Rebirth 08: Equipment God

Chapter 149 Accept either reformation or accept the iron fist
A university's influence depends on two factors: its strength and its proximity to the people it serves.

Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT), one of the seven sons of national defense, a prestigious member of the C9 League, and the only remaining pride of the old industrial area, is a prestigious institution in Northeast China, and there is very little that it cannot accomplish.

But how much potential Zhai Da can unleash in Dongyang County, a place that even the school teachers are visiting for the first time, is questionable.

He underestimated the level of Harbin Institute of Technology and overestimated Lu Benqing's abilities.

In Yu Jinghui's words, it's just a piece of junk! It won't take much effort.

These are only two top scorers that Harbin Institute of Technology has admitted in the past thirty years, and Harbin Institute of Technology's nursing students are renowned.

He felt there was no need for Zhai Da to know the details of some things, and did not explain what he planned to do.

But it was indeed different from what Zhai Da had imagined.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

The next day, Lu Benqing didn't wake up until almost noon.

He saw the banner last night and was puzzled. As someone who only came out to sunbathe once every ten days or so and then got arrested again, Lu Benqing's life these past two months has been neither human nor ghost.

Every time I go out, I want to figure out some things, like what to do if the house is gone, or where my daughter has gone. But usually, before I can even start to deal with them, I have to go back.

They're all fucking out of touch with society.

Lu Wei works in a factory, right? How could she be the top scorer in the college entrance examination?
He knew his daughter used to have good grades, but not to this extent, and besides, she had stopped going to school a long time ago.

So he thought about it all night and felt that it must be someone with the same name, but in the end, greed got the better of him. Even if there was only a one percent chance, it made his hands tremble with excitement.

If my daughter gets the top score in the college entrance exam, wouldn't the country provide me with food and lodging, and even cover my gambling debts for life?

Am I not someone who can do whatever I want in this county? Wouldn't the county magistrate come to me for tea? And even offer me two packs of cigarettes?

There's a reward for the top scholar in the county, right? Wouldn't that be awesome? I've never gambled big before!

The incurable schistosome had already fantasized about everything Lu Wei could possibly gain, and was using it as a bargaining chip for reckless squandering.

Just thinking about it keeps me up all night.

In a run-down hotel costing fifteen yuan a night, Lu Benqing got up and prepared to set off on his journey to find his daughter.

Even if he had to search every inch of Dongyang County, he still had to find Lu Wei and tell his daughter face to face that he had "turned over a new leaf" and that they would live a life of luxury together from now on.

Before he could even leave the hotel, there was a loud knocking on the door.

Lu Benqing thought they were urging him to check out, since it was already past midnight.

"What's all the noise about! I'm leaving right now!"

"Community delivers warmth."

When the door opened, there was a large group of people, including two in police uniforms.

Upon seeing this suit, Lu Benqing's blood pressure dropped by three points, and his voice became much more compliant.

"What's the matter?"

The veteran police officer leading the team had a kind expression and even saluted.

Lu Benqing instinctively straightened up.

"To!"

It's purely muscle memory.

The veteran police officer remained calm: "Hello, we are working with the community to conduct a joint investigation and identify stranded individuals. Please cooperate with our work."

Lu Benqing was a little confused: "I only stayed one night."

The veteran police officer smiled and waved his hand: "Hey~, it's all the same! Don't be nervous, we're just getting to know you. What's your name? Are you a local? What do you do for a living?"

Lu Benqing could only stammer a reply.
When asked, they all remained silent: locals, unemployed, homeless, with no savings, and with criminal records.

Yes. There are many prior convictions, but none for criminal offenses yet, though we can produce a form for administrative offenses.

It's a classic "destabilizing factor," practically plastered on its forehead.

The old policeman shook his head and said, "This won't do. What are your plans next?"

"I'm going to look for my daughter; she was the top scorer in this year's college entrance examination."

The people outside the door exchanged glances, but no one spoke or laughed.

This surprised Lu Benqing.
You guys should at least give a laugh!

The old policeman sighed: "You're a grown man, with hands and feet, why would you rely on your daughter?"

"So, you know the Olympics are coming soon. The county needs to conduct a full investigation, a full cleanup, and a full follow-up. We can't leave you behind during this 100-day sprint."

Lu Benqing shrank his neck: "Officer, I just got out. You can't arrest me again, right? You have to have a reason, right? I didn't gamble."

The main problem is that he couldn't find it. Dongyang County has been completely cleared out, and he wandered around all night but couldn't find it.

The veteran policeman said, "No, we handle things according to the law and regulations. Here, pack your things and come with us."

A few minutes later, Lu Benqing, looking bewildered and powerless to resist, was taken to the police station.

First, a round of checks and more detailed information registration were carried out, but he was unaware that he had already been marked in the system.

Then, without asking him if he agreed, they let him sleep in the police station dormitory for one night.

There was no particular reason; they just said they were there to offer help and support. The police even provided two meals, the kind with chicken legs.

The attitude was warm; refusal was not an option, and leaving was out of the question.

There was always a policeman by his side, constantly talking to him, chanting mantras to persuade him to change his ways, until he was completely bewildered.

Lu Benqing spent the day in a state of anxiety and confusion, and the next morning he was sent to the neighboring city of Lian.

We drove for a full two hours, heading deep into the mountains and forests.

By the end, Lu Benqing was starting to feel guilty.
Finally, the car stopped at what looked like the entrance to a factory.

Before getting off the bus, the old policeman said earnestly, "Men need to have a job so they don't become a burden on society. The policies are good now, and they'll even help you find a job!"

Lu Benqing: "No, officer, I don't want to work."

"Haha, you're so funny. Who doesn't want to work? What would you eat if you didn't work?"

At this moment, a person came out of the factory: "This must be the new employee? Hand over your phone first, and come with me. I'll show you around the factory."

Lu Benqing held his knock-off phone, glanced at the police car, and then at the factory hidden in the mountains.

If he hadn't come from the police station, he would have thought it was a fake policeman involved in human trafficking.

Wasn't it just a sentry post at the gate of a factory? Lu Benqing looked closely. The person at the sentry post was actually holding a rifle!
Where did I end up?! Is this still in China?!
The man who came out of the factory was very enthusiastic: "Don't worry, although our factory is quite strict, the benefits are good! We provide meals and accommodation, and the salary is not low, 2500 a month."

Lu Benqing shrank his neck. 2500 a month with room and board included? That's really not low. These days, you can only earn that much in a factory if you're in the middle or upper management.

But why in such a remote place? Why is the wall over three meters high with barbed wire?

"Is this really a factory?"

The old policeman feigned helplessness and said, "You're still not willing? Do you know how many people get into this factory through connections? If it weren't for the Olympics approaching and the higher-ups requiring us to relocate as many people as possible, would someone like you even get 2500 a month?"

After saying that, he said to the factory manager, "Thank you for your support of our work."

The man in the factory laughed and said, "We're all one family, it's the Olympics for everyone!"

He said to Lu Benqing, "You've come at a good time! We can even give you two months' salary in advance, a full 5000 yuan as a settling-in allowance. You'll get it today after you complete your onboarding!"

What the heck? 5000 today?

Although it's a bit strange to offer free meals, accommodation, and a settling-in allowance, maybe they're just rich and naive?

Even he, who was determined not to work, was tempted.

Moreover, the people in this factory all seemed to have an "upright" air about them, and they certainly didn't seem like scammers.

Or should we just fool them for a couple of days, take the money, and then find a chance to run away?

Greed can always overcome his reason, because his reason is worthless.

Lu Benqing was eventually taken into the factory. The old policeman behind him smiled and waved, "Work hard, save more money, and don't always think about relying on your daughter. Your daughter will ask you for living expenses when she goes to college."

Lu Benqing could no longer hear anything.

All I can think about right now is whether I can make 5000 today.

He went to an office and signed a lot of documents. Since it didn't seem like a scam or that the person was introduced by the police, Lu Benqing didn't look at the dozen or so pages of documents in detail, treating them as just an employment contract.

His level of education didn't allow him to examine it closely; it gave him a headache.

After signing the document, Lu Benqing asked with a grin, "Boss, when will the resettlement allowance be paid?"

"Don't worry, if we say the money will arrive today, it will arrive today. You've seen the strength of our factory; you won't be shortchanged by a single dollar!"

"By the way, boss, what does our factory produce? I haven't even seen a logo yet."

The man smiled and waved his hand: "Hey~ special rules, no markings allowed, we produce shell casings and stuff like that."

"What?"

"To be precise, we are an arms factory, not some high-tech company, but the rules are indeed a bit strict."

Lu Benqing belatedly asked, "How strict is it?"

"The military-style management is so strict."

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Evening, Dongyang County.

On the campus of Utopia, Lu Wei finished her last math class.

While tidying up the podium, I glanced at my phone and saw a text message.

To this day, her phone still only has the contact information for Zhai Da and Yu Xiaoli, and she never answers calls from unknown numbers, so she reads every message carefully.

"Your bank card 4171826 has received 5000 yuan."

Lu Wei tilted her head.

The note says: Living expenses?
One hundred meters away, at the small shop at the intersection, Zhai Da and Yu Jinghui sat at the door.

There were no stools, so one person sat on five boxes of "Six Walnuts" (a type of walnut drink).

He argued with the small shop, and they offered him a tenfold compensation for any counterfeit product.

Zhai Da has already threatened that if he dares to sell counterfeit goods again, he will mobilize the students to take turns reporting him!
Yu Jinghui said, "Everything has been arranged, and it's all legal and compliant. I'm just letting you know so you can rest assured. I've introduced Lu Benqing to a good job."

Zhai Daqi asked, "Does introducing me to a job solve this problem? And is it a good job?"

Is he worthy?
Yu Jinghui laughed and said, "Don't worry, I can keep people in line. Trust me."

There were some things he didn't want to explain too clearly to Zhai Da. Although everything was legal and compliant, it was still done under his own subjective will.

They have military-style management there. We work eight hours a day but can't leave the factory. We work six days a week but still can't leave the factory. We have one day a month to go out, but we have to report our whereabouts and we are subject to random phone checks on our location at any time. We have to report back at any time.

If Lu Benqing can be reformed through military-style management, it would be a win-win situation. The salary is indeed generous; it's a factory that others only got into through connections.

If not, Lu Benqing signed many agreements before joining the company, and there are various ways to handle the situation.

You can't just quit your job at a military industrial company.

Furthermore, Lu Benqing has already been marked in the police system, and his movements will be very easy to track, approaching the level of attention of a "fugitive on the Internet".

This cannot be considered an abuse of public resources for private gain. Reintegrating such people into society is something that all parties should do, such as habitual thieves and drug addicts.

Generally speaking, no one will pay special attention to a particular person. Without subjective will to drive it, who would care about a nobody like Lu Benqing? He's not worth all the trouble.

But things are different now.
In short, there is only one main point.

Either accept the transformation, or accept the iron fist, and then continue the transformation.

Moreover, it's not a one-off deal; it's a continuous monitoring effort. If he wants to come out and annoy people again, he won't be able to find him.

Zhai Da nodded, believing Yu Jinghui's, or rather, Harbin Institute of Technology's, promise.

Dealing with Lu Benqing legally and compliantly requires far more resources than simply beating him up or resorting to underhanded tactics.

However, this is the right path, the right path without any hidden dangers.

"Is it really all settled? You won't cause any more trouble?"

Yu Jinghui said casually, "You can completely forget about this person without any problem."

We'll deal with any further problems as they arise; the important thing is to prevent him from affecting Lu Wei any further.

Zhai Da nodded.

Hmm. I can delete the phone numbers of those immigration agents and tour guides in Beijing later.

They also sell magic mirrors.
Zhai Dachong and Yu Jinghui gave each other a thumbs up: "Teacher Yu, take two cases and go, I can't finish them all."

Yu Jinghui waved his hand: "No, no, I'm too old to drink sweets."

That's wonderful; it helps students solve their problems and protects their pure values.
(End of this chapter)