Chapter 550: An Eye for an Eye

A dog jumps over a wall when desperate; a rabbit bites when cornered.

These two phrases seem to express the ruthlessness of the outcome, but in reality, they emphasize the helplessness of the cause.

If there were a good outcome, who would need to use these two phrases?

The most arrogant boast upon reaching the shore is, of course, "With the spring breeze, the horse's hooves are swift; in a single day, I see all the flowers of Chang'an."

Director Guandong's current state is that of a startled rabbit after seeing its dog beaten; he is looking at the top of the wall, hesitating.

If he could avoid jumping this wall, Director Guandong would still prefer not to jump.

Because he doesn't know what's on the other side of that wall, and the probability of exposing his body to injury is even greater.

Having received the call from his superior, he no longer has any respect or composure; it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say he was hoarse from shouting.

Just looking at his hand, which was bulging with veins from gripping the telephone receiver too tightly, one could tell that his heart did not want to answer any of Huhu Huisheng's questions at all.

"You must clean up the loose ends!"

"I don't need you to teach me how to do my job!"

Hearing the demand from the other side, Director Guandong replied without even thinking, and by the time he had prepared his next response, the other party had already hung up.

"Damn it!"

After asking back twice and receiving no response from the phone, Director Guandong slammed the receiver down and cursed, "A bunch of leeches! Starving ghosts! Bastards!"

"What's wrong?"

A middle-aged woman, looking like a noble lady, walked over carrying a cup of tea and asked with concern.

Seeing the phone hanging off the hook on the small table beside the sofa, the woman asked in a gentle tone, "Did something happen at work?"

"Nothing."

Director Guandong rubbed his face and collapsed onto the sofa.

The woman was Director Guandong's wife, the daughter of an old-society bureaucratic family; she was well-read, polite, gentle, and virtuous—the only thing she couldn't do was earn money.

However, when it came to spending money, this lady could spend it in all sorts of creative ways.

At this time, when worker families and cadre families improved their lives, it usually meant adding a few meat dishes.

But look at Director Guandong's house; big fish and meat never appeared on the dining table because it wasn't healthy.

The lives of the rich had long since detached from the pleasures of the palate, focusing more on the sense of superiority in their quality of life.

For example, Mrs. Director Guan's silk pajamas, the genuine leather sofa in the living room, the expensive furniture, clocks, and so on.

If one didn't come to the house, who would know that Director Director Guan's home was living such a wealthy life?

Just like this Mrs. Director Guan, all the items in this house were flowers and decorations meant to set off Director Guandong's extravagant style.

But now, in Director Guandong's eyes, these decorations were sharp swords piercing his chest.

When did he start living this kind of life? If he didn't have these material enjoyments now, how good it would be to be an upright cadre.

Antiques, calligraphy, paintings, silk, satin, gold, silver, and jewelry—in Director Guandong's current view, these things could not be taken with him, nor could they be kept.

The things he had worked so hard to get might no longer be his after tonight.

Enjoyment?

This probably needs to be put in quotation marks, because he had to maintain an image of clarity and integrity; even his enjoyment was a furtive act hidden under the cover of night.

Even this wife, who seemed to care for him but was actually hypocritical and greedy, enjoyed more than he did.

If he fell, this woman would tear off the hypocritical mask of affection without mercy and turn away from him.

How much emotional dependence could a woman who tolerated his debauchery outside have on him?

Director Guandong did not answer his wife's concern; he just covered his face and leaned back on the sofa, his brain spinning rapidly, searching for his own path to survival.

The food factory had been raided, Old Mu was dead, but the transport team was still there.

The gambling den had been smashed, Ma Wen Saner was dead, but those who ran the den were still there.

The club had been swept, Yu Min had run away, but the art troupe was still there.

Steel City, a city of distorted prosperity, had brought Director Guandong the opportunity for great wealth, but it had also shackled his fate.

"Yin Mei, make a call. Tell Haishan to go to the ferry."

After thinking for five or six minutes, Director Guandong took his hands off his face and ordered his wife in a low, forceful voice, while he himself went to pick up the still-hanging phone.

"What?!!"

Mrs. Director Guan stood up in surprise, as if she hadn't understood Director Guandong's words, instantly losing all the grace and image of a noble lady.

This wasn't a simple, casual remark; it was a code Director Guandong and his family had set—a code for escape.

Mrs. Director Guan was a pampered lady from the old society, but she wasn't a fool who understood nothing.

Comparing the things she enjoyed with the lives of those around her, she knew this wasn't something her husband's salary could support.

Although she had never shown it in front of outsiders, let alone bullied others, the arrival of this day still made her choose not to believe it.

Director Guandong didn't explain more to her; he hung up the phone and picked it up again to ask for an address.

Mrs. Director Guan was so panicked she didn't know how to move; the first thing she thought of wasn't the Haishan her husband mentioned, but her current status, jewelry, clothes, and so on.

Because she didn't want to suffer the pain of childbirth, and because her husband always had people outside, Yin Mei appeared particularly magnanimous regarding the issue of having children.

As long as they didn't live together, it was fine.

Therefore, Director Guan Haishan, Director Guandong's only son, had always lived with his biological mother.

Now that Director Guandong was leaving, he naturally had to take his son with him. He knew very clearly the mistakes he had committed, and he knew even better what kind of treatment his child would receive if he remained in the country.

While Director Guandong was on the phone, Yin Mei had already gone to find suitcases to pack things.

In the face of a roaring storm, even the most elegant things become like the belongings of ordinary families, because there is no difference in essence.

Steel Mill.

After the meal, there were polite pleasantries and goodbyes.

Li Li Xuewu had to stay here for a while, so everyone was restrained.

After all, everyone sitting at the table was a division-level cadre; how could they let themselves appear so unsightly?

After seeing a few people off, Li Li Xuewu and Dong Wenxue sat in the lobby's rest area.

For one thing, Li Li Xuewu had already seen people being brought back; for another, the lobby was more spacious, making it more convenient to talk about things.

Dong Wenxue and Li Li Xuewu sat in a corner drinking tea. After a waiter refilled their tea, he kept watching them from the bar.

Li Li Xuewu glanced at him with some discomfort; this was the waiter Dong Wenxue had, as Xu Ning had told him.

Heh, since when did waiters become exclusive?

Li Li Xuewu actually had some opinions about his teacher on this point, but as the head of a branch factory, it was natural to have some privileges; it was understandable.

Coming here this time wasn't to give advice to his teacher, and he didn't want to get involved in his teacher's family affairs.

So, after glancing at him, Li Li Xuewu started talking with Dong Wenxue.

In the office this morning, many things couldn't be said properly; Li Li Xuewu was reserved, and Dong Wenxue didn't trust his own office.

This wasn't a matter of being bugged or not, but a simple psychological defense.

If it weren't for the fact that Li Li Xuewu still had things to attend to, Dong Wenxue would actually have preferred to take Li Li Xuewu out for a walk.

It would have been more appropriate to talk while strolling through the steel mill's factory area.

Fortunately, the lobby was spacious enough to give them space, allowing Li Li Xuewu to discuss what was on his mind with Dong Wenxue.

Large trucks returned from time to time, and the factory security and the person in charge of the team brought the captured people into the lobby.

Seeing Li Li Xuewu and Dong Wenxue talking in the corner, no one came to disturb them.

All procedures had been notified; everyone knew their responsibilities and tasks. After sending the people to the temporary detention room isolated on the first floor, the personnel organized by the Discipline Inspection and Investigation Department began the interrogation work.

"Ah! It hurts~~~"

Li Li Xuewu was in the middle of speaking when he was interrupted by the howling coming from the isolation area.

Wang Wang Shumin, who was standing at the bar watching them and waiting to serve tea, was also startled. Looking at the empty corridor of the isolation area, that roar was still echoing.

Women are naturally timid; Wang Wang Shumin was scared pale, and couldn't help but walk toward the corner of the lobby.

In her perception, it seemed that only this corner could give her a sense of security now.

Li Li Xuewu frowned as he looked at the waiter who had walked over, and beckoned to the security guard standing duty in the isolation area.

The security guard naturally knew who Li Li Xuewu was, and knew even better what Li Li Xuewu's beckoning meant.

The security guard who trotted over and the waiter arrived at the corner at the same time.

Wang Wang Shumin, whose face was already pale from fright, became even more stunned and flustered upon hearing what Li Li Xuewu said to the security guard.

"Who handled this? Are your hands clumsy?"

Li Li Xuewu set down the teacup in his hand, making a "clack" sound on the coffee table, and said to the security guard with a serious and dissatisfied expression: "Tell them inside, if I hear any more noise, I'll have their leaders come back and teach them how to do their jobs."

"Yes!"

The security guard took the order and trotted back, leaving only the waiter looking at Li Li Xuewu in terror.

That was a scream just now; Li Li Xuewu didn't even mention that he had heard it, but instead complained about the person who made the noise.

"If it weren't for the fear of influence, I would have brought the factory guard team."

Li Li Xuewu explained to Dong Wenxue, pushed the teacup forward, and continued the topic from before.

Dong Wenxue glanced at Wang Wang Shumin and gestured toward Li Li Xuewu's teacup.

Wang Wang Shumin also understood what Li Li Xuewu meant by his words just now; this wasn't scaring the interrogator at all, it was clearly pointing at her.

With trembling hands, she picked up the teapot, refilled Li Li Xuewu's cup, and then hurriedly dodged away, returning to the bar.

Looking at the scarred-face young man sitting in the corner in a white short-sleeved shirt, black trousers, and black leather shoes, that outburst of anger just now made Wang Wang Shumin feel a chill rising from the soles of her feet.

Before, she had only heard that this Li Li Xuewu was strange; upon contact today, Wang Wang Shumin personally experienced that this person's majesty was no less than Dong Shuji's, but rather even greater.

Because Dong Shuji looked kind, cultured, and cultivated, while this person was ruthless and serious at a single glance.

She had only walked a few steps toward the corner because she was scared, yet he had noticed it and directly scolded her by pointing at someone else.

Wang Wang Shumin didn't know how many people knew about her affairs, but looking at Li Li Xuewu's eyes, she always felt that her little secrets had nowhere to hide.

Regardless of whether he knew about her affairs or not, as Dong Shuji's waiter, her status in his eyes was worthless.

This kind of grievance made her want to cry but not dare to, and she didn't even dare to change the expression on her face.

"Steel City's location is just right."

Li Li Xuewu crossed his legs, gestured a rough direction for Dong Wenxue, and explained: "Leaning against the mountains, connecting to the river, linked to Fengtian, and occupying resource advantages."

Dong Wenxue frowned and thought for a moment, saying: "Aren't the things you mentioned too difficult? Even if the things are produced, how will you sell them?"

"That depends on future changes."

Li Li Xuewu rubbed his palms this time; although there was hesitation in his words, his tone was very firm: "The foundation is the railway, relying on the steel mill's frontier office, the Beijing supply and marketing cooperative, the joint enterprise's relationship network, and so on."

Dong Wenxue rubbed his temples and said: "Let alone whether the joint enterprise exists or not, even if it were operational, it's not something you can control, let alone the frontier office that is currently mired in trouble."

"That's not necessarily true."

Li Li Xuewu pinched his hand and explained: "Li Li Huai De won't let go. When I suggested this to him, he was very clear about how much political influence the joint enterprise could create, even if it has been handed over to someone else now."

Dong Wenxue sighed and said: "The variables are too great; I'm afraid it will be a bamboo basket drawing water—all for nothing."

"What doesn't have a bit of risk?"

Li Li Xuewu raised his eyebrows and continued his exposition: "The second path is Li Li Huai De. He won't be able to ignore the seeds I planted in the design department and the production department."

"The harvest is constantly stimulating him, more seeds are sprouting, and with the obstruction of Yang Yang Fengshan and others, it's forcing him to pick up the furrows I've plowed and move forward."

When he said this, Li Li Xuewu chuckled, lowered his head slightly, and smiled: "When he reaches the end of the furrow, he will find that it's too late to turn back; he can only actively seek a breakthrough."

Dong Wenxue narrowed his eyes slightly as he looked at his student; Li Li Xuewu was a bit unfamiliar to him at this moment.

This cunning, this calculation—this wasn't something he could have taught Li Li Xuewu.

Based on this plan, was the teacher teaching the student, or was the student leading the teacher?

Wang Wang Shumin, who was watching from the bar, was also left speechless by Li Li Xuewu's smile; she really didn't know what ability this person had that could make Dong Shuji moved.

"And the method of breakthrough..."

Li Li Xuewu pointed to his own head, raised his head to look at Dong Wenxue, and said: "Only I can give it to him."

"So..."

Dong Wenxue narrowed his eyes, pondered, and said to Li Li Xuewu: "You prepared the carriage, I prepared the goods, and with Yang Yang Fengshan as the whip, you're driving the carriage Li Li Huai De is pulling forward?"

"Hahaha."

Li Li Xuewu couldn't help but laugh upon hearing his teacher's metaphor: "Although it's very vivid, I can't just admit it like that. After all, for a horse to run fast, the whip is one aspect, but fodder is also a very important factor."

Dong Wenxue looked at his student and sighed again, asking: "Am I old? Why do I have the illusion of being terrified?"

"Life itself is meant to have challenges."

Li Li Xuewu knew that Dong Wenxue was lamenting the idiom "the older the river, the more timid the heart," and was also pointing out to him whether he should be doing something so thrilling and stimulating.

The things he had planned with his teacher last December had already achieved their goals after half a year of effort.

They had even exceeded the established plan, and even the seeds buried just in case had sprouted and grown due to the east wind of the earthquake.

The storm was coming; what Li Li Xuewu was discussing with Dong Wenxue now was the next leg of the voyage.

Li Li Xuewu was already very clear about Yang Yang Fengshan's political thinking and character, and he was also very clear about whether the conflict between him and Li Li Huai De could be reconciled.

It could be said that in the coming struggle, if Yang Yang Fengshan didn't drive Li Li Huai De off his horse before the end of May, he basically wouldn't have a chance to turn things around.

Li Li Huai De was a person who had no faith, no bottom line, and would stop at nothing for his own interests.

A cadre like Yang Yang Fengshan, who was constrained everywhere and always thinking about balance, would definitely not be able to defeat Li Li Huai De.

Unless the waves didn't rise, but as long as Li Li Huai De seized the opportunity, he would stir up as big a wave as possible.

Therefore, Li Li Xuewu's political inclination was closer to Li Li Huai De's, and Dong Wenxue also agreed with this point.

Although the two of them now, and in the future, were not completely at Li Li Huai De's mercy, they were consistent in their overall direction.

Then, on the premise of ensuring their own safety, how to develop was the urgent task to be determined now.

Only by anchoring their goals could they handle the current contradictions well. Dong Wenxue and Li Li Xuewu both knew that this time, they couldn't take a single wrong step.

"Anything else?"

After thinking, Dong Wenxue looked at Li Li Xuewu and asked this.

In his impression, Li Li Xuewu never fought a battle he wasn't prepared for; whenever he did something, he was sure to have at least three paths—upper, middle, and lower.

Li Li Xuewu grinned, knowing his teacher agreed with his opinion, and couldn't help but look at Ji Wang Weidong, who was bringing people in through the door.

Ji Wang Weidong was also stunned to see Li Li Xuewu smiling at him.

"Are you an idiot? ~"

He didn't believe Li Li Xuewu would smile at him for no reason, and he didn't believe Li Li Xuewu was a person who loved to smile.

He hadn't done anything either; why was this brat smiling so wickedly at him?

Li Li Xuewu ignored Ji Wang Weidong and turned to look at Dong Wenxue.

Dong Wenxue also understood Li Li Xuewu's meaning and couldn't help but raise his eyebrows in surprise.

Actually, Ji Wang Weidong had misunderstood; Li Li Xuewu wasn't looking at him, but at Wen Wen Saner and Zhang Zhang Wanhe beside him.

Dong Wenxue naturally knew this too; he had no connection with the Investigation Department, and neither did Li Li Xuewu. Based on Li Li Xuewu's personality, apart from teaming up with Ji Wang Weidong to do something, he would never overstep his bounds.

"Privately, or publicly?"

Dong Wenxue wanted to ask how Li Li Xuewu would operate; after all, this kind of thing was simple to talk about, but not easy to do.

Public matters required reasonable and legal procedures and units; only private matters could exploit loopholes.

Li Li Xuewu looked at Ji Wang Weidong's blank expression and smiled wickedly: "How could such a damn thing be public~"

Ji Wang Weidong, standing at the door, saw Li Li Xuewu's wicked smile, turned to Wen Wen Saner, and asked: "Grass, is that brat mocking me?"

Wen Wen Saner rolled his eyes; they had just returned, mainly to coordinate with the interrogators, and they had to leave in a while.

When communicating with Zhang Zhang Wanhe just now, the old guy didn't know what he was thinking; he just kept smoking his pipe and only said a few words to Da Da Qiangzi, who had shown his face. Wen Wen Saner asked him, but he wouldn't say.

Li Li Xuewu was clearly talking to Dong Wenxue, so they didn't intend to go over.

But Ji Wang Weidong, seeing Li Li Xuewu's wicked smile upon entering, kept looking back suspiciously, and now he was asking about Li Li Xuewu directly.

What was Wen Wen Saner's relationship with Li Li Xuewu? Even if he knew what kind of person Li Li Xuewu was, would he help an outsider against his own people?

So he just rolled his eyes and ignored Ji Wang Weidong.

"What are you rolling your eyes for? I'm asking you a question~"

Ji Wang Weidong now highly suspected that Li Li Xuewu was plotting against him, and confirming it with Wen Wen Saner was the most direct way.

Wen Wen Saner looked at Ji Wang Weidong with drooping eyelids, his tone sincere and slightly puzzled: "I haven't heard that you're an orphan. Is your life story as miserable as mine?"

Ji Wang Weidong was stunned by the question. What the hell is this?

What the hell... what was I asking you just now?

Orphan?

Miserable life story?

Li Li Xuewu's wicked smile hadn't been confirmed yet; was Wen Wen Saner also scolding him?

Are you playing dumb with me?

Ji Wang Weidong didn't believe that Wen Wen Saner, who had lived in the same courtyard as Li Li Xuewu before, wouldn't know his family background.

But how should he answer now? After all, this brat had even scolded himself.

Ji Wang Weidong looked at Wen Wen Saner suspiciously; Li Li Xuewu was a jerk, and his people weren't good birds either.

"Of course I'm not an orphan, but what the hell does this have to do with my question?"

Wen Wen Saner glanced at Zhang Zhang Wanhe, who was still puffing on his pipe, and said: "Old Zhang was born in the old society and had seven siblings at home."

"Hmm?"

Ji Wang Weidong and Zhang Zhang Wanhe, who heard this, both stopped in their tracks, not knowing why Wen Wen Saner was saying this.

Wen Wen Saner pointed at Zhang Zhang Wanhe and introduced him to Ji Wang Weidong: "Just like this, Old Zhang's parents taught him not to scold other people's children in front of their elders. Why don't you know that?"

Zhang Zhang Wanhe, who was lowering his head and puffing hard on his pipe thinking about things, looked up blankly.

I'm just an innocent bystander puffing on a pipe and eating melon; why did I suddenly get shot for no reason?

Didn't I just not answer your question earlier!

Ji Wang Weidong was also choked by Wen Wen Saner's words. He only now remembered that Wen Wen Saner was Li Li Xuewu's cousin-in-law.

Dong Wenxue rarely took out a cigarette case and lit a cigarette. While smoking, he narrowed his eyes and watched Ji Wang Weidong and the others walking toward the isolation area.

"I don't oppose you using these people, and I believe in your control, but..."

Dong Wenxue took a puff of his cigarette and emphasized: "Although some methods are more convenient to do, once you get used to them, it's very difficult to correct them."

Li Li Xuewu turned back, nodded seriously at Dong Wenxue, and said: "I firmly believe in this point. Therefore, these things cannot be done domestically."

"Oh?"

Dong Wenxue raised his eyebrows and looked at Li Li Xuewu for a while, but didn't ask about the overseas connections Li Li Xuewu had prepared.

Some things don't need to be understood too deeply; it shows a lack of trust and is meddlesome.

Since Li Li Xuewu had already started paving the way here, the other path was clearly already in motion.

This really brought a clash of ideas to Dong Wenxue; after all, he had never thought about doing things this way.

Especially Li Li Xuewu's alternative way of handling problems; it was even more surprising than hearing that he had to support Li Li Huai De to block a knife.

After all, he could understand and accept political means, but he admitted that his thinking had limitations when it came to commercial layouts.

For a time, neither of them spoke, each thinking about the things they had been discussing.

The key chess piece of Li Li Xuewu's commercial layout was about to fall; how it would fall, how much force to use, and what the next step would be—these were the purposes of this trip to Steel City.

Li Li Huai De wasn't sure if Li Li Xuewu had other purposes, but he still supported Li Li Xuewu and Dong Wenxue in Steel City.

Especially increasing Dong Wenxue's say in the steel mill was the top priority of his subsequent layout.

Precisely because the direction determined by Li Li Xuewu and Dong Wenxue was consistent with Li Li Huai De's, Li Li Xuewu's trip to Steel City, connecting three places and clearing the way, was actually the key for Li Li Huai De to solve the steel mill's joint enterprise and the frontier office.

"It's ten o'clock."

Dong Wenxue looked at the time on his wrist and said to Li Li Xuewu: "I'll think about the problem you mentioned again. You don't have to rush back; there's still time. Get some rest early."

Li Li Xuewu stood up with Dong Wenxue, saw his teacher off for a few steps, and said: "If you're in a difficult position, you can take it one step at a time and make a decision then."

Dong Wenxue didn't respond to the look from the bar, and said with a weary expression: "Indecision leads to chaos. If it's to be done, it must be prepared now; how can one decide then?"

He walked to the middle of the lobby, stood still, and said to Li Li Xuewu: "What I'm worried about is the pressure from the steel mill side; this isn't just my own affair."

"Understood."

Li Li Xuewu nodded understandingly, responded, and watched Dong Wenxue head toward the stairs to go upstairs.

Wang Wang Shumin saw Li Li Xuewu standing still and Dong Wenxue going upstairs. She hesitated for a moment, and seeing Li Li Xuewu walk toward the isolation area, she followed him upstairs.

Ji Wang Weidong walked out of a room holding a few sheets of paper. Seeing Li Li Xuewu coming over, he curled his lips and said: "Did you badmouth me just now?"

"In your dreams."

Li Li Xuewu couldn't be bothered with him; he took the sheets of paper from his hand and looked at them—they were all place names and people's names.

"Did they confess?"

"Of course."

Ji Wang Weidong raised his eyebrows and said: "You might be more professional at arrests, but when it comes to interrogation, you still have to call our Investigation Department the teacher."

Li Li Xuewu grinned and mocked: "Yes, yes, yes. The butcher's technique, the traitor's tricks—your people are truly amazing."

"Pfft~ You're just jealous."

Ji Wang Weidong snatched those lists from Li Li Xuewu's hand, brushed past him, and said while walking out: "The time for the second phase has arrived; we have to go to work."

Wen Wen Saner sighed helplessly at Li Li Xuewu and had no choice but to continue following.

Wen Wen Saner had been dealing with those people the most these days; it was better for Wen Wen Saner to confirm some questions.

Seeing Wen Wen Saner leave, Zhang Zhang Wanhe, who was following behind, hesitated in front of Li Li Xuewu, held back from asking, and then had to follow.

Li Li Xuewu smiled and said: "Da Da Qiangzi's ability is still okay; it's time to let them take on some tasks independently."

"Yes."

Zhang Zhang Wanhe stood by Li Li Xuewu's side, his bitter face full of hesitation.

"Master... Master, cultivate them more."

After saying this, Zhang Zhang Wanhe took a few quick steps to catch up with Ji Wang Weidong and Wen Wen Saner.

Their group was mainly going to catch the bugs that had been startled in those enterprises; naturally, there would be some dirty business during this time.

Zhang Zhang Wanhe still felt sorry for his old foundation and was afraid of any mishaps, so he didn't dare to leave Ji Wang Weidong's side for even a step.

Da Da Qiangzi had brought people from Jicheng into Steel City, just waiting for tonight's operation.

Zhang Zhang Wanhe didn't dare to think about how much profit there would be; even if he looked until his eyes were blurred, the lion's share would still go to Li Li Xuewu and these people.

But if anyone was injured or killed, he would be sorry for the brothers' families in the mountains.

Don't expect Li Li Xuewu to care much about his brothers; I'm afraid that after this round, there are many more rounds waiting for them.

But Zhang Zhang Wanhe also knew that since he could come to Steel City to participate in this case, it meant he would never be able to enter Shanhai Pass again.

All under heaven bustle for profit; all under heaven bustle for profit.

Merchants are born with the attribute of being unscrupulous; even in enterprises, public enterprises.

This is also why when major corruption cases occur, enterprise personnel are inevitably involved.

The food factory was where Director Guandong started, and it was where he earned his first pot of gold.

Those who followed him in his reckless actions naturally ate the first wave of dividends; who around didn't know that the food factory's benefits were good?

And who among the food factory's employees didn't know that the transport team's benefits were even better?

The food factory had twenty large trucks, mainly responsible for the transport of raw materials and the distribution of non-staple food.

Of course, what most people didn't know was that these twenty large trucks often did some secret work.

For example, transporting some goods from the wharf to a designated location, or sending things from a designated warehouse to the wharf, and so on.

After these tasks were completed, the team leader would distribute subsidies uniformly.

They were called subsidies, but they were more than the wages they received at the food factory, which made these drivers cherish this job very much.

Of course, having taken the money, one had to know the rules: don't look at what shouldn't be looked at, don't say what shouldn't be said.

However, the mouths of these drivers clearly couldn't be blocked by a hundred or so yuan a month, because someone was using pliers to pull the teeth of these drivers, forcing them to speak the secrets in their hearts.

"Are you going to talk or not? Not talking, right!"

Li Li Xuewu stood in the room, also wincing; he felt he had overestimated them by calling these Investigation Department people butchers.

This technique, this skill, eww~~~~

Li Li Xuewu curled his lips in disgust and asked the young man from the Investigation Department who was "interrogating," and the cadre from the Discipline Inspection Department who was "supervising" with wide eyes: "Can't you make the business a bit more elegant?"

The young man from the Investigation Department was also a bastard; hearing Li Li Xuewu's words, he actually used the pliers to shove the tooth he had already pulled out back into the driver's mouth.

Well, this is called an eye for an eye!

"Hhh~~~ Mmm~~~"

This group of people was also damn obedient; Li Li Xuewu said not to make any noise, and they really didn't make any more noise.

Because when "interrogating," they had damn well gagged the person.

Gagged wasn't enough; they also asked the person if they were going to talk or not.

Well, the transport team leader's face turned the color of a pig's liver, and his hair was soaked into strands by the sweat that kept pouring out.

The pain of the tooth being pulled hadn't eased, and the pain of the tooth root being shoved into the gum made him cry from the agony.

A toothache isn't a disease, but when it hurts, it can kill you.

Now, the young man from the Investigation Department had artificially helped the driver team leader experience a toothache.

The effect was very good; it really almost killed him.

"Director Li."

The young man smiled at Li Li Xuewu somewhat embarrassedly, as green as a student who hadn't graduated yet.

This ignorant expression made the gagged driver team leader burst into tears, and the wailing in his throat couldn't be blocked by the rag in his mouth.

"Too brutal~~~"

Li Li Xuewu felt heartache looking at the driver team leader's painful expression; he waved his hand at the young man and said: "Hurry up, clean this up; I'll teach you some special skills."

"Mmm~ Mmm?"

The driver team leader saw Li Li Xuewu show a compassionate expression and wailed hard, hoping to get Li Li Xuewu's sympathy and help.

Especially seeing Li Li Xuewu stop the young devil's violence, he was just about to feel grateful, but what the hell did he hear?

Special skills?

"Hey! Alright~"

The young man had long heard his colleagues chatting privately about this Director Li; someone from the Investigation Department who had participated in that operation before the New Year said that this Li Li Xuewu was a professional interrogator.

How professional?

In that operation, except for stumbling over his ex-girlfriend, no one else could withstand a single move under his hands.

Are foreigners awesome?

Shall I perform a tetanus for you?

Is the Foreign Affairs Department awesome?

Shall I perform a ring-breaking-finger for you?

The young man had finally caught an opportunity today; how could he miss this learning opportunity? He exerted force with the pliers in his hand again, and that eye-for-an-eye tooth came out again.

"Aooo~~~"

The team leader stared with wide eyes, let out a howl, and kept nodding at Li Li Xuewu and the others, indicating he wanted to speak.

Li Li Xuewu, however, waved his hand and ignored him, saying: "Hurry up and fetch a bucket of water; remember to bring a towel."

The people in the room were stunned, thinking Li Li Xuewu wanted them to clean up the hygiene.

The team leader also stopped wailing, watching the young man go out to fetch a bucket of water, holding a white towel in his hand.

Li Li Xuewu took the white towel, gestured for the young man to put the bucket in front of him, and then bent down to soak it.

"Director Li, that... I'll do this job."

The young man was quite polite, preparing to take the towel from Li Li Xuewu's hand to clean up the scene.

Li Li Xuewu dodged, then gestured to the team leader's mouth and said: "Pull out that thing."

"Hey."

The young man glanced at Li Li Xuewu, then took the pliers, pinched the team leader's cheek, and stretched the pliers to pull out the sock in his mouth.

"Ugh~ Cough cough~"

The team leader retched twice, coughed twice, and just as he wanted to speak, Li Li Xuewu smeared a wet towel directly over his face.

"I say..."

But before he could finish speaking, Li Li Xuewu scooped up a ladle of water with the large enamel tea mug on the table, grabbed his hair, and while pulling him back to tilt his head, poured it bit by bit onto his mouth.

"Cough cough~ Mmm~ Pfft pfft~"

The team leader's limbs tied to the chair kept twitching, which made the young man from the Investigation Department's eyes shine.

And the young cadre from the Discipline Inspection Department stood up and leaned against the wall with a "clatter," pointing at the team leader with trembling fingers, saying: "He seemed to say he was going to talk just now."

"Is that so?"

Li Li Xuewu lowered his head to look at the team leader, released his left hand, lifted the red-and-white towel on the team leader's face, and asked: "Are you going to confess?"

"Cough cough~ Confess, confess, confess~"

Afraid that he would delay expressing himself due to coughing and gasping, the team leader shouted repeatedly that he would confess.

Actually, he wanted to confess before the tooth was pulled, but his mouth was gagged, and he couldn't say he would confess even if he wanted to.

The delay just now almost suffocated him, and this time he didn't need Li Li Xuewu to ask a second time; he confessed everything he knew like a machine gun.

Li Li Xuewu threw the red-and-white towel into the bucket and leaned back.

It was really because this team leader was too excited and too fast; the blood started to spray again from his teeth.

The young man from the Investigation Department was clever; he took the water bucket on the ground and went out the door, and not long after, the machine-gun sound of "confess, confess, confess" came from across the hall.

The young cadre from the Discipline Inspection Department didn't have enough hands; it was really because this person across the hall was confessing too thoroughly.

Li Li Xuewu listened for a while and roughly figured out the lines of these connections.

The "cunning rabbit has three burrows" had been played out by Director Guandong's group.

All the goods wouldn't be stored in one warehouse, and the warehouses storing the goods wouldn't exceed five varieties.

This team leader in charge of scheduling was also a talent; it would be good if he used this ability in the right place.

"What about Director Guandong?"

Li Li Xuewu listened to the team leader explain the food factory and the relevant people in charge, but Director Guandong was never mentioned.

The team leader was clearly scared of Li Li Xuewu; seeing Li Li Xuewu ask, he hurriedly replied: "He... he doesn't contact me."

Li Li Xuewu drooped his eyelids and continued to ask: "Then how do you know you're working for him?"

"Because Mu... is Mu Hai."

The team leader's teeth were leaking air, but his words were very clear.

"Mu Hai used to be his secretary, and I was the driver for Mu Hai. Later, they said they needed a transport team, so I was transferred to the transport team, so I know I'm working for him."

Li Li Xuewu nodded knowingly, looked at the team leader, and asked: "Do you think if something happens to you tonight, Director Guandong will run away?"

"This..."

The team leader hissed through his teeth, trying hard to think of Director Guandong in his impression.

He had met Director Guandong quite a few times; after all, he used to be Mu Hai's driver, and Mu Hai was so close to Director Guandong.

However, Li Li Xuewu's methods had scared him now; he was afraid of saying the wrong thing and suffering some unknown torture again.

"I don't know what he will do."

The team leader shook his head and explained to Li Li Xuewu: "I really don't know much about him. If I lie to you, and you ask me where he ran from, how am I supposed to answer you?"

Hearing this answer, Li Li Xuewu raised his eyebrows and said: "If you could really use this cleverness in the right place, you wouldn't be in this situation today."

"You said you would help me."

Seeing Li Li Xuewu say this, the team leader looked like a drowning dog, anxiously begging: "I really just followed orders; please help me."

"Don't worry."

Li Li Xuewu nodded very seriously and said: "Look at me; even when I want to ask you something, I don't choose methods that hurt you."