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

Chapter 1083 Deputy Factory Director Li is looking for someone

The entire courtyard seemed shrouded in a hazy, gray atmosphere. The lights in every house shone weakly, dim and yellowish, exuding a sense of oppression. Even the elderly men and women who usually gathered in the courtyard chatting on small stools were all huddled indoors tonight. The courtyard was so quiet that only the rustling of leaves in the wind could be heard, occasionally punctuated by the sound of a child crying, which was quickly covered by adults and silenced again. Only in Gu Nan's house was a warm, yellow light shining through the window paper, bright and peaceful, with the faint sound of a child's giggles, as crisp and clear as shattered silver falling to the ground.

When Gu Nan returned, it was already completely dark, and the streetlights in the alley were on, dimly illuminating the road. Ran Qiuye was pacing around the house with her child in her arms, humming an off-key lullaby. When she saw him enter, she hurried to greet him, her eyes filled with concern: "Gu Nan, is everything alright at the steel mill? I've been worried about it and couldn't sit still."

Gu Nan took off his coat and casually hung it on the hook behind the door, a relieved smile on his face: "I've said that if you're upright, you have nothing to fear. I haven't done anything wrong, so what's there to be afraid of? If Deputy Factory Director Li wants to cause trouble for me, he'll need real evidence. Just spreading rumors won't work."

Ran Qiuye breathed a sigh of relief, unconsciously patting her chest, and then asked, "So how did it go? Did you pass the test? They didn't give you any more trouble, did they?"

"My senior engineer title is finalized. All the paperwork is done, and the official seal is affixed." Gu Nan picked up the enamel mug on the table, took a sip, and spoke as calmly as if he were commenting on the nice weather. "As for Yi Zhonghai, after the re-evaluation, his skills are only enough for a level four fitter. He was just coasting to level five. As for Deputy Factory Director Li... he was taken away for investigation by the discipline inspection department this morning. The evidence of his corruption is there; he can't deny it."

Ran Qiuye was stunned for a moment, her eyes widening slightly: "Deputy Factory Director Li was arrested? What happened? I thought he was targeting you, but I didn't expect..."

“He’s been shady all these years. He’s embezzled a lot of project funds from the factory and used his power to suppress dissent. Anyone who disagrees with him gets a hard time.” Gu Nan put down his water glass, his eyes clear. “This time, the higher-ups are investigating thoroughly, from the accounts to the witness testimonies. Every link is connected, and the evidence is conclusive. It will be difficult for him to get away with this.”

Ran Qiuye nodded and said softly, "I didn't expect him to do so many wrong things behind the scenes. It can be considered that he got his just deserts and rid the steel mill of a scourge."

"Alright, these things have nothing to do with us anymore." Gu Nan smiled, reached out and gently touched the child's soft cheek. The little guy was looking at him with his big, dark eyes. "We just need to live our own lives and not worry about anything else."

Ran Qiuye responded and took the baby to the inner room to breastfeed. The dim light shone through the gap in the curtain, casting warm patches of light on the floor. From the inner room came the soft, gentle sound of the baby suckling, like a kitten licking its mother's milk. This was what life should be like—peaceful, stable, and full of warmth.

Li, the deputy factory director, was anxiously pacing in his cramped detention cell, his leather shoes screeching on the concrete floor. The moon outside the iron bars was mostly obscured by dark clouds, letting in only a few pale rays of light that carried a chilling cold. He gripped the cold iron bars, his knuckles white from the effort, a single thought racing through his mind: "Someone has to come and save me! Even if I have to leave the steel mill, even if I have to work as a lowly clerk in the neighborhood office, I have to save my life! As long as I can get out, anything is possible!"

Thinking of this, he shouted at the top of his lungs toward the guards outside, "I want to see my wife! I have something important to tell her! Tell her to quickly find a way, pull some strings, and ask someone for help! Money is not a problem, all the family savings are with her!"

The officer on duty came over upon hearing the noise, expressionlessly noted down the information on the medicine bottle, and said coldly, "We'll report this to our superiors. You'll have to wait for news." He then turned and left without giving him another glance.

Deputy Factory Director Li watched the police officer turn and leave, his navy blue uniform disappearing at the end of the corridor. The heavy iron door slammed shut with a clang, the sharp click of the latch striking his heart like a hammer blow. His last ounce of strength seemed to drain away instantly; he slumped onto the cold cement floor with a thud, his back sliding slowly down the mottled wall, his head hitting the wall with a dull thud, yet he felt no pain—numbness had completely overshadowed any sensation.

Outside the window, the moon was completely obscured by thick, dark clouds, not even a sliver of starlight could penetrate. The world was shrouded in darkness, much like his own state of mind—thick and unyielding. The light in his eyes gradually faded, from initial panic and anger to a profound, unyielding despair. He knew this might be his last chance, but could he still seize it?

His mind was a jumbled mess, like a tangled ball of thread. Images flashed through his mind: the workshop ledgers, the red envelopes suppliers had given him, the bankbooks locked in the safe at home. Finally, all his thoughts settled on one person—only his father-in-law could save him. But he knew in his heart that all the things he had done over the years—the falsely reported material costs could pile up like a mountain, the embezzled work safety supplies could fill half a room, and the countless kickbacks he had taken from outsiders—none of it could escape his father-in-law's shrewd eyes. It was just that his father-in-law hadn't exposed him because of his daughter. Now that the truth had come out, would his father-in-law still be willing to lend a helping hand?

The news spread like wildfire, reaching the Zhang family in less than half a day. Zhang Xue, the wife of Deputy Factory Director Li, was a robust, plump woman. She sat on the leather sofa in her living room, her knuckles white from the force of her grip on the telephone receiver, the edge of the receiver bearing several marks. She had long known about her husband's shady dealings. Sometimes, unable to sleep at night, she would hear him muttering "invoices" and "kickbacks" in his sleep, and she would silently curse him for being worthless and engaging in petty theft. But when she thought of the national grain coupons and imported watches he had earned for the family over the years, and of being able to wear a polyester shirt and hold her head high in front of the neighbors, she swallowed her resentment.

She had originally hoped that, thanks to her father's connections in higher positions, her husband would eventually be able to drop the "deputy" title and become a proper factory director, at which point she would be the director's wife, able to walk with her head held high. But to her surprise, not only was he still a deputy director, but he was also arrested for such a "trivial matter"—in her view, which official didn't have some shady dealings? He was just unlucky to have been caught.