Chapter 341: Are You Asking for a Beating?

"Yes."

Yu Min looked at Li Xuewu's smile, feeling his body tense up, but he still smiled and replied, "I just have a few friends with some special connections."

"Heh."

Li Xuewu chuckled and said, "That sounds familiar."

Yu Min knew what Li Xuewu meant and explained with a smile, "I know Nie Liansheng."

Li Xuewu nodded, not prying into the details.

This matter had nothing to do with him; asking wouldn't yield anything and would only become a burden.

He flicked the ash from his cigarette into the ashtray on the coffee table and asked, "Then what are you here for today?"

Yu Min knew Li Xuewu's temperament and didn't beat around the bush.

"I wanted to ask if Li Chuzhang's... friends are interested in making a friend."

"Not interested."

Li Xuewu narrowed his eyes, took a drag of his cigarette, and replied to Yu Min's surprised look, "Steel City really disappoints me. My friends wouldn't like it here either."

"I'm sorry to hear you say that."

Yu Min was only surprised for a moment and didn't show much disappointment.

"I am full of hope for cooperating with you, and I hope you can give me a chance."

Li Xuewu held the cigarette between his index and middle fingers, rubbing his chin with his thumb as he asked, "Tell me about it. I'm just passing a message for a friend; whether it happens or not, I'm not taking responsibility."

"Of course."

Yu Min raised an eyebrow and said with a smile, "Grain, steel, coal—we deal in all of them."

Li Xuewu waved his hand and said, "I think you must have misunderstood, or Nie Liansheng misunderstood."

Under Yu Min's surprised gaze, Li Xuewu helplessly said, "My friends aren't the big shots you imagine. They're just small-timers trying to make a living."

"Li Chu, I don't think so."

Yu Min looked at Li Xuewu with a smile and said, "I heard from Nie Liansheng that your appetite is quite large, and that you take everything."

"Yes."

Li Xuewu nodded with a smile, emphasizing, "We do take everything, but we also value our lives. You can't spend money if you're dead, right?"

"Hahahaha."

"What you say is truly interesting, Li Chuzhang."

Yu Min laughed for a while, then looked around at the environment, stopped talking about cooperation, and turned to the villa instead.

"Is this your property?"

"No, no, no."

Li Xuewu waved his hand and said, "I'm just an ordinary grassroots cadre, living off my monthly salary. How could I possibly own such property?"

As he spoke, he pointed toward the stairs and said, "The person you saw earlier is a friend of mine. I'm here on official business—oh, you might know, it's about the Steel Mill matter."

"I've heard a little."

"Mm-hmm."

Li Xuewu nodded and said, "Because it's close to my friend's home, I brought my partner to stay here."

"So that's how it is."

Yu Min looked at Li Xuewu with a smile. Although he said he believed him, Li Xuewu could tell that this kid didn't believe a word of it.

People are hard to please. When he lies, people believe him; when he tells the truth, they don't.

Yu Min didn't mind Li Xuewu's expression. Since he had come uninvited and hadn't been met with a beer bottle to the head, that was polite enough.

"Is Li Chuzhang from Beijing?"

"Yes."

Li Xuewu knew this was the part where they checked his background.

"And where is Yu Zhuren from?"

He didn't know what Yu Min's position at the Workers' Club was, but calling him "Zhuren" (Director) was safe.

If he called him "Ke-zhang" (Li Kezhang), he might be a section chief; if he called him "Chu-zhang" (Division Chief), he might be a division chief. But "Zhuren"...

That could be anything from a high-ranking official to the head of a neighborhood committee.

Regardless, when dealing with such people, "Zhuren" is always the right choice.

"I'm a local from Steel City, born and raised."

Yu Min didn't mind Li Xuewu's form of address. The few questions exchanged had cleared some of the awkwardness, making it easier to discuss what came next.

"I know you don't trust me. Anyone in your position would be cautious."

Yu Min smiled at Li Xuewu and said, "I'd like to invite you to come and see where we operate."

"See what? Where?"

Li Xuewu said with a smile, "I'm a coward; I don't dare walk down dark alleys at night."

"Li Chu is joking."

Yu Min pointed outside and said, "I'm sure you know there's someone watching outside, right?"

"Hahahaha."

Li Xuewu stood up and said, "Then let's go take a look? Let this country bumpkin broaden his horizons?"

"Hahaha."

Yu Min said with a smile, "I see, Li Chu is very humorous."

The humorous Li Xuewu followed Yu Min out of the villa, and they each got into their cars to head out.

Li Xuewu wasn't afraid of being set up, because he was the ancestor of digging pits and setting traps.

If this kid wasn't afraid of dying, why should he be afraid of burying him?

Do you know what it means to be arrogant?

This is what it means to be arrogant!

Li Xuewu looked at the grain bags, bundles of fabric, and various rare items openly displayed in the warehouse.

This warehouse was clearly a "showroom," with not many items, but a bit of everything.

Li Xuewu walked around the warehouse with Yu Min, looking like a buyer.

At one end of the warehouse, Li Xuewu even saw crates of unopened motorcycles.

Li Xuewu walked over to take a closer look; they were American-made.

How on earth did these get in? Although he had heard that the person in Shanghai loved these things.

But seeing such a thing in this Steel City in the Northeast was still quite surprising.

"Do you like them?"

Yu Min asked Li Xuewu with a smile, "Only two thousand."

"Only?"

Li Xuewu raised an eyebrow, shook his head, and said, "To be honest, my friends haven't even seen what these look like."

"That doesn't matter."

Yu Min smiled and said, "If you like it, I can give you one."

"Hahaha."

Li Xuewu waved his hand and said, "It's not that I don't dare to ride it; I really don't need it. I have an official car."

He gave Yu Min a "you know what I mean" look and walked forward.

Watching Li Xuewu's back, Yu Min bit his lip in frustration and followed him again.

Li Xuewu was genuinely interested in the goods here, not just the grain, but the various trinkets as well.

Clocks and watches seemed to be high-value items here. Li Xuewu looked at the labels; they must have come from across the border.

Now Li Xuewu basically knew where these things were coming from.

Actually, when you think about it, it's all about human effort.

Later generations ask, why do Zhejiang merchants become so wealthy?

In reality, they started entrepreneurship and making money as early as this era; fishing boats on the sea were their capital.

"You certainly have strength."

Li Xuewu looked around with an envious expression, then said in a helpless tone, "But I can only express regret on behalf of my friends."

"It's not that they can't buy from you, but every time it's just a tiny bit. It really doesn't match your scale, and it just causes you trouble."

Yu Min also understood what Li Xuewu meant. In this business, no one imports goods in such small quantities; the risk is too high.

Bringing Li Xuewu in today was because Li Xuewu's identity was very transparent.

Moreover, both Nie Liansheng and Yu Min believed they had found a "home" for Li Xuewu.

"It doesn't matter. Even if the deal doesn't go through, the friendship remains."

Yu Min signaled for Li Xuewu to follow him to the door, saying as they walked, "Maybe your friends will need me someday."

"Of course."

Li Xuewu followed Yu Min out of the warehouse, looked at the sky, turned back, and asked, "If I need to find you, should I go to the club?"

"That works."

Yu Min nodded and saw Li Xuewu into his car.

Li Xuewu started the car, rolled down the window, and said to Yu Min, "Of course, you can also contact me if you go to Beijing in the future. You know how to find me."

After saying this, he stepped on the gas and left.

Yu Min didn't feel any regret about Li Xuewu's departure.

There are no one-shot deals in this business; everyone is a master of the game.

Besides, if they weren't masters, they wouldn't dare to look for him, would they?

When Li Xuewu arrived home, he saw Zhou Wang Yamei and Gu Ning sitting on the sofa waiting for him.

"Not asleep yet?"

He greeted them with a smile and handed his coat to Zhou Wang Yamei, who walked over.

"We couldn't sleep without you back."

Zhou Wang Yamei walked toward the cloakroom opposite the door and said, "Even Gu Ning couldn't sleep."

Li Xuewu walked to the sofa and looked at Gu Ning, saying, "I'm sorry for making you worry."

Gu Ning looked up and asked, "Who was that?"

Li Xuewu hadn't expected Gu Ning to be interested in his affairs.

"A broker."

He sat down beside Gu Ning and explained while taking off his outer clothes, "A local material peddler in Steel City."

Gu Ning wasn't particularly interested in brokers or peddlers, but she was curious why they came looking for Li Xuewu.

"Why did they come looking for you?"

"Because I am one too."

Li Xuewu looked into Gu Ning's eyes and said, "I'm also involved in the reselling of certain materials."

"Oh."

Gu Ning nodded indifferently and said, "Sounds pretty good."

Li Xuewu's words didn't scare Gu Ning, but they terrified Zhou Wang Yamei, who was standing in the cloakroom.

Was this something she was supposed to hear?

Would she be silenced overnight?

Li Xuewu saw Gu Ning looking toward the door and followed her gaze.

"Hahahaha."

Seeing Zhou Wang Yamei's nervous expression, Li Xuewu couldn't help but burst into laughter.

Gu Ning also couldn't help but smile.

Zhou Wang Yamei felt her brain wasn't working fast enough. What did this mean?

Were the two of them joking, and she had misunderstood?

Or was it true, and her reaction had made them laugh?

She didn't dare to say anything, and she didn't dare to ask.

Li Xuewu put his coat on the sofa and walked toward the bathroom.

Zhou Wang Yamei hesitantly walked to the sofa, helping Li Xuewu tidy his coat while observing Gu Ning.

Gu Ning didn't feel awkward under Zhou Wang Yamei's gaze, maintaining her calm expression.

"Is he really doing that... that thing?"

"What?"

"The thing he just said."

Gu Ning looked at Zhou Wang Yamei and shook her head, saying, "I don't know."

Zhou Wang Yamei looked at Gu Ning's expression and said annoyedly, "You two are just teasing me!"

Gu Ning smiled with pursed lips and looked toward the bathroom again.

She wasn't laughing at Zhou Wang Yamei; she was happy—happy that Li Xuewu was being honest with her.

When they were in the South, although they had occasional contact, they didn't have many opportunities to talk.

But since their blind date, Gu Ning's impression of Li Xuewu had been constantly changing.

The reason Gu Ning trusted Li Xuewu enough to go to the bookstore, the police station, and come to Steel City with him was that Li Xuewu had never lied to her.

When Li Xuewu came out, both of them were sitting quietly on the sofa, one drinking tea and the other watching the first drink tea.

"What's going on here?"

Li Xuewu walked over to them with a smile and sat down beside Gu Ning.

Gu Ning was now somewhat used to sitting next to Li Xuewu, with much less resistance.

Zhou Wang Yamei looked at Li Xuewu and asked, "Who was that person just now...?"

Li Xuewu glanced at Gu Ning, and seeing her head bowed, he smiled and said, "He really was a broker."

"Mm~"

Zhou Wang Yamei frowned, stole a glance at Li Xuewu, and stopped talking.

"Hahahaha."

Li Xuewu looked at the nervous Zhou Wang Yamei and said, "Don't be afraid, I was just joking earlier."

"Hiss."

Zhou Wang Yamei looked up at Li Xuewu and asked, "Really?"

"Really."

Li Xuewu waved his hand and said, "You know my identity. Do you think I would do that kind of thing?"

"No."

Zhou Wang Yamei shook her head and denied it, "Your future is bright; why would you care about such a small profit?"

"Hahahaha."

Li Xuewu said with a smile, "Thanks for the compliment, but that person really is a material broker."

"Mm~"

Zhou Wang Yamei was so startled by Li Xuewu that she almost bit her tongue. She stared at him, wanting to hear that this was also a joke.

But Li Xuewu didn't say that; instead, he continued, "If he comes looking for me in the future, just tell the truth, or you can call me."

"Why did he come looking for you? Aren't you...?"

"Aren't I what?"

Li Xuewu looked at Zhou Wang Yamei with a smile and said, "I'm neither a Steel City police officer nor a club guard. What business is it of mine?"

Zhou Wang Yamei didn't know how to answer Li Xuewu. It sounded reasonable, yet it also sounded like nonsense.

Gu Ning, sitting on the side, saw it clearly: this man loved to talk nonsense with a straight face.

Li Xuewu saw Gu Ning smiling with her head down and leaned closer to ask, "Is there anything you want to play, or somewhere you want to go?"

Gu Ning looked up at Li Xuewu and asked, "Is your case over?"

Seeing Gu Ning ask this, Zhou Wang Yamei also looked over.

Li Xuewu nodded and said, "Tomorrow night, we're setting off back to Beijing."

"Then take me to the train station tomorrow."

Gu Ning moved to the side; she still wasn't used to Li Xuewu's closeness.

"If you want to play something, I can come out tomorrow."

Gu Ning looked into Li Xuewu's eyes, raised her hand to push his face away, and said, "Go back to Beijing. My mother will be worried if I'm out for too long."

Li Xuewu nodded and said, "Alright, I'll take you to the train station tomorrow."

After settling this with Li Xuewu, Gu Ning went upstairs, leaving Zhou Wang Yamei frowning at Li Xuewu.

"Leaving so soon?"

Li Xuewu noticed Zhou Wang Yamei's mood and asked with a smile, "Can't bear to see me go?"

Zhou Wang Yamei gave Li Xuewu a smiling glare and said, "I have to say, I really can't bear to lose this lively atmosphere."

Li Xuewu leaned back on the sofa and asked with a smile, "Don't you find it annoying when there are too many people?"

"Not at all."

Zhou Wang Yamei lowered her head and thought for a moment, then said, "Even Zhidong has become much more cheerful lately."

Li Xuewu looked at the vibrant woman who seemed so lonely, feeling sorry for Fu Haibo and for Zhou Wang Yamei as well.

"It's only a day and a night by train from Steel City to Beijing; it's not far."

Li Xuewu said with a smile, "If you want to go to Beijing to play, just call me, and I'll arrange a train ticket for you."

"A Steel Mill one?"

"Yes."

"Aren't you afraid of people gossiping?"

"Nonsense."

Li Xuewu chuckled lightly, "The 'people' you're talking about are from the Steel Mill. I guarantee no one would dare to gossip. As for the Rolling Mill, my reputation is solid enough."

Looking at Li Xuewu's proud expression, Zhou Wang Yamei smiled and said, "Alright, if I want to go, I'll call you."

Li Xuewu nodded and went upstairs to rest.

Zhou Wang Yamei sat on the sofa in front of the fireplace, lost in thought for a long time.

On Wednesday, Li Xuewu got busy, first communicating with the Steel Mill via phone to request a sleeper ticket to Beijing.

He even used Yang Shuji's credentials to get this sleeper ticket.

Li Xuewu was afraid his Division Chief rank might not be enough.

To his surprise, as soon as Li Xuewu asked, Yang Yuansong handled it for him.

Secondly, Yang Shuji told Li Xuewu over the phone that Yang Mingsu had confessed—everything that needed to be confessed had been confessed.

This led to even more phone calls from the Rolling Mill.

Li Xuewu took Gu Ning to the train station during breakfast time.

Zhou Wang Yamei stood in the living room with her son, watching reluctantly as Li Xuewu walked downstairs carrying Gu Ning's bag.

Gu Ning touched Zhidong's little face and followed Li Xuewu out the door.

Li Xuewu put the luggage in the car, turned back, and said to Zhou Wang Yamei, "Go back inside. It's cold; don't let the child catch a cold."

"Alright."

Although Zhou Wang Yamei said "alright," her feet didn't move.

Unknowingly, over these past few days, Li Xuewu had become like a great tree for her, providing the sense of security she and her son had been lacking.

Although Li Xuewu was always out during the day, Zhou Wang Yamei felt at ease just listening to the snoring from the next bedroom at night.

Li Xuewu got into the car and said to Zhou Wang Yamei, "I won't be back tonight; I'm heading straight back to Beijing. If anything happens, just call me."

"Alright."

Li Xuewu smiled at Zhidong, who was standing close to Zhou Wang Yamei, and then stepped on the gas to start the car.

"Mom, will Uncle come back?"

"Yes."

Zhou Wang Yamei held her son's hand and stood at the door, watching Li Xuewu's car drive away before heading back inside.

"Mom, will we go to Beijing?"

Zhou Wang Yamei looked down at her son, who was looking up at her, and asked, "Do you want to go to Beijing?"

Zhidong lowered his head and walked into the house with small steps.

When he reached the sofa, he suddenly turned around, looked at Zhou Wang Yamei, and said, "I miss Dad."

This sentence suddenly made Zhou Wang Yamei's tears burst out.

She knew her son's thoughts all too well; Zhidong had cried for a long time the night Fu Haibo was taken away.

"Zhidong, be good."

Zhou Wang Yamei walked to the sofa and held her son in her arms.

Although she was still crying, she choked back her tears to comfort her son, "Mom is here. Mom will take good care of you."

"Mom~"

"Be good."

These words were to comfort her son, but also to encourage herself.

Everything is fate; nothing is entirely up to oneself.

Li Xuewu carried the luggage onto the platform. Although Gu Ning had told him to wait by himself and go back to work, Li Xuewu waited until the train arrived and settled Gu Ning into her carriage before getting off.

Steel City wasn't a major station, so the train only stopped for 3 minutes.

Li Xuewu stood on the platform, waved to Gu Ning through the window, and only turned back to head to the Steel Mill after the train pulled away.

It was quiet when he left in the morning, but the Steel Mill was bustling now.

As soon as Li Xuewu parked the car, he saw a group of people standing in the lobby looking toward him.

"What's going on?"

Li Xuewu frowned, slammed the car door shut, and asked Han Zhan, who was walking over.

Han Zhan looked back and then said to Li Xuewu, "The family of the one who died last night."

Li Xuewu nodded knowingly, buttoned his coat, and walked inside.

As soon as Li Xuewu entered, a woman rushed over, looking like she wanted to scratch Li Xuewu's face.

Li Xuewu frowned, glanced at the few people following behind the woman, and raised his hand to deliver a slap.

"Smack!"

This slap sent the woman rushing toward him flying in a different direction, and she sprawled onto the water-polished floor tiles.

"Ah!"

The woman let out a cry after landing, then sat on the floor clutching her face, looked behind her, and pointed at Li Xuewu, saying, "You damn thing! You want our whole family's life!"

As she spoke, seeing Li Xuewu ignoring her and heading toward the stairs, she started shouting loudly.

"Ah! He's hitting people!"

"Ah! I don't want to live anymore!"

"Ah..."

Li Xuewu stopped at the foot of the stairs, turned back, and said to Han Zhan, who was standing at the door, "Since she doesn't want to live, then fulfill her request. Treat her as an accomplice in the assault, disturbing the peace, and the Fu Haibo case."

After saying this, he didn't pay any attention to the others who had come with the woman and went straight upstairs.

Han Zhan waved his hand, called over a few guards, and prepared to handcuff the woman who was still wailing.

A woman wearing a brown wool-collared coat reached out and stopped Han Zhan.

"Han Gu-zhang, what is the meaning of this?"

This woman had previously communicated with the Steel Mill, which was how she managed to get to the guesthouse.

But seeing the heavy security at the guesthouse, she knew they were handling a case.

However, she wasn't a pushover, and since she had nothing to do with the case, she naturally wasn't afraid of these people.

When she came looking for them this morning, only this Li Kezhang Han was there, so she had communicated with him for a while.

But Han Zhan ignored her, only telling her that due to the confidentiality regulations of the case, he couldn't say anything.

Han Zhan also knew the woman's identity, because the Steel Mill cadre who accompanied her this morning had told him.

Her surname was Zhong, and she worked at the city library.

"It doesn't mean anything. You previously said you came to coordinate, but you didn't say you came to retaliate against our leader," Han Zhan said, looking at the woman surnamed Zhong.

"If you had said you were going to do this, I definitely wouldn't have paid any attention to you."

Zhong Huilian put her hands in her coat pockets, looked at her sister-in-law sitting on the floor, and turned to Han Zhan, saying, "My sister-in-law was anxious. Now that you've hit her, there's no need to drag in the assault or the case, right?"

Zhong Huilian hadn't come out of pure anger; she had checked Li Xuewu's connections overnight.

The conclusion was that this side was not to be trifled with—she didn't know how deep the roots went, but the man was very overbearing.

Nie Liansheng, who had coordinated with her brother last night, had told Zhong Huilian very clearly today while sporting a white bandage on his head.

He was overbearing, ruthless, and had a special status; he didn't dare to provoke him.

That meant if she had the ability, she could go deal with it herself.

Old Zhong was her brother, and her sister-in-law was crying and begging her, so she had to manage it somehow.

Letting her sister-in-law scratch Li Xuewu was a clever trick she had thought of. She thought if she scratched him and they started fighting, it wouldn't look good for a man to hit a woman.

In that case, the situation would be unclear, and she could at least gain a little moral high ground.

But she never expected her sister-in-law to be so useless; she hadn't even reached him before being slapped to the ground.

Her sister-in-law was also aggrieved—why don't you try that strength yourself?

Han Zhan looked at Zhong Huilian and said, "Our leader is not just a leader of the factory; you should also know his other identity. Grabbing at him without him pulling a gun is already showing enough restraint."

As he spoke, he signaled for his men to move.

Zhong Huilian grabbed Han Zhan, saying, "Han Gu-zhang, we were indeed in the wrong, but you know we came with the intention of solving the problem."

Han Zhan looked at Zhong Huilian and said, "My intentions were also good. I could tell you were a cultured and dignified person. You didn't tell me about your background when you came in, so I thought I'd help you out."

"Yes."

Zhong Huilian nodded and said, "I came today representing myself, as a family member of the Zhong family, to solve the problem."

Han Zhan pointed at the woman sitting on the floor and said, "Can you make her be quiet?"

As he spoke, he signaled the guards to disperse and said to Zhong Huilian, "You should know about this case from certain channels. Whoever gets involved dies. The case is about to be closed, yet the Zhong family's sixth son had to go and throw himself into it."

"This..."

Han Zhan ignored Zhong Huilian's words and continued, "Don't talk about whether it's unjust or not. Just look at the temperament of the Zhong family's men, and you'll know what's going on."

Zhong Huilian frowned and said, "I've learned about what happened to Xiao Liuzi from the city bureau. Actually, it didn't have to come to this."

"Still not convinced?"

Han Zhan sneered and said, "His classmates said it themselves, and the Steel Mill's security department was there too. If there were objections, why didn't you say anything then?"

"Furthermore, our security guards had already rushed in to pull the two female comrades out. Why did your sixth son still have to go after the female comrades with a dagger?"

Zhong Huilian also knew they were in the wrong. Her brother and sister-in-law spoiled the child, but she, as the aunt, could see it clearly.

"Let's not talk about Xiao Liuzi's matter for now..."

Han Zhan waved his hand to stop Zhong Huilian and said with a firm look, "If Zhong Laoliu hadn't been so reckless, none of this would have happened. You guys should discuss it before talking to me."

"If... if..."

Old Zhong's wife heard Han Zhan's words and let out a cry, then tears really fell. She crawled toward Han Zhan, wanting to hug his leg.

Han Zhan whipped out his gun from his waist and pointed it directly at the wailing woman's head.

Then, with a voice colder than the air outside, he said, "Are you asking for a beating? I've already warned you once. If you dare to reach out again, I'll shoot you!"

Old Zhong's wife let out a "ga" sound, stifling her cry in her throat.

Looking at the pitch-black muzzle in front of her, she trembled uncontrollably.

Han Zhan glanced at Zhong Huilian, whose face was pale, then nudged her with the gun, put it back in his waist, and headed to the duty room on the first floor.

Zhong Huilian frowned and stepped forward to help her sister-in-law up from the floor.

"Stop making a scene. This isn't the Steel Mill, and these people aren't the cadres from the Steel Mill, nor are they the local police."

"But... but what about your brother and the others?"

Old Zhong's wife cried, holding her sister-in-law's hand, "You can't just abandon your brother, or else..."

She gripped Zhong Huilian's hand tightly, her eyes full of pleading. "Let the child's aunt's husband..."

"It's useless."

Zhong Huilian shook her head and said, "He won't make that call. It's taboo, and if they don't give him face, he won't be able to stay in the agency anymore."

Seeing her sister-in-law didn't believe her, Zhong Huilian sighed and pulled her to the rest area to sit down, then signaled for the other relatives to sit.

"Let me say one thing. If you don't agree, I won't manage this matter, and I won't care anymore."

"Aunt!"

Old Zhong's wife held her sister-in-law's hand and said, "You are the backbone of our family. You can't abandon us at a time like this!"

Zhong Huilian held her sister-in-law's hand and said, "Listen to me first."

"Okay, okay."

Seeing her sister-in-law nod and the other relatives remain silent, Zhong Huilian said, "Xiao Liuzi's matter ends here. Don't mention it again. Let the authorities handle it according to their opinion."

"But..."

Zhong Huilian ignored her sister-in-law and continued, "Write a statement. Don't pursue this matter in the future."

"But I have to count on my brother..."

Zhong Huilian looked at her sister-in-law and the relatives and said, "No matter how bad my brother's temper is, can it be worse than the authorities? Write it if I tell you to. Otherwise, they'll write it themselves."

She knew the ways of the police; once someone is inside, there's no such thing as a "tough guy." They'd confess everything, even when they wet the bed as a child.

Old Zhong's wife had lost her nerve and turned to the relatives.

These relatives didn't want to come in the first place, knowing it was trouble.

But since Zhong Huilian was here, they wouldn't suffer a loss, so they were just here to make up the numbers; none of them were here to fight for the Zhong family.

If it weren't for Zhong Huilian, these relatives wouldn't even associate with the Zhong family.

Now that Zhong Huilian had spoken, and Old Zhong's wife was looking at them, everyone started chiming in, urging her to write it quickly before the people left or changed their minds.

Seeing everyone saying this, Old Zhong's wife could only beg her sister-in-law to write the guarantee.

Zhong Huilian sighed, walked to the front desk to borrow paper and a pen, and wrote a statement and guarantee regarding Xiao Liuzi's situation.

She also wrote a statement and guarantee regarding her brother and the children, then handed it to her sister-in-law to sign.

While her sister-in-law was signing, Zhong Huilian was about to get up to find Han Zhan when she saw Han Zhan walking out of the duty room.

She thought Han Zhan was coming to find her, but she saw him trot to the lobby, salute the man surnamed Li who was coming downstairs, and say something.

Then she saw Han Zhan trot off to get the car.

"Han Gu-zhang!"

Zhong Huilian hurried two steps to the door to stop Han Zhan and said, "We've discussed it."

Han Zhan frowned and said, "I have a mission now. I don't have time. Wait."

As he spoke, he started the command car from the driver's seat, turned it around, and drove away.

Just then, Li Xuewu didn't even look at Zhong Huilian and the others, acting as if they didn't exist, and went straight upstairs.

Zhong Huilian looked at Han Zhan's car and then at Li Xuewu's back, feeling indescribably frustrated.

"How...?"

Old Zhong's wife watched Han Zhan leave, and seeing her sister-in-law walk back with a dark face, she asked, "Did they change their minds?"

"No."

Zhong Huilian said in a muffled voice, "They said they have a mission and told us to wait."

She had never suffered such indignity in Steel City. Her husband was also a division-level cadre; wherever he went, people fawned over him.

Today, she had truly lost face for her family's affairs.

The key was that she couldn't even find anyone to help, because it wasn't something she could talk about.

Molesting a woman and getting killed—there was no honor in that.

Even though she had told Nie Liansheng not to spread it, the agency was already buzzing with the news of their family's affairs.

Good news doesn't leave the house, but bad news travels a thousand miles.

While Zhong Huilian was frustrated, Old Zhong's wife was anxious, and the relatives were impatient, more than an hour passed before they finally saw the car return.

It wasn't just one car that returned, but several jeeps.

Just as the cars stopped at the door, a few more people came down from upstairs.

Zhong Huilian only recognized Li Xuewu; the others were probably cadres from the Steel Mill.

Seeing that something was happening, Zhong Huilian pulled her sister-in-law and didn't go forward.

Han Zhan slammed the car door shut and opened the guesthouse door for the group that followed.

"Leaders, please come in."

"Hahaha, you've learned to be polite after going out with the Li Kezhang?"

Xu Ning patted Han Zhan on the shoulder and greeted him, then led the others into the guesthouse.

Inside the guesthouse lobby, Li Xuewu and Yang Zongfang stood in the middle, facing the door, greeting everyone.

Xu Ning walked a few steps toward Li Xuewu, stood at attention, saluted, and said, "Report, Xu Ning has arrived. Please give your instructions."

"Hahaha."

Li Xuewu returned the salute and said to Yang Zongfang, who was standing to the side, "There, one of the best cadres in the Security Section has arrived."

"Hahaha."

Yang Zongfang reached out and shook hands with Xu Ning, who had just entered, and said with a smile, "We're comrades in the same trench from now on. Let's not stand on ceremony; unity conquers all."

These words had a hidden meaning.

Yang Zongfang knew Xu Ning wasn't his man and wouldn't become his man, but that didn't stop him from using Xu Ning.

And he intended to use him heavily.

Xu Ning also knew his mission here, so he agreed with Yang Zongfang's "unity" statement.

Li Xuewu and Yang Zongfang greeted everyone to go upstairs to rest and wait for the cadre meeting in the afternoon.

This time, it wasn't just Xu Ning who came, but also Ding Feng from the broadcasting station, along with other cadres from personnel, engineering, finance, production, and other departments.

What Li Xuewu had confirmed with Yang Shuji in the morning was that ten section-level and deputy section-level cadres had come to be transferred to the Steel Mill.

And the corresponding positions at the Steel Mill would be transferred or moved to the Rolling Mill.

This move actually had both pros and cons.

But compared to the drawbacks, the benefits were imperative.

Han Zhan saw Zhong Huilian looking at him and walked to Li Xuewu's side to report in a low voice.

Zhong Huilian saw the man surnamed Li frown and say a few words, and Li Kezhang Han look troubled as he replied.

Then she saw the man surnamed Li glance their way and turn to go upstairs.

Han Zhan walked over, looking at Zhong Huilian and Old Zhong's wife with expectant eyes.

"How did the discussion go?"

Zhong Huilian nudged her sister-in-law's arm. Old Zhong's wife opened her mouth, and under her sister-in-law's signal, she took out a few sheets of paper and said, "We plead guilty. We submit. As long as our family head and the children can come out, that's all."

Han Zhan frowned, took the papers, read them, and said, "If it weren't for the fact that you're all women and crying, I really wouldn't want to deal with you."

"Yes, yes, yes. You've worked hard, comrade."

Zhong Huilian saw that her sister-in-law was being submissive and didn't say anything. She knew Han Zhan was just saying polite words, but she didn't want to cause any more trouble, so she just had to endure it.

"Hahaha."

Li Xuewu returned the salute to Xu Ning and then said to Yang Zongfang, who was standing on the side, "There, one of the best cadres in the security section has arrived."

As he spoke, he said to Xu Ning, "From now on, you will carry out your work under the leadership of Comrade Zongfang. Learn more, ask for instructions more, and report diligently."

"Hahaha."

Yang Zongfang extended his hand to shake Xu Ning's, who had just entered, and said with a smile, "From now on, we are comrades in the same trench; let's not do those superficial things. Unity conquers all."

These words had a hidden meaning.

Yang Zongfang knew that Xu Ning wasn't his person and wouldn't become his person, but that didn't prevent him from using Xu Ning.

And he would even use him heavily.

Xu Ning also knew his mission for coming here, so he also agreed with Yang Zongfang's statement of "unity."

Li Xuewu and Yang Zongfang greeted everyone to go upstairs to rest and wait for the cadre meeting in the afternoon.

It wasn't just Xu Ning who came this time, but also Ding Feng from the broadcasting station, as well as cadres from other departments such as personnel, engineering, finance, and production who came to exchange.

What Li Xuewu confirmed with Yang Shuji in the morning was that ten section-level and deputy-section-level cadres had come to be transferred to the steel mill this time.

And the corresponding positions on the steel mill side would be transferred or moved to the rolling mill.

This move actually had both advantages and disadvantages.

But compared to the disadvantages, the advantages were imperative.

Seeing Zhong Huilian looking at him from over there, Han Zhan walked to Li Xuewu's side and reported in a low voice while pulling Li Xuewu's arm.

Zhong Huilian saw that Li surnamed person frown and say a few words, and Li Kezhang Han also had a bitter face and said a few things.

Only then did she see that Li surnamed person glance over here and turn to go upstairs.

Han Zhan walked over under the expectant gaze of Zhong Huilian and Old Zhong's wife.

"How did the discussion go?"

Zhong Huilian nudged her sister-in-law's arm; Old Zhong's wife opened her mouth, and under her sister-in-law's gesture, she took out a few sheets of paper and said, "We plead guilty, we submit; as long as our head of the house and the children can come out, it's fine."

Han Zhan frowned, took the papers, looked at them, and said, "If it weren't for seeing that you are all women and all crying, I really wouldn't want to deal with you."

"Yes, yes, yes, you've worked hard, Comrade."

Zhong Huilian saw her sister-in-law's submissiveness at this moment and didn't say anything; she knew Han Zhan was just saying polite words, but she didn't want to cause any extra trouble and could only endure it.