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

At this point, he seemed to suddenly remember something important, and his tone became urgent as he reminded him, "By the way, the investigation team sent by the Ministry of Industry will arrive at the factory first thing this morning."

"You are the deputy factory director in charge of logistics, so I'm afraid you should go back quickly and make some arrangements in advance."

Li Huaide felt a chill run down his spine, said no more, and turned to leave.

He quickly got on his bike and rushed back to his office.

He closed the door, walked a few steps to the large desk, reached out and pressed the black telephone, shook the handle vigorously, and after the call connected, picked up the receiver, deliberately keeping his tone calm and polite: "Hello, comrade."

Please transfer me to the Industrial Department, Vice President Jiang's office.

A middle-aged man's calm and polite voice came through the receiver: "Hello, this is Vice President Jiang's office."

May I ask who you are?

Li Huaide's face immediately lit up with his familiar smile, and his voice became warmer: "Director Kou, good morning! It's me, Huaide."

Is my father home? Could you please ask him to answer the phone?

Director Kou on the other end of the phone seemed to hesitate for a moment before politely replying, "Director Li, hello."

Unfortunately, General Manager Kou convened an emergency meeting this morning, and Vice President Jiang has already gone to Conference Room 1. It's estimated that it won't be over for a while.

If you have anything urgent, please tell me first, and I will relay it to Vice President Jiang as soon as he returns.

The echo of the phone call still lingered in the air when Li Huaide's fingers had already left the cold receiver.

He turned and pushed open the office door, calling out towards the other side of the corridor, "Xiao Lin, come here."

The young man arrived almost immediately, standing by the door with his hands at his sides: "Factory manager, what are your instructions?"

"Go and ask Director Zhang from logistics, and Director Ma from the cafeteria."

Li Huaide's voice was not loud, but it carried an undeniable sense of urgency: "Tell them to come to me immediately."

Kobayashi's figure quickly disappeared at the end of the corridor.

Li Huaide walked back to his desk but did not sit down.

The sky outside the window was a hazy, grayish-white color, with low-hanging leaden clouds that seemed to press down on the towering chimneys in the distance.

He recalled Director Kou's brief pause followed by a moment of realization on the phone, and the words, "I will definitely tell Vice President Jiang when he returns."

.

The meeting my father-in-law attended was indeed unusual.

Footsteps interrupted my thoughts.

The first to arrive was Director Zhang from logistics, his forehead still damp with the fine sweat of his hasty arrival: "Factory Director, you wanted to see me?"

"Um."

Li Huaide turned his gaze away from the window. "The ministry's investigation team will arrive this morning."

You immediately arrange for the sanitation department to thoroughly clean all the main roads and every nook and cranny of the factory area.

Leave no blind spots.

Director Zhang immediately understood, but a deeper suspicion flashed in his eyes: "Factory Director, this investigation team... is here because of Engineer Yang's matter, right?"

"The impact is too bad; it's inevitable that someone from higher up will come to investigate."

Li Huaide's tone was calm, revealing little emotion. "The factory's appearance is its facade; it cannot be taken lightly."

Director Zhang nodded repeatedly, but did not leave immediately.

He took a half step forward and lowered his voice: "Factory manager, this incident involving Engineer Yang has caused quite a stir."

"The factory has vacant positions...is there an opportunity for you to advance further?"

Li Huaide's lips twitched, but no smile formed.

He had been in the deputy factory director's chair for less than a year, and he had seen the highest seat before. But his father-in-law had already made it clear: he was too inexperienced and not ready yet, and it was not something to be forced.

He waved his hand, as if to brush away some unrealistic imagination: "Old Zhang, things will proceed in their own way."

What's meant to be yours will come to you; what's not meant to be yours, you'll only get burned if you fight for it.

A look of understanding flashed across Director Zhang's face, mixed with a hint of regret. He said no more and turned to get the cleaning done.

When the door was pushed open again, it brought in a short, labored gasp.

Director Ma of the canteen was portly, and his cheeks were flushed from walking so fast. He wiped his forehead with his sleeve and said, "Factory Manager, did you call me?"

"Old Ma, have a seat."

Li Huaide pointed to the chair opposite him, "The investigation team will be here soon. Lunch will be served in your canteen's special kitchen."

The service should be conducted according to the standards for receiving superiors. The dishes should be light and tasteful, avoiding extravagance, but also ensuring that the service is not neglected.

"Use only the freshest ingredients; you oversee the process yourself."

"Mingbai, don't worry, Factory Manager, I will make sure everything is arranged."

Director Ma readily agreed, his chubby face full of seriousness.

After explaining these things, the office fell silent again.

Li Huaide sat back in his chair, his gaze falling on the open document on the table, but he didn't read a single word.

Yang Weimin, Zhang Huizi, enemy agents, classified documents... these words are like cold lead blocks, sinking to the bottom of the incident.

The apparent busyness at this moment—sweeping the road, preparing meals—is just ripples.

The real undercurrents were in the departmental meeting, in the phone call from his father-in-law that had yet to return, and in the car of the investigation team that was about to drive into the factory gate.

All he needs to do is wait and do everything within his control flawlessly.

When Li Huaide saw the canteen director appear at the end of the corridor, he immediately turned to Director Zhang beside him and whispered, "Xiao Zhang, the mess Yang Weimin made has already alarmed the higher-ups. This time, the working group sent down is clearly here to find fault."

You must personally oversee the matters I just instructed you on; there can be no mistakes whatsoever.

Director Zhang straightened his back unconsciously and replied repeatedly, "Don't worry, Factory Director, I'll go to the sanitation department right away and urge them to organize a factory-wide cleanup immediately. I'll clean up every nook and cranny for you."

Li Huaide made a "hmm" sound through his nose.

He responded with a sound, then waved to the approaching cafeteria manager: "Xiao Ma, you've come at the right time."

The ministry has specially dispatched an investigation team for Yang Weimin's case, and they are going to enter the factory today.

Go back immediately and get all the cafeteria staff to do a thorough cleaning, especially those corners that are usually out of sight; all the grease and grime must be cleaned up.

Director Ma rubbed his hands together and first responded with a "Mingbai".

He then tentatively asked, "Factory manager, do you think the investigation team will have lunch at the factory? If so, what standard should we prepare?"

Li Huaide pondered for a moment, then tapped his fingers lightly twice on the edge of the table: "Let's start the preparations first, and the specific standards... will be determined later depending on the situation."

Remember, it's better to be prepared and not need it than to need it and not be prepared.

"Alright, I'll take care of it right away."

Director Ma bowed slightly, turned around, and quickly retreated.

The clock on the wall had just struck 8:45 when the black telephone on the desk suddenly rang.

Li Huaide picked up the receiver, habitually softening his tone: "Hello, this is Li Huaide. May I ask who you are?"

"Huai De, it's me."

The receiver carried Jiang's distinctive deep voice, "This morning the department held an emergency meeting regarding Yang Weimin's matter."

General Kou slammed his fist on the table at the meeting, demanding that a joint investigation team be immediately dispatched to your steel rolling mill; the matter is very serious.

Li Huaide's fingers tightened slightly around the receiver as he lowered his voice and asked, "Dad, what's the scope of the investigation...? Is it just about Yang Weimin, or will it be expanded to the entire factory leadership?"

A barely audible sigh came from the other end of the phone. "Your factory's situation has now become a hot potato for the ministry."

Given General Kou's consistent style, this time he will probably deal with more than just a few individuals.

Be prepared; the management team may face a major reshuffle.

These words made Li Huaide's heart tighten, and his Adam's apple bobbed: "You mean... I can't keep my position either?"

"You have only been a deputy factory director for a short time, and after discussion, the department has decided to retain your position."

Vice President Jiang paused for a moment, then said, "But a demerit is inevitable."

As for the other factory leaders, they were all to be transferred from Beijing to the Northwest to support construction.

Zhang Handong was demoted and retired early.

Li Huaide's heart, which had been hanging in suspense, was relieved. He immediately understood the protective meaning in those words and quickly said, "Thank you, Dad, for helping me."

"If you hadn't spoken up, I'm afraid I would have ended up in the Northwest, enduring the sandstorms too."

"It's good that you can think of this level."

Vice President Jiang's tone softened a bit, "You were promoted to deputy factory director just last year, and you also made contributions in helping Jia Dongming solve the enemy spy case. The ministry has taken all of these into consideration."

This time, the punishment won't be recorded in your file; it's a case of "raising a high flag but letting it fall gently."

Li Huaide suddenly remembered something and lowered his voice to ask, "Yang Weimin and Zhou Xu were both promoted by Vice President You back then. Will he be implicated this time?"

The sound of papers turning over came through the receiver. "Old You has been dragged into this mess by his own people this time."

General Kou clearly instructed that Yang Weimin's case must be thoroughly investigated, and no one should be spared, regardless of who is implicated.

Li Huaide couldn't help but smile, but his voice remained solemn: "Then I really have to congratulate Dad. He'll have fewer obstacles in his work in the future."

Just then, the roar of a car engine came from outside the window.

Two military green jeeps rolled over the cement road of the factory's main thoroughfare, kicking up a light dust, and slowly came to a stop in front of the office building.

Around ten o'clock, Guo Jianguo appeared outside Jia Dongming's office.

He raised his hand and knocked three times on the door, bringing in a gust of wind as he pushed it open: "Section Chief, the investigation team from the Ministry of Industry has arrived."

They demanded immediate control of Yang Weimin and that he be taken in for questioning.

When Jia Dongming heard the news from Guo Jianguo, he recalled Ma Weidong's instructions from the previous night and smiled, "Jianguo, Deputy Director Ma of the General Administration had already given us advance notice."

Now that the investigation team has arrived, you should complete the handover process according to procedure.

Guo Jianguo nodded solemnly and replied, "Don't worry, Section Chief, I'll take care of it right away."

As the afternoon sun began to slant, the clock on the wall had just struck four, and the office was completely silent.

As Jia Dongming was casually flipping through the newspaper, the black telephone on the table suddenly rang.

He put down the newspaper and picked up the receiver: "Hello, this is Jia Dongming."

A smiling voice came from the other end of the receiver: "Section Chief Jia, this is Li Huaide."

"I really have to thank you this time—if it weren't for you, I'd probably be starving and freezing in the Northwest right now."

Jia Dongming was slightly taken aback: "Director Li, what brings you to this? And what's going on in the Northwest?"

Li Huaide couldn't hide his relief: "I just finished talking with the investigation team."

Thanks to our cooperation with your security department last time, the ministry only gave us a warning that won't be recorded.

The other four deputy factory directors were all demoted and transferred to the Northwest to support construction, and Secretary Zhang was also demoted and retired.

Of the entire factory leadership team, I was the only one who narrowly escaped unscathed—all because of Yang Weimin's influence.

Jia Dongming was secretly shocked, not expecting the Ministry of Industry to take such drastic measures.

As for Li Huaide's gratitude, he didn't take it entirely seriously—who didn't know that Li Huaide's father-in-law was a vice president in the ministry? But he had to keep his word, so he smiled and said, "As the old saying goes, after great calamity comes great fortune. Director Li will surely rise to a higher position in the future."

Li Huaide laughed even more heartily, then changed the subject: "The investigation team has finished its visits today, and the factory needs to arrange a dinner party tonight."

But right now I'm the only one left in the team, all alone. Could Section Chief Jia come and help out, and keep the leaders company?

Jia Dongming readily agreed: "I am honored by Director Li's high regard, I will definitely go."

"Alright, see you at five o'clock sharp in the private room of the small cafeteria."

Li Huaide was clearly relieved—he sought out Jia Dongming partly because he had no one else available, and partly because he knew that the head of the security department was an exceptional drinker.

Jia Dongming smiled knowingly: "Don't worry, Director Li, we'll make sure the leaders have a great time tonight."

As dusk approached, Jia Dongming rode his bicycle to the logistics warehouse.

As soon as I stood in front of the office door, a middle-aged woman greeted me with a smile: "Section Chief Jia, here to see Huairu again?"

He recognized her as Sister Wang from the warehouse and nodded, saying, "The factory is having a reception tonight. I came to tell Huairu that she doesn't need to wait for me for dinner."

"Huai Ru went to the warehouse to check the supplies; she probably won't be back until after get off work."

Sister Wang said warmly.

Jia Dongming took out his bicycle keys from his pocket and handed them over: "Then please pass on the message, Sister Wang."

I gave the keys to Huairu so she could ride my bike back for me.