Chapter 1223: A Good Cabbage Rooted by a Pig

"I heard that audit personnel have joined the group?"

"Not just that, it seems there are also leaders."

"This matter is going to blow up!"

The conversation of the working group ended, and the rumors about the financial deficit spread.

Where did the money go?

25 million!

How much pork would that convert to?

"Don't forget to go to the canteen at noon!"

Someone in the agency who liked to stir up trouble reminded their colleagues: "The factory is killing year-end pigs; there's meat for lunch, go early!"

Hiss—

The smell of pork also spread along with the rumors; everyone was pondering the taste, and it seemed a bit wrong.

Does the factory really have a financial deficit?

This year, the factory invested in so many big projects, building schools and hospitals.

It also dismantled 16 enterprises, engaged in large areas of industrial zones, and three-defense underground double-layer buildings...

On the basis of such tossing, the factory's welfare benefits have increased rather than decreased; special products from all over the country can be bought at the supply and marketing service department, and there are preferential policies for electrical appliances and motorcycles.

Spending money like water; can there still be a deficit like this?

Is our Red Star Factory already this awesome?

It wasn't like this before!

So, did the previous leaders not do serious work, or are the current leaders more accomplished?

The factory's finances didn't have a deficit before, but the factory workers' stomachs had a deficit.

Now the factory's finances have a deficit, but the workers' stomachs and heads are no longer empty.

Therefore, the working group's investigation into the financial deficit is limited to the inside of the factory agency, and those with interests are more concerned.

Workshop workers? What does it have to do with us?

Some workshop workers even made harsh remarks: investigate if you want, that's your business!

But if the year-end welfare is investigated away, that's our business.

Weird, especially weird; since this matter spread, the factory's public opinion and situation have become weird.

You say the influence isn't big, but that's a working group investigating the management level, and a deficit of more than 20 million is scary!

You say the influence is big, but the workers don't care about this at all; even if there's a deficit of 80 million, it has nothing to do with them.

They only see the factory getting bigger and better.

The year-end welfare products are getting more and more abundant, and the goods that can be purchased from the factory's supply and marketing service department are no longer limited to internal products, but also include agricultural and sideline products.

Don't say the workers don't care about the factory; this year, the Red Star Factory added more than ten branch factories, including an aircraft manufacturing factory and a machine processing factory.

Don't say investigate a deficit of 25 million; even if there really were such a deficit, they would think it's normal.

Do you only make money and not lose money when you do business?

But people in the agency don't care about this.

They only care about how many people will be moved this time, who will be moved, how many positions will be vacated, and whether it will affect them.

This is very weird!

The workers below have no reaction, and the agency's clerks are worrying blindly.

What are they worrying about?

How come we heard that the audit staff joined the group, but the discipline inspection people didn't come?

Good heavens, those who watch the fun don't think it's a big deal!

But the key to the problem is here!

A deficit of 25 million, whether from the numbers or the situation, should be a big case.

Just as everyone guessed, the working group didn't immediately end the factory research work.

Moreover, the higher-ups also sent more people into the factory and the group.

At this time, shouldn't they control Li Huai De and a group of management committee team members overnight, and then form a temporary management organization?

Why did they see Li Huai De and others' cars enter the factory area as scheduled in the morning, and then enter the office area?

People in the agency were waiting, waiting for the working group to cooperate with the discipline inspection people to take away Director Li and take away more people.

The result was...

"Sigh! This financial account can't be done!"

Xiao Wang from the external office threw the verification materials in his hand, and the sound instantly attracted the attention of everyone in the office.

He said angrily: "Just entertaining a group of capitalists, why so many damn things!"

"Exactly, the factory's products aren't lacking in sales channels!"

Someone echoed: "I don't know what the leaders are thinking, insisting on engaging in the third industry and United Industry!"

"Wouldn't it be easier if it were merged into planned industry!"

He curled his lips and said: "This damn thing every day, still have to serve those capitalists, it really makes me angry enough."

"This is called taking off your pants to fart!"

Someone else chimed in: "If you don't toss like this, how can you show the leaders' brilliance and wisdom!"

"Working hard to export products, isn't that just showing they are capable, and it's easier for them to climb up!"

"Otherwise, where do you think those 25 million went?"

Xiao Wang stood up, held his teacup, and sneered: "Maybe it went into someone's pocket; they are really daring to take it!"

"You can think—"

The person next to him laughed mockingly, took a sip of his teacup, and said: "They dared to be greedy even before the working group came!"

"Hey! Guess what?"

He curled his lips and joked: "They still dared to be greedy after the working group came."

"This working group didn't come for nothing!"

"Hahaha—"

A burst of laughter erupted in the office; those who participated in the discussion and those who didn't all laughed.

Just when they were having fun, two figures appeared at the door at some point, both wearing green jackets.

Don't misunderstand; those wearing black leather shoes, black pants, black belts, white shirts, and green jackets aren't necessarily Li Xuewu.

They could also be ordinary cadres in the agency; after all, the cadres of the Red Star Factory all dress like this now.

If you want to distinguish who they are, it's very simple: look at their faces.

Personnel's faces always carry hypocritical smiles, finance's faces are numb as always, discipline inspection's faces are cold and serious...

That's right, the faces of the two people standing at the door were very serious.

No need to think, the room was silent.

"That..." Xiao Wang knew something bad was happening, hurriedly took two steps forward, and explained: "We were joking."

The two people at the door didn't respond, just looked at him coldly, each holding a black notebook in their hands.

Xiao Wang was a bit embarrassed, but he also knew he had messed up.

To promote the standardization of office systems and discipline, the factory had long since notified all units and departments that the discipline inspection committee would inspect and patrol at irregular intervals, and those with problems would be notified and investigated.

Documents and related work had been executed since the beginning of the year, and everyone was usually very cautious; there were few times when they were this unlucky.

Isn't this because of the big news of the working group? Everyone felt that the leaders were busy with this matter, so who would watch the system patrol?

What to do if you are caught by discipline inspection?

Deduct points, notify and criticize, affect the evaluation of various awards at the end of the year, etc.; in short, it's very ugly.

The atmosphere in the room was silent; the two people who echoed him earlier had long since acted like grandsons, lowering their heads as if they were very busy.

Only him, at this moment, leaning against the office desk with a teacup, didn't have a chance to act like a grandson at all.

And just now, it was him who laughed the loudest.

Now he was extremely embarrassed, his face flushed red.

After a long stalemate, the two people at the door walked in, and the leader glanced at everyone in the room.

Instantly, everyone's heads lowered by more than a fraction.

"Comrade Wang Zijian, right?"

The middle-aged man in the lead placed his gaze back on Xiao Wang, first looked at his workstation, and then asked.

Seeing Wang Zijian nod, he and the young man behind him showed their respective work IDs.

"Factory discipline inspection, come with us, cooperate with the investigation."

"No, Captain Yang..."

Wang Zijian panicked and defended himself: "I was tired from work, straightened my waist, drank some tea; it shouldn't be enough to be taken away for a talk, right?"

"Even if we cracked a joke during working hours, you don't have to make a mountain out of a molehill..."

"Straightening your waist and drinking tea is fine," Captain Yang of the First Team of the Second Discipline Inspection and Supervision Brigade said very indifferently: "We have other things to find you for; come back with us first and then talk, okay."

After speaking, without waiting for Wang Zijian to react, he nodded to his young colleague behind him and walked toward Wang Zijian's workstation.

"You... what are you doing!"

At this moment, Wang Zijian panicked even more; if it were to deal with his nonsense, it would be nothing, just get a scolding, but this posture...

"Comrade Wang Zijian, please cooperate with our work."

The young discipline inspection cadre stared at him and said: "Let's go out and talk first, can we?"

Polite, courteous, but emotionless.

This is the evaluation of the speaking style of discipline inspection cadres by those in the agency; it hits the nail on the head.

Since the discipline inspection department merged with the security section to form the security group, it was actually Li Xuewu who led the related work.

It was precisely from this period that discipline inspection work entered the process of standardization and demonstration.

In executing daily patrol, review, and investigation work, they strictly observed the established work management regulations.

The seriousness of that "Regulation" was comparable to the fire section and security section, which were also disciplinary units.

Even the work scripts and techniques had related requirements and special training.

You couldn't pick out their faults at all, but they were quite good at picking out yours.

Wang Zijian knew very well that something must have happened; otherwise, discipline inspection wouldn't treat him so cautiously.

Without the reminder from this young cadre surnamed Zhang, he didn't dare to move around, because he had already seen the security guards standing outside the door.

The Red Star Factory security section has several types of work, security guards, escorts, guards, etc., all of which are called security.

The ones standing at the door are security guards from the security section's security stock, which can also be called economic police.

"I... I have to tell our leader."

Wang Zijian's face had no blood left, and his voice was dry and hoarse: "It's right next door, I'm now..."

"No need, I'll tell him for you."

Captain Yang was already sitting in Wang Zijian's seat, saying while flipping through the documents he had just thrown.

Wang Zijian looked at Captain Yang, then at Cadre Zhang, and his gaze swept over his colleagues; no one responded to him.

Everyone was avoiding him, as if they had encountered a plague.

He walked out with staggering steps; there were already security guards waiting for him at the door. Whether to handcuff him or not completely depended on his performance.

Everyone in the room was shocked; it was only morning, and they were just talking about the factory leaders, so how did Wang Zijian get caught?

Of course, they wouldn't think it was because Wang Zijian discussed the working group that he was caught; just looking at the actions of these discipline inspection people, it was premeditated.

Wang Zijian hit the muzzle of the gun; Qiao's mother opened the door for Qiao, and Qiao damn well arrived home!

"Pack all these materials into boxes and take them away."

Captain Yang stood up, made arrangements for the security guards who came with him, and then walked out.

When passing by the person who joked that the working group came for nothing, he patted the person on the shoulder and asked: "Who did you just say came for nothing?"

"People are talking about grasping reform and promoting production, hmm—"

In the reception room of the Red Star Factory, Director Du, wearing a Zhongshan suit, sat on the sofa with his legs crossed.

His speech was interrupted because Li Huai De helped him light a cigarette.

"You really quit smoking?"

Director Du took a puff, looked at Li Huai De suspiciously, and then curled his lips: "I really misjudged you!"

"How come I didn't see before that there was such an 'iron' hero like you in the capital's industry?"

Li Huai De didn't say anything when teased by him, nodded with a bitter smile, shook out the match in his hand, and continued to listen.

"I went to investigate below, and some factories were shouting: Dig deep holes, store grain widely, don't claim kingship."

"Hahaha—"

Because of Director Du's sentence, everyone in the reception room couldn't help but laugh, and some even laughed out loud.

This wasn't Director Du deliberately talking nonsense, but someone really shouted this in those years, and it was even a slogan posted on the wall.

If you have the heart, go out more, look more; the slogans they shouted were really funny to listen to.

Hmm, funnier than crosstalk.

"I think your Red Star Factory should shout this—"

Director Du narrowed his eyes slightly, flicked the ash into the ashtray on the small table beside him, and said: "I think it's very appropriate."

"We don't shout this; it's too vulgar."

Li Xuewu held a thermos and continued to pour water for the leaders of the ministry and the factory leaders.

He picked up the conversation and said: "We all shout 'Prepare for war, prepare for famine, for the people'."

"Besides this, we also shout 'Rather have the grass of socialism, don't want the seedlings of capitalism'!"

"Hahaha—"

A louder burst of laughter erupted in the reception room, and even the leaders from the ministry laughed.

"Look at people's work level!"

Director Du smiled and pointed at Li Xuewu, and said to Li Huai De: "People told me that the Red Star Factory's team is united!"

"Saying that you are impenetrable, water can't splash in—"

"That must be said by a fool!"

Li Huai De used the atmosphere set by Li Xuewu to respond with a smile: "Because that person doesn't understand our factory at all."

"The Red Star Factory management committee team has a total of seven people, and four of them are outsiders; you should know this."

He swept his gaze toward the crowd and said in a joking tone: "If you really want to say the team is united, we can admit it; this is a good word, proving that my work is done well."

"But to say our factory is impenetrable, I disagree."

He looked at Director Du with a smile and asked: "If it were really like this, could we still let the working group know that we have a deficit of 25 million?"

"Hehehe—"

This time Director Du laughed, but the other leaders in the meeting room didn't laugh; they all looked at Li Huai De.

"Actually, I understand very well."

Li Huai De swept his gaze over the crowd with a smile, looked at Director Du, and said: "Everyone is bitter; some eat meat, some eat porridge; those who eat porridge naturally want to say that those who eat meat have problems!"

"Hey! Don't engage in personal attacks!"

Director Du pointed at Li Huai De and said: "Who said you have problems if you eat meat? We are happy if you can afford to eat!"

"Thank you for your understanding," Li Huai De said with emotion: "With your words, I feel much more comfortable."

"You don't know, for the past half year, how much pressure I've been under, how much suffering I've endured."

"Hmm, didn't see it—"

Director Du looked at him, raised an eyebrow, and said: "I only heard the sentence 'Red Star Li Huai De, doing things is very capable'."

"Hehehe—"

Other leaders from the ministry smiled knowingly; obviously, they had all heard this rumor.

Li Huai De shook his head with a bitter face and said: "I don't believe you haven't heard the rumor that I eat inside and out."

"Heh, did you really eat inside and out?"

Director Du smiled and looked at him, and said to the others: "It seems that Comrade Li Huai De has a lot of resentment—"

"Hi, impenetrable, water can't splash in; such words have all been said, where else can we be good."

Li Huai De shook his head slightly and said: "I don't care; it's mainly that this matter is thankless and very uncomfortable."

"Not really?" Director Du flicked the ash and looked at him, asking: "How come I heard it's not like this?"

"What does Five Harvest Bank say?"

He asked Director Han of the General Office sitting opposite: "Did they thank the Red Star Factory for its strong support or something?"

"Heh, everyone says the Red Star Factory has a hand in foreign trade," Director Han nodded with a light smile: "Foreign trade is an insider, domestic trade is even more capable—"

"Hmm—" Director Du took a puff of his cigarette, pointed at Director Han, and said to Li Huai De: "There is such a sentence!"

"That must be the complimentary words of the brother unit!"

Li Huai De pressed the corner of his mouth, pretended to be reserved, and said: "Actually, it's not that good; I actually feel that we still have many shortcomings this year, right Xuewu?"

"There are many regrets," Li Xuewu echoed with a smile: "When the year-end summary comes out, you'll be angry again."

"Hey—" Li Huai De waved his hand and explained "quietly" to Director Du: "I'm this kind of person; my heart is small, and everyone says I'm stingy!"

"But whatever there is to say, our Old Li does all kinds of business, just doesn't do business that loses money!"

He straightened his face and said very seriously: "Although Five Harvest Bank is not a brother unit in the system, it's also a cousin."

"We have business cooperation and economic exchanges; if the brother unit speaks, what can we do?"

"However—" he waved his hand, tilted his neck, and said: "I told Five Harvest Bank, brothers must settle accounts clearly!"

"I can't lend this money and goods for nothing!"

"Look—look at this posture!"

Director Du pointed at Li Huai De to the crowd beside him and said: "I don't think there's a need to investigate; this is trying to trick me!"

"Ah? You're still acting with me!"

He looked at Li Huai De with a smile and asked: "Is it that you made a big profit and deliberately made a mess with me?"

"You've learned to be bad, Li Huai De!"

"No, wronged, absolutely!"

Li Huai De waved his hand and said seriously: "Investigate, must investigate; we welcome the ministry to inspect us."

"If there's a mistake, you have to admit it; I was the one who arranged to lend this money and goods, so I, Old Li, am willing to accept the punishment."

"Hmm, this attitude is good—"

Director Du pressed the cigarette butt, exhaled a long puff of smoke, and said: "However, our eyes are not blind, and our ears are not deaf."

"Do you think I don't know or understand what Five Harvest Bank did in Hong Kong?"

He pointed at Li Huai De seriously and said: "You, you always love to play little tricks; you have a little achievement and you want to lift your tail!"

"I don't think it will do you any harm to knock you down—"

"Yes, I accept the criticism!"

Li Huai De put away that false show of force, straightened his attitude, and made a serious response.

Director Du nodded and said: "You asked the working group to investigate clearly; I won't stop you, nor will I stop the working group."

"But there is one thing you must understand: the things you do with Five Harvest Bank have certain risk factors, which is not advisable."

He leaned on the sofa, shook his finger, and said: "I admit, the development of the Red Star Factory in the past two years has been advancing by leaps and bounds, the results are very good, and the progress is very fast, far beyond our imagination."

"But you must also know that behind the rapid progress is your factory's weak foundation and radical thinking!"

"Yes, I admit," Li Huai De nodded and said: "On one hand, our learning is not enough, on the other hand, it is..."

"Alright, I'm not criticizing you!"

Director Du waved his hand and said: "It's nothing to lift your tail after making such achievements, but you must keep a clear head."

"Don't feel that our hands reach too far or manage too broadly," he said with concern: "And don't have any emotions about the organization's investigation; your factory needs to slow down."

"Leader, we—"

Li Huai De just wanted to express his position, but was stopped by Director Du with a wave of his hand.

"I know your mentality," he pointed at Li Huai De and said: "You are the squad leader; unity and management must have style, and even more so, temperature; being overbearing won't work; convince people with virtue!"

"How did that sentence go?"

He thought for a moment, narrowed his eyes slightly, and said: "Calculated to be too smart, but ended up calculating one's own life."

The leaders from the ministry left, but the working group didn't leave.

Since it was requested by Li Huai De, whether it was a fake joke or a real complaint, it had to be investigated.

However, discerning people could also see that the state of the working group was clearly not as tense as it was a few days ago.

There were still visits and investigations every day, and the questions asked were all related to the financial deficit.

Some department heads were even called in for questioning, but it didn't take as long as the time Li Xuewu went.

But I don't know how to describe it; the faces of the relevant factory leaders were still very bad, and there were even rumors that they had lost their temper.

As for who it was, it's unclear, and no one took it seriously.

Since receiving the leaders of the First Ministry of Machine Building that day, Director Li rarely appeared in public.

It's been almost a week, and even the work meetings have been postponed.

The atmosphere in the factory agency condensed, just like the stuffiness before a storm.

This stuffiness made everyone know it was going to rain, and it seemed everyone was waiting for this rain.

In the stuffiness, there was no lack of a few cicadas disturbing people's minds.

But they were soon covered by the faint thunder, followed by a cool breeze blowing across the windowsill, lifting a piece of snow-white paper.

"What's the situation? Something happened!"

Very suddenly, the agency became lively.

December 27th, Saturday; just as work started, and the broadcast was still playing "Unity is Strength," the agency became lively.

The reason is very simple: the news from last weekend continued to ferment, and it completely broke out at this moment.

The financial deficit problem investigated by the working group was perfectly solved just a few days before the end of '67.

Before getting off work on Saturday, finance received a business letter, notifying the Red Star Factory Finance Department to connect with Five Harvest Bank to check the capital accounts.

At first, everyone didn't know what specifically to check, only knowing that there was news about the 25 million deficit.

At that time, what everyone thought was that there was no need to know specifically where it was; just needing to confirm that these 25 million had returned was enough to make the working group sit on wax, and some people would have to suffer.

Who was it that took the initiative to confess in front of the working group at the beginning, and even found meeting records to prove their "innocence."

How aggrieved they were in the middle of the month, and how stupid they are now.

That was a deficit, now it's called success.

On Monday morning, many people in the departments learned that the Finance Department was working overtime collectively, and didn't rest on the weekend.

Originally, the Finance Department had to audit and process financial problems, so they had to work overtime on the weekend.

But the content of the overtime changed; they would rather be a few days late for the year-end financial accounting than not smooth out the account deficit.

The number spread on Saturday was 25 million, but by Monday, this number had changed to 56.75 million.

"Isn't it 25 million?"

Gu Cheng was a bit confused, looked at Peng Xiaoli, and asked: "Where did the extra 30-plus million come from?"

"You ask me? Who do I ask!"

Peng Xiaoli rolled his eyes, took a hard puff of his cigarette, looked at the snowy scenery outside the window, and muttered: "Where did the money come from?"

"I damn well said the leader had an arrangement!"

After Gu Cheng and Peng Xiaoli were silent for a while, he slapped the windowsill hard and said to his good friend: "You just wouldn't believe me!"

"... Are you speaking human language?"

Peng Xiaoli was really convinced by him, glanced at him with contempt, and asked: "Who was the first to say that the leader fell into a pit."

"It definitely wasn't me who said it!"

Gu Cheng stiffened his neck, glanced at the corner of the wall, and seeing that Li Xue hadn't come yet, raised an eyebrow and said: "I'll say something—"

"You say, Deputy Director Jing, and our leader...?"

"What do you want to say?" Peng Xiaoli narrowed his eyes slightly and reminded: "Think clearly before you speak."

"I'm talking about the rumors in the agency—"

Gu Cheng scratched his chin and whispered: "When being investigated by the working group, Deputy Director Jing's expression..."

"Think again, when our leader was being investigated, was he also wearing an expression of being in danger?"

"And then?"

Peng Xiaoli glanced at him and said: "Are you suspecting the leader, or suspecting the relationship between the two?"

"That's what I'm saying!"

Peng Xiaoli clapped his hands and said: "Now what's known is that Deputy Director Cheng fell into the pit; who dug the pit?"

"And now it's not a matter of the pit; there's water in the pit, and there are nails in the water!"

He leaned closer and whispered: "Do you think the leader and Deputy Director Jing jointly dug such a big pit?"

"After all, Deputy Director Cheng's prevention of the leader was already impenetrable; what was the result?"

"As a result, you're just guessing blindly—" Peng Xiaoli bumped him and reminded: "Don't talk nonsense; the leader and Jing..."

He swept a glance at the corner of the stairs, and seeing no one, whispered: "Who doesn't know the relationship between the two is bad."

"Then how do you say Deputy Director Cheng folded?"

Gu Cheng curled his lips, rolled his eyes at him, and said: "There is absolutely a situation here that neither you nor I know, and Li Xue doesn't know either."

"Hmm, your meaning is—"

Peng Xiaoli glanced at him sideways and asked: "Does the leader even lie to his own sister?"

"You two are here."

Just when the two were whispering, Li Xue walked over and asked depressedly: "Am I very stupid and naive?"

"How could that be—"

Gu Cheng looked at her and said: "If you were stupid, there would be no smart people in the agency."

"Did you hear someone say something about you?"

Peng Xiaoli raised an eyebrow and asked: "Don't listen to those nonsense, bullshit..."

"It's what Deputy Director Jing said," Li Xue raised her head, looked at the two of them, and said depressedly: "She said I was very stupid and naive."

"Just when I asked her why she was so angry when she came out after the conversation with the working group that day, she said that to me."

"The news has already spread throughout the agency."

Xiao He is not old, nineteen, having just joined the workforce a year ago; he is one of the high school graduates who entered the factory last year.

Being selected by Cheng Kaiyuan to serve as his secretary, he was very delighted and also embraced the mindset of learning from his leader while working hard.

During that year at the Commission Office, he learned many skills in fawning over superiors and trampling on subordinates, as well as quite a few techniques for saying what people want to hear to their faces and what ghosts want to hear behind their backs.

Once he truly reached the front lines of action, he gained the trust of his leader, the envy of his colleagues, and the helplessness of his seniors.

It can truly be said that he is young and ignores the "martial ethics" of the workplace.

This kid knows how to handle things and how to get things done; Cheng Kaiyuan likes him very much, and they even crack a few jokes on ordinary days.

But today's scene is definitely not a joke; the teacup on Cheng Kaiyuan's desk can testify to that.

Just a moment ago, when Deputy Director Cheng brought his palm down, it even bounced up.

"Everyone is spreading the word, saying that when the leaders from above came on Tuesday, they already knew, but they just hadn't made it public."

Xiao He stood there awkwardly, head lowered, his gaze stealing glances at his leader, his voice fluctuating in volume.

If it was something the leader wanted to hear, he would speak a bit louder; if the leader frowned, he would speak a bit softer—he is very adept at gauging people's hearts.

"Even the working group has..."

"What about the working group?"

Cheng Kaiyuan sat in his chair, brows tightly furrowed, as if an entire mountain were pressing down on his shoulders; he only felt as if the sky were about to collapse.

"Speak louder! Did you not eat?"

"Yes! The working group has moved in..." Xiao He responded well, indeed speaking very loudly, but as he reached this point, he unconsciously lowered his voice again: "It seems to be said that Deputy Director Gu took the initiative to invite them, and the working group has moved into this case."

"Get out—"

Cheng Kaiyuan did not want to listen any further; that such important news was learned from the mouth of a secretary shows just how dire his situation is.

Xiao He nodded timidly, and as he walked to the door, he softly reminded him: "Don't forget to take your medicine."

Cheng Kaiyuan did not answer, merely waving his hand with utter exhaustion to signal that he knew.

He knew, alright, but he hadn't taken the medicine.

Right now, he didn't want stomach medicine; he only wanted a regret pill.

From the day Wang Zijian was arrested, he knew his schemes had run into trouble, though he didn't yet know exactly where.

It was just that after the leaders from the First Ministry of Machine Building came and left, his heart began to grow restless and uneasy.

In these last few days, not only has Li Huai De gone quiet, but he too has settled down, just waiting for new developments.

The mountain wind is about to blow, and the pavilion is full of wind.

He didn't wait for the rain, but he did wait for a gale to sweep through, accompanied by thunder and lightning.

Just as he had feared, Zhang Shicheng was taken away in the morning, and Shi Ruoweng was taken away in the afternoon; the rhythm was very consistent.

It even makes one unable to help but guess that Zhang Shicheng confessed as soon as he went in; otherwise, how did Shi Ruoweng get dragged in?

Actually, after Wang Zijian was taken away, he had inquired about it, but he hadn't found out anything at all; he didn't even know where the person was.

Afterward, he found Zhang Shicheng and asked him again and again, but Zhang Shicheng only said that he had no problems.

It had only been half a year; what problems could there be?

This was the attitude Zhang Shicheng expressed, and it was the attitude Cheng Kaiyuan believed.

But this trust couldn't even pass the hurdle in his own heart; how could that be possible?

If Zhang Shicheng were truly as upright and pure as he appeared, where did those valuable gifts he often brought home come from?

Surely he couldn't have bought them with his own salary?

In the past, when there were no issues, Cheng Kaiyuan could still play deaf and dumb.

Just pretend not to know, take no initiative, and take no responsibility.

But now...

Why do you think he was so angry, even pounding the table in front of his secretary?

Because of the news in the agency: the Discipline Inspection Commission, the Confidentiality Section, and the Security Section are conducting a joint investigation and are currently looking for Hu Yanqiu.

Zhang Shicheng is in trouble, and Hu Yanqiu is implicated; it is understandable for the Discipline Inspection Commission to find her to understand the situation, and it is normal for the Security Section to find her for investigation and evidence collection, but why is the Confidentiality Section involved?

Upon hearing this news, Cheng Kaiyuan's head felt like it was about to explode.

He wanted to interrogate Zhang Shicheng: without his knowledge, what on earth had he done!

But now, there was no opportunity.

Even if Zhang Shicheng wanted to answer, he wouldn't be answering his questions; his questions would have to wait until the Discipline Inspection Commission found him.

However, the Discipline Inspection Commission is coming to find him...

Knock, knock—

Just as Cheng Kaiyuan was trembling with fear, a knock came at the door, scaring him so much he stood up with a start.

Then, seeing clearly who was standing at the door, he asked in a fit of shame and anger: "Didn't I tell you to get out! Why are you knocking on the door!"

He was truly terrified; he had just thought of the Discipline Inspection Commission coming for him, and then a knock came at the door—wouldn't you be scared too?

"Leader, I have some news..."

"Come in and say it—"

No matter how panicked Cheng Kaiyuan was, he wouldn't talk to his secretary from eight feet away.

Xiao He turned back to close the door, walked quickly to his side, and reported in a low voice: "News I just heard: the Finance Department received a notice from the Wufeng Hong in Hong Kong, asking the factory to prepare to receive and settle the 25 million loan payment from March..."

"Leader? Leader! Leader, what's wrong with you!"

"How much is left?"

On Sunday, Li Xuewu was looking at the financial report in his hand while listening to Yu Li's report.

It wasn't that his hearing was bad, nor was he pretending to show off, wanting to hear it again to act cool.

It was that Yu Li was holding the document in her hands, and even though she had used her fingers to count the numbers on it countless times, her voice was still trembling violently when reporting to Li Xuewu.

"Seven, seven, seven hundred sixty-eight million..."

"Alright, is this little bit of money worth it for you?"

Li Xuewu glanced at her sideways and stopped her stuttering report; listening like this was not as good as reading it himself.

Don't misunderstand; the previous part wasn't acting cool, but this part is.

Looking at that string of numbers on the financial report, Yu Li felt they were longer than the lifeline on her own hand; how could she not be nervous and excited?

She was so excited, but look at Li Xuewu—what did he just say?

Is what you're saying human language?

This little bit of money? This little bit? Money?

Over 700 million, and you call it a little bit?

Come, tell me, where exactly did you put this "little bit"?

"What are you looking at me for? Make tea!"

Li Xuewu was looking at the report in his hand, but he hadn't heard any movement beside him, thinking she had been scared to death.

He turned his head to glance at her and reminded her: "This isn't money; it's just a string of numbers!"

"Can't you have a little more ambition?"

He pretended to be impatient, curled his lips, and scolded: "You're my Office Director, after all."

"This little bit of pocket change has scared you; how am I supposed to take you out to see the world in the future..."

"Go to hell—"

Yu Li was finally brought back to her senses by his teasing; she gave him a playful slap and then hugged his back.

"Listen to that, my heart is about to jump out of my throat!"

"It's not that serious; have some ambition."

Li Xuewu swayed his body, feeling the softness of the "airbag," while consoling her: "This is just a string of numbers."

"Think about it carefully: no matter how large the numbers on this are, they are in Hong Kong; what does that have to do with us?"

"How can it have nothing to do with us!"

Yu Li hugged his neck and shook him, saying: "If you think it has nothing to do with us, why did you send her out?"

"Sigh, just treat it as me playing a game of poker."

Li Xuewu looked at the document in his hand and sighed, saying: "This game is called 'Monopoly,' and Sister Lou is just a character card in my hand."

"No matter how much I earn in the game, I can't take it out or use it right now; you say I've earned 700 million, so what do I have to be surprised about?"

"You compare her to a poker card?"

Yu Li asked as if she cared very much: "Then what card am I?"

"Damn it, I'm so pissed off!"

Before Li Xuewu could answer, the voice of Old Biaozi came from outside the door, along with that of his wife, Mai Qinglan.

"You shouldn't have stopped me!"

Yu Li took the initiative to open the door and invited the two who had just arrived at the entrance into the room, but the two were still arguing.

"He was just joking—"

Mai Qinglan glared at him angrily, but she couldn't say anything more in front of Li Xuewu.

"What's going on here?" Li Xuewu glanced at him and asked: "Arguing as soon as you get back?"

"That Huang Gan is not a human being!"

Old Biaozi sat down on the chair opposite, curled his lips, and said: "Qinglan and I entered the courtyard; do you know what you heard him say?"

"He said a good cabbage was being rooted up by a pig!"

"It was just a joke; is it worth it?"

Mai Qinglan frowned and said: "Don't you guys know each other? You used to be shoulder-to-shoulder and calling each other brothers when you met, and now..."

"Why am I angry at him? Do you call that human language?" Old Biaozi pointed outside the door and said with dissatisfaction: "He said I was the cabbage!"

PS: Explaining the PS content that some readers questioned as padding.

The specific explanation is in 【Author's Words】 (with images).