I would have been picked clean by you all. This time, consider it a lesson for you; from now on, we are completely square."

"Hehe, I really look forward to the expressions on their faces when they open the crates, though it's a pity I won't be able to see it."

Time flew by, and before one knew it, it was New Year's Eve; this year was much quieter than previous years.

"Ping'an, what do you plan to do in the future?"

After finishing the New Year's Eve dinner, the whole family was wrapping dumplings when Zhang Laohan suddenly asked this.

Zhang Ping'an's parents still held a grudge against Wang Xiaoling for taking away their grandchildren without a word, but they had no choice since their son insisted on it.

Moreover, just saying they would meet again in the future—who knew if it would be ten or eight years, or whether they would come back or even recognize them by then.

"Huh?" Zhang Ping'an looked blank, not understanding what they meant.

"Xiao Ling has already left; you have to consider your own future, don't you?"

"Dad, Mom, don't bring this up anymore. You should both know what kind of person Xiao Ling is after all these years of getting along. If you still blame Xiao Ling after a year, I will have nothing to say."

"Besides, she didn't want to leave; I forced her. You might only half-believe me when I say this now, but just wait for a year."

Zhang Ping'an couldn't explain it too clearly; if someone had a slip of the tongue and let it leak, it would be a disaster. The fewer people who knew about this, the better.

"Alright then, let's talk about it again in a year." Since things had reached this point, Zhang Ping'an's parents didn't insist any further.