Chapter 660: Vigilance

Among these people, only Yan Yan Fugui understood some of Li Li Xuewu's words, yet he merely squinted without speaking, daring not to trifle with Li Li Xuewu.

The men of this side sat here, while the women of that courtyard leaned against the veranda; some brought seat cushions, while others sat directly on the steps.

There were many children in the courtyard too; accompanied by parents or elders, they gathered together to play and make noise right there in the yard.

Perhaps separated by the children's clamor, the men could not hear the women's conversation, and the men sitting near the floral gate spoke such that the women opposite could not hear them either.

This was actually good; they did not disturb each other, and sometimes neither side could hear the other at all, with only those sitting close enough conversing mutually.

At such times, parents or elders who saw their children making too much noise would shout at them once, reducing the commotion.

Li Li Xuewu also saw Li Shu lying on the windowsill watching this side, but he did not carry her out to play because there were many mosquitoes in the courtyard.

Young fellows like Liu Liu Guangfu were restless; they went to the ditch at the entrance, pulled up some mugwort, and lit it, but it only produced smoke for a while.

The mosquitoes avoided the smoke but did not leave the courtyard; they still bit whoever they wanted.

Because people feared that smoke just as much as the mosquitoes did.

Li Li Xuewu did not attract mosquitoes; this might be related to his constitution, as long as there was something to eat, mosquitoes would not bother him.

The moon hung very high, the night air was fresh, and the deeper into the night it got, the lower the temperature became, gradually bringing a breeze.

But as the moon rose higher, the number of people in the courtyard gradually decreased.

Which family had so much idle time? Tomorrow was Monday, and everyone still had to go to work.

Enjoying the cool air had its proper time; one could not simply stay in the courtyard indefinitely.

The Li family's lively gathering dispersed quickly; after all, how long could one keep eating watermelon?

The main point was not eating watermelon; it was just that the whole family was together today, so they bought a watermelon to enjoy something fresh.

Moreover, the households in the row of southern rooms and Seeing Sha Zhu's family were on good terms; when it came to a bite to eat, there was no need to hide or hold back.

The people in the courtyard watched with eager eyes, but the Li family had no intention of doing charity; if you wanted something tasty, go buy it yourself.

There was always a degree of closeness or distance; the two women from Seeing Sha Zhu's family, plus Yu Li and the sisters Qin Qin Huairu, were all frequently helping Liu Yin with chores or working at the Li house.

No one could say anything against this, especially since the Li family had already done more than enough.

First, the sisters Qin Qin Huairu emerged from the room smiling, followed by Gu Ning carrying Li Shu, then Liu Yin and the Old Lady, and finally Zhao Zhao Yafang and the others.

Seeing the people come out, Li Li Xuewu smiled, stood up, and exchanged greetings with the men in the courtyard.

Yan Yan Fugui, seeing the Li family's formation, asked, "Going back so late?"

"We still have to work tomorrow."

Li Li Xuewu smiled, then responded to his sisters-in-law and the others.

Just now, Zhao Zhao Yafang had called Li Li Xuewu inside to eat watermelon, saying they had saved some for him to eat before leaving.

"I won't eat; it's too sweet."

After speaking, he teased Li Shu again, saying, "My daughter is sleepy; she's even yawning."

Li Shu looked at Tell Baba, impatiently reaching out her small hand to push away Tell Baba's large hand pinching her face.

Everyone smiled, watching the Li family escort Li Li Xuewu and his group out the door.

Sitting on a stool, Yan Yan Fugui remarked with emotion, "In books lies a house of gold; in books lies a beauty like jade."

After this sigh of emotion, he glanced at his own two "Young Masters," then sighed helplessly.

Yan Yan Jiefang, somewhat broken by his father's sigh, gritted his teeth, propped himself up, and headed into the room.

Damn it, one couldn't enjoy the cool air anymore, nor could one look at the women.

Limping on one leg, he would come out to sit after dinner every evening; his purpose was simple—he just wanted to look at the women in the courtyard.

More precisely, the young women, or the young misses.

He had reached the age of impulse; although he had a limp leg, sitting at home all day with no chance to go out for a stroll, he could only take advantage of the lively evening hours to come out and take a peek.

Believe it or not, by night, while the young misses dressed relatively conservatively, the married women were quite open.

The weather was hot, and being in the courtyard with light only at the entrance, one could see quite a bit in the other areas.

Plus, those who were married didn't care so much; instead, attracting the gaze of the unmarried young men in the courtyard became a source of pleasure for some to show off.

If you can't eat it, can't you at least tease it?

By night, those in their late twenties or thirties would come out wearing just a vest.

At that time, there were no bras, so those with sharp eyes could see the tips.

If one sat in a suitable position, or if the other party was fanning themselves, one might even catch a glimpse of a patch of snow-white skin.

This was Yan Yan Jiefang's nightly pleasure and spiritual sustenance.

Those women were the same; they loved to tease him, precisely because of his father, who was so upright and proper.

Everyone knew the Third Master was a teacher who loved to preach rigidly in daily life and emphasized setting an example as an educator.

But how much culture did these women have? They were just devoted to husband and children, unable to stand the Third Master's manner.

But if you can't stand it, don't provoke him; if you're going to provoke someone, go provoke the Third Master himself!

Yet they refused, insisting on teasing the Yan family's sons instead.

"Aren't you supposed to set an example? Isn't your family discipline strict?" They were determined to lure their sons' hearts out no matter what.

Yan Brother Jiecheng was not at home, and being a married man, he had no opportunity to enjoy this treatment.

As for Yan Yan Jiekuang, he was still young and did not quite understand what these women meant by their "tender glances" or "coquettish gestures."

Therefore, the one who suffered was Yan Yan Jiefang, exactly sixteen or seventeen years old, exactly at the age of impulse, and exactly a strapping young lad.

Originally, Yan Yan Jiefang was sitting there watching quite contentedly, but because Li Li Xuewu returned, he dared not look so openly anymore.

Furthermore, his father's subsequent glance and sigh made him feel insulted.

On what grounds!

On what grounds do you always compare me to others? Why don't you compare yourself to Li Shun!

Laozi looks down on his son, and the son resents Laozi; the Yan family's drama is simply the hidden nightly performance in the courtyard, though they themselves remain unaware of it.

Early on the morning of June 2nd, which was a Monday, Li Li Xuewu went downstairs and turned on the radio in the living room.

While exchanging greetings with the old lady, he brewed a cup of tea for himself.

Holding the teacup, Li Li Xuewu walked to the edge of the goldfish pond and looked at the goldfish inside.

The afternoon before yesterday, Qin Qin Jingru said Sheng Sheng Shaowei had come, cleaned the fish, changed the water, and also brought some fish food.

Looking at it now, the water in the goldfish pond had become much clearer, though due to the lighting, one still could not see very deep into the pool.

It was only early morning; by noon, the condition of the bottom would be clearly visible.

Li Shu had been standing while holding onto the sofa, playing with the small toy car brought home yesterday.

Seeing her father looking at the goldfish pond, she clumsily toddled over and grabbed her father's leg.

She was not actually foolish; she knew when she could run and when she could not.

When someone was catching her or watching her, it did not matter how she ran.

But at this moment, Nainai had gone to the dining room, and only her father was there with his back to her, so she could only choose to walk; otherwise, if she ran and fell with no one to help her up, she would cry.

Li Li Xuewu lowered his head to look at his daughter by his leg, only to see Li Shu pointing her small finger at the goldfish pond and saying, "Want."

Life is composed of surprises that occur in unguarded moments, just like now, when Li Li Xuewu discovered his daughter had learned another character.

"Want what?"

"Yo~"

Seeing her father ask, Li Shu kept her small hand pointing at the goldfish pond, giving her answer.

Well then, Li Li Xuewu understood: she had learned the character for "want," but still could not distinguish the character for "fish."

Nowadays, Li Shu used the sound "yo" to replace many things; now, at least, she could separate out the word "want."

He lifted his daughter and stood by the goldfish pond, supporting her with one hand while holding the teacup and drinking tea with the other.

At this moment, the radio began broadcasting the morning news.

"...'Daily Paper' published an editorial, calling on the masses... to rise up and sweep away all... ox-demons and snake-spirits..."

Since the management of the 'Daily Paper' was taken over by the authorities at the end of May, the transparency regarding the situation had indeed become much clearer.

But the pace of the storm had also accelerated considerably; at least on the radio, such news was becoming more frequent and increasingly intense.

Li Li Xuewu knew this was no longer news; these were events that had happened yesterday.

The current propaganda was merely beating the drums to support what had occurred during the day yesterday and the live broadcast last night.

And the current broadcast was further laying the groundwork, making preparations, and conducting propaganda for subsequent actions.

Any action or movement requires broad public opinion and a foundation; otherwise, it could not possibly succeed.

Li Li Xuewu stood at the doorway holding his daughter, listening and thinking, while simultaneously responding to his daughter's "chatter."

Li Shu cared little about what the radio was saying; she only felt the goldfish were cute, the goldfish pond was nice, and it could splash water with a "hua-hua" sound.

This big toy was truly worth the purchase; no matter how Li Shu looked at it or played with it, she never grew tired.

Sometimes Gu Ning would also stand here for a while, staring blankly at the goldfish in the pond.

And now, as Gu Ning came downstairs and saw the father and daughter, she rarely showed a smiling face.

A small building, trickling water, a pond of goldfish, a beloved spouse, a child, a family reunited.

The life and happiness that people in this world long for are largely just like this.

Seeing Gu Ning come downstairs, Li Li Xuewu gestured for her to watch Li Shu while he went to put down the teacup and turn off the radio.

It was enough for him to know this news; there was no need to make the rest of the family anxious and alarmed.

Walking back, he picked up Li Shu, and the family of three headed out the door.

The early morning hours of June were delightful; the small courtyard was full of vitality, truly the best time of the year.

Beneath the large tree, the small garden was filled with blooming flowers, though a few shy ones still kept their petals closed, awaiting the sunlight.

The morning dew was fair, bestowing the blessing of life upon every plant in the small courtyard, allowing them to display their most brilliant posture of life before the first ray of morning sunlight appeared.

Li Shu kicked her little legs, wanting to get down and walk on her own, but Li Li Xuewu feared the dew would wet her small cloth shoes and worried she might run into the flower garden and disturb this peace and tranquility.

So he gently patted his daughter's bottom, indicating that if she made more trouble, Mama would get angry.

Li Shu seemed to understand Tell Baba's threat; she puckered her little mouth to express her dissatisfaction.

It was not until the three of them walked a full circle and reached Bai Bai Xiyuan, seeing the little chicks strolling under the fruit trees, that Li Shu's attention shifted from her father's face.

"Yo!"

"Not 'yo,' it's 'chicken'."

Li Li Xuewu tirelessly corrected his daughter's speech, pointing to the chicks in the garden and saying, "The 'ji' of little chicken, 'ji'."

"Di~"

Li Shu imitated her father's words and made a sound, but her tongue was a bit thick, and she did not articulate it clearly.

"Ji!"

"Di~"

"If it's 'di,' then let it be 'di'; next time Uncle Ji comes, you can call him Uncle Di."

After correcting her several times, Li Li Xuewu simply ran out of patience; Li Shu seemed set on it and refused to say it no matter what.

After amusing his daughter by watching the chicks for a while and seeing his two palm-sized little chicks, Li Li Xuewu asked Gu Ning, "How did you get them out? Did Banggeng give them up?"

"Qin Yan Jie brought them."

Gu Ning glanced at Li Li Xuewu, then said, "When we called her over to eat watermelon last night, perhaps it was Qin Qin Jingru who mentioned it."

Li Li Xuewu did not pay much attention to it, smiling as he said, "These two chickens have fallen on hard times since coming to our home; in Banggeng's hands, they ate river delicacies and feed, but in our home, we can only let them find bugs to eat themselves."

Gu Ning pressed her lips together and smiled; she had no experience raising chickens either. Someone in the compound had raised them before, but later, fearing infectious diseases, they were all disposed of.

That was back when they were children; many cadres brought their wives and children from the countryside into the city, and the women, accustomed to rural life, all started raising chickens.

The cadres at the Courtyard Management Office were also at a loss; they were all leaders' wives, whom no one dared to offend.

Later, because someone had married a Victory Lady, those ladies from urban backgrounds naturally could not stand it, causing no small amount of friction.

At this moment, they watched two small speckled chickens wandering around the fruit trees, their heads bobbing as they pecked at small worms on the ground.

Every now and then, they would lift their heads to look at the family of three outside the fence, before using their right feet to scratch and kick at the ground.

Having flipped over leaves and weeds, the chicks lowered their heads again to start catching and eating small worms.

Li Shu, finding this novel, stared without blinking, especially revealing a puzzled expression whenever the chicks made strange movements.

It was Qin Qin Jingru who spotted the family of three watching the chicks in Bai Bai Xiyuan from her window, so she called out from the window for them to come eat.

Li Li Xuewu turned to glance at Qin Qin Jingru and asked with a smile, "You wanted chickens; didn't Banggeng object?"

"Of course he wouldn't agree if I wanted them."

Qin Qin Jingru pursed her lips and said, "That little Bai Yanlang; it was his mother who spoke up, saying they were picked for you, which is why she selected two large ones and sent them over, claiming she feared you wouldn't know how to raise them and that larger ones would be easier."

Seeing Qin Qin Jingru's jealous expression, Li Li Xuewu smiled; having this partner was certainly not in vain.

Seeing Li Li Xuewu smile, Qin Qin Jingru muttered, "He said he'd give candy and dumplings, but the moment chicks were mentioned, he turned his back and denied knowing us, saying that since everything was given to him, it couldn't be asked back."

After speaking, she glanced at Li Li Xuewu again and said, "What was promised to you changed tone; he started talking about how good Wu Shu is here and there, without even mentioning the fish and shrimp fed daily."

Banggeng naturally wouldn't mention it, because the feed for his chicks was still bought with money given by Li Li Xuewu, mixed together with those big chickens in the rear courtyard.

Last time, after giving him money, he borrowed a tricycle from Bai Bai Xiyuan in the evening and asked his Lao Lao Biaozi to get rice bran from the Supply and Marketing Cooperative.

On ordinary days, he took his younger sisters to dig for wild vegetables and catch river shrimp, feeding both these small chicks and the big chickens very well.

At the dining table, Gu Ning peeled a boiled egg for Li Shu; upon opening it, the yolk inside was reddish, clearly indicating a high-quality egg.

These had been placed in the vehicle by Liu Yin last night, who said Banggeng had sent them over after saving them up for some time.

Although Li Li Xuewu did not often live in Sihe Academy, Liu Yin had not coveted anything from the rear courtyard.

The Li family was the same; the little monsters, furniture, and household items over there remained untouched, including those three chickens.

Regarding those three chickens, since Li Li Xuewu had not asked his mother to manage them, Liu Yin did not interfere, leaving them entirely under Banggeng's care.

Banggeng was also serious; he no longer slept in late in the mornings, instead opening the coop door, cleaning the chicken droppings, and preparing food for the chickens.

When collecting eggs, he split them evenly half-and-half; he took his share home, while Li Li Xuewu's portion was delivered to Liu Yin in the front courtyard.

Qin Qin Huairu sometimes said that if she had known two chickens could keep a child in line, she would have gone hungry herself rather than fail to buy two for her son.

She had also considered that her son learning to behave well was not learned from the chickens, but from Li Li Xuewu.

Especially last week, when Li Li Xuewu went with Banggeng to the lakeside and returned, Banggeng was happy for a whole day just because he had gone out to play with Wu Shu; it was unclear why it was so interesting.

Now that the chickens were laying eggs, Liu Yin had pickled some of them, while saving the rest for her eldest granddaughter.

Upon returning this time, Liu Yin said she had packed them all, but Gu Ning insisted on keeping a portion for Zhao Zhao Yafang, arguing that a pregnant woman also needed supplementation.

Zhao Zhao Yafang and Liu Yin tried to decline, but Gu Ning was insistent; eggs from one's own family ultimately carried a different meaning than those bought.

Li Shu was growing very fast now and had a strong constitution, so whether or not she ate these eggs did not really matter.

But since she had been eating them from a young age, neither Gu Ning nor Li Li Xuewu had ever stopped providing them.

After getting married and moving here, they used coupons to purchase them; the eggs saved up at home were essentially meant for Zhao Zhao Yafang.

However, Liu Yin was the mother-in-law and Zhao Zhao Yafang was the sister-in-law; how could either of them take advantage of Gu Ning in this manner?

Therefore, there was quite a dispute over these eggs last night; the Old Lady did not intervene in these matters, merely sitting on the kang bed and smiling.

In other families, who wasn't constantly calculating gains and losses? Between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, between sister-in-law and brother's wife, and between sisters-in-law, fights were not uncommon.

But now, all three granddaughters-in-law were good; especially the eldest and Qin Qin Laoer, now married, who could even argue over a few eggs, which greatly satisfied Li Shun and others sitting in the room.

In the end, when it was time to leave, it was the Old Lady who voluntarily spoke up, letting Gu Ning make the decision, which finally settled the distribution of the eggs clearly.

Li Shu, however, no longer cared about this; knowing the eggs were fragrant, she ate with her mouth going tell-baba, her big eyes rolling as she looked at the people at the table.

One had to say Hearing Da Lao was skillful with her hands; she had actually crafted a small chair specifically for Li Shu.

With high legs and a small seat, it fit Li Shu perfectly; holding onto the armrests with her small hands, she allowed her great-grandmother to feed her eggs and milk, kicking her little legs back and forth, clearly enjoying her meal immensely.

Eggs were very precious in this era; in rural areas it was somewhat manageable to eat a few, but for city dwellers, it was difficult.

Raising chickens was a difficulty; obtaining egg coupons was another difficulty; and having egg coupons yet being able to afford them was yet another difficulty.

Nowadays, when raising children in a family, none ate like Li Shu, with both milk and eggs; wouldn't that lead to bankruptcy?

Especially in families with many children, if they ate like this, they would surely end up fighting.

"Beep~"

"Beep ah? The car to pick up Father hasn't arrived yet."

The Old Lady scooped some milk with a small spoon to feed Li Shu; hearing Li Shu say "beep," she assumed the child was referring to the car coming to the gate to pick up Li Li Xuewu.

Every time Han Han Jiankun parked the car, he would briefly honk the horn, serving as a reminder for Li Li Xuewu and also for Qin Qin Jingru to go open the door for Comrade Sha Sha Qizhi.

Every time Li Shu heard this sound, she knew her father was about to leave for work.

So when Li Shu spoke just now, it caused the Old Lady to misunderstand.

Li Shu also raised her eyebrows, pointed in Li Li Xuewu's direction, and said, "Beep."

Seeing the Old Lady look over, Li Li Xuewu explained with a smile, "It's not the car; she's talking about the chickens we just mentioned; wasn't the topic of eggs brought up?"

"Ah~ hehe~"

The Old Lady smiled at the sighing Li Shu; her helpless little expression was quite amusing.

Feeding her the milk from the spoon, she teased verbally, "When will this big tongue of yours ever improve?"

Li Shu paid no heed to her great-grandmother's teasing; swinging her little legs back and forth, she drank a large mouthful of milk and let out a loud burp.

Li Li Xuewu also envied his daughter's life; when could he ever be so carefree, spending every day doing nothing but eating and playing?

Gu Ning was eating her meal while smiling at Li Shu; seeing Li Li Xuewu looking at her, she glanced back with some confusion.

Li Li Xuewu asked with a smile, "Are there any dishes you want to eat? I'll bring them back for you after going up the mountain these past few days."

"No need; Lao Lao Biaozi has already brought them."

Gu Ning shook her head and said, "They took a whole basket last night; we even have some in our backyard."

After speaking, she looked toward Qin Qin Jingru, signaling for her to speak, since she was the one who cooked all the meals at home.

Qin Qin Jingru also nodded and said, "The small vegetables in the courtyard are ready to eat too; there's more than enough of the vegetables Brother Biao brought."

Li Li Xuewu nodded to show he understood, then said to Gu Ning, "Then come home for lunch from now on; the food will be better, and it's not far."

Gu Ning glanced at Li Li Xuewu, hesitated for a moment, then still nodded and agreed.

Seeing Gu Ning nod, Li Li Xuewu told Qin Qin Jingru, "Prepare more for lunch from now on, and make the meals more abundant."

"Okay."

Qin Qin Jingru looked at Gu Ning with envy, feeling that having a husband who cared for her like this was the happiest thing for a woman.

What she did not know was that Li Li Xuewu's arrangement had another layer of meaning: to shorten the safe contact time between Li Li Xuewu and Gu Ning.

Previously, they could only see each other during morning and evening commutes; now, with Gu Ning coming home for lunch, the safe time was cut in half.

If Gu Ning did not come home for lunch, Qin Qin Jingru would inevitably make a phone call to confirm.

Should there be any problem, Li Li Xuewu would not have to wait until the evening commute to learn of it.

Gu Ning had also seen through Li Li Xuewu's intention, which was why she agreed.

She had not heard last night's broadcast, and this morning's broadcast she had only caught a snippet of; she was unclear about what exactly had happened, only feeling that Li Li Xuewu seemed somewhat different today.

Gu Ning was a very sensitive person; she could clearly feel the pressure on Li Li Xuewu, so even though it was more convenient at the hospital, she complied with Li Li Xuewu's wish and decided to come home for meals from now on.

Li Li Xuewu finished eating first, followed by Gu Ning; the two left the dining room first to prepare for work separately.

Upstairs, Gu Ning organized her bag, then looked toward Li Li Xuewu in the study and asked, "Has something happened? Is there anything you need me to do?"

"No, no need."

Li Li Xuewu tidied the documents on the desk, then stood up, took Gu Ning's hand, and comforted her, "You must believe in me, and also give me the chance to protect you."

Gu Ning looked at Li Li Xuewu, pressed her lips together, and slightly squeezed his hand with a bit more force.

The two looked at each other in silence, everything understood in their hearts.

Gu Ning had to go to work early; after confirming with Li Li Xuewu, she went downstairs to leave for work.

Li Li Xuewu stood upstairs watching Gu Ning carry her bag out the main gate and head toward the street entrance.

Only after she was out of sight did he pack those documents and pick up the pistol from the desk to put it in his bag.

Li Li Xuewu rarely used the gun now, and even more rarely fired it; it had become entirely a symbolic token, representing that Li Li Xuewu was in charge of firearms and was personnel of a powerful department.

This significance gave him and those around him a sense of security, while also serving as a deterrent to those who coveted him.

Speaking of deterrence, it was the Security Division of the Rolling Steel Factory and the Public Order Brigade of the Branch Bureau that truly mattered.

Both forces were personally built by Li Li Xuewu through his own efforts.

Their protection depended entirely on these two teams, so his demands on them grew increasingly strict.

As soon as he arrived at work, Li Li Xuewu ordered the command vehicle to stop and got out at the factory main gate.

Comrade Sha Sha Qizhi did not know what Li Li Xuewu intended to do, so he got out of the car as well.

Only Han Han Jiankun remained calm; after the other two exited, he directly drove the vehicle to the roadside.

It neither blocked the road nor left Li Li Xuewu's line of sight.

Li Li Xuewu first went to the guard post to inspect the attire and weaponry of the guards on duty.

He first asked for the gun held by a guard to examine; seeing no dust on it and bullets loaded in the magazine, he satisfactorily returned it to the guard.

Just as Ren An came jogging over, he entered the guard room, waved to the duty officer who had stood up, and began inspecting the duty log and work documents.

He paid particular attention to the management of incoming and outgoing letters and documents, as well as the rotation of shifts and posts among the teams.

Ren An followed inside; seeing Li Li Xuewu flipping through the materials, he dared not speak, exchanged a glance with Comrade Sha Sha Qizhi, but could discern nothing.

Comrade Sha Sha Qizhi himself did not know why the Director had suddenly gotten out of the car to inspect work, so how could he possibly answer?

Even if he had known, he could not have told Ren An in front of Li Li Xuewu, so he could only pretend to be profound.

Li Li Xuewu was an experienced veteran; he did not need to read every word of these documents—one glance was enough to tell whether care had been taken.

When he reached the duty log, he beckoned Ren An over, causing Ren An's heart to skip a beat.

"Look at this; just going through the motions. Do you write like this when you are on duty too?"

Li Li Xuewu pointed to three consecutive San Pian entries in the duty log that contained identical wording and asked Ren An a question.

Afterwards, without listening to his explanations or assurances, he slammed the log shut, ignored the pale faces of the duty personnel, turned, and walked out the door toward the office opposite.

Over there was a large duty room with an excellent view; several armed guards holding rifles stood behind the large glass windows, serving as a supplement to the gate post.

These people had seen Li Li Xuewu get out of the car to inspect; now, seeing him approach, their eyes were filled with tension.

"Remove the magazines and let me see them."

Li Li Xuewu walked into the room and signaled the three men on duty to remove their magazines for him to inspect.

The three men, seeing Section Chief Ren An following and noting his poor expression, knew that problems must have been found opposite.

These three were straightforward; they all promptly disassembled their guns and showed the magazines to Li Li Xuewu.

Li Li Xuewu took one look, then gestured toward the magazines on their ammunition belts, indicating he wanted to continue inspecting.

The expressions of the three men froze; holding the magazines in their hands, they hesitated to reach for those on their waists.

Li Li Xuewu glanced at the three men, then turned and walked out of the room.

Ren An followed out, his face greenish-white, and explained, "Director, the standard reserve quantity of ammunition is prepared according to regulations; the frontline personnel have some, and the standby personnel must have some as well."

"Mm, that is indeed the case."

Li Li Xuewu stopped, pointed at Ren An, and said, "File a report to apply for ammunition; fill the magazines for those on duty, and fill the magazines for those on standby as well."

"Yes, sir!"

Ren An had been extremely nervous due to Li Li Xuewu's inspection; now, seeing that Li Li Xuewu was not blaming him but issuing instructions, he quickly saluted and agreed.

Li Li Xuewu waved his hand and continued toward other offices to carry out further inspections.

Because the Security Division's shift change time was earlier than the workers', the office had already started work by this time.

After the Security Building was completed, the posts stationed at the entrance were all temporary positions, mainly consisting of gate duty personnel.

The matters they handled were all related to gate duties, though this also included fire safety and confidentiality operations.

Although Li Li Xuewu was only making a cursory inspection, he saw clearly and accurately nonetheless.

Whosever department he arrived at, that person would follow along, not daring to relax in the slightest.

Every time Li Li Xuewu pointed out a problem, these individuals would wear grim expressions, feeling nothing but shame.

Starting from the gate posts, he inspected the fire safety measures and the police dogs, then looked over the cavalry patrol team.

The riverbank land to the east was slated for factory construction, making it difficult to find places to graze horses; fortunately, the roads within the factory compound were level, the patrol team deployed daily, and the horses received sufficient training.

After visiting several posts, Li Li Xuewu boarded the command vehicle that Han Han Jiankun had been following in all along, and proceeded to attend the morning flag-raising ceremony.

The location was the small drill ground directly opposite the main gate; the participants were mostly clerks from various departments, and aside from those on standby, personnel from frontline departments also attended.

Few cadres from the administrative offices came, as they had many morning tasks, but since Li Li Xuewu was present today, these cadres all showed up.

Li Li Xuewu observed the demeanor of the Security Division cadres on site, then looked at the bearing of the frontline personnel, and only then returned to the office building with satisfaction.

As if coordinating with Li Li Xuewu, just as he finished inspecting the Security Division's work, news came from the workshops that someone was causing trouble.

It was Comrade Sha Sha Qizhi who received the message first, followed immediately by Han Zhan's report.

Someone had attempted to paste big-character posters in the workshop but was stopped by the workshop director.

The relevant content called for halting production and work to launch the Great Study and Great Discussion, demanding first to "revolutionize the machines."

This gave the workshop director quite a fright; there had been such an incident before, resulting in Kuang Kuang Yusheng receiving a disciplinary sanction, after which a strict internal investigation was conducted within the workshop.

Especially recently, Kuang Kuang Yusheng had frequently coordinated with the Factory Party Committee, carrying out Party affairs work across various administrative offices and workshops.

Trusting Li Li Xuewu's words, Kuang Kuang Yusheng went directly to see Yang Yang Yuansong.

No one knew exactly what was discussed with the Secretary, but suddenly the Production Management Department began strengthening organizational work; Party groups in all branch institutions became fully active, launching work for self-reflection and self-inspection.

Kuang Kuang Yusheng received support from Gu Gu Weijie for this matter, with Wei Zaike, the head of the Organization Department, directly participating in the leadership, and the Propaganda Division cooperating in its implementation.

For the past few days, the Production Management Department had been busy with this; everyone's nerves were tense, especially those in the grassroots Party organizations.

Kuang Kuang Yusheng had also made a fierce determination: anyone who performed poorly in their work, managed badly, failed to seriously consider and respond to mass demands, or did not report workers' opinions and ideological trends in a timely manner, would all be reassigned.

Speaking of reassignment, was that not merely a prelude to disciplinary action? An administrative sanction might mean little, but once a Party disciplinary sanction was issued, would they still be allowed to continue in their current line of work?

Therefore, as soon as the big-character poster appeared, before the workers could even paste it up, they were restrained by the workshop director and the Party group leader.

What followed was taking them away for talks: discussing their demands, the situation, their work, and their families; whatever the individuals concerned said, the leaders would earnestly explain and seek ways to resolve the issues.

Especially regarding the current situation, personnel from the Factory Party Committee were brought in, and at the same time, a call was made to the Security Division.

Listening to Han Zhan's report, Li Li Xuewu understood the situation perfectly; this was merely an action by Li Li Huai De copying others, and it certainly would not be limited to just one workshop.

Let them make trouble; wouldn't the end result be just like at Jingda University, where a working group would eventually be sent in?

Just as Li Li Xuewu had anticipated, Yu Yu Decai entered shortly afterward to report that many departments within the factory were reporting incidents of work stoppages and disturbances.

With a face full of solemnity, Li Li Xuewu instructed Han Zhan, "Execute Level Two Alert; if chaos emerges, cooperate immediately with relevant departments to handle security issues."

After giving this order, he added a caution, "Absolutely do not interfere in internal matters; the Security Division is responsible only for public order. If anyone resorts to violence or causes property damage to the Rolling Steel Factory, enforce discipline strictly according to regulations."

"Yes."

Han Zhan was now managing the Security Section in place of Han Han Yating, so he had encountered unfavorable timing and had to manage two departments alone.

Fortunately, the Fire Safety Section did not have much work, as it was mostly operational, so he could still cope.

It was also thanks to Yu Yu Decai's assistance that he was able to manage somewhat more easily.

Li Li Xuewu also instructed Yu Yu Decai, "Issue warning letters to all departments, workshops, and relevant units throughout the factory, stating that the security situation is becoming increasingly severe, and requiring heads of all departments to remain vigilant and eliminate security threats in their initial stages."

"Isn't that a bit too serious?"

Yu Yu Decai said hesitantly, "If issued in the name of the Security Division, I fear some people may object."

"Issue it even if they object."

Li Li Xuewu tapped the fountain pen in his hand on the desk and, looking at Yu Yu Decai, said, "The Security Division is not a fire brigade that rushes to extinguish flames wherever they break out; with so many departments in the entire factory, how many hands does the Security Division have to grow?"

Having spoken, he tossed the pen in his hand onto the desk and said, "Tell them to learn from the Production Management Department: do the work upfront, manage their own people well, and cause less trouble."

"Understood."

Yu Yu Decai glanced at Li Li Xuewu, acknowledged the order, turned, and went off to handle the matter.

Yu Yu Decai knew exactly what this letter meant: it was about exempting themselves from liability. The Security Division had already notified you to be vigilant and careful; if something happened again, do not expect me to take the blame.

His hesitation stemmed from this very issue; he feared that once Li Li Xuewu's requested letter was issued, some people would attack Li Li Xuewu for shirking responsibility or for creating tension and conflict.

The matter was what it was, but it could not be stated explicitly.

Li Li Xuewu did not state it explicitly, and Yu Yu Decai certainly did not either; their entire conversation emphasized safety and spoke only of safety matters.

Standing aside, Seeing Sha Qi understood perfectly; according to the Director's intent, clarifying responsibilities at this moment was more important than facing subsequent accusations.

Especially for the Security Division in such matters, during this critical period, the attitude displayed and the work performed were all crucial points.

Frontline duty personnel needed to be arranged, and documents and notices needed to be prepared; leaving everything in black and white would facilitate any future legal disputes.

At the very least, once this letter was issued, other departments would surely make preparations and become alert.

Even if problems arose in certain departments, those would be matters concerning those specific departments alone.

The blame from above would no longer fall upon Li Li Xuewu.

Work must be done substantively, but it must also be done visibly; one cannot do the job without making it known, otherwise, who would know whether you did it or not!

The General Office had always had an important task: writing news reports documenting daily work.

The Propaganda Division greatly desired departments like the Security Division to cooperate with their publicity efforts, especially by frequently providing news drafts.

It was unclear whether people nowadays were simply shy or truly modest, but they actually did not think of engaging in publicity when doing their work.

Li Li Xuewu had picked up a bargain; how many achievements or news items could a Security Division possibly have?

Yet, against all odds, the Rolling Steel Factory's Security Division had become famous, well-known even within the system.

The strongest support stemmed precisely from the propaganda work Li Li Xuewu had always demanded.

What tasks had the Security Division organized recently, what achievements had they made, or what breakthroughs and warning campaigns had they launched regarding specific types of illegal cases?

Writing had to align with the positioning of media outlets at every level; those old hands in the General Office, those veteran scribes, had their drafts rejected by Li Li Xuewu several times and been summoned for criticism a few times, so now what they produced was nothing short of masterful.

What kind of articles did newspapers favor most?

Naturally, it was content reflecting work at the grassroots frontline, as well as the outstanding contributions made by frontline duty personnel.

Li Li Xuewu had also let these people seize upon this point to launch a fierce offensive, ensuring that work arrangements, the correct leadership from superiors, and the merits of the Security Division's office and cadres were all reflected through the lens of the grassroots.

These veteran scribes were all sharp operators; they had simply lacked guidance before and wasted their potential, much like that motorcycle in the Security Section—add some oil, give it a few hard kicks, and it runs smoothly again.

Yu Yu Decai possessed a shrewd mind, grasping Li Li Xuewu's style and methods of work very well, and he excelled particularly in this aspect.

Just like the task assigned moments ago, without even asking, one could be certain it would be written up as a bulletin or a news report, or at the very least read aloud over the broadcast station.

Of course, it was impossible to write according to the content of the warning letter; naturally, the article would describe how the Security Division, to safeguard the Steel Rolling Plant and the lives and property of the vast number of workers, was fully implementing safety propaganda and security operations, penetrating deep into various offices, workshops, and other departments...

You claim no work was done? Did that warning letter not reach your hands?

Propaganda, after all, hinges on how you frame it; nowadays, Li Li Xuewu acted with extreme caution while beating the drums of propaganda deafeningly loud.

In the hearts of the workers, the Security Division was undoubtedly positive, undoubtedly their most solid protective force for work and life within the Steel Rolling Plant.

Li Li Xuewu acted accordingly; not only did he aim to mitigate the crisis brought about by each of Li Li Huai De's actions, but he also had to guarantee the fundamental security of the Steel Rolling Plant.

He had truly been pushed by Li Li Huai De and Yang Yang Fengshan to stand between them, becoming the flood barrier of the Steel Rolling Plant.

Li Li Xuewu had no desire to serve as this flood barrier, but for every person, during a certain period or time, the very nature of their work, or even their mission, demanded it.

The mission of the Security Division was to defend the Steel Rolling Plant, to safeguard the workers and property of the Steel Rolling Plant.

What Li Li Huai De and Yang Yang Fengshan were doing now threatened this stability and security; all Li Li Xuewu could do was maintain stability.

This was a requirement imposed by the nature of the Security Division Director's position, not something he chose to do willingly.

In truth, Li Li Xuewu had already been adding protective umbrellas, life rings, and shielding barriers for himself, but it was of no use.

At the very least, it was of little significant use; fundamentally, his own capabilities were still too weak, otherwise there would have been no need to sacrifice Deng Deng Zhiwang.

Speaking of which, Deng Deng Zhiwang was someone Li Li Xuewu had singled out to take the fall, or rather, to buffer this tense situation.

Now Yang Yang Fengshan had a reason to explain why the residential district project's construction progress was slow and why the workers' housing difficulties remained unresolved for so long.

It was all Deng Deng Zhiwang's fault; this allowed the workers' fury and resentment to be vented upon Deng Deng Zhiwang, shifting the contradiction and granting him more room to maneuver.

This was something Li Li Xuewu had forcibly imposed; he would have preferred not to do so, wishing to operate using gentler styles and methods, but Li Li Xuewu gave him no such opportunity.

Sacrifices always had to be made; could Li Li Xuewu possibly allow him to position the Security Division in opposition to the workers?

Preposterous!