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

Chapter 1149 Zhu Tao's Identity

“It’s me, teacher.” Zhu Tao smiled and stood in front of him, his posture upright and his Zhongshan suit collar neatly fastened.

Zhang Li put down the watering can, slowly stood up, and looked Zhu Tao up and down as if he were some rare object. His tone was incredulous: "What brings you here? It's been years, hasn't it? I remember after you graduated from the Party School, didn't you go south to start your own business? I heard you were dealing in electronics there. I thought you'd made a fortune by now." In his memory, Zhu Tao was one of the most unremarkable students he had taught at the Party School. He was quiet, didn't like to talk, and his grades were average. He was the kind of person you'd easily lose in a crowd. He never expected him to suddenly show up at his door.

Zhu Tao's smile deepened, carrying a touch of just the right amount of pride without appearing arrogant: "Teacher, you don't know yet, do you? I've been transferred back to work this time, and now... I'm the director of the steel rolling mill." He deliberately emphasized the word "director," his gaze fixed on Zhang Li's face, carefully observing his reaction.

Zhang Li was completely stunned. The watering can in his hand fell to the ground with a clatter, the spout hitting the bluestone slab and splashing water everywhere, along with a few specks of mud onto his trousers. He opened his mouth, but couldn't utter a word for a long time—the student he used to be so afraid to speak loudly in front of him, the one he thought the least of, was now the director of a steel rolling mill that managed thousands of people? This world really is incomprehensible, like something out of a movie.

As dusk crept through the window, Zhang Li stared blankly at a table of cold dishes. The braised beef was sliced ​​evenly, the braised pig ears glistened with a glossy, dark brown sauce, and the fried peanuts were piled high like a small mountain on a white porcelain plate—these were all specially picked out at the market that afternoon, hoping to relieve his boredom with a drink alone. Unexpectedly, he ran into Zhu Tao, whom he hadn't seen for many years.

"You little rascal!" Zhang Li's wrinkles instantly smoothed out as he patted Zhu Tao's arm and laughed. "Who do we have here? Come on in! I've known you've been capable since you were a kid. That sharp wit in your eyes is just like your dad's." He stepped aside to let him in, the faint smell of tobacco emanating from Zhu Tao filling his nostrils. "Perfect timing. I have a bottle of Erguotou that's been stored for five years. Let's have a good drink together, father and son."

Zhu Tao carried a fruit basket filled with bright red apples. He placed the basket on the table and spoke with just the right amount of respect: "Teacher, I was saying on my way here that it would be so nice to have a couple of drinks with you and chat about the past few years. To be honest, I came here partly to see you and partly to have this drink with you."

Zhang Li felt comforted by these words. He deftly set out two small blue-and-white porcelain wine cups, slammed the bottle of Erguotou on the table, and with a "bang," the dark red cork popped out, instantly filling the room with its rich aroma. "Pour it first!" He filled both cups to the brim, the liquid swirling on the sides, creating fine ripples. "I've kept this wine under my bed, reluctant to touch it even during holidays, just waiting for someone I can drink it with."

The two men raised their glasses and clinked them together with a crisp "ding". Zhu Tao tilted his head back and drank it all in one gulp. The warm liquor slid down his throat, carrying a slightly spicy warmth that traveled from his stomach all the way to his heart. "Good wine!" he smacked his lips, his eyes shining. "Much stronger than the rice wine I drank in the South."

Zhang Li also drank to his heart's content, picked up a piece of pig's ear and put it in his mouth, chewing slowly: "Tell me, how have you been these past few years? I heard Jianjun mention it the other day, saying that you were doing business in the south, how come you suddenly came back to the city and even became the director of a steel rolling mill? That place is a tough nut to crack, with thousands of workers, it's not easy to deal with."

His words were half out of curiosity and half out of ulterior motives. Ever since Gu Nan made Li Jianjun suffer in the workshop, he had felt like he had a stone stuck in his heart—Jianjun was his son-in-law, and he, as the father-in-law, could not sit idly by while someone was taking advantage of him. Now that Zhu Tao had become the head of the steel rolling mill, wasn't this like a pillow being delivered to someone who was sleepy?

Zhu Tao poured himself another glass of wine, his fingertips twirling on the rim. "It's a long story," he sighed, a hint of self-deprecation in his voice. "A few years ago, I went to Shenzhen with a friend to trade things. I did make some money at first, but then I got swindled and lost everything. I returned to the city dejected, just when I was worried about what to do next. Suddenly, Jianjun called me, looking miserable, saying he was being bullied so badly at the factory that he couldn't hold his head up."

"Jianjun?" Zhang Li paused, chopsticks in his hand, and leaned forward. "He just kept telling me he'd been upset, but he didn't go into details. Is it... related to that Gu Nan?"

“That’s right.” Zhu Tao put down his wine glass, his tone deepening, a glint of ruthlessness flashing in his eyes. “Jianjun and I have been classmates since junior high, sleeping in bunk beds. Back then, I was skinny and always got bullied by the older kids. Jianjun was always the first to rush in and fight for me, his arms getting bruised and battered, but he never complained.” He paused, his knuckles turning white from the force. “Now he’s being bullied by Gu Nan, he can’t even hold onto his position as a workshop team leader. How could I just stand by and do nothing? So I pulled some strings and managed to get this factory manager position—half by chance, and half to get revenge on Gu Nan and stand up for Jianjun!”

Zhang Li felt a surge of warmth in his heart and quickly refilled Zhu Tao's glass: "Good lad, you're a true friend!" He raised his glass and clinked it against Zhu Tao's, a few drops of wine splashing onto the tablecloth. "But you'd better watch out, that kid Gu Nan is no simpleton. He's been in the factory for almost ten years, climbing from apprentice to deputy factory director. He's got deep roots, and I heard he has connections backing him up."

"So what if he has deep roots?" Zhu Tao tilted his head back and finished his drink, a cold smile playing on his lips. "I'm the factory director now, a rank higher than him. He has connections? I'm here with a transfer order from the city, ostensibly to reorganize production, but secretly to investigate him—to find out if he's done anything shady in logistics these past few years, if he's manipulated procurement. Once the evidence is presented, let's see how he can still act like this!"

Zhang Li's eyes lit up, and he leaned closer, lowering his voice: "A transfer order from the city? What are they investigating him for? Is there something going on here?"

Zhu Tao was about to speak when he suddenly stopped, a troubled look on his face. He chuckled and said, "Teacher, please don't ask." He picked up a peanut and popped it into his mouth. "It's an order from higher up. There are strict rules, and some things involve too many people, so I really can't say anything. Please bear with me. When the truth comes out, I'll tell you everything in detail first."

Seeing this, Zhang Li knew that asking further would be pointless, so he wisely changed the subject: "Okay, I won't ask anymore. Come on, let's drink!"