Chapter 449

After ten o'clock at night, Li Ye's home phone became busy.

Not only did Pei Wencong, Luo Runbo, and Fan Xiuling from Hong Kong call over, but even more people from the mainland called Li Zhongfa.

Friends, colleagues, superiors—Li Ye felt that Li Zhongfa, the "Hong Kong investment consultant," was more popular than he himself, the group chairman.

Luckily, Li Ye had taken time earlier to call Wen Leyu's family to offer New Year greetings; otherwise, as soon as he hung up, another call would come in immediately, and the line would always be busy.

Watching his grandfather happily answer calls, Li Ye began to understand how strong the sense of loss must be for officials who had suddenly stepped down.

But at around eleven o'clock, an unexpected caller made Li Zhongfa's cheerful expression vanish.

"Hello? Oh, Manager Wang! Happy New Year, happy New Year!"

Li Zhongfa received a call from Wang Qishan of the Changbei Machinery Factory; though surprised, he warmly exchanged pleasantries, smiling politely.

But after the polite greetings, the other side asked coolly: "Manager Li, your unit's benefits this year must be good, right? I heard your workers are all having a fat New Year?"

Li Zhongfa laughed: "Not bad, not bad, but our products only hit the market this summer—we're still thin on the ground, definitely not as good as yours!"

But Wang Qishan replied: "Our workers did get some small favors, but they also lost something—I think it's dangerous."

"Hmm?"

Li Zhongfa sensed something was off and asked: "Manager Wang, what do you mean by 'dangerous'?"

Wang Qishan spat angrily: "Because they've abandoned their beliefs and now follow Hong Kong investors in cutting our throats—cutting the throats of people like us."

Li Zhongfa immediately grew serious and said sternly: "Manager Wang, this issue you mention is extremely serious—you should report it to your superiors, not call me to vent!"

Wang Qishan fell silent for a moment, then said coldly: "But I've thought and thought and still can't understand—who taught the Hong Kong investors this tactic? This is our own specialty, something only the older generation truly mastered."

Li Zhongfa finally understood Wang Qishan's meaning—this wasn't a New Year call, it was an accusation.

"Wang Qishan, are you implying I incited the Hong Kong investors to stir up trouble? If you hadn't caused all those messes in Changbei, which worker would have rebelled? Who could possibly cut your throat?"

Li Zhongfa's tone turned sharp; Wang Qishan on the other end clearly hadn't expected this.

After thinking it over, he softened his tone: "Brother Li, I'm not saying you incited the workers—I'm worried! Our Changbei situation is exactly the same as your Qingshuihe Food Company's."

"Today, Hong Kong investors lead workers to oust management here; tomorrow, your Qingshuihe might face the same attack—so we need to…"

"You don't need to worry about that—our side won't see that happen."

Li Zhongfa cut him off: "Our Qingshuihe workers are all newly hired, our cadres newly transferred—we don't have all these old-timers acting like entitled tyrants."

Wang Qishan was stunned by Li Zhongfa's words—he never imagined Li Zhongfa would label him as an "arrogant tyrant."

But Li Zhongfa didn't wait for Wang Qishan to reply—he sneered: "You were right about one thing: cutting throats is our specialty, so we're the least afraid of anyone using it against us."

Li Zhongfa's voice turned icy: "Do you still remember why we cut throats in the first place? To ensure the masses had food, clothes, and housing."

"You've been factory director in Changbei for decades—put your hand on your heart and ask yourself: have you truly solved these problems for the masses? Have you?"

Wang Qishan, furious and desperate, shouted: "How haven't I solved them? For over ten years, everything I've done was for Changbei, for the workers!"

"Then why are the workers now standing against you?" Li Zhongfa said without mercy: "When workers couldn't get paid, did your family go short on money? When workers had no homes, how many rooms did you live in?"

"When workers ask for a few extra yuan a month, you, as factory director, feel Xinteng —then how do they feel when you spend dozens of yuan on a single banquet?"

Li Zhongfa paused, giving Wang Qishan a chance to respond.

But Wang Qishan remained silent for a long, long time.

Li Zhongfa continued: "If you had truly lived up to 'serving the masses,' I don't believe the workers would cut your throat—you've probably long seen them as servants who obey you or perish."

"D Dududu ~"

After a long silence, Wang Qishan hung up—whether from rage-induced stroke or shame-induced awakening, no one knew.

Li Zhongfa's sharp rebuke silenced everyone watching TV—even Wu Juying lowered the volume to avoid disturbing Li Zhongfa's mood.

"Xiao Ye, let's go outside for a smoke."

Li Zhongfa waved his hand, calling Li Ye out—and actually handed him a cigarette.

Li Ye didn't take it, only lit his grandfather's cigarette with his lighter.

After exhaling a puff of smoke, Li Zhongfa asked softly: "I didn't see what happened in Changbei firsthand—do you think the Hong Kong investors are trying to use the workers against us?"

Li Zhongfa knew well that in today's society, men like Wang Qishan couldn't possibly live as frugally as the older generation of leaders had decades ago.

That's why he hesitated, unsure.

"Pfft~"

Li Ye couldn't help laughing: "Grandpa, you should be worried about our management team going bad—not that workers are getting corrupted by demanding wage hikes."

"Grandpa, our workers don't ask for much—if we just think of them a little more, they won't cause trouble."

"As for Hong Kong investors inciting them to cut throats—do you, an old veteran, really fear that? If they want to play that game, who could outplay you?"

"Hmm, true," Li Zhongfa drew on his cigarette. "Even if the apprentice turns on the master, Hong Kong investors still can't easily learn our real tricks."

Li Ye smiled too: "Grandpa, do you know what the West's main condition was when we reconciled with them a few years ago?"

Li Zhongfa froze, thought for a moment, then shook his head blankly.

His rank was too low to know the details of the reconciliation—he himself only learned of certain speculations years later in declassified articles.

"They demanded we not export 'cutting throats' or red ideology. So now it's not us fearing Hong Kong or foreign investors using this tactic against us—it's them fearing we'll use it against them."

Li Zhongfa exclaimed: "There's such a thing?"

Li Ye whispered: "It's just rumor—don't go spreading it."

"Do you think I'd blab something like that? Your grandpa survived mountains of knives and seas of fire—my skills are one thing, my silence is another. Hehehe~"

Li Zhongfa chuckled—whether at his own silence or at foreigners fearing our core tactics, no one could tell.

In later generations, many great minds said that if overseas masses fully understood the meaning of "who we side with, wins," it would severely shake their elite and knightly ideals.

Also, weaker, backward regions that begin learning our core tactics gain immense combat power through "concentrating all strength on one point," easily achieving victories against stronger foes.

Just look at tiny Houthi—they've even got a "Political Bureau." What wouldn't they do?

………………

On the first day of the New Year, relatives and friends paid New Year visits.

Before dawn, Li Ye followed his father as usual to kowtow to elders—"bang bang bang"—he knocked his head repeatedly, filling his pockets with peanuts, sunflower seeds, and fruit candies.

Don't underestimate these snacks—unsuccessful younger generations never got treats stuffed into their pockets by elders.

Li Ye was, right now, the brightest kid.

When they returned home, Jin Peng, Wang Qiang, and Ma Qianshan had already arrived—even Hao Jian, who always spent New Year's in Ebei, had come.

Li Ye teased: "Hao Jian, did you spend the New Year at your in-laws'? Won't your father-in-law call you a son-in-law who moved in?"

"No," Hao Jian laughed. "I haven't returned on the second day in years—I can't just cater to one side's feelings. My mother-in-law is still my mother!"

"Hahahaha~"

Jin Peng and the others burst out laughing, then teased: "You're so desperate for a son you came back to beg Old Huai's blessing? Last night I saw you at Old Huai's shrine."

Hao Jian blushed, then pretended to be angry: "Get lost, you bunch of unmarried brats—you know nothing."

Li Ye looked puzzled, smiling at Hao Jian.

Hao Jian came over and whispered: he and his wife An Xiaolian had started their "second-child plan," and in a few months, she'd go to Hong Kong to give birth.

Li Ye immediately said: "If your wife goes to Hong Kong to give birth, tell me—I'll arrange housing for her."

Hao Jian shyly replied: "No need, no need—I already asked Pei Wencong a few days ago, and he's already arranged it."

Li Ye didn't press—just told Hao Jian to speak up if he needed anything.

At that moment, Wang Qiang suddenly asked: "Brother, I heard from Dayong you drove a big Jeep back—where is it?"

Li Ye shrugged: "Don't mention it—the car got smashed the moment it arrived home. I don't even know how to explain it to Li Dayong!"

"Who had the guts? Brother, tell me who— I'll go find him."

Wang Qiang, usually meek and never retaliating when bullied, suddenly looked ready to explode.

Jin Peng's face turned cold: "Xiao Ye, tell us what happened—was it intentional or accidental?"

"Kind of intentional."

Li Ye recounted the incident, omitting his own "fishing for evidence" details.

Jin Peng threw his cigarette butt down and turned to leave.

Li Ye grabbed him: "Where are you going? He's in detention—you're not going to beat him up in there?"

"You think being in detention stops me from beating him?"

Jin Peng glared: "It's easier to handle him in there!"

Li Ye suddenly realized he needed to give his team an upgraded legal education.

Many later generations said the more "successful" a person seemed, the more gentle and kind they appeared.

That's because they'd already been ruthless.

So Jin Peng and the others need to get through their ruthless early stage as soon as possible.