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

Chapter 1059 Yi Zhonghai's Beautiful Dream

Deputy Factory Director Li's eyes lit up slightly, as if someone had seen through his secret. His previously slumped shoulders suddenly lifted, and he involuntarily leaned forward, almost touching Yi Zhonghai, and eagerly asked, "You mean... even if you can't find any solid evidence, you can still ruin Gu Nan's reputation completely by spreading rumors?"

"Exactly!" Yi Zhonghai nodded heavily, his enamel mug clenched so tightly it turned white, his tone carrying a ruthless determination. "Then we'll create a stir in the workshop, first saying that Gu Nan, using his position as deputy factory director, favored his own people in the technical assessments, and then saying he took bribes from outsourcing companies. Once this gets out, the factory will definitely have to organize an investigation to quell the workers' gossip. To prove his innocence, Gu Nan will have to explain to the investigation team again and again, and be questioned repeatedly—today the labor and personnel department will confront him, tomorrow the discipline inspection commission will check his assessment records. After all that back and forth, even if they don't find anything substantial in the end, his reputation as a 'young talent' and 'senior engineer' will be drowned in spittle, and his prestige as deputy factory director will be completely destroyed. Naturally, he won't be able to hold onto his position!"

Deputy Factory Director Li's fingers paused on the table, tapping unconsciously on the edge as he weighed the situation in his mind—this method was indeed insidious. He avoided direct intervention, thus preventing accusations of "suppressing key technical personnel," while simultaneously using public opinion to bring Gu Nan down. It was a brilliant two-birds-with-one-stone plan. A satisfied look appeared on his face as he nodded: "Alright, I'll leave this to you to build momentum. You're well-connected among the veteran workers, and your words carry weight, making it easier for you than for me. As for the factory inspection, I'll handle that. I guarantee Gu Nan will suffer greatly; even if he's innocent, he'll be ripped off!"

Seeing that Deputy Factory Director Li had agreed, Yi Zhonghai felt a huge weight lifted from his heart, which had been hanging in the balance for days. He nodded vigorously, "Don't worry, I guarantee I'll handle this perfectly. I assure you that within three days, everyone from the rolling mill to the warehouse will know that Deputy Factory Director Gu is 'not clean.' We won't even need to urge them; the workers will be demanding an explanation from the factory!" He rubbed his hands together, a barely perceptible hint of anticipation on his face, and his tone became cautious, tinged with a touch of probing: "However, Deputy Factory Director Li, I also have a small request, though I'm not sure if I should say it..."

Deputy Factory Director Li raised his chin without even lifting his eyelids, indicating to him, "Go ahead and say it. As long as we can deal with that kid Gu Nan, I can agree to any reasonable request."

Yi Zhonghai immediately plastered a fawning smile on his face, his wrinkles radiating obsequiousness, and his voice softened even more: "I'm almost retired, having spent my whole life as a fitter, and I'm still only at level seven. You know, the salary and benefits for a level eight fitter are much higher, an extra fifteen yuan a month, enough for me to eat two pounds of meat and buy a bottle of good wine to live on in my old age. If this comes to fruition, could you... could you help me get promoted to level eight fitter? It would fulfill a lifelong dream of mine, and I could hold my head high when I go out into the world, wouldn't I?"

Deputy Factory Director Li sneered inwardly—this old bastard, after all that fuss, he was just jumping around for his own benefit. But he didn't care. As long as he could get rid of Gu Nan, wouldn't he be in charge of the steel rolling mill's technical ratings then? An eighth-grade fitter's position was nothing compared to the deputy factory director's position.

So he waved his hand and said in a seemingly generous manner, "What's so difficult about this? It's no big deal. As long as Gu Nan's matter is settled, won't I be the one to call the shots on the factory's technical evaluation committee? I'll give you an eighth-grade fitter rating, so Master Yi can retire in style, taking a high-paying stroll in the courtyard, and gaining face in front of the neighbors. Isn't that better than now?"

Upon hearing this, Yi Zhonghai's face immediately lit up with a smile, his wrinkles crinkling at the corners of his eyes. He hurriedly bowed and scraped, saying, "Then I thank Deputy Factory Director Li in advance! Don't worry, I'll start preparing for the publicity campaign first thing tomorrow morning. I guarantee I'll make sure it's done perfectly, so that kid Gu Nan won't be able to escape!" As he spoke, he slowly retreated with a hunched back, his steps lighter than when he came, as if he had already touched the edge of his gold-plated eighth-grade fitter's certificate, even his back straightening up considerably.

Yi Zhonghai was feeling incredibly pleased with himself, like he'd just popped a freshly baked sugar cake into his pocket, so sweet it made him feel lightheaded. His steps were even lighter than usual, his heels clicking loudly on the concrete. He'd just reached the corridor of the workshop office building when he bumped into Gu Nan. In that instant, his heart skipped a beat, as if he'd missed a step, and his smile froze slightly—Gu Nan was now a senior engineer and deputy factory director, wielding real power over production scheduling. How many machines were running in the workshop, how materials were distributed—it was all up to him. He wasn't someone a lowly fifth-grade fitter like himself could afford to offend.

He didn't want to talk to Gu Nan. He was there to see Deputy Factory Director Li, and the two of them had agreed to discuss how to make things difficult for Gu Nan in the subsequent skills assessment. There was no need to cause trouble here. So he quickly lowered his head, staring at the toes of his canvas shoes, intending to pretend he hadn't seen him. He twisted his body to the side, trying to walk around the wall.

Gu Nan seemed to have eyes in the back of his head. He stopped abruptly and spoke first. His voice was neither too loud nor too soft, but clear enough for two technicians carrying blueprints to hear: "Master Yi, why aren't you in the workshop supervising your apprentice during work hours? What are you doing in the office building? Have you finished all the work in the workshop?"

Caught off guard by the question, Yi Zhonghai felt as if his cards had been exposed in public. His face flushed red and then turned pale. He could only force a smile and rub his hands together in front of him like twisting dough: "Deputy Factory Director Gu, did you just finish your work? I came... I have something to discuss with Deputy Factory Director Li about equipment maintenance. It's all serious work-related stuff."

Gu Nan, seeing his shifty eyes and uneasy demeanor, knew exactly what was going on—he was probably plotting with Deputy Factory Director Li to sabotage the assessment. He'd seen through their coordinated charade long ago. A faint smile played on his lips, but it didn't reach his eyes, and his tone remained unreadable: "Oh, is that so? By the way, Master Yi, you're about to take the Level 8 fitter re-examination, right? I heard from the academic affairs office yesterday that the exam questions were directly set by the Municipal Bureau of Industry, and they're supposedly quite difficult. You'd better be fully prepared, lest you fail and embarrass our factory."