Scholars in the courtyard.

Chapter 3002 Justice is in the hearts of the people
Just as everyone was reminiscing about continuing to help the Ninth Department produce steel next year, the door was suddenly pushed open, startling everyone.

Then, Director Shan from the logistics department rushed in anxiously. Before Director Zhong could speak, Director Shan cried out in despair, "Director, Secretary, something's happened! Something terrible has happened!"

The room fell silent. Then, Director Zhong stepped forward and asked, "Xiao Dan, what happened? Calm down."

Party Secretary Xia Huaixu stepped forward, adjusted his glasses, and said seriously, "Director Shan, don't rush."

"Factory director, Party secretary, they're all gone."

"What's missing?"

"The Ninth Department's steel plant sent technicians to inspect all the steel. All the substandard steel was returned. All the steel from our plant is substandard."

"Not only is there no final payment, but they also demand that we complete the task as soon as possible, otherwise..."

"Otherwise, they will investigate the problems with our factory!"

After Director Shan finished speaking in one breath, the meeting room became even quieter than before.

It was eerily quiet.
A moment later, before anyone present could react, Director Zhong grabbed Director Shan and said with a ferocious expression, "Xiao Shan, what... what exactly did you do? What happened?"

"Didn't we already agree on this?"

“We produce the steel according to their requirements, then make it into steel pipes that suit them, and then we thoughtfully deliver it to them. In return, they give us the money and the materials.”

Factory Director Zhong clapped his hands and exclaimed, "Everything has been done very well!"

"No problem."

Director Zhong looked at the people beside him, and they all nodded, unanimously agreeing that there was no problem.

Just as Director Shan was about to speak, Secretary Xia suddenly asked, "Director Shan, have you offended them?"

As soon as he finished speaking, everyone turned to look at Director Shan.

Because the logistics director in front of you is no pushover.

His family had some connections in Linzi, and his parents were quite well-off, so they were considered important figures in the steel factory.

So over time, he became arrogant and started to take advantage of others in various projects.

If this were in a steel mill or in the local area, everyone would know each other and wouldn't care.

But the Ninth Division comes from Beijing. If they were to set their sights on them, they might incur their wrath and become their enemy.

These days, task orders are very flexible.

They're all from the same factory; whether you give it to someone else or give it to someone else, it's still the same thing.

There's no way to reason with this.

Under the gaze of everyone, Director Shan felt wronged and quickly turned to the young man behind him, "Officer Sun, hurry up and take it out."

The young man suddenly realized what was going on, and then took out the file bag from his pocket and handed it to Director Shan.

The latter took it and immediately flipped it open; inside was a stack of quality inspection reports.

"Factory manager, as I said, the people sent by the Ninth Steel Plant have formed an inspection team. All materials must be inspected and approved by them before they can be signed and stamped, and only with the approval report can we proceed with the settlement."

"Look, this is their report."

He placed the report on the table, and everyone quickly looked at it.

Factory Director Zhong picked up a document and looked at it. He immediately noticed the words "unqualified" at the top.

Looking closer, you'll see a list of test items below, along with the corresponding test data.

The report specifically states that the material strength is a serious non-compliance.

"Strength not up to standard?"

"How could it possibly be substandard!"

Factory Director Zhong slammed down the inspection report and loudly questioned the factory. Someone next to him also held up a report and said, "This one also fails the strength test. This is impossible. We followed the process exactly. How could it fail?"

In an instant, the crowd surged forward, their gazes turning once again to Director Shan.

Director Shan took a deep breath, then pointed to the strength requirements on the report, "Look, the requirement written here is greater than or equal to 340 MPa, but our strength test result is only 250 MPa. The other party is just using this indicator to force the standard. What do you suggest we do?"

Director Shan's reminder brought attention to the fact that there was a parenthesis below the item in front of everyone, which contained the strength requirements.

"And also, this needs to meet certain weldability requirements, which our steel pipes simply cannot meet during testing."

"What do you think I should do?"

Director Shan also felt wronged, thinking about the scene of the test, where one sample was pulled out for inspection and failed, and then another sample was pulled out and failed again.

Ten in a row, and not one of them was up to standard.

The people around him looked at him with contempt.

This is not only irresponsible, but also a waste of social resources and materials.

This is absolutely shameful behavior.

At this moment, Director Zhong, Secretary Xia, and all the staff of the steel plant fell silent.

Because the data on the materials is clear, it means that their materials are substandard.

"No, no, could it be that they made a mistake?"

Secretary Xia still couldn't believe it was true, considering that helping the Ninth Division complete its mission was one of his most important achievements.

Now that he's suddenly told that his performance has been lost and it could become a stain on his record, how can he possibly tolerate it?
"Yes, yes, we need to retest, retest."

Factory Director Zhong also realized the seriousness of the matter. If the materials were substandard, it would mean that they had not completed the task, and that they would not only need to give an explanation to their superiors, but also explain why they had not completed the task.

The task still needs to be completed, otherwise the consequences will be even more serious.

At this moment, Director Zhong felt that trying to get this task through connections was a complete waste of time and effort.

"Let's go, let's find someone to get tested quickly."

Everyone rushed outside. There was only one way left: to prove that the other party's test results were fake.

Otherwise, they'll be in trouble.

Soon, everyone found the steel that had not yet been shipped from the warehouse, and then immediately found someone to inspect it.

When the test results came out in the evening, everyone felt utterly hopeless.

The result was almost identical to the report; frankly, it was substandard.

Instantly, the entire steel plant erupted in an uproar.

In the factory director's office.

A group of people huddled together, smoking incessantly, waiting for the latest news.

"Factory Director, do you think Secretary Xia can succeed?"

Director Shan asked in a low voice, and everyone around immediately turned to look at him.

"Director Shan, don't judge others yet. Don't you have connections too? Why don't you make the call?"

Once someone speaks up, we have to use any means necessary, otherwise they won't be able to complete the mission and won't be able to celebrate the New Year.

They are even somewhat relieved now, relieved that the Linzi Steel Plant is not under the jurisdiction of the Ninth Ministry.

Otherwise, these people...
Director Shan lowered his head upon hearing this, "You think I didn't look for them?"

"My dad has already stepped in to find someone, but do you think the leaders of the Ninth Department will listen to their subordinates?"

"It has no influence; you can't even get through on the phone."

Everyone was stunned and speechless.

Then someone whispered, "Then, is Secretary Xia okay with it?"

Everyone fell silent upon hearing this.

"It should be fine, his wife isn't."

Just as someone was about to speak, they heard the door open and a person walk in.

It was their Secretary Xia.

"Old Xia, how's it going?"

Factory Director Zhong hurriedly stepped forward to inquire.

Secretary Xia took off his glasses and wiped them on his clothes before saying, "My father-in-law said he would speak to his superiors and see if we can use them for now."

"The materials and processes used in the later stages must meet the requirements."

After Secretary Xia finished speaking, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

In their view, since the other party's father-in-law had spoken up for them, the deal should be pretty much done.

However, Secretary Xia reiterated, "We cannot place all our hopes on others; we still need to make some efforts."

Everyone was taken aback, then looked at Secretary Xia.

Factory Director Zhong looked thoughtful. "Old Xia, what do you suggest we do?" Secretary Xia took a deep breath. "Old Zhong, if we can't get through this, not only will we look bad, but the other workers in the factory will also suffer."

"so."

Secretary Xia took a deep breath and explained his plan.

While they were discussing how to benefit themselves, they were unaware that their so-called father-in-law was nervously holding the phone.

The voice on the other end of the phone was calm and unhurried, but every word it uttered made him tremble with fear, as if he were walking on thin ice.

After a long while, once the phone call ended, the old man, who had maintained a dignified demeanor in front of Secretary Xia, slumped into his chair, muttering to himself, "It's over, this little beast has really ruined us this time."

So, before the steel mill staff left for the day, a jeep rushed in, and then an old man stormed into the office.

The next moment, a crisp slap echoed in the conference room.

Then, Director Zhong looked at Secretary Xia, who was being taken away, and his face turned ashen.

At that moment, he knew that it was best not to try to be clever in front of the Nine Departments.
Xiahe Village.

This is a small village near a river, nestled against the mountains and beside the water, with fertile fields and orchards nearby.

There are many such villages near Linzi. Every year around the beginning of spring, the village's labor force begins to get busy under the organization of the production team.

Operations will cease when winter arrives.

Of course, the production team would also send people when some projects required manpower.

These laborers would be counted in work points, and the production team would also need to provide food for the workers.

Of course, not all projects require the production team to provide personnel.

Moreover, not everyone is willing to do the work.

After all, nobody wants to work outside in the freezing cold.

At the entrance to Xiahe Village, Wang Liang carried a cloth bag and walked quickly home.

After leaving the construction site, he returned to the village with the others, firstly to tell his family the good news, and secondly to inform the village committee that he had transferred his affiliation from the committee.

From now on, they are considered workers too.

Family members can also enjoy the benefits of being a worker.

Thinking of this, those who came back with them felt full of strength.

Wang Liang held the bag tightly the whole way, afraid that the contents would fall out, and even more afraid that what he was experiencing was just a dream.

Fortunately, all of this is true.

To think that he, an eighteen-year-old farmer, suddenly became an electrician.

Moreover, he was an electrician from the renowned Ninth Division.

This is something that so many rural people dream of.

Then he thought about his unborn child and how his child could take over as a worker after he retired, which made him feel very accomplished.

In this one moment of his life, he felt it was all worthwhile.

Before they left, Li Tiejun told them to take some things back with them so that their families could be happy.

So Wang Ruiliang gave each person a cloth bag, which was considered a perk for electricians.

Then everyone was given three cans, some big, some small, some fat, some short. These things were said to be made by the cannery of the Ninth Ministry. It was said that the big ones were beef cans, the shorter and fatter ones were mutton cans, and the smallest one was pork cans.

Either way, it's all meat.

For them, this is a delicacy they can only enjoy during the Lunar New Year.

Oh, right, Brother Wang said there will be welfare benefits this year for the Spring Festival, so he doesn't need to save them and be reluctant to eat them.

Thinking of this, Wang Liang looked at his house getting closer and closer, took a deep breath and then exhaled forcefully.

The best is yet to come.

"Liangzi, you're back."

As I approached my house, my neighbor, Grandpa Li, stood at the door and greeted me.

Wang Liang was very polite to the elderly man who had taken such good care of him, saying, "Uncle Li, it's so cold outside, why don't you stay home and keep warm? It's freezing to death outside."

"Sigh, I just came out for some fresh air. I'll go home for dinner later."

"Did you just get back from the construction site?"

Wang Liang chuckled and said, "Yes, I just got back."

"Uncle Li, I'm going back now."

"Go back, go back. Xiao Liu is feeling heavier these days, so you'll have to take good care of him."

Grandpa Li gave him some more instructions, and Wang Liang ran into the house with a smile.

As soon as I opened the door, I could hear voices coming from inside.

Upon closer listening, one could tell that the other was his sixth brother and the other was his wife.

With many children in his family, by the time he got married, his parents were already quite old and could no longer take care of him.

If parents can help their children get married, they have fulfilled their obligations.

As for this house, it belongs to him and his younger brother, so in addition to his wife, there is also his twelve-year-old younger brother living in the house.

"Five brothers!"

Upon seeing Wang Liang return, his younger brother Wang Ran quickly ran out, his slightly sunken cheeks a clear indication that he often went hungry.

Wang Liang carefully held his younger brother close, afraid that he might damage the canned goods in the bundle.

Then he looked at his wife, who was coming out with a protruding belly.

"Yufen, I'm back."

His wife, Liu Yufen, was short and very thin.

"You haven't eaten yet, have you? I'll go start a fire and heat it up for you."

Liu Yufen and Wang Liang were the same age. They had met a few times before, and when they reached a certain age, the matchmaker introduced them and they fell in love. So they became revolutionary partners and lived together.

Although life was tough, it was peaceful.

"Yufen, wait a moment."

"Xiao Ran, close the door."

Upon hearing this, Wang Ran knew from seeing Fifth Brother's bag that there must be food inside.

In the past, Fifth Brother would bring back steamed buns, and he and his sister-in-law would share half of them.

Those are white flour steamed buns.

He quickly ran over and closed the door. When Wang Ran ran back, he saw three iron boxes on the kang (a heated brick bed) inside the room.

The taller one is 8 centimeters in diameter and 15 centimeters tall.

The shorter one is 10 centimeters in diameter and 12 centimeters tall.

The smallest one is a flat can, which looks like a lunchbox.

Then I heard Fifth Brother say, "This big one is a can of beef, this smaller one is a can of mutton, and this last one is a can of pork."

Upon hearing this, Wang Ran couldn't stop drooling, and his eyes began to light up.

This is meat.

His wife, standing to the side, clutched her stomach in disbelief.

But that wasn't all. Wang Liang then explained his situation. It was clear that he was going to become a worker, an electrician, and would receive government-supplied food and a salary.
His wife, Liu Yufen, was already somewhat dizzy and incredulous.

But the little life inside her kicking happily reminded her that this wasn't a dream.

"Really?"

Liu Yufen confirmed again, and Wang Liang nodded. Then he carefully took out a piece of paper from his pocket. It was a certificate that allowed him to leave the production team and become a worker.

"It's true, absolutely true."

Wang Liang's very affirmative answer made Liu Yufen unable to contain her excitement, and she rushed forward to hug Wang Liang.

Tears streamed down her face, but she kept saying, "That's wonderful, that's wonderful."
Wang Liang carefully embraced his wife, feeling at that moment that he had done something a man should do.

Meanwhile, Wang Ran, the youngest brother, was so surprised to hear that his fifth brother had become an electrician and a worker in the Ninth Department that his desire for meat paled in comparison.

The workers had a monthly food ration and a monthly salary; their lives couldn't be more comfortable.

This is a job that everyone in the village, including the brigade cadres, wants.

But now, his fifth brother has become a worker, which has greatly shocked him and left him standing there at a loss.