Courtyard House: I, the eldest son of the Jia family, have returned from the battlefield.

Ignoring the scolding, Xiao Wang braced himself on the edge of the table and blurted out, "The police... the police, with the cooperation of the security department, just took Deputy Factory Director Zhou away! They said he's... he's a spy planted over there!"

"What?"

Secretary Zhang abruptly stood up, the chair legs scraping loudly on the floor. "Zhou Xudong? A spy? You can't just say things like that!"

"Absolutely true!"

Xiao Wang nodded vigorously, his forehead covered in a fine sheen of sweat. "I saw it with my own eyes, right outside Director Yang's office."

According to the police, not only Deputy Factory Director Zhou, but also Captain Chen of the Second Security Team are among their men, and there are more than a dozen accomplices in the factory... The police are currently dispatched to various workshops to make arrests!

Secretary Zhang slowly sat back down in his chair, his fingers unconsciously stroking the edge of the table.

After a long pause, he finally looked up and asked, "How did the police suddenly turn their investigation to Zhou Xudong?"

"It was Section Chief Jia—the newly arrived Section Chief Jia Dongming of the Security Section—who discovered it."

Xiao Wang lowered his voice and leaned forward, "Section Chief Jia didn't alert anyone; he contacted Jiaodaokou Police Station directly."

They discovered that Chen Jianfei and Deputy Factory Director Zhou's group had spent a year digging a tunnel in an abandoned building behind the special workshop, leading directly to the area beneath the workshop... The tunnel was filled with explosives, and they were scheduled to detonate it tonight.

Secretary Zhang felt a sudden chill run down his spine.

If the special workshop explodes... he and Lao Yang will probably be doomed for life.

He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and when he opened them again, his eyes were filled with solemnity.

"Walk,"

He grabbed his coat from the back of the chair. "Let's go to Yang Weimin's place."

The news spread like a sudden gust of cold wind, instantly reaching every corner of the administration building.

When the news of Zhou Xudong's arrest and his designation as an enemy agent arrived, the leaders of various departments were initially taken aback. Then, they all got up and hurried to Yang Weimin's office, eager to find out the details of the matter.

In the logistics office, a middle-aged female worker named Liu Fang pushed open the door, panting, her face still showing the fear she had felt from overhearing snippets of conversation in the hallway.

She walked straight up to Qin Huairu, lowering her voice but unable to hide her shock: "Huairu, have you heard? It's Section Chief Jia... Section Chief Jia detained Deputy Factory Director Zhou! He said... he said he found out the identity of an enemy agent!"

Qin Huairu was tidying up the receipts on the table when she heard this. She paused, looked up, and her eyes were full of disbelief: "Sister Liu Fang, you can't just say things like that."

Deputy Factory Director Zhou…isn’t he also in charge of the security department?

Zhao Li, who was standing next to her, also came over, her face filled with the same confusion.

Seeing that they didn't believe her, Liu Fang hurriedly explained, "Zhao Li, you don't know this."

The security department is ostensibly a factory department, but in reality, it's directly under the public security bureau and wields considerable power! Not to mention the supervisor in charge, even higher-ranking factory leaders have the authority to investigate and prosecute them if they commit a crime.

As Qin Huairu listened, the previously vague concept in her mind gradually became clearer.

She had always thought that the security department was just an ordinary functional department in the factory, but now she suddenly realized the weight it represented.

Thinking of her uncle Jia Dongming, who had just been transferred to the family and was usually quiet, yet held such crucial power, a subtle sense of confidence quietly grew in her heart.

The slight unease she had felt earlier because of her colleagues' family backgrounds, whether explicit or implicit, quietly dissipated like a thin mist in the sunlight, and she unconsciously straightened her back a little.

At this moment, the open space outside the administration building presents a completely different scene.

When Jia Dongming arrived with his men, the open space in front of the building was already surrounded by layers of workers who had rushed over after hearing the news, and the air was filled with the buzzing of whispers.

Several police officers stood guard with guns around the perimeter, maintaining basic order.

Jia Dongming's gaze swept over the growing crowd, his brow furrowing almost imperceptibly. He turned to Li Aijun, who was standing close beside him, and whispered, "Aijun, go back to the department immediately and get some more people to assist the police. Make sure to maintain order at the scene and prevent any chaos."

"Yes, Section Chief, I'll take care of it right away!"

Li Aijun acknowledged the order and turned to jog away.

Seeing that the crowd was still growing, Jia Dongming quickly walked to the factory director Yang Weimin, who was talking to the police chief. His words were steady but carried a clear sense of vigilance: "Director Yang, although the enemy agents have been captured, it is hard to say whether any have escaped or whether there are any accomplices outside who are waiting to meet us."

With so many people gathered here, if someone with malicious intent were to exploit the situation and create chaos, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Shouldn't we get the workshop foremen to persuade all the workers to return to their posts as soon as possible?

Upon hearing this, Yang Weimin realized the seriousness of the situation. Looking at the dense crowd, he immediately instructed his secretary, "Xiao Jiang, go quickly! Find the directors of the main workshops and have them take everyone back immediately and resume normal production. No one is allowed to linger or watch!"

Secretary Xiao Jiang nodded quickly and hurried away, pushing through the crowd.

At this moment, Zhang Handong, the Party Secretary of the steel rolling mill, came out of the building.

He first glanced at Zhou Xudong and the others who were being escorted onto a military truck by the police, his gaze becoming serious. Then he turned to Jia Dongming, a very warm smile spreading across his face, and extended his hand: "Comrade Jia Dongming! I am Zhang Handong."

On behalf of the factory's Party Committee and all its employees, I want to express my sincere gratitude to you for this incident! It was your keen insight and decisive action that removed this thorn in our side, thwarted the enemy's sinister plot to sabotage the special workshop, and protected state property and the safety of the entire factory!

On the day Jia Dongming reported for office, Zhang Handong happened to be attending a meeting at the ministry and was absent.

Upon learning the news later, he somewhat felt that the newly arrived head of security should take the initiative to visit him, so he did not arrange a meeting, let alone a formal welcome.

At this moment, faced with Zhang Handong's enthusiastic affirmation, Jia Dongming simply shook hands calmly, his tone humble yet with a clear sense of boundaries: "Secretary Zhang, you flatter me."

As someone assigned by the organization to work in the security department of the steel rolling mill, fulfilling my duties and cracking down on all sabotage activities is my responsibility.

This is what I should do.

Zhang Handong was a man of great stature, and he was immediately "dispatched" from this "organization".

"Fulfilling duties"

There was a subtle implication in his words—Jia Dongming only emphasized the appointment from his superiors and his own responsibilities, without mentioning the original leadership system of the steel rolling mill.

This is undoubtedly a subtle yet clear statement, a response to his previous intangible neglect.

Thinking that Jia Dongming had uncovered a deeply hidden enemy spy network with swift and decisive measures in just four days after taking office, thus preventing a major sabotage incident, Zhang Handong couldn't help but feel a pang of regret. If he had known this would happen, why did he put on airs and ignore this seemingly low-key but actually ruthless head of the security department?

The police chief at the scene then approached Jia Dongming and Zhang Handong and said, "Leaders, all the enemy agents hiding inside the steel rolling mill have now been apprehended. We will immediately begin further interrogations and investigations."

However, one problem remains: whether these individuals have accomplices outside the factory providing support or lurking in the shadows. This is currently unknown, and the situation cannot be taken lightly.

Li Xidong directed his men to load all the captured spies onto the truck, then turned and walked toward Jia Dongming.

The two stood in an open area of ​​the factory. Li Xidong extended his hand: "Section Chief Jia, this operation was made possible thanks to your cooperation."

We'll take the person back to the station for interrogation overnight. If we need any further assistance, we'll probably have to trouble your security department.

Jia Dongming immediately grasped the other person's hand with a steady grip: "Director Li, you're too kind."

The timely cessation of the sabotage was entirely due to the support of the comrades at the branch office.

If you need any coordination regarding security matters at the factory in the future, please contact me at any time.

His gaze swept over the group of factory leaders gathered not far away, and his voice carried a certain deliberate air of arrogance.

Li Xidong glanced in the direction of his gaze and sensed a subtle distance between them.

He didn't say much, only nodded politely in the direction of the leaders, and then led his men to get into the car and leave.

The sound of the truck engines gradually faded into the twilight outside the factory gates.

The crowd had not yet dispersed, and a few female workers were talking in hushed tones at the back.

A round-faced middle-aged female worker nudged the arm of the person next to her, her eyes fixed on Jia Dongming's tall and straight back: "Huairu, I heard that your Section Chief Jia just transferred from the army? Such a spirited young man, has your family arranged a marriage for you yet?"

When Qin Huairu was asked this question, the scene of her mother-in-law looking through photos and asking around flashed before her eyes, and her heart felt like it had been gently pricked by a needle.

She pursed her lips, her voice still relatively calm: "Sister Yanzi, my uncle is not married yet."

However... my mother-in-law has indeed been making arrangements for this recently.

The female worker called Yanzi's eyes lit up instantly: "Oh my, what a coincidence! My niece works at the department store, she's about the same age and looks pretty too."

"Or... I could bring her to the factory sometime and let the two young people meet?"

Qin Huairu unconsciously curled her knuckles, but still had a smile on her face: "I need to ask my mother-in-law's opinion on this matter first."

She worries a lot, so we should always listen to her arrangements.

"Then you'd better remember to ask for me!"

Yanzi eagerly took her hand, "I'll be waiting for your news once Mingtian starts work."

Qin Huairu gave a vague reply, but her gaze involuntarily followed the figure that had already turned and walked towards the security department building.

Jia Dongming didn't exchange pleasantries with any of the factory leaders. He simply waved to the security guards who were maintaining order, and the group left in an orderly line.

Deputy Factory Director Yang Weimin stood on the steps in front of the office building and took in the whole scene.

He knew why Jia Dongming hadn't even glanced at him—the deliberate coldness he'd received on the day he reported for duty had now become an invisible wall between them.

Normally, Yang Weimin would have found a reason to reprimand such an impolite subordinate, but at this moment he could only remain silent.

Today's crisis, which nearly led to disaster, was ultimately averted thanks to this person; in a sense, he even managed to save his position.

Workers gradually returned to the workshop, and the factory area gradually returned to silence.

Yang Weimin returned to his office alone, and just as he sat down in his chair, the shrill ring of the telephone suddenly rang out.

He picked up the receiver and habitually began, "This is Yang Weimin. Who is this?"

A deep, urgent voice came from the other end: "Xiao Yang, I heard your factory's new security chief cracked a spy case today? What are the details?"

Yang Weimin straightened his back instantly, his voice filled with utmost respect: "Old leader, it is true! Our factory's deputy director Zhou Xudong, along with Chen Jianfei, the captain of the second security brigade, are enemy agents who have been lurking for many years."

They secretly dug a tunnel leading to the special workshop, planning to blow it up tonight.

After taking office, Comrade Jia Dongming keenly sensed the internal abnormalities and quickly contacted the public security authorities. The two sides worked together to capture all the spies and prevent major losses.

I was just about to give you a detailed report…

There was a brief silence on the other end of the phone. When the voice spoke again, it was a heavy rebuke: "Yang Weimin, I handed the steel rolling mill over to you, and this is how you manage it?"

"So many spies are lurking in the factory, and you know nothing about it."

The head of the security department had only been in office for four days, yet he not only uncovered the conspiracy but also assisted the Public Security Bureau in wiping out the enemy.

"If it weren't for Jia Dongming, once the spies' plot succeeded, you and the entire leadership team would be criminals against the country."

I think you've been living in peace for too long; you've even lost the most basic sense of vigilance.

Previously, Director Lin was in charge of security at the Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill.

Director Ke Lin has always been in poor health and has to go to the hospital every few days.

As a result, the three captains under the security department went their own way, and their forces could never be united.

That's why Yang Weimin had this idea: to place his own person in the position of head of the security department.

Yang Weimin had been secretly planning this for a long time.

Just when everything seemed to be going smoothly, Jia Dongming suddenly appeared and abruptly cut off his plans.

Jia Dongming's sudden appearance completely disrupted Yang Weimin's plans to take control of the security department.