[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-siheyuan-food-love-and-family-in-1960s-beiji":3,"chapter-the-siheyuan-food-love-and-family-in-1960s-beiji-the-siheyuan-food-love-and-family-in-1960s-beiji-chapter-38":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Siheyuan: Food, Love, and Family in 1960s Beijing",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2314088,4526,"Chapter 38","the-siheyuan-food-love-and-family-in-1960s-beiji-chapter-38",38,"\u003Cp>After the events of last night, the workers in the workshop and the gate guards all confessed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoever was involved had to sign and affix their fingerprint.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the end, only Wang Jindong and Gu Ke remained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Jindong was interrogated by Chief Shen, while Gu Ke was questioned by the other two patrol officers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Professional matters require professional people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was already past nine, and the entire factory compound had spread the news.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu initially listened at the door, then went to the cafeteria to order meals for thirteen people and had the guard team deliver them to the office building.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While ordering food at the cafeteria, Sha Zhu asked Li Xuewu for updates, and Liu Lan and the others strained to listen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu smiled and said to Sha Zhu: “Don’t ask what you shouldn’t ask—have you forgotten what your master told you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This left Sha Zhu blushing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Li Xuewu returned to the building, Chief Shen pulled him into the office and said: “They’ve all confessed, and it implicates a few others—one is Wang Jindong’s younger brother, Wang Weidong, who was responsible for monitoring the guard team and security department’s movements, often covering for them; he essentially acted as Wang Jindong’s spy planted with Gu Ke. There are two recycling points for the parts—one machine repair shop. What’s your stance?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu said: “Wang Weidong should be interrogated by the factory. Send people from your side to investigate the recycling points and the machine repair shop. You handle it directly, Chief Shen. Once you’ve confirmed the facts, I’ll report to leadership. Let’s finalize everything this afternoon—how’s that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Fang knew this was a trade: three recycling points’ credit in exchange for possible coordination from factory leadership.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t care—they were all factory employees who had to heed leadership’s opinion—but the case was too big, leaving little room for negotiation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Shen Fang agree, Li Xuewu took him to make the phone calls to arrange arrests.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Weidong was apprehended by two patrol officers with a guard team member in a Jeep—it went smoothly. On their return, he even glared at Li Xuewu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After waiting about half an hour, Shen Fang handed Li Xuewu eleven interrogation records.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Fang spoke in a low, uneasy voice: “Wang Jindong’s affair with his sister-in-law can’t be prosecuted—she pursued him, and Wang Weidong volunteered to deliver her. At most, they’ll get a reprimand and education.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This made Li Xuewu want to go inside and interrogate them himself to uncover the salacious details for readers—but Shen Fang refused outright, saying he wasn’t married and it wasn’t appropriate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So Li Xuewu didn’t witness this part and doesn’t know the details—blame Shen Fang for meddling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu reviewed each record one by one and muttered, “Damn,”—over two years, the case involved over ten thousand yuan, and chaos was coming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu first called Dong Wenhua, then took the interrogation records to Fu Bin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fu Bin was furious—the usually impassive old man cursed under his breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu said sternly: “This self-inspection by the rolling mill, properly organized, has successfully unearthed the factory’s pests. This is due to leadership’s sharp vision, the Security Department’s competent command, and the decisive action of the Public Security Squad and Factory Guard Team—resulting in the ultimate victory in cracking the major 11*18 theft case.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fu Bin took off his glasses, wiped them, and sighed: “Leadership has long been dissatisfied with high losses and insufficient security forces. I never imagined it would escalate to this—there’s a rotten apple in the Security Department. It’s my fault.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He paused, then added: “The Public Security Squad did an excellent job, withstood pressure, and solved the case. No words needed—you’re a good soldier. Come, let’s report to Deputy Factory Director Li.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiaoshuting\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fu Bin left his office and led Li Xuewu to Deputy Factory Director Li Huai’s office.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deputy Director Li had been waiting. After reviewing the interrogation records and the joint case summary written by Li Xuewu and Shen Fang, he slammed his fist on the desk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Vermin! Vermin!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu thought: “No way. No way?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But aloud he said: “Punish past mistakes to prevent future ones, treat the illness to save the patient. Director, you identified the problem, and Director Fu handled it promptly—this has greatly reduced the losses.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deputy Director Li shook his head: “I’m responsible—if only we’d caught it sooner.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fu Bin added: “It’s the Security Department’s fault—we failed to protect the factory’s assets.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deputy Director Li said to Fu Bin: “If we’d had someone like Li Xuewu earlier, this disaster wouldn’t have happened. We all need to reflect.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Damn, what’s this got to do with me? Can’t let them tie me in!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu quickly interjected: “It’s all thanks to Director’s strategic planning, Director Fu’s competent command, and both leaders’ full support that I was able to successfully crack the case. Throughout, I never received a single plea call from either of you—that’s the real key to solving cases.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deputy Director Li pointed at Li Xuewu and said to Fu Bin: “Look—this is what talent looks like. I think Li Xuewu belongs in the Security Department—it’s the right decision. You must make good use of talent!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fu Bin nodded: “Yes, we’ll make good use of Li Xuewu.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A rugged life truly needs no explanation—no one mentioned Li Xuewu’s role in Hu Jinbu’s project anymore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There’s a saying: if you arrive at your destination on time, few care whether you drove a Mercedes or a tractor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly, Li Xuewu wanted to drive a Mercedes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu said: “I’ve already coordinated with Shen Fang—he’s assigned the machine repair shop and two recycling points to the station for handling. The disposition of these thirteen people can take factory leadership’s opinion into account.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deputy Director Li said: “In my opinion, all should be prosecuted. Go back and wait for orders. I’ll report to Factory Director Yang immediately, call a meeting, and discuss it. Fu, come with me. Oh, and those two women—I’ll speak with them later. Too undisciplined.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu stood, saluted, and left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His part was over—he returned to the office building, warmed up last night’s leftovers, and ate with Shen Fang and the others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The factory leadership meeting lasted two hours without a meal, and issued this directive: “Prosecute all except the two women—send the women to Deputy Director Li’s office; he will reprimand them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu nodded. Yeah, they definitely needed a good scolding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Outside, he thought: the warehouse falls under Production Management, the workshop workers too—all under Factory Director Yang. Though the Security Department reports to Deputy Director Li, the case was handled by the Security Department.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed previous times Yang had protected Wang Jindong had now been dragged into this. This time, Deputy Director Li had caught him by the tail, and Yang dared not cover it up—he’d rather admit managerial failure than be accused of shielding criminals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Fang, naturally pleased, made the calls, and with Li Xuewu and the guard team’s help, escorted the eleven to the detention center.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Li Xuewu returned, it was afternoon. He went to Fu Bin’s office to report and happened to see the two women, who had been sent to Deputy Director Li’s office that morning, smiling brightly as they descended the stairs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Damn! They got scolded all afternoon—Deputy Director Li’s stamina’s impressive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After leaving Fu Bin’s office, he went to Dong Wenhua’s to report, then changed clothes and strolled home.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d been on night duty, so he left early—no one was watching anymore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xuewu strode his long legs into the city before four, strolling toward the Beixinqiao Supply and Marketing Cooperative.\u003C\u002Fp>",1274,"2026-06-20T13:46:54.288Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","0de1016906e324833b3f776248eff8f2bc76eb3c770cd0c98b50f1f10b23372f","the-siheyuan-food-love-and-family-in-1960s-beiji-chapter-39","the-siheyuan-food-love-and-family-in-1960s-beiji-chapter-37",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-siheyuan-food-love-and-family-in-1960s-beiji-cover.jpg"]