Siheyuan: I just came across and wanted to chase me away

Chapter 1150 Seeking Li Jianjun

The atmosphere at the table grew increasingly lively, the clinking of enamel cups echoing throughout the small room, mingled with the acrid smell of smoke, the rough laughter and curses, and the overwhelming aroma of sorghum liquor. Zhang Li picked up his cup, a ring of liquor stain on the rim, and Zhu Tao immediately raised his to meet him. The crisp "clink" sent shivers down their spines, and the two of them tilted their heads back and gulped it down. The liquor burned as it slid down their throats, but it only deepened the smiles in their eyes, like a honey-coated knife.

But everyone knew that this glass of wine contained more than just the old ties between master and apprentice; it also held a complex web of motives to deal with Gu Nan. Zhang Li was seething with anger, wanting to vent his frustration on behalf of his nephew Li Jianjun, who had been sent to the police station by Gu Nan; Zhu Tao was calculating how to use Gu Nan's downfall to solidify his position at the steel mill and secure his new post. This game had only just begun, fueled by alcohol; the road ahead was far from over.

The night outside the window grew darker, like spilled ink, enveloping the room completely, even the window frames were stained a deep black. Empty bottles were piled haphazardly on the table, the last bottle of baijiu was empty, Zhu Tao picked up the bottle and shook it vigorously, pouring out only a few drops, which "plop" fell into the Zhang Li cup. He smiled and pushed it over: "Teacher, you finish with this."

Zhang Li tilted his head back, took a sip, smacked his lips, and exhaled the smell of alcohol from his nostrils. Having been a workshop foreman for many years, he had seen Zhu Tao's intentions clearly for a long time, but he was too lazy to expose them. He put down his glass, wiped the foam from the corner of his mouth with his rough fingertips, the calluses on his knuckles stinging his skin, and simply nodded: "Alright, enough with the formalities. I won't ask about anything confidential. Just tell me, what are your plans this time?"

Zhu Tao didn't hold back either. From how Gu Nan's new attendance system offended a group of old hands, to the several "irregular operations" he secretly discovered—such as the "incomplete procedures" of the equipment payment approved by Gu Nan, and the "workers' complaints" secretly handed over by Yi Zhonghai—he revealed everything about his investigation of Gu Nan. Finally, he leaned forward, half of his buttocks off the stool, and said in a heavy tone, as if a piece of iron was pressing down on him: "Teacher, I came to see you because there is something else I would like to ask you to help me with."

Zhang Li nodded, tapping his fingertips lightly on the table, making a dull "tap-tap" sound, as if weighing the weight: "Speak. Since it's all for building the army, I will do whatever I can without hesitation."

Zhu Tao picked up his teacup and took a sip of the cold tea, trying to suppress the surging smell of alcohol. There was still a tea leaf floating in the tea. "Teacher, I want to meet Li Jianjun in secret, but this matter must be kept very secret. No one else can know about it, especially not a word of it can leak to Gu Nan's ears."

Just as Zhang Li was about to ask the reason, Zhu Tao had already guessed his doubts and smiled first, the fine lines at the corners of his eyes crinkling together: "Teacher, are you misunderstanding? I'm not trying to do anything shady. Think about it, I'm keeping an eye on that kid Gu Nan right now. He's as cunning as a fox. If he finds out that I'm close to Li Jianjun, he'll definitely become suspicious, and he might even set up defenses overnight. Then it will be much harder to make a move."

Zhang Li stroked his chin thoughtfully; this made sense. Gu Nan might look young, but he was incredibly meticulous in his work. Last time, when Li Jianjun was arrested for inciting a disturbance, it was Gu Nan's uncompromising approach that led to his arrest, showing no leniency whatsoever. They definitely couldn't alert him. He nodded: "How about this, give me a day to make some arrangements. I know an old acquaintance at the prison; I'll take you to see him tomorrow night."

"Thank you, teacher!" Zhu Tao quickly raised his cup, solemnly holding the almost empty cup above his head. "This cup is for you, I'll drink it first!"

At the subsequent dinner, the two men didn't mention business anymore. Instead, they talked about Zhu Tao's apprenticeship with Zhang Li at the factory—who had argued over a good lathe, who had worked late into the night and eaten raw sweet potatoes because they were starving. Occasionally, they would mention retired colleagues, and the atmosphere truly resembled the scene twenty years ago when the master and apprentice squatted in a corner of the workshop eating lunch. Zhang Li listened with narrowed eyes, occasionally interjecting, but he knew in his heart that some things couldn't be rushed; they had to be laid out slowly, brick by brick, like building a wall, to ensure stability.

Zhu Tao had indeed drunk quite a bit; his cheeks were flushed like Guan Yu's, and his eyes were somewhat unfocused. He finally managed to stand up by supporting himself on the table, his tongue tied in knots: "T-Teacher, I...I'll go back first."

Zhang Li wanted to get up to see him off, but as soon as he leaned forward, the effects of the alcohol hit him like a tidal wave, making him dizzy. He had no choice but to sit down heavily again and wave his hand, saying, "Be careful on the road... have someone from your family come out to meet you, so you don't fall."

Zhu Tao waved his hand, his steps unsteady as he stepped out the door, nearly knocking the doorframe over. The night wind, carrying the chill of late autumn, felt like a bucket of cold water on his face; he shivered, but his mind cleared considerably. Standing at the alley entrance, he gazed towards the distant prison, its lights casting a cold glow in the night. He muttered to himself, his voice laced with malice: "Li Jianjun, don't worry. If Gu Nan dares to touch you, I'll take him down. This steel mill isn't for some nobody like him to call the shots."

After saying that, he pulled his coat tighter, buried half his face in his collar, and his figure quickly blended into the thick night, like ink spreading on rice paper. Only the whistling of the wind through the power lines remained in the alley, like someone humming softly in the shadows, setting the stage for the impending contest.

The commotion of the night seemed to have barely subsided when, as soon as the first hint of dawn appeared on the horizon, the courtyard erupted in chaos once more. A hen in the east wing flapped its wings, struggling to escape its coop; the wailing of a child after being beaten echoed from the west wall, mingled with the crackling of coal burning from the stoves and the shouts of women—like a pot of boiling porridge, stirring up sleep and making everyone wince.

The Liu family, in particular, became the "eye of the storm" in the courtyard. Liu Guangtian locked himself in the west room, the windows tightly shut, even the heavy blue curtains were drawn shut, making the room as dark as a deep well. He had thought that his father would plead with Gu Nan, and with their long-standing friendship, they would surely find a way to remove him from the list of those sent to the countryside. But after waiting and waiting, all he got was Liu Haizhong's dejected report—Gu Nan hadn't even let him in the door, only saying, "The rules can't be changed." This completely deflated Liu Guangtian. He lay on the bed like a rag doll all day, refusing to eat or drink, staring blankly at the newspaper-covered ceiling, muttering every now and then, "I'm not going to the countryside, I'd rather die than go."