Chapter 8: 9 Signing and Affixing a Seal

9 Signing and Affixing a Seal

This matter cannot just end like this; Shazhu must be taught a lesson.

From now on, he must hold this leverage over him to keep him from easily opposing him.

Thinking of this, Zhou Xinyang called over a Head of the Investigation Section from the Security Department as soon as he started work the next day.

Don't look at him as just a Secretary of the Factory Office; his status is like that of a eunuch in ancient times, accompanying the emperor every day.

However much influence ancient eunuchs had over the emperor, that is how much influence Zhou Xinyang has over the Factory Director.

Although the specific nature of their influence cannot be spoken of in the same breath, it is more or less the same.

The Head of the Investigation Section is surnamed Wang; Wang Erhu is also a retired soldier and was previously a subordinate of Li Wujun.

In terms of rank, Wang Erhu is actually a bit higher than Zhou Xinyang; at this moment, Zhou Xinyang does not have any rank, just being a Secretary of the Factory Office.

But as the saying goes, "a seventh-rank official at the prime minister's gate," a personal secretary like Zhou Xinyang is also known as the Second Chief.

In terms of influence throughout the factory, Zhou Xinyang is even greater than this Head of the Investigation Section.

"Secretary Zhou, please give your orders if you have any requirements."

Wang Erhu has a carefree personality, but he is actually attentive to detail; otherwise, he could not have served as the Head of the Investigation Section.

Before this, he was a company commander of a reconnaissance company in the military, having won honors and suffered injuries.

However, once he arrived at the local level, at the Steel Factory, that military style no longer worked.

Even when facing a Secretary of the Factory Office like Zhou Xinyang, he has to treat him with respect.

Zhou Xinyang did not act reserved or arrogant, saying directly, "Shazhu from our Compound slandered the Film Projectionist Xu Damao in the compound last night."

"In the Compound, the Level Eight Fitter Yi Zhonghai from our compound handled this matter by downplaying it."

"I think this is very wrong and will encourage unhealthy tendencies."

"How about this: you go find the Film Projectionist Xu Damao and say that the Security Department wants to stand up for him."

"We cannot wrong any good person, but we also cannot let any bad person go."

Zhou Xinyang put on a very high-minded front, but no one would think there was anything wrong with these words once spoken.

Slandering others is a fact; since that is the case, then let's do it.

Wang Erhu was a bit puzzled: how did this Shazhu from the canteen provoke Secretary Zhou?

Hearing they are from the same Compound, some small frictions are probably unavoidable.

Since that is the case, it makes sense.

Although Wang Erhu is from a military background, he dared not oppose this matter, so he had to execute it. "Yes, I will go find Xu Damao immediately."

"Xu Damao, I am the Head of the Investigation Section, Wang Erhu. There is a matter now that requires your cooperation with our investigation."

Wang Erhu's execution was very efficient; as soon as he received the order from Zhou Xinyang, he immediately went to find Xu Damao.

Xu Damao was startled, thinking that his affair of flirting with a young widow while showing movies at the rural commune brigade a few days ago had been exposed and reported to the Steel Factory.

This era is different from the future; the factory is enough to determine your prospects and future.

In the future, if you can't make it in this factory or company, you can completely go to another company.

But in this era, if your reputation is ruined at this company, then sorry, you cannot go to other factories either.

These two years are still a bit better; if it were the future years of the "Strike Hard" campaign, this matter alone would be enough to drag you out and feed you a bullet.

But even in these two years of the 60s, if you mess around with women or commit adultery, then sorry, neither this society nor the factory will let you off lightly.

Xu Damao was terrified and cowering.

He was afraid that what he had done would be discovered, as then his job as a Film Projectionist would be gone.

"Head, Head, Head, Head Wang, what is the matter that you are looking for me?"

"No need to be so nervous; strictly speaking, you are still a victim."

Looking at Xu Damao's cowardly appearance, a veteran like Wang Erhu who had participated in war felt nothing but contempt.

However, this is not the war era, and even if he looked down on Xu Damao, he had no right to execute him.

Hearing that he was still considered a victim, Xu Damao seemed to understand something.

He had intended to settle scores with Shazhu last night, but worried that he couldn't beat him and would be beaten up instead, Xu Damao just kept this matter in his heart.

But now that the Investigation Section seems to want to stand up for him, Xu Damao immediately perked up. "Head Wang, how did you know? That Shazhu is really not a human being."

"For this matter, you still have to thank Secretary Zhou Zengyang from your compound. It was he who mentioned it to me, feeling that good people shouldn't be wronged and bad people shouldn't be allowed to go unpunished."

Wang Erhu did not forget to do Zhou Xinyang a favor while he was at it.

And don't you know, Xu Damao was truly grateful to Zhou Xinyang. "I didn't expect you and Secretary Zhou to know each other. I have had a relationship with Secretary Zhou for over ten years; whenever you are free, let's have a drink together."

Don't look at Xu Damao as a small-time loser, but he just loves to drink.

"Sure."

Wang Erhu was also willing to get closer to Zhou Xinyang.

However, the pleasantries were only for a moment; once finished, Wang Erhu began to get serious. "Tell me, how were you slandered by Shazhu?"

"The matter is like this......"

Xu Damao spoke with tears in his eyes, describing Shazhu as if he were a great villain of the old society.

But Wang Erhu did not believe him and sternly told him to confess honestly.

"That, actually it was the night before last when I was drinking with Factory Director Li and the others, and I blacked out. Yesterday morning, Shazhu tied me up in the canteen warehouse and wanted to throw away my underpants."

"When I got home, my wife didn't find my underpants when she was helping me wash clothes. She was suspicious of me, and then she found the First Elder in the compound."

"Because of this, everyone misunderstood that I had committed adultery, but actually I had just blacked out from drinking."

"In the end, Shazhu also admitted it; he said that me committing adultery was slandering me. Everyone in the compound knows this."

"The First Elder, Second Elder, and Third Elder in the Compound can all testify for me."

Seeing Wang Erhu becoming increasingly serious, Xu Damao could not help but grow anxious.

Wang Erhu then had his subordinates call over the Level Eight Fitter Yi Zhonghai and Liu Haizhong from the workshop.

Furthermore, he had documents prepared and made Xu Damao and the others sign and affix their thumbprints.

It could be said that as long as this file existed, Shazhu would never be able to turn things around, unless someone with heaven-reaching influence changed his file for him.

Otherwise, what leader would employ a petty person who slandered his fellow workers?

Facing the concrete evidence, Shazhu had no other choice and could only helplessly admit his guilt.

But no one knew that this signed and thumb-printed file had been stored by Zhou Xinyang inside the Spatial World; unless he willed it, it would never be seen by the world.