Siheyuan: The Era of Struggle

Chapter 437 Operation 425
As soon as the old truck came to a stop in front of the security office, Li Jiefang loudly opened the passenger door and got out.

"Director, we're here. Just tell us what tasks you need! We guarantee we'll complete them."

Upon seeing He Yuanchao standing at the door, Li Jiefang immediately strode forward and said.

He Yuanchao looked at Li Jiefang's dazed expression and wanted to scold him, but seeing the security guards from Hongxing Factory getting off the bus one after another and the security guards from the First Branch Factory standing at the gate, he swallowed the words that were on the tip of his tongue.

Li Jiefang is now a cadre, so we have to save face for him. Otherwise, he won't have any authority in front of his subordinates.

Although He Yuanchao didn't say the reprimand aloud, he didn't give Li Jiefang a kind look either.

"Alright, stop with the nonsense. Today you're responsible for assisting the brothers in the first factory. Section Chief Ding will assign you the specific tasks. I need to go see Secretary Liang, so I won't talk to you any longer. Just assist Section Chief Ding well and don't cause me any trouble."

After saying that, He Yuanchao ignored Li Jiefang and turned to lead Wang Jibin to the small conference room.

Time was a bit tight, but Wang Jibin, the "eldest apprentice," was, after all, an outsider he had invited, so he had to show his face to Liang Weimin.

No matter how things turn out in the end, at least the 'apprentice' should gain a favor from Liang Weimin, so that the man doesn't work for nothing.

The two walked and talked, and soon arrived at the small conference room of the first factory.

This is now the temporary command post for Operation 425. The other leaders of the First Branch Factory have all returned to their respective departments to assign tasks. Only Liang Weimin, Secretary Hong, Mo Dacheng, and Li Weizhong remain in the room.

Mo Dacheng and Li Weizhong were analyzing the case in hushed tones. Liang Weimin was on the phone when they saw He Yuanchao leading a stranger into the house, and all of them turned to look at him.

Liang Weimin waved for them to sit down next to him, then spoke a few more words into the phone before hanging up.

"Is this the Comrade Wang Jibin you mentioned, who was sent to aid Korea?"

"Yes, Secretary Liang, this is Wang Jibin from the pre-trial section of the Xicheng Public Security Bureau that I was referring to."

After He Yuanchao stood up and responded, he turned to Wang Jibin, who was standing next to him, and said, "Jibin, this is Secretary Liang from our steel plant."

Wang Jibin is usually a man of few words, but he never fails when it matters. As soon as He Yuanchao finished speaking, he raised his hand in salute and said, "Hello, Secretary Liang."

"Hello, Comrade Ji Bin."

After Liang Weimin finished speaking, he stepped forward and shook Wang Jibin's hand, saying, "Comrade Jibin, thank you for your help this time. On behalf of Hongxing Factory and all the cadres and workers of Branch Factory No. 1, thank you."

"Secretary Liang, you're too kind..."

Ring ring ring…

Before Wang Jibin could finish speaking, he was interrupted by a phone ringing.

Liang Weimin smiled apologetically, picked up the phone, and said, "This is Liang Weimin. Where is this from?"

"Secretary Liang, this is Fang Jiancheng from the trade union. The first batch of registered workers have arrived, and the security personnel have also come. Shall we start the registration now?"

Hearing the voice coming from the phone, everyone in the room instinctively gathered around. Liang Weimin glanced at Wang Jibin and spoke into the receiver:
"Let's begin. I'll have Deputy Director He lead the group over right away."

After Liang Weimin finished speaking, he hung up the phone and then looked at Wang Jibin with a smile, saying:

"Comrade Ji Bin, I won't say thank you. I'll leave the rest to you."

“Secretary Liang, you don’t need to be so polite. I’m also very interested in this kind of thing. Besides, my master went through a lot of trouble to ask me for help, so I can’t let his words fall on deaf ears.” After Wang Jibin finished speaking, everyone in the room burst into laughter.

After chuckling twice, Liang Weimin turned to He Yuanchao and instructed him, "Yuanchao, now that you've become my mentor, take good care of him. If Comrade Ji Bin needs anything, let me know immediately."

"It's Secretary Liang."

After He Yuanchao finished speaking, he didn't linger any longer, turned around and led Wang Jibin outside.

Seeing this, Li Weizhong said to Liang Weimin, "I'll go and take a look too," and then quickly followed the two out of the house.

The large conference room is used for regular staff meetings or various social events. It is a large, stand-alone building that is not too far from the office building.

He Yuanchao and his two companions arrived at the door of the main conference room in no time.

The workers were queuing up, discussing the matter of re-registering their files in small groups.

Seeing Li Weizhong approach, they all greeted him, and some of the bolder ones even asked him directly:
"Secretary Li, why is our factory re-registering files? Are we recruiting?"

"Yes, Secretary Li, if you're hiring, please let me know. My eldest son is already twenty-one and still doesn't have a proper job. If our factory needs workers, we should give priority to the children of our employees."

"Secretary Li, I heard that this registration of files is to solve the problem of bachelors and widows in the factory. Is that true?"

"Yes, Secretary Li, is that what happened? Could you tell me about it?"

……

Listening to the chattering of the employees, Li Weizhong was at his wits' end. But to avoid upsetting them, he couldn't remain silent. So, he hurried towards the conference room, mumbling as he spoke:
"The factory is re-registering the files this time because Hongxing Factory needs to collect information on our employees. Don't overthink it or spread rumors. If anyone tries to cause trouble, I'll deal with them."

While they were talking, Li Weizhong had already led He Yuanchao and Wang Jibin to the entrance of the main conference room.

When the workers in line heard that it wasn't about recruiting workers or solving the problem of bachelors and widows in the factory, their spirits immediately dropped. However, some people thought that Li Weizhong wasn't telling the truth.

"Making such a big fuss just for the statistics of Hongxing Factory, who would believe it if word got out? There must be something fishy going on here. Maybe Li Weizhong is misleading everyone so that the relatives of the factory cadres can take the opportunity to get priority into the factory."

It's unclear which worker first said this, but it quickly spread among the workers in line. If it weren't for the uncertainty about the veracity of the news and the presence of a group of unfamiliar security guards around the conference room, the workers in line might have started a commotion by now.

He Yuanchao and Li Weizhong, who had entered the house, were unaware of what was happening outside. They led Wang Jibin directly to Fang Jiancheng.

"How is Lao Fang? Has he registered yet?"

Upon hearing Li Weizhong's voice, union chairman Fang Jiancheng stopped what he was doing, looked up, and said:
"A batch has already been registered, and I'm sorting them out here."

As he spoke, Fang Jiancheng picked up a stack of neatly organized files from the table and handed them to Li Weizhong.

Li Weizhong took the file without even looking at it and casually handed it to Wang Jibin beside him.

"Comrade Ji Bin, thank you for your trouble."

Wang Jibin didn't stand on ceremony. He nodded, took the file, pulled up a chair next to Fang Jiancheng, and then sat down to quietly read the file.

(End of this chapter)