Black Gold 1983

"What backdoor dealings? What favoritism? My dad worked in the mine for decades, relying on his real skills and the organization's trust. I, Xu Dongsheng, got into the transportation department through my own abilities. How is any of that against the rules?"

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the workers present, finally settling on Renye's face, and added meaningfully, "But there are some people who don't even go to work, yet they interfere in mine affairs. That's what you call breaking the rules."

Several workers who were already biased towards Xu Dongsheng immediately chimed in, "Dongsheng is right! Renye, you don't even go to work, what do you know about the mine's rules?"

"Exactly, stop stirring up trouble!"

Xu Dongsheng smiled at Ren Ye, his tone even more provocative, and said, word by word, "Since you're so capable and know the rules so well, since you say I rely on connections and backdoors, fine, how about you protect Team Three?"

As soon as he said that, the corridor fell silent again, and all eyes turned to Renye, each with a different expression.

Some people looked on with disdain, thinking that Renye was just a small-time hoodlum who talked big but didn't even go to work, so how could he possibly keep the third team?

Some people hesitated, but when they recalled Renye's clear and logical analysis, a faint hope arose in their hearts. Maybe he really had a solution.

Li Yue'e immediately panicked, stepped forward, tugged at Ren Ye's arm, and whispered, "Son, don't be impulsive. How can you possibly protect the Third Team?"

Tian Sui'er looked at Ren Ye, her eyes filled with worry, and whispered, "You brat, don't be reckless..."

Ren Ye remained calm and composed, showing no sign of panic. He gently patted Li Yue'e's hand, then turned to Tian Sui'er, giving her a reassuring look before finally looking up at Xu Dongsheng with a perfectly appropriate expression of bewilderment.

"What Dongsheng said doesn't make any sense. Why should I go to the Third Security Team?"

Everyone was stunned when he said that.

The corridor was quiet for a long time, then suddenly it erupted as if a pot had been boiled over.

"What?"

"What did he say?"

"Is there something wrong with my ears?"

The workers looked at each other, their "let's see how you handle this" expressions instantly turning into disdain as they thought, "Why is this kid chickening out?"

He was speaking so eloquently, using data and analysis, that everyone thought he was really quite capable.

When Xu Dongsheng challenged him to go all out, he immediately said, "Why would I go to the Third Security Team?"

So all those words you just said were just bullshit?

Those workers who were already biased towards Xu Dongsheng now stood up straighter, their disdain practically overflowing.

Li Yue'e's lips twitched; she was furious.

Just now, Renye patted her hand and gave her that reassuring look, and she thought her son was really going to pull out some trump card.

The results of it?

You spoke so confidently, acted so arrogantly, and used sneers and rhetorical questions to put Xu Dongsheng in an awkward position and ignite the anger of the workers in Team Three. Now you're saying, "What does this have to do with me?"

Li Yue'e gave Renye a push in an annoyed manner.

That push was no light one; it was driven by a sense of disappointment and frustration.

Renye was pushed and swayed slightly, but he remained unhurried, with even a slight smile on his lips.

Xu Dongsheng was also stunned for a moment, then a smile returned to his face.

This time, the smile was genuine, not the forced smile of before, but a heartfelt smile with a hint of pride.

"Oh?" He tilted his head, looking at Renye, his provocation turning into undisguised mockery: "I thought you really cared about standing up for Team Three, Renye."

He paused, then shook his head: "That's right. You don't even go to work. What does it matter to you whether the third team can stay or not?"

The workers looked at Renye with even more disrespect.

Tian Sui'er stood at the back of the crowd, yet she saw everything clearly.

Unlike the others, she didn't show any disappointment. Instead, the corners of her mouth curved slightly, and a knowing smile appeared in her eyes.

Others couldn't understand it, but she did.

"Rinno is right, Team Three doesn't need anyone to protect them."

The workers from the third team all turned around, their eyes fixed on Tian Sui'er, their expressions filled with confusion.

What is this girl saying?

Do the three teams not need anyone to protect them?

Tian Mancang was still lying in the hospital bed, and the third team was about to be broken up. How could she say such a thing?

Xu Dongsheng was also stunned, his brows furrowed slightly, and he subconsciously opened his mouth to say something, but was stopped by Tian Sui'er's next words.

"Uncles and elders, I'm telling the truth. Team Three doesn't need anyone to protect them."

Tian Sui'er took two more steps forward, facing the uncles and elders who had watched her grow up, and explained:

"If the mine's rules are fair and the assessments are transparent, then the results of Team Three are there for all to see, and the problems of Team Four are also there for all to see. Who should be laid off and who shouldn't be laid off is crystal clear. Since it's all so clear, then who's there to vouch for it?"

In an instant, there was complete silence.

Tian Sui'er knew that Ren Ye had never intended to take on this job from the beginning.

He didn't say those things to prove his own abilities, but to put the question of "cutting three or four teams" out in the open and let everyone analyze it for themselves.

The truth is clear to anyone with eyes; there's no need for Xu Dongsheng to feign ignorance or pull strings to secure a spot in the Third Team.

The question they need to consider now is: why are the three teams, which are clearly fine, still on the list of teams to be cut?

The workers looked at each other, pondering the deeper meaning of the words. After a moment of silence, a sudden uproar broke out among them.

That's a lot...

That seems to make sense.

"Sui'er is right! If the mine follows the rules, why was Team Three laid off? If the mine doesn't follow the rules, who will protect them? Dongsheng? Will he have to say a few nice words to his father? Is that protecting them? That's begging!"

"Exactly! Why should we have to beg others?"

"Team Four had three accidents last year, almost resulting in deaths. They were criticized twice by the mine. Why lay them off instead of us?"

The workers became more and more excited as they talked, their voices grew louder and louder, and suddenly the wind in the corridor changed direction.

Those workers who were previously hesitant finally had their resolve shaken.

Xu Dongsheng's face darkened completely.

He glanced at Tian Sui'er, then at the workers, and finally fixed his gaze on Ren Ye.

Renye leaned against the wall, hands in his pockets, a smile on his face that made people grit their teeth in hatred.

Xu Dongsheng knew that he had lost this round.

He didn't lose because of a lack of logic, since logic has never been his forte.

He lost because of Renye's "retreating to advance" move.

This kid deliberately avoided taking on the responsibility of "protecting the third team," and then used Tian Sui'er's words to point out the key issue, steer the conversation toward rules and fairness.

He not only cleared himself of any wrongdoing, but also brought the workers to their senses, rendering his "benevolent" act utterly worthless.

Xu Dongsheng suddenly felt that Ren Ye in front of him was like a different person.