I was married off to a disabled hero in lieu of marriage; my in-laws doted on me and I aspired to gr

When the topic turned to the position of head of the Chemical Engineering Security Section, Lin Jie said with some concern: "It's not as easy as you think. In the Security Section, if you don't achieve anything, it will be difficult to climb the ranks based on a little military merit."

The so-called achievement is catching thieves who steal state property. If Zhao Weiguo is not let off the hook, the position of section chief will be secure.

Zhao Weiguo chuckled: "As long as Section Chief Lin is willing, there will be plenty of opportunities."

"What do you mean?"

Lin Jie was puzzled. "Does that mean if you steal again, I'll arrest you?"

Zhao Weiguo scratched his head: "Section Chief Lin, the boiler workshop will deliver a batch of coal tomorrow night at ten o'clock. You can just go and keep watch."

Lin Jie sobered up a bit: "Someone's stealing coal?"

Zhao Weiguo lowered his head and stopped speaking.

"Besides coal, what else is there?"

Lin Jie suddenly felt like a fool. No, the security department was a fool. There were thieves everywhere in the workshop. He, the deputy section chief, didn't know, but Zhao Weiguo did.

"No, I found out by accident." Zhao Weiguo blushed.

"They even steal coal, what's it worth?" Lin Jie said, somewhat annoyed.

If you're going to steal, at least steal something classy!

Xiong Zhiyu poured Lin Jie a full glass of wine and said, "Section Chief Lin, coal is an indispensable energy source for chemical plants. A truckload of coal weighs thirty or forty tons. If we record an extra truckload, the amount will be considerable."

"How much?"

"It's not impossible," Xiong Zhiyu said with a simple smile.

Lin Jie slammed his hand on the table, his face flushed red, whether from anger or from drinking, it was hard to tell.

"Section Chief Lin, don't be in such a hurry. It's official business; getting upset won't do you good for your health. Come on, let's drink!"

Lin Jie also buys coal. One ton of coal costs 8 yuan, ten tons cost 80 yuan, and forty tons costs more than 300 yuan. The entire chemical plant needs 20,000 to 30,000 tons of coal a year. How much coal must he steal?

Of course, compared to resin, coal is indeed a smaller profit.

Besides coal, there are other raw materials and finished products. Does anyone know if anyone has stolen them?

No, we must rectify this situation.

A thief teaching the head of the security department how to catch another thief is utterly ridiculous.

After a night of drinking, the three became friends, and the way they addressed each other changed from Section Chief Lin to Brother Lin.

It was a real shame that they couldn't finish all the food on the table. Lin Jie called the waiter over and packed up all the leftovers, especially the "Guest on the Iceberg" dish, which Zhang Man insisted on trying because it was so delicious.

The waiter brought over several new aluminum lunch boxes, packed them up one by one, and then put them in a mesh bag.

After a satisfying meal, Zhao Weiguo offered to take Lin Jie home, but Lin Jie declined, saying, "I want to walk around and clear my head. Thanks, guys!"

Carrying five boxes of leftover food, he arrived at Zhang Man's dormitory without the slightest hesitation.

Lin Jie never visited Zhang Man's dormitory; most of the time, he went to her home.

The lights were still on inside; was she still grading homework?

She knocked on the door, and it opened. Zhang Man opened the door and saw Lin Jie standing at the door with a few boxes of groceries, grinning foolishly.

"Why are you here so late?"

Zhang Man lowered her voice and quickly pulled Lin Jie into the house. There were teachers living next door and on both sides. If a grown man came to see her in the middle of the night, people would gossip.

"The dishes are all good; do you mind the rest?"

Lin Jie handed the aluminum box to Zhang Man. Putting aside the dishes, these boxes alone were quite enviable.

"Where are we eating? The box is so pretty."

Lin Jie, his face flushed with drunkenness, sat down on the edge of the bed: "Jufeng Restaurant, my first time there, I never knew there were so many delicious dishes in the world. A huge bowl of seafood, with shrimp, abalone... Every bite I took reminded me of you, Zhang Li, and Auntie. Why is it that one dish can cost someone else a month's worth of expenses? Zhang Man, one day, I will take you to Jufeng Restaurant to eat 'The Visitor from the Iceberg'."

Zhang Man brought over a damp towel, handed it to Lin Jie, and laughed, "A guest from the iceberg, you've even turned dining into art. Hurry up and wipe yourself off, you reek of alcohol."

Lin Jie wiped his face and handed the towel back to Zhang Man. Zhang Man took it, and Lin Jie suddenly grabbed Zhang Man. Zhang Man blushed and struggled, saying, "What are you doing?"

"Come on, sit down. I have something to show you." Lin Jie took out a pack of newspapers from his pocket.

"What is this?" Zhang Man asked in astonishment.

The newspaper was opened, and a brand-new ten-yuan banknote appeared before the two of them.

"Where... did this come from?"

Zhang Man was terrified. So much money! Could he have embezzled or accepted bribes?

"Here's a thousand yuan, Zhang Man. Take it and use it to repair the house." Lin Jie pushed the money in front of Zhang Man.

"No, no, where did you get so much money?"

"Don't worry, it's all what I deserve."

"You can't give it to me, you have a wife and children at home." Zhang Man refused to accept it.

"Wife, children? Zhang Man, do I have any? I have nothing. You know, that home is what outsiders see. In reality, I have nothing. Do you also despise me, think I'm not a man?"

"No, Lin Jie, I didn't. I not only didn't look down on you, but I'm also grateful to you. You've always helped me when I was in trouble."

"Then take the money."

"There's too much; I don't dare take it."

"If you don't want me, I'll be lost, along with my life," Lin Jie said sadly and dejectedly.

"No, Lin Jie, I understand you. You're suffering just as much as I am..."

Zhang Man shed tears. She tried to appear strong, but in reality, she also longed for someone to protect and love her.

"Don't cry, it breaks my heart if you cry..."

Lin Jie raised his hand to wipe Zhang Man's tears. In the ambiguous lighting and under the numbing effect of alcohol, Lin Jie felt himself move the moment he touched the girl.

"Zhang Man, Manman, I..." Lin Jie's breathing was rough, and his hands were rough too. He didn't care anymore and pulled Zhang Man into his arms.

"Lin Jie, what are you doing...?"

"Manman, I like you, I like you so much, but I..."

Lin Jie wanted to say that he didn't have the ability to like.

However, his body was moving, moving extremely violently; it seemed he had regained his ability.

His mind was out of control; Lin Jie, like a wild beast, tore at his pitiful prey.

Zhang Man dared not shout, she could only resist, resist...

Lin Jie, you liar! You said you're impotent, you're a complete liar...

Zhang Man's eyes were filled with tears; she had been deceived, humiliated, and surrounded...

Lin Jie was engulfed in flames as he charged across the battlefield.

That was his battlefield. He roared with laughter, "Come on, enemy! This is the land we love, and we will give our lives for it!"

Everything fell silent, like waking up suddenly in the dead of night, the complete silence was terrifying.

Having regained his senses, Lin Jie, with tears in his eyes, reached out to touch Zhang Man's hand.

Zhang Man remained motionless, like a dead person.

"Manman, I'm sorry, I... I've gone mad."

No sound.

"We've never consummated our marriage. I'll go back and get a divorce. Believe me," the man vowed, trying to gain forgiveness.

"I will take care of your mother and your brother, and I will love you dearly."

Lin Jie choked up; how long had it been since he last cried?

He cried when the orderly died in front of him, but he never cried again.

"Manman, I'm a person, a man. I want to live like a normal man, and I want someone to love me, instead of coming home to a cold face, or just asking if I've received my salary. If I'm even slightly dissatisfied, she'll openly or subtly mock me for not being a man. Manman, I'm a man, a real man..."

Lin Jie burst into tears. Because of this issue, he could only be subservient to Han Dan. Even if he gave his parents a hard time during the New Year, he couldn't say anything.

A man's dignity was trampled to pieces under the feet of that ugly country woman. Is that how a life is lived?

It's a cage, a prison.

A soft hand reached out and grasped Lin Jie. Lin Jie was overjoyed and held it tightly, as if afraid his treasure would run away.