Chapter 34

Everyone in the guard squad dormitory stole glances at Li Xuewu.

Li Xuewu handed the roll call book to the man beside him, who took it dazedly.

Before the man could grip it firmly, Li Xuewu yanked the quilt off the kang.

Without even looking at the man, he grabbed his collar with one hand and his waistband with the other, twisted his waist, and executed a “Er Lang Carrying the Mountain,” flinging the man flat on his back.

“Thud!”

The man was dazed and stunned from the fall.

After about ten seconds, he shook his head and struggled to stand up, ready to fight back.

Li Xuewu kicked out his leg and sent him crashing into the doorway, his head slamming into the doorframe.

Another “thud.”

Everyone standing in the room widened their eyes, frozen in silence.

This man had been the guard squad’s bully, relying on Wang Jindong—he was practically the deputy squad leader.

Li Xuewu slowly walked over to the young, muscular man lying face-up by the door, stepped over his head, turned back, grabbed his collar, and dragged him out. Everyone in the room quietly followed with their eyes.

Li Xuewu dragged the young man, clad only in his shirt, to the pull-up bar across from the guard squad training ground, pulled out handcuffs, and cuffed one of his wrists to the bar.

The man now looked truly pitiful—his collar torn, blood dripping from his nose, a large bump on his head, a huge boot print stained with red and black on his white shirt, and only socks on his feet as he stood on the cold cement floor.

Li Xuewu didn’t look at him, turned, and walked back into the dorm.

The men who had been peeking scrambled back to their spots, standing rigidly with perfect military posture.

Now that they’d become part of Chu Yunfei’s 358th Regiment, things had taken on a different tone.

Just don’t let Qian Bojun show up.

When Li Xuewu reentered, he sensed their energy had changed—at least their attitude had.

Li Xuewu walked over to the squad member who had taken the roll call book and extended his hand.

The squad member froze, then quickly handed the book back to Li Xuewu.

Li Xuewu walked to the end of the corridor, turned to face everyone, and began calling out names in a low voice.

Each reply was a loud “Here!”

He called twenty names; nineteen answered.

That man outside must be Wang Weidong—interesting, his name matches the head of the Security Department.

Li Xuewu closed the book and said: “Starting today, dormitory standards will match militia training standards. You’ve all been trained—you don’t need me to explain.”

The current militia training standards are nearly identical to those of the future—dormitory cleanliness and tidiness have always been the norm.

“Fold your clothes neatly and place them on your bedding. Arrange your shoes at the foot of the bed, heads facing outward. No smoking, card playing, roughhousing, or loud noise in the dorm. Take turns on duty to heat the kang and sweep. Dress appropriately, cleanly, and neatly. Stand properly, sit properly. If I see you slouching like this again, that man outside is your example.”

This group had already seen Li Xuewu’s strength—he was a walking monster.

At noon, when they heard a new squad leader had arrived, no one cared—but now Wang Weidong had kicked a steel plate.

Li Xuewu walked out slowly, saying: “You have one night to tidy your dorms, wash your clothes and bedding. Training begins tomorrow under the standard. Those on night watch follow the assigned schedule.”

“Yes!”

Li Xuewu knew these men had been trying to mess with him—coming in to intimidate him, planning to use force to bully him.

Li Xuewu walked to Wang Weidong’s bedding, rolled it up, grabbed it, and walked out the door. Behind him, the men scrambled—unraveling quilts, stripping pillowcases, tossing clothes, rushing en masse to the bathhouse to wash everything while bathing.

Damn, this guy’s a genius!

Li Xuewu walked up to Wang Weidong and pinched his chin.

Wang Weidong was now awake—this man hit hard; his head still throbbed.

Li Xuewu asked coldly: “Now do you know who I am? Then tell me—who’s the bullshit? Who’s your father? Who do you recognize as squad leader?”

Wang Weidong glared at Li Xuewu, silent.

Li Xuewu said: “You’ll stay hanging here for now. When I’m off duty, pick up your bedding and get out. Once you’re past the factory gates, I welcome you to challenge me.”

Wang Weidong snarled: “Fuck, you’ve gone too far. You can’t fire me—so long as my brother’s here, what can you do? I’m telling you, we’re done. Unless you kneel and beg me, you’ll never survive in Security.”

Li Xuewu sneered: “We’ll see. See this scar on my face? A shell couldn’t kill me—do you think some punk like you can?”

He released his grip and walked toward the duty room where he’d changed clothes, picked up his own bedding and clothes, and returned to the guard squad dorm.

The men in the dorm watched as Li Xuewu walked to Wang Weidong’s former spot, dropped his bedding, folded it into a perfect tofu block, covered it with a dark green pillowcase, then neatly stacked his clothes on top.

The dorm fell silent, all eyes on Li Xuewu.

After finishing, Li Xuewu turned to leave, and as he passed the door, he patted the shoulder of the squad member who had taken the roll call book.

By the time Li Xuewu returned to the office building, screams and curses echoed from deep in the corridor.

Before Li Xuewu could reach his office, Wang Jindong stormed after him.

Wang Jindong’s face was grim. He stormed in and snapped: “Li Xuewu, how are you handling this case? Who told you to hang Hu Jinbu on the wall?”

《I Have a Scroll of Ghost and God Records》

Li Xuewu walked slowly behind his desk and ignored him.

Wang Jindong pointed at Li Xuewu’s nose: “Evidence isn’t complete—we have no authority to interrogate. Release him immediately! The warehouse director has complained to the factory manager’s office!”

Li Xuewu stared coldly: “Do I even know who the warehouse director is? Which way does the factory office door face? You want him released? Fine—I’ll write ‘I disagree’ on the case file, but if the Security Department head signs it, I’ll release him.”

Wang Jindong hissed: “Fine. You explain it to the factory office yourself—I’m done with this. Now tell me: what’s the meaning of Wang Weidong’s beating? Who gave you the right to hit someone? Who gave you the right to fire someone?”

Li Xuewu ignored his shouting, pulled out a cigarette, lit it, exhaled smoke, and said: “No meaning at all—just cleaning up the squad, protecting the factory. I hit him because I care—I’m afraid his mouth will say something worse. I’m squad leader—I have the right to fire him. As for expelling him from the factory, I’ll need to report Wang Weidong’s words to the director first.”

Wang Jindong roared: “Don’t you dare smear him! I’m telling you—don’t think having the director’s backing gives you license to act like a tyrant! Security Department is mine! I’m keeping Wang Weidong—I say so!”

Li Xuewu sneered: “Whether it’s Security Department, Security Division, or the steel mill—it’s the Party and the people who decide. Security Department isn’t yours, Wang Jindong. Today, I’m firing Wang Weidong, and you can’t stop me—I say so!”

Wang Jindong pointed at Li Xuewu, seething: “Fine. We’ll see!”

Li Xuewu refused to look at him again. As Wang Jindong turned to leave, he said coldly: “I put on those handcuffs. Whoever dares to remove them—I’ll break their legs.”