Courtyard House: Starting with a 28-inch motorcycle

As soon as Section Chief Zhou finished speaking, He Yuzhu picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said slowly, "Actually, there is a way—factory director and clerk, from now on, simply cut all unplanned purchases and only guarantee the basic rations within the plan. The second and third purchasing groups can be merged into one group. There will be enough manpower, and the accounts will be clear."

Factory Director Yang's face changed instantly, and he hurriedly waved his hand: "Director He, that's too extreme! When faced with difficulties, we must confront them head-on, not shirk our responsibilities!"

"Assigning tasks is retaliation, not assigning them means failing to meet targets, and cutting them off is considered desertion—Factory Director, you might as well just dismiss me! Oh no, according to this logic, I'm afraid I don't even deserve to be called a 'deserter'—then you might as well let Deputy Factory Director Jiang give the orders directly, and I'll keep quiet and obey, so as not to cause trouble by opening my mouth!"

He Yuzhu abruptly changed the subject, directly attacking Jiang Shouqin without any mercy.

The heads of other departments listened intently—they were all seasoned veterans, how could they not see through the scheme? On the surface, it was He Yuzhu disciplining a disobedient projectionist, but in reality, Jiang Shouqin was using this as an excuse to put pressure on He Yuzhu; as a result, He Yuzhu rallied the purchasing department to launch a counterattack, and the spearhead was now aimed directly at Jiang Shouqin's foundation.

This scene is a once-in-a-decade occurrence.

Factory Director Yang, not wanting the situation to escalate, quickly tried to smooth things over: "Director He, we're still discussing this. Let's talk things out slowly."

"Director Yang, there's no use trying to persuade me," He Yuzhu shook his head. "I've only ever talked about work. The words 'retaliation' were first thrown out by Deputy Director Jiang—fine, from now on, you two will issue all orders directly, and I won't say a word, okay?"

He was adamant and refused to budge an inch—someone had to bow down and admit their mistake today.

Section Chief Zhou chimed in, "Director Yang, I dare not assign any more tasks. This responsibility is too heavy, it's suffocating me. I'm applying to be transferred to Group Two, and from now on, I'll lead the procurement team on the front lines."

Jiang Shouqin's face turned pale instantly.

One case involving He Yuzhu could be considered a personal grudge; but when he also got involved with the head of the purchasing department, he completely lost power—the canteen director was He Yuzhu's right-hand man, and there was no one in the entire logistics system standing behind him.

"Absurd! I'll say it again: work assignments are only a matter of right or wrong, not 'retaliation'! If something is unreasonable, discuss it; if the discussion fails, change it. Never again will you use such terms to label your colleagues!"

Factory Director Yang grabbed a teacup and slammed it down on the edge of the table with a loud bang, making the enamel lid vibrate – if this matter wasn't contained today, the steel mill's logistics would truly come to a standstill.

"Secretary Wang, what do you think?"

Wang, the clerk, nodded and said, "Director Yang is right. Assigning a task is assigning a task. Don't keep accusing us of 'retaliation.' If you have solid evidence, submit it directly to the Organization Department; if you have no evidence, then you're just making things up... Xiao He, Xiao Zhou, let's stop here. Don't keep going on about it."

"Understood, Secretary Wang."

Section Chief Zhou responded. Although Secretary Wang was nearing retirement, his prestige remained, and his words still carried weight. He Yuzhu, however, did not respond. He simply lowered his head, unscrewed the lid of his teacup, tilted his head back, and took a large gulp, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down, without saying a word.

Director Yang glanced at He Yuzhu, knowing that he hadn't calmed down yet—if someone is holding back their anger, things will still go wrong in the logistics department.

"Deputy Factory Director Jiang, you haven't obtained any solid evidence, yet you're accusing Director He of being the mole. Our factory's Party Committee will not interfere in the investigation of this matter. You should apologize to Director He in person."

"what?"

Jiang Shouqin's eyelids twitched violently, and his face flushed purple. A deputy factory director, bowing his head and apologizing to a mid-level manager? His first instinct was to deflect: "Factory director, Xu Damao came to report this..."

"Deputy Factory Director Jiang, this is a meeting of factory leaders."

Director Yang's voice wasn't loud, but it sounded like a heavy anvil. He didn't say it explicitly, but his meaning was like a knife scraping across the room—if they didn't smooth things over here, they'd have to move to another place, move tables, and write self-criticisms later.

Jiang Shouqin understood that look, and his chest tightened. He was a thousand times unwilling, but then he thought: the only "evidence" he had was a few words of assurance from Xu Damao, without even a note. If things really escalated, he would be the one punished and lose face.

He gritted his teeth, stood up, and bowed slightly to He Yuzhu, his throat dry: "I'm sorry, Director He, I was just guessing."

He Yuzhu put down his teacup and waved his hand, "Never mind, Deputy Factory Director Jiang is just being selfless." His tone was light and casual, like dusting off leaves, and he didn't even lift his eyelids.

Jiang Shouqin dug his fingertips into his palm, almost losing his composure—this wasn't accepting an apology; it was clearly stripping him of his dignity, stomping him into the mud, and then trampling him underfoot.

The section chiefs who were watching exchanged bewildered glances. Who had ever seen a deputy factory director bow and apologize to someone? They had never even seen someone so indifferent as to not even bother to look at them properly. But upon further reflection on the things He Yuzhu had accomplished and the situations he had resolved over the years, they felt... that perhaps it was only right.

Seeing that things were getting out of hand, Factory Director Yang quickly cut the subject: "Alright, let's get back to the point—Section Chief Zhou, is this procurement really so urgent?"

Section Chief Zhou shook his head and sighed: "The unplanned material quota has been cut from 360 jin per month last year to 120 jin now. We've made three trips to many rural cooperatives, and they just shrug and say they have no grain. When pushed to the limit, we have no choice but to go to even more remote villages, to cooperatives that others find too troublesome to visit..."

"Hmm, it's difficult." Factory Director Yang nodded thoughtfully. "The frontline workers do heavy work. If the food isn't good enough, who will be willing to put in their best effort to roll steel? Our factory has good food and a solid foundation. We rely on this warm food to keep morale up..."

But now that the goods can't get in, just shouting slogans won't help. Unless—we take the route He Yuzhu mentioned.

"Then let's try the method suggested by Section Chief Zhou."

He Yuzhu then spoke up: "Director Yang, how about this, I'll spare one projectionist for the purchasing department, and we won't trouble the propaganda department. We'll handle it ourselves in logistics."

He turned to look at Section Chief Zhou: "Section Chief Zhou, what do you think?"

Section Chief Zhou immediately understood and replied decisively, "If Director He can succeed, not only can we restore last year's volume, but I'd even guarantee a minimum purchase amount from the year before last!"

Factory Director Yang slapped his thigh: "Then it's settled! Thank you for your hard work..."

"Factory Director, Director He, why bother outsiders with our own affairs?" Section Chief Zhao chimed in, a smile plastered on his face, but his heart was pounding. He had long seen through He Yuzhu's deadly move: if they really hired an outside projectionist, Xu Damao probably wouldn't last even six months before he had to pack his bags and leave.

It wasn't just being fired, it was being put on the hot seat—once the accusation of desertion was confirmed, which unit in Beijing would dare to hire him? His reputation would be ruined, and his job would be gone.

He Yuzhu is truly setting traps at every turn; if you're not careful, you'll fall into a pit.

Upon hearing this, Director Yang, not wanting to create any further complications, immediately made the decision: "Alright, let's do it this way! Report any difficulties immediately. Next topic..."

The meeting sent chills down the spines of everyone in the department. After the meeting, everyone was still pondering what had just happened.

Sitting in his chair, Section Chief Zhao of the Publicity Department felt increasingly uneasy—he regretted agreeing to Xu Fugui's request for such a small gain. By speaking up for Xu Damao twice, he had likely thoroughly offended He Yuzhu.

In the steel rolling mill, apart from the security department, who dares to underestimate the logistics department? If they really set their sights on you, you won't even need to lift a finger; just the fact that the canteen windows are constantly being delayed will make you starve.

"Section Chief, you wanted to see me?"

Xu Damao pushed open the office door, closed it behind him, and approached with a smile.

"Da Mao, it's not that I don't want to help you, it's just that..." Section Chief Zhao didn't waste any more words and directly handed over a screening schedule, his tone stern, "This is your next task. You're leaving in three days, so get ready quickly."

"This...this place..."

Xu Damao glanced at the list, and sweat immediately beaded on his forehead—the furthest point was a full thirty kilometers away! It would take a whole day to cycle there, plus carrying the projector and film case. Six remote villages and nine closer ones combined would mean at least two months away from the factory.

This isn't a stroll in the city; it's venturing onto the rough roads outside Beijing. The dirt roads are full of potholes, and in some sections you have to get off and push the bike. If you can ride five kilometers in an hour, you're considered quite agile.

Didn't he just talk to Deputy Factory Director Jiang? How come it ended up falling on his own shoulders?

"Section Chief, I..."

"Shut up! I'll just say one thing—at today's factory meeting, Deputy Director Jiang bowed his head and admitted his mistake to He Yuzhu in front of all the middle-level managers for your sake. Otherwise, the disciplinary inspection team will be coming to investigate tomorrow! You only have two choices now: either obediently follow orders, or pack your bags and get out of the steel mill in six months, and you might not even be able to find anyone to sweep the streets after that!"

Section Chief Zhao was too lazy to argue with Xu Damao anymore. He had already done his duty—if it weren't for the fact that he had carried sacks with Xu's father back in the day and hadn't accepted those two bottles of Lao Bai Gan and three packs of Hongmei liquor, who would be willing to offend the logistics director for the sake of a projectionist?

"I'm telling you this: if you don't go, I'll immediately replace you. Get out!"

Upon hearing this, Xu Damao's face instantly drained of color, his fingers stiffened as he gripped the screening assignment sheet, and he turned and left the office.

My heart was in turmoil, and I was filled with regret, more so than ever before.

"Oh dear, what's wrong? You look so listless, like you've lost all your strength."

As soon as Yu Li saw him enter the room, his shoulders slumped and his eyelids drooping, she couldn't help but speak. He had left this morning with his nostrils flared and his shoes gleaming, looking like he'd just received an award for outstanding service.

"fine……"

His throat was dry and his voice was weak. After speaking, he collapsed into the room and fell backward onto the bed.

Yu Li slammed the kitchen knife down on the cutting board, wiped her wet hands, and chased after him inside, grabbing his arm and shaking him: "What happened? You even kept it from me?"

Xu Damao's shoulders ached from her grip, and he finally gave up, saying in a muffled voice, "Starting next month, I'll be going to the countryside to show films for two months. I'll leave some extra money at home tomorrow. If you feel cooped up in the yard, go back to your parents' house for a few days."

"Two months?!" Yu Li's voice rose sharply. "Before, a trip to the countryside would only last seven days at most! Why has it dragged on for so long this time?"