78: Bringing his wife and children to Harbin Institute of Technology

It turns out that Ge Jianjun had already completed the withdrawal procedures and was here today to pack up his last belongings. He had lost even more weight than last week, but his spirits were still good.

"I've come to get a few books," Ge Jianjun said, his gaze falling on the motor on the table. "Did you make this?"

"Um."

Ge Jianjun walked over and bent down to take a look. The motor was not powered on; it lay quietly on the table, its coils neatly wound.

"I've been in the research group for a year and a half and haven't produced anything worthwhile." Ge Jianjun straightened up. "You've been here for less than two months and you've already produced this."

Ye Bingwen remained silent.

"I'm not here to ask for your forgiveness," Ge Jianjun said calmly. "I just want to say that you were right the other day. I have a bad attitude; I can't stand seeing others do better than me. If I don't change this flaw, I won't be able to do anything well anywhere."

He took an envelope from his pocket and placed it on the table. "This is a document I wrote. It details how Zhou Mingyuan asked me to write the whistleblower letter, and I've signed and fingerprinted it. If you want to use it, take it. If you don't want to use it, just tear it up."

Ye Bingwen picked up the envelope but didn't open it. "Have you thought this through? If you hand this in, you might lose your graduate degree."

"I've already dropped out of school," Ge Jianjun smiled. "What else is there to lose?"

Ye Bingwen put the envelope into his pocket. "Thank you."

"Don't thank me. I owe you." Ge Jianjun walked to the door, glanced back, and said, "Ye Bingwen, take care."

The door closed.

Chen Zhiyuan asked quietly from the side, "What's wrong with him?"

Ye Bingwen shook his head, offering no explanation. Some things, once past, are past.

When Zheng Shuyun got home that evening, she found An'an giving her a bath. The little girl sat in the tub, splashing water and giggling, getting water everywhere. Zheng Shuyun's clothes were mostly wet, but she smiled and wasn't angry.

Ye Bingwen went over, scooped An'an out of the basin, and wrapped her in a towel. An'an hugged his neck, pressed her little face against his shoulder, and yawned.

"I received a letter from you today." Zheng Shuyun pointed to the table.

Ye Bingwen carried An'an over and picked up the envelope. It was from the motor factory, and inside was an invitation.

"The retirement farewell party for Chief Engineer Li Guoliang will be held at 4:00 PM on Friday the 28th of this month in the factory's staff canteen. Your presence is cordially requested."

Ye Bingwen put the invitation down. Zheng Shuyun leaned over to take a look. "Are you going?"

"Go. Chief Engineer Li has helped me a lot, I should go and see him off."

"Then you go ahead, I'll stay home and take care of the kids."

Ye Bingwen put An'an in the crib. The little girl turned over, grabbed the corner of the quilt, and quickly fell asleep.

After washing the dishes, Zheng Shuyun came over and sat down next to him. "Bingwen, I ran into someone when I went to the school library to borrow books today."

"Who?"

"The new head of the publicity department, Zhou Mingyi. He took the initiative to greet me and said he knew me."

Ye Bingwen's heart tightened. "What did he say?"

"They didn't say much, just exchanged a few pleasantries. He said he'd heard of you when he was in the provincial capital, and that you're very capable." Zheng Shuyun looked at him. "Bingwen, what's the relationship between Zhou Mingyi and Zhou Mingyuan?"

Ye Bingwen was silent for a moment. "Brother."

Zheng Shuyun's expression changed. "Then he'll come to Harbin Institute of Technology..."

"It's not necessarily because of us. But it's always good to be cautious."

Zheng Shuyun nodded and didn't say anything more.

The next morning, Ye Bingwen ran into Zhou Mingyi in the corridor.

He was in his early forties, wearing gold-rimmed glasses and a gray Zhongshan suit, his hair neatly combed. Upon seeing Ye Bingwen, he proactively approached and extended his hand.

"Ye Bingwen, it's an honor to meet you. I'm Zhou Mingyi, new to the Publicity Department."

Ye Bingwen shook his hand. "Hello, Section Chief Zhou."

"Your wife, Zheng Shuyun, used to work in the publicity department; we met once." Zhou Mingyi's smile was gentle. "She's very talented; it's a pity she resigned. If there's an opportunity, you're welcome to come back."

Ye Bingwen smiled and said, "She's preparing for university entrance exams and won't be working for the time being."

"Going to university? Great, great!" Zhou Mingyi nodded. "Young people should be ambitious. Ye Bingwen, if you need any help in the future, just come to me."

"Thank you, Section Chief Zhou."

Zhou Mingyi patted him on the shoulder, turned and walked away. His steps were neither fast nor slow, his back straight.

Ye Bingwen watched his retreating figure, a strange feeling welling up inside him. This man was far too polite, unnaturally so. He and Zhou Mingyuan were like brothers; Zhou Mingyuan had been brought down by him, yet Zhou Mingyi not only wasn't angry, but was actively trying to befriend him. This defied all logic.

Unless, he has other plans.

On Wednesday afternoon, Ye Bingwen arrived at the motor factory on time.

Deputy Director Zhao had arrived. He was standing in the conference room, talking to Li Guoliang. He was in his early fifties, with a round face and slightly plump build, wearing a dark blue Zhongshan suit, and holding a cigarette in his hand.

Li Guoliang saw Ye Bingwen and waved. "Ye, come here. Deputy Director Zhao wants to see your prototype."

Ye Bingwen walked over and extended his hand. "Hello, Deputy Director Zhao."

Zhao Jianguo shook his hand and looked him over. "You're Ye Bingwen? You're younger than I expected."

"I'm twenty-one."

"Twenty-one." Zhao Jianguo smiled. "When I was twenty-one, I was still working in the countryside, while you were already working on nationally leading technologies. You're a promising young man."

Ye Bingwen said a few modest words and then took Zhao Jianguo to see the prototype.

The motor spun smoothly on the test bench, and the data on the instrument fluctuated in real time. Zhao Jianguo watched for a while, then turned his head. "Can the efficiency really reach over thirty percent?"

"Actual measurement: 32.7%"

Zhao Jianguo nodded and didn't ask any more questions. He walked around the testing platform once, then suddenly stopped.

"Ye Bingwen, have you considered applying for a technological upgrading project from the Provincial Department of Industry for this technology?"

"I've thought about it. The materials are being prepared."

"Okay. Come find me when you're ready." Zhao Jianguo took out a business card from his pocket and handed it to him. "This is my phone number."

Ye Bingwen took the business card, which read "Zhao Jianguo, Deputy Director of the Heilongjiang Provincial Department of Industry".

"Thank you, Deputy Director Zhao."

"No need to thank me. I can't stand seeing talented people being overlooked." Zhao Jianguo patted him on the shoulder, then turned and left.

When Li Guoliang saw Zhao Jianguo off, he returned looking rather grim.

"Ye, what did Deputy Director Zhao say to you?"

"Let me apply for a technological upgrading project and contact him directly."

Li Guoliang frowned. "Be careful. Zhao Jianguo doesn't have a good reputation. Some people say he's a conman who takes money and doesn't do anything. Others say he collaborates with companies on projects and then pockets the money."

Ye Bingwen's heart sank. "Chief Engineer Li, have you dealt with him before?"

"I've hit him a few times. Every time he comes to the factory, he takes something with him. Cigarettes, alcohol, tea, he takes everything." Li Guoliang lowered his voice. "Last month, he asked the factory to arrange a job for his niece. The factory manager couldn't refuse, so he did. But when that woman came, she didn't know how to do anything. She just spent her days drinking tea and reading newspapers in the office."

Ye Bingwen was silent for a moment. "Chief Engineer Li, thank you for telling me all this."

"You're my partner, who else can I talk to if not you?" Li Guoliang sighed. "Your brushless motor is technically excellent, but too many people are eyeing it. You need to learn to protect yourself."

Ye Bingwen nodded.

It was already dark when he came out of the motor factory. He stood at the factory gate, looking at the business card in his hand.

Zhao Jianguo is Zhou Mingyuan's brother-in-law. He took the initiative to befriend him, offered him projects, and handed him his business card.

There is no such thing as goodwill without a reason in this world.

Ye Bingwen put the business card in his pocket and was about to hail a taxi when he heard footsteps behind him. Sun Jianguo chased after him, holding a paper package in his hand.

"Ye, Chief Engineer Li asked me to give this to you."

Ye Bingwen opened it; inside was a stack of documents. It included a list of projects Zhao Jianguo had handled at the Industrial Bureau, and several copies of anonymous letters accusing him of extortion and bribery.

Chief Engineer Li said, "Keep these things; you might need them."

Ye Bingwen carefully put away the materials, his respect for Li Guoliang growing even stronger. This man was not only technically skilled, but also a man of great character.

When Ye Bingwen returned to his apartment building, he found a person standing at the entrance of the building.

It is Zhou Mingyi.

He was wearing a gray Zhongshan suit and carrying a briefcase. When he saw Ye Bingwen, he smiled.

"Ye Bingwen, I've been waiting for you for a while. Would it be convenient for you to come up and sit for a bit?"