Chapter 182: You

After Li Ye took the stage, he performed a traditional martial arts routine—the long spear.

Although Li Zhong had primarily trained Li Ye in bayonet combat since childhood, he hadn't abandoned the old family arts.

Li Ye added some flashy, impractical aerial moves—high, floating, and stylish—while thrusting the spear with lethal precision, as if each strike aimed to kill, instantly drawing cheers from everyone.

It's like taekwondo in later generations: in terms of practical combat, it's absolutely inferior to boxing, sanda, and other martial sports.

Yet it became wildly popular in this country.

The key was simple: "The moves must look cool."

Ask any boy: would he prefer the fierce, powerful Zhang Weili, or a taekwondo girl who can kick skyward with effortless flexibility and spin 360 degrees in midair?

Or ask any girl: would she prefer the black, muscular Tyson, or the elegant, crisp Yip Man?

Whether it was Mu Yunning, Wen Leyu, or Zhen Rongrong, all of them liked Li Ye's flashy spearplay.

Especially Mu Yunning, who felt today Li Ye had worked even harder and looked even more impressive than yesterday—truly honoring her.

But that thought shattered completely when Li Ye proposed "helping out."

"You want a week off? Didn't you say only two days?"

Mu Yunning spoke these words almost in a shout.

"Teacher, according to our Dongshan custom, when I say 'I'll come see you in two days,' the 'two days' isn't literal—it's just a vague term."

"Are you trying to outsmart me? Final exams are just days away, and now you want to go play?"

Mu Yunning became like an enraged lioness, refusing to listen to Li Ye's excuses.

If a student thought he could manipulate her Mu Yunning with such tricks, he was gravely mistaken.

But Li Ye replied calmly and sincerely: "Teacher Mu, I truly have urgent business to attend to. Whether or not you approve my leave, I must leave for a few days to help out."

"."

Mu Yunning nearly choked on her breath—what do you mean "whether or not I approve, I'm leaving"? Don't you know the consequences of skipping class?

Yet she immediately recalled Li Ye's earlier calm, deep demeanor, and conjured up a string of dramatic scenarios in her mind.

In the half-year since Li Ye enrolled, he'd always been casual and carefree—she'd never seen him so solemn before.

After a long pause, Mu Yunning said: "I can approve your leave, but I can't guarantee what kind of evaluation your instructor will give you. You'd better speak to Professor Zhang."

"Also, would you mind telling me what happened? Perhaps the school can offer some assistance."

Li Ye shook his head calmly: "Thank you, Teacher Mu. I can handle it myself—it's no big deal."

Yangcheng, train station.

When Hao Jian arrived to pick him up, he saw Li Ye emerge from the crowd with Wang Qiangjiang Hong, and four sharp-eyed ex-soldiers, and couldn't help thinking of four words: cleaning house.

Hao Jian led Li Ye onto the small truck of Pengcheng Factory No. 7, apologetically saying: "Brother Li Ye, I never expected you'd have to come yourself. If you'd just told us clearly, we'd have handled it for you."

Li Ye didn't answer, but touched the half-new, half-used seat and said coolly: "How did you end up as deputy factory director? San Shui drives a sedan—why are you still riding this truck?"

"Heh, I just think trucks are practical! But next year we'll definitely have a sedan—I'm already on the list. Maybe even this year, if we're lucky."

"Then you'd better pay attention. Otherwise, people will think San Shui runs Yangcheng and you're just his subordinate."

"."

Hao Jian fully understood Li Ye's meaning: he was criticizing Hao Jian for failing to fulfill his duty as the "Yangcheng district" boss and control San Shui.

Though San Shui was Jin Peng's man, Hao Jian was the regional leader in the south; if San Shui caused trouble, Hao Jian bore responsibility for failing to supervise.

Moreover, Hao Jian might not have missed San Shui's misconduct—he'd simply delayed for two months, harboring ulterior motives.

"Brother Li Ye, I'd like to speak with you alone."

"Fine. Stop ahead, let the others get out."

The truck pulled over to a quiet roadside, leaving only Li Ye and Hao Jian inside.

"Brother Li Ye, I first suspected San Shui had problems in early November—he was spending money too freely, too generously. So I had Zhou Lijuan check the wholesale department's old ledgers."

"San Shui's accounts aren't a major issue—he made up the shortfall. According to Zhou Lijuan's analysis, it's at most a fine or detention, and they might not even bother. As for smuggling, we have no evidence."

"No evidence, yet you delayed for two months—letting San Shui expand his smuggling operation?"

Li Ye said sharply: "Have you considered what happens if San Shui's smuggling is exposed? It'll drag all of us down. You're funding his crime—investigators won't care about your excuses."

"I've made arrangements," Hao Jian licked his lips. "When Pengcheng Factory No. 7 was registered, I severed all ties with the Yangcheng wholesale business—no connection whatsoever."

"The Yangcheng wholesale department is registered under Jin Peng. If he cancels the business license now, even if San Shui gets caught, with no records and no official affiliation, we can wash our hands clean."

Li Ye's face turned cold. He stared at Hao Jian for several seconds, then said: "Hao Jian, you really think this will clear you?"

"It's the cleanest solution I could think of."

Hao Jian lowered his head, fell silent for a moment, then said: "Brother Li Ye, I don't need to say it—you can guess. I delayed two months on San Shui… on purpose."

San Shui came to Yangcheng with Jin Peng and me, and he helped build our business; every time we argued, he would bring up his "hard-earned merits."

"I don't buy his nonsense, but Jin Peng does. If I'd called you and Jin Peng here two months ago, what do you think Jin Peng would've done to San Shui?"

Hao Jian sighed: "Brother Li Ye, do you remember that night last summer in Pengcheng?"

"When you told Jin Peng 'this is the last time,' I thought you were too soft. San Shui is a menace."

"The next day, I told everyone in our sales network: no contact with any smuggled goods. So San Shui's business was built on entirely new routes—truly unrelated to us."

Li Ye said coolly: "So from that moment on, you were waiting for San Shui to slip up?"

Hao Jian didn't deny it. He asked Li Ye in return: "Brother Li Ye, isn't this exactly what you wanted?"

That summer, Li Ye had taken Ma Qianshan, Zou Zhiguo, and several newcomers to Pengcheng and walked through Zhongyingjie.

That night, San Shui lured Ma Qianshan and the others out under the pretense of watching a dance show, nearly getting them caught in a raid.

Had they been caught then, Li Ye's fledgling business team might have been wiped out.

Jin Peng had beaten San Shui that night, then begged Li Ye for mercy—so Li Ye said, "This is the last time."

At the time, Li Ye had truly intended to fire San Shui on the spot—but out of loyalty to Jin Peng, he gave him another chance.

Hao Jian had stood there silently, offering no objection—but it turned out he had been "reading the tea leaves" ever since, waiting to take action against San Shui.

Li Ye couldn't help smiling.

He knew Hao Jian was clever, so that night he'd told Hao Jian and Jin Peng: "Benefit the nation, benefit the people—no smuggling."

With Hao Jian's sharpness, he couldn't fully stop San Shui—but surely he'd have noticed any suspicious movement?

Yet Hao Jian had the makings of a seasoned schemer—he'd dragged his feet for two months, just to silence Jin Peng completely, and convinced himself he'd pleased Li Ye.

Seeing Li Ye smile without speaking, Hao Jian added: "Brother Li Ye, let me handle this. If you do it, you might hurt your brotherly bond with Jin Peng."

Li Ye looked at Hao Jian in his sharp suit, and for a moment saw again the man who'd first joined him—slightly sycophantic, eager to please.

He was currently in school, unable to handle many matters himself—he truly needed someone sensible to act for him.

But not this time.

"San Shui's matter must be handled by Jin Peng himself."

"Let Jin Peng handle it?" Hao Jian pursed his lips. "Brother Li Ye, what if Jin Peng softens again?"

"If Jin Peng can't bring himself to act, then let him go too," Li Ye smiled faintly. "If Jin Peng leaves, you're the most senior. You won't have to stew over arguments with him anymore."

Hao Jian stared at Li Ye, then slowly shook his head.

"I admit Jin Peng's temperament doesn't match mine—we often clash, compete."

"But I trust Jin Peng. He'd rather suffer silently than betray any of us. If I had to deal daily with someone scheming against me, I'd come to you eight times a day complaining—I'd drive you mad."

"."

Imperfect as he was, the soft-hearted Jin Peng had earned Hao Jian's highest trust.

Today's state isn't good—I'll make up with three chapters tomorrow and the day after.

Thank you to the reader who gifted 1000 coins—thank you, boss.

(End of Chapter)