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

"It's not hard work."

Chen An wiped the oil off his hands.

"Director Ye, let's assemble the milling machines this afternoon. Milling machines are simpler than presses, and we can assemble two before dark."

"Okay. We'll eat lunch in the cafeteria. I'll ask Chef Li to add two more dishes."

At noon, a table in the cafeteria was filled with food.

Chen An and Liu Xiaojun sat together, eating and chatting.

Mr. Li sat opposite, occasionally chiming in with a comment.

Ye Bingwen ate little and kept thinking.

"Director Ye, why aren't you eating?"

Chen An looked at him.

"Eating. Thinking about something."

"About the whistleblower letter?"

"Um."

Chen An put down his chopsticks.

"Director Ye, I have something to tell you. Professor Cai asked me to tell you that Harbin Military Engineering Institute's industry-academia-research base is not an ordinary university-run factory." "If anyone tries to obstruct you through administrative means, Professor Cai can appeal to the higher authorities on behalf of the university."

Ye Bingwen raised his head.

Master Li heard this and put down his chopsticks.

"Xiao Ye, Professor Cai is really a good friend."

"That's really kind of you."

Ye Bingwen picked up his cup and took a sip of water.

"But we can't leave this favor unpaid. Once the equipment is installed and the sign for the industry-academia-research base is hung up, we'll have to thank Professor Cai properly."

In the afternoon, the milling machine was installed much faster than in the morning.

By the time the second milling machine was assembled, it was almost dark.

Chen An checked all the connections and confirmed that there were no problems before letting Liu Xiaojun turn on the power and test the machine.

"Alright. Both machines will work."

Chen An turned off the power.

"Director Ye, I'll install the PID controller tomorrow, and the temperature fluctuation of the press will be controlled within plus or minus one degree."

"Xiao Chen, how much does your PID controller cost?"

"It's free. The components are bought from the factory, and I solder the circuit boards myself, so there's no charge."

Chen An smiled.

"Professor Cai said that this is part of industry-academia-research collaboration and cannot be charged."

Ye Bingwen nodded and said nothing more.

Chen An rode his bike back to school.

Master Li led the workers to clean up the tools, while Liu Xiaojun wiped the oil stains off the equipment.

"Xiaojun, stop wiping. We'll need it tomorrow."

Ye Bingwen walked over.

"Uncle Ye, I'm happy."

Liu Xiaojun's eyes were a little red.

"This press was the first large piece of equipment I installed."

"We'll pack even more later."

"I know."

Liu Xiaojun wiped his eyes with his sleeve.

"I'm not sad, I'm happy."

Ye Bingwen patted him on the shoulder.

On Saturday afternoon, Ye Bingwen was reviewing mechanical principles in his office when his pager vibrated.

It's Liu Yongqiang.

He called back, and the voice on the other end of the phone was very low.

"Bingwen, I've investigated thoroughly. I followed the trail from Zhang Demao all the way back to Harbin."

"explain."

"When Zhang Demao was eating with those three people, there was one more person at the table."

Ye Bingwen held the receiver, his mind racing.

"Yongqiang, is there anything else?"

"Yes. Those three people stayed in the county town for two days, and their accounts weren't with the Provincial Department of Industry."

"It's an account belonging to a company called 'Huamao Materials Trading Company.' I had someone check with the Industry and Commerce Bureau."

"The company is registered in Nangang District, Harbin, and the legal representative is a person named Wang Desheng."

"But this Wang Desheng is just a figurehead; the actual controller cannot be found. However—"

Liu Yongqiang paused.

"The registered phone number of this company is the same as the office number of the Provincial Materials Bureau."

"A shell company."

Ye Bingwen said.

"Yes. They operate under the guise of the Provincial Materials Bureau, but what they're really doing is reselling permits."

"Ma Li used this company's money to hire people to investigate you in the countryside. Taking photos, entertaining guests, and giving gifts were all done through the company's accounts."

"It has nothing to do with the Provincial Department of Industry. If the investigation reaches him, he can simply say he didn't know anything about it."

Ye Bingwen remained silent for a moment.

The horsepower line is very well hidden.

Even if they find those three people, they can only track down Wang Desheng, not Ma Li.

"Yongqiang, be careful over there. Don't investigate this matter any further; I'll handle the rest."

"Okay. Be careful."

After hanging up the phone, Ye Bingwen sat back down at his desk.

Ma Li used Zhou Guoliang's connections to manipulate steel supply and conduct rural surveys through Huamao Materials Trading Company.

He dialed Zheng Shuyun's work number.

Zheng Shuyun works at the provincial publishing house, which has connections with the provincial party committee's propaganda system.

There is an internal reference channel for submitting articles—not for public publication, but for direct submission to provincial leaders for their reference in "internal reference materials".

These internal reports are read by the provincial party committee's top leaders every issue; they carry significant weight.

"Shuyun, can you do me a favor?"

"What is it?"

"Can we submit articles to your company's internal reference book?"

"Yes, but you need solid evidence, not just hearsay. What are you going to vote for?"

"I have leads, but no written evidence."

"Then let's find evidence first."

Zheng Shuyun's tone was very serious.

"Internal reports are not submitted casually; the editorial department will not publish them without evidence."

Ye Bingwen hung up the phone and sat at the table thinking for a long time.

He couldn't get his hands on the original records of Huamao Materials Company's account statements and approval slips.

But all he needs is a letter of accusation with the known clues.

Let the editors of the internal reference materials verify it; they are professionals.

He took out a piece of stationery and began to write a report on the situation.

The main body of the text only states the facts, not the conclusions.

The list includes Ma Li's car, Huamao Company, Zhou Guoliang's nephew, and the people taking photos in the countryside.

Each clue is noted with its source and verification method.

He stopped writing halfway through and tore up the letter.

Insufficient firepower.

Ma Li is not a person, but a circle.

Even if you bring down one Zhou Guoliang, Ma Li can still find a second one.

What he needs is something that will make the entire industry afraid to touch Ma Li again.

He took out another one.

It's a logically closed loop, with not a single superfluous word.

When he handed the envelope to Zheng Shuyun, she read it once.

"Are you sure you want to send it? Once this letter is submitted, there's no turning back."