Chapter 272: Harboring Bad Intentions

"Hasn't it been spreading for a while now?" Li Xuewu asked indifferently.

Han Yating said worriedly, "Before, it was just talk in private, but now even our Security Section is discussing it. Didn't you see it when you came back?"

Li Xuewu shook his head and said, "I don't know, I didn't see it."

"Sigh~"

Han Yating sighed, "Yang Shuji is really something. He's been investigating for so long and hasn't produced a single result, just leaving people to guess blindly."

Hearing this, Li Xuewu narrowed his eyes. He didn't say anything, just kept his head down and continued writing his report.

Seeing that Li Xuewu wasn't speaking, Han Yating frowned and said, "Today, Division Chief Fu talked to me and Xu Ning. He asked for our opinions about you. I was busy today, so I don't know if he asked anyone else. I only found out about Xu Ning when we talked in the cafeteria."

"Let him ask. Hu Zhengquan dragged a whole group of professors along and still couldn't take me down. Does he think he can drag me into the water just by finding a bunch of deadbeats?"

Seeing that Li Xuewu didn't care, Han Yating said helplessly, "Division Chief Fu might formally summon you for a talk tomorrow."

"Oh?"

Li Xuewu was surprised for a moment, then asked, "How do you know?"

Han Yating widened her eyes and said, "The blackboard newspaper downstairs has been replaced with posters about integrity and self-discipline. Didn't you see? Everyone in the office is saying so."

Li Xuewu rubbed his eyes and said, "I was in a hurry to process these documents when I got back, so I didn't look closely."

After replying to Han Yating, he added, "If it's coming from the people in the office, then it's probably eight or nine parts true."

"What do you plan to do?"

"What do you mean, what do I plan to do?"

"Don't you plan to explain or report this to Yang Shuji?"

Li Xuewu said without looking up, "Working hard is the best explanation and report."

Those who trust you don't need you to say anything; they will definitely support you. Those who don't trust you will oppose you regardless of how much you talk until your lips are worn thin.

By the time Li Xuewu finished his work, it was already time to get off duty. He followed the crowd to the parking lot to retrieve his bicycle and headed home.

As soon as he entered the compound, he smelled a fragrance. Li Xuewu carried his bicycle into the compound and pushed it to the Bai Bai Xiyuan storage room.

The Bai Bai Xiyuan gate had been closed since the storefront opened. It wasn't noticeable usually, but it was quite a hassle to carry a bicycle in and out during commute hours.

He came out of the storage room and checked the back door of the storefront. It wasn't too busy at the moment; it was mostly neighbors coming to exchange scrap for braised goods.

Because the braised goods made by Seeing Sha Zhu were delicious, combined with the promotion by Wen Saner and the other three, nearby neighbors would occasionally bring scrap and old furniture over to exchange for some braised goods.

Actually, the neighbors coming at this hour in the evening weren't the main force; the gluttonous older boys were the main force.

Nowadays, one wouldn't see a trace of meat for a month. If they could pick up some scrap to exchange for braised goods to eat, it was a wonderful treat for the winter.

It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that the nearby streets had been raked over by this group of boys like a plow; one could say they had dug three feet deep.

Lao Biaozi and his group weren't wandering around nearby anymore, nor could they, because most neighbors had started coming here to sell their scrap themselves.

Since they had to go further, they returned later. By the time Li Xuewu entered, Lao Biaozi and the others hadn't returned yet.

Only Ye Ye Erye and Chen Xiaoyan were busy in the storefront.

Because braised goods were food, Li Xuewu had his grandfather build a glass cabinet with a wooden frame in the corner of the counter.

It was inlaid with glass on four sides, with only a glass door that could be opened on the inside.

This thing was quite high-end. It wasn't that the materials were particularly exquisite; it was nothing more than wood and glass.

It was called high-end and exquisite because, at this time, no one really paid attention to safety in this regard; as long as they could get enough to eat, that was enough.

The glass counter in the storefront clearly made people feel that the things inside were very clean. The countertop below was wiped spotlessly clean by Chen Xiaoyan, who was wearing a white apron.

This was what they called looking pleasing to the eye and eating with peace of mind.

Seeing Li Xuewu enter, Chen Xiaoyan greeted him enthusiastically. Li Xuewu returned a smile and thanked Ye Ye Erye for his hard work.

Ye Ye Erye was wearing an old cotton-padded jacket with a black apron over it. He reported the earnings of the past two days to Li Xuewu with a smile.

"It's going well. Because we exchange for things that neighbors need ration coupons to buy at the supply and marketing cooperative, the neighbors all come at this time to exchange for some daily necessities."

As they were talking, a middle-aged man in his forties entered, carrying a bundle of old newspapers tied with a rope.

"Teacher Ding, are you off work?"

Ye Ye Erye left Li Xuewu and turned to greet the customer who had just entered.

This Teacher Ding placed the old newspapers on the counter and said to Ye Ye Erye, "Yeah, just got off work. Look, these are old newspapers that no one at the unit wants. Could you weigh them for me?"

This Teacher Ding actually had no kinship with Ye Ye Erye. It was just that Ye Ye Erye had been here for a while, and since Lao Biaozi and the others, as well as Chen Xiaoyan, called him Ye Ye Erye, the neighbors followed suit.

The young ones called him Ye Ye Erye, the middle-aged ones called him Second Uncle, and the elderly called him Second Brother or Younger Brother.

That was just how they addressed him. Being neighbors and coming to sell things, calling him that felt intimate.

Of course, some with status would directly call him Comrade or Master.

Ye Ye Erye was like two different people in the counter and in life; he was very enthusiastic toward customers who came to the door.

Nodding and saying, "Got it!", he picked up Teacher Ding's old newspapers and placed them on the scale pan in the corner of the counter.

One end of the scale beam was hung from the ceiling. As Ye Ye Erye pulled the rope, the fixed pulley above lifted the scale pan.

This was designed by Wen Saner; it saved effort. One only needed to keep the hand steady on the hemp rope moving the scale weight.

"Look, two jin and six liang."

Ye Ye Erye pinched the rope of the scale weight and moved the scale beam outward a bit to make it easier for Teacher Ding to see.

Teacher Ding looked carefully and confirmed that the star marks on the scale beam were indeed correct, and the scale beam was slightly drooping, clearly weighing a little more.

"You're very fair. When I weighed it at school, it wasn't even two jin and six liang."

Why did they say the scale beam drooped? Because when it was parallel, it was the exact weight; drooping meant the weight was slightly more than the actual weight.

Otherwise, why would merchants always say "I'm giving you a generous weight!" when selling things?

This was the opposite; the goods had to be heavier than the weight on the scale.

"Hehe, we're all neighbors. We're a permanent storefront; how could we shortchange you?"

Ye Ye Erye knew that this Teacher Ding was picky about weight, so he always gave a little extra. Actually, it didn't make much difference; it was nothing more than psychological balance.

After replying to Teacher Ding, Ye Ye Erye calculated the price and reported it to him: "Alright, that'll be forty-eight cents."

Then he asked, "Do you want the money or to exchange for some daily necessities?"

Teacher Ding looked toward the glass cabinet, held back for a moment, but couldn't resist. He said to Ye Ye Erye, "Help me get half a pack of matches, and for the rest, give me some pig heart and pig liver."

"Got it. Chen Xiaoyan, help Teacher Ding cut thirty-eight cents worth of pig heart and pig liver."

Ye Ye Erye opened the match pack wrapped in thin gray paper and took out five boxes of matches, placing them by Teacher Ding's hand.

These matches were sold by the box; one box of matches.

Ten boxes made a pack; saying a pack or half a pack referred to ten or five boxes of matches.

As they were talking, Chen Xiaoyan had already skillfully cut the pig heart and pig liver Teacher Ding wanted, wrapped them in oil paper, tied them with hemp rope, and handed them to Teacher Ding, who had come to receive them.

"Teacher Ding, your braised goods."

"Good, good, thank you, girl."

As he spoke, Teacher Ding put the matches in his pocket, picked up the oil-paper-wrapped braised goods, and walked out.

"See you later."

"Good, good, see you later."

After politely seeing the person off, Ye Ye Erye picked up the paper bundle and walked out, explaining to Li Xuewu with a smile: "Biaozi moved a box of matches here this morning, saying he bought them from the supply and marketing cooperative. Buying a whole box is a few cents cheaper, hehe."

Li Xuewu went to take the paper bundle from Ye Ye Erye's hand, but was blocked by Ye Ye Erye.

"No, no, I'll do it, I'll get dust all over you."

Li Xuewu knew the origin of Lao Biaozi's box of matches; it must have been approved by Director Ma. Saying it was a few cents cheaper was just an excuse.

"Go call your grandfather. Don't keep working; his eyes aren't that good anymore now that it's dark."

Ye Ye Erye pointed to the north storage room behind and asked Li Xuewu to call his grandfather.

Li Xuewu walked toward the north storage room. The warehouse door here was pulled open, currently leaving a gap wide enough for one person to pass through.

Standing outside the door, he really didn't hear any sound. Li Xuewu entered the door and looked inside, only to see Grandfather drawing lines on a wooden board under a high-wattage light bulb overhead.

"Grandfather, it's dark."

Grandfather looked up and, seeing it was Li Xuewu, asked, "Off work?"

Then he put away the ink marker in his hand.

"I'm rushing to draw the lines now so I can cut them tomorrow during the day."

Because he was afraid of disturbing the neighbors' rest, Grandfather only used the electric saw during the day and avoided peak electricity usage hours.

The current electrical circuits were truly hard to describe; most were aluminum wires. If the electricity was overloaded, it was possible to burn the wires, and even worse, burn the transformer at the street entrance.

So, at this time when every household had their lights on, Grandfather wouldn't use the electric saw.

"Let Biaozi and the others help you at night. Don't work too late."

Grandfather laughed twice and then said, "I can do it myself. They don't know how to do it even if they come. Besides, they've been pedaling the bicycle all day; they're tired enough."

Li Xuewu looked at the stool tops that had already been cut. The surface was very smooth, rectangular, and the back had even been beveled.

However, the slots for the stool legs hadn't been hollowed out yet. The lines had been drawn; it seemed he was waiting to hollow them out all at once.

"I've made a hundred first. Biaozi said it's enough to sell for a while. Half of the stool tops are already done. In the next few days, I'll cut the stool legs, and then I'll hollow out the slots and wedges all at once."

Li Xuewu picked up a stool top with his hand to test it; it was quite solid.

"You hollow out the slots and make the stool legs, and let Biaozi and the others help you assemble them."

"Mm-hmm."

Grandfather responded, took off his apron, and said to Li Xuewu, "You guys help with the assembly then; I'll make the tables."

Li Xuewu looked at his smiling grandfather and knew that this "old carpenter" had worked as a carpenter all his life and had a kind of affection for wood.

"Don't work too hard, take your time."

As he spoke, he followed Grandfather out of the north warehouse, pulled the light switch, and closed the door.

Entering the room facing the street, he saw Yu Li using a fork to scoop out pig offal. The fragrance had already filled the entire room.

This was the smell Li Xuewu had caught when he first entered the compound.

"Off work, huh?"

Seeing Yu Li greet him, Li Xuewu entered the room, took off his coat, took the fork from Yu Li's hand, and started picking out the pig offal from the big pot.

"Off work early. Spent some time in the Bai Bai Xiyuan."

Helping Yu Li pick out the pig offal, Yu Li had already prepared wash water for Li Xuewu.

"The volume has been slowly increasing these past two days. Ye Ye Erye comes back early to help us for a while, and I have to come back to cook."

Li Xuewu put down the fork, rolled up his sleeves, and washed his face and hands like a duck.

"Is Third Uncle still pulling furniture back?"

Yu Li stood beside Li Xuewu with a towel, waiting. Seeing Li Xuewu finish washing, she handed the towel over immediately.

"You bet. All four of them went this afternoon and have pulled back several trips. Ye Ye Erye went with the horse cart. By the third trip, seeing it was getting late, he didn't go again and swapped with me to come back and cook."

The furniture Wen Saner pulled back was all piled up in the east warehouse. Li Xuewu hadn't seen it, but looking at it now, they really had collected quite a lot.

"Yo, riding a bicycle is still faster!"

While they were talking, Seeing Sha Zhu lifted the door curtain and entered. Seeing Li Xuewu had already finished washing his face, he greeted him with envy.

Li Xuewu handed the towel back to Yu Li, walked into the inner room with a smile, and said as he walked, "Why, want to get one too?"

Seeing Sha Zhu was about to enter the kitchen but was stopped by Yu Li.

"Don't bother, I've already made the dishes. Stewed fish and potatoes."

Seeing he didn't need to do anything, Seeing Sha Zhu agreed with a smile, washed his hands with the water Li Xuewu had used, and followed Li Xuewu into the inner room.

"I'd like to, but I don't have the silver in my hand. It's over a hundred, and it requires industrial coupons. I only get one coupon a month."

Li Xuewu sat on the kang and watched Seeing Sha Zhu not even touch the edge of the kang, just sliding directly onto it to lie down.

There was no sofa here, only a kang. If there were a sofa, he would definitely be lying down like Uncle Ge.

"If you need coupons, you can tell Third Uncle and let him help you hunt for some."

Li Xuewu turned his head to look at Seeing Sha Zhu, who was sprawled on the kang, and said, "You should also get a set of the 'three big items'."

"I'm not getting married, why would I get those?"

"You're not getting married now, but are you not going to get married in the future?"

Li Xuewu took off his shoes and, following Seeing Sha Zhu's example, lay down on the kang.

"Without a phoenix tree, you can't attract a golden phoenix."

Seeing Sha Zhu looked at Li Xuewu, who was "lying down and talking without back pain," curled his lips, and said, "I'd like to plant a phoenix tree, but I need the silver."

Watching Seeing Sha Zhu cry poverty, Li Xuewu laughed, "If you're afraid of being short on cash, you can buy ones that don't require coupons."

"Hmm?"

Seeing Sha Zhu looked at Li Xuewu in surprise. Seeing Li Xuewu glance at the radio Wen Saner was practicing on, he finally understood what Li Xuewu meant.

"You mean let me buy second-hand ones?"

"Why? Do you still care about new or old?"

Li Xuewu raised his eyebrows and said, "The bicycle repair shop at the street entrance sells second-hand bicycles. They have all kinds of brands, and the price is only half that of a new one. Aren't you going to get one?"

Hearing Li Xuewu say this, Seeing Sha Zhu sat up with a start and whispered to Li Xuewu, "Hey, now that you mention it, I do remember. I heard there are cheap bicycles for sale at the pigeon market. If you haggle, you can get one in decent condition for less than forty yuan. Do you think this is reliable?"

"What do you think?"

Li Xuewu gave Seeing Sha Zhu a sideways glance and then said, "Where do you think Third Master's bicycle went?"

"Hey! I knew this wouldn't work!"

Seeing Sha Zhu slapped his thigh and said regretfully, "It's tempting to see others pick up a bargain, but I don't dare to do it myself, yet I'm still envious."

Li Xuewu tilted his head and said, "Envy won't work either. Do you think buying at the pigeon market is fine? But later, you'll just have that bicycle sitting at home? If you ride it out and get checked, how are you going to explain it?"

Seeing Sha Zhu said with a mischievous smile, "Don't you know that the steel stamps can be ground off and re-stamped now? Hey, I heard they can stamp them to look just like the real ones."

"Forget it. Fake can't be real, and real can't be fake. Do you really think the traffic police on the street are just eating for free?"

Li Xuewu said to Seeing Sha Zhu, who had become greedy, "I advise you to honestly go to the repair shop to buy one. The paperwork there is complete, and you get a receipt from the repair shop. No matter who checks you, you'll be fine. Why save that little bit of money and go out on the street in fear?"

This was like buying a second-hand Land Rover for 100,000 yuan in later generations; you pick up the car in the morning, and someone drives it away in the afternoon.

Even if you search out all the trackers, you'll be stopped by the traffic police the next day when you go out on the street.

Seeing Sha Zhu clicked his tongue and regretfully dispelled the greed in his heart. He knew Li Xuewu wouldn't lie to him.

If the Deputy Li Kezhang said it wouldn't work, then it definitely wouldn't work.

Seeing Sha Zhu was good at one thing: he listened to advice.

The two were talking about bicycles when Lao Biaozi and the others entered. Perhaps they were exhausted from the afternoon; they didn't even bother to wash their faces and just lay down on the kang as soon as they entered the room.

"What did you do? So tired like this."

Seeing Sha Zhu made room for them and gave the head of the kang to Wen Saner, who had just entered.

Wen Saner didn't lie down, just leaned against the wall at the head of the kang.

These few didn't speak, as if they had lost all their strength.

When Ye Ye Erye and Grandfather finished putting up the door panels and returned, they saw a room full of young men lying on half the kang.

Ye Ye Erye felt a bit sorry for them and called them up, then asked Chen Xiaoyan to pour them warm water to drink.

Seeing Li Xuewu and Seeing Sha Zhu watching, he explained, "These boys were exhausted this afternoon. They pedaled the tricycle for a whole afternoon. Just now, I saw that what they brought back were all large items."

Lao Biaozi, who had regained his senses after a sip of warm water, wiped his mouth and complained, "It's all my Third Uncle; he sees money and forgets his life, making money without caring about his life."

Hearing his nephew's complaint, Wen Saner didn't even pay attention. He took a sip of water and leaned against the head of the kang to rest.

"What's going on?"

Seeing these four so tired, Li Xuewu asked with some concern.

Seeing Yu Li was busy, Ye Ye Erye asked Chen Xiaoyan to fetch wash water for these few.

After giving the order to Chen Xiaoyan, Ye Ye Erye explained, "Didn't I tell you a few days ago? It's those families moving. They've been moving one after another, and Third Brother has been collecting them. We haven't been able to transport them as fast as he's been collecting them."

While explaining, he pulled Wen Saner up and told him to go wash his face and hands first.

"Today we just happened to catch it. A Peking opera singer was leaving and selling all his furniture in a bundle. Third Brother was afraid of being intercepted, so he begged these few to help him transport all the furniture from one courtyard in one afternoon."

Lao Biaozi sat on the edge of the kang and grinned, "Seriously, that was in the West City. I was almost exhausted to death."

"Complaining of exhaustion after doing a little work? You've grown such a big frame for nothing. Why doesn't Erhai complain of exhaustion?"

Wen Saner walked into the inner room after washing his face. Seeing Lao Biaozi still complaining there, he scolded, "You eat the most on weekdays, and you have the most to say? Go wash your face!"

By now, Wen Saner had also regained his spirit. He lectured Lao Biaozi and told him to hurry up and wash his face.

Seeing Lao Biaozi swaying as he walked out, Wen Saner kicked his nephew out of frustration.

Lao Biaozi said unconvinced, "Erhai is too tired to speak. You shouldn't order people around like this."

Afraid his Third Uncle would kick him again, Lao Biaozi walked quickly into the kitchen, let Chen Xiaoyan change the wash water, and started washing his face.

Wen Saner, who had entered the room, said to Li Xuewu, "After this trip, our recycling shop has its foundation."

"That's the truth."

Ye Ye Erye said to Li Xuewu, "Just the warehouse on the east side being filled up is enough for us to open for business."

Li Xuewu tossed a cigarette to Wen Saner and handed cigarettes to the others in the room as well.

After everyone lit up, Li Xuewu said, "This is an opportunity. Third Uncle's sense for business is top-notch among us."

After praising Wen Saner, Li Xuewu added, "But you only have so many people. If you all collapse from exhaustion, it will delay things."

"Yes, yes, yes, I know."

Wen Saner nodded and said, "Just this once. It won't be this tiring again in the future."

As he spoke, Wen Saner reached out and pulled Shen Guodong and Erhai up, urging them to hurry and wash their faces.

Li Xuewu got off the kang to help Yu Li move the table onto it. When he was about to pick up the bowls, he was pushed aside by Yu Li.

While Chen Xiaoyan was helping Shen Guodong and the other two fetch water, she also helped Yu Li bring the dishes and steamed buns over.

Because everyone was truly exhausted today, they only took a few bites before putting down their chopsticks.

Li Xuewu and Seeing Sha Zhu didn't chat at the dinner table either; they finished eating quickly to make room for the others so they could get to sleep early.

It was barely seven-thirty when Li Xuewu and Seeing Sha Zhu came out of the room facing the street. After chatting for a bit, Seeing Sha Zhu returned to the middle courtyard.

Li Xuewu went home first to drink the medicine Li Xuecai had brewed for him, played with Li Shu for a while, and then returned to the back courtyard.

Because it was still early, Li Xuewu wasn't in a hurry to sleep. He sat at his desk and started harboring bad intentions.

Writing with his left hand was indeed tiring. Since Technician No. 8 wasn't online tonight, Li Xuewu had to prepare hot water himself and take a hot bath to relieve his fatigue.

When he got up the next day and pulled back the curtains, he discovered that it had snowed last night.

It wasn't heavy; there was only a thin layer on the ground. Liu Guangtian, who went out to empty the chamber pot in the morning, didn't even have his shoe soles covered when he stepped on the snow.

Li Xuewu got himself ready and headed toward the front courtyard under the light snowflakes.

Perhaps because of the snow, Li Xuewu felt the compound was much cleaner.

At the very least, there was less gray and more pure white.

It was also in keeping with the approaching Spring Festival. In the morning, every chimney was emitting smoke, and the air was mixed with the smell of coal smoke, which reminded Li Xuewu that it was time to prepare for the New Year.

Entering the room facing the street, Wen Saner, Lao Biaozi, and the others were all in a state of exhaustion, wincing as they drank their porridge.

Li Xuewu chatted and laughed with them for a bit before starting breakfast.

Because the road was slippery due to the snow, Li Xuewu didn't dare to ride fast on his way to work. By the time he arrived at the Rolling Steel Mill, it was almost time for work.

Entering the guard room, Li Xuewu made a quick round and went to check on the training of the police dog team and the guard team.

He had originally planned to come on Monday to check the training progress; this could also be considered a work summary.

As soon as he entered the field, Li Xuewu discovered that the number of people in the guard team had increased. The previously sparse team members were now even training in a more compact manner.

Seeing Li Xuewu approach, Han Zhan ran over and reported, "Report to the Li Kezhang, the guard team is currently conducting 400-meter obstacle course training. Please give instructions."

Li Xuewu carefully examined these newcomers and then realized that these might be the security personnel sent over from Huaqing.

"Are these from Huaqing?"

"Yes."

Seeing Li Xuewu ask, Han Zhan reported, "You weren't here when they arrived yesterday, so I made temporary arrangements for them. This morning, seeing us come out for training, they followed along."

Li Xuewu frowned and asked, "Where have their accommodations been arranged?"

Han Zhan pointed to the dormitory area and said, "Part of them are in our guard team dormitory, and the other part has been arranged in the duty room of the Security Building."

As he spoke, Han Zhan explained why he was here supervising the training.

"Wei Tong took the maintenance team and the training equipment to Hongxing Village, saying they wanted to set up a 400-meter obstacle course there as well, an enhanced version."

"That's fine, that's great. Let them stay there for now; we'll let them move over after the guesthouse renovation is finished."

Li Xuewu watched the Huaqing security personnel running the obstacle course with the guard team with a smile, thinking that these were all living advertisements; they must be trained well.

"Li Kezhang."

Han Zhan asked hesitantly, "How long are they going to stay here?"

Li Xuewu knew that Han Zhan had heard him say that the Huaqing security personnel would move to the guesthouse later, and had realized that these people were prepared to train at the Rolling Steel Mill for a long time.

"What? If you have something to say, just say it."

Han Zhan frowned and said, "What about their training? They have no foundation for our training here; it has to be taught from scratch. Is it okay for our team members to learn these..."

Li Xuewu waved his hand and said, "Their training must be separated from our team members'. It's not the same progress, and the rhythm is different; it's easy to disrupt our progress."

After answering Han Zhan's question, Li Xuewu emphasized, "I've made it clear to you all: the training of the guard team and security must keep up with the progress. Those who are unqualified should be cut, and those who should be transferred should be transferred. Don't let things fall apart when I need to use you."

"Yes, guarantee to complete the mission."

Li Xuewu waved his hand to signal Han Zhan to continue the training mission, while he stood on the side watching the team members' training.

Perhaps stimulated by Li Xuewu's performance last time, the guard team members were all learning Li Xuewu's running and jumping movements, and there were no more ugly obstacle-crossing postures.

Li Xuewu had just returned from the training field when he received a notice from the office, telling him to immediately go to the office of the Security Department Chief, Fu Bin, to accept a disciplinary talk.

Actually, this was the so-called summons. It was a formal procedure through the office to conduct a disciplinary talk with a cadre. This would be recorded in the file and was considered a type of punishment.

Li Xuewu knocked on the conference room door. Hearing the sound to enter, Li Xuewu tidied his attire and then pressed the handle to open the door.

Not beyond Li Xuewu's expectations, waiting for him in the conference room were not only Fu Bin, but also Yang Shuji of the Discipline Inspection Commission and Yang Zongfang, the Li Kezhang of the First Inspection Section.

"Report, Security Li Ke Xuewu has arrived to report. Please give instructions."

Li Xuewu first saluted Fu Bin, and then saluted Yang Shuji.

The order of this salute was correct: first the superior, then the leader.

Yang Shuji waved his hand at Li Xuewu, signaling him to sit opposite the conference table.

Li Xuewu looked at the positions the three were sitting in and chose the middle one, directly facing Yang Shuji.

First, Yang Shuji said some words summarizing Li Xuewu's meritorious service over the past period, which served as an opening statement.

Then, Yang Zongfang of the First Inspection Section announced the incident for which Li Xuewu was being reported this time.

Yang Zongfang had originally had a very good impression of Li Xuewu, but ever since their last unpleasant talk, Li Xuewu's image in Yang Zongfang's mind had plummeted.

Therefore, he used very serious vocabulary in the report document he wrote about Li Xuewu.

"Failed to perform duties, failed to fulfill the responsibilities of the Security Li Kezhang, indulged in ideology, engaged in improper behavior at work, causing the masses to misunderstand and disapprove of the Security Section's work."

"Regarding the issue of lifestyle, Comrade Li Xuewu failed to keep himself clean and had too much contact with female comrades. This is the most fundamental reason for the report letter regarding Li Xuewu's unhealthy tendencies..."

After Yang Zongfang announced Li Xuewu's inaction and chaotic actions with cadence, Yang Shuji looked at Li Xuewu and said, "Li Ke, we were very trusting of you when we received the report letter, especially your personal involvement and brave work style."

Fu Bin also chimed in, "This matter has been going on for some days. At first, I didn't pay attention to it; the report letter was just sitting on my desk."

"Mm."

Yang Shuji nodded and said, "We are all willing to believe that you are a good comrade, an excellent comrade."

Li Xuewu looked at the two people who were selectively praising him and knew that a "but" was coming.

Sure enough, he heard Yang Shuji say, "However, in the successive report letters, we have also seen the inaction of the Security Section in protecting the vital interests of the factory workers, as well as an arrogant and frivolous work style."

At this point, Fu Bin interjected, "Here, I must make a self-criticism. When Comrade Li Xuewu was eager to launch the training ground project, I, as a leader, did not speak out to stop him, but instead encouraged him to do big things. However, I didn't expect this to cause Comrade Li Xuewu to misunderstand his work, and it also caused losses to the work and life of the Rolling Steel Mill workers."

Li Xuewu watched Fu Bin making a self-criticism and watched his performance very politely. If conditions hadn't permitted, Li Xuewu would have wanted to applaud.

"Division Chief Fu, today we are talking about the problems of Li Ke Xuewu. The management of the Security Department still needs you to adjust and strengthen."

Yang Shuji pointed at Li Xuewu and then asked him, "Li Ke, you can also say whatever you have to say."

Li Xuewu looked at the three and then asked, "Can I speak?"

"Of course you can."

Yang Shuji nodded and said, "This is a right granted to you by the organization. You have the right to explain and reflect on your own behavior."

Li Xuewu nodded to indicate he understood and then opened his mouth, "I hold a supportive attitude toward the report letter."

After this sentence was finished, the three of Yang Shuji were stunned, and then they all frowned and looked at Li Xuewu, waiting for his follow-up.

Because all three could see that Li Xuewu had no intention of reflecting on this matter, and even his explanation was insufficient; it was possible that he didn't agree.

"We are all cadres of the people, and the meaning of our work lies in serving the people."

"Our rights are all granted to us by the people, and we should naturally accept the supervision of the masses. This is my consistent insistence."

"Let's talk about something practical."

Yang Zongfang interrupted Li Xuewu. He strongly disagreed with the words Li Xuewu had just said being applied to himself.

"Alright, then I'll talk about something practical."

Li Xuewu rested his elbows on the table and said to Yang Zongfang, "Are those things you announced to me the conclusions you reached after conducting an investigation?"

"Of course they are!"

Yang Zongfang was very dissatisfied with Li Xuewu's provocation. No cadre had ever been so unruly when accepting a talk.

"Then don't use vague words, and don't use those empty words. Please tell me exactly how I was inactive, and exactly how I caused a bad influence. Just based on a few anonymous report letters?"

Li Xuewu's question wasn't about the things being reported, but about the influence of this matter and Li Xuewu's attitude.

Yang Shuji also felt that Li Xuewu handled this matter poorly, which was why he arranged this talk.

What he didn't expect was that Li Xuewu's reaction would be so strong. Thinking back to Li Xuewu's temper in the hospital ward, he understood.

"Li Ke, if there's a problem, talk about the problem. Don't put on an attitude."

"Did I put on an attitude?"

Li Xuewu asked rhetorically, and then said, "You said you believe in me, trust me, and can see the work of the Security Section, but what about now?"

"Just because of a few report letters, you didn't even verify the facts before finding me for a talk?"

Yang Zongfang tapped the table and said to Li Xuewu, "Li Ke, we have investigations, and we have visited the masses. The masses have a very bad impression of the Security Section and of you."

"Oh?"

Li Xuewu raised his eyebrows and looked at Yang Zongfang, asking, "Then may I ask, what was the purpose of the investigation you conducted?"

Staring directly into Yang Zongfang's eyes, Li Xuewu said again, "In the final analysis, isn't it just the report letters? I also said, I support the supervision of the masses, but I don't support this kind of supervision."

Yang Zongfang narrowed his eyes and looked at Li Xuewu, asking, "Are you trying to confront the organization? Are you trying to confront the masses?"

"Don't put labels on me."

Li Xuewu curled his lips and said, "I don't need to look at the contents of the report letters to know what they are. Then, based on the reported content, go investigate! Find out the one, two, three! Find out the truth! Now you're using some reason of improper work to discipline me. Isn't this just 'if you want to condemn someone, you can always find a pretext'?"

Yang Shuji was also frowning at this moment, because the things they investigated couldn't stand up to scrutiny. The discussion among the masses had a relatively large influence, and because of the attitude of the Security Department head, Fu Bin, they conducted a talk with Li Xuewu.

"Li Ke, today's talk is to help you correct your mistakes and rectify your thinking. You also said you want to accept the supervision of the masses. 'If you have mistakes, correct them; if you don't, guard against them'."

Li Xuewu looked at Yang Shuji and said, "I originally held an attitude of 'if you have mistakes, correct them; if you don't, guard against them' toward these report letters. Have I ever checked who reported me?"

When saying the second half of the sentence, Li Xuewu also glanced at Fu Bin, and then continued, "Have I ever retaliated or obstructed the masses' speech on any occasion?"

"Have I ever tried to block the transmission channels of the report letters? I have not."

Li Xuewu tapped the table and said, "I am a cadre myself, and I want the masses to supervise me, so I will not block the path of speech and let the masses have nowhere to speak. However..."

Just as Fu Bin was about to interrupt Li Xuewu, Li Xuewu said, "The masses can discuss, but shouldn't the organization investigate the reasons clearly and return the truth to us cadres?"

Fu Bin got the opportunity to speak and interjected, "Your attitude is wrong."

First, he negated Li Xuewu, and then Fu Bin said, "Report letters, even if anonymous, have supervisory effectiveness. As security cadres, as cadres in charge of powerful security departments, we should put ourselves under the sun to roast and dry, to see if we can withstand the test of the masses."

Yang Shuji also nodded and said, "Our Discipline Inspection Commission also means this. Although we haven't found any factual disciplinary violations by you, you still have non-standard behavior in handling cases and work. This is where you need to strengthen your study and exercise."

Li Xuewu pointed at the desktop with his finger and said, "In this place, in this place of the Security Building, as a security cadre, I must be serious about this. I just want to ask, is it that if I am reported, I must be investigated, I must be discussed, and I must be disciplined?"

Li Xuewu's attitude was impolite, and Yang Zongfang also said with emotion, "As long as you are reported, whether named or not, we have the obligation to investigate you, the masses have the right to discuss you, and as your leaders, Division Chief Fu and Yang Shuji have the right to discipline you."

"Yang Shuji, is that what you mean too?"

Li Xuewu didn't look at Yang Zongfang, but turned his gaze to Yang Shuji.

Yang Shuji's impression of Li Xuewu today had also dropped a lot, and he was very annoyed by Li Xuewu's stubbornness.

It had never been this difficult for the Discipline Inspection Commission to have a disciplinary talk with a cadre. Which cadre didn't lower their head by three points when meeting the Discipline Inspection Commission?

Not to mention actively confessing criminal facts upon meeting him, but there had never been one so rampant.

Fu Bin, watching Li Xuewu's angry and embarrassed appearance, felt no threat. Li Xuewu, in this state, no longer had any chance for further advancement.

At the very least, at the committee meeting, Yang Shuji would not vote in favor of Li Xuewu.

Seeing Li Xuewu like this, Fu Bin stopped saying anything.

Yang Shuji, being stared at by Li Xuewu's gaze, frowned and said, "Li Kezhang Yang is not wrong. Investigation, discussion, and discipline are all for your own good."

"I still don't want this 'good'," Li Xuewu replied disdainfully.

"Dong, dong."

Just as Li Xuewu finished speaking, the door behind him was knocked. Yang Shuji frowned and looked at Fu Bin.

Fu Bin also frowned and said, "Enter."

Only to see Fan Hua from the Confidential Room push open the door with a dozen report letters and say to Fu Bin, "Division Chief, more report letters have arrived."

All three of Fu Bin looked at Li Xuewu.

Fu Bin asked instead: "Regarding whom?"

"It's..."

Seeing Fan Hua hesitate, Fu Bin took the report letter and said readily: "We must accept the supervision of the masses; what is there to hesitate about?"

Just as Fu Bin finished speaking, he heard Fan Hua say: "It's a report against you..."